A food processor is a kitchen whiz that wears many hats – it gets all the chopping, blending and pureeing done for you in minutes. Having this powerful machine on your countertop means less prep work before cooking, especially when you're expecting guests at home.
Sidrah Mansoor, an Abu Dhabi-based food blogger who runs Busy Kitchenette, relies on her Ninja unit to chop everything in a jiffy during family gatherings, while juggling her children's meals. Her prolific food channel for kids' healthy meals is peppered with recipes that come to life with the food processor.
"It helps me a lot in reducing the prep time - cutting the vegetables, which would've taken me 20 minutes, now takes me just five minutes. You can slice or dice, mix or mash and grind ingredients. A food processor is great to have if you're always trying out new dishes," said Sidrah.
A mum of three, Sidrah whips up burger patties, chicken nuggets, pancakes and even mayonnaise from scratch, in her Ninja appliance. "My children are not fond of vegetables, so I hide them in their food, like veggie nuggets and sauce," she said, sharing a quick recipe for the former.
Toss in a mix of vegetables from the fridge, like carrots, capsicum and onions, into the food processor and add the blend to minced breast fillet. Dip the filling into eggs and bread crumbs, and fry for yummy homemade nuggets, says Sidrah.
These appliances are not to be confused with the staple blender; food processors can knead dough, mince meat, shred vegetables and emulsify sauces. "Many people confuse food processors with blenders, but they're designed for different purposes. Blenders are reserved for watery textures, such as soups, shakes and dips. But, food processors perform labour-intensive tasks and have a wider variety of blade attachments to even create nut butters," explained Sidrah.
We handpicked the most reliable food processors on Amazon to help you cook faster, including Sidrah's own choice of brand. If you’re a Prime member, avail of free, same- or next-day delivery.
1. Best Overall: Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor and Blender with Auto-iQ
Pros
- Food processor, full-sized blender and single-serve cup blender in one
- Changes controls based on the jug attachment
- Three variable speeds with pulse
- Powerful 1,200-watt motor
Cons
- Only has one grating disc
Sidrah's been through three processors in the kitchen, out of which Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor and Blender scored the highest. It's the 1,200-watt motor power that sealed the deal, running a 1.8-litre food processor bowl, a 2.1-litre blender jug and a 700ml shake cup on a single base. You have dedicated buttons for blending, chopping, pureeing and mixing, which can be run on three different speeds and a pulse mode. This model also offers five Auto-iQ programs that create unique blending patterns to save you time. With this processor on the counter, you can whip up burgers, salsas, bread and pizza doughs, homemade coleslaw, and so much more. Take your protein shake in the single-serve cup, right after you blend fruit, vegetables, nuts, or even ice in it. Reviews, too, call it a game-changer for its versatility and say that it gets used in the kitchen every day.
Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh74.92 for 12 months with select banks.
2. Best Value: Braun PurEase Food Processor FP 3233
Pros
- Food processor bowl, blender and mill in one
- Powerful 800-watt motor
- Comes with three grating discs, dough tool, emulsifying tool and many more
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Needs separate storage for attachments
Braun’s kitchen food processor comes with three plastic jugs, a blender measuring 1.2 litres, a small milling container for spices, and a larger 2.1-litre bowl for everything else, from kneading to pureeing. Switch between fast, slow and pulse speeds to slice and shred your choice of ingredients. This model doesn't include the juice extractor, but there's the citrus juicer, dough tool, emulsifying tool and three reversible grating discs, to help you set the table faster. Plus, there's a blender to go with it, too, so it can replace your old appliance.
Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh23 and a two-year extended warranty for Dh33.
3. Best for Beginners: KitchenAid 1.7L Food Processor, Almond Cream
Pros
- Compact, attractive design
- Easy to operate and clean
- Accessories can be stored inside when not in use
- Dishwasher-safe parts
Cons
- Better suited for a small family
If you’re starting out on your food processor journey, start small with Kitchen Aid’s cream-coloured 1.7-litre appliance. It’s a no-fuss machine with three speed paddles, a processor bowl with a feed tube and four blades – a dough blade, a multipurpose blade, a 4mm and a thicker 6mm blade. Depending on the blade, you can easily prep dough, pastes, vegetables and cheeses to cook up a variety of meals. The feeder tube features a small oil opening for drizzling oil into sauces and dips, like hummus. Its compact design makes it a perfect fit for a family of two to four, say buyers. Most reviews love that this compact unit is easy to clean since it comes apart effortessly.
Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh29 and a two-year extended warranty for Dh41.
4. Best for Shredding: Cuisinart Style Collection Easy Prep Pro 2, Frosted Pearl
Pros
- Shreds tough ingredients, like potatoes and cheeses, very well
- Smaller built-in bowl takes care of sauces and dips
- Easy to clean
- Heavy-duty use
Cons
- Liquid capacity is lesser than stated
Another compact unit is the Cuisinart food processor, which carries two bowls in one. The smaller 700ml bowl nests inside the large 1.9-litre bowl, but can work on its own for making hummus, pesto and other smaller quantity sauces. Don't worry, it's completely sealed, so nothing leaks into the main bowl. No matter what's being processed, chopping cauliflower rice or nuts, its silicone feet help the machine stay put on the countertop. The Easy Prep Pro functions like the rest of the units on the list - it chops, mixes, blends, purees, slices and grates. Longtime users of the Cuisinart processor leave five stars, adding that the blades are extremely sharp, even when grating hard blocks of cheese. Others mainly use it to prepare homemade hummus and mince meat for dumplings.
Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh66.58 for 12 months with select banks.
Warranty: The manufacturer offers a five-year warranty. Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh46 and a two-year extended warranty for Dh65.
5. Best Multifunctional Processor: Magimix 5200XL Food Processor, Red
Pros
- Heavy-duty machine
- Powerful 1,100-watt motor
- Three bowls in one
- Includes citrus press and juicer
- Separate storage box for accessories
Cons
- Heaviest on the list, at 11kgs
- No variable speeds
Magimix sits higher on the heavy-duty scale, almost industrial for its many accessories and versatility. Coming with grating discs, slicing discs, an egg whisk, juicer, citrus press and dough blade, the processor leaves no stone unturned. It easily caters to a large group with a 3.6-litre main bowl (for mincing and kneading), a 2.6-litre midi bowl (for mayonnaise and dressings) and a 1.2-litre mini bowl (for herbs and small ingredients). The unit is best suited for large families, grating 1.4kg of carrots in one go. Reviewers who've used the same model for over 40 years come back to their Magimix again and again. They do note that the machine is quite heavy at 11kg, but this is what helps the unit hold its ground. Expect to make cake batters, dips, oat flour, homemade pasta and more, per reviews.
Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh133.70 for 12 months with select banks.
Warranty: The manufacturer offers a 30-year motor and three-year parts guarantee. Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh97 and a two-year extended warranty for Dh138.
Our recommendations are independently chosen by Gulf News editors. If you decide to shop through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission, as we are part of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.
