Best food processor in the UK - we've tested the must-haves for vegetables, dips, and dough

Nothing will save you more time in the kitchen than the best food processor. They can slice, chop, grate, and even mix homemade dough hands-free. Food processors come with sharp blades to slice through onions, carrots or avocados in seconds, and they often have pulse settings that can be used to make dips like hummus or guacamole.

All of the food processors in this guide have been tested by the Ideal Home team for even chopping, ease of use, and (of course) the cleaning process after you're done.

Many can also double up as the best blenders – if you already have a blender you love and just want a food processor, we've included those too.

The best food processor for you won't necessarily need smart modes to make life easier, but you will benefit from having more than one speed to choose from. One of our top picks from Ninja has specific modes to chop and mix, whereas the Kenwood food processor has up to 8 speeds for you to choose from. If you want something a little smaller, take a look at our guide to the best mini choppers.

The quick list

Looking for a brief overview of each of the best food processors? Then this is the list for you. For more detailed explainers, find more information on each machine further down this page.

Best food processor overall

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Compact, affordable (at £50) and from a trusted brand (Kenwood), this is our favourite reasonably priced food processor. If you're pushed for space but you'd still love a processor to make cooking easier, this is our favourite choice, as tried and tested by our expert home economist Helen McCue.

During her tests, Helen found this processor was brilliant for getting through stacks of food, slicing and grating in fair quantities. It won't be able to help your batch cook for a huge crowd, but for everyday family life, the capacity will suffice. It's easy to store and clean too, with parts that fit together to take up less space than your old food processor.

We also love the Express Serve function, which funnels out whatever you've shredded straight to your waiting bowl. For the price, we think this is a clever processor to make cooking much, much easier.

Read our Kenwood Multipro Go Food Processor review for the full details.

Best food processor blender combo

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The Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK is a top pick for space-saving and multi-functionality. The base can be used to blend soups and smoothies in the large 2.1 litre jug or the personal-sized 700ml cup, and there's also a 1.8-litre food processor attachment. The processor has a unique multi-layered blade that chops evenly, even when you've filled the food processor bowl, and there is also a reversible disc that shreds as well as slices.

We would have liked another disc for larger slicing, because the slicing side of the disc is quite fine and not suitable for large shavings of cheese or vegetables. We also found that there was a little of whatever we sliced (be it courgette or cheddar) left at the very top of the blade, because the pusher doesn't quite fit all the way down into the bowl.

What the Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK does excel in is smart features. It has a blend, chop, puree, and mix setting, as well as a pulse button and three strengths for blending. These programs mean you can simply press to chop or mix depending on your desired outcome, and the process is pre-timed and hands-free. You could even get set on the crudites for your new pureed dip.

Our Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK review has the full details.

Best food processor for small kitchens

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With a motor of just 250 watts, we were ready to write the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express off. In testing though, it seriously impressed us. For a start, the reversible disc really cuts back on space demands and works to slice and grate everything from carrot to cheese very fast indeed. The chopping blade is also stacked, meaning it has two layers and will slice through every layer of your veggies or dough, even when you really fill up that 850ml bowl.

All attachments fit comfortable into the dishwasher, and while there is only an On, Off and Pulse setting, these are incredibly powerful and fast. Our one reservation was that there is no way of slowing down for rougher chops. For this, it's best to use the pulse setting in short spurts.

While it's a great food processor, the blender is just as good (and worthy of a mention here). Again, the small motor really overperformed by making thick and creamy smoothie bowls out of tough ingredients including frozen strawberries, bananas and blueberries.

Read our Magic Bullet Kitchen Express review for the full details.

Best budget food processor

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We're all about value for money, and the Russell Hobbs Desire Food Processor certainly delivers this. It's not as shiny or multi-functional as some of the other food processors you can buy, but it held up well in our tests and comes in at well under £100. The Desire Food Processor has a 1.5 litre capacity bowl and a modest 600 watts of power, so it's not best for those demanding tasks like kneading dough.

What it does do very well is chopping and blending, and let's face it, that's what really matters in a food processor. We were able to create a thick and perfectly smooth tomato soup in the 1.5 litre blender pitcher, which comes included with the food processor, and it was able to shred, chop and slice carrots, onions and courgettes with surprising efficiency in our tests. The results were fine and even, although because you're limited on speed options we did find it harder to create chunky chopped veg.

The Russell Hobbs Desire Food Processor has two speeds and a pulse setting, which is very high power and can create smooth sauces easily. It also features a creaming disk, which really impressed us when we used it to make mayonnaise, although it is better used with large quantities thanks to the wide base of the bowl.

The stand is sturdy and has non-stick pads to keep your food processor from moving about. All of the attachments are dishwasher-safe, and clean up easily thanks to the plastic construction. The slicing and shredding disk is reversible, and there is also a dough hook included. It's not as mighty as some of the other options in our lineup, but for a tiny fraction of the price this multi-tasker certainly delivers on value.

Best food processor for versatility

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If you’ve ever put off using your food processor for small or medium-sized amounts because of the mountain of washing up at the end of it, the 4200XL is the clever solution you’ve been looking for. It comes with three bowls that nest inside each other, meaning that you can whizz up herbs or mayonnaise in its mini bowl or shred veg in the midi one without having to wash the large main bowl.

However, it’s far more than the Russian doll of processors. What’s just as special is that you don’t have to pick the speed to use with each task, it’ll do it for you. So no more second guessing yourself or over-processing. One other point of difference is a BlenderMix ring that helps to make soups and sauces smoother, and the ability to add accessories to expand its functions, although there’s already a dough blade, knife blade, mini blade, a whisk, four discs, spatula and storage box.

In tests, the 4200XL consistently produced excellent results regardless of the task. It sliced onions and celery evenly in the midi bowl (with none of it landing in the main bowl), turning a 10-minute chopping tasks into 30 seconds of processing. Then we were able to take the midi bowl out, slot the whisk into the main bowl and add three egg whites. After about five minutes, the whites were light and fluffy and had increased in volume to fill the bowl.

It performed similarly well when using the blade in the main bowl to liquidise vegetable soup. The BlenderMix ring helped to deflect the liquid down towards the blade, rather than it splashing up into the processor lid, so that after two minutes it was smooth. Another advantage is that the bowl can blend hot liquids, so there was no need to cool the soup to room temperature before processing. A final reason to buy is that it’s dishwasher-safe.

Read our Magimix 4200XL review for the full details.

Best food processor for keen cooks

This food processor comes with a mighty 2,000W induction motor, stacked four-bladed chopping knife and a variable slicing disc with settings from a super-skinny 0.3mm to 8mm. It means business.

Rather than relying on a standard array, some of the Kitchen Wizz Pro’s eight tools are designed to suit a particular need – so there’s a julienne disc for matchsticks, but also a French fry cutting disc for chips. Think of it like the difference between a full toolbox for DIY... and using a hammer for everything.

All the food processor tools fit into a handy box after use, leaving just the main 3.7-litre bowl and mini bowl to be stored on the die-cast metal base. There’s also an LED timer for counting down and up.

The machine adjusts automatically to the food being processed, while a choice of small or large feed chute allows you to keep vegetables upright. This means you can control the flow of ingredients.

During testing, the food processor's dough blade mixed pizza dough to a good elastic consistency, while the quad blade easily emulsified thick, viscous mayonnaise and minced meat. The adjustable slicing disc meanwhile, created even slices of aubergine. The only downsides are that the food processor parts are not all dishwasher-safe, and that this is a particularly expensive buy.

Read our Sage Peel and Dice Food Processor review for the full details.

How we tested the best food processors

In line with how we test products that we include in our buying guides at Ideal Home, all of these food processors have been tested by the team either at our dedicated test facility or at home.

During the review process for food processors, we're specifically looking at how well each machine can grate, slice, mix and chop with a variety of foods, from cheese to carrots. We're also examining how easy each processor is to clean and subsequently store, including if the designs are stackable, and how much space they will take up on your worktop or in your cupboard. Another crucial factor for our testers is value for money. We always weigh up how you can get the best for your money with kitchen appliances we test, including the range of attachments you get when it comes to food processors.

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FAQs

How can I choose the right food processor for me?

There are a few different things to bear in mind when trying to select the best food processor for you.

Firstly, decide where your food processor will live. If it’ll be on display on the worktop, you may want to spend a little more on a model you’re happy to have on display or that coordinates with your kitchen.

Similarly, check the height as not all food processors are low enough to fit under kitchen wall cabinets. If you plan to store it in a cupboard, check how much it weighs. You may put off using it if it’s too heavy or bulky to get out for smaller jobs.

Next, think about what accessories you'll need. One of the defining features of modern food processors is how much kit they can potentially come with. Standard accessories include a chopping blade for dicing, mixing, mashing and puréeing. There will be a dough hook for kneading, which works by stretching the dough rather than slicing through it. Then there might be one or two discs with a spindle, which will shred, slice and grate cheese and vegetables.

More expensive machines may come with a julienne disc for slicing potato or carrot into matchsticks, an adjustable slicing blade for different thicknesses and whipping/beating attachments.

Other food processor accessories can include a blender jug, midi and/or mini bowls that nestle inside the main bowl and have their own blades to chop smaller quantities of nuts, herbs or chocolate with less washing-up. A citrus press may be included.

Work out what size bowl is best for you. The size of your food processor bowl will affect how much you can prep in one go. The largest can be up to four litres – ideal if you batch cook or have a big family – but for everyday jobs 1.8-2 litres should be enough. A wide feed chute is also a plus as it’ll mean less initial prep for larger items, such as potatoes or courgettes. Look for a good-quality BPA-free plastic bowl and lid so they’re robust enough not to have to be replaced in a few years.

And think about which settings you'll want. Variable speeds allow you to control how much you process your food and give greater versatility. For example, a pulse option is good for foods that only need rough chopping, such as nuts. Dough kneading, meanwhile, should always be done on a low food processor setting so it’s stretched rather than spun around the bowl.

Why do I need a food processor?

It seems like food processors just keep on coming out with more attachments and smart options - some can even be used as a blender, and you can even give your stand mixer a break with a food processor to make dough or whip up cream or mayonnaise.

Mixing, whisking, whipping, emulsifying, kneading, mincing and even heating are possible with a good food processor. You’ll be able to broaden your cooking repertoire and create more exciting, fresh meals from scratch that the whole family will love. Be warned, once you've tried homemade pesto, you may never go back to shop-bought again...

How much should I spend on a food processor?

Food processors vary greatly in price and amount of accessories, so how much you spend will depend on how much you plan to use it and what it needs to be able to do. A basic machine can cost as little as £40, while food processors with built-in scales, timers and heating features can be priced from £500 upwards.

If all you need is speedy chopping and you're unlikely to use multiple attachments and bowls (or will struggle to store them), it’s best to opt for a food processor under £100.

However, keen cooks and those who like to make batches for the freezer will get more use from the extra kit.

Some food processors may also be able to double up as a stand mixer, blender or mini chopper, making them a better value all-in-one buy.

How much power should a food processor have?

Use a food processor’s wattage as a rough guide to its power. Remember that how a food processor is designed can have as much bearing on its performance. More watts won’t always mean it’s a better machine but anything over 650W should have enough muscle for most tasks.

Are food processors easy to clean?

Food processors might save on prep time but if they're increasing washing-up duration by being awkward to clean, they're not much help. Look for models where most or all parts can be popped in the dishwasher. Look out for crevices in the tools where food can become trapped. Some plastic parts and tools may be top rack-safe only, so check before you put them on a hot wash. See our guide on how to clean a blender or food processor for more guidance.

Are food processors noisy?

Food processors can be noisy – but some are more than others. Look for food processors with an induction motor for quieter processing. As a plus, induction motors also tend to be more reliable.