If you want a single gadget that can squeeze fruits, knead bread, and make thick doughs, look for a mini food processor with the perfect amount of power and accessory options. Finding the right food processors isn’t always easy though. With this in mind, we curated this buyer’s guide to help you choose the perfect mini food processor for your needs.
A mini food processor can be an excellent product for anybody who prepares food at home regularly because it saves time when cooking by quickly cutting, mincing, and chopping fruits, vegetables, and other items. They’re also great for making salsas and dips at home or for grating cheese, allowing you to buy blocks of cheese rather than more expensive pre-shredded versions. You can also make your own mayo, condiments, and gravies using mini food processors.
While all mini food processors are compact in size, they still come in different bowl sizes — so you can choose one according to your specific needs. You should choose one that can help speed up your meal prep and that can be stored conveniently on your countertop or in a cabinet.
Motor power doesn’t really matter if you want to use a food processor just for slicing and chopping, but if you want to use one for kneading dough, the device should be powerful enough to make a smooth, lump-free dough.
Most mini food processors operate at variable speeds, allowing you to get the desired results. You can use the pulse option to turn on the device for short periods too, which can help with avoiding over-chopping, puréeing, or grinding your food. Some models require you to hold down a button to chop items, while others operate automatically once you press the power button.
You often get more than one blade with a mini food processor, and the blades are different types and perform different functions. You might get an S-shaped blade for chopping, as well as a slicing and grating blade, and a plastic blade for kneading dough.
A funnel or opening on a mini food processor lets you add foods to the container while the machine is operating. Selecting a model with a wider food chute is a good idea.
Certain mini food processors come with different bowl sizes, allowing you to prepare a variety of items without having to stop and clean your bowl. You should choose one with a blender or whisk attachment to save money on buying different appliances — some models even come with both!
After you have used your mini food processor, cleaning all the crevices and corners of your device by hand can be a hassle. If you’re always in a hurry and want to save some time, getting a product that’s dishwasher-safe is a good idea.
Depending on the ingredients, you can easily chop, slice, or puree up to three cups in one go. This option also comes with a lid on top, allowing you to conveniently open it and add different ingredients, even while you’re chopping and blending. With its touchpad buttons, toxin-free and durable build, and a 250-watt motor, this product earns its spot as the best overall on this list.
The Cuisinart Mini Food Processor comes with a BPA-free bowl and a reversible, stainless-steel blade to speed up your meal prep. You can quickly puree softer ingredients and finely chopped herbs with its sharp-edged cutter, and the auto-reversing “smartpower” blade also allows you to chop both hard and soft ingredients without affecting performance.
Once you’re done using it, you can just remove the bowl and lid and toss them into the dishwasher for quicker cleanup. The compact size also makes this product easy to stash away in a cabinet — or you can keep it on your countertop because its sleek design won’t be an eyesore.
If you want portability combined with powerful performance and modern convenience, the Black+Decker Mini Food Processor is a great choice. Featuring a one-touch operation, this option allows you to create side dishes quickly. Plus, the bi-level stainless-steel blades are sharp enough to chop and mince even harder ingredients easily.
Featuring a stackable design, this option takes up less space on countertops and has a three-cup capacity to accommodate family meal prep. This product also comes with a built-in oil dispenser, so you can make salad dressing, dips, and your favorite hummus at home. And the 350-watt motor is powerful enough to really speed up your cooking prep.
Whether you’re transitioning from manual chopping or want a space-saving solution, the Hamilton Beach Mini Food Processor is a solid choice. The patented stack and press design makes it easy to use and the stainless-steel blades for processing both hard and soft ingredients. With its odor-free design, you can even chop garlic and herbs or prepare dressing without worrying about it retaining odors from previous ingredients.
And with its user-friendly design, you don’t have to go through the hassle of twisting and locking it — just push the power button, then press the top cover and the machine will start working. Because this option’s container cup is transparent, you can keep an eye on things and get the desired results. You can also put the lid, blades, and container in the upper basket of your dishwasher after you’re done.
If you want a food processor that delivers professional performance without taking up too much space on your countertop, the Ankii Mini Food Processor can really help you with chopping veggies and fruits or mincing meat. It comes with four sharp stainless-steel blades and a 400-watt motor, so it can handle almost any task you throw at it.
With its simple pulse control, you can control the texture of your food whether you want chunky bits of onion or are making smooth pastes — so you can try making hummus, pico de gallo, or salsa and impress everyone at your next dinner.
This lightweight and affordable option by Proctor Silex offers great value and is a budget-friendly choice designed for everyday use. You can also tuck it away in a cabinet without it taking up too much space and this device can still handle 1.5 cups of ingredients in one go. While this product is ideal as a vegetable chopper, the sharp stainless-steel blades can also help you with preparing sauces and dressings.
A: Although there may be some crossover in what a mini food processor and a blender can do, a blender is often used for pureeing, and a mini food processor is used to chop, slice, and grate solid ingredients. So, your blender might not be able to chop vegetables for salads, slice onions and garlic, or cut fruits for sides — you need a mini food processor for all these tasks.
A: The pulse speed of a food processor lets you know how effectively it chops both hard and soft ingredients. The pulse should be powerful enough to stir the contents around the bowl, but not so intense that it completely mashes what’s inside.
A: Putting your mini food processor on a tabletop is ideal if you use it daily. You can also stash it in a cabinet if you don’t have enough space on your countertop or the design doesn’t blend well with your kitchen’s decor.