Best Food Processorsin 2018
· 2 min
Kitchen appliances follow trends much like fashion does, yet a few machines earn a permanent place on the counter. The food processor is one of them. By 2018 the category had matured: big brands had refined their designs, compact models had improved and buyers had a wide choice. The question was less "which one is good?" and more "which one suits the way I cook?"
Why a processor earns its counter space
A processor turns jobs that take a quarter of an hour by hand into a minute or two of pulsing. Chopping onions, grating carrots, slicing cucumbers, blending hummus or making pastry all become quicker. For anyone trying to cook more meals from fresh ingredients, that speed matters. Preparing a big batch of vegetables for soups, salads and sauces is far more tempting when the prep work is no longer a chore.
Reading several reviews before buying was, and still is, the sensible approach. Sites such as http://www.greatplainsexaminer.com gathered round-ups of popular models at the time, which made comparing features across brands much easier.
The features that mattered most
| Feature | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Bowl capacity | Large bowls suit families and batch cooks; smaller ones are handier for sauces and daily prep. |
| Motor | A sturdy motor handles dough and dense vegetables without straining or overheating. |
| Blades and discs | A sharp S-blade plus slicing and shredding discs covers most tasks; adjustable discs add flexibility. |
| Feed tube | A wide tube means less pre-cutting of potatoes, cabbage or cheese. |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher-safe parts and few crevices make daily use far more likely. |
Big workhorse or compact helper?
Familiar names like Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Breville and Hamilton Beach all offered models at different sizes. Large-capacity machines appealed to people who bake bread, cook for crowds or freeze meals ahead. Compact and mini processors suited small kitchens and people who mainly chop herbs, nuts and garlic. Many cooks ended up happiest with a mid-sized model that balanced bowl size with storage space.
Noise and stability were also worth checking. Heavier bases tend to stay put on the counter, and a simple set of controls is often more practical than a long row of programmes.
Getting the most out of one
- Cut ingredients into roughly even pieces so they process uniformly.
- Use the pulse button for chopping to avoid turning vegetables into paste.
- Do dry jobs, like crumbs or nuts, before wet ones to save washing up.
- Handle blades carefully; they are sharp enough to cut fingers during cleaning.
A processor will not make a diet healthier on its own, but it removes one of the main excuses for skipping fresh produce. That alone makes it one of the more useful tools a home cook can own.
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