Best Food Processors
Food processors are machines that help out with the cutting and slicing of the food in cooking. They are not a very old invention even when compared to other appliances like the washing machine and the dishwasher. It was invented only in the 1960s with food processors for large commercial scale kitchens. It was only after 1972 that domestic food processors actually caught on and started coming out in the market.
Most food processors are very similar to blenders in that they have a base unit that houses a powerful electric motor. The motor drives a shaft that attaches to the blade assembly inside the container.
Most food processors come with a number of different attachments for both containers as well as blades. While in most blenders the blade is fixed to the container, most food processors have detachable blades so that you can use different blades with the same container.
The kind of blade and the size of the container is dependent on the kind of chopping you want done. For example, if you want to chop up your onions or potatoes, you put in a blade with the blade spinning at the bottom of the container. If you want to slice your food, you put in a blade that spins at the top of the container.
Because of their similarity, there are a number of models that are combination blenders and food processors. In fact there is very little to distinguish them except for the shape of the blade and the purpose. Most blenders need a little water or some other fluid for it to work properly. It also operates at a much higher speed and tends to chop anything that you put in very finely.
Food processors on the other hand can operate completely dry. They do not require any water which is why they are preferred for chopping and slicing. Plus some of them give you the option of continuous use where you can keep feeding in the processor while the chopped food will come out through a short chute kept for the purpose. This is very convenient, especially when you have to do a lot of chopping.
Most food processors are not too expensive; they are actually quite cheap. This does not mean that you do not get expensive ones though and you do get food processors that cost more than $2000 too. Most average people however go for the cheaper ones and we have therefore divided all food processors into three categories based on the price.
Budget (Under $50) Food Processors
Low end food processors are very simple pieces of machines. They have a simple base unit and very few attachments, yet they are preferred because they give you exactly what you require.
People who are familiar around a kitchen will know that although it is good to have one that has a number of attachments, very few other than the basic three or four are actually used. More often than not the rest of the attachments would only be gathering dust except for a few times a year when you may actually need them.
In fact in the list of bestsellers, barring the first place which is a mid range one, the others are all low end models. Find below the top sellers in this category.
This is actually the second best selling unit across all categories and it is easy to see why. It is cheap, it costs only $40 but comes with four different bowl attachments. It is also completely made of stainless steel, except the bowls of course which is clear plastic. Most important of all, it is very compact which is very important in this day and age of reduced everything.
It is also a Cuisinart, which means that there is no problem with regards to reliability. All in all a very good value for money product.
This is also another top selling model, and although it is cheaper than the Cuisinart, it comes after it in terms of sale. The reason is that it is just a little too simple for most people. The motor unit comes on top of the bowl, differing from all the other models out there, and only gives you 2 speeds. You do get three different bowl attachments, but then most of them are on the small side which means that unless you only cook very small quantities of food, they are pretty much useless.
Yet at only $20 it is one of the cheapest ones out there, and if you are a very nuclear family and do not have children, the quantity is more than sufficient for you.
This model is very similar to the top selling Cuisinart and even costs roughly the same. At only $35 it is only $5 less than the other model, but the bowls are smaller. It is still a good unit to get which it comes in as the third top seller in the list, but for families who need more the previous model would make a better option.
Economy ($50 – $100) Food Processors
The mid range food processors are the ones that cost between $50 and $150. These food processors are actually quite popular, although not as much as the low end ones because they give you more attachments. In fact the top selling model is a 7 cup one although the others are all the low end models.
Typically the mid range food processors are not all that different from the low end ones and even look the same except that as mentioned you get more cups for different purposes. For those who really cook at home a mid range one is a better choice because it gives you the option of doing so much more than just chopping food. Find below the top sellers here
This model is the top seller across all segments and that is because of its value for money proposition. You get 7 different attachments, a large sized machine that can handle food for big families and it costs only $100. Even if this price seems a little steep, when you go out to get one, you will soon realize that the low end ones may be all well and good for two people households, but for families, they are inadequate. You not only need a larger sized appliance, you would also appreciate the extra features it gives so that you can make different things for your kids.
This model is just a copy of the top selling 4 CHB except for a couple of things. It is bigger which means that you get a bigger and more powerful motor. You also get 9 different bowls as part of this which gives you that many more options than the previous model. Yet at $135, it is also quite a bit more expensive which is why it comes in at the second place. It is however a very good unit because it is stainless steel like all Cuisinart which makes maintenance much easier. For those who want more options than the 10S this is the best option.
3. Kitchenaid KFP715 Food Processor
This model sells for only one reason and that is price. It costs only $71.40 and still comes with 7 attachments. Of course you get a plastic bodied machine which may be as easy for maintenance, but will not wear as well as a stainless steel one. Barring this there is not much different between this model and the Cuisinart 10S. This model is good enough for most purposes because the plastic is still of good quality, just not as good as the stainless steel ones.
High End (Over $150) Food Processors
The high end ones are the ones that cost more than $150. These machines are really top of the line and even though there is not much in terms of features that they give you that is more than the mid range ones, the quality of their manufacture is totally different.
Most of the plastic items are not only strongly built, they are made of a different grade of plastic and are die cast so that you get an almost crystal like clarity from them. You also get many more attachments but most people who buy them do so not for the extra attachments but for the way that they look.
Having a scratch resistant clear plastic jar may not help you to cut your vegetables better, but it will definitely keep you happy longer, and this is what these models do.
1. Cuisinart FP-14DC Food Processor
There is not much difference in the base unit between the previous Cuisinart and this one. There is only one difference and that is that this model comes with 14 jars and all sorts of other attachments. The plastic is also completely different and it shows immediately when you see them side by side.
Of course at $243 this model is just too expensive and costs more than most people would be willing to pay for a food processor, but for those for whom money is not a bother, this machine is the best on the block.
2. Cuisinart DFP-14BCN Food Processor
This model is just the same as the previous model except for two things. The base unit looks very different and is like a square while all the others are cylindrical in shape. It also costs less at only $177.45. There is no difference between this model and the previous one in any other way, including in the size and number of the jars that you get as attachments.
3. Kitchenaid KFP750PR Food Processor
This model also gives you only 12 cups as attachment, but costs the same at $178 which is probably why it comes in at third place here. Even if it is not a Cuisinart which is a very strong brand when it comes to blenders and food processors, it is still a good option, and also looks better than the 14BCN.
The most popular food processors are the low end ones. These models are so simple they cannot even be called a food processor, but a chopper and/or slicer, thats all. If used properly they are more than enough because most of them come with three or four different small bowls or jars that are more than sufficient for our needs. Most people do not add too many chopped vegetables in their food, and there is really no need for anything more.
The high end ones are a study in technology and how multipurpose you can make one machine. You will have slicers and graters on opposite sides of the same plate and blades that chop or slice when used differently. You also get jars in different sizes. Yet with all their extras, they are just a little too much for most households, and most of the time12 out of the 14 jars will just be gathering dust and taking up space on the shelves.
After the low end models the most popular ones are the mid range ones that cost around the $100 – $130 range because you pretty much get whatever you want out of them. There are between 5 and 7 jars and a much more powerful motor. The warranty period is also longer. When it comes to getting a good appliance that will actually be helpful, there is nothing to beat the mid range ones.
Top Selling Food Processors Online
