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The best food processors for every budget
The Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup wins for its strong, quiet performance and simple controls; the picks below suit smaller budgets and batches.
| Best overall | Best value | Cheapest that's still good | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor (DFP-14BCNY) | Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor (BN601) | Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap Food Processor (70725A) |
| Price | about $250 | about $100 | about $70 |
| Why | It pairs a roomy bowl and capable 720-watt motor with straightforward On and Off/Pulse controls. Tom’s Guide measured 65.2 dB, and it sliced a potato in two seconds and shredded cheddar in 10 seconds; Forbes also recommends it for most home cooks. | For substantially less than the Cuisinart, it offers a 9-cup bowl, 1,000-peak-watt motor, dough blade and useful processing presets. Forbes calls it a value pick, noting its versatility and easy cleanup. | Food Network recommends this budget model and lists it at about $70 at Amazon; its 12-cup bowl and 450-watt motor provide useful full-size capacity for a comparatively low price. |
| Good to know | It is heavy and its bowl and lid can be fiddly to assemble. | The preset-heavy controls may feel less straightforward than basic On/Pulse buttons. | It offers only one slicing and shredding thickness. |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
picture by AIIt pairs a roomy bowl and capable 720-watt motor with straightforward On and Off/Pulse controls. Tom’s Guide measured 65.2 dB, and it sliced a potato in two seconds and shredded cheddar in 10 seconds; Forbes also recommends it for most home cooks.
Good to know: It is heavy and its bowl and lid can be fiddly to assemble.
See on Amazonpicture by AIFor substantially less than the Cuisinart, it offers a 9-cup bowl, 1,000-peak-watt motor, dough blade and useful processing presets. Forbes calls it a value pick, noting its versatility and easy cleanup.
Good to know: The preset-heavy controls may feel less straightforward than basic On/Pulse buttons.
See on Amazonpicture by AIFood Network recommends this budget model and lists it at about $70 at Amazon; its 12-cup bowl and 450-watt motor provide useful full-size capacity for a comparatively low price.
Good to know: It offers only one slicing and shredding thickness.
See on AmazonDanilli may earn a small commission from Amazon or the store when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Pictures marked "picture by AI" are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.
What matters
Choose bowl capacity for the batches you actually make, then consider how well it handles slicing, shredding, dough and cleanup. Feed-tube size, included attachments, noise and storage space can matter as much as motor power.
Who this is for
These picks are for home cooks who want to speed up everyday chopping, slicing and mixing. If you mostly prep small portions, a compact processor may be a better fit than a full-size model.
The picks, one by one
Best overall: Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor (DFP-14BCNY)
It pairs a roomy bowl and capable 720-watt motor with straightforward On and Off/Pulse controls. Tom’s Guide measured 65.2 dB, and it sliced a potato in two seconds and shredded cheddar in 10 seconds; Forbes also recommends it for most home cooks. Reviewers found it handled dough, cheese and larger batches well, and the extra-large feed tube can reduce chopping before processing. Its two-button control scheme is simple, though it offers less speed adjustment than some competitors. It is a substantial machine, so plan for counter or cupboard space. Skip it if you mainly make small portions or need a lightweight processor.
Good to know: It is heavy and its bowl and lid can be fiddly to assemble.
See on AmazonBest value: Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor (BN601)
For substantially less than the Cuisinart, it offers a 9-cup bowl, 1,000-peak-watt motor, dough blade and useful processing presets. Forbes calls it a value pick, noting its versatility and easy cleanup. The included chopping blade, dough blade and slicing/shredding disc cover common prep jobs without buying extra attachments. Four Auto-iQ programs offer one-touch options, alongside low, high and pulse settings. It is a good fit for cooks who want a capable full-size machine for less. Skip it if you prefer very simple controls or need the larger 14-cup capacity.
Good to know: The preset-heavy controls may feel less straightforward than basic On/Pulse buttons.
See on AmazonCheapest that's still good: Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap Food Processor (70725A)
Food Network recommends this budget model and lists it at about $70 at Amazon; its 12-cup bowl and 450-watt motor provide useful full-size capacity for a comparatively low price. Food Network tested it on chopping, slicing, shredding, dough and dressing, and praised its consistent performance and combined slicing-and-shredding blade. The Stack & Snap design avoids a twisting lid, and the parts are dishwasher-safe. It is a sensible pick for routine home prep if keeping the price down matters most. Skip it if you need adjustable slicing thickness or premium power.
Good to know: It offers only one slicing and shredding thickness.
See on AmazonHow we chose
Reviewers tested tasks including chopping onions, slicing vegetables, shredding cheese, mixing dough and making sauces, while also checking noise, setup, controls and cleanup. Some tests were single-session kitchen trials; Forbes also reports several weeks of use for its overall pick. Danilli read the reviews and tests listed below and compared current prices; it does not take money from brands to pick a product.
Sources
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Written with Danilli's AI from the sources above and refreshed about once a month; prices change, check Amazon for today's price. Danilli may earn a small commission from Amazon or the store when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Pictures marked "picture by AI" are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.