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03303903059Our experts have put this handy guide together to help you find the right food processor for your kitchen.
A food processor can take the hard work out of everyday food preparation, helping you chop, slice, grate, shred, mix and knead ingredients quickly and consistently.
But food processors vary considerably in size, power, attachments and functionality. Some are designed primarily for chopping and slicing, while multifunction models can also blend, mix and prepare dough.
Our food processor buying guide explains what to look for and helps you decide which type of food processor is right for your kitchen.
A food processor is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to make food preparation quicker and easier.
Unlike a blender, which is primarily designed to turn ingredients into a smooth liquid or purée, a food processor is designed to process solid ingredients using different blades and attachments.
The exact functions available depend on the model and its supplied attachments.
One of the biggest advantages of a food processor is its versatility.
Food processors can quickly chop vegetables, herbs, nuts and other ingredients, saving considerable preparation time.
They're particularly useful when recipes require large quantities of finely chopped ingredients.
Many food processors include slicing discs that allow you to produce consistent slices quickly.
This can be useful for:
A reversible or interchangeable grating disc can make short work of cheese and vegetables.
This is particularly useful when preparing ingredients for pizzas, salads, gratins and other recipes.
Selected food processors include dedicated dough blades or attachments for mixing and kneading.
This can be useful for preparing:
Always check the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the type and quantity of dough that can be prepared.
A food processor can quickly chop nuts for baking, desserts, sauces and toppings.
The pulse function can be particularly useful when you want greater control over the final texture.
One of the most important decisions when buying a food preparation appliance is choosing between a food processor and a blender. Although there is some overlap, they are designed for different jobs.
A food processor is primarily designed for solid food preparation. It's ideal for:
A blender is primarily designed for liquidising and blending. It's ideal for:
| Task | Food processor | Blender |
|---|---|---|
| Chop vegetables | Excellent | Limited |
| Slice vegetables | Excellent | No |
| Grate cheese | Excellent | No |
| Shred vegetables | Excellent | No |
| Chop nuts | Excellent | Good on suitable models |
| Knead dough | Excellent on suitable models | No |
| Make pastry | Excellent | No |
| Smoothies | Possible on suitable models | Excellent |
| Milkshakes | Possible | Excellent |
| Smooth soup | Good | Excellent |
| Purée | Good | Excellent |
| Crush ice | Model dependent | Excellent on suitable models |
Which should I buy? If you mainly want to chop, slice, grate, shred and prepare ingredients, choose a food processor. If you mainly want to make smoothies, milkshakes, soups and liquid-based recipes, choose a blender. If you want to do both, consider a food processor and blender combination – some of the food processors in the Appliances Direct range are multifunction appliances.
Some food processors are supplied with a dedicated blender attachment, allowing one motor base to perform several jobs.
This type of appliance can be a particularly good choice if you want to avoid buying separate food processors and blenders.
Combines a food processor bowl with a crushing jug and portable cup, alongside chopping, slicing, grating, dough and blending attachments.
Food processor capacity is an important consideration, particularly if you regularly prepare large quantities.
Compact food processors are ideal for smaller kitchens and everyday food preparation.
They can be useful for:
The Appliances Direct range includes compact models such as the Kenwood FDP31.170GY, which has a 2.1L bowl and 800W motor.
A medium-sized food processor offers a good balance between capacity and worktop space.
This is often the sweet spot for couples and families who want a versatile appliance without a particularly large footprint.
Larger food processors are useful if you regularly prepare food in bigger batches.
Consider a larger capacity if you:
Tip: Remember that advertised bowl capacity and usable processing capacity can differ, so check the manufacturer's specifications before buying.
Food processor power is normally measured in watts. However, wattage shouldn't be the only factor you consider.
Performance also depends on:
A higher-powered food processor can be useful if you regularly process tough ingredients or make dough, but a lower-powered model may be perfectly adequate for basic chopping and slicing.
For example, Appliances Direct currently stocks food processors ranging from compact 800W models to KitchenAid models with 400W motors, demonstrating why wattage alone shouldn't determine your choice.
You don't necessarily need a food processor with dozens of speed settings.
For most everyday food preparation, a few well-designed speeds combined with a pulse function can provide plenty of control.
The pulse function is particularly useful when you want to chop ingredients without accidentally turning them into a purée.
Some appliances also provide automatic programmes that adjust the processing action for particular ingredients or recipes.
Attachments are one of the biggest differences between food processor models.
The standard chopping blade is useful for chopping vegetables, herbs, nuts and other ingredients.
A slicing disc creates consistent slices of vegetables and other suitable ingredients.
Useful for grating cheese and vegetables.
Ideal for shredding vegetables and other ingredients.
A dough blade is designed for mixing and kneading bread and other doughs.
Some multifunction food processors include a blender jug, allowing the appliance to make smoothies, drinks and sauces.
Some models also include smaller cups for individual smoothies and drinks.
Food processors can have several blades, discs and accessories, so dishwasher-safe components can make cleaning much easier.
Always check which parts are dishwasher safe before cleaning them this way.
If your food processor comes with several discs and blades, consider how they will be stored.
Integrated or dedicated accessory storage can help keep everything together.
A wider feeding tube allows you to add larger pieces of food without having to cut everything into small pieces first.
This can save preparation time.
Different speeds provide greater control over chopping, mixing and processing.
A pulse function is particularly useful for controlling texture.
A stable base helps keep the food processor securely positioned during operation.
If you regularly bake, pay particular attention to the supplied attachments. A food processor with a dedicated dough blade can help with:
However, if baking is your main priority and you regularly make large quantities of bread or cake batter, a stand mixer may be a better choice.
A food processor is generally more versatile for chopping, slicing and grating, while a stand mixer is designed primarily for mixing and kneading.
Food processors are particularly useful for preparing vegetables.
Slicing, grating and shredding discs can significantly reduce preparation time when cooking meals for a family or preparing larger quantities.
Instead of manually chopping or grating each ingredient, you can process larger quantities quickly and consistently.
If chopping is your main priority, look for:
The size of the bowl is particularly important if you regularly prepare large quantities.
For family cooking, look for a food processor with a sufficiently large bowl and the attachments you use most often. A larger bowl can reduce the need to process ingredients in multiple batches.
If your family cooking involves lots of chopping and vegetable preparation, prioritise:
If you also make smoothies, sauces and drinks, consider a multifunction model with a blender attachment.
For smaller kitchens, consider a compact food processor that provides the functions you need without taking up unnecessary worktop or cupboard space.
A multifunction compact model can be particularly useful because one appliance can replace several individual gadgets.
Check the appliance's dimensions as well as its bowl capacity before buying.
A hand blender is useful for blending ingredients directly in a saucepan, jug or bowl. It's particularly convenient for soups and sauces.
A food processor is much better suited to solid food preparation such as chopping, slicing, grating and shredding.
If you regularly make soup but rarely need to chop or slice ingredients, a hand blender may be the better choice.
If you want an appliance capable of handling a wider range of food preparation tasks, choose a food processor.
A food processor and stand mixer can overlap, but they have different strengths.
If you primarily cook savoury meals and want to reduce preparation time, a food processor is likely to be more useful. If you're passionate about baking, a stand mixer may be the better investment.
Before buying a food processor, consider:
Chopping, slicing, grating and shredding require different attachments.
Choose a bowl capacity suitable for your typical quantities.
Look for a dough blade if you want to prepare bread or pastry.
Consider a model with a blender jug or personal blending cup.
Check the dimensions and consider where the attachments will be stored.
Think about the ingredients you process most often rather than choosing purely by wattage.
Dishwasher-safe parts can make a noticeable difference if you use the appliance frequently.
Don't assume a food processor includes every blade or disc. Check exactly what comes in the box.
A pulse function operates the blades in short bursts rather than continuously. It's useful when you want precise control over the texture of your ingredients.
For example, you can pulse vegetables until they're roughly chopped rather than continuously processing them into a smooth mixture.
Pulse control is also useful when chopping nuts, herbs and other ingredients where texture matters.
Food processors can contain several removable components, so ease of cleaning is worth considering before buying. Look for:
Models with several attachments can offer greater versatility, but they also require more storage and cleaning.
A food processor is primarily designed for solid food preparation such as chopping, slicing, grating, shredding and kneading. A blender is primarily designed for liquidising and blending smoothies, soups, sauces and purées. If you want to do both, consider a food processor and blender combination.
Not necessarily. Performance also depends on blade design, motor construction, bowl design, attachments, speed control, the quantity of ingredients and the type of food being processed. A lower-powered model may be perfectly adequate for basic chopping and slicing.
A food processor can become one of the most useful appliances in your kitchen, particularly if you regularly prepare fresh ingredients.
From compact models for everyday chopping to multifunction appliances that can chop, slice, grate, knead and blend, there is a food processor to suit different cooking styles and kitchen sizes.
Explore the Appliances Direct range of food processors to compare capacities, power, attachments and features and find the right appliance for your kitchen.
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