The 4 Best Mini Food Processors of 2024, According to Our Tests

Our Favorite Mini Food Processor

We chose the KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Chopper as our best overall mini food processor because it has strong functionality and precision — not to mention that it comes in various colors, which you can match with an accompanying immersion blender or hand mixer. The Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor is an excellent bang for your buck because it has the powerful motor you expect from Cuisinart at a comparatively low price.

How We Tested Mini Food Processors

We've performed multiple rounds of food processor and vegetable chopper testing that included machines that qualify as mini food processors, and this story compiles results from them all. We assessed them on general factors like ease of operation, usefulness of speed settings, and design factors in addition to the more specific performance tests below. Our top picks offered precision and control with minimal fuss or effort while maximizing prep time and taking up little storage space.

• Chopping Tests: To test each mini food processor's ability to chop coarsely, we processed quartered onions as well as other items like garlic, ginger, chiles, and herbs. We noted if anything got stuck under the blade and how even the cuts were, at both coarse and finer textures.
• Purée Tests: For the electric models, we made a combination of vegetable pureés, salsas, and homemade mayonnaise. We timed how long it took to fully pureé or emulsify, as well as if and how often we had to scrape down the sides.
• Cleaning Test: After each test batch, we cleaned all the pieces according to the manufacturer's instructions, paying careful attention to how easy or difficult it was to disassemble and clean everything safely. For food processors with dishwasher-safe parts, we ran them through at least one cycle and looked for any damage or deterioration.

In all of our testing, we don't look at retail prices and consider value for money until we've rated performance and all other characteristics. We compared the prices of the mini food processors in this story to similar models we tested at the same time, as well as to the overall averages for the entire category.

Factors to Consider

Manual vs. Electric

Most food processors use an electric motor to spin the blades, with higher wattage indicating more power. Mini food processors have much less power than their full-sized cousins, but they're also much smaller and don't need as much power to do the job. We found that a range of 200 to 400 watts is best for everyday use.

With that said, there are some quality manual food processors worth considering, too. These use a crank or pull-cord and muscle power to do their chopping. They're typically cheaper than electric models and great for a rustic cabin or other area without electricity. Manual mini food processors are also easy to clean, as you don't have to worry about keeping any motors and cords away from water.

Capacity

Mini food processors can hold anywhere from 2 to 5 cups. We've found that 3 or 3.5 cups is the sweet spot, but a larger mini food processor can potentially replace a full-size one, while a tiny size could be good for a one-person household or pint-sized kitchen. The best size depends on your needs. Are you looking to quickly dice or purée small quantities of vegetables or herbs for quick and easy meal prep, or do you want a slightly larger capacity for making healthy servings of dips or spreads? You should select a mini processor with a capacity that is equipped to accommodate your intended use and can fit into your space.

Speed Settings and Controls

Mini food processors tend not to have as much control over speed and texture as full-size models. Two settings — one for chopping and one for grinding — are common. These might spin the blades at different speeds or turn them in different directions to use the blunt rather than sharp side. With more speed settings, you'll have more control and precision over the size and texture of the pieces you're chopping food into. Cheap mini food processors with only one speed options left much to be desired in our testing, leaving uneven chunks of food when we tried to get a coarse texture.

Ease of Cleaning

The blades of food processors are sharp! That’s worth keeping in mind when removing the contents and hand-washing. Most mini food processors have dishwasher-safe parts, but you’ll want to confirm that before purchasing. Some blades are technically dishwasher-safe, but hand-washing will prevent them from dulling or suffering nicks over time. In general, hand-washing will extend the life of your mini food processor, so that's what we recommend.

Other Mini Food Processors We Tested

Strong Contenders

ZYLISS Easy Pull Manual Food Processor ($43 at Amazon)

This manual model operates with a simple pull-cord, which takes a lot of effort model but was still more efficient than a knife. Though it cut cleanly with no tearing and offered fast cleanup since it has few moving parts, we didn't love the small capacity of the Zyliss.

What Didn't Make the List

Through many rounds of testing, we've tested several more mini food processors that didn't make the cut. Most were eliminated from the running due to weak motors or inconsistent cuts. Dull blades were another concern; we just couldn't recommend food processors that bruised and mashed the food instead of chopping or puréeing. Others were difficult to put together and finicky to use; we wouldn't reach for them over other chopping appliances. Unfortunately, some previous favorite mini food processors were bumped from our top picks because they've been discontinued or gone out of stock.

Our Expertise

Contributor Ariane Resnick is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, bestselling author, and lifelong devotee of her Cuisinart mini food processor. She used market research and her expertise to determine the best mini food processors for every home cook, and she also incorporated insights from the hands-on testing of our editors.