The Best Mini Food Processor In 2024

As handy as your main food processor is, they can be a pain to clean up when you’re only working with small batch food prep.

They hog a lot of countertop space as well, so if you’re only using it infrequently it can take up valuable kitchen real estate.

Fortunately, there are alternatives for those who like our kitchen appliances to be compact and cost-effective.

I’ve reviewed five of the best mini food processors on the market for today’s guide. I’ve taken a detailed look at each one, and picked out some recommendations that I think will work well for different circumstances.

(Head back to my massive home juicing and blending guide when you’re done for more help with this side of kitchen life!)

Summary

BEST OVERALL: Cuisinart DLC-1SS Mini-Prep Processor

“I was really impressed with the Cuisinart 2.5 Cup food processor when I reviewed it. It’s got good capacity for food preparation, two speed settings for handling different ingredients, and the reversible blades add even more versatility. It’s a little sous chef in your pocket and the best mini food processor all-round.”

BEST FOOD CHOPPER: Philips MultiChopper

“If you’ve got limited counter space and you need something to handle all your chopping, you can’t really go wrong with the Philips MultiChopper. The clever basket design creates very consistent chopping sizes, and the work bowl is generous too. It’s one of the best choppers on the market, and is very reasonably priced.”

ALSO REVIEWED:

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Why Buy A Mini Food Processor?

Before taking a deeper dive into the individual mini food processors, it’s worth considering the benefits of owning one of these kitchen appliances.

If the following apply to you, it’ll likely be a worthwhile investment:

• Time – If you’re spending a lot of time doing fiddly small-scale food prep (think vegetable chopping), a mini food processor will handle the whole task for you. You’ll still need to do a little bit of prep (unless you want the skin and stems in there), but they make life a lot easier.
• Convenience – I love to actually cook a lot more than I enjoy the prep work. Using a food processor also means you don’t have to worry about your knife skills being up to scratch.
• Hygiene – You don’t have to worry so much about cutting board cross-contamination when you’re using a mini food processor. They’re also typically very easy to clean.
• Compact – If you don’t have a lot of kitchen space, owning a big food processor might not even be an option for you. You can fit a mini food processor just about anywhere – even in a very small kitchen!

Reviews

I’ve reviewed five of the best mini food processors on the market and taken a deeper dive into each one.

Black & Decker 3-Cup Electric Food Chopper (HC300B)

Black & Decker’s flagship mini food processor is available in either a 1.5 cup or 3 cup capacity. Unless you’re kitchen is particularly small, I’d recommend going for the slightly larger 3 cup edition.

That’s a good midpoint capacity that I like to see in these appliances, and won’t limit the number of jobs you can complete with it.

I was impressed with the quality of the stainless steel blades included with this food processor, but it is limited by a rather weak motor.

For true versatility you really want something with a little more oomph than what this appliance is packing.

The controls are very basic too, although you might consider that to be a positive thing if you only want a very simple appliance!

There’s just the one pulse control button which is located on the top of this mini food processor.

Push it down and it’ll whizz into life and keep going until you take the pressure off. It’s a very simple affair – with a single speed setting – but I do like the manual control that pulse mixing offers.

Although it’s a simple machine, there’s one clever touch here. The top of the cover contains small holes, which make it easy to add oil for things like dressings and vinaigrettes.

It’s a nice touch, and one that suggests Black & Decker really gets what these things are made to do in the first place.

There aren’t many parts to remove from the One-Touch Chopper. Those that do come apart all all dishwasher safe though. Anything that helps with clean up is very welcome in my book!

Finally – and unusually for a mini food processor – Black & Decker also provides a two year warranty for the appliance.

That’s double the support you get from most manufacturers at this end of the market, and gives you confidence that the low price tag doesn’t necessarily suggest a short lifespan.

Specs

• Capacity: 1.5 / 3 Cups
• Color: Black
• Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.0 x 7.0 inches
• Blades: Stainless Steel
• Warranty: 2 Years

Pros

• An extremely affordable mini food processor.
• Compact design makes it suitable for even very small kitchens with little counter space.
• Simple, one button controls for pulse blending.
• Clever lid design makes it easy to add oils to the mix.
• 1.5 or 3 cup capacity options.

Cons

• The relatively weak motor makes it limited to only simple food processor tasks.
• Limited control options, as well as a single speed setting.
• Not as versatile as other mini food processors.

Hamilton Beach Mini 3-Cup Food Processor (72850)

The Hamilton Beach Mini 3-Cup Food Processor is an improvement on the Black & Decker model in some important ways.

You get much more power for a start, thanks to a 350 Watt motor. That’s almost double the power of the last machine I reviewed.

With this increased power you get to tackle quite a few more jobs. You can chop a wider variety of tougher ingredients, for example, including carrots and nuts.

This also makes it much more suitable if you want to tackle tasks like purees, hummus and baby foods.

It also features the same smart lid design, with conveniently located holes that allow you to easily add oils to your ingredients once the initial processing has finished.

The Hamilton Beach 3-Cup food processor is just as easy to use too, although like the Black & Decker food processor it suffers from a lack of fine control.

To get this thing started, you simply load up your ingredients then push down on the lid.

You don’t have to twist and lock it into position, just push down and it’ll blitz the ingredients until you release the pressure.

Is it easy to clean? Yes. The Hamilton Beach 3-Cup has removable parts that are all dishwasher safe.

Although it has a similar price point, it’s a little bigger than the Black & Decker. Check the dimensions for your own countertop, although it’s unlikely to be a problem.

Be aware as well that this mini food processor only comes with a 1 year warranty. That’s not too unusual for this sort of appliance, but a little longer is always nicer!

Specs

• Capacity: 3 Cups
• Color: Black
• Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.2 x 8.54 inches
• Blades: Stainless Steel
• Warranty: 1 Year

Pros

• 350 Watt motor does a good job of tackling tougher ingredients.
• Quite a versatile little food processor.
• Easy to operate, with no need to align, twist and lock the lid.

Cons

• Food can get a little stuck around the blades.
• Gets a little hot under pressure.
• Needs to be full for optimal processing.

Cuisinart DLC-1SS Mini-Prep Processor

In terms of capacity, the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Processor sits in the middle of the mixers I’ve reviewed so far.

At 2.5 cups you get a decent middle ground between capacity and physical size.

More importantly than that you actually get two different speed settings to choose from here. That’s very useful when you need to be a little gentler with softer produce in particular.

These controls are decently chunky to choose between as well, with two sizeable buttons located on the front of the base.

The blade design’s smart too, and features both sharp and blunt edges. It’s a reversible unit that can be switched around, depending on whether you want to chop or grind the contents.

Combined with the speed settings, it gets you the best results in either case, and without two much hassle switching things around.

To help you get started, Cuisinart’s also included a recipe book along with the instruction manual.

Don’t expect anything too revolutionary here, but it’s a nice way of nudging you towards getting more from the appliance.

You even get a serviceable spatula out of the box, which is very useful for scraping out the container, particularly when it comes to making things like hummus and nut butters.

As for the motor, it’s quite powerful but perhaps a little too powerful. When you’re running this mini food processor at full speed, you might need to hold it down on the countertop.

Considering the motor is where most of these appliances fall down though, it’s hard to complain too much.

As with the other mini food processors I’ve reviewed, the Cuisinart Mini-Prep has easy to remove parts that are dishwasher safe.

One final bonus of this appliance? It’s comes with a 3 year warranty on the entire machine, and a 5 year warranty for the motor base.

That’s an incredible level of support for an appliance at this end of the market, and why I recommend the Cuisinart Mini-Prep over just about any other mini food processor.

Specs

• Capacity: 2.5 Cups (Approx.)
• Color: Silver
• Material: Plastic Jar / Stainless Steel Base
• Dimensions: 8.4 x 7.0 x 5.1 inches
• Blades: Stainless Steel
• Warranty: 3 / 5 Years

Pros

• A powerful motor that does a good job of mixing really tough ingredients.
• Dual speeds help the machine adapt to different types of produce.
• Smart blade design that can be reversed to tackle different jobs.
• Recipe book included.
• A generous warranty, and the Cuisinart customer service experience is very good.

Cons

• No pulse setting.
• Can move around on the countertop a little.

Philips MultiChopper (HR2505/26)

I think the name of the Philips MultiChopper says it all here! This is a food chopper that’s designed first and foremost to take your chopping tasks off your hands.

It’s not as versatile as some of the other food processors I’ve reviewed for this guide, but what it does do it does extremely well.

It features something that Philips calls DropChop technology. First you add the stainless steel three-blade unit to the ingredients basket, then you add the food.

Secure the lid, push down, and you get remarkably even chopping results as the ingredients fall through the holes in the basket, down into the collection container.

I think it’s a very clever way of getting a simple job done well. If chopping consistency is important for your recipe, this is about the easiest way to handle the task.

In terms of capacity, the Philips MultiChopper has to be looked at a little differently to the other food processors in this guide.

The basket itself can take around one whole onion, while the container beneath has a 1.1 liter capacity (around 4.5 cups).

If you’ve got a few different vegetables to prepare and combine, you can basically work through them one after another, then empty the main container.

If you like your kitchen appliances to add a little flair to the room, then I think the Philips MultiChopper gives you some really nice color options too.

This food chopper’s available in red, green, purple and white design options. Not all of these are as easy to get hold of as others though, so you might need to shortlist a couple of favorites.

Specs

• Capacity: 4.5 Cups (approximate)
• Color: Red / Green / Purple / White
• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions: 6.89 x 6.89 x 13.19 inches
• Blades: Stainless Steel
• Warranty: 1 Year

Pros

• Clever basket design gives very consistent chopping results.
• Larger chopping bowl is great for cooking prep using multiple ingredients.
• Great variety of color options to brighten up your kitchen.

Cons

• Designed for chopping, rather than food processing as such.
• Relatively heavy at 3.2 pounds.
• No speed controls. It’s on or off with this one!

KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper

For the last of my reviews I’ve looked at the 3.5 Cup KitchenAid mini food processor.

If you think you’re going to need a little more capacity than most of the other processors in this guide, it might be one to consider.

This one’s a little more advanced than the rest of the pack though.

As well as having two different speed settings for different produce types, you also get a dedicated pulse function.

That gives you much more control when you’re making things like salsas, and where you want to process the food but also retain a certain texture.

Handily, the mixing bowl also has a well designed pour spout that makes it easy to empty. It doesn’t make a mess when you pour it out either, which is great for saving on cleaning up time.

The Kitchen Aid mini food chopper also comes in more color options than even the Black & Decker.

There are 17 to choose from in total, although again you may find some of them to be easier to source than others.

Specs

• Capacity: 3.5 Cups
• Color: Various (See listing)
• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions: 5.6 x 7.0 x 8.7 inches
• Blades: Stainless Steel
• Warranty: 1 Year

Pros

• A generously sized container in a small form factor.
• Mess-free pour spout makes clean up a lot easier.
• More color options than any other appliance in this round-up.
• Multiple speed settings and a pulse function.

Cons

• Can be difficult to source some of the color options.
• Some of the parts feel a little flimsy.
• Filling it to the maximum level can cause produce to spill out.

Verdict

I’ve made some recommendations for what I think is the best mini food processor for different kitchens further up the page.

Out of the five though I have to say the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Processor makes my top pick overall.

It’s not the most expensive I’ve reviewed, but it still features a generous container size and two speed settings.

It’s the most versatile as well, thanks to that blade design which can be switched around to either chop, slice or dice.

Click here to find out more about the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Processor, and read how its many owners have been getting on with it.

Buying Guide

If you want to continue digging into the market for the best mini food processors, here are some of the most important buying factors you need to keep in mind:

Size

Most mini food processors offer a 2 cup capacity as a minimum, but they do go quite a bit higher than this.

As you look at the capacity of a food processor, consider the footprint of the appliance. Sooner or later you’ll find yourself in a position where what you’re really looking for is a standard food processor!

Most mini food processors will fit on even the tiniest of kitchen countertops, but it’s always worth double checking the dimensions first – particularly if you’ve got a particular spot in mind for it.

Also think about how your mini food processor will look sitting alongside your overall collection of kitchenware. Most of the best models take a pretty vanilla approach to design, but do think about how it will actually look when it’s out on the countertop.

Materials

Most of the mini food processors on the market are made primarily from plastic. If a stainless steel build is important to you, you’ll likely have to buy something a little bigger.

That’s not necessarily a problem, but you should make sure that the food processor you buy uses BPA-free plastic on any components that come into contact with the food.

Although the jury’s still out on the impact of BPA on health, most reputable manufacturers veer on the side of caution and use an alternative plastic instead.

Nine times out of ten this material will be prominently stated on the product description. Look for it, and stick to an appliance that uses this stuff if you want to play things really safe.

Power & Noise

As a general rule of thumb I recommend buying a mini food processor with a minimum power rating of 300 Watts.

You can get more powerful food processors (which will get the job done faster with tougher ingredients), but that’s the baseline really.

Something to keep in mind as well is that the more powerful the motor is on any food processor, the more noise it will make.

Consider how sensitive your household is to noise before investing in the most powerful appliance you can find!

Speed

The more powerful motors create higher speeds, of course, but there’s more to think about than just raw power.

Some of the best mini food processors include specific speed settings for tackling particular jobs.

If you want maximum versatility from your appliance, look for one that has dedicated settings for the tasks you need to make easier.

Think purees, rough vegetable chopping, or spice grinding for example.

Blade Quality

After the motor strength, the next most important component on a mini food processor is the blade quality.

This is the one element that really should be constructed from hard-wearing stainless steel. It’s going to take a lot of punishment, and so needs to be able to stand up to it.

Control Options

You don’t necessarily have to compromise on control options when you buy a mini food processor. These things are more about processing volume, rather than options.

With that said, on a compact appliance I always find it useful to have bigger buttons. They’re just easier to activate on a smaller unit.

You might also favor a mini food processor that has a pulse function too. With one of these, you just hold the button down for as long as you want the appliance to operate. That’s useful for fine control.

At the very least I like to see a low and a high speed setting on these things. The former is good for soft fruits and vegetables, while it’s good to have more power for tougher ingredients like carrots and potatoes.

At the end of the day these appliances are about convenience first and foremost. Make sure it’s easy to use, while still versatile enough to take on the jobs you need to get done.

Easy To Clean

No one wants to buy a mini food processor for convenience, only to find it’s a real pain to clean.

As these are simple appliances they shouldn’t be too difficult to take apart for cleaning by hand.

Even better though is a mini food processor that’s specifically advertised as dishwasher safe.

As long as it’s still easy to take apart, this is ideal. I’d still recommend running those components through the top rack of the dishwasher though, to avoid picking up any scratches.

Warranty

Check the warranty as you shortlist your choice of mini food processor.

At this end of the budget I think you’ll be lucky to find any manufacturer offering more than a 1 year warranty. That should be the bare minimum though.

On the subject of warranties, I would also say that it’s always best to go with one of the bigger brands – even if they cost a little more.

There’s no point having a warranty on your mini food processor if it’s a pain in the neck to contact customer service!

Tips For Using A Mini Food Processor

Once you’ve bought your mini food processor, you might like some starting tips for getting the most out of it.

Preparation

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to prepping your veggies.

These little machines have to work quite hard within a small form factor. For that reason, prepare your produce just as you would for a bigger appliance.

That means removing the peel and anything else you don’t want to end up in the mix. You should also give the vegetables a little bit of a chop so they’re an even size. That’ll give you a more consistent blend.

Don’t overfill your mini food processor either. The owner manual will likely give some pointers here, but you don’t want it to be so full that the higher produce can’t make sufficient contact with the blades.

Patience

Although I love the convenience of a mini food processor, it’s important to exercise a little bit of patience.

When you’re blitzing the ingredients, give the appliance a break after 15 seconds or so of intense activity. That will give the produce time to settle a little, which will give you a more even blend.

The bottom line here is pretty simple.

If you’re getting impatient with the performance of your mini food processor, you’re probably trying to do more than it was designed for.

Consider if what you really need is a bigger appliance!

Frequently Asked Questions

I wanted to wrap up my guide to the best mini food processors with answers to a few common questions on the subject.

Who Makes The Best Mini Food Processor?

I was very impressed with the Cuisinart Mini-Prep and I think it offers the best bang for your buck.

If you need help with general food preparation, I think it’s one of the best mini food processors on the market.

What Can I Do With A Mini Food Processor?

Mini food processors excel at handling small batch jobs without hogging a lot of countertop space.

What kind of jobs? Think things like:

• Salsas, sauces, dips and nut butters.
• Salad dressings and other small-batch condiments.
• Chopping herbs.
• Chopping onions and garlic (without getting stinky, sticky hands).
• Grinding coffee, nuts and herbs*

(*I would really recommend buying a dedicated grinder for this sort of regular job though. You’ll get much better results and you won’t put the food processor motor under nearly as much strain either.)

What’s The Best Mini Chopper To Buy?

I reviewed two mini choppers for this guide and I preferred the Philips MultiChopper overall.

It’s a high quality chopper that produces very evenly sized pieces. The bowl size is generous enough that you can tackle multiple cooking prep jobs without having to empty it.

Although it’s not technically a small food processor, it’s the best food chopper I know of and a very worthy addition to your kitchen.