I Asked 4 Chefs To Name the Best Food Processor—They All Said the Same Thing

I like pizzazz. Most kitchen appliances are more appealing to me the more bells and whistles they possess. One appliance in the opposite camp? My food processor. I want reliability and power out of my food processor, and that’s it. The machine has one job: to pulverize.

My food processor sits out of sight, so I’m less concerned about it winning any beauty awards, but I reach for it frequently—for pesto, dressings, nut butter, and more. Unlike flimsier kitchen appliances that bend and break, my food processor is sturdy. I’ve had it for over a decade, and I bought it because it was the same one my mom had and used quite often.

My mom, who would typically let me borrow nearly anything in her possession, knowing she may never see it again, kept a close grasp on her food processor. “Buy your own,” she said. That’s precisely what I did. But first, I checked with the experts. I was tickled to learn that chefs love the same one as me. 

The Panel of Experts I Asked

• Miro Uskokovic: Pastry Chef at Gramercy Tavern in New York City
• Breana Killeen M.P.H, RD: Food editor at Food & Wine, recipe developer, farmer, and dietitian
• Spencer Huey: Chef at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California
• Ivy Manning: Author of 10 cookbooks, including Tacos A to Z: A Delicious Guide to Nontraditional Tacos

The Best Food Processor, According to Chefs

Pros’ top choice? Cuisinart. Throughout my conversations, I learned chefs love their Cuisinart for the same reason I love mine: its workhorse reliability in the kitchen. 

The Cuisinart food processor, introduced in the 1970s, changed home cooking forever by making tasks like chopping, slicing, and shredding significantly faster and easier. It was inspired by a visit to France by founder Carl Sontheimer, who saw a commercial food processor and adapted the idea for American home kitchens.

Like me, Huey’s food processor obsession was inspired by his parents. “I’ve always had a Cuisinart food processor since my parents got me one for my 10th birthday,” he says. “I like the 14-cup model; it’s simple and has only a couple of buttons, which is all you need! It’s easy to use, the blades chop uniformly and stay sharp, and it’s relatively easy to clean.”

Uskokovic also commends Cuisinart’s 14-cup processor. “This is a workhorse machine and the only food processor I would recommend. It has held up for 10 years in our house, and we use it a lot. I don't think there's a stronger testimony than that.” 

Killeen calls the 14-cup “basic,” but that’s all she needs. Her verdict? “It's simply the best.”  

Manning has, not one, but multiple Cuisinarts, so she can grab the right one for the job. “I actually use my mini Cuisinart food processor more than the big one,” she says, “because I cook a lot of Indian, Thai, and Indonesian food, and I'm always making garlic and ginger and curry pastes.” Whichever size you choose, as these chefs attest, you can feel confident that you’ll get the results you want for years to come when your food processor is a Cuisinart.

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