These selected food choppers were tested for hours by our product tester for the most authentic results. We rated these choppers based on design, ease of use, size, cuisinart toaster costco ease of cleaning, convenience, overall effectiveness, and overall value. Testing was conducted with nuts and garlic, as well as with a variety of veggies.
If you don’t want to store the attachments in the bowl, it would be worthwhile to purchase a case for about $30. Christine Cyr Clisset is a deputy editor overseeing home coverage for Wirecutter. She previously edited cookbooks and cuisinart choppers craft books for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and she started reviewing kitchen gear back in 2013. She sews many of her own clothes, which has made her obsessive about high-quality fabrics—whether in a dress or bedsheets.
Electric choppers can cut up small amounts of produce, while food processors can make purees, doughs, and sauces. Unlike manual choppers, though, electric food choppers can also make salad dressing, mayonnaise, and other emulsified sauces. To start, we tested how evenly each food processor could chop a variety of ingredients, including onions, fibrous carrots, soft tomatoes, delicate parsley, and whole almonds. We also made a 1-cup batch of mayonnaise in the processors to see how quickly and evenly they could produce a stable emulsification. We made pizza dough in each full-size processor to see if the motor could withstand the rigors of kneading.
This processor also comes with a limited one-year product warranty and has a 25-year warranty on the motor—by far the longest warranty on a motor of any of the models we tested. This KitchenAid comes with relatively few parts and it disassembles easily for cleaning. We especially appreciate that the bowl has a handle, since we struggled to remove bowls that didn’t have one, especially when we were working with greasy hands. The Food Chopper is covered by a one-year warranty, which is standard for appliances in this price range, and you can get the base in a wide range of colors. Most blades are made of stainless steel, because they can withstand rust or corrosion.
For folks who like to do a lot of prepping ahead, extra bowls with covers are available for separate purchase. The KitchenAid chopped more evenly than the other mini processors we tested, and it did so quickly. It diced onions more consistently than the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus, and it chopped a quartered tomato evenly—we had to cut a tomato into smaller pieces to get the same results using other models. The Food Chopper also minced parsley cleanly, whereas the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus tore it, causing it to oxidize faster. One task this processor doesn’t excel at is chopping whole almonds evenly, but that’s typical of most mini choppers. We’ve been long-term testing the Cuisinart Custom 14 since 2013, and it remains a workhorse in the kitchen.
Say you want to dice an apple; you should slice the apple into halves or fourths, then chop away. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products cuisinart choppers or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). It features two speeds — chop and puree — so you can prepare anything from pico de gallo to pesto in one compact gadget. We also love that it has a drizzle basin where you can pour liquids in slowly for maximum emulsification and a pour spout for easy serving.
While both models are fine for cooks of all levels, an electric food chopper definitely takes some of the labor out of the process. It will run you a bit more money, but operating it is as simple as the push of a button. Whether you’re dicing celery, carrots, and onions for a pot pie or cutting in butter for a crust for pecan or apple pie, a food processor can be a handy helper in the kitchen. The Cuisinart® Stainless Steel Food Chopper is great for chopping vegetables, hard cheeses, nuts, herbs, garlic and more. Most brands sell replacement parts, which may come in handy after the limited warranty on parts expires.
Chopping cooked chicken breast to make chicken salad would be easy in many choppers. A medium rare steak would be more of a challenge and might not be possible in some choppers. Weight of chopper rounded to the nearest pound, includes the base, bowl, lid, and chopping blade. Handle of a variety of food prep tasks with the convenience of this Cuisinart chopper and grinder.
It wasn’t able to chop as evenly as the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, and it moved across the counter as it struggled to chop a tough jumbo carrot. The Cuisinart FP-12DCN Elite Collection Food Processor also has this handy feature, but most models (including the Cuisinart Custom 14) require that you loosen the lid before removing the bowl. We recommend this large, 16-cup processor only if you’re cooking for a crowd multiple times a week. The Sous Chef is more than twice the price of the Cuisinart Custom 14, and it’s more powerful (and much bigger) than most people need.
To meet your unique culinary needs, find a selection of food processors in a variety of sizes, ranging from a mini 4-cup to a large 14-cup one. Some Cuisinart food choppers also feature special slicing and shredding capabilities for foods such as cheese and vegetables. Use this handy machine to do everything from making homemade hummus to whipping up a zesty summer cabbage slaw. Consider including a Cuisinart food processor on your wedding registry as you set up your new home. Food processors are versatile appliances every home cook should have in their kitchen.