Food processors: Choosing a food processor Types of food processor

Mini choppers are small food processors

Mini choppers

What are they?

A mini chopper is a small version of a food processor. There are three different types of shape: 

• A small motor in the main housing, with a bowl, knife and lid that sit next to it (like a mini, traditional-shaped food processor), 
• A motor in the main housing with a bowl, knife and lid that sit directly on top (similar in shape to a mini jug blender), or 
• A round glass bowl where the motor, housing and lid fit on top (like a roof).

They tend to be quite basic, with just a button and one or two speeds, and, as they’re small, they don’t take up much kitchen countertop space.

They’re specifically designed to only quickly chop or purée small quantities of food. They’re not designed for large batches of processing or for mixing, whisking or whipping.

Typical price range

£20-£50

Pros

• They’re small, so they hardly take up any kitchen counter space and they’re fast, taking seconds to chop onions or reduce small food portions to a fine pulp.
• You can make dips or purée baby food quickly, and it saves messing up your regular appliance for a small job. 
• They're generally easy to assemble and use as there are no accessories and only a few parts to fit together.

Cons

• You can't process large batches of food and they’re not suitable for chopping really hard items such as nutmeg, coffee beans or ice. 
• They’re not designed for mixing liquids, as this can cause them to overheat, nor can you make dough or cake mixtures in them. 
• Food still has to be peeled and prepared. Onions, for example, need to be quartered before processing. 
• You’re not advised to process hot food or hot liquids.
• You generally won’t get any accessories with them.

Stand mixers are larger than most food processors

Stand mixers

What are they?

A stand mixer is sometimes known as a kitchen mixer/machine or food mixer. Brand leaders include Kenwood, with its iconic Kenwood Chef, and KitchenAid, with its stylish and colourful Artisan range. 

A stand mixer is larger than an average food processor. Most basic models come with a beater, dough hook and splash guard, but more expensive models can come with extras, such as a liquidiser or jug blender, or attachments to chop and slice. 

With models such as the Kenwood Chef and KitchenAid you also have the option to buy extra attachments – such as a mincer – to increase the range of tasks the appliance can do.

Main tasks are mixing cakes, making batters, kneading dough or whipping and whisking (though they can make a wide range of other food as well). They excel at these tasks as their attachments are specifically designed for them.

Typical price range

£150-£400

Pros

• Excellent at whisking eggs and whipping creams as the whisk is a larger, metal balloon whisk and works in a planetary motion (where the actual whisk moves one way, while the stand mixer head rotates the other way). 
• The mixer is able to incorporate a lot more air into cream or egg whites, making them fluffy and stiff and much more voluminous. 
• They're ideal for making large batches of cake mixes, batters or dough, too.

Cons

• Larger in size than an average food processor, so will take up more countertop space. 
• They’re also a lot heavier and aren’t as easy to move or store as a food processor. 
• They don’t generally chop, slice or grate, but some models come with accessories that will let you do these tasks.

Food processors are good at chopping, slicing and grating

Food processors

What are they?

A food processor's main tasks are chopping, slicing, mixing and grating. They’re smaller than stand mixers but larger than a mini chopper. Brand leaders include Kenwood, KitchenAid and Magimix.

Most models include a knife and dough blade plus shredding and slicing discs. Some food processors come with additional accessories, such as a blender, mill or mini chopper. Some models can even do additional tasks such as puréeing food or making mayonnaise. 

A food processor with a liquidiser or jug blender attachment will be able to tackle the widest range of tasks, and you’ll be able to make refreshing smoothies or milkshakes.

Food processors can also mix cakes, knead dough, whip and whisk, but not as well as a stand mixer. 

Food processors have smaller beaters or whisks; sometimes these are plastic, so they increase the volume of food like cream or egg whites, but not as much as a stand mixer would. 

Food processors can also come with a skirt whisk, which whisks cream to a stiff consistency, although the end result is compact, rather than voluminous.

Typical price range

£28-£350

Pros

• Chopping, slicing, shredding, grating and puréeing large batches of food. 
• They come with a wide range of accessories and different blades so you can slice or shred thinly or thickly, for example. 
• Some models have fancier blades that allow you to cut chips or come with features such as a dosing hole in the lid (to pour in liquids) or an extra wide feed tube (so you can put larger items in without having to chop them into smaller pieces first).

Cons

• You still have to prepare your food (and sometimes chop it into smaller pieces). 
• They’re generally not as good as a stand mixer for kneading dough, whisking or whipping. 
• Lots of accessories mean they can be harder to store or harder to assemble.
• They can be noisy.