In my opinion, the only food processor worth buying is a food processor you’ll actually want to use . Yes, these appliances can do all the dicing, chopping, kneading and puréeing that you want them to do, but they can also take up a ton of space, be somewhat tedious to operate, and get quite fiddly to clean. When I set out to find the best food processor, I wanted one that, in addition to performing the required jobs very well, was, to be blunt, not annoying.

Our top picks

The best food processor overall: Breville Sous Chef 9 or 16

A beloved runner-up : Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor

Whether your cabinets can comfortably hold one or not, a food processor is an essential kitchen appliance for home cooks. It can do a lot of things a stand mixer or blender can and then some. It will serve as a grinder, a grater, a slicer, and will readily assist you in making soups, pestos , salsas , nut butters, pizza dough , or pie crusts .…