The 7 Best Food Processors and Blenders of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall Food Processor

Cuisinart Food Processor

$250 at Amazon $250 at Walmart Orig. $250 $200 at Target

This food processor isn't fancy by any means, but it gets the job done better than any other food processor we tested. Simple operation features include two large paddle buttons—one for "on" and the other for "off/pulse"—and that's really all you need. The 14-cup work bowl allows for family-size batches and has an extra-large feed tube (with small and large pushers), so you don't need to cut ingredients into small pieces to make them fit. As far as discs go, you get one for shredding and another for slicing, plus a removable disc stem that fits both and a metal blade for chopping, mixing, blending, and emulsifying.

We found this food processor very easy to use and were pleasantly surprised with how well it kneaded dough. The only minor hiccups you may have is with setup (assembling the attachments for the first time wasn't a walk in the park nor was it the most difficult thing in the world) and cleaning the different parts. That said, this offers incredible value: One of our editors' parents has had this same food processor for decades, and it still works as good as new. Yes, $150+ is somewhat of an investment, but it's more than worth it if you're looking for a high-performance machine that could potentially last you a lifetime.

Capacity: 14 cups | Settings: On, off/pulse | Power: 720 watts | Size: 11 x 7.9 x 14.8 inches | Weight: 17.3 pounds | Warranty: 3 years for the entire unit, 5 years for the motor

Best Budget Food Processor

Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack & Snap Food Processor

$60 at Amazon

For about half the price of our No. 1 pick, you can pick up this tried-and-true budget pick from Hamilton Beach. We found the design simple to use and clean, though food did tend to gather in the gap between the plunger and lid lip, so pay special mind to that when you wash. Like most food processors, the main blade chops, mixes, purees, and emulsifies, while the included attachment disc features a slice side and shred/grate side. Four labeled buttons allow you to choose between the different functions, and the blades can be stored directly inside the machine.

Here's the catch: This isn't as heavy-duty or durable as other options we tested, so unlike the Cuisinart, it will likely need to be replaced after a few years if used often (wash by hand to prolong the lifespan). That said, it does yield consistent results and is easy to assemble and disassemble.

Capacity: 12 cups | Settings: Shred/slice, puree/mix, pulse, off | Power: 450 watts | Size: 8.76 x 9.55 x 16.25 inches | Weight: 6.57 pounds | Warranty: 1 year

Best Manual Food Processor

Zyliss Easy Pull Food Processor

$43 at Amazon $43 at Walmart $43 at Wayfair

This is about as simple as it gets: There's no electricity required for this compact food processor. All it takes is a simple pull of the handle to get the two blades moving in opposite directions, chopping ingredients rather than moving it in a circular motion. (Stationary arms arms at the top and bottom of the gadget send food into the blades.)

Although it does require manual work, we found that it took little effort to get chunky nuts or salsa; more pulls will give you a smooth puree. This particularly excelled at chopping onions and aromatics, and since it's small and doesn't require power, it's very easy to take on the go and use outside while barbecuing or camping. With few parts, nooks, and crannies, it's easy to clean, too.

Capacity: 3 cups | Power: Manual, pull handle | Size: 5.2 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches | Weight: 0.84 pounds | Warranty: 5 years

Best Overall Blender

Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender

$700 at Amazon $700 at Walmart $700 at Target

Are you tired of replacing blenders every year or so when the motors burn out? Add this one to your kitchen arsenal, and it will be the last blender you ever buy. It’s built for longevity and can do everything you need and more, from turning ice into fluffy snow to grinding grains into flour. The powerful 2,400-watt machine has manual controls for 10 different speeds, a pulse button to get the perfect salsa, and five programmed settings for smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts, purees, and cleaning—just add a drop of dish soap and warm water, and the machine cleans itself in about a minute.

The blades spin so fast that you can even heat cold ingredients to steaming hot in about six minutes for smooth hot sauces, salsas, or soups. While the food gets hot, the motor is designed to run cool, so it won’t overheat with extended blending time. Not only does this blow every other blender that we tested out of the water, but it can also be used as a food processor in most cases. (It even includes a tamper.)

A quick look at the price tag might make you recoil—this is certainly an investment piece—but it's absolutely worth it for its versatility and power. During testing, when we pitted a number of Vitamix models against each other, the 750 was the best by far. It can truly take on anything, rapidly turning fibrous celery into smooth juice, fresh cream into butter, and more. Its blades are mighty enough to simultaneously puree and heat up soup, but makes quick work of frozen ingredients, too, allowing no time for heat up and all the time for enjoying icy treats.

Capacity: 64 ounces | Power: 2,400 watts | Settings: 10 speeds, 5 pre-programmed settings, and a pulse button | Dimensions: 8.5 x 17.25 x 8.5 inches | Warranty: 7 years

Runner-Up, Best Blender

KitchenAid K400 Blender

$300 at Amazon $270 at Wayfair $300 at Kohls.com

If you can't quite rationalize dropping nearly $600 on a Vitamix blender, this is a solid alternative at a fraction of the price. It's still not cheap, and it features about half the wattage, but the rave reviews speak for themselves: This machine has the blending power to pulverize ice in the blink of an eye, does very well with fibrous ingredients, and is able to turn nuts into smooth nut butter. It's durable and should last you a long time, even when used on a daily basis.

The design of the K400 creates a vortex down to the asymmetrical blades, which helps ingredients blend more thoroughly. There are three programs, including ice crush, icy drinks, and smoothie, and the dial lets you cycle through five different speeds for precise control. While you can clean this manually by blending a few drops of dish soap in water, the jar and lid are also dishwasher-safe.

Capacity: 56 ounces | Power: 1,200 watts | Settings: 5 speeds, 3 pre-programmed settings, and a pulse setting | Dimensions: 9.02 x 7.59 x 15.8 inches | Warranty: 5 years

Best Budget Blender

Ninja Nutri Pro

$103 at Amazon $59 at Walmart $90 at Home Depot

If you know blenders, you know the Ninja name, and the Nutri Pro lives up to the high quality the brand is known for. While it doesn't have the large capacity of the other models on our list, it's perfect for those looking to make personal-size smoothies and especially those who are low on counter space. Don't let it's compact size fool you, though, as it still packs quite the punch with 900 watts of power, which thoroughly blends ingredients—like frozen blueberries, soft fruits, and leafy greens—in 10 seconds or less. It can even handle powdery items, such as ground flax and whey protein. Just be careful of seeds, as those don't blend as well, but if you don't mind a chunkier texture, go ahead and throw those raspberries in.

The Ninja Nutri Pro comes with 18- and 24-ounce blending cups and to-go lids so you can make your drink and head out the door. The small blender also easily fits under standard kitchen cabinets with plenty of room to spare, and if you have other silver appliances, the design will fit right in.

Capacity: 18 and 24 ounces | Power: 900 watts | Settings: 1 speed | Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 14 inches | Warranty: 1 year limited

Best Immersion Blender

Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender

$70 at Amazon Orig. $80 $70 at Walmart $70 at Wayfair

Immersion blenders, or handheld blenders, are highly versatile. Not only are they way more compact than a regular, pitcher-style blender or food processor, but they're also equipped to handle a variety of kitchen tasks: whisking eggs, mixing pancake batter, whipping cream, blending smoothies and sauces, pureeing baby food—you name it. You can even use it to blend soups right in the pot, eliminating the need to transfer anything after cooking. It is the definition of convenience. Plus, you can store it right in your utensils drawer when you're done.

Like Ninja, KitchenAid, and Vitamix, Cuisinart is another trusted name in the kitchen industry, and this immersion blender does not disappoint. It has a button for continuous and pulse blending as well as variable speed control. We preferred the highest speed setting for most recipes, but the adjustable, lower speeds are useful for softer items like avocado or recipes that might splatter. With this, you get a jar that's ideal for blending smoothies or making mayo, a chopper attachment for things prepping produce or whipping up a quick salsa, and a whisk attachment for making fresh cream or beating eggs.

There are two buttons on the front, and "on" button and a "lock" button, which you need to press before the blender will turn on, but then it can be released. This is a nice safety feature, though we found it a little awkward to use.

Power Rating: 300 watts | Speed(s): Variable | Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 13 inches | Warranty: 3 years