The best food processors for families in 2024 - tested and top-rated

Why food processors are a must-have for families

A food processor is the ultimate kitchen companion for parents. It acts as your personal sous chef, chopping, mixing, and blending in a fraction of the time it would take to do it by hand. This means more time spent with your little ones and less time on tedious prep work. Perfect for making everything from baby food and snacks for kids to family dinners, a food processor will ensure consistent, even results. Whether it's slicing vegetables for a hearty soup or making a quick salsa for taco night, it’ll give you one less thing to worry about.

Let’s dive into the top picks, all tested and reviewed by the team at Good Food to help you decide which model is the best fit for your family's needs.

Best food processors for families at a glance

• Best overall food processor: Sage The Paradice 9, £299.95
• Best compact food processor for smaller kitchens: Kenwood MultiPro Go, £71.99
• Best value for money: Ninja BN650UK, £99
• Best for multi-functional use: Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ, £199.99
• Best for batch cooking: Magimix 4200XL, £320
• Best 2-in-1 food processor/stand mixer: Bosch CreationLine Kitchen Machine, £399
• Best for making purees and smoothies: Magic Bullet Kitchen Express, £69
• Best small family food processor: Cuisinart FP8U Easy Prep Pro, £48
• Best food processor with built-in scales: Kenwood MultiPro Express Weigh+, £214.99
• Best compact food processor for small families: KitchenAid 2.1L Food Processor, £219

Best food processors for busy families: Top picks for chopping, slicing, and more

1. Sage The Paradice 9

Best overall food processor

This is the best all-rounder for families who do a lot of home cooking. With a 2.1L capacity, it’s large enough to handle everything from baby purees to family-sized meals. The built-in storage caddy is ideal for keeping all the parts tidy, which is especially helpful for smaller kitchens.

During tests, the Sage The Paradice 9 was praised for its powerful motor and efficient chopping, though the dicing blade left some bits behind, requiring a quick second chop.

Why it’s great for families:

• Generous capacity without being bulky
• Color-coded attachments make it easy to use (even if a parent is juggling multiple tasks)
• Great for batch cooking and prepping meals ahead for busy weeks

2. Kenwood MultiPro Go

Best compact food processor for smaller kitchens

Perfect for parents short on space but in need of reliable functionality. The Kenwood MultiPro Go is compact, yet it handles essential tasks like grating cheese, chopping vegetables, and slicing fruit quickly.

Its small size doesn’t compromise performance, and it even includes an express serve attachment, so you can process food directly into a pan—saving time on washing extra bowls.

Why it’s great for families:

• Small and lightweight, easy to store away when not in use
• Integrated cord storage helps reduce clutter
• Great for prepping smaller portions for children’s meals

3. Ninja BN650UK

Best value for money

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that still packs a punch, the Ninja BN650UK delivers great performance without the hefty price tag.

It’s perfect for preparing everyday family meals, like making pizza dough, shredding vegetables for stir-fries, or whipping up a batch of pancakes. During testing, the Ninja BN650UK impressed with its compact design and versatility.

Why it’s great for families:

• Pre-set functions make it simple to operate, even if you’re new to using a food processor
• Dishwasher-safe parts make clean-up quick and easy
• Powerful enough for kneading doughs and slicing hard vegetables

4. Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ

Best for multi-functional use

For families that need a little more versatility, the Ninja 3-in-1 combines a food processor, blender, and smoothie maker in one unit. This makes it a great choice for parents who like to switch between meal prep and smoothie-making for the kids’ breakfast or after-school snacks. The Auto-IQ function selects the correct settings for you, so you can leave it to do the hard work.

Why it’s great for families:

• Combines multiple kitchen appliances into one
• Makes everything from purees and soups to smoothies
• Powerful motor blitzes through tough ingredients in seconds, perfect for time-strapped parents

5. Magimix 4200XL

Best for batch cooking

If you like to prepare meals ahead of time, the Magimix 4200XL is a solid choice. With its large 1.3L working capacity and three different bowls, it can handle big batches of food, making meal planning and batch cooking a breeze. This model performed especially well during Good Food’s tests, excelling at tougher tasks like kneading dough and blending thicker sauces.

Why it’s great for families:

• Large capacity, ideal for making meals in bulk
• Sturdy design with quality accessories that can stand up to regular use
• Comes with a helpful recipe book for meal inspiration

6. Bosch CreationLine Kitchen Machine

Best 2-in-1 food processor/stand mixer

This 2-in-1 Bosch model offers both a food processor and a stand mixer, making it ideal for families who bake and cook frequently. With integrated scales and a powerful 1000W motor, it can handle everything from slicing veggies to mixing cake batter or kneading dough.

Why it’s great for families:

• Versatile appliance for baking and meal prep
• Integrated scales save time when measuring ingredients
• Dishwasher-safe attachments for easy cleanup

7. Magic Bullet Kitchen Express

Best for making purees and smoothies

The Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is a multi-use processor and blender that’s perfect for families who want to make baby food purees, smoothies, or quick sauces. It’s compact, easy to store, and comes with additional cups for on-the-go smoothies.

Why it’s great for families:

• Compact and versatile—great for both baby food and parent smoothies
• Dishwasher-safe parts
• Affordable and space-saving

8. Cuisinart FP8U Easy Prep Pro

Best small family food processor

For families who don’t need a large food processor, the Cuisinart FP8U Easy Prep Pro is a smaller but highly effective machine. With a 1.9L capacity and strong build quality, it’s ideal for smaller batches, perfect for snack prep or making meals for little ones.

Why it’s great for families:

• Small but sturdy, ideal for smaller meals or snacks
• Quality materials make it durable for long-term use
• Simple, easy-to-use controls

9. Kenwood MultiPro Express Weigh+

Best food processor with built-in scales

The Kenwood MultiPro Express Weigh+ is perfect for families who need to process a lot of food but also want to save time on measuring ingredients. The built-in scales allow you to weigh everything directly in the jug, reducing the need for extra measuring cups.

Why it’s great for families:

• Built-in scales save time
• Large capacity, great for bigger families
• Multiple attachments for slicing, grating, and blending

10. KitchenAid 2.1L Food Processor

Best compact food processor for small families

The KitchenAid 2.1L is perfect for smaller families or those who want a food processor that’s compact but still offers a variety of functions. With innovative reversible stacking discs and quiet operation, this model is a great addition to any kitchen.

Why it’s great for families:

• Quiet, making it suitable for homes with young children
• Compact but versatile, great for small family meals
• Easy to clean with dishwasher-safe parts

What is a food processor?

A food processor can be a busy parent’s best friend in the kitchen, helping you save time on food prep for family meals. Designed to take care of many repetitive kitchen tasks, a food processor is a true multitasker. Most models come with various accessories to chop, slice, grate, and knead, helping you whip up everything from family dinners to packed lunches for the kids.

Many food processors also include blender attachments, so you can tackle multiple kitchen tasks with one appliance—perfect for space-conscious families.

Before choosing a food processor, think about what functions you need most. All food processors come with a chopping blade, which is great for making kid-friendly hummus, pesto, or even homemade pasta sauce. But there are plenty of other accessories that can make life easier:

• Dough blade: Perfect for kneading pizza dough for family pizza nights or making fresh bread.
• Shredding disc: Great for grating cheese or vegetables like carrots, saving you time and avoiding scraped knuckles.
• Slicing disc: For evenly sliced potatoes or cucumbers for salads or snacks—perfect when prepping healthy lunches or dinner sides.

If you want to go the extra mile, more premium models often come with extras like dicing or French fry attachments, ideal for homemade chips the whole family will love, or additional smaller bowls for processing small amounts of food.

What can a food processor do for your family?

Food processors come with a range of attachments, helping you prepare meals for the whole family. Most models will allow you to slice, grate, chop, and knead with ease, making meal prep a breeze. Here’s a look at what they can help you with:

• Slicing attachment: Prepare even slices of veggies or potatoes for dishes like dauphinoise potatoes or a healthy cucumber salad.
• Grating attachment: Get through those big blocks of cheese, or grate vegetables for quick snacks, muesli, or fish cakes.
• Dough blade: Knead dough for pizza, biscuits, or buns—fun to do with the kids for a family baking session!
• Chopping blade: The all-rounder of the food processor world. Use it for everything from making curry pastes to chopping vegetables or even whipping up homemade cookie dough.

Food processors are a great tool for creating a range of meals quickly, leaving you with more time to focus on family life.

What to look for when buying a food processor

Choosing the right food processor for your family can feel overwhelming with so many models available, especially if you're trying to stick to a budget. Here are some key factors to consider to ensure you pick one that meets the needs of your busy family life without overspending.

1. Design: Basic or multifunctional?

The first decision to make is whether you need a basic food processor for everyday tasks or a more advanced model with extra functions. If you're a budget-conscious parent, a simple food processor that chops, slices, and mixes will handle most family meals perfectly. These are great for prepping veggies, making sauces, or blending baby food—ideal for when you need to quickly prepare dinner after school pick-up or before bedtime.

However, if you want something that can do more—like knead dough, grate cheese, or even act as a blender—consider a multifunctional model. These typically come with additional accessories and can handle a wider range of kitchen tasks. Keep in mind that the more features you add, the higher the price. For most families, a standard model will do the job well unless you frequently cook more complex meals or enjoy experimenting in the kitchen.

2. Size: How much food does your family need?

Food processors come in various sizes, and it’s important to choose the right one based on your family’s needs. Small models with a 1-2 litre capacity are great for preparing purees, dips, or small portions for toddlers, but they may not be large enough to handle bigger family meals.

For a family of four, a 2-3 litre capacity is often perfect for prepping larger meals like soups, sauces, or salads. This size offers the flexibility to chop, slice, and blend enough for everyone, with the bonus of leftovers for lunch the next day.

If you have a larger family or like to batch-cook and freeze meals, go for a food processor with a capacity of 3.5 litres or more. Larger models are perfect for prepping in bulk—ideal for making family favourites like spaghetti Bolognese, stews, or batches of dough for pizza night.

Top tip for parents: Keep in mind that the listed capacity is the total size of the bowl, not the working capacity. It’s best to only fill the bowl halfway to two-thirds full to avoid overloading the motor.

3. Space: How much room do you have?

With limited counter space, especially in busy family kitchens, the size and shape of your food processor are key considerations. Compact models with a smaller footprint are easier to store and take up less space when in use. These are great if your kitchen is on the smaller side or if you’re looking for something that can be easily tucked away between uses.

Larger, bulkier models may offer more versatility and power but could take up a significant amount of counter or cupboard space. If you’re opting for a bigger food processor, make sure you have enough storage or counter space to accommodate it, especially if it comes with multiple attachments.

Pro tip: If space is tight, look for models that include integrated storage for accessories. This can help reduce clutter and keep all parts together, making your kitchen feel more organised.

How to recycle a food processor

If your food processor has stopped working or you’re upgrading to a newer model, it’s important to dispose of it responsibly to help reduce e-waste. Here’s how to do it:

1. Check the warranty

If your food processor is broken, first check if it's still under warranty. If it is, the manufacturer or retailer might replace or repair it for you, saving you from needing a new one.

2. Repair it

If the warranty has expired, contact a local repair service to see if it can be fixed. Some small issues might be repairable, and this could extend the life of your food processor, saving you money and reducing waste.

3. Look for replacement parts

Many brands sell spare parts for food processors, such as new blades or bowls. If only one part is broken, you may be able to replace it rather than getting rid of the whole machine.

4. Donate

If your food processor still works well but you no longer need it, consider donating it to a local charity or family. Many people would appreciate having a kitchen gadget that can make meal prep easier.

5. Recycle

For food processors that can’t be repaired or donated, many large retailers like B&Q or Argos accept small electrical appliances for recycling. You can also use services like Recycle Your Electricals to find local recycling points or the Reuse Network to find organisations that might welcome older kitchen gadgets.

By recycling or donating your old food processor, you're not only creating space in your kitchen, but you're also helping the environment by keeping electronic waste out of landfills.

Read more:

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• The best slow cookers for families - tested and top-rated