I’m all about convenience in the kitchen, and that starts with the prep work. But sometimes I like to experiment with dishes, so basic recipes aren’t always the way forward.
Fortunately, a combined blender and food processor shaves off minutes in the kitchen. Not to mention that these handy appliances can achieve a better job than chopping or dicing by hand. (I’m certainly no pro).
The best blender food processor I’ve come across is the Ninja Foodi SS351. It simply has every feature I need and so many more. It not only chops and slices with precision, but it extracts every last drop of nutrients from a wide range of fruit and veggies. That’s perfect for smoothie-making! You can even make dough, which calls for more pizza nights with my boyfriend. All this from one appliance at a reasonable price!
But that’s not the only must-have model I recommend. Continue reading to discover the best blender food processor for you from the dozens on the market.
The Benefits of Owning a Blender Food Processor
Not sure what all the hype is about? I’ll let you in on a few secrets.
Save Time in the Kitchen
I love making healthy, homemade dishes at mealtimes. But every night can be a bit much, and chopping endless veggies can get tiring. Thankfully, a food processor takes the task out of my hands, so I can focus on the next step ahead.
While it might take me one minute to chop an onion, a food processor can achieve this in five seconds. It’s essentially adding more minutes to my life.
They’re Multifunctional
I don’t have a lot of spare space in my kitchen, and I’ve maximized pretty much every inch. With so many attachments available, food processor blender combos can be an excellent all-rounder.
Use it to make bread dough, smoothies, curries, or to dice fruit and vegetables. Better still, you can achieve all that with just one appliance. So scrap your appliance bucket list, and choose one gadget.
Chops with Precision
You want your food to cook evenly, and that starts with proper prep work. If your heart’s not in it, you won’t dice your ingredients evenly. Fortunately, the best blender food processor dices and slices with consistency. Say goodbye to lumpy smoothies, uneven onion pieces, or uncooked carrots.
Encourages Healthier Eating
In my opinion, one of the best ways to eat healthy is to cook dishes yourself. That way, you know the entire list of ingredients. No hidden salt, fat, or sugar. Food processors give you a nudge in the right direction to curb the takeout orders and stick with home cooking. Imagine how much your health will improve if you take up a more nutritious diet! (You can thank me later).
Discover the Best Blender Food Processor
I’ve sifted through the internet to share the top food processors worthy of this list. Below are my top six selections and reasons why.
Best Overall: Ninja Foodi SS351 Power Blender & Processor System
Top feature: 1400 watt SmartTORQUE technology blends and processes even the toughest ingredients.
The Ninja Foodi SS351 includes Ninja’s smartTORQUE technology to power through the toughest ingredients, and it never stalls. Most impressively, it’s a blender, smoothie bowl maker, food processor, and dough mixer in one. So it can easily replace a myriad of kitchen appliances to save you room.
Moreover, use this Ninja appliance to blend healthy smoothies. Best of all, with its built-in tamper, it crushes even frozen fruit for less liquid and thicker, more deliciousness in your smoothie bowls. The built-in tamper twists to gather ingredients toward the blade. I love this feature because you won’t have to stop frequently to adjust things.
This blender food processor also features 6 pre-set Auto-iQ programs. This user-friendly, sleek design allows you to chop, make bread dough, crush fruit, and extract nutrients from food with a one-touch button.
Another great feature of the Ninja is the variable speed control, allowing you to start slow and ramp up as needed without changing programs.
Finally, with 1400 watts of power, the motor maintains high speeds with maximum power. All the while, the smooth running motor minimizes shaking, stirring, and stalling.
Pros
- 1400 watts for impressive power
- Food processor, blender, bowl maker, and dough mixer combined
- One-touch button
- Variable speed control
- Built-in tamper twists to gather ingredients toward the blade
Cons
- Might be fairly loud during use
Cuisinart BFP-650GM Velocity Ultra Trio
Top feature: Small footprint for limited counter space.
The Cuisinart BFP-650GM can transform your eating habits into healthy ones. It includes convenient rubberized controls—High, Low, Pulse, Ice Crush, Smoothie and On/Off—for simple operation. So you don’t need to be a technophile to operate this gadget.
Another feature I love is the included two 16-ounce travel cups. They plug right into the mechanism and your favorite smoothie is whipped up and ready to hit the road. For larger batches, there’s a roomy 56-ounce jar with markings along the side for precise measurements.
Compared to other food processor blender combos, this model is a bit low on power but should be enough for anything but the most demanding jobs.
How could I not talk about this Cuisinart appliance’s small footprint? Suitable for smaller kitchen spaces, you won’t need to adjust your entire kitchen to accommodate it. It’ll easily sit under your kitchen cabinets, too, as it has a height of just over 15 inches.
Pros
- Small footprint
- Large capacity
- Easy-t0-clean, dishwasher-safe parts.
- BPA-free
- Includes 2 travel cups
Cons
- 1 HP motor
- Noisy
Oster Blender Pro 1200
Top feature: With seven speeds, you can tailor it to suit your preferred texture. That versatility opens up so many creative options.
Blend, juice, and process ingredients from home with ease when you have the Oster Blender Pro 1200. This blender food processor seems to have everything you need for successful prep. It includes three pre-programmed settings for salsas, milkshakes, smoothies, and so much more. You can even use the Pulse function for added control and precision when needed.
Furthermore, the Oster Blender Pro 1200 incorporates an extra-wide 3.5-inch blade system. This allows ingredients to flow down into the blade. The result? Easier, faster, and smoother results.
But, let’s face it, the success of a blender food processor relies on its motor. Fortunately, this appliance utilizes dual-direction blade technology for extra blending power. As a result, it can grind and chop tough ingredients with ease. The blades blend in forward and reverse motion to gather all ingredients. Compared to the brand’s previous models, the blades are around 50 percent larger.
Pros
- Seven speeds for versatility
- 3.5-inch blade system for smoother, faster results
- Dual direction blade technology to chop and grind with accuracy
- Pulse feature for added control and precision
Cons
- Can be difficult to remove the blender from the base for cleaning
Best Top Of The Line: Vitamix A2300 Ascent Plus Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment
Top feature: The Rolls Royce of blenders. Period!
If you know anything about blenders, you know Vitamix is the gold standard. Anyone who uses their blender on a daily basis or takes their smoothies seriously needs a Vitamix. They are powerful, reliable, and expensive. The best usually are.
Unlike the other products reviewed in this article, my recommendation here is actually a combination of two products, the Vitamix A2300 Ascent blender paired with the Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment. Yes, it’s expensive but not as expensive as it could be.
I choose the A2300 because, in my opinion, it has all the features you need and none of the ones you can live without.
The variable speed control combined with the pulse feature is all you really need. The more expensive models offer program settings (smoothies, hot soup, etc) which I feel are almost never used so why pay for them. YMMV. The digital timer will handle things should you want to step away for a moment.
The Ascent series can SELF-DETECT and automatically adjust with many of Vitamix’s available attachments, including their 12-Cup Food Processor.
The 12-Cup Food Processor attachment comes with the SELF-DETECT base, 12-cup work bowl, lid, 2 food pushers, 2 reversible slice/shred discs (thin and thick), multi-use blade, and disc storage case. All are manufactured to the same high standards.
If you want the best and are willing to pay for it, you want the Vitamix.
Pros
- Full 10-year warranty
- Top performance
- Wide selection of accessories
- Available in black, red, slate, and white
Cons
- Expensive
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher (58163)
Top feature: Great value
You can’t deny that Hamilton Beach has become a household name. And the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender and food processor doesn’t disappoint.
The Wave Crusher comes with a powerful 700-watt motor coupled with their Wave-Action System which continuously pulls the contents into the sharp blades for deliciously consistent results.
In fact, you’ll receive all the power you need to dice, crush, puree, mix, and more. But this model certainly doesn’t overcomplicate, since it has only 5 simple buttons. However, don’t misjudge this simplicity for limitations, as it includes 12 blending functions.
The Wave Crusher comes with a 40-ounce glass jar, a 20-ounce travel jar that plugs right into the motor base for smoothies on the go, and a 3-cup food processor, chopping S-blade, and a shredding/slicing disc.
If your budget is tight and you’re looking for a combo blender/food processor for 1 or 2 people, this one is a great choice.
Pros
- 5 simple buttons for usability
- Great value for money
- 12 blending functions
- No-mess pouring spout
Cons
- Some plastic parts may limit longevity
Ninja BN801 Professional Plus Kitchen System
Top feature: A complete system that can handle almost any kitchen chore
Finally, the Ninja BN801 has it all. With a highly powerful motor, it can chop fresh fruit and veggies like they’re nothing.
It’s also exceptionally versatile to use, as it includes 5 Auto-iQ pre-set programs. This means no more rummaging around or stressing about which program to use. It also includes three speeds: low, high, and medium, as well as pulse.
This Ninja appliance chops vegetables, shreds ingredients, and makes smooth sauces. You can also use it to make tasty pizza or cookie dough. In fact, make your dishes in bulk thanks to the nine-cup capacity. In fact, it mixes two pounds of dough in around 30 seconds. This is great for delivering consistent results for families.
This Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System comes with a 1,400-watt motor base, a 72-ounce pitcher with lid, a 64-ounce food processor bowl with lid, Two 24-ounce travel cups with lid, pro extractor blade assembly, Total Crushing Blade, chopping blade, and dough blade.
Pros
- 5 Auto-iQ present programs
- 9-cup capacity
- Includes 30 recipes
- BPA-free materials
- Dishwasher-safe components
Cons
- Noisier than some other models
Magic Bullet MB50200 Kitchen Express
Top feature: Small and inexpensive. Perfect for 1 person or occasional use
If you’re single and live in a dorm or small apartment. The Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is the perfect solution.
Just because it’s small doesn’t mean it can’t do most of the work the big boys can. Prep veggies, make smoothies, you name it. Of course, at 250 watts it does have its limits so don’t expect it to make quick work of some of the harder produce such as some root vegetables. One of my favorite personal blenders.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Compact
- BPA-free materials
- Dishwasher-safe components
Cons
- Only 250 watts
Related: The Best Slow Juicer For Every Home. A Buyer’s Guide
Things to Consider When Buying a Blender Food Processor
Let’s get this show on the road and look into the main factors to consider when buying a good blender food processor.
Food Processor vs Blender
While both appliances process food in similar ways they each have their own niche in the kitchen.
Love delicious green smoothies in the morning? That blender territory. Anytime you need to liquefy something like soups or sauces a blender is the perfect tool.
Food processors don’t require liquid to work. They are strictly a labor-saving device. Anything a food processor can do, you can do with a good chef knife if you don’t mind slicing and chopping all day long. Not to mention weeping over the countertop while chopping onions. With a processor, it’s done in seconds.
With food processor blender combos, you get the best of both worlds, all while saving space and money.
Capacity
First things first, you need a size that suits you. Consider the number of people in your household and if you like to cook in batches (which I highly recommend). It seems obvious, but remember that a bigger appliance requires more storage room. So keep that in mind if you have limited space.
Food processors typically vary from 3 to 14 cups. If you’re unsure of the size, opt for the bigger one; it’s best to have one slightly too big than too small.
Speed Settings
Look into the number of speed settings. The average food processor has between three and 10 settings. One or two speeds might not be enough to give you the control you need. At the same time, 10 speeds might be too excessive if you plan to use it for limited dishes.
Consider a Pulse function, too. This is a wonderful feature for making chunky soups. But it isn’t necessary if you only prefer a smoother texture.
Power
What makes a powerful blender or food processor? It’s all in the watts. Generally speaking, the higher the wattage, the more powerful the appliance. That’s important for crushing nuts or fibrous vegetables but not so much for soft ingredients.
Moreover, don’t consider any food processor less than 200 watts. Instead, stick to the higher range (1,000 watts has some serious power). But, as a general rule of thumb, around 500 watts will work for most people’s recipes.
Noise
Some food processors can be so loud during use. This adds stress and irritation to your kitchen time. But it’s also inappropriate if you use it early in the morning or late at night, or have a baby or close neighbors. Take your time to research appliances that are on the quiet side.
Cleaning
Ugh. Nobody likes having to dismantle a kitchen appliance to clean the attachments. Consider one that’s easier to dismantle and has dishwasher-safe components. Some processors have an easy twist extraction blade that releases for easy detachment. This means you can scrub away debris with ease. Nobody wants to scrape around blades!
High-end food processors have a self-cleaning program. Simply fill it up with soap and water, and press the button. In an instant, you’ll have a clean appliance that you just need to rinse with running water afterward.
The Best Blender Food Processor
You deserve the best, most top-quality food processors. And I hope this article inspires you to level up your cooking skills.
The decision to choose the best blender food processor was hard. But the Ninja Foodi SS351 has a place in my heart. It includes smartTORQUE technology to chop potatoes and hard vegetables with ease. But you can also use this appliance to make pizza dough and really yummy smoothies. It definitely wins the award for “Best Bang for the Buck”. You won’t become overwhelmed with the Ninja, since its 6 pre-set programs really make things simple. That’s perfect for technophobes as well as those cooking in a rush. Not to mention that you don’t want to have to sift through programs if you have limited time or food on your hands.
If money were no object, it’s a no-brainer. Go for the Vitamix A2300 Ascent plus the Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment.
Check out the Ninja Foodi SS351 today.
