The 4 Finest Mini Meals Processors of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

Meals processors are heavy and costly (that’s, should you’re getting a very good one). However they’re tremendous helpful, able to breaking elements down, whipping a sauce collectively, or kneading dough within the blink of a watch. Nonetheless, a meals processor’s dimension is just not for the faint of coronary heart—or those that lack space for storing.  

Enter the mini meals processor. Its small stature takes up much less house and is less complicated to maneuver and retailer. Plus, many fashions are below $50. With its diminutive dimension, the mini meals processor excels, maybe unsurprisingly, at small-batch duties, like making pesto, tahini sauce, marinades, and dressings.

To search out the very best mini meals processors, I examined 11 well-liked fashions. I evaluated which of them have been environment friendly at chopping and processing, intuitive to make use of, simple to scrub, and didn’t leak. Ultimately, 4 stood out.

The Winners, at a Look

The Finest Mini Meals Processor

This Hamilton Seashore mannequin seems to be and features like a full-size meals processor. It has a feed chute that permits you to drop elements in, in addition to an insert you should use to push the elements (like a small block of cheese) down into the bowl. It’s the one mini processor I examined that additionally comes with a disk that slices and grates.

One other Glorious Mini Meals Processor

This mini meals processor labored nice, with a generously sized, 4-cup bowl sporting a sturdy, comfy deal with. It rapidly and effectively processed a single garlic clove, in addition to chopped pistachios. The lid was simple to lock in place and take away and likewise had a large, contained space with two holes to drizzle oil into the bowl. Its twin switches provide a chop choice (the blade goes ahead and rapidly chops elements) and a grind choice (the blade reverses course and grinds elements with the duller facet).

The Finest Smaller Mini Meals Processor

This Cuisinart mannequin was small in dimension however mighty in energy. Much like the above 4-cup mannequin, it additionally processed garlic and nuts simply, however with a barely smaller capability and footprint. The lid had the identical simple, twist-on and off mechanism, together with a big, contained space to drizzle the oil into the bowl. Its buttons additionally perform equally, with one chopping the elements, and the opposite reversing the blade course to grind and smash issues right into a paste.

The Finest Cordless Mini Meals Processor

The KitchenAid was the most important mini meals processor I examined, with a beneficiant 5-cup capability. Its cordless design meant it was simple to retailer and transfer across the kitchen, and the blade comes aside right into a stem and blade disk, which made cleansing simpler than most fashions. Pesto and tahini sauce got here out completely emulsified, too.

The Assessments

• Tahini Sauce Take a look at: I made tahini sauce in every mannequin by first processing a single garlic clove to see how nicely the meals processor evenly minced it. I added tahini, water, and lemon juice to see if it leaked. Lastly, I drizzled in olive oil whereas the processor was operating.
• Pesto Take a look at: I made a pistachio mint pesto to see how nicely the mini meals processor chopped more durable elements like nuts, how simply it broke down leafy greens, and the way it handled an oily sauce.
• Cleansing Take a look at: After every take a look at, I took aside and washed every meals processor by hand, seeing which elements have been tough to scrub and the way harmful it was to wash the blades.

What We Realized

Smaller Sizes Had Their Benefits

A mini meals processor excels at processing smaller quantities of elements, like a single garlic clove or a handful or two of pistachios.

Full-sized meals processors are glorious for grating blocks of cheese or processing massive batches of mirepoix, however smaller quantities can get misplaced within the large bowl (to this finish, some fashions, just like the Breville 16-cup additionally include smaller inserts). The perfect mini meals processors, with their tinier bowls and decrease blades (see under), simply and evenly chopped the one garlic clove, permitting for a super-smooth tahini sauce. 

The Decrease the Blade, the Higher

Mini meals processors with blades set greater up within the bowl don’t chop or mince nicely. As an alternative, the elements clung to the underside of the bowl, with the blade swinging over them.

The perfect mini processors had blades stationed decrease within the base, chopping and processing elements effectively and evenly.

Pace Was Vital

Most of the mini meals processors had a number of speeds and/or the power to pulse elements. My favourite fashions have been middle-ground speed-wise. The processors that have been too quick splashed liquid because of their alarmingly zippy blades and small capability. Different fashions, just like the Mueller Mini Meals Processor, moved too slowly even on the highest setting, and have been unable to course of and chop elements finely. 

Handles Had been Useful

My favourite mini meals processors had handles on their bowls. Although they appear extraneous, particularly for meals processors that solely have 2- to 3-cup capacities, a deal with made it simple so as to add to and take away the bowl from the bottom of the machine. It was additionally good to have one thing to carry onto when pouring the sauce or liquid out of the bowl. 

The Standards: What to Search for in a Mini Meals Processor

Search for a mini meals processor that’s someplace between three to 5 cups in capability (any smaller isn’t notably helpful).  Any bigger, and also you may as nicely improve to a full-size meals processor. Examine to see how low the blade is to the underside of the bowl. The decrease the blade, the higher and extra evenly the elements will probably be chopped. 

Choose a processor that has a number of speeds or can simply pulse, so you’ll be able to initially break down the elements coarsely, earlier than processing at a better or extra constant pace to finely chop and mince. Lastly, search for a sturdy mini meals processor—one manufactured from thick, sturdy plastic or steel.

Our Favourite Mini Meals Processors

The Finest Mini Meals Processor

What we favored: This Hamilton Seashore mannequin was the one meals processor that supplied the identical kind of versatility as a standard-sized one. The lid had a chute that was massive sufficient to accommodate a small block of cheese, in addition to entire elements like shallots. It additionally had a pusher with a gap in its middle, which helps you to slowly drizzle oil into the bowl, making it simpler to provide emulsified sauces like mayonnaise. The thick deal with felt comfy to carry, and the bowl additionally had a pouring spout. 

It was the one processor I examined that had an “on” button that allowed it to run constantly (the remainder of the fashions simply had a pulse choice). Tahini sauce got here out silky and pesto was {smooth}. The machine additionally got here with a reversible slicing and shredding disk, which no different mannequin supplied. The bottom has suction cups on its underside, including stability.

What we didn’t like: The lid snaps onto the highest of the bowl with two clamps, but additionally has a bit of plastic that must be slotted into the bowl’s deal with, which was fussy. 

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 13.5 x 8.25 x 6 inches
• Attachments: Bowl, lid with feed chute, meals pusher, chopping and mixing blade, reversible slicing/shredding disc
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure, detachable elements are dishwasher-safe
• Materials: Plastic; stainless-steel
• Wattage: 250 watts
• Said capability: 4 cups
• Weight: 3 kilos, 5.75 ounces
• Guarantee: 1 12 months (US) or 5 years (Canada)

One other Glorious Mini Meals Processor

What we favored: This 4-cup mini meals processor simply tackled every part from a single garlic clove to pistachios, taking them from entire elements to a {smooth} paste in a flash. 

The lid twisted on simply and intuitively and featured a big, contained space with two holes in it, the place you would pour oil and let it drizzle into the processor. It had two massive switches: chop and grind. The chop button turned the blades ahead, slicing the elements into smaller bits. The grind button reversed the course of the blade, with the blunt finish smashing elements right into a {smooth} paste.

What we didn’t like: In contrast to the Hamilton Seashore 4-Cup mannequin, you could continually press the facility button for the Cuisinart to remain on, which may get tedious.

 Key Specs

• Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 5.5 inches
• Attachments: Bowl, lid, blade, spatula 
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure, detachable elements are dishwasher-safe
• Materials: Plastic; stainless-steel
• Wattage: 250 watts
• Weight: 2 kilos, 9.875 ounces
• Said capability: 4 cups
• Guarantee: 18 months

The Finest Smaller Mini Meals Processor

What we favored: With a smaller 3-cup capability, the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus was a extra compact providing that also created {smooth} pesto and emulsified tahini sauce. This mannequin has all the identical options as its bigger 4-cup sibling, together with a locking lid with two holes for oil drizzling, and a blade that strikes in numerous instructions (chopping when ahead and grinding elements in reverse). 

What we didn’t like: Just like the Core Customized 4-Cup mannequin, this mannequin requires you to continually press the on button for the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus to run constantly. 

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 5 inches
• Attachments: Bowl, lid, blade, spatula 
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure, detachable elements are dishwasher-safe
• Materials: Plastic; stainless-steel
• Wattage: 250 watts
• Weight: 2 kilos, 6.25 ounces
• Said capability: 3 cups
• Guarantee: 18 months

The Finest Cordless Mini Meals Processor

What we favored: Inexpensive than a full-size meals processor, with a a lot smaller footprint, the KitchenAid 5-Cup did an awesome job processing small elements like a single garlic clove, whereas nonetheless having the capability for bigger duties. 

This mini meals processor can also be the one one I examined that was cordless, which made it simple to retailer and transfer round. The inside blade is manufactured from two elements, with a blade disk which you can take away from the stem, which makes cleansing a breeze. The meals processor additionally comes with a whisking disk that can be utilized to make issues like whipped cream.

What we didn’t like: To show the processor on, you press and maintain a set off on the deal with, which felt annoying throughout lengthy processing instances.  You possibly can’t cost and use the meals processor on the similar time.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 10 x 5.5 x 7 inches
• Attachments: Bowl, lid, drive adapter, blade, whisking disc, and charger
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure, detachable elements are dishwasher-safe
• Materials: Plastic; stainless-steel
• Wattage: Unknown
• Weight: 2 kilos, 11.75 ounces
• Said capability: 5 cups
• Guarantee: 1 12 months

The Competitors

FAQ

What’s a mini meals processor used for? 

Mini meals processors are perfect for making issues like sauces, salad dressings, salsas, and mayonnaise, in addition to chopping smaller quantities of greens and produce.

Is it price getting a mini meals processor? 

Relying in your life-style, a mini meals processor may be an awesome addition to your family. Mini meals processors value considerably lower than a full-size meals processor and could be versatile. They’re additionally simpler to retailer and take up little countertop house. 

What’s the very best dimension for a mini meals processor?

For most individuals, a 3- to 4-cup capability mini meals processor is right. This dimension is massive sufficient to suit most sauce recipes, however not so massive that small quantities of elements bounce round with out getting chopped. 

Why We’re the Consultants

• Irvin Lin is a cookbook writer, recipe developer, meals author, photographer, and ceramicist. He wrote Marbled, Swirled, and Layered, which was picked by The New York Instances as the most effective baking cookbooks of 2016. 
• Irvin additionally runs a weblog known as Eat the Love, the place he’s developed, photographed, and written recipes since 2010. 
• He’s product examined and reviewed lots of of kitchen objects together with stand mixers and digital thermometers.
• For this overview, Irvin examined 11 mini meals processors, making tahini sauce and pesto sauce and hand-cleaning them after every use to seek out the very best ones.