Food processors vs food choppers – the difference is slight, but distinct. Both appliances are handy in the kitchen. They can effortlessly slice, dice, and blend in a matter of seconds. However, if you need to pick just one, I can help.
The differences between a professional processor and simple chopper are key. They come in different sizes, with different functionalities, attachments, and price ranges. Your culinary needs will most likely determine which you choose, but you'll need to factor in some other variables too.
Our team of experts have tested the best food processors, so that we can dissect the differences between both models. We'll also let you know which are the best, so you know that when you do invest in an appliance, you'll use it every day.
Quick answers
If you're in a hurry and you just want to know the headlines, here's our verdict. Food processors have a bigger capacity and tend to be more versatile. If you're keen on crafting your cuisines, you'll want one of these. If you have a compact kitchen and will be making small dips, a food chopper will suit you better.
Buy a food processor if
- You want a big capacity
- You want to make sauces and purées
- You want to tackle heavy ingredients like dough and meat
- You want to shred cheese or grate chocolate
Food processors are the more popular of the two. These large, versatile appliances are at the heart of a range of recipes. They typically have capacity for up to 16 cups, so they're brilliant for big households. Food processors also often come with lots of attachments, making them useful for slicing, shredding, chopping, kneading, pureeing, and mixing.
Food processors' versatility comes at a cost. In some cases, this cost is literal. They're more expensive appliances. However, it's worth considering how much it would cost to cover all the functions with separate appliances. These are good value, but only if you would be using machines to slice, shred, knead, chop, and puree anyway. The range of functions also means that they can be more complicated to operate and harder to store. There are plenty of small options, but, on average, a food processor will be bigger than a food chopper.
We think you'll be hard-pressed to find a better food processor than this. It's lightweight but secure with a sealed work bowl. You can buy other attachments for the base too. It's just hard to tell whether this is switches on or off.
Our Cuisinart Core Custom 10-Cup Food Processor review has more details
This will be one of the most hard-working appliances in your kitchen. It comes with a range of do-it-all attachments, including a dough hook and spiralizer. Everything stores in the bowl too. The only downside is the small food opening.
Our Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor review has more details
One of the most versatile food processors on the market, this Sous Chef really can do it all. The wide chute means you won't need to do much in the way of food prep, whilst achieving excellent results. You'll have to hand wash it though.
Our Breville Sous Chef 12 Food Processor review has more details
Buy a food chopper if
- You're tight on storage
- You want to make dips and salsas
- You're on a budget
Food choppers are the opposite of food processors. These petite appliances are perfect for compact kitchens. Their capacities can be as small as one cup and range up to four cups in size. They're perfect for chopping, mincing, and blending small amounts of food. They're less likely to come with extra accessories, instead, most choppers have a single, sharp chopping blade. It's specialized and straightforward, perfect for dips and salsas. They're also more likely to be compact and sometimes even cordless, ideal for bringing outside or moving across countertops with.
More often than not, food choppers are also cheaper than food processors. This will depend on quality and the time at which you buy them, but they're a good option for saving money.
This food chopper is a classic model. It's super light and easy to carry around the kitchen, but is also incredibly thorough. We used it for blitzing up carrots, tomato sauce, guacamole, and aioli. When we were done it was easy to clean too.
Our KitchenAid Cordless 5 Cup Food Chopper review has more details
Strictly speaking, this is still a food processor, but it works a lot like a food chopper. It's petite, but powerful and comes with useful blending cups, so you can make smoothies with your food chopper base. If you want value for money, this is it.
Our Magic Bullet Kitchen Prep review has more details
We trust OXO with kitchen appliances and this is another excellent model. It has useful measurements on the side of the cup and a super sharp blade. It's also reasonably priced too. It just stains quite easily.
We haven't tested this food chopper yet, but it's on our list.
Head to head
These are our top picks for food processors and food choppers. They're both excellent investments, but if you have to choose one, we've put them head to head.
Cordless, compact, and effective for small tasks, this is an excellent investment if you won't need any heavy-duty blending.
For
- 5 cup capacity
- 3 speed settings
- Dishwasher safe
- Cordless
- Good battery life
- Easy storage
Against
- Limited capacity
- Uneven chopping
Incredibly versatile, this food processor will have all your kitchen needs covered. It's an investment well worth making.
For
- 10 cup capacity
- 3 speed settings
- Dishwasher safe
- Sealed work bowl
- Neat storage
- Range of appliances
Against
- Not the most powerful
- Quite expensive
- Larger than a chopper
FAQs
What's the difference between a food chopper and a food processor?
Food choppers tend to be smaller, cheaper, more basic versions of food processors. If you're looking for a high standard and big capacity, you need a food processor. If you will be making dips and sauces, a chopper will be a good space-saving option.
Do I need a food processor?
Food processors are incredibly useful appliances. They can save you time and deliver consistent results in a fraction of the time. If you're kitting out a kitchen, this should be a priority.
Do I need a food chopper?
If you own a food processor, you probably don't need a food chopper. However, if you don't have either and need a compact option, a food chopper will be an invaluable appliance.
Final thoughts
There's no 'better' option between a food processor and a food chopper, it's all down to your appetite. If you're shopping for a single-person home, small kitchen, or dorm room, a food chopper will be incredibly useful, but also relatively inexpensive. However, if you're a keen cook and baker, you'll want a food processor. It can do the job of lots of appliances in one. Whether you're a processor pro looking for puree perfection or a shopper after chopper convenience, as long as you have one of these, you'll be a whizz in the kitchen.
