Best Blenders & Food Processors 2022

Whereas blenders are sometimes used for liquid-based recipes—assume sauces, cashew lotions, and soups—meals processors are sometimes used for every thing from puréeing fruits to dicing greens. As somebody who doesn’t have the very best knife abilities—and likewise begins hysterically crying at any time when I chop an onion—I’ve discovered a meals processor to be a complete sport changer. I imply, it’s saved me quite a lot of time (and, okay, tears). However for those who’re in search of an equipment that may do double responsibility, there are fashions which have interchangeable blender and meals processor attachments. That’s proper, one system that may prevent main cash and area in your cupboard.

The 2 home equipment might sound radically completely different in nature, however they’re each designed to avoid wasting you so much of time and legwork. So what’s it going to be? A blender, meals processor, or combo equipment? And when you’ve made that call, which mannequin is definitely price including to your cart? To assist, I tapped a couple of skilled cooks to share their ideas. These execs rule any kitchen they step into, and if these home equipment can streamline their cooking, they’re poised to change into the workhorse of your individual kitchen, too.

1. Breville BBL620SIL the Recent and Livid Countertop Blender, 278.60 $198.49

There’s a cause why Elle Simone Scott refers to Breville’s Recent & Livid Countertop Blender as her “weapon of alternative.” Consider this choose as your normal blender with some meals processing functionalities. “I really like that its capabilities vary from delicate inexperienced smoothies to the hefth of almond butter,” the meals stylist and America’s Take a look at Kitchen govt editor explains. “I dwell in a small condominium, so the truth that it’s moderately quiet and compact is good.” With an environment friendly mixing system and 60-second auto-timer, the Recent & Livid brings some ease to the meals prep course of.

2. Cuisinart Mini PREP Meals Processor, $34.99

Small meals processors could make a huge impact—simply ask cookbook writer Molly Baz, who favors Cuisinart’s Mini Prep meals processor. “I exploit this one for smaller-batch objects that a regular meals processor can’t actually deal with, as a consequence of its giant dimension: sauces, vinaigrettes, marinades, rubs, aioli, pesto, grating cheese, chopping nuts, and so forth,” she shares. “There’s not often a day in my kitchen that I don’t bust it out.” Clocking in at 2.6 cups, this feature is ideal for compact kitchens.

3. Cuisinart Customized 14-Cup Meals Processor, $249.95

Because the founder and chef of Edy’s Grocer, a Brooklyn-based market and caterer that gives top-notch Lebanese meals, Edouard Massih isn’t any stranger to the facility of a wonderful meals processor. “We make 20 mezes in home and have over 500 containers of them per week,” he shares. To do all of it, Massih enlists Cuisinart’s 14-cup meals processor, which has the gusto of a meals processor with the mixing capabilities for easy, creamy dips. “I’ve been utilizing Cuisinart meals processors for thus lengthy now, and I’ve tailored that at Edy’s Grocer,” he shares. “At any time when we’re making a giant batch of hummus, muhammara, or baba ghanoush, we have now two Cuisinart meals processors going, and so they get the job executed. It’s really the very best; I’ve had it for thus a few years now, and it’s nonetheless doing the very best job ever.”

4. Vitamix 5200 Blender, $389

When you’re prepared to take a position, Vitamix’s 5200 delivers as each a blender and meals processor due to its meals processor attachment. It will make the already-pricey blender much more costly, nevertheless it’ll pay for itself over time. “The factor with the Vitamix model is that it’s sturdy, blends the smoothest over any blender palms down, and may mix robust components, too,” explains Kelly Scott of Kelly’s Clear Kitchen. “I personally have the Vitamix Skilled Sequence 750 as a result of I anticipated it to be higher than the [5200 Standard], however I might moderately have the fundamental one as a result of it’s cheaper and does simply nearly as good of a job!”

So what makes Vitamix’s 5200 blender definitely worth the hype? “This mannequin options easy handbook controls: an on/off change, a variable 1-10 pace knob, and a high-speed change that goes to 11,” says Jesse Miner, a vegan private chef who has relied on this gadget for greater than 15 years. “I exploit my Vitamix 5200 each day to effortlessly mix refreshing smoothies, flavorful sauces, and the smoothest cashew cream you’ve ever tasted.”

5. Shark Ninja Specific Chop, $30.19

Although blenders and meals processors could be a useful addition to your kitchen, they’ll additionally price a ton. Happily, chef Jamika Pessoa’s prime choose is tremendous budget-friendly. “When you activate the Specific Chop, do not blink or else you’ll miss it—no matter you place in there’s chopped with a quickness,” shares Pessoa, who has labored with the model earlier than. “The blade is tremendous quick and environment friendly. No enormous chunks or having to reblend a number of occasions. Rapidly blitz with one contact, and the job is completed with ease.” One other factor she loves? This mannequin is extremely simple to scrub, simplifying the cooking course of from begin to end.

What’s the Distinction Between a Blender and a Meals Processor?

Although blenders and meals processors might sound comparable, they really have completely different functions. Merely put, a blender is usually used for liquid-based components—whether or not it’s a frothy milkshake, a drizzle-worthy sauce, or a dip. (Psst…a blender can also be nice at crushing ice and puréeing drinks.) However wait, can’t a meals processor additionally purée? Sure, and it might additionally slice, cube, grate, and shred your components. As a normal rule of thumb, recipes that require a straw or dipping system, like chip, are greatest fitted to blenders. In the meantime, meals that use forks and spoons can often work simply nice with a meals processor.

However earlier than you choose one over the opposite, it’s price noting that some units can do each, both with built-in features or separate attachments. That manner, you may have the very best of each worlds rolled into one gadget.