Best Budget Food Processors – big on value, small on price

Samuel J Tan Food Processors, Home & Kitchen, Kitchen 0

Food processors have found their way in to our kitchens from the multitude of tasks that they are capable of performing, from grating to dicing to shredding and the list goes on.

That said, with the abundance of tools and gadgets around, they are yet to be defined as a definitive ‘must-have’, for although they perform multiple functions, most homes with smaller budgets already own several of the simple tools that a food processor would replace, such as the grater (with multiple blades) or the guillotine vegetable slicer, or the plain but very effective fingertips for making crumble.

If you’re two minds about food processors and in particular swayed by their possibly overwhelming costs, here in this post, we examine a number of excellent budget food processors that are both popular and highly recommended.

Table of Contents

Best Budget Family Food Processors under $100

These budget food processors may be cheap but they are your average family sized food processors, not the cut down miniature version. With capacity from 7 cups to 14 cups, there is one to suit any size family.

While our best family-sized food processor list may be headed by food processors from Breville, KitchenAid, Braun and Cuisinart, our budget list is dominated mainly by offerings from Hamilton Beach as you can see in our quick list below:

UPDATE: We have included an affordable KitchenAid Food Processor to our list. It is priced at the top end of our hundred dollar budget, still it is worth noting here for those looking for a reliable unit from a reputable brand.

Hamilton Beach 70740 8-Cup Food Processor, Black
Hamilton Beach 70730 Bowl Scraper 10-Cup Food Processor
Hamilton Beach 70670 Chef Prep 10-Cup Food Processor, Black
Cuisinart FP-12DC Elite Collection 12-Cup Food Processor, Die Cast
Hamilton Beach 70725A 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor
Hamilton Beach 70450 8-Cup Food Processor
Cuisinart FP-8 Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor, Silver
Cuisinart DLC-2011 Prep 11 Plus 11-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless
Hamilton Beach 70610A Chef Prep 10-Cup Food Processor
Hamilton Beach 70579 Big Mouth Duo 14-Cup Food Processor – BIGGEST CAPACITY
Cuisinart MFP-108 7-Cup Elite Collection Food Processor, White – SMALLEST CAPACITY
Black & Decker FP1600B 8-Cup Food Processor, Black
Oster FPSTFP1355 2-Speed 10-Cup Food Processor, Black
Black & Decker FP2620S Wide-Mouth 10-Cup Food Processor & Blender, Black/Silver – INCL. BLENDER JUG
BONUS: KitchenAid KFP0711 7-Cup Food Processor, Contour Silver – SMALLEST CAPACITY

Let’s dive in and take a look at each of these food processors to see how they compare with one another.

1. Hamilton Beach 70740 8-Cup Food Processor, Black

Features: Powered by a 450-watt motor. Fast and versatile – quickly chop onions, slice salad ingredients, shred cabbage, grate cheese, mix sauces, or prepare pesto
Capacity: 8-Cup work bowl capacity. Lid flips over for compact storage
Feed Chute: Conventional Food Chute
Accessories: Stainless steel slice/shred disc and chopping S-blade for chopping, mixing and pureeing
Size & Weight: 14 x 10.1 x 10.1 inches ; 5 pounds

2. Hamilton Beach 70730 Bowl Scraper 10-Cup Food Processor – BUILT-IN BOWL SCRAPER

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Features: powered by a 450-watt motor, popular with online retailers, the Hamilton Beach 70730 has built in bowl scraper so no need for spatula. Move the scraper while in operation to move the ingredients in the bowl. The simple single dial control with 2 speeds and pulse function makes it easy to use. Stainless steel and black base finish gives it that premium look.
Capacity: 10-cup large bowl with built in scraper that works while processor us running, no need to open the lid.
Feed Chute: Conventional food chute
Accessories: Chopping S-Blade and Slicing/Shredding discs for chopping, mixing and pureeing.
Size & Weight: 9.6 x 10.2 x 14.6 inches ; 6.2 pounds

3. Hamilton Beach 70670 Chef Prep 10-Cup Food Processor, Black

Features: 525-watt motor drives this standard run of the mill, food processor with an affordable price tag. Straight forward 2 speed and pulse function. If you are after a simple, no fuss food processor without all the bells and whistles, this budget unit is for you.
Capacity: 10 cup dishwasher safe bowl and lid
Chute Size: Conventional feed chute
Accessories: 3 blades; slice/shred disc, crinkle/fine shred disc, chopping blade
Size & Weight: 10 by 9 by 16 inches,

4. Cuisinart FP-12DC Elite Collection 12-Cup Food Processor

Features: 12-cup Large Bowl and 4-cup Small Bowl with Pour Spouts & Measurement Markings, Exclusive Patent-Pending SealTightTM Advantage System – Seals Bowls and Locks Blades. Electronic touch page with on, off and pulse button.
Capacity: 12-cup large bowl and 4-cup small bowl with pour spouts and measurement markings
Feed Chute: Cuisinart® Supreme® Wide-Mouth Feed Tube and Cover Assembly
Accessories: adjustable slicing disc (1-6mm), adjustable shredding disc (fine/medium), large and small chopping/mixing blades, and a dough blade.
Size & Weight: 7 x 10.5 x 15.2 inches ; 21 pounds
Available in black, die-cast silver, brushed chrome or white

5. Hamilton Beach 70725A 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor

Features: 450-watt motor with simple function guide, easy stack and snap assembly with unique patent pending design with no difficult twisting and locking. Simple function guide shows which blade to use and which button to press.
Feed Chute: large big mouth food chute
Capacity: 12-cup large bowl with pour spout to reduce messy drips.
Accessories: two blades; reversible slice/shred disc, chopping S-blade to chop, slice, shred, mix and puree with in bowl blade storage
Size & Weight: 10 x 11.2 x 16.1 inches ; 8 pounds

6. Hamilton Beach 70450 8-Cup Food Processor

Features: 300-watt motor with simple on/pulse dial operation
Capacity: 8-cup capacity
Feed Chute: Standard conventional feed chute
Accessories: in bowl blade storage saves kitchen space although it takes up more footprint on the counter top that most food processors with top and bottom base.
Size & Weight:

7. Cuisinart FP-8 Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor, Silver, White or Gunmetal

Features: 350 watt motor for powerful food prep performance. Big enough to chop ingredients for a party-sized portion of salsa, and powerful enough to turn a full work bowl of vegetables into a healthy pureed soup in seconds. Convenient rubberised controls for high, low, off and pulse.
Capacity: 8-cup work bowl with measurement markings
Feed Chute: integrated food chute to add ingredients during processing
Accessories: reversible shredding and slicing discs, medium to fine.
Size & Weight: 10.83″ x 10.43″ x 17.91″, 6.5 lbs. pounds

8. Cuisinart DLC-2011 Prep 11 Plus 11-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless – DOUGH BLADE

Features: Revolutionary motor with alternate speeds for perfect mixing, and features Cuisinart’s patent-pending Dough Control technology, which adjusts the speed to automatically ensure proper dough consistency. The Prep 11 Plus includes a rounded housing for easier cleaning and handling, new safety features, and the Supreme™ Wide Mouth Feed Tube.
Capacity: 11-cup lexan work bowl virtually shatterproof
Feed Chute: One piece supreme wide mouth feed tube holds whole fruits and vegetables. A large and small food pusher is included.
Accessories: 4mm slider disc, medium shredding disc, chopping/mixing blade and PowerPrep Dough Blade (check with supplier for availability) stem to use with discs, includes spatula, recipe and instruction book
Size & Weight: 7 inches x 13 inches x 9.5 inches

9. Hamilton Beach 70610A Chef Prep 10-Cup Food Processor

Features: 500-watt motor with 2 speed and pulse control.
Capacity: large 10-cup work bowl capacity process more in less time
Feed Chute: standard chute with food pusher
Accessories: Reversible slice/shred disc and S blade
Size & Weight: 8.8 x 10.8 x 13.6 inches

10. Hamilton Beach 70579 Big Mouth Duo 14-Cup Food Processor – BIGGEST CAPACITY

Features: 525 watt motor, 3 speed and pulse setting. Hamilton Beach Food Processors rely on robust motors to chop, slice, shred, mix and puree just about anything you put in the bowl. Fast and easy to use, these versatile food processors incorporate smart ideas-especially Big Mouth models, with their extra-large feed tubes for slicing whole fruits and vegetables. In-bowl blade storage and dishwasher-safe parts make these food processors easy to clean and store.
Capacity: 5 & 14 cup bowls nest for compact storage
Feed Chute: Big mouth wide chute that fits whole food, eliminates the need to pre-cut food
Accessories: Reversible slicing/shredding disc & chopping blade included
Size & Weight: 10.89 inches x 10.89 inches x 17.5 inches

11. Cuisinart MFP-108 7-Cup Elite Collection Food Processor, White or Silver – SMALLEST CAPACITY

Features: Elite Collection with SealTight advantage, seals bowls and locks blades with an easy on/off locking system has a push-button release. Touch pad control panel with blue LED light.
Capacity: 7-cup work bowl capacity with a pour spout for easy, mess free emptying
Feed Chute: Feed-tube positions allow shredding or slicing
Accessories: stainless steel chopping / mixing / kneading blade with blade lock feature. Reversible Slice and Shredding Disc, S Blade and Dough Blade. A spatula is included for easy removal of chopped ingredients
Size & Weight: 10.5 inches x 8 inches x 16.5 inches, 7.2 pounds

12. Black & Decker FP1600B 8-Cup Food Processor, Black

Features: 450-watt food processor for slicing, dicing, chopping, mincing, grating and more. Simple on and off/pulse button operation. Safety interlock system; suction-cup feet; cord storage; dishwasher-safe parts
Capacity: 8-cup capacity work bowl
Feed Chute: continuous flow feed chute with pusher
Accessories: stainless steel chopping blade and reversible slicing/shredding disc.
Size & Weight: 11-2/7 by 7-4/5 by 15-2/3 inches, 5.6pounds

13. Oster FPSTFP1355 2-Speed 10-Cup Food Processor, Black – DOUGH BLADE

Features: powered by 500-watt motor with 3 button controls for slice/shred, mix/knead and chop/pulse. The fourth button is a cancel or OFF button. The only food processor in our list that comes with a dough blade for kneading.
Capacity: 10-cup capacity work bowl with locking lid
Feed Chute: 5-inch wide, large mouth food chute and food pusher
Accessories: Reversible slicing/shredding disc, dough blade
Size & Weight: 11.5 x 12.6 x 18 inches ; 7.2 pounds

14. Black & Decker FP2620S Wide-Mouth 10-Cup Food Processor & Blender, Black/Silver – INCL. BLENDER JUG

Features: 500-watt food processor with stainless-steel base with suction-cup feet; cord storage; dishwasher-safe parts. Soft touch button controls for Pulse, High and Low settings.
Capacity: 10-cup work bowl
Feed Chute: wide mouth feed chute
Accessories: chopping blade, slicing/shredding disc, blender jug attachment
Size & Weight: 11-2/7 by 9-3/5 by 22-4/5 inches

BONUS: KitchenAid KFP0711 7-Cup Food Processor, Contour Silver – SMALLEST CAPACITY

Features: 300-watt motor with High, Low & Pulse speed options allow you to precisely and properly handle soft or hard ingredients with the touch of a button. UltraTight Seal, specially designed locking system with leak-resistant ring that allows you to fill the work bowl to capacity with ingredients without worrying about making a mess.
Capacity: 7-Cup work bowl
Feed Chute: 2-in-1 Feed Tube lets you use either the large or narrower opening during continuous slicing or shredding, depending on the size of the ingredients.
Accessories: internal adjustable slicing disc, reversible shredding disc and multipurpose blade
Size & Weight: 10 x 10 x 15 inches ; 7 pounds
Colour Options: Empire Red, Contour Silver, White.