Mini Food Processors – the multi-purpose mills to chop and grind your ingredients
Unlike their larger counterparts, mini food processors are small, sweet and simple in their approach and tasks. Although unlikely to take on the vast jobs suited to the larger machines (check out our recommendations here), mini food processors hold their own extremely well for jobs that require their versatility.
Ideas for a Small Food Chopper
Here are just a few of the many food items and ingredients you can prepare with these miniature food processor for everyday dishes:
| Food Item | Operation/Technique | Comments/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seeds and Dried Berries | Grind. Pulse to break up, then process continuously to desired consistency. | Coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, sesame, poppy, and juniper berries |
| Herbs, fresh | Chop. Pulse to chop to desired consistency. | Rinse and dry completely. Remove leaves from stems to chop. |
| Onions | Chop. Pulse 5-10 times to chop to desired size. | Peel; Cut into 3⁄4-inch or smaller pieces of similar size. |
| Mushrooms | Chop. Pulse to chop to desired consistency. | Choose firm, fresh mushrooms. Cut into quarters or even-size pieces, no larger than 3⁄4-inch. |
| Nuts | Chop. Pulse to chop to desired consistency. | Toast nuts first for maximum flavor. Allow to cool completely before chopping. |
| Vegetables, cooked | Chop. Pulse 5-10 times to chop, then process continuously until desired consistency is reached. | Cook vegetables until tender. Process to a smooth purée for baby food or sauces; may need to add liquid for consistency. |
Source: Cuisinart
You can also use the small grinder for meat, if you want to make burger from your favourite cut of meat.
Small 5-Cup or Less Food Processors
Making the list are food processors from Cuisinart and KitchenAid mainly followed by a new entry from VonShef.
1. Conair Cuisinart DLC-2A Mini Prep Plus 3-Cup Food Processor
2. KitchenAid KFC3511 3.5-Cup Food Chopper, colour choices
3. Cuisinart CH-4 Elite Collection 4-Cup Chopper/Grinder, 4 colours
4. Cuisinart DLC-4 Mini-Prep Plus 4-Cup Food Processor
5. Cuisinart DLC-1 Mini-Prep 3-Cup Processor, 5 colours
6. VonShef Mini 4.5-Cup Food Processor Blender Chopper Multi Mixer, Silver & White
BONUS: KitchenAid KFC3100 Chef Series 3-Cup Food Chopper, 5 colours
A Closer Look
Most of these small food processors have the profile of their bigger counter parts. While they may not all have a chute, they certainly have a large enough processing bowl for a whole average size fruit and secure lid. These food processors are so small that they take up very little foot print or counter space and is easy to store away. Once you started to use it, you may decide to just keep it out on the counter top and use it everyday.
1. Conair Cuisinart DLC-2A Mini Prep Plus 3-Cup Food Processor, 7 colours
- Features: Chops and Grinds with patented reversible stainless steel blade, simple push button panel with dedicated buttons for chop or grind, dishwasher safe bowl and lid, spatula included
- Capacity: 3-cup plastic work bowl
- Measures 5.6 inches x 9.8 inches x 8.2 inches
Colours Options: White, Silver, Red, Apple Green, Grey, Orange and Blue
2. KitchenAid KFC3511 3.5-Cup Food Chopper, Colour Options
- Features: stainless steel blade, compact design, 2 speed, one touch operation (chop or puree dedicated buttons) that precisely chops or purees the ingredients. Wet ingredient adder lets you add ingredients using the non-spill opening located on the top of the unit while in use, perfect for adding oil or broth to a pureed soup. See also from KitchenAid, the smaller 3-cup food chopper below.
- Capacity: 3.5 Cup BPA Free bowl and lid
- Measures: 7 x 5 x 9.5 inches
Colour Options:
3. Cuisinart CH-4 Elite Collection 4-Cup Chopper/Grinder, 4 colours
- Feature: Simple touch pad control panel for chop or grind function. BladeLock system that keeps blade securely in place for safety. Spatulate and recipe as well as instruction manual included.
- Capacity: 4-Cup processing bowl
- Accessory: Auto-reversing Smart Power blade with sharp edge and blunt edge
- Measures: 5-4/5 by 6-1/2 by 9-1/5 inches
Colour Options: White, Black, Red, Silver
4. Cuisinart DLC-4 Mini-Prep Plus 4-Cup Food Processor
- Features: Touch pad control with dedicated chop or grind buttons, easy grip handle, dishwasher safe parts, custom spatula, instruction and recipes.
- Capacity: 4-cup capacity work bowl
- Accessories: auto-reversing blade for chopping or grinding
- Measures 6 inches x 11 inches x 9 inches
5. Cuisinart DLC-1 Mini-Prep 3-Cup Processor, 5 colours
- Features: powerful chopper/grinder with 2 speed (Hi and Lo) controls with dedicated buttons.
- Capacity: 21 ounce bowl, approx. 3-cup (2.63 cups)
- Accessories: patented reversible blade chops or grinds
- Measures 4.63 in. x 6.25 in. x 8.00 in.
Available in 5 different shades, our favourite is the brushed stainless steel base unit seen in the gallery below and in our featured image.
6. VonShef Mini 4.5-Cup Food Processor Blender Chopper Multi Mixer, Silver & White
- Features: The only small small food processor with a feed chute is also the biggest small food processor in our list. the blade chops, mixes, shreds and slices. Unlike other small food chopper or processors in the list, it includes not only a chopping blade but a slicing/grating disc too and instead of two button operation, it uses a dial for pulse and low (1) or high (2) speed.
- Capacity: 4.5 Cup chopping bowl – BIGGEST CAPACITY
- Accessories: chopping blade and slice/grating disc
BONUS: KitchenAid KFC3100ER Chef Series 3-Cup Food Chopper, 5 colours
- Features: electronic pulse pad provides precise control, wet or dry compartments on domed lid for adding ingredients and flavouring while the chopper is running. spatula included. Use it to chop meat, nuts, cheese, vegetables, herbs and other food.
- Capacity: 3-Cup work bowl ideal for small jobs and making sauces, dips, frostings
- Accessory: reverse spiral action blade pulls food down for uniform chopping
- Measures: 6.2 inches x 11.2 inches x 8 inches
