Buying Guide for the Best Kenwood Food Processors
Choosing a food processor can really level up your kitchen, making meal prep faster, easier, and more fun. Food processors handle tasks such as chopping, slicing, grating, kneading, and even mixing dough, saving you time and effort compared to doing everything by hand. The key to finding the best food processor for your needs is to understand your typical cooking habits and match these with the features and specifications on offer. Think about how much food you usually prepare at once, what kinds of tasks you do most, and how much space you have in your kitchen. Evaluating the main specifications will help you focus on what really matters and avoid paying for features you won’t use.Bowl CapacityBowl capacity is the size of the main container where food is processed, measured in liters or cups. This is important because it determines how much food you can process at once, and helps you avoid overfilling or needing to work in multiple batches. Food processors typically come in small (about 1–2 liters), medium (2–3.5 liters), and large (over 3.5 liters) sizes. Small bowls are best for individuals or basic tasks like chopping herbs or nuts, mediums are great for small families or more involved recipes, and large bowls are ideal for those who batch-cook, entertain, or bake regularly. Consider how many people you usually cook for and the portion sizes you handle to choose the bowl size that suits your lifestyle.
Motor PowerMotor power, usually given in watts, tells you how strong the food processor's engine is. This matters because a more powerful motor can handle tougher tasks, like kneading dough or shredding hard vegetables, without straining or overheating. Food processors often range between 400 and 1200 watts. Lower-wattage models (400–600W) are fine for light tasks, while mid-range (600–900W) can handle most home needs, and high-wattage (900W and up) are best if you plan to use the processor for heavy loads or tougher ingredients. Consider what tasks you plan to use your processor for; if it’s mostly slicing and chopping soft foods, a lower-power model will do, but for demanding tasks like dough or nut butter, go higher.
Attachments and BladesAttachments and blades refer to the different parts included that perform tasks like slicing, grating, kneading, whisking, or even citrus juicing. This is important because the variety and quality of attachments determine what your food processor can do. Some models only come with a basic S-blade and a couple of disks, while others include multiple blades, dough hooks, whisk attachments, and more. If you mostly want to chop and slice, simple attachments will suffice, but if you want a machine that kneads dough or grates cheese, look for more options. Think about your typical recipes and see which attachments you’ll use most often—don’t be swayed by a huge number of extras if you won’t use them.
Speed Settings and ControlsSpeed settings let you control how fast the blades spin, which helps with getting the texture you want for different foods. Most food processors have two or three speeds—low, high, and a pulse feature for short bursts. More speeds can offer greater control, but for most uses, having two speeds and a pulse is enough. If you want quick, on-the-fly adjustments for things like fine chopping or careful mixing, check for clear, easy-to-use controls. Match the level of control to your typical needs: simple sliders or buttons suit straightforward cooking, whereas more detailed controls can be great for advanced foodies.
Ease of CleaningEase of cleaning is all about how simple it is to wash and maintain your food processor parts. This is important because a food processor you dread cleaning may end up gathering dust in your cupboard! Some models are dishwasher-safe, and some have fewer nooks and crannies where food can hide. If hassle-free maintenance is important to you, look for parts labeled as dishwasher-safe and designs that let you easily take things apart and put them back together. If you prep sticky or messy foods often, this becomes even more useful.
Build Quality and FootprintBuild quality covers the strength and durability of the machine and its parts, while footprint means how much space the machine takes on your counter. Solid construction matters because it ensures stability during use and makes the processor last longer, especially if you use it regularly for heavy tasks. As for footprint, consider the storage and workspace in your kitchen. If you have a small kitchen, a compact model may be preferable, while larger models provide more features and capacity but require more counter or storage space. Think about your available space and how often you'll use the processor—regular users may want it accessible on the counter, while occasional users might tuck it away.