The KitchenAid Food Chopper and Food Processor serve different countertop purposes despite their similar names. The Food Chopper is a compact, single-task appliance for quick, small-batch jobs like chopping herbs or garlic, while the Food Processor is a larger, multi-functional machine that can chop, slice, shred, and even knead dough in large quantities.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right KitchenAid appliance for your cooking style and kitchen space.
KitchenAid Food Chopper
The KitchenAid Food Chopper is the perfect sidekick for small, everyday prep tasks. With its compact footprint and one-touch operation, it's designed to make quick work of chopping small quantities of ingredients, saving you time and the effort of using a knife and cutting board.
- What it is: A small, straightforward appliance for quickly chopping, mincing, and pureeing small amounts of food.
- Key features: Simple one-touch operation, multipurpose stainless steel blade, 3.5 to 5-cup work bowl, compact design.
- Price: $30 - $60
- Dimensions: Small footprint fits easily in a drawer or on a crowded countertop.
- Materials/Construction: Durable plastic bowl and a sharp stainless steel blade designed for quick, efficient processing.
- Style: Sleek and minimalist, available in multiple classic KitchenAid colors to coordinate with other appliances.
- Pros: Affordable and budget-friendly. Extremely easy to use and clean. Compact size makes it ideal for small kitchens. Perfect for small jobs like mincing garlic or chopping nuts.
- Cons: Limited functionality beyond chopping and small-batch pureeing. Small capacity is not suitable for meal prep or large families. Motor is less powerful than a full-sized processor.
This chopper is ideal for home cooks who need a simple tool for daily, single-ingredient prep and value ease of use and small storage.
Shop this product: kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/food-prep/food-choppers.html
KitchenAid Food Processor
The KitchenAid Food Processor is a versatile workhorse designed to handle a wide array of kitchen tasks. Acting as a do-it-all prep station, it has the power and capacity to chop vegetables for a crowd, shred pounds of cheese, slice potatoes, and even mix and knead dough for baking.
- What it is: A multi-functional countertop appliance that can chop, slice, shred, grate, mix, puree, and knead.
- Key features: Large capacity work bowl (7 to 14 cups), multiple blades and discs for different functions, variable speed settings and pulse control, powerful motor.
- Price: $150 - $400
- Dimensions: Substantial footprint requires dedicated counter or cabinet space.
- Materials/Construction: Heavy-duty plastic or metal housing, robust motor, high-quality stainless steel blades and discs for durability.
- Style: A classic, substantial appliance that matches the signature KitchenAid stand mixer aesthetic, available in various finishes.
- Pros: Incredibly versatile, replacing the need for multiple gadgets. Large capacity is great for large recipes and family meals. Powerful motor handles tough tasks like kneading dough. Durable and built for longevity.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive than a chopper. Takes up considerable storage space. More components to clean. Can be overkill for very small chopping tasks.
The Food Processor is for serious home cooks who tackle complex recipes or cook in large quantities and want a single appliance to streamline their prep work.
Shop this product: kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/food-prep/food-processors.html
KitchenAid Food Chopper vs. Food Processor Comparison
Functionality & Versatility
This is the most significant difference between the two appliances. The Food Chopper excels at one thing: chopping. It's great for mincing garlic, dicing onions, chopping nuts, or making a small batch of pesto. Its functionality intentionally stops there to maintain its simplicity.
The Food Processor is a multipurpose tool. With its interchangeable discs and blades, it can slice cucumbers uniformly, shred a block of cheese in seconds, mix dough for a pie crust, and puree a large vat of soup. It handles almost any prep task a recipe could call for, making it a true kitchen swiss army knife.
Capacity & Size
The Food Chopper typically comes with a 3.5-cup or 5-cup bowl, which is perfect for processing a single onion or a handful of herbs. Its small physical size means it can be stored in a deep drawer or a small cabinet, making it ideal for kitchens where space is at a premium.
Food Processors start at 7 cups and can go up to 14 cups. This larger capacity is designed for preparing family-sized meals, like shredding coleslaw mix for a party or chopping vegetables for a big pot of chili. This larger capacity means a much bigger footprint that will require dedicated space on a countertop or in a large cupboard.
Price & Value
Priced between $30 and $60, the Food Chopper offers exceptional value for its specific purpose. If your primary need is quick, efficient chopping assistance, it's a small investment that delivers huge time savings over manual chopping.
Ranging from $150 to $400, the Food Processor is a far greater investment. However, its value comes from its versatility. By performing the tasks of a shredder, mandoline slicer, dough mixer, and chopper all in one, it can save you money and space on buying and storing multiple single-use gadgets.
Ease of Use & Cleaning
With its simple press-and-go operation, the Food Chopper is incredibly straightforward to use. It has minimal parts - typically just the bowl, lid, and blade - which are all usually dishwasher-safe, making cleanup fast and effortless.
The Food Processor has more of a learning curve with its various attachments, feed chutes, and speed settings. Assembly and disassembly take an extra moment, and while most parts are dishwasher-safe, there are simply more of them to wash, which can make cleanup a bit more involved.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both of these KitchenAid appliances are top-quality tools, but they cater to very different needs and cooking styles.
Choose the KitchenAid Food Chopper if:
- You primarily need help with chopping small ingredients like herbs, nuts, and aromatics.
- Your kitchen is small and you have limited storage space.
- You want a simple, affordable appliance for quick, daily prep.
- You loathe chopping onions and want a tool dedicated to that single task.
Choose the KitchenAid Food Processor if:
- You cook for a larger family or regularly prepare complex recipes.
- You want to slice vegetables, shred cheese, or mix doughs and batters.
- You value versatility and want one appliance to handle many prep jobs.
- You have adequate counter or cabinet space and a larger budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between the KitchenAid Food Chopper and Food Processor?
The main difference is functionality. A Food Chopper is a specialized tool designed for small, quick chopping tasks. A Food Processor is a multi-functional appliance that chops, slices, shreds, purees, and mixes with different attachments and a much larger capacity.
Can I make dough with a KitchenAid Food Chopper?
No, a food chopper's motor is not powerful enough, and its blade is not designed for kneading. This task requires a Food Processor with a dough blade attachment.
Which one is better for a small household or a couple?
For a small household, the Food Chopper is often sufficient for daily prep needs. However, if that small household enjoys cooking elaborate meals, a 7-cup Food Processor could still be a great fit.
Which appliance is easier to clean?
The Food Chopper is significantly easier to clean. It has fewer parts - just a bowl, blade, and lid - which are typically dishwasher safe and easy to wash by hand.
Can I use the food chopper to shred cheese?
No, the food chopper's blade will only chop or mince the cheese into small crumbs. To get properly shredded cheese, you need a food processor equipped with a shredding disc.
Is the Food Processor worth the extra money?
If you regularly perform tasks like slicing, shredding, and mixing dough, yes. A food processor consolidates multiple kitchen gadgets into one, saving you space and money over the long term. If you only need to chop garlic and onions, it is not worth the upgrade.
How do I choose the right size food processor?
A 7 to 9-cup model is typically sufficient for most families and everyday recipes. A larger 11 to 14-cup processor is ideal for those who entertain often, engage in bulk meal prep, or have large families.
Can I make smoothies in a food chopper?
A food chopper can make a rough, small-batch puree but is not designed for beverages and can leak with too much liquid. A blender is the best tool for making smoothies.
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