A food processor is a handy tool for any home cook, but it can be especially useful for vegans looking to transform everyday natural ingredients into sumptuous dishes. The best food processors for vegans will effortlessly turn beans, nuts, and veggies into creamy dips and spreads — and they can cut down on manual food prep by grating and slicing ingredients for you. They can even grind whole grains into flour or knead your dough for pastries or bread.
A food processor’s power, or wattage, is hugely important if you plan to use it to break down harder ingredients like raw carrots or nuts (nut butter, anyone?), or if you’ll be mixing dough with it. The higher the wattage of your food processor’s motor, the less likely it’ll be to overheat on the job.
The general rule of thumb is that a food processor should have at least 600 watts of power for a full-size machine with a capacity of 8 cups or more. But for vegans who will be working with lots of veggies, beans, and nuts, I’d suggest looking for a machine with at least 700 watts of power and an 11- to 16-cup capacity so that you can avoid both the annoyance of processing food in batches and the nuisance of overheating the motor. But there's one notable exception to this recommendation: mini food processors. If you're looking for a small 3- or 4-cup machine that's ideal for little tasks like mincing garlic or making small quantities of dips or dressings, you should be fine with 300 to 400 watts of power.
There are a few other features to look out for as you shop. Large feed chutes can process bulkier veggies without requiring you to stop the machine and remove the lid. A pulse function will give you more control over how finely the machine processes the ingredients. Some machines will also come with a variety of interior attachments, ranging from slicing disks to dough blades, and they can be particularly helpful with cutting down on food prep time.
With all that in mind, I’ve combed Amazon for the best food processors for vegan home cooks. From a large-capacity food processor to a compact chopper, here are the best food processors for vegans.
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