Mini food processors
If you only ever need to chop or mix small amounts, you probably don’t need a full-sized food processor. A mini food processor is compact and lighter, so it’s easier to pack away and clean.
We've tested a range of mini food processors by chopping breadcrumbs, making curry paste and making pesto.
We've tested 5 mini food processors.
Find a mini food processorMini vs full-sized
Like full-sized processors, mini food processors can process soft and hard foods – such as vegetables, hard cheese and breadcrumbs. Some models have small feed chutes for adding liquids when you’re making mayonnaise and salad dressings. They're also handy for making pesto and curry paste – a task some food processors can’t do unless they come with a mini processor attachment.
But mini processors are less versatile than their full-sized counterparts. They only have a capacity up to a litre (some are as little as 500ml) and only have a maximum processing time of up to 1 minute. They don’t usually have slicing, grating or shredding blades and can’t knead dough or pastry.
Before you rush out and buy one, consider what you’ve already got in your cupboard. For example:
All the hand-held blenders we’ve tested come with a processor attachment.
Some larger food processors have a mini processor bowl.
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Learn more Join Consumer Log inFeatures to consider
If you’re thinking about buying a mini food processor, keep these points in mind.
- Bowl capacity – 500ml to 1000ml is only adequate for small quantities, such as making pesto and grinding nuts.
- Gradings on the bowl – help with measurements and to avoid overfilling.
- Controls –should be large, easy to operate and clearly labelled. A seal over the controls will stop food from getting in.
- Pulse – useful for small quantities of dry food. Activating the pulse button gives you short bursts of power that help to distribute the load and ensure the food is uniformly chopped.
- Feed chute for liquids – useful for making mayonnaise as oils and liquids must be added gradually.
