Electric food choppers (aka mini food processors) are a great way to cut down on prep time. They take up a small amount of counter space and require access to an outlet (though there are some battery-operated choppers that are cord-free). Unlike full-size food processors, electric choppers are much smaller, only have one blade option, and cannot process as much food. Electric choppers can cut up small amounts of produce, while food processors can make purees, doughs, and sauces. Unlike manual choppers, though, electric food choppers can also make salad dressing, mayonnaise, and other emulsified sauces. This little chopper has a 3.5-cup bowl that is big enough for serious food prep when a full-sized food processor is too big for the job.
If the blades become dull over time, replacements are available from the manufacturer. The 14-cup bowl—yep, that’s where the name comes from—is large enough to handle most home kitchen jobs, whether you’re whipping up a salsa, mixing a pizza dough, or shredding a big block of cheese. The bowl also has enough room to store the blade attachments when you’re not prepping ingredients (because you don’t want any of the super-sharp blades sitting loose in a drawer). Even better, there’s a cover for the cup, so foods can be prepped ahead and stored in the same container. A little spoon hangs on the side of the chopper, so you can use it to scoop out a little of the chopped item or to scrape all of it out and into your pot or bowl. Chopping onions is one of the most grueling kitchen tasks, particularly for people who tend to get watery eyes while chopping—not to mention the annoying scent that clings to fingers.
Like many choppers, it did less well with green peppers, but they were still acceptable for our recipe. When chopping is done, this is easy to disassemble, and it’s dishwasher-safe. Unfortunately, when we tested it and then washed it with dishes with tomato residue, the spoon and cap got stained by tomatoes. For folks who like to do a lot of prepping ahead, extra bowls with covers are available for separate purchase. The most common types of food choppers are manually operated. They are much less expensive and very straightforward to use.
We have a wide range of sizes available, including 4, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14-cup work bowls. The ease of use of a food chopper essentially boils down to whether it is manual or electric. While both models are fine for cooks of all levels, an electric food chopper definitely takes some of the labor out of the process. It will run you a bit more money, but operating it is as simple as the push of a button. The blades are stainless steel, and all parts are dishwasher safe. A lid is included so food can be stored in the 6-cup container for later use.
He has been reviewing iPhones, iPads, and related tech since 2011—and stopped counting after he tested his 1,000th case. It’s impossible for him not to mentally catalog any case he sees. He once had the bright idea to cuisinart choppers build and burn down a room to test fireproof safes. A version of this post was originally published as part of our 2020 “52 Things We Love” series, an ode to Wirecutter picks that have withstood the test of time.