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Best food processors under $300

Find out which budget-friendly food processors impressed our expert testers.

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Last updated: 21 February 2024

Need to know

  • Our latest CHOICE expert review of 27 popular food processors includes big brand models as well as cheaper options
  • Our tests show that spending more doesn't necessarily mean you get a better product, with some cheaper models outperforming more expensive ones
  • We put food processors through their paces with tests on their overall performance as well as more specific tasks, such as kneading dough, emulsifying mayonnaise and blending soup if they have a blender attachment

A good food processor can slice, dice, chop, puree, knead, grind, mix, and grate. So whether you're a pastry maker, a food prep whiz, a busy parent or you just simply detest chopping and shredding vegetables by hand, a food processor can quickly become an indispensable kitchen workhorse.

You may have noticed, however, that the cost of food processors varies as vastly as their list of capabilities. While some coveted models, such as KitchenAid and Magimix, can cost up to $1000 and enjoy a hint of cult status, others can be purchased for as little as $55.

With such a discrepancy in cost, it can be difficult to know where to put your money. Luckily, our detailed food processor reviews, conducted by experts in our CHOICE kitchen labs, take much of the confusion out of making that decision.

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Food processors make light work of kitchen prep for cooks of all levels and abilities.

How much do you need to spend on a food processor?

CHOICE kitchen expert Fiona Mair says food processors are a favourite appliance of hers and are very helpful for people who like to make things from scratch,  vegetarians and vegans who might be preparing large amounts of fresh produce, or large families.

"A food processor will save you time and make life a little easier in the kitchen," she says.

But how much do you really need to spend? According to Fiona, it depends on what you want to use it for. 

"If you are after a food processor that will just help you with basic food prep, then a cheaper model that rates highly in our tests is all you need," she says,

"Something that has a medium-sized processing bowl and is easy to store is perfect for basic food preparation. 

A food processor will save you time and make life a little easier in the kitchen

More expensive food processors on the other hand give you more options for processing, Fiona explains.

"They may include a separate storage container for storing all the blades and accessories as well as a smaller processor bowl (so no need to have a mini processor for processing smaller quantities such as pestos, nuts and curry pastes)." 

"Some of the more expensive models may also include features such as kitchen scales, blender jugs and heavy duty blades," she adds.

If you only want to chop nuts and herbs or make things such as curry paste or pesto, a mini food processor might be all you need (see our mini food processor reviews). 

For larger jobs, you need to make sure the bowl size is adequate. It's also a good idea to look out for one with an in-built drawer to house the attachments or storage in the bowl as storage can be a bugbear with an appliance of this size. 

Three top-rated food processors under $300

Consider becoming a CHOICE member to access them and our full food processor results, plus reviews for more than 200 other product categories.

Our rigorous reviews uncover the top-performing food processors on the market, but we've also found you don't have to spend big for a decent machine. Here, we round up the best-performing food processors for less than $300.

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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.

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Breville BFP560 The Kitchen Wizz 8

  • Choice Expert Rating: 82%. (Recommended)
  • Performance score: 88%
  • Ease of use score: 72%
  • Price: $289

Our current review includes four Breville food processors at different price points, all offering a range of different features; this is one of the cheaper recommended models. 

But despite its reasonable price, it scored well across the tests our kitchen experts put it through: it's a whizz at slicing carrots, chopping breadcrumbs, emulsifying mayonnaise and kneading shortcrust pastry. Its sealed bowl makes it easier to clean and doesn't spill ingredients onto the unit or when removing blades. 

However, it is on the noisy side, and there's no storage for attachments. It's also not one for beginners: the blade is extremely sharp and there's no safety lock feature, plus some parts have cracks and crevices that make it tricky to clean. 

But for the money it's a great performer that will make you feel like a 'Wizz' in the kitchen. 

Read the full Breville The Kitchen Wizz 8 review

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Russell Hobbs Classic Food Processor RHFP5000

  • Choice Expert Rating: 80%
  • Performance score: 92%
  • Ease of use score: 62%
  • Price: $110

A winning attribute of this processor is the inclusion of a mini bowl, as well as a good performance score for the mini processor function, even if the bowl is awkward to remove. It also gets a perfect score for emulsifying mayonnaise and chopping breadcrumbs.

Unfortunately, it misses out on a recommendation because of its ease of use, and our tester noted quite a few downsides including the fact that it is noisy and heavy, with little variation between speed one and two. 

However, if you're after a machine to perform simple slicing and dicing jobs, this model hits the mark with plenty of cash left over from $300.

Read the full Russell Hobbs Classic Food Processor review

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Kenwood MultiPro Express White FDP65740WH

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 80%
  • Performance score: 88%
  • Ease of use score: 67%
  • Price: $219

This Kenwood is a good all-rounder: it scored well on all our tests and comes with plenty of accessories, one of which is a 1.5L blender, which makes it all the more versatile. 

However, our testers marked it down for its ease of use, citing bugbears like the large processor bowl being difficult to clean in a domestic sink, the fiddly method of inserting the spindle, limited grip on the slicing and shredding discs, and pretty ordinary instructions. These issues mean the model just misses out on being recommended. 

Again, though, it's a good buy for the money and once you've figured out its eccentricities, it'll do a great job. 

Read the full Kenwood MultiPro Express review.

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The Kitchen Wizz 8 Plus: a larger Wizz with more features.

Worth considering: Breville The Kitchen Wizz 8 Plus

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 82% (Recommended)
  • Performance score: 88% 
  • Ease of use score: 72% 
  • Price: $319

If your budget can stretch over $300 – or even better, if you find it on sale for less than $300 – The Kitchen Wizz 8 Plus is a great option if you're looking for a larger model.

It received identical scores to The Kitchen Wizz 8 mentioned above, but it has a few extra features and larger capacity, so it's a good option if you're cooking for a crowd or batch cooking. 

Read the full The Kitchen Wizz 8 Plus review

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.