Food processors are, without a doubt, the handiest appliance that you can have in your kitchen.
Their versatility is unmatched by other kitchen appliances. In many ways, they can save you the need for choppers and blenders. What other appliance can chop, slice, shred, grind, grate, mince, crush, puree, blend, mix, knead, and whip?
Also, there’s more fit for commercial food processor use where there’s not much time for prepping your food yourself. On the other hand, blenders need you to do some prepping beforehand, which not everyone has the time to do for every recipe.
However, there are many types and designs, which is why making a choice can be overwhelming. So, we did our own research to help you find the best commercial food processors.
Top Picks
The 4 Best Commercial Food Processors in 2020
There are many models of commercial food processors, but these are the ones most worthy of your time and consideration.
Do you know what’s better than a commercial food processor? A heavy-duty food processor with a 1200-watt motor, LCD display, 2 BPA-free bowls, 3 feed chutes, and 8 precision tools. The Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef Food Processor is a staple in the commercial food industry that does a great job on all fronts.
Let’s start with the design, which is attractive, shows that it means business, and comes in different color options to fit in your kitchen. Also, the solid die-cast metal base, stainless steel blades, and a high-impact, BPA-free bowl boast of high quality and ensure safety.
Speaking of safety, this commercial food processor has a feed chute safety system that prevents the appliance from operating unless every vital item is locked in position. Plus, the non-skid rubber feet guarantee that the food processor won’t be moving around by itself, while the food pushers help you do the work without risking touching the blades.
In terms of storage, Breville thought things through. The appliance has cord storage, which makes things practical and safe. Also, the space-saving accessory storage box can be stored horizontally or vertically based on the available storage space.
Moreover,this commercial food processor features a direct drive, high torque, heavy-duty 1200-watt induction motor, which Breville trusts so much that it comes with a 25-year guarantee. Despite being so incredibly powerful, it works very quietly. Plus, it saves so much time.
You can utilize this powerful motor with the multidirectional countdown timer and the LCD display that keeps you updated. Furthermore, the pulse button keeps you in complete control of the size and consistency of the food, which makes every cook’s job easier.
Serious chefs will appreciate the fact that this processor has 2 processing bowls: a 16-cup one and a 2.5-cup one. The large bowl’s capacity handles the largest servings with ease, while the mini bowl is big enough to handle smaller jobs, such as processing sauces and nuts.
In addition, it has 3 feed chutes. The 5.5” super-wide feed chute eliminates the need for pre-chopping and allows you to feed much larger ingredients directly into the processor. On the other hand, the thinner feed chutes are more practical for thinner ingredients to keep them upright.
Since we’re talking about a food processor, we have to discuss its tools. The convenient accessory box carries 5 multi-function discs and 3 blades. The micro-serrated S-blade ensures consistency, while the variable slicing disc can be set to 24 different slicing settings for complete customization in terms of thickness.
What about cleanup? The touch buttons and LCD display can be easily wiped. Also, the bowls and lid are dishwasher safe, although we recommend hand washing them to prolong the part’s life span.
Of course, there’s a couple of things that we don’t like about this processor. First, it’s clearly not for people on a budget; all these features don’t come cheap. Moreover, we already expected that a processor with a 16-cup bowl was going to be heavy and bulky.
Pros:
Easy to store processor and accessory box
Quiet heavy-duty induction motor with a 25-year warranty
3 feed chute options including a 5.5” super wide one
2 BPA-free bowls including a 16-cup capacity
Auto timer and pulse function
Set of 8 discs and blades
Cons:
Not the most affordable
Heavy and bulky
Robot Coupe is one of the first and best brands that produced commercial food processors, especially continuous feed and combination ones. The Robot Coupe R2N Combination Food Processor is the best continuous feed food processor with a bowl on the market for commercial use.
We’ll be honest,he R2N isn’t here to look cute; it looks like an intimidating, yet easy to use, processor that is meant for a busy kitchen in a demanding environment. Its red and gray design looks like many appliances you must have seen at your grandmother’s kitchen.
Well, is it safe? Absolutely. The magnetic safety system that features a lever-activated auto restart, this processor is safe and user-friendly.
What matters is whether it’s powerful or not. Spoiler alert: it is. This commercial food processor has a direct-driven, heavy-duty 1-HP motor that can handle a lot of rigorous chopping, shredding, slicing, mixing, grating, and more without being overworked. Yet, it is very quiet.
You can utilize all of this power through the easy-to-use button control panel. The buttons are large and have different colors; so, anyone can use them. The pulse button lets you decide how you want your food to be processed.
You will process the food in a 3-quart work bowl, which is large enough to operate seamlessly on the most pressing days. The clear lid is pretty helpful to see your processing. Also, it’s okay because you never run out of capacity when you’re using a continuous feed processor.
The external ejection chute is excellent because it helps you feed the processor continuously from one end, and food comes out of the other end the way that you want it. What’s not to like?
This commercial food processor also comes with one S-blade and 2 discs. The smooth, stainless steel S-blade can chop, emulsify, and blend. In addition, we have a high-quality 5/32″ slicing disc and a 5/64″ grating one, so the basics are all covered.
All that being said, we have a thing or two to say against this processor. To start, it is highly expensive, which is expected from a heavy-duty food processor, but the included precision tools are very few, and the compatible ones are incredibly pricey to purchase.
Plus, it comes as no surprise that such a high-performance processor is hard to carry and takes a lot of space.
Pros:
3-quart bowl with clear lid
Quiet 1-HP motor
Lever-activated auto-restart
Pulse button
Easy-to-use button control panel
External ejection chute
Cons:
Incredibly expensive
Needs more precision tools
Extremely heavy and bulky
If you’re running a business and looking for a commercial food processor, it only makes sense that you get one that lasts. The Cuisinart DFP-14WGY 14-Cup Food Processor has a solid construction that will make it last through everything, and Cuisinart trusts it so much that it is covered by a 3-year warranty.
The first thing that you’ll notice is its vintage, old-school look. The different color options, especially the white and gold option, are fantastic. It also has a solid feel, thanks to being made from brushed stainless steel, that gives you peace about not having to replace it any time soon.
Furthermore, it has small and large food pushers to ensure your safety. In fact, it cares so much about your safety that it stops whenever the large pusher is removed and continues operating when you put it back. Plus, it doesn’t operate when you remove the lid.
Motors are essential when we’re talking about commercial food processor. This one is a powerful 720-watt motor that won’t quit. Cuisinart is utilizing the motor with 2 switches that are pretty easy to use. One button is the pulse function that puts the cook in charge of the processing.
A powerful motor makes sense with a large capacity. This processor has a large 14-cup BPA-free bowl with a handle. So, you can definitely go through large batches of food without tiring the motor.
In addition, this processor boasts having 2 feed chutes. The extra-large one lets you process food without the need for any pre-chopping, while the small one is perfect when you need your produce to stand upright.
We love the high-quality precision tools, which are a stainless steel blade for chopping and mixing, stainless steel standard slicing disc, and medium shredding disc. So, you’ll do a lot of recipes without having to look for replacements.
Since food processors have to be cleaned after every use, we have to discuss the cleanup. Since it has dishwasher-safe parts, a lot of hard work is lifted off your shoulders.
However, removing the parts for cleanup and putting them back together is extremely frustrating because the locking mechanism between the parts is a bit extreme. If you can get past that, then everything else will be perfect.
Pros:
3-year warranty
14-cup BPA-free bowl with handle
2 feed chutes including an extra large one
Dishwasher-safe parts
720-watt motor
Easy-to-use switches with pulse function
Cons:
Frustrating to take apart and put together
Sometimes, you’re on a really tight budget. Maybe your business is just starting out, or you’re working in a small coffee shop that doesn’t have many demands in terms of commercial food processing. The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor is your budget-friendly friend.
Despite being the most affordable, it has a pretty solid construction. One of the best qualities of this processor is its space-saving abilities. It is pretty lightweight and compact in dimensions. Plus, it has a handy storage area for the cord, and you can flip the lid to save cabinet space whenever you store it.
In terms of power, this commercial food processor has a 450-watt motor that you make the best use of, thanks to the 2-speed options that help you chop or mix depending on your needs and the pulse function that allows you to process your food without overdoing it. The switches are pretty straightforward.
Capacity-wise, this budget choice has a BPA-free, 10-cup work bowl, which isn’t too shabby for a processor at its price point; you can fit an entire cabbage head in that. In addition, it has a large feed chute that lets you put a whole block of cheese without any prep. Yum!
What about the tools that are the most vital for processing? This affordable pick comes with a stainless steel S-blade that can chop, mix, and purée like there’s no tomorrow. Also, the reversible disc allows you to slice peppers, radishes, and firm cheeses, or shred cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and cheese.
If you’re sick of having to turn off the appliance and open the lid to use a spatula, you can rest now, thanks to the bowl scraper attachment that keeps the ingredients close to the blades for more even chipping and mixing.
Now, let’s talk about cleanup. You can easily put the blades, bowl, and lid in the dishwasher because we’re not here for rubbing and scrubbing.
However, with great advantages come a few disadvantages. As you can see, this food processor is the least powerful one on the list. So we don’t recommend doing any heavy lifting with it. Also, while the 10-cup bowl is on the larger side, it’s still the smallest on our list; however, it does make up for it with its compact size and ease of storage.
Pros:
Extremely affordable
Large feed chute
2 speeds and pulse function
BPA-free, dishwasher-safe 10-cup bowl
Compact and easy to store
Bowl scraper
Cons:
Least powerful on the list
Smallest capacity on the list
Types of Commercial Food Processors
Commercial food processors come in different types that serve different purposes. They are mainly batch bowl, continuous feed, or combination processors.
Batch Bowl Food Processors
As the name suggests, these food processors have bowls with small to medium capacities. They’re the widely used type because most people, at least home cooks, don’t need more than what this type offers.
They’re also very popular thanks to the variety in their functions, as they can slice, whip, chop, grate, shred, and purée. However, they’re not the most precise in their cuts, but that’s okay for the context that they’re used in.
Continuous Feed Food Processors
On the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find the continuous feed food processors.
They allow you to keep the power on and add the ingredients whenever you want them processed while the appliance is operating. They expel the processed food immediately into the food container of your choice.
You go for these when you have a lot of high-volume prep to do and don’t want to be restricted by your bowl’s capacity. So, they’re more suitable for commercial use because you won’t stop mid-work to figure out how to maximize your capacity.
Commercial Combination Food Processors
What about cooks and chefs that need both? Well, they can have both.
Combination processors come with a work bowl and an external dispenser so you can choose the type of processing that you need every time.
When your batches are small and not demanding, you can go with the work bowl. If your kitchen is busy and you need to get a lot done pretty quickly, you can switch to continuous processing.
How to Pick a Commercial Food Processor
You may think that picking a commercial food processor is straightforward, or you may find it too complicated. Either way, you need to do some research before you buy your next food processor, especially if it’s for commercial use.
Power
You have to consider each processor’s motor because the power rating it has tells you much work it can handle; this is even more vital when we’re talking about commercial use.
Go for low-powered food processors if your work is lightweight and not very demanding in terms of precision or consistency. Low-powered motors are around 250 to 450 watts, and they’re the quietest and most affordable. Make sure not to overload these ones, or you’ll risk them overheating, which shortens the motor’s life span.
What if you want something a little bit more powerful? Consider 600-watt motors, which are powerful enough for everyday kitchen demands. It is still possible to overload medium-powered processors, but it won’t be as easy as it is with low-powered ones.
Larger food processors come with high-powered motors, starting 720 watts and above. We’re not going to lie to you: they don’t come cheap. These beasts can power through the toughest and stickiest foods with more versatility in what they can actually do.
Blades and Discs
Blades and discs are highly important to consider because they’re the utensils that get the job done in the first place. Each type of blade and disc has a function that you should understand.
The basic S-blade does an impressive variety of jobs such as chopping, blending, emulsifying, mixing, grinding, puréeing, kneading. S-blades come in different variations and designs to do certain tasks; the most prominent ones are smooth, serrated, and perforated. As you can see, this blade is pretty essential to the food processing world.
Next, we have discs. These utensils are also essential, but for slicing, dicing, grating, crimping, whipping, and shredding. They also come in different designs and thicknesses to do different jobs. Sometimes, they can be purchased separately.
Capacity
Mini choppers are food processors with really small capacities that range from 2 to 7 cups and don’t even have feed chutes; they’re great for small prep jobs, such as chopping celery, puréeing baby food, or making salsas and dips. For commercial use, you can utilize them in small coffee shops. They’re compact, affordable, and easy to clean. So, why not?
Average-sized work bowls that range from 7 to 11 cups are the most popular choice, and they have a feed chute, of course. Since they’re just smaller, more affordable versions of the larger ones, they’re great for satisfying the needs of families of four or businesses that aren’t too busy.
Now, we have arrived at really large food processors that range from 12 to 20 cups. These are the go-to if you don’t want to be limited to batches. When your restaurant is busy, you need a large bowl and a large feed chute because there’s no time for prep. They’re expensive, but they’re worth every penny.
Safety
It comes as no surprise that safety matters when you’re working with a commercial food processor. The environment of the back kitchen is always stressful because you need to get work done, and you need to do it quickly and safely.
So, look for safety features such as a safety interlock, reset button, food pusher, and non-skid rubber feet help you slice, dice, chop, purée, and shred with more peace in mind.In addition, fan-cooled motors are able to last longer with a reduced risk of burning. Also, look for bowls that are BPA-free because you don’t want its harmful effects near your food.
Features and Controls
Look for features that make your cooking process more customized and easier.
Make sure to look for customization and helpful features, and that’s why you should seek out food processors with variable speeds, which allow you to get the consistency right, while the pulse and pre-set speed functions put you in complete control, especially for tricky jobs like pie dough kneading.
In terms of controls, they either come in dials or touch buttons. Fans of dials love the vintage look and simplicity. On the other hand, fans of touchpads and LED lights find them more intuitive and easier to clean than buttons. So, it seems that to each their own.
Countdown timers are very helpful to have in a food processor to ensure that you don’t overdo or underdo your processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not really. Although both appliances can technically “blend” ingredients, they’re targeted for different reasons.
Blenders are more focused on liquids, such as smoothies, protein shakes, drinks, sauces, and thinner liquids. Food processors chop carrots, knead pie dough, shred cheese, and slice potatoes with precision.
So, their roads cross sometimes, but they’re not the same.
Both appliances can technically chop, but they do things a little bit differently.
Choppers have very small capacities of no more than 4 cups, and they’re not electric. You can use them for manually chopping veggies for a salad or cutting fries, thanks to their sharp fixed blades.
On the other hand, food processors are electrical appliances that come in a variety of capacities, which are usually larger than choppers. Besides chopping, food processors can blend, mix, knead, emulsify, shred, purée, and more.
Of course. Food processors are incredibly versatile. While you can use them for chopping and slicing, you can also use them for liquifying, emulsifying, puréeing, blending, mixing, and more.
However, it is important to understand what kind of liquifying you need because blenders can be better for some like making smoothies, shakes, thin batters, and soups. Anything with a thicker and stickier consistency is better off with a food processor.
Final Thoughts
Commercial food demands are no joke, and that’s why you deserve to know the best commercial food processors on the market.
Our top choice is the Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef Food Processor, which has a powerful 1200-watt motor, LCD display, 2 BPA-free bowls, 3 feed chutes, and 8 precision tools in an easy-to-store box.
Next in line, we have the Robot Coupe R2N Combination Food Processor, which has both: an external ejection chute for continuous operation and a large 3-quart work bowl.
Finally, The Cuisinart DFP-14WGY 14-Cup Food Processor has a stainless-steel construction that Cuisinart covers by a 3-year warranty. Also, its vintage design has a great appeal in the 21st century, so check it out.