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Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Breville Paradice 9 Review: This Food Processor Completely Changed How I Cook
2025 I have a confession: while I love cooking, I hate prepping ingredients. I know, knife skills are an important thing for any home chef to possess, and I do work on it. But the truth is I'm slow, my cuts aren't super consistent, and I find it really tedious. In short, food processors are made for people like me, but while I've used them at my mom's and other people's places, I've never owned one myself, largely because I didn't think I could find a place for it in my small kitchen. The Breville Paradice 9 changed all of that, and now I can never go back. See Breville Paradice 9 at Best Buy The Paradice 9 is a high-end, 9-cup food processor, with a price to match, coming in at $400. It boasts a 625-watt motor, and it comes with a range of accessories that all tuck neatly into a caddy that lives inside the main bowl, which keeps things organized and saves drawer space. The whole thing measures 17.5 x 7.7 x 11.8 inches and weighs just over 15 pounds. It's actually the exact same machine as Breville's Sous Chef 9 ($350), with the only difference being that the Paradice comes with a dicing accessory, which is otherwise $80 sold separately. Breville Paradice 9 The Breville Paradice 9 is the kind of kitchen gadget you don't know you need until you use it and can never go back to manually prepping ingredients. See at Best Buy Pros Powerful and sharp for quick, clean cuts Powerful and sharp for quick, clean cuts Dicing kit works very well and saves time Dicing kit works very well and saves time Solidly built and good-looking Solidly built and good-looking Compact size for apartment kitchens Cons More dicing sizes would be nice More dicing sizes would be nice Slicing kit sometimes leaves odds and ends stuck or slices unevenly Slicing kit sometimes leaves odds and ends stuck or slices unevenly Pricey compared to competitors Of course, it has all of the standard food processor attachments, too. There's an ultra-sharp S-blade for mincing, grinding, and pulverizing. It has a grating disc that's coarse on one side and fine on the other. The Paradice 9 has a plastic blade specifically for mixing dough, and it has a sturdy, adjustable slicing disc that allows you to make even slices from translucent 0.3mm up to 5mm thick (there's a storage position so you don't accidentally slice your fingertips off while cleaning it). All of these accessories, as well as the spindle they attach to, are color-coded and lock securely into their own little cubbies inside the clear storage caddy, which keeps everything organized and accessible. When you want to use it, you just pull the caddy out of the bowl, select the attachment you need, and you're off to the races. Of course, there's also the dicing kit. Some impressive engineering went into this thing. It has its own lower-gear spindle, which allows it to generate more torque. Above it sits a disc with a grid of 12mm squares, and a sharp blade locks in on top of that. Basically, the blade is dual-action. It forces the food down into the grid, and then it comes back around to slice it off into little cubes. Once you're done, you use a cleaning tool that quickly presses the last bit of food out of the grid, and you're done. The dicing kit has its own holder, which comes attached to the accessory caddy, but it adds a fair amount of bulk to the Paradice 9 when it's just sitting on your counter, so I opted to separate the dicing kit's caddy and keep it in a drawer, which reduces the footprint, makes it look better, and cuts two inches off its height. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the feed chute. Coming in at 4.7 inches across, it's very wide for a food processor this size. That means you have to do less cutting ahead of time because larger fruits and vegetables are more likely to fit. Just cut an onion in half, take off the paper, and it's good to go. It also has a narrower insert, which will give you more stability if you're feeding in something like carrots or celery. The plunger very cleverly doubles as a measuring cup—a nice bonus. The controls for the processor are very straightforward. There's just a power button, a start/stop button, and a pulse button. The pulse works extremely well, starting up the instant you hit it and stopping quickly as soon as you let go, which gives you a lot of control. It's also worth noting that the Paradice 9 is the little brother to the Paradice 16 ($700), which is an absolute beast of a machine with a 1,450-watt motor, a 16-cup bowl, and two additional grid sizes for dicing. If you're regularly cooking for a large family and you have the space, it might be worth the upgrade, but it requires a lot more counter space and more storage for the accessories (which don't store internally). Living in an apartment with a modestly sized kitchen, though, the Paradice 9 is the perfect size for me, and if I'm making something larger, I can just empty the bowl a little more frequently. The first thing I did was slice an apple. I cut the core out, set the slicing blade first to 0.3mm, and then 3mm, and within seconds, my apples were sliced. Cuts were even and very clean, so there was virtually no juice lost. A bit of apple got stuck on top of the slicer, usually a chunk of peel, which left it unprocessed, and I got the occasional paper-thin slice, which was likely due to my not pushing down firmly enough, but generally it was pretty perfect. I tried the slicing disc again with green and yellow zucchini, set to 4mm. It took less than 60 seconds to process all four squashes, and they were almost all perfect circles. I coated them with some oil and rosemary salt, then placed them in a spiral in a Victoria SignatureSoft cast-iron pan and baked them, and it ended up being one of the most photogenic dishes I've ever cooked. If I'd been trying to do that by hand, they would have been very uneven. This felt like a huge win. The next test was the main reason I wanted to try this thing. I've been making this shaved fennel-apple-dill salad for the last year, and I love it, but it takes forever to make. With the Paradice 9, it took me just a handful of minutes. I ran the fennel hearts and stalks through the slicing disc, nice and thin, then tossed them into my serving bowl. I grated the apples on the coarse side of the disc grater, then added them to the fennel. Afterward, I switched to the S-blade and minced the cilantro, mint, serrano peppers, and dill. Tossed that in with some toasted almond slivers, added some lemon juice and olive oil, and it was done and delicious. I might tweak the thickness of this and that next time, but I was eating the salad for a week, and it took minimal time and effort. See Breville Paradice 9 at Best Buy Next, I tried the Paradice 9 on nut butter. My aunt and uncle had gifted me a two-pound bag of pistachios, which would take me a year to go through, so I decided to sacrifice 8 ounces of them for an experiment (even though they were already salted and roasted, which isn't ideal). I spent an hour shelling them, blanching them to try and get their skins off, and then drying them in the oven. Then I just tossed them into the Paradice 9 with the S-blade and let it rip. It quickly turned the nuts into a consistency of sand, then flour. I added just a teaspoon of avocado oil into the chute, and seconds later, the dry mixture transformed itself into a beautiful, shiny nut butter that was absolutely delicious. I was impressed with how consistent the S-blade is, as I have yet to find a single chunk. For another big test of multiple attachments, I decided to make a veggie soup. I started out with a traditional mirepoix of a couple of carrots, a few stalks of celery, and an onion. I ran them through the dicer one at a time, and the whole mirepoix was done in less than 45 seconds. Not only that, the little cubes were gorgeous—super consistent with very clean edges. It probably would have taken me 15 minutes to do that by hand, and with inferior results. While that got cooking, I used the S-blade to quickly mince a few cloves of garlic, then used the slicing disc set to 5mm to make short work of a few zucchinis. It was the best-tasting (and prettiest) soup I've ever made. I also wanted to try the dough attachment, so I took a stab at making naan. Now, I fully confess, I'm not a bread maker. Despite watching every episode of The Great British Bake Off, I've never tried it myself, so it's entirely possible that some of this was user error, but the Paradice 9 struggled here. It mixed the dry ingredients fine, but once I started adding the liquids, things got a bit gummy. It separated into one huge dough ball and then a bunch of little dough bits, and then the motor just stopped. So I followed America's Test Kitchen's advice and switched to the sharp metal S-blade (they recommend that for all food processors). It helped things come together a bit more, but still, after a bit, the motor locked up and it refused to restart. The dough had mostly come together by this point, but it still tore a bit too easily and didn't stretch as much as I wanted. I fried the naan in a Victoria skillet, though, and it still turned out very tasty. I really wanted to put the dicer through its paces, so for my final test, I went with carnival squash and purple sweet potato. I'd never made carnival squash before, so I didn't know that the skin is pretty tough and not great to eat, but that didn't stop the dicer. It tore right through all of them and made a nice, even hash. I was worried the raw, purple sweet potatoes would be too fibrous, but nope! I just tossed the little cubes with a tablespoon of oil and some herbed salt and put them in the oven—and they were perfect. After each of these tests, I found that cleaning was extremely fast and easy. Usually, I could just use the sprayer in my kitchen sink to knock the bits of food out, put the pieces up to dry, and that was it. That said, almost all of the accessories (except for the dicing set) are dishwasher safe, and they all came through a hot wash unscathed. Of course, I'd be remiss not to mention the 800-pound gorilla of the food-processor world—Cuisinart. Cuisinart makes very high-quality food processors that seem to last forever (I think my mom's is roughly 30 years old and still going strong), and they're a lot cheaper, too. Its most famous workhorse is the Custom Cup 14 ($250), but the closest competitor to the Paradice 9 would be the Custom Cup 10 ($180). It has a similar footprint, and it's less than half the price, though it has a weaker motor, and the dicing kit would be an additional purpose. I've also been told by friends who own Custom Cup 10 that it doesn't dice very well. Still, if you're not going to be using a food processor that much, it might make sense to spend less. So, what's the ultimate verdict here? I absolutely love the Paradice 9. I wish you could get the additional grid sizes for the dicer that come with the Paradice 16, because 12mm is just a little smaller than I'd like for home fries, but that aside, it's great. Dicer attachments for food processors are notoriously lousy, but this one works wonderfully, and the powerful motor made quick work of everything I threw at it. The Paradice 9 also looks good on my counter, doesn't take up too much space (thanks to the caddy system), and has a ton of thoughtful details in there. It's not cheap, but its size and features make the Paradice 9 the best food processor you can get for an apartment-sized kitchen. See Breville Paradice 9 at Best Buy
Forbes
09-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
The 5 Best Food Processors That Slice, Dice And Pulverize With Ease
A food processor is among the most versatile kitchen appliances, capable of puréeing, grating, chopping, slicing and mixing everything from nuts and seeds to tender herbs. A sturdy design and high motor power are essential—but so are well-designed discs and attachments, simple controls and easy-to-clean parts. Out of the very best food processors, the one we recommend first is the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor, a powerful pick with just two intuitive settings. Some of the best food processors come from Cuisinart, Magimix and Breville. Whether you're whipping up homemade hummus or making carrot cake for the first time, the right processor can significantly increase your confidence and efficiency in the kitchen. 'They make trying new foods and dishes much more approachable,' says Jey Kempin, a chef-instructor at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. And even if you don't have ambitious plans, a reliable model can reduce the amount of time you spend on routine chopping tasks: 'It can cut the time used to prep ingredients in half,' Kempin adds. When deciding between models, you want to keep a few factors in mind: the size of your household, the amount of storage space you're willing to spare and the frequency with which you can see yourself using the machine. From a petite, under-$50 option to a professional-grade pick you might find in a restaurant kitchen, here are the best food processors to help you tackle daily prep work and project recipes alike. Amazon Capacity: 14 cups | Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.8 x 15 inches | Motor power: 720 watts | Included pieces: Work bowl, work bowl cover with feeding tube, small feeding tube and pusher, slicing disc, medium shredding disc, chopping/mixing blade Best for: Skip if: Cuisinart has been the gold standard of food processors for over half a century now—and with this machine, it's easy to see why. Powered by a 720-watt motor, this model can effortlessly break down everything from dense nuts and beets to soft cheeses and delicate herbs. 'It grinds tougher foods with no issue,' says Kempin, who recommends this model for home cooks. Its 14-cup capacity is also plenty big for almost all recipes, providing ample space to blitz enough salsa to feed a party, shred zucchini for bread or mix together a standard batch of pastry dough. Beyond its sheer power and size, the Custom's design makes it a dream to use. First, it has just two paddle controls—'on' and 'off/pulse'—the latter of which 'allows for more control over the final product's texture,' says Kempin. We also appreciate its extra-large feed tube, which obviates the need to chop all your ingredients into smaller parts, saving you time in the kitchen. Lastly, this food processor comes with a handful of versatile attachments—and not a ton of extra pieces that will never see the light of day. Alongside the BPA-free work bowl and brushed stainless steel base, it includes a 4-millimeter stainless steel slicing disc, a medium shredding disc and a blade for dough and other mixing tasks, all of which rinse off easily with a little soap and water. Just note that this model is relatively heavy, weighing in at 18 pounds, so it's best stored on lower shelves. Its large capacity also makes it bulky, so this may not be a great pick for smaller or storage-strapped kitchens. Walmart Capacity: 8 cups | Dimensions: 7.6 x 9.6 x 15.2 inches | Power: 350 watts | Included pieces: Work bowl, two reversible shredding and slicing discs (one medium, one fine) Best for: Skip if: If you're seeking a more wallet-friendly option, we also like this model from Cuisinart's Elemental line, which you can often find for less than $100. While the design is a little less premium (the base is made from plastic, for example, and the feed tube isn't quite as wide as the 14-cup above), it's still an absolute powerhouse. While its 8-cup capacity is also still large enough for the average recipe, the machine takes up less storage space than our top pick. While this food processor—which comes with both a fine and medium reversible shredding and slicing discs—can tackle most basic tasks with ease, its chopping and dicing capabilities aren't quite as precise as with higher-end picks. In the two years that I've owned and used this model, though, I haven't once been disappointed by its performance; while I most often reach for it to make roasted tomato salsas and romesco sauce in the summer, I've also used it to pulverize pesto ingredients and vegetables for soup. Additionally, the four controls (low, high, pulse and off) are very straightforward, and the work bowl locks securely into the base. Notably, for those who hate hand-washing the dishes, all the removable parts are dishwasher safe. Amazon Capacity: 12 cups | Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.5 x 17 inches | Power: 1,000 watts | Included pieces: Slicing blade, dough blade, slicing disc, grating disc Best for: Skip if: As the most powerful model on this list, the Breville Sous Chef 12 is made for those who know their way around a kitchen and want a food processor they can really put to work. What really makes it stand out, though, is its design: The largest feed chute is extra wide, measuring 5 inches across, and there are two additional chutes in different sizes for smaller ingredients. It also comes a slicing blade, dough blade, grating disc and variable slicing disc, the last of which has a whopping 24 thickness settings. When you're ready to use the machine, which requires all parts to be securely locked in place, power on the machine and choose between 'start' and 'pulse.' As it blends—even tougher ingredients like nuts and potatoes—its induction motor makes little noise, compared to most other models. And if the motor ever starts to work a little too hard and overheat, the machine has an overload protection system to prevent possible damage. Just keep in mind that the Sous Chef 12 does require a decent amount of storage space. While it has a smaller capacity than the Cuisinart Custom, it's nearly the same size and weighs almost as much (it clocks in at 16 pounds), meaning it's ideal for those who have spacious lower cabinets or shelves to store it. Amazon Capacity: 14 cups | Dimensions: 10 x 8.3 x 16.8 inches | Power: 950 watts | Included pieces: Three bowls (6-, 12- and 14-cup versions), two metal blades, two grating discs (fine and medium), two slicing discs (fine and medium), dough blade, blender attachment, egg whisk, spatula, storage box Best for: Skip if: 'A quality, high-powered food processor can be found in every commercial kitchen, and usually, it is a Robot-Coupe,' says Kempin. After all, the French brand invented the device in the 1970s. While you can buy a commercial-grade Robot-Coupe, for most home cooks, we'd instead recommend this model from the company's consumer line. The model is relatively straightforward to use, despite its suitability for more technical tasks: There are only three buttons, which keep the machine running ("auto"), enable shorter, controlled bursts ("pulse") and power it off. It's more than capable of slicing through large volumes of dense ingredients, thanks to it 950-watt motor that generates little noise as it runs, and beyond that, is paired with tons of discs and accessories that increase its overall versatility and justify the higher price. To start, there are three work bowls (6-cup, 12-cup and 14-cup versions) to pick from, depending on the size of your task. And then, there are the accessories: A handful of relatively standard ones (like two metal metal blades, two grating discs and two slicing discs) plus a few nontraditional ones (such as a dough blade, blender attachment, egg whisk and spatula). If that sounds like a lot to keep track of, it is—but the machine also comes with a handy storage box to keep everything organized and in the same place. Amazon Capacity: 3 cups | Dimensions: 5 x 7 x 9.3 inches | Power: 250 watts | Included pieces: Stainless steel auto-reversing blade, spatula Best for: Skip if: While the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus can't whip up extra-large batches of hummus or pesto, it can still help speed up tedious prep, and packs away into tighter kitchens with ease. Featuring a 3-cup capacity, this compact pick has two simple buttons: 'chop,' which breaks down ingredients into smaller pieces, and 'grind,' which further pulverizes blends into smooth dips and sauces. And though it doesn't come with additional discs, meaning it's not ideal for precise grating or shredding, the stainless steel auto-reversing blade is sharp enough to fly through everything from almonds to onions. Since receiving this food processor as a gift over a year ago, editorial assistant Whitney Bruno has 'started to use this for just about everything,' she wrote in an ode to the Mini-Prep Plus. 'I no longer sweat over the estimated meal prep times on recipe websites and in cookbooks—I know I can count on the Mini-Prep to chop everything from herbs to carrots without wasting anytime.' This model is a favorite of Kempin's, too: 'I have had mine for over 12 years, and it is still going strong,' they say, adding that it comes in handy 'for quick sauces and fast meals at home.' Forbes Vetted's home and kitchen team brings extensive experience testing, researching and reviewing kitchen essentials. We've published countless expert-informed roundups on staples including espresso machines, knife sets and wooden cutting boards. To determine the best food processors for all kinds of home cooks, we compared features from top-rated models and tapped the expertise of a culinary-school instructor. Whether you're thinking of swapping out your lagging food processor for a newer, higher-quality model, or you're investing in your very first one, here are the factors to keep front of mind as you shop. With all kitchen tools, we typically suggest prioritizing models from trusted brands—and that guidance holds true for food processors. For decades, Cuisinart has been a name synonymous with food processors, and the high quality of their models is reflected on this list. Other top-performing models come from Breville, which makes some of our favorite kitchen products (including the best espresso machine and air fryer toaster oven), and Magimix by Robot-Coupe, which invented the first domestic food processor in the 1970s. Food processors come in a range of capacities, from compact 3-cup versions to spacious 16-cup models. Not sure what size makes sense for your household? 'Think about the number of people you will be preparing food for—are you a single person, a family of five or do you host large dinner parties on a regular basis?' advises Kempin. They prefer models with 8- to 10-cup capacities, but frequent entertainers might benefit from a larger pick. 'Also, think about the space that is available in the kitchen,' adds Kempin. The higher the capacity, generally speaking, the more room the model requires. If you have little storage space to spare, consider a miniature model like the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor. While it's limited to smaller jobs due to its petite capacity, it can still blitz everything from nuts to onions with relative ease. Most food processors come with a standard stainless steel blade to blitz ingredients, as well as additional discs for shredding and slicing. While the main blade can handle most tasks, specialized discs can increase the overall versatility of the machine. In particular, Kepmin likes the grating disc: 'Not only is this helpful with cheeses, but you can grate vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cucumbers.' Just keep in mind that the discs require extra storage space, so if you don't foresee yourself using most of them, don't splurge on a model that comes with a higher price tag that's partly due to the number of attachments. It's also worth noting that, with some machines, you can purchase additional discs separately. Food processors with 12- to 14-cup capacities typically cost anywhere from $100 to $500. In general, the larger the capacity and the stronger the motor, the higher the price. If you're struggling to determine how much to spend, consider how frequently you plan on using the machine and how much food you typically prepare at once. For example, if you only like to make small batches of almond butter on occasion, you don't need a premium model like the Magimix. But for those who foresee themselves using a food processor for large tasks a regular basis, the upgrade might be worth it.
