Top-Rated Food Processors for Vegan Cooking

Vegan cooking is all about creativity, versatility, and maximizing the use of plant-based ingredients. Whether you're preparing plant-based soups, nut butters, veggie burgers, or dairy-free cheeses, a reliable food processor is a must-have tool in your kitchen. It helps streamline meal prep, reduces cooking time, and ensures consistent results with every recipe.

In this guide, we'll explore some of the top-rated food processors for vegan cooking. These food processors are chosen based on their power, versatility, and ability to handle a wide range of plant-based ingredients, from grains and vegetables to nuts and seeds.

1. Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor

Why It's Perfect for Vegan Cooking:

The Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY is a standout choice for vegan cooks, thanks to its large capacity and powerful motor. If you're someone who enjoys preparing large batches of plant-based dishes like vegan pesto, hummus, or cauliflower rice, this food processor will be your best friend. Its versatile blade system allows you to chop, slice, shred, and puree with ease, making it ideal for a wide variety of vegan recipes.

Key Features:

• 14-Cup Capacity: Perfect for making large batches of plant-based dishes. Whether you're prepping grains, chopping vegetables, or making nut-based spreads, this processor can handle it all.
• Powerful 720-Watt Motor: Easily processes tough ingredients like raw vegetables, grains, and nuts for vegan recipes.
• Multiple Attachments: Includes slicing discs, shredding discs, and a chopping blade, which are essential for preparing a variety of vegan meals.
• Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Cleaning up is quick and easy, as all removable parts are dishwasher safe.

Pros:

• Large Capacity: Ideal for batch cooking or cooking for a family.
• Durable and Powerful: Strong motor and solid build for long-term use.
• Versatile: Handles a variety of ingredients, perfect for experimenting with different vegan dishes.

Cons:

• Bulky: Its 14-cup capacity means it's quite large, which may not be suitable for smaller kitchens or those with limited counter space.

Ideal For:

• Vegan home chefs who love to prepare large portions of plant-based dishes and batch-cook for the week.

2. Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor

Why It's Perfect for Vegan Cooking:

The Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro is one of the most advanced and versatile food processors available. With its range of attachments, powerful motor, and impressive 16-cup capacity, it's a top-tier option for vegan cooking. Whether you're slicing vegetables for stir-fries or grinding nuts into butter, this food processor can handle all your vegan needs with ease.

Key Features:

• 16-Cup Capacity: Large enough for family meals or batch cooking, making it perfect for those who need to prepare a lot of food at once.
• 1200-Watt Motor: Provides plenty of power to handle tough ingredients like frozen vegetables, hard nuts, and even doughs for vegan bread and pizza crusts.
• Wide Feed Chute: The large feed chute reduces the need for pre-cutting, so you can quickly process ingredients like carrots, zucchini, or beets.
• Adjustable Slicing: Comes with an adjustable slicing disc, which is useful for cutting vegetables into different thicknesses depending on your recipe.

Pros:

• Powerful and Fast: Can handle virtually any plant-based ingredient quickly and efficiently.
• Versatile: Great for slicing, grating, chopping, and even kneading dough for vegan baked goods.
• Durable Construction: Built to last, with a commercial-grade motor and quality materials.

Cons:

• Expensive: It is on the pricier side, which may not be ideal for budget-conscious consumers.
• Large Size: The 16-cup capacity makes it quite large, which may take up significant storage space in smaller kitchens.

Ideal For:

• Experienced vegan cooks or those who plan to do large-scale meal prep for a vegan lifestyle.

3. Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender/Food Processor

Why It's Perfect for Vegan Cooking:

If you're looking for an affordable, multi-functional food processor that doesn't sacrifice performance, the Ninja BN701 is a fantastic option. This machine combines both food processing and blending functions, making it a great tool for everything from chopping vegetables to creating smoothies, vegan sauces, and nut butters. Its power and efficiency make it an excellent choice for vegan meal prep.

Key Features:

• 9-Cup Capacity: This mid-range size is perfect for individuals or smaller families.
• 1000-Watt Motor: The motor is strong enough to handle tougher ingredients like raw vegetables, nuts, and seeds---ideal for vegan recipes.
• Multiple Attachments: Includes a variety of blades and discs, perfect for chopping, slicing, grating, and pureeing your plant-based ingredients.
• Multi-Functionality: Blends and processes, which makes it ideal for creating smoothies, sauces, and nut-based creams.

Pros:

• Affordable: One of the best budget-friendly options without sacrificing quality.
• Compact: Ideal for smaller kitchens or those who don't want a bulky machine taking up space.
• Versatile: Great for blending and food processing, so you can easily create a variety of vegan recipes.

Cons:

• Smaller Capacity: If you're cooking for a larger group or batch cooking, you may need to process food in multiple batches.
• Plastic Build: While durable, it lacks the premium stainless steel construction of more expensive models.

Ideal For:

• Budget-conscious vegans who want a versatile, reliable machine for a variety of tasks.

4. Kitchenaid KFP0718ER 7-Cup Food Processor

Why It's Perfect for Vegan Cooking:

The Kitchenaid KFP0718ER is a compact yet effective food processor that is ideal for those who need a reliable tool for everyday vegan meal prep. Its smaller size makes it perfect for individuals or small households, and its ability to chop, slice, and puree ingredients makes it a great companion for a vegan diet.

Key Features:

• 7-Cup Capacity: Perfect for individuals or couples cooking smaller portions. It's also great for quick and easy meal prep.
• Reversible Shredding Disc: Shred vegetables like carrots, zucchini, or cabbage for salads, stir-fries, or coleslaws.
• Simple Operation: Easy to use and clean, with a straightforward interface and dishwasher-safe parts.
• Versatile Blades: Can slice, chop, and knead, making it useful for vegan doughs and veggie burgers.

Pros:

• Compact and Easy to Store: Its smaller capacity makes it great for small kitchens.
• Affordable: A budget-friendly option that doesn't skimp on functionality.
• Simple to Use: Perfect for beginners or anyone who wants an easy-to-use processor for basic tasks.

Cons:

• Limited Capacity: Not suitable for large meals or batch cooking.
• Fewer Attachments: It doesn't come with as many accessories as larger, more expensive models.

Ideal For:

• Single or couple vegans who need a compact, reliable food processor for everyday tasks.

5. Hamilton Beach 70825 12-Cup Stack & Snap Food Processor

Why It's Perfect for Vegan Cooking:

The Hamilton Beach 70825 is an affordable and efficient food processor that offers a great balance between price and performance. With its easy-to-use design and good range of attachments, it's a solid choice for vegan cooks looking to prepare everything from veggie patties to plant-based dips.

Key Features:

• 12-Cup Capacity: Ideal for medium-sized portions, perfect for vegan families or batch cooking.
• No-Guesswork Assembly: The stack-and-snap feature makes it quick to assemble without needing to align parts.
• Multiple Attachments: Comes with shredding and slicing discs as well as a chopping blade, great for making a variety of vegan dishes.
• Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Cleanup is a breeze with dishwasher-safe parts.

Pros:

• Affordable: One of the best budget options for those on a tight budget.
• User-Friendly: The simple assembly process makes it easy for anyone to use.
• Versatile: Handles most basic vegan cooking tasks.

Cons:

• Plastic Construction: Not as durable as stainless steel models.
• Noisy : It may be louder than some of the other food processors.

Ideal For:

• Vegan home cooks who want a budget-friendly, user-friendly food processor for everyday tasks.

Conclusion

Choosing the right food processor for your vegan kitchen depends on your needs, cooking habits, and budget. Whether you need a compact, budget-friendly option like the Hamilton Beach 70825 or a powerful, high-capacity model like the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro , there's a food processor that's perfect for your vegan cooking journey. By investing in a reliable and versatile food processor, you can streamline meal prep and make your plant-based cooking more efficient, enjoyable, and delicious.