Compact and amazing for saving space; Comes in various colours, great for fitting in with an existing décor scheme; “Drizzle Basin” helps with salad dressings and similar.

No good if you need to process large volumes of food- bowl limit is 830ml; Fairly expensive for such a tiny device

The KitchenAid is sturdy and well made. There aren’t loads of extra parts, which means that there’s less to go wrong. Once the lid is on and sealed, it feels secure and watertight. On occasion, it can feel tricky to get the lid on though, which is less of a quality issue and more that it’s so secure you have to get just the right angle to make sure the lid is on correctly. Like most food processors, it won’t work unless the lid is on securely, so the safety features work well.

Design wise, the KitchenAid is very clever. They’ve managed to fit the best bits of a conventional, larger size food processor into a much smaller model, and barely lost any of the efficiency. As well as this, it looks neat and tidy, with a subtle spout and a compact handle. The range of colours from yellow to red and many more makes this the perfect choice for anyone who is determined to get their kitchen aesthetic right

The consistent good reviews for this device speak for themselves. If you need something compact to chop, blend and more, then this is definitely a price worth paying.

Good safety features, Elegant design, High quality.

Lack of different modes may disappoint more adventurous cooks; No smoothie jug, just bowls.

Even when blending to a very thin consistency, the bowl was completely watertight with no leaks or drips. Everything about this processor seems sturdy and built to last, including the chunky buttons. There are no fiddly little parts to snap off or damage. Excellent quality.

Design wise, we love how compact the Cuisinart is. The metallic base is curvy and ergonomic if you have to move it about. The bowls fit centrally so it doesn’t take up much room. And with just two bowls, there aren’t a ton of extra bits to find storage for.

Starting from $75, the Cusinart is in the cheaper range of versatile food processors. This price definitely reflects the excellent build of this appliance. If you want high quality, no frills food processing, this is a good value appliance that fits the bill.

· Easy to use and program · Does everything, you won’t need to buy a separate blender · All modes work efficiently

· So many modes and parts it may be intimidating for the beginner cook · Four-way blades can be fiddly to pick up to clean · Takes up a lot of space

All the parts of the Ninja seem well made and robust. The Smart Screen means there are very few buttons which means less parts to fail. All the jugs are BPA free, which will set many people’s minds at rest, particularly parents.

In terms of design Ninja haven’t changed a whole lot in the past couple of years. Sleek, black electronics and lids and clear jugs are both basic and elegant, and the Smart Screen makes your kitchen look pretty high tech. There’s a lot of it to store though, with all the different attachments.

At around $260, it could seem like this is a large layout for a food processor. But when you realise it’s actually three appliances in one, that’s actually pretty good value. For someone that will use all the functions, it’s a steal. If you’re just going to use it to make smoothies, this might not be the device for you.

Compact when accessories stored away, Good safety features, Great value

Not as powerful as some more expensive models, works more slowly and may struggle with really tough foods; Some attachments seem flimsy compared to more premium options

As suggested above, the quality is not quite as good as you would get from some of the more expensive food processing systems. Some of the materials seems slightly flimsy for those of us that are used to high-end systems, but this is only going to affect home-cooks who use their food processor endlessly. It feels like it could struggle to withstand the wear and tear of being used multiple times a day, every day, but for normal use, it’s more than adequate.

We love that the base of this device fits into a small area, meaning it can be easily stored on a shelf or in the corner of the kitchen worktop, ready to use. The black base is smoothly angled and very contemporary looking. There are several accessories to deal with, so make sure you’ve got some cupboard or draw space to stow them away safely.

This is one of the best value food processors on our list. Despite the less robust quality compared to really high-end appliances, the Hamilton Beach is ideal for regular use as long as it’s not being tested too heavily, and less than $50 for a food processor of this calibre is a steal.

Very large containers for chopping or blending bigger volumes of food or drink; Innovative features; Excellent quality

Large base takes up quite a bit of room

It was hard to find things we didn’t like about this appliance. Every part of it is made to a very high standard. All the accessories seem robust, and the containers are tough and damage resistant.

The design is sleek and modern overall. The handles are big and chunky, which is useful for acessbility as well as looking great.

At over $300, this is still a great value device. This fairly high price reflects the larger containers, allowing you to process much more food at once. Plus, the high quality of the Breville and the range of features makes it more than worth the price tag.