Food Processors Price Comparison 2026
Compare 143 food processors from Bosch, Kenwood, Magimix and KitchenAid. Find the best price across top UK retailers, updated daily.
Food processors sit at an interesting crossroads in the kitchen appliance market: they're not as glamorous as a stand mixer, not as quick to grab as a blender, yet for anyone who cooks seriously, they're arguably the most versatile machine on the worktop. Our catalogue of 143 models spans everything from compact 250W choppers to professional-grade 1000W+ workhorses, with prices ranging from 55 £ to 336 £ — a spread that tells you a great deal about how fragmented this market really is.
Bosch and Kenwood dominate by sheer volume, each fielding 22 models and pitching squarely at the mid-market. Their machines tend to offer solid 700W–1000W motors, decent bowl capacities and a respectable disc selection — reliable choices that regularly appear in Currys and John Lewis promotions. Magimix, by contrast, fields just 17 models but at an average price nearly double that of Bosch or Kenwood. The French brand's premium is real and largely justified: die-cast metal housings, exceptionally quiet motors and a 30-year motor warranty that no competitor comes close to matching. If you're buying once and keeping it for decades, that calculus makes sense.
KitchenAid occupies a curious middle ground — 11 products averaging around the same price as Bosch and Kenwood, yet with a brand cachet that often pushes buyers to choose colour over specification. Their 5KFP1319 range (500W, 3.1L) is genuinely well-built, but it's worth comparing carefully against the Kenwood FDM73 at a similar price point, which adds integrated digital scales with tare function — a genuinely useful feature for baking. At the budget end, Arebos and Russell Hobbs hover around 85 £, offering functional machines for light weekly use, though the build quality gap versus the mid-tier is noticeable.
One pattern worth flagging: the gap between 85 £ and 130 £ is where the most interesting buying decisions happen. This is where you'll find machines with proper S-blade and disc systems, adequate bowl capacity for a family of four, and thermal overload protection that prevents the motor burning out mid-batch. Spending below 85 £ is fine for occasional use, but if you're processing vegetables twice a week or kneading dough regularly, it's a false economy. Compare prices across Amazon.co.uk, Currys and AO.com before committing — the same model can vary by £30–£50 depending on the retailer and the time of year, with Black Friday and January sales typically offering the sharpest deals.
For those who want to go beyond basic chopping, it's worth exploring stand mixers for dedicated dough work, or blenders if smooth soups and smoothies are your priority. And if you only need to chop onions and herbs, an electric food chopper at a fraction of the price might be all you actually need.
How to Choose the Right Food Processor
With 143 models on the market and prices stretching from 55 £ to 336 £, picking the right food processor isn't just about wattage. The machine that suits a student flat is completely different from the one a keen baker needs on a Saturday morning. Here's what actually matters — in order of importance.
Motor power relative to your cooking habits
This is the single most important spec, and it's frequently misunderstood. A 250W–350W motor handles soft vegetables, herbs and light chopping perfectly well — don't overspend if that's all you need. Step up to 500W–700W for general family cooking: slicing, shredding, pastry and occasional dough. For regular bread-making, processing nuts or working with fibrous root vegetables, you genuinely need 1000W+. Underpowered motors don't just struggle — they overheat and trip the thermal overload protection, interrupting your workflow and shortening the motor's lifespan. The Kenwood FDM73 and KMX754BK both hit 1000W at a mid-range price; that's the sweet spot for most households.
Bowl capacity matched to household size
Manufacturers tend to overstate usable capacity. A nominal 3L bowl realistically processes about 2L of food comfortably — fill it to the brim and you'll get uneven results. For one or two people, a 1.7L–2.3L bowl (like the Bosch MCM3100 range) is perfectly adequate and takes up less worktop space. Families of four or more should be looking at 3L–3.1L as a minimum, and batch cookers or those who entertain regularly will appreciate a 5L bowl (Kenwood KMX754BK, Bomann KM 6010). Processing in multiple small batches is genuinely tedious — getting the capacity right from the start saves time every single week.
Blade and disc variety — what's actually in the box
The headline spec is the S-blade for chopping and pureeing, but the real-world versatility of a food processor depends on what discs are included. A slicing disc and a shredding disc are the minimum for a useful machine. Better kits add a julienne disc for stir-fry prep and a dough hook for bread. Check what's bundled versus what costs extra — some brands sell the processor cheaply and charge separately for every additional disc. Magimix is particularly good here: their machines typically ship with a comprehensive disc set and the blades are made to last. Cheaper brands often include plastic discs that blunt quickly or warp in the dishwasher.
Feed tube size and pusher quality
A detail that sounds minor until you're standing at the worktop pre-cutting every carrot to fit a narrow slot. A wide feed tube (50–70mm) accepts whole tomatoes, cucumbers and large onion halves without pre-cutting. The pusher matters too — a well-designed pusher guides ingredients evenly toward the blade, producing uniform slices. Cheap pushers wobble, jam or require excessive force. If you do a lot of slicing (coleslaw, gratins, salads), this is worth checking in user reviews on Currys or John Lewis before buying.
Integrated scales — genuinely useful or gimmick?
The Kenwood FDM73.850SS includes digital scales with a tare function built into the base — and for bakers, this is a legitimately useful feature rather than a marketing add-on. Being able to weigh flour directly into the bowl, zero the scales, then add butter without reaching for a separate set of scales genuinely speeds up baking prep. That said, if you rarely bake by weight, it adds cost for no benefit. Decide honestly before paying the premium.
Noise, build quality and long-term reliability
Noise levels vary considerably — Magimix machines are notably quieter than most competitors (often under 75dB), which matters in open-plan kitchens. Build quality is harder to assess from a spec sheet: look for die-cast metal housing, rubber non-slip feet and stainless steel bowls rather than plastic. Plastic bowls scratch, absorb odours and eventually crack. A longer warranty is a reliable proxy for manufacturer confidence: Magimix's 30-year motor guarantee is exceptional; most brands offer 1–3 years. Which? and TechRadar reviews are worth consulting for real-world reliability data before committing to a premium model.
- Budget picks (From 55 £ to 85 £) : Bosch MCM3100 series, Russell Hobbs and Arebos sit in this bracket. You get a functional S-blade, a basic bowl and enough power for occasional chopping and slicing. Build quality is plastic-heavy and disc selection is minimal. Fine for students or light users who process food once a week — not suitable for regular batch cooking or dough.
- The sweet spot (From 85 £ to 130 £) : This is where the market gets genuinely interesting. Kenwood FDM73, Ninja BN800UK and the entry-level KitchenAid 5KFP0719 all land here. You get proper motor power (700W–1000W), a more complete disc set and better build quality. Most families will be very well served without spending more. Worth comparing across Currys, Amazon and John Lewis — price gaps are common.
- For the serious cook (From 130 £ to 215 £) : KitchenAid 5KFP1319, Kenwood KMX754BK and mid-range Magimix models occupy this tier. Larger bowls (3L–5L), stronger motors, more comprehensive disc kits and noticeably better build quality. If you cook for a family daily, bake regularly or want a machine that will last a decade, this is the right bracket. Don't be swayed by colour options alone — compare specs carefully.
- Premium and professional (Over 215 £) : Magimix dominates here, with Smeg and high-spec Sencor models also present. The premium buys you exceptional build quality, very quiet operation, comprehensive disc sets and long warranties. Magimix's 30-year motor guarantee is the standout. Genuinely worth it if you cook seriously and keep appliances for years — harder to justify for occasional use.
Top products
- Kenwood FDM73.850SS food processor 1000 W 3 L Grey Built-in scales (Kenwood) : The standout mid-range pick: 1000W motor, a 3L bowl and integrated digital scales make this the most practical all-rounder in the catalogue. The built-in tare function is genuinely useful for baking — not a gimmick. Strong value at this price point.
- KitchenAid 5KFP1319 food processor 500 W 3.1 L Cream (KitchenAid) : Beautifully built with a generous 3.1L bowl, but the 500W motor is underwhelming at this price — it will struggle with dense dough or hard vegetables. Buy it for the build quality and aesthetics; don't expect it to replace a 1000W machine.
- Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-iQ BN800UK (Ninja) : The best outsider choice in the catalogue. Auto-iQ technology genuinely adjusts processing patterns intelligently, and the 3-in-1 functionality adds real versatility. A strong alternative to the established brands — worth comparing carefully against the Kenwood FDM73.
- Bosch MCM3100WG food processor 700 W 2.3 L White (Bosch) : The most accessible entry point from a genuinely reliable brand. At this price, the 700W motor and 2.3L bowl cover everyday chopping and slicing for one or two people. Don't expect it to handle large batches or heavy dough — but for what it is, it's hard to fault.
- Kenwood KMX754BK food processor 1000 W 5 L Black (Kenwood) : The pick for serious batch cookers and large households. A 5L bowl and 1000W motor mean you rarely need to process in multiple batches, and Kenwood's build quality at this tier is genuinely robust. Overkill for a couple — essential for a busy family kitchen.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What wattage do I actually need in a food processor?
For most households, 700W–1000W is the practical sweet spot. A 250W–350W machine handles soft chopping and herbs, but struggles with dense vegetables, pastry or dough — the motor will overheat and the thermal overload protection will cut in. If you bake bread or process root vegetables regularly, don't go below 700W. The 1000W models from Kenwood (FDM73, KMX754BK) offer the best balance of power and price in this catalogue.
Is a Magimix worth the extra money over a Kenwood or Bosch?
Yes — but only if you'll keep it for many years. Magimix machines are significantly quieter, built to a higher standard with die-cast metal housings, and backed by a 30-year motor warranty that no competitor matches. At roughly double the average price of Bosch or Kenwood, the premium is real. If you cook daily and replace appliances infrequently, Magimix is the better long-term investment. For occasional use, a mid-range Kenwood is the smarter buy.
What's the difference between a food processor and a food chopper?
A food processor is a multi-function machine with interchangeable discs for slicing, shredding, julienning and kneading, plus an S-blade for chopping and pureeing. A food chopper does one thing — chop — in a smaller bowl, typically at a lower price. If you mainly need to dice onions or blitz herbs, a chopper is faster to clean and cheaper. A food processor earns its worktop space only if you use the discs and the larger capacity regularly.
Are food processors with integrated scales actually useful?
For bakers, yes — genuinely. The Kenwood FDM73.850SS includes digital scales with a tare function, letting you weigh ingredients directly into the bowl and zero between additions. It eliminates a separate piece of equipment and speeds up prep considerably. For cooks who don't bake by weight, it's an unnecessary premium. Be honest about how you actually cook before paying extra for the feature.
What bowl capacity do I need for a family of four?
A 3L–3.1L bowl is the practical minimum for a family of four. Bear in mind that usable capacity is roughly two-thirds of the stated figure — a 3L bowl comfortably processes about 2L of food per batch. If you batch-cook or regularly prepare food for more than four people, a 5L bowl (Kenwood KMX754BK, Bomann KM 6010) will save you significant time. The compact 1.7L–2.3L Bosch models are fine for one or two people but become frustrating for family-sized quantities.
Which food processors are easiest to clean?
Look for models where the bowl, S-blade and discs are all dishwasher-safe — most mid-range and premium machines confirm this in the spec sheet. The Bosch MCM3100 series and KitchenAid 5KFP1319 both score well here. Avoid machines with complex blade assemblies that require tools to disassemble, and be cautious with cheap plastic discs that warp in the dishwasher over time. Stainless steel bowls are easier to clean thoroughly than plastic, which scratches and retains odours.
Are budget food processors under 85 £ worth buying, or should I avoid them?
They're worth buying for light, infrequent use — but they're a false economy for regular cooking. Machines in this bracket (Arebos, Russell Hobbs, entry-level Bosch) use lower-grade plastics, have limited disc sets and motors that struggle with anything denser than courgette. The thermal overload protection trips frequently under load, which is both inconvenient and a sign of motor stress. If you process food more than once or twice a week, spending up to 130 £ will save you frustration and likely a replacement purchase within two years.