Buying guide for best food processor for mixing dough
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If you’re an avid baker or looking to expand your versatility in the kitchen, you need the right tools to help you get the job done. Even novice bakers are aware that kneading dough properly before using it is crucial to making high-quality pastries. You can knead dough manually or with a stand mixer, but a food processor can work just as well and offers more versatile functionality for meal prepping.
Many food processors have powerful motors for getting the job done quicker and come with dedicated dough blades to help create the perfect texture for your kitchen creations. There are many options to choose from depending on your budget and other factors, but we’ve narrowed down the best ones to check out before you get started on your next baking project.
Our top choice is the versatile Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Pro Food Processor, which comes with a dough blade and a powerful motor that can handle all your food-prep tasks with ease.
Which food processor is best for mixing dough?
Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Pro Food Processor
Best for Professionals
Motor Power: 1,200 W | Bowl Capacity: 16 cup | Speed Settings: 1 | Dishwasher-safe Parts: Yes | Dough Blade: Yes
Whether you’re a professional chef at a top-tier restaurant or a cooking enthusiast who wants the best kitchen tools, this Breville food processor helps you efficiently prepare ingredients. The two-blade system improves consistency when chopping down large chunks of meat, and the slicing disk has 24 settings for ultra-thin cuts, ranging from 0.3 millimeters to as thick as 8 millimeters.
It has a handful of neat features, including a pulse feature, an LED with a timer that counts up or down, an adjustable feed tube, push-button controls and a locking lid. Plus, it comes with several accessories, such as a dough blade, julienne disk, french fry disk, cleaning brush, soft scrape whisk and spatula.
It’s on the pricey side, but it’s a powerful food processor with all the features and accessories you need for efficient food prepping. If you only occasionally need to mix up some dough, this food processor might be overkill. However, for those who need to do so quickly and often, we think there is no better way to get the job done than with this processor.
Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor
Best Value
Motor Power: 500 W | Bowl Capacity: 12 cup | Speed Settings: 3 | Dishwasher-safe Parts: Yes | Dough Blade: Yes
This food processor isn’t as robust as our top pick, but for casual use, it’s more than sufficient. The included function guide takes the guesswork out of food processing and accurately advises users on how to prep meals efficiently. Plus, its stack-and-snap assembly makes it easy to attach accessories and disks, such as its reversible slicing and shredding disk.
The wide-mouth feed tube eliminates the need for fine pre-cutting, and the 500-watt motor packs enough power to break down even the largest chunks of meat and vegetables. It comes with a dough blade for kneading dough and making delicious bread, and the 12-cup sealed bowl has a spout for preventing leaks and spills.
Although it isn’t as powerful as some of the more expensive food processors, we think there’s plenty to love about it, such as its three speed modes and numerous capabilities, which include grating, mixing, chopping, slicing and shredding.
Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Multifunctional Food Processor
Most Versatile
Motor Power: 650 W | Bowl Capacity: 13 cup | Speed Settings: 4 | Dishwasher-safe Parts: Yes | Dough Blade: Yes
Cuisinart is known for its high-quality kitchen appliances, and it’s delivered once again with this premium 13-cup multifunctional food processor. It features an advanced motor platform and comes with everything you need to get started, including a mixing blade, reversible shredding disc and adjustable slicing disc.
Made of durable, BPA-free Tritan plastic, the 13-cup work bowl makes it easy to prep large quantities of meat or vegetables, and the multifunctional design allows you to chop, puree, shred and slice. The simple control paddles let you seamlessly switch between low, high or pulse speed modes, and the removable hub is perfect for keeping all your accessories organized. Plus, there’s a dedicated speed setting just for smooth and gentle mixing.
We think this food processor is one of the easiest to use, and we love that it offers multiple settings to help you with all your cooking tasks. Though it’s a little pricey, given that it doesn’t pack as many accessories as other food processors, it has everything you need to mix dough and do basic meal prep quickly and efficiently.
KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor
Simple Yet Solid
Motor Power: 250 W | Bowl Capacity: 7 cup | Speed Settings: 3 | Dishwasher-safe Parts: Yes | Dough Blade: No
This 7-cup food processor will not disappoint those who want a food processor for basic meal prep and the capability to mix dough. While the motor isn’t anywhere near as powerful as some of our other favorites, it still offers excellent versatility, and the price isn’t unreasonable for what you get — it costs under $100.
The snap-and-go work bowl makes it easy to mix, and the multipurpose blade and reversible shredding and slicing disc allow you to chop, slice, shred and puree all kinds of foods, including cheeses and sauces. It also has easy-to-use controls with three speeds: low, high and pulse. And for your convenience, most parts are dishwasher-friendly
Though it’s one of the most basic food processors, you can do so much with it that it’s absolutely worth a look. If you’re working with a budget and don’t mind the fact that it doesn’t include a dedicated dough blade for kneading, it’s an excellent option. Plus, the all-in-one storage solution means you can keep everything organized in the bowl when it’s not in use.
Ninja BR601AMZ Total Crushing Kitchen System
Most Comprehensive
Motor Power: 1,200 W | Bowl Capacity: 8 cup | Speed Settings: 3 | Dishwasher-safe Parts: Yes | Dough Blade: No
The Ninja Total Crushing Kitchen System functions primarily as a blender, where you can make smoothies, juices, sauces and soups. But that’s not all it can do. It also features a food processor with a dedicated dough-kneading mode, so you can whip up tasty breads and more in no time.
It has a powerful 1,200-watt motor (which is as mighty as the Breville’s motor), five preset programs with controlled speeds and time, and an 8-cup food processor bowl. It also offers complete user control with three speed settings: low, high and pulse. Although it doesn’t have a dedicated dough blade, many customers have reviewed it favorably for its kneading function.
It’s like we’re cheating a bit with this selection since it’s not a traditional food processor, but it gets the job done. You’ll have a fantastic blender for making other delicious foods and beverages. Plus, it’s more affordable than some of our other favorite food processors.
How we analyzed the best food processor
For this guide, we searched the internet for the most highly reviewed food processors and compiled a list based on functionality, features, cost and design. The best food processors have every accessory required for efficient dough kneading, and many offer multiple food-processing options and speed settings. We analyzed user and customer reviews and thoroughly researched specs and features to create our curated list of the best food processors for mixing dough. We’ve also tested various food processors over the years from top brands, including Cuisinart and Ninja.
Key features to consider
Motor power
Mixing dough requires a strong motor to handle the resistance and ensure the ingredients are mixed thoroughly. Look for a food processor with a powerful engine, typically around 500 watts or more, to handle dough mixing without straining. Also, the motor should be durable enough to withstand the repetitive stress of kneading dough. This ensures longevity and reliable performance over time.
Our top picks: Motor power
- Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Pro Food Processor and Ninja BR601AMZ Total Crushing Kitchen System: These food processors both have a powerful 1,200-watt motor that’s excellent for chopping down large pieces of food and mixing dough rapidly.
- Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor: The 500-watt motor is pretty standard for a food processor, and you won’t have any problems kneading dough in a timely fashion.
- Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Multifunctional Food Processor: It has a 650-watt motor, which is efficient at mixing dough and perfect for casual bakers.
- KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor: The 250-watt motor is the weakest of our picks, but it’s still a fine choice for baking the occasional cake.
Bowl capacity
Consider the size of the food processor’s work bowl. For dough mixing, a larger capacity (usually 10 to 14 cups) is preferable as it allows you to mix larger batches of dough without overloading the machine. A sturdy, BPA-free plastic, such as Tritan plastic, or stainless steel bowl is ideal for handling the dense, sticky nature of dough.
Our top picks: Bowl capacity
- Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Pro Food Processor: The extra-large 16-cup capacity is excellent for professionals or home cooks who need to quickly produce large quantities of well-mixed dough.
- Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor: This 12-cup processor is sufficient for casual or professional use.
- Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Multifunctional Food Processor: The 13-cup capacity allows you to mix a lot of dough at one time, allowing you to make pastries faster.
- KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor: A 7-cup processor is ideal for home use, and unless you’re making a large number of pastries, it should be more than enough.
- Ninja BR601AMZ Total Crushing Kitchen System: The Ninja’s 8-cup capacity is fine for standard or casual use.
Dough blade
Many food processors come with a plastic or metal dough blade. This blade is designed to mimic the kneading process, ensuring that the dough is properly mixed and elastic. The dough blade should be effective at pulling the dough together without overworking it, which can lead to tough dough.
Our top picks: Dough blade
- Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Pro Food Processor, Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack-and-Snap Food Processor and Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Multifunctional Food Processor: These three food processors come with a separate dough blade that’s highly efficient for mixing dough and achieving the correct consistency to produce superb results.
- KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor and Ninja BR601AMZ Total Crushing Kitchen System: These processors don’t include a dough blade, which means there’s more guesswork involved. Still, you can mix the dough well enough with the included blades and accessories.
Speed settings
A food processor with multiple speed settings or a pulse function allows you to control the kneading process. Lower speeds are better for gently mixing dough, while higher speeds can be used for the initial mixing of ingredients. A pulse feature provides short bursts of power, which is convenient for controlling the kneading process and preventing the dough from becoming overworked.
Our top picks: Speed settings
- Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Pro Food Processor: It has only one speed setting, which isn’t ideal for those who want more control.
- Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor and KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor: These processors have low, high and pulse speeds, which are helpful for getting the right consistency for your dough.
- Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Multifunctional Food Processor: It’s a multifunctional processor, so there are four speeds: low, high, mix and pulse, which are all convenient for kneading dough efficiently.
- Ninja BR601AMZ Total Crushing Kitchen System: This kitchen system has three speeds, each useful for a different task.
Ease of use and cleaning
Look for a food processor that’s easy to assemble and disassemble. This will make it simpler to switch between tasks and clean the machine afterward. Components like the bowl, blade and lid should be dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Since dough can be sticky and challenging to clean, dishwasher-safe parts are a major convenience.
Our top picks: Ease of use and cleaning
- Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Pro Food Processor, Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Multifunctional Food Processor, KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor and Ninja BR601AMZ Total Crushing Kitchen System: These machines have parts that are all dishwasher-safe. However, it’s advisable to avoid using high-heat washing cycles with plastic parts.
- Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor: Parts are dishwasher-safe, but there are rare reports of quality control where the bowl handle melted in the dishwasher.
Build quality and stability
A food processor with high-quality, durable materials is crucial for longevity, especially when it comes to mixing dough, which can be taxing on the machine. Also, dough mixing can take several minutes, so a quieter machine can make the process more enjoyable, especially if you plan to use it frequently.
Mixing dough can cause vibrations, so a food processor with a heavy, stable base is vital to prevent the machine from moving around on the counter during operation. Some models come with suction cups on the base to hold the processor securely in place, which is especially useful when mixing dense dough.
Our top picks: Build quality and stability
- Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Pro Food Processor, Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor and Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Multifunctional Food Processor: Made of brushed stainless steel, these processors are highly durable and modern-looking. Plus, they have metal accessories.
- KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor and Ninja BR601AMZ Total Crushing Kitchen System: These processors aren’t as durable or aesthetically pleasing because they’re made of plastic. However, they have long-lasting and reliable stainless steel blades.
Versatility
Some food processors come with various attachments for tasks beyond dough mixing, such as slicing, shredding and pureeing. If you plan to use the food processor for multiple tasks, consider the versatility of the attachments included. If the processor is versatile, it should allow you to switch between functions and attachments easily, which is important for efficient kitchen workflow.
Our top picks: Versatility
- Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Pro Food Processor: It’s excellent for kneading, mincing, mixing, slicing and chopping, and includes all the necessary accessories.
- Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor: This processor can grate, mix, chop, slice, shred and puree.
- Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Multifunctional Food Processor: Its capabilities include shredding, blending, chopping, mixing and slicing, and additional accessories can be purchased to expand functionality to blending, dicing and juicing.
- KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor: This appliance has all the basic food processor functions: grinding, chopping, shredding, and mixing.
- Ninja BR601AMZ Total Crushing Kitchen System: This versatile kitchen system works great for blending, juicing, extracting, kneading, chopping and slicing.
