The 10 Best Food Choppers
Special Honors
Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro If you're cooking for crowds or a large family at least once a week, something like the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro can help. It's a premium option that's extremely powerful and generously-sized, making it ideal for busy chefs who want professional results. It's great for turning nuts into butter, slicing, chopping, shredding, and kneading, with two feed chute options and eight precision tools. breville.com
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2020:
While there are tons of food choppers flooding the market, there are only so many distinctive designs and methods for chopping that are efficient, and we've done our best to ensure a diversity of what's available with the best models listed here. You'll find compact electric units and manual options with a variety of features and constructions, from the very simplistic Kwik-Kut Deluxe, which we added when the Brieftons Blender became unavailable, to the feature-rich KitchenAid Mini, a reliable selection included at the expense of the Hamilton Beach Stack.
We like the Kwik-Kut for its simplicity and elegance, and it is surprisingly capable considering the old-school design. That being said, there are certain hard or large fruits and vegetables that will require a kitchen knife to slice them into more manageable parts before you get to chopping. For soft foods like cooked chicken and hardboiled eggs, it's hard to beat.
If you're trying to decide between the KitchenAid model and the Cuisinart Plus, it might just come down to aesthetics, as the Cuisinart has a slightly more powerful motor by about ten watts, but a slightly smaller capacity at three cups. The KitchenAid is a bit more versatile, with two speed functions and a pulse option, and an integrated drizzle basin that offers a smarter and more efficient design.
We also added the LinkChef Robust today and said goodbye to the Pampered Chef Cutting Edge to do so. The Pampered Chef is still a tried and true option that lasts a good while, with plenty of pleased owners who will sing its praises, but it's just too simplistic, with an uninspired design and high price point that make it an ill-suited choice for many households. The LinkChef, on the other hand, is easy to use, reliable, and unlike many others, comes with a long-lasting stainless steel bowl that won't chip or crack. It can also come into contact with tomatoes and citrus without any issues.
December 04, 2019:
When you want something simpler and smaller than your typical food processor, a straightforward food chopper is the way to go. These handy little devices are powered manually or electronically and can handle basic prep tasks that free up your time and allow you to plan meals. They're user-friendly, easy to maintain, and generally compact in size, making them ideal for small spaces and novice cooks.
Our priorities for this list included durability, generous warranties, value for money, ease of use, efficacy, and size. If you're looking for something that doesn't require a power outlet to work, the Brieftons Blender, Pampered Chef Cutting Edge, and Zyliss Manual Processor are all excellent choices, with the Pampered Chef model, in particular, made to last for years and years. If you're looking for peace of mind, the Zyliss unit offers an unprecedented five-year guarantee. The Ultra Chef Express is another manual option that's extremely versatile, as it comes with several attachments that allow it to perform seven functions.
Although we love the Chef'n VeggiChop, it's too similar in design to the Zyliss Manual Processor and Brieftons Blender, and we felt that this list could use a compact, electric, economically-priced option instead. To that end, we added the Proctor Silex Durable, a space-saving design perfect for small apartments and studios.
A Tool For the Amateur Chef
Most food choppers will chop nearly anything, including ice.
A food chopper does exactly what its name implies: it chops food. Most food choppers will chop nearly anything, including ice. There are a number of food choppers on the market that range from old fashioned hand choppers to miniature and large food processors.
While many experienced chefs prefer the precision and control they get with a well-sharpened knife, the average person doesn't have the time or energy to expertly hone his kitchen skills. That's why food choppers are a popular kitchen appliance.
Hand-slap choppers are popular because they are quick and easy to use, don't require a power source, and are generally dishwasher safe and easy to clean. These are great for quick chopping of fruits, vegetables, or nuts and can even be used for mincing.
For those with more versatile cooking needs, electric food choppers or miniature food processors are good options. These choppers often come with a pulse setting so you can choose just how finely chopped your food needs to be. They are perfect for basic food chopping needs or for mincing, dicing, or pureeing anything from fruits, vegetables, and nuts to herbs and spices or for making bread and cracker crumbs.
Food choppers come in a variety of types and sizes. No matter which one you choose, your food prep time is sure to be significantly reduced.
Ready to Buy? Not So Fast!
Before you purchase a food chopper, take some time to consider all of the options available. Do you need something to quickly chop your fruits and veggies now and then or do you need something that will chop, mince, puree, and mix on a regular basis?
Some are even less expensive than some high-end hand-operated food choppers out there.
An average hand-operated food chopper is going to meet your basic food chopping needs and cut your food prep time in half. Let's face it, not all of us are skilled with a knife in the kitchen. In fact, some of us are downright dangerous. A hand-operated food chopper is going to save you time and effort (and your precious fingers).
If you enjoy spending a little more time in the kitchen, make meals several times a week, and have more versatile culinary needs, you might want to go with an electric food chopper (otherwise known as a miniature food processor). They are even faster than the hand-operated food choppers and can sometimes hold more food at one time.
Electric food choppers allow you to chop with more precision and are great if you enjoy entertaining and preparing snacks and meals for guests. If you enjoy making things like salsa and guacamole, go with an electric food chopper.
Depending on the brand and type of food chopper you choose, you are going to run into a variety of costs. However, even small electric food choppers are quite affordable. Some are even less expensive than some high-end hand-operated food choppers out there.
Take your time and browse the products on this page before making your final decision. Your fingers will thank you.
Where Did The Food Chopper Come From?
Since man began preparing food, he has needed a way to chop it. It began by fashioning sharp instruments that eventually evolved into knives. But then man got busy with other things and decided he needed a way to more efficiently chop his food.
The Victorian Era food processor was designed with a mechanism that chopped food and spun the container while the handle was turned.
The exact origins of the food chopper itself are unclear, but it is clear that people have been inventing creative ways to chop food since at least the Victorian Era. The Victorian Era food processor was designed with a mechanism that chopped food and spun the container while the handle was turned.
The first electronic food chopper or food processor was invented in the late 20th century and first showcased in Paris. Cuisinart was the first company to market the design. It is from this design that miniature food processors and food choppers were born.
Now, chopping food is as simple as pushing a button, slapping a handle, or pulling a cord. There is no awkwardly shaped tool made of whale bone to maneuver or heavy metal crank to turn. All you need is a working hand or nearby power outlet, and you will have perfectly chopped food in no time.