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If you usually spend a few hours in the kitchen on Christmas Day, it may be worthwhile to invest in a food processor or stand mixer so you can spend more time opening gifts instead of cutting vegetables.

A decent food processor or blender can help with a range of other time-consuming tasks, from lightning-like breadcrumbs, onions, and herbs to make the perfect filling, to mixing some tempting brandy butter.

We have just tested six new food processors and a new stand mixer, including models from major brands such as Ninja, Kenwood, Tefal and Philips. Four left a deep impression on us and scored high enough to become Best Buy, but a few were not fully in place.

Read on to learn more about the models we tested, or head directly to our food processor reviews and stand mixer reviews to learn about the models we recommend and why.

This food processor is equipped with an integrated scale, so you can add ingredients directly to the bowl. It comes with a 1.2-liter main bowl that can complete most of the daily processing tasks, as well as a pot blender, grinding pot and two 400-ml smoothie cups.

Accessories include three metal discs of different sizes for grinding and slicing, as well as blades for kneading and mixing and a double stirrer attachment. With the development of food processors, it is on the compact side-only 23 cm deep, so you should be able to squeeze it onto your kitchen counter without any problems.

Not sure if this model is right for you? Check out our complete Kenwood FDM312SS review to see how it performed in our rigorous laboratory testing.

Ninja claims that its Auto-IQ technology will eliminate all the hassles of food preparation, and the automatic one-click program can do the heavy lifting for you.

It is equipped with a series of accessories, including metal discs for slicing and grinding, metal blades for shredding and plastic mixing blades. The instruction manual contains 20 recipes to get you started with some basic meals and desserts.

Can it really save you time in the kitchen? Read our independent Ninja BN650UK review to find out.

This higher specification Ninja food processor comes with five one-button mixing and processing programs designed to make food preparation quick and easy. If you want to keep it simple, there are three different speed settings.

The main processor is equipped with a 1.8-liter bowl and common blades and discs for chopping, grating, slicing, kneading and mixing. You can also use the 2.1-liter mixing cup to make mud and stir, and the stacked blade attachment is designed to crush the ice into a fluffy snow-like consistency. There is also a 700 ml personal blender with its own lid, which is perfect for breakfast on the go.

Is it worth spending nearly £200 on this multitasking food processor? Read our complete Ninja BN800UK review to see how it performed in our laboratory tests.

The Philips Viva Compact food processor is equipped with a 2.1-liter main bowl and a 1.5-liter mixing jug to help you complete a series of kitchen tasks quickly and efficiently. The box contains a double-sided metal plate for grinding and slicing, a metal blade for shredding and mixing, an emulsifying plate for whipping and beating, and a plastic dough tool for kneading. There is even a citrus press to help you make fresh juice.

You can choose between two speeds and pulse functions, and the processor has non-slip feet, so it won't move around on your workbench during use. It provides a two-year warranty to protect you in the event of any technical problems or accidents.

What is the chopping, grinding, mixing and kneading effect of this processor? Check the Philips HR750/11 review to find out. 

This Tefal food processor is equipped with a large number of accessories to help you complete your daily kitchen work. These include two reversible discs for grinding and slicing, a titanium-coated blade for chopping, mixing and mixing, an emulsifying disc for stirring or making sauces such as mayonnaise, and one for making bread Dough kneading attachment.

The spacious 3 liter processing bowl is suitable for mass processing, and there is also a 2 liter mixing tank. Unlike many competing food processors, this Tefal offers multiple power setting options, so you can choose from a total of six speeds.

Read our review of Tefal DO821840 to find out if it is really an expert in chopping, slicing and mixing.

This little Breville won't take up too much space in your kitchen cabinets. In addition to chopped vegetables and crushed ice, you can also use it to mix soups and smoothies and make food purees.

Compared with a full-size processor, the 0.45 liter bowl is absolutely small, so it is more like a helper for small shredding tasks than for large batch cooking

Find out if this micro food processor can chop the best in our full Breville VBL24 review.

The best food processors and mini shredders-see our recommendations for purchase

This dual-purpose model can be used as a hand-held blender or as a compact vertical blender. It is much cheaper than most other stand mixers we have tested, while still containing enough accessories to complete basic tasks, including a metal mixer for mixing and whipping and dough hooks for making bread or biscuits.

The 3.5-liter stainless steel mixing bowl is large enough that you can make a large number of festive dishes at once. You can tilt the mixing head up to easily add additional ingredients to the bowl, and there are five speed and pulse settings to choose from.

Can it be mixed, stirred and whipped like a full-size model? Read our complete Lakeland 2IN1 61782 review to find out.

The best stand mixer-get our first choice directly

The best starting point is to consider what you want to use it for the most, as this will narrow your options and make it easier to choose.

If you are a more experimental chef or like to cook large and delicate meals, a food processor may be a better choice.

The latest model can perform various kitchen tasks such as kneading, whipping and stirring as well as the usual chopping, grating and slicing. Some also come with an additional blender attachment, which can quickly make soup or smoothies, or grind coffee. Larger capacity means you can also process larger batches at once.

They are more expensive than mini choppers, and you need to make sure you have enough space on your workbench to make room, so it is worth considering how often you use it before buying.

Remember, they are also easy to clean.

If you are a baking lover, a stand mixer will be your best choice. These are especially suitable for more difficult mixing tasks, such as kneading dough, whipping soft meringues and making pastries.

Some stand mixers can accommodate a series of additional accessories, such as blenders, food processors, meat grinders and even ice cream machines, but these can be expensive.

However, they are best for large batch cooking and baking, so if you usually use fairly small quantities, they may not be ideal.

If your kitchen is short of space or usually cooks in small batches, the mini chopper may be the perfect choice. They hardly take up any space on your workbench and can be easily placed in the cabinet when not in use.

They are best at basic operations—think about chopping, slicing, and grinding—but not suitable for tasks such as mixing or kneading. Although the smaller models only cost about £30, they are much cheaper than full-size food processors, so if you are not ready to buy the more expensive models, this can be a good stepping stone.

Please refer to our kitchen appliance buying guide for more suggestions on choosing the right gadget for you.

Categories: Home & Garden, Kitchen

Tagged as: Breville Christmas Food Processor Stand Mixer Tefal