The best food processor in NZ overall is the Ninja Professional Food Processor BN650, thanks to its 850-peak-watt motor, 9-cup bowl and four Auto-iQ preset programs that take the guesswork out of everyday prep. This guide covers ten food processors available in New Zealand, from compact KitchenAid and Cuisinart choppers to full-size Kenwood and Russell Hobbs processors and a premium Curtis Stone-designed model, so there is a fit for quick weeknight chopping through to bigger batch cooking.
Every pick below has been checked against the brand’s own specs and, where available, genuine owner reviews from independent retailers, rather than repeating generic marketing claims.
Quick comparison
| Food processor | Best for | Bowl capacity | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Professional BN650 | Best overall | 9-cup / 2.1L | 850 peak watts |
| Ninja Foodi CB350 | Best blender and processor combo | 2.1L | 1200W |
| KitchenAid 3.5 Cup 5KFC3516AER | Best compact premium chopper | 3.5-cup | 240W |
| KitchenAid 5 Cup with Whisk 5KFC0516AOB | Best with whisk accessory | 5-cup / 1.18L | 240W |
| Cuisinart FlexPrep | Best all-in-one compact | 1.1L / 5-cup | N/A |
| Russell Hobbs Desire RHFP5BLK | Best value full-size | 2.5L (1.5L usable) | 600W |
| Kenwood MultiPro Compact FDP31.360GY | Best 2-in-1 blender and processor | 2.1L + 1.2L blender | 800W |
| Kenwood MultiPro Go FDP22.130GY | Best budget full-featured | 1.3L | 650W |
| Breville Mini Wizz LFP150BSS | Best mini chopper | Compact | N/A |
| Durapres Prep Master Pro DP800 | Best premium digital touch | 3.5L | 1300W |
1. Ninja Professional Food Processor – Best Overall
The Ninja Professional Food Processor BN650 earns the top spot for genuine versatility. An 850-peak-watt motor drives a 9-cup / 2.1-litre bowl, big enough for a full batch of soup or slaw, and four Auto-iQ preset programs (chop, purée, slice and mix) take the guesswork out of everyday prep with one touch.
It ships with a stainless steel quad chopping blade and a dedicated dough blade, and the interchangeable attachments cover most home cooking without buying separate discs.
Independent reviews on productreview.com.au sit at 4.1 out of 5 from 9 reviews. Owners praise how precisely it chops, blends and grates cheese, though one reported the blades stopped spinning properly within six months of use.
Pros
- Four Auto-iQ one-touch presets take the guesswork out of prep
- Generous 9-cup / 2.1L bowl for bigger batches
- Includes a dedicated dough blade
Cons
- One owner reported blade issues within six months
- Warranty terms vary by source, so confirm against your local packaging
Key specs: model BN650, 850 peak watts, 9-cup / 2.1L bowl, 4 Auto-iQ presets, stainless steel blades.
2. Ninja Foodi Power Blender Processor – Best Blender and Processor Combo
The Ninja Foodi CB350 is built to replace two appliances with one. A 1200W smartTORQUE motor drives a 2.1-litre pitcher that doubles as a blender, liquidiser, food processor and dough mixer, switching jobs depending on which accessory is fitted.
Six one-touch programs cover smoothies, extractions, bowls, spreads, chopping and dough, and 10 manual speeds give finer control when a preset is not quite right. It comes with a 700ml Power Nutri Cup and a 400ml smoothie bowl with a storage lid.
Independent reviews on productreview.com.au sit at 4.4 out of 5 from 7 reviews. Owners call it versatile for meat, vegetables, frozen ingredients and dough, though one measured it at 102 decibels and found it genuinely loud, and another reported a worn base gear with no spare part available.
Pros
- Genuinely doubles as a high-power blender and a food processor
- Six one-touch programs plus 10 manual speeds
- Multiple container sizes included for smoothies and bowls
Cons
- One owner measured it at 102 decibels, loud in daily use
- Another reported a worn gear with no replacement part available
Key specs: model CB350, 1200W smartTORQUE motor, 2.1L pitcher, 6 one-touch programs, 10 manual speeds.
3. KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper – Best Compact Premium Chopper
This KitchenAid chopper (model 5KFC3516AER, Empire Red) is a compact 240W unit built around a 3.5-cup BPA-free bowl with a locking blade, locking handle and pour spout for easy serving. Two speeds plus pulse give control over coarse or fine results.
A drizzle basin in the lid lets you add oil or liquid while it runs, useful for hummus and dressings, and the bowl, lid and blade are dishwasher-safe.
KitchenAid’s own NZ site shows this model line at 4.7 out of 5 from over 2,400 reviews, shared across its colour range. One long-time owner called it quieter and better than the older chopper it replaced.
Pros
- Strong 4.7/5 rating from thousands of KitchenAid owners
- Drizzle basin for dressings and sauces while processing
- 2-year warranty from an established premium brand
Cons
- 3.5-cup bowl suits small batches rather than big cooking sessions
- Rating is shared across the whole colour range, not this exact shade alone
Key specs: model 5KFC3516AER, 240W, 3.5-cup bowl, 2 speeds plus pulse, 2-year warranty.
4. KitchenAid 5 Cup Food Chopper with Whisk – Best with Whisk Accessory
Stepping up to KitchenAid’s 5-cup chopper (model 5KFC0516AOB, Onyx Black) brings a larger 1.18-litre BPA-free bowl on the same 240W base, plus a whisk accessory that most compact choppers this size skip entirely, useful for whipping cream or eggs.
The same drizzle basin, locking bowl design and two-speed-plus-pulse control carry over from the smaller model, and all the main parts are dishwasher-safe.
KitchenAid’s own NZ site shows the same 4.7 out of 5 from over 2,400 reviews across the range. One reviewer, on their fourth KitchenAid processor, called this the easiest to use and their favourite yet.
Pros
- Includes a whisk accessory most compact choppers skip
- Slightly larger 5-cup bowl than the 3.5-cup model above
- Strong 4.7/5 rating from KitchenAid owners
Cons
- Still a compact bowl size next to the full-size processors in this guide
- Costs more than the 3.5-cup model for the extra capacity and whisk
Key specs: model 5KFC0516AOB, 240W, 5-cup / 1.18L bowl, includes whisk accessory, 2-year warranty.
5. Cuisinart FlexPrep Food Processor – Best All-in-One Compact
The Cuisinart FlexPrep packs three tools into one compact 1.1-litre / 5-cup bowl: a stainless steel chopping blade, a reversible shredding disc and a whipping blade, swapped in and out via Cuisinart’s BladeLock system.
One-touch operation plus a pulse button keep control simple, anti-slip feet and an integrated pusher tube add stability and safety, and the parts are dishwasher-safe.
Specs were confirmed directly on Cuisinart’s own AU site, sold there as the FlexPrep Pro, which backs it with a 3-year warranty. No aggregate review count was showing on the brand’s page at the time of writing.
Pros
- Three tools (chop, shred, whip) in one compact bowl
- 3-year warranty, longer than most compact choppers here
- BladeLock system for safer blade changes
Cons
- No independent review count available on the brand’s own page yet
- 1.1L bowl suits everyday tasks rather than big batches
Key specs: 1.1L / 5-cup bowl, stainless blade plus reversible shredding disc and whipping blade, 3-year warranty.
6. Russell Hobbs Desire Food Processor – Best Value Full-Size
The Russell Hobbs Desire (model RHFP5BLK, matte black) pairs a 600W motor with a 2.5-litre bowl (1.5 litres usable) and a separate 1.5-litre blending jug on the same base, so it covers processing and blending without swapping appliances.
Two speeds plus pulse run a genuinely wide accessory set: a stainless steel blade, a reversible slicing/shredding disc, a dough blade and a creaming disk, backed by a double safety lock and non-slip feet.
Specs were confirmed directly on Russell Hobbs’ own NZ site, which lists a 2-year warranty. No customer review data was showing on that page at the time of writing.
Pros
- Genuinely wide accessory set including a creaming disk
- Doubles as a blender via the extra 1.5L jug on the same base
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- No independent review data available on the brand’s own page yet
- 600W is modest next to the highest-wattage picks in this guide
Key specs: model RHFP5BLK, 600W, 2.5L bowl (1.5L usable) plus 1.5L blending jug, 2-year warranty.
7. Kenwood MultiPro Food Processor – Best 2-in-1 Blender and Processor
The Kenwood MultiPro Compact (model FDP31.360GY, slate grey) runs an 800W motor across a 2.1-litre processor bowl and a separate 1.2-litre blender bowl on the same base, with a citrus juicer attachment and a slicing/grating disc included.
Three speeds plus pulse cover most tasks, and in-bowl stackable storage keeps the attachments together rather than scattered around a drawer.
The Good Guys lists it at 4.4 out of 5 from 65 reviews, with 91% of buyers recommending it. Feedback highlights the compact footprint as a strength, with some owners noting limited bowl capacity for large batches.
Pros
- Genuine 2-in-1 with a separate blender bowl on the same base
- Citrus juicer attachment included
- Strong 4.4/5 rating with 91% of buyers recommending it
Cons
- Some owners note limited capacity for large batches
- Plastic build rather than metal
Key specs: model FDP31.360GY, 800W, 2.1L processor bowl plus 1.2L blender bowl, 3 speeds plus pulse.
8. Kenwood MultiPro Go – Best Budget Full-Featured
The Kenwood MultiPro Go (model FDP22.130GY, sold in Australia in a Storm Blue finish) is a compact 650W processor built around a 1.3-litre bowl, a knife blade and a 4mm reversible slicing/grating disc.
Its standout feature is Express Serve: tip the unit and it slices or grates straight onto a plate or into a pan without using the main bowl at all, which speeds up quick jobs and cuts down on washing up. Two speeds plus pulse cover the rest, and the tools are dishwasher-safe.
Kenwood’s own AU site shows it at 4.3 out of 5 from 199 reviews, read directly from the live product page.
Pros
- Express Serve slices and grates straight onto a plate, skipping the bowl
- Strong 4.3/5 rating from 199 owners
- Compact enough for a drawer or small cupboard
Cons
- 1.3L bowl is on the small side for bigger cooking sessions
- Fewer attachments than the MultiPro Compact above
Key specs: model FDP22.130GY, 650W, 1.3L bowl, 4mm reversible slicing/grating disc, Express Serve.
9. Breville Mini Wizz Quad Blade Food Processor – Best Mini Chopper
The Breville Mini Wizz (model LFP150BSS) is a brushed stainless steel mini chopper that switches between dual-blade operation for chunkier results and quad-blade operation for a smoother texture, depending on the job.
One-touch operation keeps it simple, and the bowl, lid and blades are all dishwasher-safe, backed by a 1-year warranty.
Harvey Norman NZ lists it at 4.7 out of 5 from 45 reviews. Owners call it compact yet powerful and easy to clean, though one reviewer reported food escaping through holes in the bowl during use.
Pros
- Switches between dual-blade and quad-blade operation for different textures
- Strong 4.7/5 rating from 45 owners
- Brushed stainless steel looks sharper than plastic rivals
Cons
- One reviewer reported food escaping through bowl holes during use
- Smallest capacity of any pick in this guide
Key specs: model LFP150BSS, brushed stainless steel, dual/quad-blade operation, dishwasher-safe, 1-year warranty.
10. Durapres Prep Master Pro Food Processor – Best Premium Digital Touch
The Durapres Prep Master Pro (model DP800) is a Curtis Stone-designed food processor sold exclusively through The Good Guys in Australia rather than an independently distributed international brand. A 1300W motor drives a 3.5-litre bowl through an extra-wide chute sized for whole fruit and vegetables, cutting down on pre-cutting.
Digital touch controls run variable speeds and preset modes, and titanium-coated blades handle blending, slicing, dicing, juicing, kneading and mixing. A triple safety lock and anti-slip feet round out the build.
This is a genuine, currently active line with Curtis Stone’s own endorsement on its website, but only a single review (5 out of 5) was available on The Good Guys’ page at the time of writing, so treat the review picture as thin rather than proven at scale.
Pros
- Extra-wide chute reduces pre-cutting for whole vegetables
- Digital touch controls with preset modes
- Genuinely broad function set: blend, slice, dice, juice, knead and mix
Cons
- A retailer-exclusive collaboration line rather than an established standalone brand
- Only a single owner review was available to check at the time of writing
Key specs: model DP800, 1300W, 3.5L bowl, digital touch controls, titanium-coated blades.
How to choose a food processor in NZ
Match bowl size to how you cook. A compact bowl around 1 to 1.5 litres suits chopping herbs, nuts or a couple of onions, while a 2 to 3.5-litre bowl handles bigger batches of soup, dough or slaw for a family. If you regularly cook for a crowd, the larger Ninja and Curtis Stone-designed models in this guide have the room to match.
A pulse setting matters more than a long list of speeds. It gives short bursts of power for controlled chopping, so nuts stay coarse and eggs do not turn to liquid. Most processors here offer at least two speeds plus pulse, and presets like Ninja’s Auto-iQ programs go a step further by timing the pulses for you.
Check what is actually included rather than just the headline blade. A reversible slicing or shredding disc, a dough blade and a whisk or creaming disc cover most home cooking, and a citrus juicer or a second blender jug, like the two Kenwood MultiPro models in this guide, adds real versatility for the same footprint.
Higher wattage helps with dense dough and hard vegetables, but a well-designed blade does more work than raw watts alone. Favour dishwasher-safe bowls, lids and blades, since hand-washing sharp discs is the main chore that puts people off using a food processor daily.
If you are building out the prep side of the kitchen, the guides to hand blenders, slushie machines and knife sharpeners are a useful next read.
Verdict
For most New Zealand kitchens, the Ninja Professional Food Processor BN650 is the best all-round pick, combining a generous 9-cup bowl with one-touch Auto-iQ presets. Shoppers who also want a proper blender on the same base should look at the Ninja Foodi CB350 or the Kenwood MultiPro Compact, while anyone short on bench space is better served by the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup, Cuisinart FlexPrep or Breville Mini Wizz choppers. Bakers and bigger households can step up to the Russell Hobbs Desire or the Curtis Stone-designed Durapres Prep Master Pro, and the Kenwood MultiPro Go covers everyday chopping at the lowest price here.
FAQs
How big a food processor bowl do I need?
Most households do well with a 2 to 2.5-litre bowl, enough for a batch of soup, dough or slaw without feeling oversized on the bench. A compact 1 to 1.5-litre chopper suits quick jobs like herbs, nuts or a couple of onions, while anyone cooking for a crowd regularly should look at a 3 to 3.5-litre model.
Is a food processor different from a blender?
Yes. A food processor uses interchangeable blades and discs to chop, slice, shred and knead solid or semi-solid food, while a blender is built around liquids, purees and smoothies. Several models in this guide, like the Ninja Foodi and the two Kenwood MultiPro processors, combine both in one base to cover both jobs.
Can food processor parts go in the dishwasher?
Most modern food processor bowls, lids and blades are dishwasher-safe, including every model in this guide, but sharp discs are worth hand-drying quickly afterwards to keep the edges in good condition. Always check the manufacturer’s manual for any part marked hand-wash only.
What is the difference between a food chopper and a full-size food processor?
A food chopper is a compact processor, usually 1 to 5 cups, built for quick jobs like herbs, nuts or a small batch of hummus. A full-size food processor has a larger bowl and more attachments, such as a dough blade or citrus juicer, and is better suited to bigger meals and regular baking.
How much power does a food processor need?
Wattage matters most for dense jobs like bread dough or hard root vegetables, where 800W or more helps avoid stalling. Lighter tasks like chopping herbs or making a quick salsa work fine on a 240 to 600W compact chopper, so match power to the toughest job you actually do rather than buying on watts alone.
Do I need a dough blade if I do not bake bread?
No. A dough blade is only essential for kneading bread, pizza or pastry dough. If baking is not a regular activity, a standard chopping blade plus a slicing or shredding disc covers most everyday prep, and you can always add a dough blade later if your cooking habits change.
