A KitchenAid Food Processor Belongs on Every Countertop
The right KitchenAid food processor doesn’t just sit on your countertop-it defines it. For decades, KitchenAid has crafted countertop appliances that blend industrial-grade capability with a design language so distinct, it’s become an icon. The curves, the weight, the cast-metal finish-each detail signals a machine built for serious work, not weekend novelty. Make It Yours. Make It With KitchenAid.
of KitchenAid owners keep their processor on the counter year-round
signature color options across the countertop range
year the first KitchenAid stand mixer debuted
ENGINEERED FOR PERFORMANCE
Why Home Chefs Choose KitchenAid Food Processors
KitchenAid food processors deliver the muscle and precision that serious home cooking demands. From dense root vegetables to delicate herb purees, each model is built to handle real kitchen work without hesitation.
Robust Motor Power
KitchenAid food processors feature motors engineered to tackle tough prep jobs-grinding nuts, kneading dough, and slicing firm vegetables without bogging down or overheating during extended use.
All-Metal Construction
Die-cast metal bases and reinforced components give KitchenAid processors a solid, stable feel on your countertop. This durable build reduces vibration and ensures consistent blade contact through dense ingredients.
Precision Stainless Steel Blades
Each blade is crafted from stainless steel and optimized for specific tasks-chopping, shredding, or pureeing. Sharp edges maintain their cutting ability over hundreds of cycles, delivering uniform results batch after batch.
Multiple Speed Control
Select from low, high, and pulse settings to match the texture you need. Gentle pulses give you control over chunky salsa, while continuous high speed handles silky smooth hummus in under 45 seconds.
DAILY PREP COMPANION
KitchenAid 9 Cup Food Processor
The 9-Cup Food Processor handles your kitchen’s rhythm without complaint. Its 9-cup work bowl fits a full batch of hummus, a double pie crust, or enough salsa for a neighborhood cookout-then rinses clean in under a minute. Everyday chopping, slicing, and pureeing become thoughtless motions: drop in carrots for slaw, blitz almonds for crust, or emulsify vinaigrette while the pasta boils. The simple two-speed…
- 9-cup capacity handles weeknight dinners and weekend entertaining alike
- Two speeds plus pulse give precise control from coarse chop to silky purée
- Stainless steel multipurpose blade and adjustable slicing disc included
- ExactSlice™ system lets you dial thickness from thin to thick without swapping discs
- Compact footprint-fits most standard countertops and under-cabinet spaces
KITCHENAID FOOD PROCESSOR BUYING GUIDE
Which Bowl Size Fits Your Kitchen Life?
Choosing the right KitchenAid food processor starts with understanding how much food you actually prep. The 3.5 cup, 9 cup, and 13 cup models each serve distinct kitchen rhythms-solo cooks, weeknight families, and weekend meal preppers alike. Here’s how to match your habits to the right capacity.
Count the people you cook for most nights. Solo cooks and couples often find the 3.5 cup plenty, while households of four or more lean toward the 9 or 13 cup models to avoid batch repetition.
Daily meal preppers benefit from larger bowls that handle bigger loads without stopping. Occurational users who pull out a processor once or twice a week can get by with a smaller capacity.
Measure your available countertop or cabinet depth before committing. The 13 cup model demands roughly 30% more footprint than the 9 cup, which matters in compact apartment kitchens.
Chopping herbs and making dips point toward the 3.5 cup. Slicing vegetables, grating cheese, and kneading dough call for the 9 cup or larger. Pureeing soups and grinding meat in volume require the 13 cup.
If the processor lives on your counter, aesthetics and size matter more. If it stays in a cabinet between uses, consider the weight and whether you’ll actually pull it out for small jobs.
Double or triple batches of salsa, hummus, or pie dough demand the 13 cup’s capacity. Single recipes and small condiment batches work fine in the 3.5 cup without overflow.
Feed a Crowd: The 13-Cup Meal Prep Advantage
When Sunday means prepping lunches for the whole week or assembling dinner for a family of seven, capacity matters. The right food processor turns hours of chopping into a single afternoon session.
KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
Built for the cook who thinks in family-sized portions-shred two pounds of cheese, slice a mountain of potatoes, or knead dough for homemade pizza night in one go.
KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Mini Food Processor
Perfect for quick dips, baby food, or mincing a handful of herbs-the compact size means it lives on your counter, not in a cabinet.
OWNER INSIGHT SUMMARY
What Real Owners Wish They Knew First
“KitchenAid food processors earn high marks for quiet motor performance and consistent slicing results, but a smoother onboarding experience hinges on reading the quick-start guide cover-to-cover and hand-drying seals thoroughly after each wash.”
★ Highlights
- Motor runs noticeably quieter than competing brands in the same price tier
- ExactSlice lever delivers uniform 6mm cucumber rounds without recalibrating between batches
- Compact 3.5-cup mini model handles pesto and baby food prep in under 30 seconds
- Work bowl locks with a single twist-no fumbling with alignment tabs
⚠ What to watch
- Safety interlock misleads first-time users who haven't seated the lid fully, triggering unnecessary support calls
- Lid gasket retains moisture if not hand-dried, occasionally causing the motor to stall on the next run
- 13-cup model demands 18 inches of counter depth-tight for galley kitchens
- Feed tube is narrower than some competitors, requiring more pre-cutting of large vegetables
Your Top Food Processor Questions, Answered
Get the details on assembly, cleaning, and getting the most from every blade and disc in your KitchenAid food processor.
01
How do I assemble and disassemble the food processor blades and discs safely?
Always make sure the unit is unplugged before handling any attachments. The work bowl locks onto the base with a simple twist, and the blade or disc sits securely on the drive shaft. To remove, lift the blade straight up by its central hub – never grab the sharp edges. The ExactSlice™ disc on the 13 Cup model slides onto the same shaft and adjusts thickness with a simple external lever, so your fingers stay clear.
02
Can I put the blades, discs, and work bowl in the dishwasher?
Yes – the work bowl, lid, blade, and discs on every KitchenAid food processor are dishwasher-safe. Place them on the top rack to protect the blade edges over time. Some owners hand-wash the multi-purpose blade in warm, soapy water to keep it sharper longer, but the manufacturer rates all removable parts for standard dishwasher cycles.
03
What is the difference between the multi-purpose blade and the dough blade?
The multi-purpose blade (sometimes called the S-blade) handles chopping, puréeing, and mixing. Its curved stainless-steel design pulls ingredients toward the center for even processing. The dough blade, included with the 9 Cup and 13 Cup models, has a blunt plastic shape designed to knead bread dough without over-working the gluten. Swapping between them takes under ten seconds – both sit on the same drive shaft.
04
How do I adjust slicing thickness on the adjustable slicing disc?
On models equipped with the ExactSlice™ disc – like the 13 Cup Food Processor – you turn the external lever on the lid to choose from thin paper-cuts up to roughly 6 mm slices. There is no need to remove the disc or stop the motor mid-task. The 3.5 Cup Mini Processor uses a fixed disc instead, so thickness is preset by the attachment you select.
05
What should I do if the blade seems dull after extended use?
KitchenAid blades are made from stainless steel and hold their edge through hundreds of sessions, but heavy use on hard ingredients like nuts or Parmesan will eventually dull any blade. Replacement blades and discs are available directly through KitchenAid’s parts store. A sharp blade also processes food more evenly and reduces strain on the motor, so swapping in a fresh one when you notice ragged cuts is worth…
06
Are the blades and discs interchangeable between the 3.5 Cup, 9 Cup, and 13 Cup models?
No – each bowl size uses its own drive-shaft diameter and bowl geometry, so attachments are model-specific. A blade built for the 9 Cup processor will not seat correctly on the 3.5 Cup Mini. When ordering replacements, match the part number to your exact model to guarantee a proper fit and safe operation.
07
How do I prevent food from getting stuck under the blade?
Process in short pulses rather than running the motor continuously, especially with sticky or wet mixtures like hummus or pesto. Scrape down the bowl sides with the included spatula between pulses. Keeping ingredients roughly the same size before adding them – about one-inch pieces – also helps the blade catch everything evenly without compacting food underneath.
LEGACY OF RELIABILITY
A Name You Can Trust in Your Kitchen
Since 1919, KitchenAid has stood behind the countertop appliances that home cooks depend on day after day. That century-long commitment to quality means your food processor arrives with the weight of history-and a promise to perform.
Years of Kitchen Heritage
Full Warranty Coverage
U.S. Support Availability