If you’ve ever tried to grind nuts for a baking recipe or attempted to make homemade peanut butter for yourself, then you’ll know that grinding nuts manually is an arduous and burdensome task. Fortunately, food processors have been on the rise lately with new models trying to outdo each other.
If you’re wondering what food processor model to buy for grinding nuts, here’s a comprehensive guide on the best nut-grinding food processors available.
Contents
- Best Food Processor for Grinding Nuts
- Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor
- Braun FP3020 12 Cup Food Processor
- Breville BFP800CBXL Sous Chef Pro Food Processor
- Cuisinart DLC-10SY Pro Classic 7-Cup Food Processor
- Hamilton Beach 12-Cup
- Hamilton Beach 70730 Bowl Scraper Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper
- Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus Food Processor
- Elite Gourmet EMC4423 Maxi-Matic 4-Cup
- BLACK+DECKER FP1600B 8-Cup Food Processor
- Best Food Processor for Grinding Nuts Buying Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Food Processor for Grinding Nuts
Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor
Topping the list for the best food processor for grinding nuts is the DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor from Cuisinart, a well-respected brand with a rich legacy in the food appliances history.
This relatively silent but powerful 720-watt workhorse of a food processor comes with an extra-large feed tube, a 4-millimeter slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, and a stainless steel blade for chopping and mixing.
It also includes a spatula, a recipe book, and a 14-cup work bowl that’s BPA-free and is made of Lexan. The DFP 14-Cup Food Processor boasts an intuitive “on” and “off/pulse” buttons with seven food preparation functions that make it easier to use.
Despite its large size, many users actually commend how easy it is to clean because the bowl, blades, and lid are dishwasher-friendly. Moreover, the motor has a 5-year warranty, and the processor itself has a 3-year warranty.
So, if you’re looking for the best food processor for ground nuts or nut butter within the mid-range price, you’ve found it.
Braun FP3020 12 Cup Food Processor
Every food processor included in this list can grind nuts well on its own, but the Braun FP3020 12-Cup Food Processor makes its way to the top with the great value that it brings for its price. Its most praised feature is how silent this food processor is with its 600-watt ultra-quiet motor, a function you don’t see much in other brands.
Next, its large feeding chute allows this processor to take big and long produce without the need to pre-chop them. It also has a DualControl system that basically allows you to turn the blades at the exact desired speed without ramping up through the other speeds.
It’s definitely able to grind any nut and even produce nut butter, especially with the chopper attachment that comes with the processor itself. Even more fantastic is that the rest of the parts except for the base are dishwasher-safe and, thus, easy to clean.
The Braun FP3020 is definitely a sturdy and robust processor with a wide base, which will take up quite a bit of your countertop, but it’s definitely top-notch for an inexpensive processor.
Breville BFP800CBXL Sous Chef Pro Food Processor
If you’re looking for a powerful food processor for perfect almond butter or finely ground nuts, then look no further. The Breville BFP800CBXL Sous Chef Pro Food Processor is a top-of-the-line unit that meets all of your speed, functionality, and precision requirements.
With its powerful 1200-watts motor, this powerhouse appliance can process anything for long periods. The Sous Chef Pro comes with five multi-functional discs and three blades, all made of stainless steel, to handle all of your professional cooking needs.
It has a 5.5-inch wide feed chute that removes the pre-cutting aspect of food processing. It also has a plastic spatula and two bowls; one has a dry capacity of 16 cups, and the other is a 2.5-cup mini-bowl. What makes it unique from other models is its LCD with a count-up and count-down auto timer.
It even has an accessory storage box that you can store horizontally or vertically to reduce countertop clutter. Although the product is only partly dishwasher-friendly and is more on the expensive side, it definitely has earned its spot within this ranking.
Cuisinart DLC-10SY Pro Classic 7-Cup Food Processor
For a mid-sized food processor, the Cuisinart Pro Classic 7- Cup Food Processor is powerful, has three unique blades for different purposes, and is relatively big but doesn’t take up too much space in the kitchen. Don’t be fooled by its clean, attractive, and calming look; this appliance has a heavy-duty 600-watt induction motor that allows it to operate and prepare food without making too much noise.
It comes with a 4-millimeter medium slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, and a chopping/mixing blade, all made out of stainless steel that can mix the dough with ease and will grind your nuts finely and evenly.
There’s also the sizable BPA-free bowl with an extra-wide feed tube that eliminates the need for pre-cutting, a detachable disc stem, a compact flat cover, a spatula, and even a recipe book.
All of its parts are dishwasher safe, and it has a safety feature that won’t allow it to operate if the lid is not locked in place. If you’re looking for a mid-sized processor that won’t break the bank but still serve quality, then this product may be for you.
Hamilton Beach 12-Cup
The best bang for buck food processor available right now in the market goes to this guy right here; the Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack & Snap Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper. “Why?” you might ask.
Well, this processor with a 450-watt motor may not seem much in terms of strength, but it definitely packs quite the punch, and it will grind your nuts despite the lower-end rating.
Also, unlike in other food processors where you have to pause periodically and scrape the ingredients, the 12-Cup Stack & Snap saves you the trouble with its built-in bowl scraper. This unique attachment scraps the bowl’s sides and pulls the ingredients closer to the blades.
Another highlight feature that makes this appliance unique is its leak-proof BPA-free bowl and the easy-to-follow stack and snap design for securing the bowl to the base.
This Hamilton Beach food processor also has a large feed chute where a whole block of cheese can fit, saving you time from having to pre-cut your produce. Its parts are also dishwasher-safe, and they provide a box for blades and discs; an absolute win for the price.
Hamilton Beach 70730 Bowl Scraper Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper
If a 12-cup bowl is too big for your needs, then you can opt for the 10-cup Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper instead! Just like its larger counterpart, this processor cuts like a razor blade; it’s fast, precise when it shreds, blends, chops, grates, slices, and purees.
It’s also lighter compared to other models, but it doesn’t move around much while operating. The package still has the bowl scraper attachment along with a reversible stainless steel disc, a 10-cup bowl, and a large feed chute that can still fit a whole block of cheese. It also has the two speeds you can choose from, along with the pulse and 450 watts of power.
All food zones are BPA-free, and all of its washable parts are dishwasher-friendly, with no weird spots that are hard to reach, so it’s definitely a processor that’s easy to completely clean.
The value it provides for its cost is also very economical; it even looks good and blends well with other appliances in the kitchen.
Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus Food Processor
If you don’t have much space and storage capacity but still want a food processor to ease the burden of food prepping, then the DLC-2ABC Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor is a suitable mini food processor for you.
The DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus is a lightweight 250-watt food processor that’s ideal if you’re only planning to make small batches of ground nuts or nut butter for personal consumption. This food processor line either comes in a 3-cup or a 4-cup BPA-free bowl and might just be the best small food processor for nuts.
The processor only has one blade, but it serves a dual purpose. The auto-reverse stainless steel blade with a sharp and blunt side can chop or grind any food depending on how it’s spinning. Therefore, you don’t need to change blades often and just need to decide what function you’re going to use.
Ease of cleaning is also present in this appliance since the blades, bowls, and lid are all dishwasher-safe. It does produce significant noise regardless of its size, but its size allows it to take minimum counter space.
Elite Gourmet EMC4423 Maxi-Matic 4-Cup
Searching for a lightweight and budget-friendly food processor that doesn’t sacrifice quality for cost? Then look no further; the Elite Gourmet EMC4423 Maxi-Matic 4-Cup Hover Chop Automatic Food Processor might be the appliance you’ve been wanting.
This processor with a motor that has 300 watts of power can definitely chop, dice, mix, and most especially, grind. Don’t let its small size fool you; the EMC4423 is definitely a capable food processor with two speed options and even a pulse operation.
What makes this product stand out the most is its patented HoverChop that allows the stainless steel blade to move up and down, reaching all the ingredients that get pushed to the top corners and ensuring that the chopped food’s texture is even.
As for the model’s safety features, there’s the lid that locks in and the micro-sensor that needs to be activated by the work bowl to allow operation. Lastly, the parts are also dishwasher-friendly, so that’s another bonus.
You just need to be mindful not to overfill to avoid spillage and be careful with the pulse option as it can be too strong. Still, overall, the Elite Gourmet EMC4423 Maxi-Matic 4-Cup Hover Chop Automatic Food Processor is a great processor for its price.
BLACK+DECKER FP1600B 8-Cup Food Processor
If you’re looking for a cheaper option that will do the job well, then maybe the Black+Decker FP1600B 8-Cup Food Processor is for you. With its 500-watt motor and two 10-cup work bowls, this appliance should be able to hold all of the ingredients that you need processing.
The model rocks a stainless steel blade and a reversible stainless steel disc that can act as a slicer or a shredder, depending on what you need it to do. The food chute is also on the wider side of the spectrum and will accommodate whole produce.
Its best feature is its Safety Interlocking System which causes the blades to operate only when the lid is securely attached to the bowl. All of the detachable parts are dishwasher-friendly, too, so it’s another model that’s easy to clean.
The FP1600B also has a touchscreen display you often don’t see in food processors that can be easily wiped clean. The Black+Decker FP1600B is certainly a solid budget option with its fairly high power yet wallet-friendly price tag.
Best Food Processor for Grinding Nuts Buying Guide
Power of the Motor
You’ll want to look at the wattage of your food processor. The watts measure the strength of the processor and will give you a general idea of how much power it can output. For small consumption and small batches, you should opt for at least a 250-watt motor or a 300-watt motor. If you produce larger batches or need a larger work bowl, go for a 450-watt motor or higher.
Size
To prepare the right amount of ground nuts or nut butter, you’ll need an appropriately sized food processor. Processors with a smaller work bowl mean that you’ll be limited on how much you can make with each spin, and it also makes you spend more time processing. If you can accommodate a bigger food processor, then definitely go for bigger.
With a sizable work bowl, you’ll be able to make larger batches that you can refrigerate for future use. This allows you to save time and energy, and thus it’s recommendable to people who want higher efficiency and productivity.
Material
Most of the processors you’ll find online will have stainless steel as their material of choice for the blades. For the work bowls, however, they can vary from BPA-free plastic, plastic, and glass. While glass and stainless steel bowls are very rare, BPA-free plastic is a readily available resource and is a good choice because of its durability.
When going for a processor that comes with a plastic bowl, check the labels carefully as not all plastics are healthy and safe for handling food. Your best bet for nut grinding food processors should be free from BPA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a food processor to grind nuts?
If you want to bring out the best texture from nuts, you should chop the nuts by hand with a large, sharp knife. However, if you are in a hurry or you need to produce a large amount of ground nuts, then utilizing a food processor is the easiest way to do it.
When using a food processor to grind nuts, always be mindful of the texture as you grind. It’s best to use the pulsing option instead of continuously grinding the nuts so that you can check on the texture and control it better. Do note that sometimes, a food processor can crush the nuts and bring out too much oil from them, giving you a paste instead of ground nuts.
Can food processors turn nuts into nut butter?
Yes, selected food processors, like the ones we ranked above, can crush various nuts and turn them into their respective nut butters. Those on the higher-end are sure to produce finely-textured nut butter but some of those on the lower-end might not have enough power to ensure even texture. Nevertheless, it is possible to create nut butter with food processors.
Can a blender grind nuts?
Blenders are generally used for produce with high water content like vegetables and fruits for smoothies and soup. Thus, a blender would be hard-pressed to grind and crush nuts because of the hard exterior.
However, unlike blenders, a food processor is well-suited for food that are mainly solid and require more force when being handled, such as when being chopped or sliced. Therefore, a food processor is far more suitable for grinding nuts compared to blenders.
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