Last Updated on October 10, 2025 by Kathay Lee
Best Budget Food Processor Under $50: My Honest Reviews After Testing
Our Top Picks
After weeks of testing food processors in my kitchen, I found three winners that won’t break your bank. These machines handle everything from chopping onions to shredding cheese.
Best Overall: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup with Bowl Scraper – This one changed my meal prep game forever.
Best Value: Hamilton Beach 8-Cup Black – Perfect if you want quality without extra features.
Most User-Friendly: BLACK+DECKER 8-Cup – The easiest to set up and use.
Our Expertise
I’ve been testing kitchen appliances for over five years now. My kitchen has seen dozens of food processors come and go. I’m not a professional chef, but I cook daily for my family of four.
I tested each processor with real tasks. I chopped onions until I cried (not from the onions). I shredded pounds of cheese. I made salsa, hummus, and even tried grinding nuts.
Each machine ran for hours. I cleaned them multiple times. I pushed them to their limits to see which ones could handle real kitchen work.
This isn’t sponsored content. I’m sharing what actually worked in my kitchen.
1. Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor with Bowl Scraper
This processor surprised me. I didn’t expect much from a budget machine. Boy, was I wrong.
Product Features
The 10-cup bowl is massive. It’s bigger than most processors in this price range. The 450-watt motor sounds basic on paper, but it powers through tough jobs.
Here’s what comes in the box:
- Large 10-cup work bowl
- Built-in bowl scraper
- Stainless steel slicing and shredding disc
- Chopping and pureeing blade
- Two-speed control plus pulse
- Large feed chute
The bowl scraper is genius. It’s built right into the lid. You move it side to side while the machine runs. No more stopping to scrape with a spatula.
The feed chute is wide enough for whole tomatoes. I fit an entire block of cheese through it. This saves so much prep time.
What I Like
The bowl scraper is my favorite feature. When I make hummus, ingredients stick to the sides. With other processors, I stop the machine. I remove the lid. I scrape with a spatula. Then I start again.
Not with this one. I just slide the scraper while it runs. Everything mixes evenly. My hummus comes out smoother than ever.
The 10-cup bowl handles big batches. I made salsa for a party. I dumped in tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro. Everything fit with room to spare.
The two speeds work great. Low speed for delicate mixing. High speed when I need power. The pulse button gives me control for chunky salsas.
All parts except the motor base go in the dishwasher. Cleanup takes two minutes.
Why It’s Better
Most budget processors have 7 or 8-cup bowls. This one gives you 10 cups. That’s 25% more capacity for the same price.
The bowl scraper sets it apart. I’ve used expensive processors that don’t have this. It’s a game-changer for thick dips and spreads.
The feed chute is wider than the other two models I tested. Less pre-cutting means faster prep work.
How It Performed
I started with easy tasks. Chopping onions took 5 seconds. Not exaggerating. Five pulses and they were perfectly diced.
Then I tried shredding cheddar cheese. I pushed a whole block through the feed chute. The processor shredded it in 10 seconds. The shreds came out even and perfect.
For the real test, I made nut butter. I dumped in roasted almonds. The motor struggled a bit at first. After a minute, the almonds broke down. Two minutes later, I had smooth almond butter.
I made pizza dough too. The blade mixed flour and water into perfect dough in 30 seconds.
The motor never overheated. It never stopped. It just kept working.
How I Clean It
I fill the bowl with warm soapy water. I run the processor for 10 seconds. This loosens stuck food. Then I rinse everything and put it in the dishwasher.
The bowl scraper wipes clean easily. No food gets trapped in crevices.
The base wipes down with a damp cloth. Total cleanup time is under five minutes.
Testing Results
Chopping onions: 5 pulses = perfect dice
Shredding cheese: 10 seconds for 8 ounces
Making hummus: 2 minutes to smooth perfection
Nut butter: 3 minutes from almonds to spread
Pizza dough: 30 seconds to combined
Noise level: Loud but not painful
Motor temperature: Stayed cool during all tests
This processor exceeded my expectations. For under $50, it performs like machines twice its price.
2. Hamilton Beach 8-Cup Food Processor (Black)
This is the little brother of my top pick. It’s simpler but still impressive.
Product Features
The 8-cup bowl is smaller but still handles most jobs. Same 450-watt motor as the 10-cup model. It comes with:
- 8-cup work bowl
- Reversible slicing and shredding disc
- Stainless steel S-blade
- Two speeds plus pulse
- Large feed chute
No bowl scraper on this one. That’s the main difference from the 10-cup model.
The reversible disc is clever. One side slices. Flip it over and it shreds. Less to store and clean.
What I Like
The 8-cup size is perfect for small kitchens. It fits easily in my cabinet. I can leave it on the counter without it taking up too much space.
The large feed chute still fits big items. I pushed through whole cucumbers and large tomatoes.
The S-blade chops everything evenly. I made pesto three times. Each batch came out perfect.
Setup is quick. Bowl on base. Blade in bowl. Lid on top. Push the button. Done.
Why It’s Better
If you don’t need 10 cups, this saves you money. It’s usually a few dollars cheaper than the larger model.
The smaller size stores easier. My cabinet space is limited. This fits where the 10-cup model wouldn’t.
It’s lighter too. Moving it around the counter is easier. This matters when you use it daily.
How It Performed
I put this through the same tests as the 10-cup model.
Chopping onions took the same 5 pulses. Results were identical.
Shredding cheese worked great. The feed chute handled a full block. Shredding took about 12 seconds. Slightly slower than the 10-cup, but barely noticeable.
Making hummus was trickier. The smaller bowl meant ingredients didn’t circulate as well. I had to stop twice to scrape the sides. No built-in scraper means more manual work.
Nut butter was challenging. The smaller bowl made it harder for the almonds to move around. It took 5 minutes instead of 3. But it worked.
Pizza dough came out perfect. The 8-cup bowl was actually better for small dough batches. Ingredients mixed more efficiently.
How I Clean It
Same as the 10-cup model. Soapy water rinse, then dishwasher. Maybe 30 seconds longer because I need to scrape stuck food manually.
The reversible disc needs attention on both sides. Not difficult, just an extra step.
Testing Results
Chopping onions: 5 pulses = perfect dice
Shredding cheese: 12 seconds for 8 ounces
Making hummus: 3 minutes with two stops to scrape
Nut butter: 5 minutes total
Pizza dough: 30 seconds (perfect for small batches)
Noise level: Same as 10-cup model
Motor temperature: Stayed cool
This is a solid choice if you want quality on a tighter budget. You lose the bowl scraper and 2 cups of capacity. But you save money.
3. BLACK+DECKER 8-Cup Food Processor
This processor takes a different approach. It focuses on ease of use over fancy features.
Product Features
Another 8-cup bowl with a 450-watt motor. The specs match the Hamilton Beach models. What’s different is the design.
Here’s what you get:
- 8-cup work bowl
- Stainless steel chopping blade
- Reversible shred and slice disc
- Simple lid-locking system
- Two speeds plus pulse
The smart design is the selling point. The bowl sits on the base. The lid locks everything. No twisting the bowl into place like other processors.
What I Like
Setup is incredibly easy. Other processors require you to twist the bowl until it clicks. Then twist the lid until that clicks too. My hands always hurt after.
Not this one. Bowl goes on base. Lid goes on bowl. The lid locks everything. My 8-year-old can set it up.
The stainless steel blade is sharp and sturdy. It handled everything I threw at it.
The motor is quieter than the Hamilton Beach models. Not silent, but noticeably less loud.
Why It’s Better
If you struggle with hand strength, this is your processor. My mom has arthritis. She can’t twist locking mechanisms. This one works perfectly for her.
The simpler design means fewer parts to break. Less to go wrong over time.
It’s the lightest of the three. Moving it around is effortless.
How It Performed
Chopping onions took about 6 pulses. One more than the Hamilton Beach models. Still fast.
Shredding cheese worked well. The reversible disc did its job. Shredding took about 15 seconds for 8 ounces. A bit slower, but the difference is minor.
Hummus came out good. Like the 8-cup Hamilton Beach, I had to stop and scrape. The blade mixed everything evenly once scraped.
Here’s where it struggled: nut butter. The motor worked hard but couldn’t break down the almonds completely. After 7 minutes, I had chunky almond butter. Not smooth like the Hamilton Beach models.
Pizza dough worked fine. No issues there.
How I Clean It
Easiest of the three to clean. The simple design means fewer nooks and crannies. Everything rinses clean quickly.
The lid doesn’t have complex locking mechanisms to clean around. Just smooth plastic.
Dishwasher safe parts clean up perfectly.
Testing Results
Chopping onions: 6 pulses = good dice
Shredding cheese: 15 seconds for 8 ounces
Making hummus: 3 minutes with two stops to scrape
Nut butter: 7 minutes to chunky (not smooth)
Pizza dough: 35 seconds
Noise level: Quieter than Hamilton Beach
Motor temperature: Got warm during nut butter but didn’t overheat
This processor is best for basic tasks. If you’re making nut butter regularly, choose a Hamilton Beach. But for everyday chopping, slicing, and shredding, this works great.
Comparing All Three Models
Let me break down the differences side by side.
Capacity
Hamilton Beach 10-Cup wins here. The extra 2 cups matter for big batches. Family meal prep is easier with more space.
The two 8-cup models are fine for couples or small families.
Power Performance
All three have 450-watt motors. But they don’t perform the same.
The Hamilton Beach models feel stronger. They handled nut butter better. The motors sound more confident.
The BLACK+DECKER struggled with tough jobs. It’s fine for regular tasks though.
Ease of Use
BLACK+DECKER wins this category. The lid-locking design is genius. No struggle, no twisted hands.
The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup comes second. The bowl scraper makes actual processing easier, even if setup is standard.
The Hamilton Beach 8-Cup is standard. Not difficult, but nothing special.
Cleaning
All three clean up easily. Dishwasher safe parts help a lot.
The BLACK+DECKER edges ahead slightly. Simpler design means faster hand washing if needed.
Noise Level
BLACK+DECKER is quietest. Still loud, but tolerable.
Both Hamilton Beach models sound the same. Louder than BLACK+DECKER but not painfully loud.
Build Quality
Hamilton Beach models feel sturdier. Thicker plastic. Heavier base.
BLACK+DECKER feels lighter. Not cheap, but less substantial.
Price
Prices fluctuate on Amazon. Usually:
Hamilton Beach 10-Cup: Around $47
Hamilton Beach 8-Cup: Around $50
BLACK+DECKER: Around $46
Prices are close enough that features matter more than cost.
Which One Should You Buy?
Here’s my honest recommendation based on your needs.
Buy the Hamilton Beach 10-Cup if:
You cook for a family. The extra capacity saves time. Making one big batch beats making two small batches.
You make thick dips and spreads regularly. The bowl scraper is worth the price alone. Hummus, nut butter, and pesto come out better.
You want the best performer under $50. This one handled every test better than the others.
Buy the Hamilton Beach 8-Cup if:
You live alone or with one other person. 8 cups is plenty for small batches.
Cabinet space is tight. The smaller size stores easier.
You want to save a few dollars. It performs almost as well as the 10-cup model.
Buy the BLACK+DECKER if:
You have hand pain or arthritis. The easy-lock design is gentler on your hands.
You mostly do basic tasks. Chopping veggies and shredding cheese work great.
You want a quieter machine. It’s noticeably less loud.
You don’t make nut butter. This is its weak point.
Real-Life Uses I Found Most Helpful
Let me share how these processors actually fit into daily cooking.
Weeknight Dinner Prep
I chop onions and garlic for almost every dinner. Before these processors, I cried through cutting onions. My fingers smelled like garlic for days.
Now I toss them in the processor. Five seconds later, they’re chopped. My eyes stay dry. My hands stay clean.
Taco Tuesday
I make salsa fresh every week. Tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime juice all go in the bowl. Ten pulses later, perfect salsa.
The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup makes enough for the whole week. The 8-cup models make enough for one meal.
Breakfast Smoothie Bowls
I blend frozen fruit with yogurt for smoothie bowls. The processors handle frozen fruit better than I expected.
The BLACK+DECKER struggled a bit with frozen berries. The Hamilton Beach models powered through.
Homemade Pizza Night
We make pizza every Friday. I use the processor to make dough. Flour, water, yeast, and salt go in. Thirty seconds later, perfect dough forms.
All three processors handled this easily.
Meal Prep Sundays
I prep ingredients for the whole week. Shredded cheese for tacos. Chopped peppers for stir-fry. Sliced cucumbers for salads.
The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup handles everything in one session. The smaller models require emptying the bowl between tasks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I made these mistakes so you don’t have to.
Overfilling the Bowl
I got greedy with the Hamilton Beach 10-Cup. I thought 10 cups meant I could fill it to the brim.
Wrong. Leave space at the top. Ingredients need room to move. Fill to the 8-cup line for best results.
Processing Too Long
I burned out making almond butter in the BLACK+DECKER. I ran it for 10 minutes straight.
Process in short bursts. Run for 30 seconds. Let it rest for 30 seconds. The motor stays cooler and lasts longer.
Using the Wrong Speed
I tried chopping delicate herbs on high speed. They turned to mush.
Use low speed for soft foods. Save high speed for hard items like carrots and cheese.
Not Securing the Lid
I started the Hamilton Beach 8-Cup with the lid not fully locked. Chopped onions flew everywhere.
Always double-check the lid. Press down firmly until you hear the click.
Skipping the Pulse Button
I held down the button for smooth chopping. This over-processes everything.
Use pulse for control. Short bursts give you the exact consistency you want.
Maintenance Tips for Longer Life
These tips keep your processor running for years.
Clean Immediately After Use
Don’t let food dry on the blade. It’s harder to clean later. Rinse right after processing.
Dry Thoroughly Before Storing
Water trapped in parts causes rust and mold. Dry everything completely. I leave parts out for 30 minutes before putting them away.
Store Blades Safely
Those blades are sharp. I cut myself once reaching into a drawer. Now I store blades in their original packaging.
Check the Seal Regularly
The rubber seal on the lid prevents leaks. Check it monthly for cracks or wear. Replace if needed.
Don’t Store with Lid Locked
This strains the locking mechanism over time. Store the lid separately or rested loosely on top.
Wipe the Base After Every Use
Food splatter lands on the motor base. A quick wipe keeps it clean and prevents buildup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can these processors make nut butter?
Yes, but the Hamilton Beach models work better. The BLACK+DECKER struggles with smooth nut butter. It makes chunky butter fine. For smooth almond or peanut butter, choose Hamilton Beach.
Are replacement parts available?
Yes. Hamilton Beach sells replacement blades and bowls on Amazon. BLACK+DECKER parts are also available. This extends the life of your processor.
Can I use these for hot ingredients?
Let hot foods cool first. These plastic bowls can warp with extreme heat. Wait 10 minutes after cooking before processing.
How loud are these processors really?
They’re about as loud as a blender. You can’t have a conversation while they run. But they’re not painfully loud. The BLACK+DECKER is quietest.
Do these work for baby food?
Absolutely. All three puree cooked vegetables smoothly. The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup makes big batches for freezing. I made a week’s worth of baby food in one session.
Can these crush ice?
Not really. They’re not blenders. Small amounts of ice might work, but don’t expect smooth results. Use a blender for ice instead.
What’s the warranty like?
Hamilton Beach offers one year. BLACK+DECKER offers two years. Register your product after purchase to activate the warranty.
Final Thoughts
After testing all three processors extensively, the Hamilton Beach 10-Cup is my clear winner. The bowl scraper alone makes it worth the price. The larger capacity handles family-sized batches. The performance exceeded my expectations.
But here’s the truth: all three are good choices. You can’t go wrong with any of them. They all chop, slice, and shred better than doing it by hand.
If you’re still unsure, start with the Hamilton Beach 10-Cup. Use it for a month. If it’s too big, return it and get the 8-cup. Amazon’s return policy makes trying them risk-free.
These processors changed how I cook. Meal prep takes half the time now. I make fresh salsa instead of buying jarred. I shred my own cheese instead of paying extra for pre-shredded.
For under $50, these machines deliver real value. They’re not perfect. They’re not fancy. But they work.
Stop overthinking it. Pick one and start cooking. Your future self will thank you.