Last Updated on October 18, 2025 by Susanna Zuyeva
Food processor attachments turn a simple machine into a kitchen powerhouse. These tools chop, slice, shred, and mix ingredients in seconds. UK home cooks rely on the right attachments to prepare everything from traditional Sunday roasts to modern plant-based meals.
This guide shows you the best food processor attachments available in the UK. You’ll learn which attachments solve real cooking problems. You’ll discover how to choose tools that match your cooking style. And you’ll understand which investments pay off in your daily meal prep.
Whether you’re making coleslaw for a family barbecue or kneading dough for homemade bread, the right attachment makes the job easier. Let’s explore the attachments that belong in every UK kitchen.
Understanding Food Processor Attachments
Food processor attachments fit onto your machine’s motor shaft. They perform specific tasks that save time and effort in the kitchen.
Basic vs. Advanced Attachments
Basic attachments come with most food processors sold in the UK. These include the S-blade for chopping and standard slicing and shredding discs. They handle everyday tasks like chopping onions or slicing cucumbers.
Advanced attachments cost extra but expand what your food processor can do. Examples include julienne discs, spiralizers, and citrus juicers. These tools help you create restaurant-quality dishes at home.
Compatibility Considerations
Not all attachments fit all food processors. Brands like Magimix, Kenwood, and Cuisinart design attachments for their specific models. The shaft size and locking mechanism must match your machine.
Some third-party manufacturers make universal attachments. These fit multiple brands but may not perform as well as original equipment. Always check the product description before buying.
Universal vs. Brand-Specific Options
Brand-specific attachments guarantee a perfect fit. They work seamlessly with your food processor’s motor speed and bowl design. Companies like Magimix offer lifetime warranties on their attachments when used with compatible machines.
Universal attachments cost less and work with several brands. They suit budget-conscious cooks who want basic functionality. However, they may not include the same safety features or durability standards.
Essential Attachments Every UK Kitchen Needs
These five attachments form the foundation of food processor cooking. They handle the tasks you’ll use most often.
1. S-Blade (Chopping Blade)
The S-blade is the workhorse of your food processor. This curved, sharp blade chops vegetables, nuts, and herbs in seconds. It also makes pastry, hummus, and pesto.
What it does: The S-blade rotates at high speed to chop ingredients uniformly. You control the texture by pulsing for chunky results or running continuously for smooth pastes.
Best uses in UK kitchens: Making breadcrumbs from stale bread, chopping onions without tears, creating smooth soups, and mixing cake batters. British home cooks use it for traditional Scotch egg filling and smooth pâté.
Why it matters: Hand-chopping vegetables takes 10-15 minutes. The S-blade does the same job in 20 seconds. It saves time on meal prep every single day.
2. Slicing Disc
The slicing disc cuts vegetables and fruits into uniform, thin slices. It sits at the top of the food processor bowl and slices ingredients as you feed them through the tube.
What it does: The disc has a single blade that creates consistent slices. Most standard discs cut 2-4mm thick slices, perfect for salads and gratins.
Best uses in UK kitchens: Slicing potatoes for fish and chips, creating thin cucumber for sandwiches, preparing vegetables for stir-fries, and making apple tarts. It handles firm vegetables like carrots and softer ones like tomatoes.
Why it matters: Uniform slices cook evenly. This disc ensures your potato gratin browns perfectly and your vegetable medley finishes at the same time.
3. Shredding Disc
The shredding disc grates cheese, vegetables, and chocolate. It features multiple small holes that create fine or coarse shreds.
What it does: As ingredients pass over the disc, sharp edges grate them into thin strips. Most food processors include both fine and coarse shredding discs.
Best uses in UK kitchens: Grating Cheddar cheese for toasties, shredding carrots for coleslaw, preparing cabbage for traditional bubble and squeak, and grating chocolate for cake decorations.
Why it matters: Hand-grating a block of cheese takes effort and risks knuckle scrapes. The shredding disc processes 200g of cheese in under a minute with zero risk of injury.
4. Dough Blade
The dough blade mixes and kneads bread and pastry dough. It looks similar to the S-blade but has blunter edges and a thicker design.
What it does: The blade mixes ingredients without overworking the dough. It develops gluten in bread recipes while keeping pastry light and flaky.
Best uses in UK kitchens: Making pizza dough, kneading bread for sandwiches, creating shortcrust pastry for pies, and mixing scone dough. It works brilliantly for traditional British baking.
Why it matters: Hand-kneading bread takes 10 minutes of hard work. The dough blade does it in 2 minutes. It also keeps your pastry cool, which creates flakier results in sausage rolls and meat pies.
5. Whisk Attachment
The whisk attachment beats eggs and cream. It incorporates air into mixtures to create light, fluffy textures.
What it does: The whisk spins inside the food processor bowl, creating foam and volume. It works faster than hand whisking but with less control than a stand mixer.
Best uses in UK kitchens: Whipping cream for trifles, beating eggs for Yorkshire puddings, creating meringue for Eton mess, and making light sponge cakes.
Why it matters: This attachment saves arm strength. It whips cream to soft peaks in 2 minutes instead of the 5-8 minutes required by hand whisking.
Specialty Attachments for Advanced Cooking
These attachments expand your food processor’s capabilities. They help you create impressive dishes and explore new cooking techniques.
1. Julienne Disc
The julienne disc cuts vegetables into thin, matchstick-shaped strips. These strips work beautifully in salads and stir-fries.
What it does: The disc features small, rectangular cutting edges that create uniform julienne strips about 3-4mm wide.
Best uses: Making coleslaw with thin cabbage strips, preparing vegetables for spring rolls, creating garnishes for soups, and cutting root vegetables for healthy crisps.
UK cooking applications: This disc shines when preparing vegetables for Asian-inspired dishes popular in UK homes. It also cuts perfect chips for oven baking.
2. Citrus Juicer
The citrus juicer attachment presses oranges, lemons, and limes. It extracts juice while filtering out seeds and pulp.
What it does: The reamer sits in the feed tube. You press citrus halves down onto it while the motor spins, extracting maximum juice.
Best uses: Making fresh orange juice for breakfast, juicing lemons for lemon drizzle cake, extracting lime juice for cocktails, and getting grapefruit juice for morning refreshment.
UK cooking applications: British recipes often call for lemon juice in fish dishes, scones, and Victoria sponge cakes. This attachment makes the job quick and efficient.
3. Blender Jug
The blender jug attaches to your food processor’s motor base. It creates smooth liquids and purées.
What it does: The jug holds liquids while blades at the bottom create a vortex. This motion pulls ingredients down for thorough blending.
Best uses: Making smoothies for breakfast, blending soups until silky smooth, creating salad dressings, and mixing protein shakes.
UK cooking applications: This attachment works well for traditional British soups like leek and potato. It also makes smooth fruit purées for baby food.
4. Mini Bowl
The mini bowl sits inside your main food processor bowl. It processes small quantities without making a mess.
What it does: The bowl holds 0.5-1 litre and uses a smaller S-blade. It chops herbs, nuts, and spices without them flying around a large bowl.
Best uses: Chopping fresh parsley for garnish, grinding spices for curry powder, making small batches of pesto, and crushing garlic cloves.
UK cooking applications: British cooks use this for chopping mint for mint sauce, processing fresh basil, and making small portions of baby food.
5. Spiralizer
The spiralizer creates vegetable noodles. These spirals work as pasta alternatives or decorative garnishes.
What it does: Vegetables feed through a tube and press against rotating blades. This creates continuous spiral cuts.
Best uses: Making courgette noodles for healthy meals, creating curly fries from potatoes, preparing vegetable garnishes, and crafting creative salads.
UK cooking applications: This attachment supports the growing popularity of low-carb eating in the UK. It turns British vegetables like butternut squash and parsnips into interesting shapes.
Premium Attachments Worth the Investment
These high-end attachments cost more but deliver professional results. They suit serious home cooks who want restaurant-quality output.
1. Adjustable Slicing Discs
Adjustable slicing discs let you control thickness. You turn a dial to select slice width from paper-thin to chunky.
How they work: A lever or dial adjusts the blade position. This changes how much of the ingredient passes the cutting edge.
Value for UK cooks: One adjustable disc replaces three fixed discs. You get thin slices for carpaccio, medium slices for gratins, and thick slices for chunky soups. This versatility saves money and storage space.
Best brands in the UK: Magimix offers excellent adjustable slicing discs with 10 thickness settings. Kenwood’s MultiPro system includes precision slicing options.
Typical cost: £30-50 for quality adjustable discs, compared to £15-20 each for fixed discs.
2. Reversible Shredding Discs
Reversible shredding discs have fine grating on one side and coarse grating on the other. You flip the disc to change grating styles.
How they work: One side features small holes for fine shreds. The other has larger holes for chunky grating.
Value for UK cooks: This disc handles both finely grated Parmesan for pasta and coarsely shredded carrots for salads. You save money by buying one disc instead of two.
Best brands in the UK: Cuisinart includes reversible discs with many models. Magimix sells them as add-ons with excellent durability.
Typical cost: £25-40 for reversible discs versus £15-25 each for single-sided options.
3. Food Processor Grater Attachments
Premium grater attachments include multiple grating plates. They handle everything from hard cheese to soft vegetables.
How they work: Different plates snap into a holder. Each plate has a specific hole size and pattern for different ingredients.
Value for UK cooks: You can grate Stilton cheese for Christmas dishes, shred cabbage for traditional coleslaw, and process carrots for cake baking. The variety covers most British cooking needs.
Best brands in the UK: KitchenAid offers comprehensive grater sets. Kenwood includes multi-function graters with premium models.
Typical cost: £40-70 for complete grater sets with multiple plates.
Best Attachments by Popular UK Brands
Different brands excel at different attachments. Here’s what to look for from major UK food processor manufacturers.
Magimix Attachments
Magimix makes some of the best food processors sold in the UK. Their attachments are built to last decades.
Standout attachments: The Magimix BlenderMix attaches to the top of their food processors. It creates perfectly smooth soups and smoothies. Their extra fine grating disc produces restaurant-quality results.
Compatibility: Magimix attachments work across their entire range. A disc bought for your Cuisine Systeme 5200 will fit newer models.
Where to buy: John Lewis, Lakeland, and Amazon UK stock Magimix attachments. Prices range from £20 for basic discs to £80 for the BlenderMix.
Quality: Magimix attachments come with a 30-year motor guarantee. The build quality justifies the premium price.
Kenwood Attachments
Kenwood offers extensive attachment ranges for their MultiPro series. They focus on versatility and value.
Standout attachments: The Kenwood continuous slicer processes large quantities without stopping. Their multi-mill grinds coffee, spices, and nuts to perfect consistency.
Compatibility: Kenwood uses a universal attachment bar on most models. This makes finding compatible attachments easy.
Where to buy: Argos, Currys, and Robert Dyas carry Kenwood attachments. Prices start around £15 for basic discs.
Quality: Kenwood balances quality and affordability. Their attachments suit everyday cooking needs.
Cuisinart Attachments
Cuisinart brings American food processor technology to UK kitchens. Their attachments emphasize ease of use.
Standout attachments: The Cuisinart adjustable slicing disc offers 11 thickness settings. Their extra-large feed tube processes whole vegetables without pre-cutting.
Compatibility: Cuisinart attachments fit their numbered series (Custom 14, Elite Collection). Check model compatibility before buying.
Where to buy: Amazon UK and specialist kitchen shops stock Cuisinart parts. Prices are competitive with other premium brands.
Quality: Cuisinart attachments use durable plastics and sharp stainless steel. They handle regular family cooking well.
KitchenAid Attachments
KitchenAid food processors share some compatibility with their famous stand mixers. Their attachment ecosystem is comprehensive.
Standout attachments: The KitchenAid food processor attachment for stand mixers transforms your mixer into a processor. Their dicing kit cuts vegetables into perfect cubes.
Compatibility: KitchenAid makes both standalone food processors and mixer attachments. Check which system you own before shopping.
Where to buy: John Lewis, Lakeland, and the official KitchenAid UK website. Expect to pay premium prices for their distinctive design.
Quality: KitchenAid builds attachments to match their mixer reputation. They look beautiful and perform reliably.
How to Choose the Right Attachments
Buying every attachment wastes money and storage space. Focus on tools that match your cooking style.
Consider Your Cooking Style
Think about meals you cook regularly. If you bake bread weekly, invest in a quality dough blade. If you eat salads daily, buy premium slicing and shredding discs.
For traditional British cooking: Prioritize the S-blade, dough blade, and slicing disc. These handle Sunday roasts, homemade pies, and vegetables.
For international cuisines: Add a julienne disc and mini bowl. These help with Asian stir-fries and Mediterranean spreads.
For healthy eating: Consider a spiralizer and citrus juicer. These support vegetable-based meals and fresh juices.
Check Compatibility
Always verify an attachment fits your specific food processor model. Check three things:
Motor shaft size: Measure the diameter of your processor’s central shaft. Common UK sizes are 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm.
Bowl capacity: Some attachments need specific bowl sizes to work properly. A large slicing disc won’t fit a compact processor.
Locking mechanism: Different brands use different attachment locks. A Magimix disc won’t click into a Kenwood processor.
Where to check: Your food processor manual lists compatible attachments. Manufacturer websites also provide compatibility charts.
Quality vs. Price
Cheap attachments seem attractive but often disappoint. Consider these factors:
Material quality: Stainless steel blades stay sharp longer than cheap metal alternatives. BPA-free plastic lasts better than economy options.
Safety features: Quality attachments include finger guards and secure locks. These prevent accidents during use and cleaning.
Warranty coverage: Premium attachments often include warranties. Magimix offers 30 years, while budget brands may offer nothing.
Long-term value: A £40 disc that lasts 10 years costs less per use than a £15 disc you replace every year.
Care and Maintenance Tips
Proper care extends attachment life and maintains performance. Follow these guidelines for best results.
Cleaning Guidelines
Clean attachments immediately after use. Food residue becomes harder to remove as it dries.
Hand washing: Most attachments prefer hand washing in warm, soapy water. Use a brush to clean between disc holes and blade edges.
Dishwasher safety: Check your manual before dishwasher cleaning. High heat can warp plastic parts and dull blade edges. Top rack placement is safer than bottom rack.
Stubborn stains: Soak discoloured attachments in warm water with washing-up liquid for 30 minutes. Avoid harsh chemicals that damage plastic.
Drying: Dry all parts thoroughly before storage. Water spots can become permanent marks on plastic surfaces.
Storage Solutions
Organized storage protects attachments and saves kitchen space.
Blade storage: Keep sharp blades in protective covers or dedicated blade blocks. This prevents dulling and protects your fingers.
Disc organization: Stack discs with paper towels between them to prevent scratching. Store in a drawer or dedicated attachment box.
Small parts: Keep pusher tools and stems in a labeled container. Losing these small pieces makes attachments unusable.
Original packaging: Save boxes for attachments you use rarely. The packaging provides perfect protection during storage.
Safety Practices
Food processor attachments have sharp blades. Follow safety rules to prevent injury.
Always unplug: Disconnect your food processor before changing attachments. Accidental starts cause serious injuries.
Handle by edges: Hold discs by their plastic edges, never by the blade area. Even slight blade contact can cut skin.
Check for damage: Inspect attachments before each use. Cracked plastic or bent blades are dangerous and ineffective.
Teach family members: Show household members proper attachment handling. Children should never touch blades or discs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What attachments come with a standard food processor?
Most food processors sold in the UK include an S-blade, one slicing disc, and one shredding disc. Many also include a dough blade. Premium models add extra discs and a whisk attachment. Always check the product description before buying to know what’s included.
Can I use attachments from different brands?
Generally no. Food processor attachments are brand-specific. The motor shaft size and locking mechanism must match your machine. Some universal third-party attachments claim to fit multiple brands but may not perform as well. Stick with your food processor’s brand for best results.
How do I know which attachment to use?
Match the attachment to your task. Use the S-blade for chopping and mixing. Choose slicing discs for uniform vegetable slices. Pick shredding discs for grating cheese and vegetables. Select the dough blade for bread and pastry. The whisk attachment beats eggs and cream. Your manual provides detailed guidance.
Are expensive attachments worth buying?
Quality attachments last longer and perform better. Premium discs stay sharp for years. They include better safety features and warranties. If you cook frequently, expensive attachments represent good value. Casual cooks can start with basic options and upgrade later.
How often should I replace food processor attachments?
Replace attachments when they show wear. Blades that no longer cut cleanly need replacing. Cracked plastic poses safety risks. Discs with bent teeth perform poorly. With proper care, quality attachments last 5-10 years. Budget options may need replacement every 1-2 years.
Can I sharpen dull food processor blades?
Professional sharpening services can restore blade edges. However, food processor blades are designed to be replaced rather than sharpened. Home sharpening often makes blades less effective. If your blade seems dull, consider buying a replacement for consistent performance.
Where can I buy replacement attachments in the UK?
Buy attachments from kitchen retailers like John Lewis, Lakeland, and Argos. Amazon UK stocks most brands and models. Manufacturer websites sell official parts with warranty coverage. Specialist kitchen shops often carry hard-to-find attachments for older models.
Do I need special attachments for making baby food?
A standard S-blade and mini bowl work perfectly for baby food. The mini bowl processes small portions without waste. The S-blade creates smooth purées from cooked vegetables and fruits. A steamer basket attachment helps if your processor offers one. No special baby food attachments are necessary.
How do I store food processor attachments safely?
Store sharp attachments in blade covers or protective cases. Keep discs flat in drawers with paper between them. Use labeled containers for small parts like pushers and stems. Never leave sharp attachments loose in drawers where you might cut yourself. Original boxes provide excellent storage for rarely used items.
What attachment makes the best chips?
A thick slicing disc creates perfect chips. Set an adjustable disc to 8-10mm for traditional chip thickness. Feed peeled potatoes through the tube for uniform results. For chunky chips, use a 12mm setting. For thin fries, switch to 4-6mm. The consistent thickness ensures even cooking.
Conclusion
The right food processor attachments transform how you cook. Basic attachments handle daily meal prep. Specialty tools expand your cooking possibilities. Premium options deliver professional results.
Start with essential attachments that match your cooking style. The S-blade, slicing disc, and shredding disc cover most needs. Add specialty attachments as you explore new recipes and techniques.
Buy quality attachments from reputable UK brands like Magimix, Kenwood, and Cuisinart. Check compatibility before purchasing. Maintain your attachments properly for years of reliable service.
With the right attachments, your food processor becomes the most versatile tool in your kitchen. It saves time, reduces effort, and improves results. Choose wisely, and these attachments will serve you well for years to come.