Food Processors

11 Food Processor Substitutes In 2023 | Top Picks

food processor substitute

Are you searching for the best food processor substitute? It is no doubt that a food processor is like our third hand in the kitchen.

The importance of a food processor is boundless. Normally, a meal that will take 30 minutes to prepare will take less time to prepare if you use a food processor.

However, we will likely bump into an issue with our food processor, which might render us helpless. In cases like this, we must find a good substitute for our food processors.

It is always good to have a food processor substitute if you bump into one or two issues with your food processor.

So here is what I did, I decided to write about some of the best and cheap alternatives for a food processor.

And believe me, you will be surprised and marvel at the alternatives I will highlight. In no particular order, here are my top 11 tools you can use instead of a food processor.

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Top 11 Food Processor Substitutes

Food Processor Substitutes

Some food processor alternatives listed here have been around for a long time. Even though technology and innovation are changing the way of life, some past ways of processing foods are still very effective.

In no particular order, here are the top 11 tools you can use instead of a food processor.

Grinding Stones

The grinding stone is an archaic way of processing food ingredients; the grinding stone is similar to a rolling pin.

It involves using a huge flat stone and a small cylindrical stone to grind and crush food ingredients.

The grinding stone is very effective. However, the only downside to grinding stones is that it requires manual effort to make it work.

Grinding stones is very effective for grinding and crushing vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, and peppers. The grinding stone can be a good substitute for a food processor.

The grinding stone is very easy to use, but the efficiency of this alternative largely depends on the operator. It doesn’t end there; you can use the grinding stone to achieve a finely grounded or coarse texture.

Pros
  • Very cheap
  • Good grinding
  • Durable
Cons
  • Uses manual force.

Mortar And Pestle

The mortar and pestle have been existing since time immemorial. Like the grinding stones, mortar and pestle is an ancient and modern way of crushing hard food ingredients such as nuts into a coarse or smooth texture.

The mortar and pestle is a good food processor substitute but requires manual force to work effectively. The mortar and pestle can still be very useful, even with a food processor.

Mortar and pestle can be largely found in most African and Asian homes. In Africa, the mortar and pestle are used for pounding and crushing cooked yams in preparation for some of their best delicacies. 

Food Processor Substitutes
Pros
  • Good for crushing hard nuts
  • Very cheap
  • Durable
Cons
  • Uses manual force

Antique Universal Food Grinder

The antique food grinder has been around for a while. This tool was quite popular because of its versatility. The antique food grinder is boisterous and rugged. The antique food processor can be used to grind just any meat.

The Antique universal food grinder features a long crank handle and tiny holes that grind meats into tiny long strands when the operator spins the elongated crank handle.

To use this tool, you need to strap it to the edge of a flat surface, put the meat into the mouth of the tool and start spinning the elongated crank handle.

Pros
  • Good for grinding meats
  • Durable
Cons
  • Manual force

Food Choppers

Food choppers like the Kitchenaid KFC316ER, is a very good food processor substitute. A food chopper can perform almost the same task as a food processor. The difference between the two appliances is just minimal. 

A food chopper can take up the work of a food processor, especially when it comes to tasks like chopping and grinding. Food choppers are generally meant for chopping onions, cucumbers, carrots, etc. Without a doubt, a food chopper remains one of the best food processor alternatives.

Food choppers such as the Kitchenaid KFC316ER electric food chopper can be used instead of a food processor. This kitchenaid has also proven a worthy replacement for a food processor.

Pros
  • Fully automated
  • Good for chopping
  • Good for dicing
Cons
  • Not suitable for kneading
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Blenders

Another great option for a food processor alternative is a blender. Blenders are generally meant for processing food ingredients into a smooth liquid. But a blender will be a perfect food processor substitute in times like this.

The good news is that a blender and a food processor can be used interchangeably. The difference between the two appliances is just minimal. Blenders are perfect for making smoothies and other soft beverages. Some blenders can perfectly replace a food processor. 

But the only downside to using a blender in place of a food processor is that a blender is not good for kneading dough.

Also, a blender is not suitable for making bread crumbs. Nevertheless, a blender remains one of the best good food processor substitutes.

Pros
  • Good for pureeing
  • Good for processing food ingredients into a smoother liquid
  • Perfect for beverages, like smoothies
Cons
  • Not good for making bread crumbs
  • Not good for kneading

Vollrath 6005

The Vollrath 6005, is very similar to the Antique universal grinder; just like the antique grinders, the Vollrath also features an elongated crank handle.

The major difference between the Vollrath 6005 and the Antique food grinder is the ability of the Vollrath to slice, shred, whereas the Antique food is good for grinding.

The Vollrath 6005 features different cones that allow you to slice, shred, cones that make french fries, and string cones. This tool is what to use instead of a food processor. It works great, especially if you want something that can slice and shred food ingredients.

Pros
  • Good for shredding
  • Good for slicing
  • Good for grating
Cons
  • Use manual force

Grain Mill Grinder

A grain mill grinder is another wonderful food processor substitute; this tool can be used instead of a food processor. The tool is great for crushing grains and nuts into a smooth texture.

Grain mill grinders, especially the Wondermill grain grinder is a powerful appliances that can grind up to 100lb of grains. It can effortlessly grind cereals into gluten-free flour.

Pros
  • Very large
  • Very powerful
  • Can ground all types of grains effortlessly
Cons
  • Noisy

Vegetable Chopper

A vegetable or veggie chopper is a versatile tool that can speed up the cooking time of a meal. I find something amusing about a veggie chopper: the ability of the tool to cut down any vegetable regardless of size.

If you want to chop down lots of onions, tomatoes, and cucumber, then you should consider one of these as a food processor substitute.

Most veggie choppers come with a spiral blade, that allows you to chop vegetables into spiral shapes. That means you can chop onions, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, etc, into ring shapes.

It doesn’t end there; a vegetable chopper can see you through the rigorous process of chopping with a knife.

It can take up the place of a food processor and a knife. This tool is very effective in the kitchen.

Pros
  • Versatile
  • Can chop any vegetable
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • It is not automated.

Veggie Bullet

Anything that goes into the veggie bullet comes out in a spiral shape. The veggie bullet from Nutribullet has a spiral motor base that can transform food ingredients into a spiral shape.

This appliance is fully automated, it can drastically reduce the cooking time of a meal. Aside from shooting out processed spiral food ingredients, this appliance is also very good at slicing, dicing, and shredding.

Above all, a veggie bullet is a great tool for making stir-fries, noodles, spaghetti, cauliflower rice, and chopped salads.

Pros
  • Versatile
  • Multipurpose
  • Fully automated
Cons
  • Not suitable for kneading

Knives

Knives have been around for ages and seem one of the best and most affordable food processor alternativesKnives are very versatile, they can be used to chop down any food ingredient.

If you feel you still need to narrow down the best alternatives for a food processor, then a knife is your best bet. Knives can be found in every home. The uses of a knife are boundless. And if you are skillful enough with a knife, you might be able to achieve what you want.

Graters

A grater is a tool you can use instead of a food processor. You can opt-in for a manual, an electric grater, or anyone you think is better. However, I would always pick an electric grater anytime over a manual food processor.

The reason is that an electric food grater can speed up the cooking time, whereas you will have to do the whole task manually with a manual food grater. 

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Wrapping Up

All the aforementioned tools are the best food processor substitute you can use. However, if you still feel uneasy with all the listed alternatives to a food processor, here is my advice to you;

Get a mortar and pestle: since you want something cheaper, you should consider getting a mortar and pestle and using it to grind.

Get a knife: A knife can chop down veggies and other food ingredients.

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About the author

Stephanie Blaise C.

Hi, my name is C. Stephanie Blaise, a lifestyle and food lover who wants to use her passion for buying gadgets and shopping to help people who need answers to shopping-related questions.
Here at TheGadgetTrend it is our duty to guide you in making the right decisions before purchasing any houseware. Nice to have you around!

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