Best Food Processor For Nut Butter – Peanut | Almond | Cashew | Hazelnut Butters
Welcome to my review, where I’ll be sharing my top picks for the best food processor for nut butter!
With the rise of popular cooking shows and culinary celebrities like Michael Simmons and Mark Florence gracing our screens, it’s no surprise that we find ourselves captivated by their innovative techniques and professional tools. As a busy mom in my 40s, I understand the desire to recreate those culinary masterpieces at home.
But let’s face it, affordability and efficiency are just as important as performance when it comes to kitchen appliances. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of budget-friendly, top-tier food processors that not only cater to your nut butter-making needs but also carry the stamp of approval from professional designers.
Gone are the days of thinking that an inexpensive food processor must sacrifice style for functionality. In fact, many cost-efficient models boast features that rival those of their designer-class counterparts. So let’s dive in and explore the best options to create that velvety smooth nut butter you crave, without breaking the bank!
Cuisinart FP-8GM – EDITOR’S CHOICE
- 350-watt motor
- 8 cup work bowl
- included accessories – metal chopping/mixing/dough blade, fine reversible slicing/shredding disc, medium reversible slicing/shredding disc
KitchenAid KFP0718
- affordable
- 300-watt motor
- 7 cup work bowl
- included accessories – multi-purpose blade, reversible medium slicing/shredding disc
Cuisinart DLC-8SY
- 625-watt motor
- 11 cup work bowl
- included accessories – chopping/mixing blade, stainless steel shredding disc (2mm), medium slicing disc (4mm), slicing/shredding disc
Contents
Top 5 Best Food Processors For Nut Butter You Can Buy In 2023
#1 Cuisinart FP-8GM Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor
350 watts of powerful product-preparing performance is how one would describe the Cuisinart FP-8GM Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor.
Aside from its commendable visual attractiveness, the food processor comes in various colors and gradients, and this gunmetal version of the appliance is indeed a treat to the eye.
Equipped with measure marking, the 8-cup work bowl indeed provides a massive workspace to play with. Additionally, the food processor is equipped with reversible shredding and slicing disks which can operate from medium to fine depending on the requirements of the owner.
And it even caters to the additional needs of the cook. Such as the integrated feed tube, which serves to add even more ingredients during processing without disturbing the flow of work. The exhaust is also as important as the addition of components.
And, every part that can be removed is easy to clean and dishwasher friendly. For functionality, the processing speed is divided primarily into three different categories, and one of those is the “pulse” mode.
As user-friendly as the Cuisinart FP-8GM is, it is highly cost-efficient and will get the job done. Moreover, it even adds to the beauty of the kitchen interior and is a must-have for any cooking enthusiast.
Features
- work bowl size – 8 cups
- speeds – High, Low, and Pulse
- motor power – 350 watts
- included accessories – metal chopping/mixing/dough blade, fine reversible slicing/shredding disc, medium reversible slicing/shredding disc
- warranty – 2 years
#2 KitchenAid KFP0718 7-Cup Food Processor
The KitchenAid KFP0718 7-cup food processor weighs less than 7 pounds and is available in three different colors. This gives you the flexibility of choosing one that will provide the exact look you need in your kitchen.
The bowl has an easy setup process, with a latched lid. This model is very suitable for tasks like chopping, pureeing, shredding, and slicing.
Different food items require customizable processing speeds. The KitchenAid KFP0718 has three speed levels to choose from high, low, and pulse.
The controls are pressable and have lighted LED signals. This makes food processing more maintainable.
All food processor parts (bowl, lid, and accessories) are dishwasher safe. The work bowl is leak-resistant and hence, saves a lot of mess.
The product comes with a warranty of 1 year, much like many kitchen appliances do. The material type is plastic, making a curious mind wonder about its durability.
This food processor is very easy to clean and maintain. The lid-locking system appears to be very convenient, and the containers can be very easily attached to the base of the processor.
A frequently reported problem of this model is the noise it makes during food processing. The emitted noise is somewhat comparable to that of a vacuum cleaner. While my husband does not seem to care, I find such noise level a bit offensive.
This food processor can whip up good dough very efficiently when in a high-speed setting. It adds a good texture to fruits and vegetables when cutting them. However, you should be aware that liquids tend to leak from the container when put on high speed.
The parts are dishwasher safe. For better cleaning, it is suggested to put the parts in the top shelf of the dishwasher.
Features
- work bowl size – 7 cups
- speeds – High, Low, and Pulse
- motor power – 300 watts
- included accessories – multi-purpose blade, reversible medium slicing/shredding disc
- warranty – 1 year
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lightweight and convenient to carry
- Variety of colors to choose from
- Great at making dough (you can find out which is the best food processor for dough here)
- BPA free plastic
- Customizable speed level
Cons
- Can leak when processing liquid at high speed
- Not the quietest model
#3 Cuisinart DLC-8SY (Powerful)
Running on an above-average motor power of 625 watts, the Cuisinart DLC-8SY is capable of handling a maximum of 11 cups of dry food ingredients, enough to feed a huge group of guests. Along with the customary chopping blade, this food processor also offers three discs for the functions of slicing and shredding as well as a spatula.
Its solid and well-built structure is quite appreciated since, even during heavy processing, the product’s ability to stay well-balanced does not waver at all. This is also due to the food processor’s rubber base.
A disadvantage of the new design is that the lid is more difficult to clean than the rest of the unit since it has a flimsy plastic attached to it that must remain joined to the lid for the motor to run smoothly. This may prove to be a menace at times, although not enough that you may be tempted to make use of your five-year motor warranty.
Contrary to its counterparts, the DLC-8SY comes with only one-speed level as well as a pulse, but it more than makes up for it with its extra sharp disc blades, which have proved to be the most effective in getting through stubborn ingredients such as cold vegetables, a feat possible due to a stainless steel thin slicing disc of 2mm.
This food processor is available in White (DLC-8SY pictured above) and Brushed Chrome (DLC-8SBCY) finish.
Features
- work bowl size – 11 cups
- speeds – On, and Pulse
- motor power – 625 watts
- included accessories – chopping/mixing blade, stainless steel shredding disc (2mm), medium slicing disc (4mm), slicing/shredding disc
- warranty – 3 years (5 years on motor)
#4 BRAUN FP3020 (Versatile)
Braun FP3020 12 cup food processor is not an appliance for just chopping, slicing and shredding but one with various assortments of functions according to the full range of attachments that come with it. In fact, along with the actual food processor, you will receive a French system maker and a unique slicing blade called the Braun 7000490 The Coarse Slicing Insert B Blade 12.
The powerful food processor runs at 600 watts, but the motor is very quiet and designed to be more compact than large. Although it comes with a range of other attachments (like the nine blades), it is surprisingly straightforward to use and even easier to clean, with everything going back to where it came from in a very proper manner.
There is a juicer that does not take more than a minute to finish through a whole large orange. The slicer blades are sharp enough to cut through the most resilient of dry food materials such as carrots and beets. However, you cannot expect to work on onions with the BRAUN FP3020.
A slight problem with having so many different parts is that you may feel the difficulty of storing them away in an uncluttered way. You may keep the smaller pieces in a separate container to make things easier.
Features
- work bowl size – 12 cups
- speeds – 11 s, and Pulse
- motor power – 6oo watts (peak 900W)
- included accessories – 8 blades and discs
- warranty – 1 year
#5 KitchenAid KFP0711WH 7-Cup Food Processor (Discontinued)
Visually attractive as it may be, the KitchenAid KPF0711WH 7-Cup Food Processor is a powerhouse hosting a 7 cup capacity, which is optimal for preparing meals for a small family.
Equipped with high, low, and pulse speed options, the KPF0711WH food processor caters to every need of the user for control of the processing speeds.
To further support the user and facilitate smooth operations, a 2-in-1 feed tube has been introduced to add ingredients, both small and big, during processing, so that the continuous slicing and shredding workflow is not disturbed.
A clean workspace is a sign of a hygiene-conscious family. It is a saying the KitchenAid designers believed in and worked to achieve, creating the UltraTight Seal, which serves the purpose of locking down the lids. There is also a leak-resistant ring that allows one to fill the work bowl to the brim and still during the processing, have nothing leaking out and messing up the kitchen.
Additionally, an internal adjustable slicing disc, a reversible shredding disc, and a multipurpose blade are attached as part of the entire package. That means the owner will be satisfied promptly with the product and will be able to use it to cater to their needs. As such, this beautiful piece of art is very cost-efficient and will go perfectly in any kitchen.
Features
- work bowl size – 11 cups
- speeds – On, and Pulse
- motor power – 625 watts
- included accessories – chopping/mixing blade, stainless steel shredding disc (2mm), medium slicing disc (4mm), slicing/shredding disc
- warranty – 3 years (5 years on motor)
#6 Breville BFP800XL
I have recently discovered that the Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef Food Processor is another favorite for many seed and nut butter makers.
I will add a quick review of Breville BFP800XL soon.
Buying Guide
| Bowl Capacity, cups | Motor Power, Watts | Speeds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Beach 70757 | 14 | 525 | 3+pulse |
| Cuisinart FP-8GM | 8 | 350 | 3+pulse |
| KitchenAid KFP0711WH | 7 | ND | ND |
| KitchenAid KFC3516BLACK+DECKER FP1600B | ND | ND | 2 |
| Ninja PS101 | ND | 700 | ND |
| KitchenAid KFP0718 | 7 | 700 | ND |
| Cuisinart DLC-10SY | 7 | 600 | ND |
What Is A Nut Butter?
Nut butter is a spreadable foodstuff made by grinding nuts into a paste. That is why a food processor is the best tool for this task.
In a botanical sense, some of the products (e.g., almond, pecan, and others) are not true nuts, but in the culinary sense, we will consider that they are nuts and can be used to make delicious crushed spreads.
Nut and seed butters include:
- Acorn butter
- Almond butter
- Cashew butter
- Hazelnut butter
- Macadamia nut butter
- Peanut butter
- Pecan butter
- Pistachio butter
- Walnut butter
- Pumpkin seed butter
- Sesame seed butter (usually called tahini)
- Soybean butter – made from soynuts (roasted soybeans)
- Sunflower seed butter
- Hummus or chickpea spread
What features are you looking for in a food processor for making nut butter?
| Feature | Importance for Nut Butter Making |
|---|---|
| Power (Wattage) | Strong motor ensures smooth and consistent nut butter, even with harder nuts |
| Capacity | Larger capacity allows for making larger batches of nut butter at once |
| Blade Design | S-shaped or multi-purpose stainless steel blades help in processing nuts evenly and efficiently |
| Speed Settings | Multiple speeds allow for better control and flexibility in texture |
| Pulse Function | Enables precise control for achieving desired nut butter consistency |
| Durability | A robust build ensures the food processor can handle long processing times |
| Easy to Clean | Simplifies the process of cleaning up after making nut butter |
| Stability | A stable base prevents the food processor from moving during operation |
| Noise Level | Quieter operation is preferable for long processing times |
| Overheat Protection | Prevents motor burnout during extended processing of nuts |
Now let’s have a quick look at what you can expect from food processors that can be considered to be the best food processor for making nut butter.
Bowl Capacity
Bowl capacity contributes substantially to the quality of the best food processor. Unlike a poorly designed and inefficient appliance, a good one will accommodate a certain quantity of products measured in bowls.
Though the capacity ranges from 7 to 14 cups, a functional kitchen processor will accommodate a fair amount based on optimization. I should say that a 14 cup food processor can be too much unless you are going to process large batches and make a lot of nut butter.
Power
The primary source of all functions, a powerful motor, is as essential to the food processor as it is to any other appliance that chops or blends.
While a 250-watt motor is a minimum, the power of the best food processors for chopping nuts will range from 350 to 625 watts, and it’s necessary to be wary of fluctuations. A reliable kitchen appliance will host such power with great consistency.
Processing Speeds
For different products, different kinds of processing speeds are required. A food processor that is economical yet efficient will serve multiple purposes. At the very least, two processing speeds will be prominent, with a pulse effect added for additional uses.
Rather than catering to multiple needs in one manner, versatile food processors will cater to various requirements with a specialized approach.
Attachments and Blades
A kitchen processor might be a mighty tool of modern technology. However, it still requires a few additional accessories and equipment to entirely cater to the user’s needs. But a truly versatile appliance deals with it all in one package.
A Slice Disc, a Shredding Disc, and a Chopping S-Blade are the bare minimum of additions for a good quality processor set to satisfy the user.
Some users are looking for the bowl scraper functionality but it is something I have not noticed in models from this price range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus a good food processor to make nut butter?
Yes, the Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus food processor is a great compact food processor that also can be used for making nut butter. While it is not the best model for nut butter and takes a long time to make smooth butter, it is an affordable food processor and a good value for money.
Conclusion
What was once only something we would see star chefs use on TV has now become accessible to the masses.
Not only that but there are also state-of-the-art options available now within a tight budget, of which we’ve mentioned a select few to help you zero in on what would work the best for your needs.
I hope my review of the best nut butter food processors has helped you to make your decision if you are looking forward to make your own nut butter at home.
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