9 Quietest Food Processors Of 2024
Food processors can process all kinds of foods and are super useful in many situations. However, they tend to be one of the noisiest appliances in the kitchen as well.
If you are looking for the best and quietest food processors available, then you are at the right place!
What are the quietest food processors? Food processors are generally known to be loud because of their powerful motors and the fact that they process dense food like nuts, grains, and spices. While no food processor can be completely quiet, you can find some that are considerably less noisy.
Read below to learn more about food processors, how manufacturers can make them less noisy, and some great tips and tricks to make the most out of these useful appliances!
Why Are Food Processors So Loud?
Food processors consist of a powerful 700W-1000W (or more) motor that spins multiple or a singular blade system that impacts and processes dense food within the machine’s main chamber.
In other words, these machines can cut through dense food by running an extremely fast spinning blade through hard or firm ingredients – thus the noise.
Food processors are the loudest during the initial stage of the process since that is when the solid food comes into contact with the blade for the first time.
Afterward, the machine may still make a slightly softened but very audible noise from the motor.
On average, a running food processor can generate up to 95dB of sound. In comparison, an ambulance clocks in at 111dB while a loud concert of your favorite rock band can reach up to 135dB.
Needless to say, food processors can be very loud which is why most people tend to not use them during nighttime, especially when they share their home with other people.
To counter this issue, manufacturers will create tighter seals and a more properly enclosed chassis to securely fit the motor in place.
Some low-quality food processors may also create additional vibrational noise because of a poorly secure base.
Since these machines operate at very high RPMs they can vibrate and even move around the counter when they aren’t secured at the base.
Please keep in mind that while it is completely possible to lessen the sound and impact of a food processor, it is entirely impossible (at least for now) to make them completely silent.
Think of this as an inherent flaw of this design but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get close to bearable levels. On the contrary, some brands, like the ones listed below can easily achieve levels below 95dB!
Buyer’s Guide
This buyer’s guide is designed to help you choose the best and least loud food processor on the market.
For the sake of convenience, we have divided this guide into different sections, each section will discuss an important aspect that any high-quality food processor must possess.
Here is what you need to look out for:
Chassis Design
A well-designed chassis can significantly lessen the loudness levels of a food processor. But how does one tell between a soundproofed chassis and a regular food processor?
It’s all in the details! When shopping for quiet food processors, look for a larger and thicker chassis design.
Some brands will use cheaper materials to bring down the cost of their product but at the expense of the increased loudness level of their product.
But of course, this doesn’t mean that quiet food processors are expensive! You should simply look for brands that are offering high-quality materials at a reasonable price to get the added benefit of a quieter machine.
Also, a soundproofed chassis will usually be made out of a single sheet of plastic or any other composite material.
Unless the seams on the body of the machine are insulated, you will likely experience more noise on a modular unit than on a single-purpose food processor—but there are also exceptions!
Our recommendations list below covers a range of food processors that are both efficient, quieter, and can fit the needs of multiple home chefs than a standard food processor.
Blade Quality & Wear And Tear
What does the blade of the food processor have to do with noise? Everything!
A highly precise and sharp blade will be better in every way than a dull blade. Remember, the sharper the blade, the more easily it will be able to cut through firm ingredients.
A dull blade on the other hand won’t be able to cut through hard ingredients efficiently which will produce more noise.
Think about it this way: with a sharp blade, a high-quality food processor may peak its loudness levels only during the first 1-2 seconds while a dull and worn-out blade may stay loud for several seconds until it plateaus.
This is where blade quality comes into play. A high-quality and precision sharpened blade will last way longer than a regular, low-quality blade that can wear out within a few months.
This is probably also when you should look into the warranty of the product as well. Please read the terms and conditions of the warranty to see which components are covered and for how long.
Most high-quality brands will offer a longer warranty period than other brands with sub-par products.
Base Stability
The base of the food processor may also contribute to the loudness of the machine. Why?
A poorly secured base is likely to cause a lot of vibration which will not only cause more noise but may also cause the machine to move around the counter.
In some cases, an unattended and poorly secured food processor may fall off the counter. Imagine this happening during the dead of night!
This is why you should look for a food processor that not only offers all of the above considerations but also a secure base.
The good news is that it is fairly easy to secure the base using anti-vibrational pads; the bad news is that some manufacturers may overlook this point entirely.
Don’t worry though, our recommendations below cover all of the points mentioned in our guide so you can purchase any unit with peace of mind!
The 9 Quietest Food Processors
Here are our picks for the top quietest food processors in the market.
| Rank | Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Cuisinart Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor | Sleek, elegant, powerful, and one of the quietest food processors in its class! |
| 2. | Ninja Mega Kitchen System | 1500W, 4-function food processor designed to be quieter than standard appliances. |
| 3. | Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap Food Processor | Compact yet powerful and silent. The best portable food processor for a range of cooking tasks! |
| 4. | Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food-Processors | Mini-sized food processor, designed for quiet operation. |
| 5. | Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor | Powerful motor, 12-cup size, and a bearable noise level. |
| 6. | Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor | Peak 1000W motor, sleek design, and quiet operation. |
| 7. | Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor | Better controls, a high-powered motor, and high-quality blades, all in a soundproofed chassis. |
| 8. | Oster 2-Speed 10-Cup Food Processor | Simple design, large work bowl, and an excellent noise profile. |
| 9. | KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Processor | Compact, elegant, and one of the quietest food processors that you can invest in! |
1. Cuisinart Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor
This Cuisinart food processor is a fan favorite among home chefs and is perhaps the best way to process food within seconds.
It’s designed to be sleek and powerful while also being one of the quietest food processors in its class.
It comes equipped with a high-quality sharp blade that is designed to plow through all types of ingredients with ease.
No more nervously standing around the food processor while clenching your teeth because of the noise!
If you are looking for a food processor that you can use at night, then this is the one to look into!
2. Ninja Mega Kitchen System
This kitchen system is just like a Ninja! It’s quiet, efficient, and gets the job done in no time (we’re assuming this is how ninjas operate on the field).
Powered by a whopping 1500W motor, this food processor uses a system of sharp blades and its high-RPM motor to process any type of food in under a minute.
With a peak of 1500W, you can easily pulse or rapidly chop food without being glued to the appliance.
This is all thanks to its secure base with anti-vibrational pads that are designed to not only dampen its sound but also control the movement of the machine when it is operational.
This machine is built for both professionals and home chefs and can be used during any time of day, even nighttime!
3. Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap Food Processor
This next option combines a modular design with a highly secure chassis and a large input chute that can easily fit small to medium-sized food without the need to pre-chop them.
This appliance features a 450W motor that can easily process nuts, vegetables, and more within minutes.
It is designed to withstand wear and tear and offers better stability than other types of food processors in its category.
It is considerably less noisy and can be disassembled from the top for easy storage as well!
4. Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food-Processors
Cuisinart brings yet another great food processor that is both compact, silent, and highly efficient at processing food.
This appliance is equipped with a highly sharp blade that will easily outlast any previous standard quality food processor that you may have used.
Its mini-sized body and 250W motor play a huge role in minimizing noise but maximizing efficiency.
This food processor is perfect for people who don’t have huge food chopping tasks but are still looking for the right ratio of speed and loudness.
5. Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor
While the Vitamix Food Processor is not the quietest, it is one of the best options to purchase when looking for a food processor with a bearable noise level.
This appliance is foremost a blender that can be repurposed as a food processor using this amazing and high-quality attachment.
It makes our list because it will greatly benefit a lot of people who already own a Vitamix by saving them money and storage space!
It has a large capacity and comes equipped with a set of powerful blades that can easily process multiple types of hard ingredients in a matter of minutes!
6. Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor
Here’s another Ninja food processor that is a bit more compact than the 1500W version.
This food processor can reach a peak of 1000W and is perfect for processing food in no time.
It is designed with the same great design philosophy and is backed by the brand’s unwavering reputation as one of the best kitchen appliance brands in the market!
It is just the right size and possesses a mix of all the great qualities that we have discussed in our buyer’s guide above!
7. Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
When it comes to quiet food processors, Cuisinart knows how to deliver!
This is another great food processor that features the brand’s iconic style and its promise of delivering superior quality to its customers.
Equipped with whopping 14-cup storage and a set of high-quality blades and motor, you can forget about unbearably waiting for minutes to process food while the machine blows out your eardrums.
While this is a larger food processor with an equally larger blade, it is still noticeably less loud than other food processors in its category. If you chop food in bulk then this is surely going to be a worthwhile investment!
8. Oster 2-Speed 10-Cup Food Processor
The Oster Food Processor is designed for just one purpose: to deliver better control over the chopping process and to function as quietly as possible.
This product delivers on its promise of quality and efficiency. It is beautifully designed and comes in a singular chassis that houses the motor and the 10-cup work bowl.
If you are after style, function, and low noise then the Oster food processor will be worth the purchase!
9. KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Processor
KitchenAid has made a name for itself for being better than the rest and this bravado truly shows how they have designed their food processor.
This food processor may be compact but it packs some serious power.
Despite requiring just 110V for regular operation, the KitchenAid food processor will be able to easily process all kinds of foods without waking up everyone in your home.
It is designed to be portable and is also available in several different colors! This shows that the brand wants its customers to care and love their appliances instead of being annoyed by their loud noise and bulky size.
If you’re looking for some new ways to use your food processor, check out this great video from the folks over at America’s Test Kitchen!
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