We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
Ready to buy now? Shop the best:
When it comes to essential kitchen appliances, many people struggle to choose between a blender and a food processor. A blender-food-processor combo gives you the best of both worlds, so you can enjoy all the benefits of both appliances. That’s why the best blender-food-processor combos can not only save you time in the kitchen but also valuable counter space.
A blender-food-processor combo is exactly what it sounds like: a system that uses one motor base to power both a blender container and a food processor bowl. Because it functions as both a blender and a food processor, you can create both liquid-heavy recipes and those that call for dry ingredients in one machine. The shared base means you don’t have to devote precious counter real estate to two appliances; instead, you only need to find storage in a cabinet or drawer for whatever container you aren’t using at the moment.
At BestReviews, we’ve evaluated dozens of blender-food-processor combos to help us identify the top models. Our top choice, the Ninja SS401 Blender & Food Processor Combo, is a real space-saver in the kitchen because its container works for both blending and food processing tasks. Its 1,600-watt motor is powerful enough to crush ice, frozen fruit and nuts, and the included discs for slicing, shredding and grating make quick work of all your food-prep tasks.
Best Attachment Set
Capacity: 72 oz | Power: 1600 W | Blender Capacity: 72 oz | Food Processor Capacity: 72 oz | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
With a 1,600-watt motor, the Ninja SS401 Blender & Food Processor Combo can handle all your blending, shredding, slicing, and chopping needs. In addition to a 72-ounce pitcher for blending and food processing, it includes an 18-ounce smoothie-bowl maker and a 24-ounce cup for on-the-go drinking. It offers variable-speed controls, allowing you to precisely control the texture of your recipes. It also has seven auto programs for blending, chopping and food processing, so you can quickly whip up smoothies, spreads and dishes.
The set includes a crushing and chopping blade assembly designed to fully break down frozen fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and even ice. With the dough blade, you can whip up dough or batter and even whip eggs in the same pitcher you use for smoothies. Busy cooks will also appreciate the food-processing lid — ingredients pass easily through its specially designed food chute, so you can food prep more efficiently.
The Ninja SS401 Combo makes cleanup a breeze, too. All the containers, lids, discs and blade assemblies are dishwasher-safe on the top rack, so the components are always clean and ready when it’s time to blend or process.
Versatile & Affordable
Capacity: 72 oz | Power: 1,500 W | Blender Capacity: 64 oz | Food Processor Capacity: 8 cups | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
The Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System proves you don’t have to sacrifice blending power when you opt for a blender-food-processor combo. It features a powerful 1,500-watt motor that can crush everything from ice to frozen fruit. Paired with its unique total-crushing blades, this motor turns ice cubes into fluffy snow in just seconds. It comes with two travel cups, too, so you can blend smoothies right in these containers and then take them with you to drink on the go.
This system can also tackle your food-processing tasks with ease. Its 8-cup food processing bowl comes with a chopping blade and a dough blade that can mix up to 2 pounds of dough in less than a minute. The easy-to-use touch controls offer four versatile functions, including blend, mix, crush and single-serve, so you can choose the best option for any recipe. Additionally, it features a pulse button that makes it easy to get the perfect size and texture when using the food-processing bowl.
All the Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System’s components are made of durable BPA-free plastic, so you don’t have to worry about chemicals leaching into your food as you blend and chop. They’re all dishwasher-safe, too, so cleanup is quick and easy.
Best for Smoothies & Shakes
Capacity: 104 oz | Power: 450 W | Blender Capacity: 48 oz | Food Processor Capacity: 16 oz chopper bowl/40 oz processor bowl | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
The Ninja QB1004 Blender/Food Processor may be smaller than other blender-food-processor combos, but it still packs a punch. It has a 450-watt motor that can chop, food process and blend all types of food. You don’t have to worry about it shifting around on your counter, though, because its wide, nonslip base keeps it stable. It also features splash guards to ensure you don’t have a mess to clean up afterward.
The 48-ounce blending pitcher is perfect for making smoothies and frozen cocktails, crushing ice and pulverizing frozen fruit in seconds. If you’re mincing, dicing or chopping large veggies, the 40-ounce chopper bowl can hold enough for big-batch cooking. The smaller 16-ounce processor bowl is the perfect size for whipping up dips and sauces.
All Ninja QB1004 containers come with storage lids, so you can easily store leftovers in the fridge. Best of all, the removable parts are dishwasher-safe, making it easy to clean up after cooking.
Most Powerful
Capacity: 72 oz | Power: 1,200 W | Blender Capacity: 64 oz | Food Processor Capacity: 8 cup | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
The Ninja Detect Kitchen System Pro certainly stands out for its powerful 1,800-watt motor, which allows it to crush ice and frozen fruit and shred veggies in seconds. However, it’s not just its power that makes this system such an asset in your kitchen.
The BlendSense feature ensures perfectly smooth blends every time by automatically adjusting speed and time for you. It allows you to make everything from drinkable smoothies to creamy dips. You can even use it for your dough recipes.
In addition to a 72-ounce pitcher, it includes an 8-cup food processor bowl and a slicing/shredding disc that can handle vegetables, cheese and more. The system also has variable-speed controls with 10 settings, so you have full manual control as you blend and chop.
The Ninja Detect Kitchen System Pro also includes a single-serve cup that holds 24 ounces. It allows you to blend beverages right in the container, then switch the lid to drink on the go. All the components are dishwasher-safe, too, so you can place them on the top rack for easy cleaning.
Best Compact All-in-One System
Capacity: 112 oz | Power: 1,500 W | Blender Capacity: 64 oz | Food Processor Capacity: 7 cup | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
The Nutribullet Triple Prep System is perfect for homes with small kitchens. While it provides everything you need for blending and food processing, it has a sleek, compact design that won’t take up valuable countertop space. However, it still boasts a 1,500-watt motor, which makes it powerful enough to crush ice and frozen fruit, and to puree veggies and fruits. It can blend full-size pitchers or single-serve cups, too, so you always have the right container for your recipe.
The full-size pitcher is also safe for use with hot soups and purees. It has a vented snap-on lid, so you can blend hot ingredients and liquids without worrying about them splashing up as you blend. Its specially designed spout also ensures that you don't splatter liquids all over your counter as you pour.
The system’s 7-cup food processor bowl allows you to chop, slice and shred ingredients, and even includes a dough-kneading blade. All the blades stack neatly inside the bowl for storage, too, so you don’t need much space in your cabinet or drawer to store your accessories.
Blender-food-processor combos can be a real asset in the kitchen, but sorting through the options can be difficult. To identify the top models, we analyzed customer reviews from several online retailers to determine which blender-food-processor combos best fulfilled user needs. In particular, we considered which models offered the most motor power, the optimal capacity for blending and food processing, the most convenient preset and speed options and the most versatile accessories. Overall, we evaluated over a dozen blender-food-processor combos and selected our favorites based on power, capacity, ease of use, durability, versatility and ease of cleaning.
On the surface, blenders and food processors certainly seem similar. They’re both countertop appliances with sharp blades for breaking down food. However, each appliance excels at different tasks, so they can’t always be used interchangeably.
A blender’s container, pitcher or jar is fully sealed, so it works especially well for liquid-based foods and drinkable recipes. It features pronged blades that face upward, creating a cyclonic effect as they spin and keeping food in almost constant contact with the blades. As a result, a blender can create a super-smooth mixture, ideal for smoothies, frozen drinks, milkshakes, sauces and dips.
Unlike a blender, which has fixed blades, a food processor typically comes with multiple blades, so it can chop, slice, dice, shred and grate food. Its bowl is not entirely sealed, though, so it does best with drier ingredients and mixtures. It can puree ingredients, allowing it to make dips and spreads. However, its finished mixtures are usually coarser than those made in a blender.
There is some overlap between what blenders and food processors can make, such as dips, sauces and dressings, but you’ll need a blender for liquid recipes like smoothies and frozen drinks and a food processor for food-prep tasks, like chopping and dicing veggies.
If you enjoy a regular morning smoothie or making milkshakes for the kids, you’ll definitely need a blender. On the other hand, if you hate manually chopping vegetables for your favorite recipes, you’ll likely want a food processor on your counter. However, if you are just as likely to whip up drinkable recipes as you are to need help with food-prep tasks, a blender-food-processor combo may be the best fit for your kitchen.
Blender and food processor combos typically include separate containers for each function.
Blender pitchers typically range from 36 to 72 ounces. A blender with a capacity of 36 to 50 ounces is usually large enough for up to four people, while a 50- to 64-ounce blender can serve up to six. A 64- to 72-ounce blender is ideal for those who regularly serve up to eight people.
Food processors usually have bowls that range from 4 to 12 cups in capacity. A model with a 4- to 6-cup capacity works well for small meals and kitchen-prep tasks. If you are cooking or meal-prepping for a family of four or more, though, you’ll want a model with a capacity of 8 to 12 cups.
While the amount of food that a blender-food-processor combo can hold is obviously essential, it’s also important to consider the space that it will take up on your counter. Large-capacity blender-and-food-processor combos have a bigger footprint, so they may not be easy to leave out or even store in a smaller kitchen.
To handle thicker mixtures or harder ingredients, blender-food-processor combos need enough motor power. Higher-wattage models are typically more powerful, so they can handle your most challenging blending and food-processing tasks.
Most blender-food-processor combos range from 300 to 1,500 watts. For crushing ice, pulverizing frozen fruit, making nut butters and breaking down more fibrous produce, you’ll need a model with at least 1,000 watts. For less demanding tasks, though, a blender-food-processor combo with at least 600 watts should be sufficient.
The majority of blender-food-processor combos feature plastic containers and/or bowls. Many use standard plastic, which is affordable, lightweight and fairly sturdy. However, plastic can crack or chip if you drop your pitcher or bowl, and many plastics contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that can seep into food and liquids, especially when heated.
The most durable models use Tritan plastic. It’s impact-resistant, preventing shattering, cracking, or chipping when dropped. It’s also BPA-free, so you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals leeching into your food during blending or processing. Tritan plastic is lightweight, too, making it easy to maneuver your blender pitcher or food processor bowl around your kitchen.
Some high-end blenders feature glass containers. Many people prefer glass components because there are no chemicals to worry about. However, glass pitchers are incredibly fragile and will shatter if dropped. They can be pretty heavy, too.
To ensure your blender-food-processor combo lasts through continued use, choose a model with a solid warranty. Most brands offer at least a one-year limited warranty, but higher-end models often offer three to 10 years of warranty protection. Some warranties only cover manufacturer defects, though, and not standard wear and tear, so be sure to read the fine print.
Many blender-food-processor combos are designed with versatility in mind, so you can prepare the widest possible range of recipes. The systems often included accessories or attachments that allow you to get even more use out of your appliance.
Some of the most common accessories or attachments include:
Cleaning a blender or food processor can be tricky because they have so many nooks and crannies where food residue can hide. To make cleaning your appliance easier, choose a model with dishwasher-safe components. You only have to place the containers and other parts on the top rack of your dishwasher for quick, hassle-free cleaning.
A. Blender-food-processor combo prices vary based on the capacity, motor power and accessories offered. Smaller, more compact models with less power typically cost between $70 and $100. Midsize blender-food-processor combos with a 60- to 70-ounce capacity, a motor with at least 1,200 watts of power and several versatile accessories usually range from $100 to $200. For blender-food-processor combos with an extra-large capacity, a motor that delivers at least 1,500 watts of power, and versatile accessories, expect to pay between $200 and $275.
A. In most cases, a food processor is the better option for making peanut butter or any nut butter. Food processors are usually best suited to pulverize dry ingredients, while blenders typically require at least a small amount of liquid to fully blend. However, a high-speed blender like a Blendtec or Vitamix is up to the task of pulverizing peanuts and can often create an even smoother peanut butter than a food processor.
