How to cook with a food processor: get more done with less effort

How does a food processor work?

The purpose of cooking with a food processor is to speed up food prep. It uses a motor to power sharp, fast-moving blades or discs that chop, slice, shred, puree or mix ingredients – saving you the time and effort of doing it by hand.

You start by fitting the right attachment for the job. Then, once your ingredients are loaded and the lid is locked into place, the motor drives the blade or disc to quickly process your food.

Most food processors have different speed settings and a pulse option to give you more control – whether you want a coarse chop, a fine shred, a silky puree, or anything in between.

By letting the machine do the heavy lifting, you can focus more on cooking, experimenting, and enjoying your creations.

Food processor uses

When you’ve got more than one appliance on the bench, it’s not always obvious which one to reach for. Blenders, hand mixers, stand mixers – they can all handle parts of your food prep.

But a food processor is built for versatility, helping you handle everyday tasks like chopping, slicing, grating and mixing with one powerful tool.

Here’s a simple guide to what each appliance does best (and where a food processor really saves you time and effort). 

*With separate KitchenAid attachments or as a separate model.

A food processor pulls double (or even triple) duty – covering tasks you might need two or three different appliances to handle. It's useful for quick prep, big-batch cooking, and anything that needs a little extra power without the fuss.

How to use a food processor

Setting up a food processor is simpler than it looks. And once you’ve done it once, it becomes second nature. Here are the basic steps.

1. Choose your bowl and attachment

Start by picking the right-sized work bowl and the blade or disc you need for the job – whether that’s chopping, slicing, shredding or pureeing.

2. Lock the bowl into place

Set the bowl onto the base and twist it until it clicks or locks into position. (Every model’s a little different, so check your user guide if it’s your first time.)

simple recipes have a few pitfalls. Here are the most common ones.

3. Fit the blade or disc

Place the blade or disc onto the centre shaft inside the bowl. Make sure it’s sitting securely – this keeps everything running smoothly once you start.

4. Add your ingredients

Most food processors have a large feed chute so you can add ingredients easily. Use the pusher tool to help guide food safely into the bowl if you’re slicing or shredding.

5. Lock the lid and start mixing

Secure the lid tightly, then select your speed or pulse setting depending on what you’re making. Start slow if you're not sure – you can always build up speed once you see how it’s processing.

Using a food processor to chop, slice and shred

Chopping, slicing and shredding are some of the easiest ways to start cooking with your food processor (and some of the most useful).

Chopping

Use the multipurpose blade (sometimes called the S-blade) when you want a rough or fine chop. It’s ideal for things like onions, herbs, nuts, or making chunky salsas. For an even chop, pulse your food in short bursts rather than running the machine continuously.

Mistake to avoid: Over-processing can quickly turn chopped ingredients into a paste – short pulses help you keep the texture you want.

Slicing

To slice fruits or vegetables evenly, fit the slicing disc onto the shaft inside the bowl. You can adjust the thickness by choosing different discs or settings, depending on your model.

Pack your ingredients snugly into the feed chute for more consistent slices, and use the pusher to guide them steadily through.

Kitchen win: Perfect slices make salads look fresher, gratins cook more evenly, and homemade chips come out crispier.

Shredding or grating

Swap to the shredding disc when you want to grate cheese, carrots, zucchini or potatoes. The food processor quickly turns large ingredients into fine, fluffy shreds – perfect for baking, salads, fritters or toppings. For softer foods like cheese, a quick chill in the fridge before shredding can give better results.

Preparation trick: Cutting larger blocks into smaller chunks first can help the processor shred more evenly and avoid clumping.

How to dice with a food processor

Some food processors, like the KitchenAid 13-cup food processor, come with a special dicing kit. But even if yours doesn’t, you can still get neat, fairly evenly sized pieces with the right technique.

If your food processor has a dicing kit:

• Fit the dicing grid and dicing blade following your model’s instructions.

• Prep your ingredients into large, even chunks.

• Feed them into the chute and let the machine do the work – pushing gently with the pusher tool.

If your food processor doesn't have a dicing kit:

• Start by chopping your ingredients with the S-blade in short pulses.

• Don’t overfill the bowl. Work in smaller batches if needed.

• Now, the important part: watch closely and stop once you have small, even pieces (before it turns into a rough chop).
  

💡 Tip: Pre-cutting ingredients into uniform chunks before processing makes it easier to get even results. And it helps everything cook more evenly later.

Using a food processor to mince meat

Making your own mince at home is easier than you might think, and it puts you in charge of the cut, the texture, and the freshness. Cooking with your food processor, you can prepare beef, chicken, lamb or pork exactly how you like it.

Here’s how to do it.

1. Start with cold meat

Chill your meat in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes first. It should feel firm, but not frozen solid – this helps the blade cut cleanly without turning the meat into a paste.

2. Cut into chunks

Slice your meat into roughly 2-3 cm pieces. Smaller, even chunks make for a more consistent mince.

3. Pulse, don't blend

Use the multipurpose blade and pulse in short bursts. Check often – you want finely chopped pieces, not a puree.

4. Use straight away or freeze

Freshly minced meat is perfect for burgers, meatballs, tacos or stir-fries. Or divide it into portions and freeze for quick meals later.

Mincing your own meat means you can skip the fillers and preservatives often found in pre-packed mince. And you’ll taste the difference, too.

Cooking with a food processor to make puree

Using a food processor to make puree is easy. Maybe you’re making a soup, dip, sauce or baby food – here’s how to get a great puree.

1. Use the multipurpose blade

The S-blade is designed to break ingredients down into a smooth, even texture quickly.

2. Prep your ingredients

Cooked vegetables, fruits or meats will puree much faster and more evenly than raw ones. (Think roasted pumpkin, boiled carrots, cooked chicken or softened fruits.)

3. Work in small batches

Even if you're making a big batch of puree, it’s better to process smaller amounts at a time. This helps everything blend more smoothly without overworking the motor.

4. Control the consistency

Start on low speed and slowly work up if you need to. If the mixture looks too thick, you can add a splash of water, stock, or milk to loosen it until it’s just right.

Homemade purees aren't just for baby food. Try making a creamy vegetable soup, rich hummus, or silky mashed potatoes. Or even fruit sauces for desserts.

Food processor inspiration

Once you get comfortable cooking with your food processor, it quickly becomes part of your kitchen rhythm. And there’s no shortage of ways to use it. 

• Make a quick pizza night. Whip up pizza dough in minutes, shred fresh mozzarella, and slice capsicum and mushrooms for toppings.

• Bake a batch of muffins. Mix a simple batter, shred zucchini or carrots for extra moisture, and get a tray into the oven before you’ve even finished your coffee.

• Blend a dip or spread. Hummus, pesto, white bean dip – the food processor nails them all with hardly any effort.

• Prep veggies for the week. Chop onions, shred cabbage, and slice carrots. Make salads, stir-fries or taco fillings much faster.

• Try your hand at dessert. Puree fresh fruit for a quick sorbet base or a homemade fruit coulis to drizzle over cakes and ice cream.

Do you still have questions about using a food processor? We have answers – learn more with our guides: What is a food processor? And What to use in place of a food processor.

FAQ: Cooking with a food processor

How do you properly use a food processor?

It’s easier than it looks. Pick your bowl and the right attachment, lock the bowl and lid into place, and load your ingredients. Use the speed settings or pulse button to control the texture – pulsing for a coarse chop, running steadily for smoother results. And start slow if you’re not sure; you can always speed up once you see how it’s processing.

What can you do with a food processor?

A food processor takes care of chopping, slicing, shredding, pureeing, mixing, and even kneading dough – all in one machine. You can make everything from pizza dough and muffins to homemade dips, fresh salsa, veggie fritters, creamy soups, and even minced meat. It’s brilliant for meal prep, big-batch cooking, or just getting dinner sorted faster (and with less mess).

What blade do I use to chop vegetables in a food processor?

Use the multipurpose blade, also called the S-blade. It’s designed to quickly and evenly chop veggies like onions, carrots, capsicum and herbs. Pulse in short bursts for a chunky chop, or let it run a little longer if you want a finer, more even texture.

What should you not put in a food processor?

Avoid really hard foods like whole coffee beans, frozen meat, or big blocks of hard cheese unless your model specifically says it can handle them. You’ll also want to skip very watery foods (like tomatoes) if you’re trying to chop them – they’ll just turn to mush. And be careful with anything super sticky, like heavy dough or caramel, which can overload the motor if the batch is too big.