Preparing your mise en place—the process of setting up all your ingredients before you start cooking—can be a time-consuming task, particularly when you have a variety of vegetables, herbs, and other ingredients to chop. While professional chefs often rely on their chef’s knives or other specialized kitchen knives, a vegetable chopper can be an invaluable tool for home cooks.
“Vegetable choppers are excellent for speeding up the prep process, especially for novices or anyone looking to prepare meals for the week ahead,” says Olivia Roszkowski, a chef-instructor in Health-Supportive Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education. Moreover, Roszkowski notes, “They’re a safe and effective way to get kids, teenagers, or those with hand coordination or grip issues involved in the kitchen.”
When selecting a food chopper, there are several factors to keep in mind. “I usually prefer an electric food chopper that’s straightforward, with minimal parts and easy storage,” shares Daniel Ziebell, former executive chef at AVOW Napa. With these considerations in mind, we tested some of the top vegetable choppers on the market, evaluating them based on key attributes such as capacity, ease of cleaning, and the variety of settings offered.
Why Use a Vegetable Chopper?
A vegetable chopper simplifies the often tedious task of chopping vegetables, making it easier and faster to prepare ingredients for your meals. This tool is particularly beneficial for home cooks who may not have the knife skills of a professional chef. It also offers a safer alternative for individuals who might struggle with hand coordination or strength, such as children or older adults.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Vegetable Chopper
- Capacity: Depending on how much food you typically prepare, the capacity of the chopper is an important consideration. If you often cook in large quantities, a chopper with a bigger bowl or container will save you time.
- Ease of Cleaning: After the prep work is done, cleanup should be quick and easy. Dishwasher-safe parts are a huge plus, as they can significantly reduce the time spent cleaning up.
- Design and Storage: Look for a chopper that fits comfortably in your kitchen space and is easy to store. A compact design with a simple assembly and disassembly process is ideal.
- Durability: The materials used in the chopper, particularly the blades, should be durable and able to withstand frequent use. Stainless steel blades, for instance, are sharp and resistant to rust, making them a good choice.
- Functionality: Some choppers come with multiple settings or interchangeable blades for different types of cuts (e.g., dicing, slicing, or spiraling). Depending on your cooking style, a more versatile chopper might be beneficial.
Our Top Recommendations
- Best Vegetable Choppers
Preparing your ingredients can be a time-consuming task, especially when you’re faced with chopping a large variety of vegetables, herbs, and other ingredients. While professional chefs might reach for their trusted chef’s knife or other specialized kitchen knives, home cooks can greatly benefit from a vegetable chopper.
“Vegetable choppers offer speed and convenience, making them ideal for beginners or anyone looking to efficiently prep meals for the week,” says Olivia Roszkowski, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. Furthermore, “they’re a safe and effective tool for getting kids, teenagers, or those with hand coordination or grip issues involved in cooking.”
When selecting a food chopper, several factors should be considered. “I usually look for an electric chopper that’s straightforward, with few parts and easy storage,” shares Daniel Ziebell, former executive chef at AVOW Napa. With this advice in mind, we tested top vegetable choppers, evaluating key features like capacity, ease of cleaning, and the variety of settings offered.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall Electric Chopper: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor at Amazon $40 [Jump to Review]
- Best Overall Manual Chopper: SALE Fullstar Vegetable Chopper at Amazon $50 $25 [Jump to Review]
- Best Splurge Chopper: KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper at Amazon $60 [Jump to Review]
- Best Value Chopper: OXO Veggie Chopper at Amazon $23 [Jump to Review]
- Best Pull-Chopper: SALE Mueller Dual-Speed Pull Chopper at Amazon $25 $18 [Jump to Review]
Best Overall Electric Chopper: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
Price: $40 at Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, and Sur La Table
Pros: The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus boasts a powerful motor and dishwasher-safe components, simplifying the cleaning process.
Cons: The bowl can be easily damaged if dropped, and replacing it is as costly as buying a new chopper.
The Mini-Prep Plus by Cuisinart mirrors the functionality of a food processor, offering two simple settings: chop and grind. The “chop” setting utilizes the sharp edge of its S-shaped blade, ideal for soft foods like herbs and onions, while the “grind” setting uses the blunt edge for tougher ingredients like peppercorns or hard cheeses. The three-cup bowl includes a locking lid with holes for adding liquids, and the 240-watt motor provides ample power, even for more demanding tasks like grating parmesan. However, be cautious with frequent heavy use, as it could wear out the motor.
Our tests included chopping garlic, onions, and chilies, and the Mini-Prep Plus proved to be a reliable, user-friendly machine. Ingredients need to be pre-cut into smaller pieces to fit into the bowl, and the device efficiently slices and dices with a single button press. However, for tasks requiring uniform cuts, this chopper may fall short. It’s better suited for applications like making salsa or mincing garlic, where uniformity is less critical.
You might find yourself reaching for this lightweight and easy-to-use gadget more often than your traditional food processor. Plus, it’s just as easy to clean: the bowl, lid, and blade are all dishwasher-safe. Handle the bowl with care, though, as it is prone to damage if dropped, and replacing it is nearly as costly as purchasing a new unit.
Dimensions: 9.25 x 7 x 5 inches | Capacity: 3 cups | Operation: Electric | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Overall Manual Chopper: Fullstar Vegetable Chopper
Price: $25 at Amazon, $30 at Walmart
Pros: Super sharp blades make slicing and dicing a breeze, and the interchangeable design adds versatility.
Cons: The lid could use better suction to secure it more firmly during operation.
For those who prefer a manual chopper with minimal physical effort, the Fullstar 4-in-1 Vegetable Chopper is an excellent choice. This model includes four interchangeable blades—small and large dicing blades, a spiral blade, and a ribbon blade—that significantly reduce prep time for your kitchen tasks. The lid sits atop a 1.2-liter collection tray that catches your freshly chopped vegetables, and the non-skid base ensures maximum stability as you chop. Safety features, such as a blade lock and finger guard, help prevent accidental injuries.
Despite initial skepticism about manual choppers compared to high-powered electric models, this chopper exceeded our expectations. We immediately noticed the high-quality materials and extremely sharp blades, each equipped with safety features to avoid cuts. The chopper’s opening is large enough to accommodate half of a large onion, and the chopping process requires minimal effort. Blade inserts are easy to switch out, and the resulting cuts are impressively uniform.
The chopper also includes cleaning brushes and tools to remove any stuck bits, and if you’re short on time, the parts can be cleaned in the dishwasher. The only downside is the lid’s suction could be stronger, but otherwise, this chopper has few flaws.
Dimensions: 10.6 x 4.5 x 4.7 inches | Capacity: 1.2 liters | Operation: Manual | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Splurge Chopper: KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper
Price: $60 at Amazon, $65 at Walmart, $60 at Best Buy
Pros: Compact and powerful, with a convenient speed control lever for precise cuts.
Cons: The lid requires some practice to lock into place correctly before the motor will start.
For those who love the versatility of a food processor but dislike its bulk, the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper is a great investment. Though it’s on the pricier side, the features justify the cost. It offers two speeds and a pulse function, allowing you to chop ingredients or create purees with ease. The drizzle basin lets you slowly add liquids, perfect for salad dressings or emulsifying sauces. With a 3.5-cup capacity, it’s spacious enough for most tasks while remaining lightweight and easy to store.
While the lid took a moment to get used to, we quickly grew to appreciate the powerful and user-friendly design. The speed control lever is especially handy for achieving precise cuts. Additionally, the bowl, lid, and S-shaped blade are all dishwasher safe, and the base cleans easily with a damp cloth.
Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 7 inches | Capacity: 3.5 cups | Operation: Electric | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Value Chopper: OXO Veggie Chopper
Price: $23 at Amazon, $23 at Target, $47 at Walmart
Pros: Grid-style blades ensure uniform cuts every time.
Cons: Requires significant pressure to push food through the blades.
The OXO Easy-Pour Chopper is another excellent manual option for those who value simplicity and durability. While it only features one fixed blade, its overall functionality and innovative design make it a worthwhile choice. The chopper includes a convenient opening at the back for pouring out chopped ingredients and a removable grid for easy cleaning. If you prefer fewer blades and accessories but still want efficiency, this chopper is ideal.
During our tests, this chopper handled a variety of vegetables with ease, producing uniform cuts essential for even cooking. It’s sturdy, though you’ll need to apply significant pressure to push harder vegetables through the grid. Post-use cleanup is easy, as all parts are dishwasher-safe, but make sure to dry them thoroughly before reassembly.
Dimensions: 8.74 x 5 x 3.5 inches | Capacity: 2.5 cups | Operation: Manual | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Pull-Chopper: Mueller Dual-Speed Pull Chopper
Price: $18 at Amazon
Pros: Simple pull-cord operation with a large capacity container.
Cons: Not suitable for small quantities, and vegetables must be pre-cut into smaller pieces.
The Mueller Dual-Speed Pull Chopper offers an efficient, quiet chopping experience with its pull-cord mechanism. With a five-cup capacity, it’s large enough to prep ingredients for a family meal. The easy-to-use design makes it perfect for involving children in meal prep, with a lid that features a speed selection dial for coarse or fine cuts.
In our testing, this model proved durable and effective, although you’ll need to pre-cut your vegetables into smaller pieces for optimal performance. Despite this, the chopper delivered even cuts, comparable to those from a food processor. Although the manufacturer advises against dishwashing, we found it easy to clean by hand.
Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 6 inches | Capacity: 5 cups | Operation: Manual | Dishwasher Safe: Not recommended
Our Favorite Vegetable Chopper
Our favorite electric chopper is the Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor, which excels in power and ease of use. For a manual option, we recommend the Fullstar 4-in-1 Vegetable Chopper, which is both efficient and simple to operate.
How We Tested Vegetable Choppers
We tested various electric and manual vegetable choppers in our kitchens, using each one for typical kitchen tasks like chopping onions to assess their performance. We integrated these choppers into our regular cooking routines to observe how they handled repeated use. Our primary focus was on the quality of the chopped vegetables, ease of use, and cleanability. We also measured the noise levels of the electric models and monitored how securely each model’s suction cups held on the counter.
What to Look for in a Vegetable Chopper
When purchasing a vegetable chopper, consider the following:
- Capacity: Consider how much food you typically prepare and whether you need a larger capacity chopper.
- Ease of Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe parts can save significant cleanup time.
- Material: Opt for choppers made from durable materials, especially for the blades.
- Design: Choose a chopper that fits your space and is comfortable to use.
Vegetable choppers offer a convenient way to simplify meal prep, whether you’re a novice cook or just looking for an easier way to prepare your favorite dishes. Whether you choose an electric or manual model, these top picks are sure to make your kitchen tasks quicker and more efficient.
