Choosing the Right Commercial Food Processor

A commercial food processor is one of the most versatile tools in the kitchen, providing the ability to slice, chop, grind, shred, puree, grate, and dice, all in a single piece of equipment. The food processor is a relatively new innovation, first appearing in commercial kitchens in Sweden in the 1940s and France in the 1950s before being introduced to the United States.

Types of Food Processors

Unlike blenders, which feature narrow containers and small blades best suited for liquids and soft ingredients, food processors have wide bowls ideal for cutting through dry ingredients. They also support interchangeable discs or blades that can chop, shred, or dice various foods. There are five main types of food processors to consider:

Batch or Bowl Food Processors

Bowl-type, or batch, food processors use a blade mounted near the bottom of the bowl. The blade is attached to a vertical shaft that can also rotate discs for additional tasks. While these units can handle low-volume slicing, grating, and shredding, they're especially effective for mincing, whipping, and pureeing.

• Best Used For: Pureeing, chopping, whipping, and mincing

Continuous-Feed Food Processors

Continuous-feed processors are equipped with blade discs that enable slicing, julienning, grating, shredding, crimping, and dicing. These units immediately expel processed food into a pan or container, making them ideal for handling large quantities without interruption.

• Best Used For: High-volume slicing, shredding, and dicing

Buffalo Choppers

Buffalo choppers, also called bowl cutters or food cutters, are named after Buffalo, N.Y., the town where they were first manufactured. These machines are often used to cut through tough ingredients and typically operate with a single speed setting, so the texture and uniformity of the final product depend on how many times the bowl rotates beneath the spinning knives.

• Best Used For: Chopping meats, firm vegetables, and dense mixtures

Combination Food Processors

Combination food processors are hybrid units that offer the flexibility of both batch and continuous-feed operation. Designed with interchangeable attachments, these processors let operators switch between using a bowl for pureeing or chopping and a feed chute for slicing, shredding, or dicing into a separate container. This dual functionality maximizes kitchen efficiency without requiring multiple machines.

• Best Used For: Prep tasks in kitchens that require both batch and high-volume chopping and mixing

Vertical Cutter Mixers

Vertical cutter mixers are high-capacity, freestanding machines built for rapid, large-batch food prep. These powerful units use a vertical shaft equipped with high-speed motors to mix, chop, and emulsify dense and heavy ingredients. Because of their speed and volume capacity, these mixers are widely used in high-output commercial kitchens, such as schools, hospitals, and catering operations.

• Best Used For: Large-batch mixing, chopping, and emulsifying

Food Processor Blades

Food processor blades expand the functionality of your equipment, enabling them to perform a wide variety of prep tasks with a single unit. Operators can choose specific blades to achieve the desired cut style or texture for their recipes and service needs.

• S-Blade: Ideal for chopping, mixing, pureeing, and grinding medium-density ingredients
• Slicing Disc: Creates uniform slices of vegetables, fruits, and cheeses at various thicknesses depending on the disc size
• Shredding/Grating Disc: Shreds or grates a variety of ingredients, including vegetables, cheese, and nuts
• Dicing Kit: Cuts ingredients into small, consistent cubes, often used for salsa or salad toppings
• Julienne Disc: Produces long, thin cuts for garnishes or stir-fry
• French Fry Disc: Cuts potatoes and other root vegetables into thicker strips ideal for frying
• Dough Blade: Designed for kneading doughs by gently folding ingredients

Explore commercial food processor parts to find compatible blades and accessories for your food processor.

How To Choose the Best Commercial Food Processor: Key Considerations

Size

Commercial food processors are available in many different sizes, from compact countertop models with 2- to 4-quart bowls to large floor units that can hold more than 20 quarts. Smaller processors are ideal for low-volume tasks, like chopping herbs or pureeing sauces, while larger models are built for kitchens that handle bulk ingredients or frequent prep. When deciding what food processor to purchase, consider how much food you process daily, the density and variety of ingredients used, and the amount of counter or floor space available.

Power Ratings

When selecting a food processor, the most important specification to consider is its horsepower rating. Higher horsepower motors are better equipped to handle larger volumes, denser ingredients, and extended use without overheating. This design supports faster and more efficient processing.

The RPM (rotations per minute) is another important factor that measures how quickly the blade rotates around the shaft. While a high RPM speed can speed up processing, a machine with a lower horsepower may struggle to maintain that speed when working with dense and heavy ingredients and mixes. On the other hand, lower RPM units generate more torque, making them better suited for cutting through tough ingredients. Choosing the correct combination of horsepower and RPM based on output and ingredients processed ensures reliable performance for your prep needs.

Attachments & Accessories

While some food processors are designed specifically as bowl-type or continuous-feed models, many are combination units that support both configurations. In these cases, components such as batch bowls, continuous-feed assemblies, and food pushers are often sold separately as accessories for customization.

Most processors that come with a bowl typically include an S-shaped blade for pureeing. Some bowl-based and continuous-feed processors often include one or more discs for slicing, grating, shredding, or specialized cuts such as waffle, crimp, or whip. Dicing kits are also available in multiple sizes and require both a cutting disc and matching grid to operate properly. If these accessories don't come with the base unit, then they can usually be purchased individually; however, availability varies depending on the brand. Some manufacturers offer a broader selection of discs and blades than others so be sure to asses compatibility.

Top Food Processor Brands

Electrolux Professional Food Processors

Electrolux Professional food processors offer simplicity and flexibility, containing features such as waterproof control panels, user-friendly operation, and angled or vertical hoppers. Both the Multi Green and Heavy Duty series vegetable cutters possess dual hoppers—one round and one oval—for processing ingredients in different shapes and sizes. Models are available with polycarbonate or stainless steel bowls, and all food-contact parts can be removed without tools for simplified cleaning.

Hobart Food Processors

Hobart food processors are known in commercial kitchens for their durability, operator-focused designs, and cutting performance. They provide bowl, continuous-feed, and combination models, all designed with safety in mind. For productivity, Hobart offers features such as the patented COOLCUTTER knife system for faster batch processing, triple-interlock safety mechanisms, and clear bowl covers for visibility. Their continuous-feed processors come with tilted hoppers—either half or full size—and dual safety interlocks, making them secure for high-volume use.

Robot Coupe Food Processors

As a pioneer in the commercial food processor market, Robot Coupe introduced one of the first models in the 1960s. With a focus on continuous-feed processors, Robot Coupe doesn't produce traditional batch processors; however, many of its continuous-feed models are bowl compatible for added versatility. Known for powerful motors and vertical hoppers, their processors support more than 50 cutting discs, letting operators customize precise cuts.

Waring Food Processors

Waring has been a trusted name in foodservice for over 75 years and are especially prized for making durable combination food processors. Most of their processors feature clear polycarbonate bowls for visibility, vertical hoppers for gravity-assisted feeding, and the patented LiquiLock® system that prevents leaks during operation. For enhanced reliability and a compact design, Waring also offers light-, medium-, and heavy-duty processors with sealed batch bowls, continuous-feed attachments, and paddle buttons or touchpad controls.

Find the Best Food Processor for Your Business at KaTom

Selecting the right food processor can improve prep speed, product consistency, and overall kitchen efficiency. Whether you need a compact unit for light prep or a heavy-duty model with specialized attachments, KaTom offers a wide variety of commercial food processors for every operation .