Best Food Processor for Kneading Dough

Best Food Processor for Kneading Dough

If you love baking, but you hate kneading dough, then you’ve come to the right place. These days, you don’t need to waste time and energy kneading dough when you can get your food processor to do it for you.

This article will show you the best food processors for kneading dough that you can find on the market today.

Let’s get started!

Quick Recommendation

If you’re in a rush and just want a quick recommendation, then you can’t go wrong with the Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor.

Here are four quick reasons why:

  • Under $100: This model is our pick for the best dough-kneading food processor under $100. At this price point, the appliance is within reach no matter the budget you have.
  • Intelligent Dough Preset: This food processor has four Auto-iQ Intelligent Preset programs, specifically for kneading dough. There’s even a separate Dough preset button on the front panel for one-touch dough making.
  • Highly Efficient: You can use this food processor to make two pounds of dough in as little as 30 seconds from scratch. The appliance also generates high torque to fold any ingredients you’ll want to add to the dough.
  • Powerful Motor: The motor in this food processor reaches up to 1,000 watts, producing all the power it needs to knead your dough for as long as necessary tirelessly.

If you’re interested, we review the Ninja BN601 Professional Plus food processor in greater detail below.

Best Overall – Cuisinart Custom 14 Cup Food Processor

Our pick for the best overall dough-kneading food processor comes from Cuisinart, with its Custom 14 Cup Food Processor. This food processor’s brushed stainless steel exterior will make for a sleek-looking addition to your kitchen counter.

“High capacity” is undoubtedly the best way to describe this Cuisinart food processor. It has a large 14-cup work bowl and an extra-large feed tube. But, more importantly, it also comes with a 720-watt motor.

These qualities make it the best food processor you can get for kneading dough and handling other cooking tasks with the same high quality.


Pros Cons
  • High capacity work bowl (14 cups)
  • Powerful motor (720 watts)
  • BPA-free materials
  • Easy controls (On; Off/Pulse buttons only)
  • Plenty of additional blades and slicing/cutting discs
  • No reverse option
  • Cuisinart spare parts can be pretty pricey.

What We Like About It:

Overall, we like the way that Cuisinart designed this food processor. As mentioned earlier, it has a high-capacity work bowl and powerful motor, both of which are ideal for kneading dough.

But on top of that, the appliance also has a solid feel to it. That’s because of the solid BPA-free plastic that Cuisinart used and the firm and heavy base. Overall, these traits inspire confidence that the food processor is well-designed and durable.

Best Budget Choice – Hamilton Beach Food Processor; Vegetable Chopper

Our next pick is for the Best Budget Choice, the Hamilton Beach Food Processor; Vegetable Chopper. That is a high-quality food processor from a reputable brand that’s also incredibly affordable.

The work bowl offers a capacity of 8 cups which is ideal because it’s not too big but also not too small for dough kneading. More importantly, that size makes it ideal for both easy cleaning and storage.

The food processor has a 450-watt motor with two speeds and a pulse setting, allowing for much more control. Besides that, all of the parts are also dishwasher safe for easier cleaning.


Pros

Cons

  • Most affordable unit on this list
  • Ideal size (8-cup work bowl)
  • Controls (pulse setting and two-speed options)
  • Easy to clean and easy to store
  • Too small for making larger dough quantities
  • 450-watt motor heats up when used for too long

What We Like About It:

The main reason we like the Hamilton Beach food Processor; Vegetable Chopper is its affordability. Despite the relatively low price, Hamilton Beach does not sacrifice any quality or power with this unit.

This model is ideal for buyers who don’t want to pay extra for a food processor that has far too much power and capacity than what they need. It performs well, especially when it comes to handling the dough.

Plus, this food processor’s parts are easy to clean and store. Therefore, it minimizes the amount of kitchen space that you’ll need to use for it.

Best Runner Up – GE 12-Cup Food Processor with Accessories

Earlier, we shared our thoughts on the Best Overall food processor for kneading dough. Our pick for the runner-up to that model is this GE 12-Cup Food Processor with Accessories.

This food processor is ergonomically designed for comfort and has plenty of other benefits to offer. For instance, it has a 550 Watt motor with three-speed settings for lots of power and control.

Besides that, it also comes with stainless steel accessories (including the dough blade, of course) that are easy to clean and resist rust for a long time.

On top of all that, this appliance is also equipped with suction cups at the bottom. Those will keep the food processor in place so you can leave it to knead dough without worrying about it moving around on your countertop.


Pros

Cons

  • Large capacity (12 cups)
  • Powerful motor (550 Watts)
  • Built-in power cord storage
  • Suction cups at the bottom
  • Blades are somewhat smaller than other brands
  • Heavy for some users to move around

What We Like About It:

We chose the GE 12-Cup Food Processor with Accessories as our Runner Up because it has all the qualities you’d expect from a food processor.

The large capacity work bowl and powerful motor ensure that you won’t have any problems kneading dough. That’s true regardless of if you’re making a large batch or a small one.

Besides that, the built-in power cord storage also got our attention. That feature makes it much more convenient for users to keep their countertops organized when the appliance isn’t in use.

Best Under $100 – Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor

We covered this food processor briefly in the introduction, but now we’ll take a much deeper dive into it.

Our pick for the Best Food Processor for Dough Kneading Under $100 is the Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor. We found that this model was the perfect balance between affordability and performance, and we’ll tell you why.

Besides the work bowl’s 9-cup capacity, this model also has a 1,000 Peak Watts motor and Auto-iQ preset programs.

Among those preset programs is one that’s specially designed for kneading dough in particular, which even has a dedicated Dough button on the control panel.

Performance-wise, this food processor can produce 2 pounds of dough in as little as 30 seconds. That’ll significantly reduce your cooking time, whether you’re making dough for pizza or anything else.

With less time and effort spent on making dough, you’ll be able to focus more time and attention on preparing your meals.


Pros

Cons

  • Powerful motor (1,000 Peak Watts)
  • 4 Auto-iQ Intelligent Preset Programs (including one for dough)
  • Dedicated ‘Dough’  button on the control panel
  • Speedy preparation (2 lbs of dough in 30 seconds)
  • 9-cup capacity might not be enough for larger batches of dough
  • Food gets stuck at hard-to-reach places, requiring a brush to clean

What We Like About It:

Overall, what we like about the Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor is that it’s the best of both worlds. By that, we mean that it blends affordability with high-performance into one handy unit.

When it comes to kneading dough, this model is undoubtedly one of the best in many ways. The Auto-iQ Intelligent Preset Program and the dedicated Dough button to activate it makes dough-making super easy with this food processor.

Plus, its ability to produce two pounds of dough in just 30 seconds is also something we appreciate significantly about this appliance.

Best Style – Russell Hobbs Retro Style Food Processor

Suppose you’re the kind of person who values style and design just as much as performance. If that’s the case, then you’ll love our pick for the dough-kneading food processor with the Best Style: The Russell Hobbs Retro Style Food Processor.

This beautiful red-colored food processor has a vintage look that extends to its controls and display panel. The revolutions-per-minute or RPM display consists of an analog needle-style speed gauge that moves based on your chosen speed setting.

Like most models in this review, Russel Hobbs has two-speed settings and a pulse setting as well. Instead of buttons, though, this design sports a speed lever that you can push as needed.

Despite the retro style on the outside, the inside is just as powerful as the leading food processors. This unit has a 500 Watt motor and offers a work bowl with an 8-cup capacity. Plus, all of its parts are also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.


Pros

Cons

  • Red-colored retro design
  • Speed setting lever and speed gauge
  • Lightweight (6 pounds)
  • It comes with reversible slicing/shredding discs
  • Limited accessories (other than dough tool, which is included)

What We Like About It:

We like this Russell Hobbs food processor primarily because of its styling. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with any of the other designs in this review. But, they are usually limited to silver or grey color options.

This Russell Hobbs model, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air. The red color and retro styling are sure to make any kitchen counter look a lot more lively overall.

Another reason we love it is that it offers excellent retro aesthetics without sacrificing any performance. The 550-Watt motor and 8-cup capacity are similar to what other leading dough-kneading food processors offer.

In simpler terms, this one looks good and performs just as well.

Best Quiet Food Processor – NutriChef Multifunction Food Processor

One of the challenges of using a food processor, whether it’s to knead dough or do anything else, is to make a significant amount of noise. If that’s an issue for you, then you’ll appreciate our pick for the Best Quiet Food Processor: the multifunction food processor by NutriChef.

The most notable feature of this unit is that it comes with an ultra-quiet yet powerful 600-Watt motor. So, not only does it make the food processor excellent for kneading dough, but it’ll also minimize the noise in your kitchen.

Besides that, this model also has a work bowl with an impressive capacity of 12 cups, much higher than several other units in this review. That makes it an excellent option if you want the flexibility to make larger batches of dough.

On top of all that, this model also comes with four color options you can choose from like Red, Royal Blue, Day White, and Space Gray.


Pros

Cons

  • Ultra-quiet but power motor (600 Watts)
  • High capacity work bowl (12 cups)
  • Preset speed settings
  • Four colors to choose from
  • Slightly larger than advertised
  • Food gets stuck in tight corners, requiring a brush to clean

What We Like About It:

There are several things that we like about the NutriChef Multifunction Food Processor.

Firstly, we love that it comes with a powerful motor that doesn’t generate as much noise as other models. At 600 Watts, it’ll knead dough without any problems.

The high-capacity work bowl also offers plenty of flexibility, whether you’re making a small or large batch of dough.

Lastly, we also appreciate that NutriChef offers this model in four different colors. As mentioned earlier, most leading brands don’t offer much flexibility in terms of color or design.

But with the ability to choose from Red, Royal Blue, Day White, and Space Gray versions of this NutriChef food processor, buyers can easily make this the focal point of their kitchens.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about food processors and kneading dough.

How Do I Know Which Food Processors Can Knead Dough?

To know which food processors can knead the dough for you, be sure to check the attachments and functions that the appliance has. The most crucial component is the dough blade, sometimes referred to as a dough ‘tool’.

Dough blades are very different from the other cutters or blades that come with a food processor. They typically have short and blunt arms instead of sharp metal blades.

When the dough blade turns, it kneads dough by gently pulling and tearing it.

Some food processors also have special functions or presets that are designed to work well with the dough.

Be sure to look out for these features when shopping for a food processor that can knead the dough.

Will The Motor Burn Out If I Knead Dough In A Food Processor?

Generally, a food processor with a more powerful motor will not have any problems kneading dough for extended periods. For instance, a food processor with a 700-Watt motor will not overheat or burn out when used to knead the dough.

However, models with less powerful motors, such as those of 600 Watts and below, will overheat if used to knead the dough for too long. They work better with smaller batches of dough which require less energy to knead.

If you have a food processor with a less powerful motor, or if you’d like to prevent the motor from burning out, then use the pulse setting. The pulse setting will only run the food processor for as long as you’re holding the button or wheel in that position.

That will allow you to run the food processor for short periods, allowing the motor to take breaks in between.

How Do I Know When The Dough Is Kneaded Enough?

There are several ways to know when you’ve kneaded the dough enough in your food processor.

Firstly, turn off the food processor and poke the dough with your finger. Pay attention to the indentation that forms.

If it springs back to shape quickly, then it’s ready. However, if it stays indented, then you’ll want to knead it a little bit more.

Alternatively, you can also pull off a small ball-sized piece of dough and stretch it into a thin sheet. If your dough is kneaded well enough, you’ll be able to stretch it very thinly without the dough breaking.

Both of these methods are essentially testing that the gluten in the dough has strengthened enough, which is the reason why you’re kneading the dough in the first place.

Can A Food Processor Over-Knead The Dough?

Yes, a food processor can knead the dough too much.

Remember: the purpose of kneading is to strengthen the gluten in the dough. That’s why the dough becomes increasingly challenging as you continue to knead it in the appliance.

However, there comes the point where the dough starts to become too firm as a result of over-kneading. When this happens, you won’t be able to shape the dough as needed.

All that you’ll be left with is a solid ball of dough that’s too hard to work with.

Why Should I Use A Food Processor To Knead Dough?

Food processors offer several distinct advantages when it comes to kneading dough. Firstly, it saves you from exerting lots of physical energy just to knead the dough before you use it. By the time you’re done working with the dough, you may already be too physically exhausted to continue cooking or baking.

With a food processor, you’ll be able to speed up the kneading process and save yourself plenty of time. Besides that, you’ll also have plenty of energy to continue baking or making your meal with the kneaded dough.

Besides that, food processors offer a level of consistency that’s challenging to achieve by hand. When you’ve standardized the duration for dough-kneading in your food processor, you’ll get the same results every time.

Food Processor Buying Guide: What To Look For

If you’re in the market for a food processor that can knead dough, then here are the qualities that you must consider before selecting your model.

To make it easier for you, we’re separating those qualities into ‘must-haves’ that are absolutely necessary for kneading dough, and ‘nice-to-have that you can do without, though they’d make the process much easier to do.

Must-Have: Accessories

The first thing to consider when evaluating a food processor is the accessories that come with it. In the case of kneading dough, the main thing to look for is a dough blade (sometimes called a ‘dough tool’).

Kneading dough is not possible with sharp cutters or blades, which is why having the blunt dough blade is an absolute must.

When it comes to that dough blade, it’s always best to find one with arms that stretch as far as possible to the side of the work bowl. Having longer dough blades will ensure that the attachment can reach all of the dough, even towards the edge of the bowl.

Shorter dough blades will have a more challenging time kneading the dough thoroughly, especially when the dough is in smaller volumes.

With that said, the dough blade shouldn’t be the only thing that you look out for. To get the most value for your money, be sure to consider the other attachments as well.

That way, you’ll be able to use the same food processor for many more of your regular cooking activities beyond just mixing dough.

Must-Have: Motor Capacity

The food processor’s motor capacity is also another crucial factor. Bear in mind that kneading dough is not like other regular food processor functions. Instead of cutting through the dough, the appliance is stretching and folding it using the dough blade.

Firstly, a powerful motor will ensure that the dough gets kneaded sufficiently. To do that effectively, the food processor must have a strong enough motor. The ideal motor capacity for kneading dough is 700 Watts.

More importantly, a weaker motor will not generate enough power to knead the dough and even burn out with extensive use.

With a food processor motor that’s 700 Watts and above, the appliance will knead the dough effortlessly. It will also not overheat when used for extended periods.

A less-powerful motor will heat up quickly when kneading dough. One way to work around that is to use the pulse setting rather than let it run continuously by itself.

By using the pulse setting, you’ll be able to start and stop the kneading to prevent the motor from overheating and burning out.

Must-Have: Warranty Coverage

Warranty coverage is one of the most overlooked features of food processors. Unfortunately, this takes a back seat to more crucial features like motor capacity and the machine’s design. Yet, this will be the single most critical feature to have if or when anything goes wrong with the food processor.

The warranty coverage represents the manufacturer’s confidence in the food processor that they’re selling to you. In a way, the manufacturer says that they’re very sure the product will last for a particular time, and they’ll give you a new one if it doesn’t.

When it comes to dough-kneading food processors, you should always purchase an appliance with a warranty of one year or more. More reputable brands will offer much more insurance coverage than that, though it will also reflect the higher price.

Not all warranty coverage is the same. Some manufacturers will offer general warranties on the food processor as a whole. Others might offer a different warranty for the motor and another one for the rest of the appliance.

Always read the fine print when it comes to the warranty coverage. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the seller for further warranty details before making your purchase.

Besides the duration of the warranty coverage, it’s also essential to know how to register the warranty and how to file a claim if needed.

Some manufacturers make the process much more straightforward than others.

Nice-To-Have: Aesthetics

Many buyers are more concerned with how the food processor performs when kneading dough rather than what it looks like. That’s alright, especially since many models don’t diverge too much from each other regarding color, finish, and shape.

However, the aesthetics of the appliance is essential for some other people. Naturally, some people want a food processor that matches the rest of their kitchen and looks fantastic sitting on the counter.

If aesthetics are important to you, it’s always best to examine a display unit of the appliance in person. That way, you can be sure of the color and how the machine looks overall.

However, if you’re buying the food processor online, you must not rely only on the promotional photos. Many websites allow customers to upload pictures of the food processors so you can see what it looks like in reality.

Besides that, you can also check out Youtube for unboxing videos that will show you what the food processor and its accessories will look like fresh out of the box.

Nice-To-Have: Dough-Kneading Presets

Having a specialized dough-kneading preset on your food processor is not a necessity. After all, you can control the machine manually to knead your dough to perfection.

However, some food processor models have automated presets that will make the entire process much more manageable. By using a dough-kneading preset, you’ll be able to multitask in the kitchen much more effectively.

Imagine this: while the food processor is automatically kneading the dough following its preset, you could be preparing the other ingredients you’ll need to work with later.

Nice-To-Have: Work Bowl Capacity

Another crucial element to consider when choosing a food processor is the work bowl capacity. Ideally, you’ll want a model with a capacity of 9-12 cups for optimal dough-kneading.

For starters, having a large enough work bowl will provide plenty of room for the dough to move around and fold with any additional ingredients.

Besides that, having a food processor with 9-12 cups worth of work bowl capacity will also give you loads of flexibility. That’s because you’ll be able to use the same bowl for kneading smaller or larger amounts of dough, depending on your recipe’s requirements.

Nice-To-Have: Controls Design

These days, you’ll find those food processors come with a variety of different controls. These controls will help you control the food processor’s speed, pulse setting, and any other feature that the appliance might have.

You can control some of the more hi-tech food processors with touchscreens or buttons. Others come with knobs or even vintage features like levers for you to adjust the dough-kneading speed and other settings.

These controls don’t have much of an impact on how well the food processor kneads your dough. However, they do affect your user experience. Always remember that you’ll often be using these controls with dirty hands.

Imagine yourself in the middle of baking and cooking in your kitchen. Your fingers will be covered in raw ingredients and more. So, use that as your reference when choosing which type of controls you’d prefer engaging with.

Levers and buttons, for instance, are easy to nudge with your finger, even if your hands are dirty. On the other hand, touch screens are likely to need frequent wiping if you use them with dirty hands.

Nice-To-Have: Organization for Accessories

Last but not least, you can also consider the organization options for accessories that come with the food processor.

Some manufacturers might include a small bag for you to keep all of the different blades and accessories. Others might include handy storage cases instead.

Although the accessories organizer is not a dealbreaker, it can help you break a tie when you’re stuck choosing between two equally good food processors for dough kneading.

After all, you don’t want to lose any of the accessories, especially the dough blade.

Final Thoughts

To sum everything up, it’s not hard to find a food processor that kneads dough. However, you’ll want to make sure that you select one with ideal traits for working with dough.

As we’ve seen above, the most important traits to consider are the dough-kneading accessories, motor capacity, and warranty coverage.

Beyond that, you can also base your purchasing decision on nice-to-have features like presets for dough kneading, work bowl capacity controls design, and accessories organization.

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