Even though using a food processor for dough kneading may seem weird, it starts to make sense when you start using one. Ask a bread dough maker. They’re going to tell you kneading pizza dough or dough kneading, in general, is a tedious task, and most people would want to avoid it.
By using a food processor for kneading dough, not only can you make the task more manageable, but it’ll become fun, too. That said, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when you’re looking for the best food processor for dough. Even though a good food processor can make your life easy, a bad one can make it miserable.
Read on as we take you through some of the best food processors with dough blades and the things you need to consider while getting one.
Don’t have time to read? Here’s a quick summary of the products we recommend.
Product Name | Why We Picked It |
The Culinary Cup Food Processor | Great for people looking to prepare small batches of dough |
Ninja Professional Food Processor | Suitable for people who don’t have a budget constraint |
Oster Kneading Food Processor | Perfect for people who don’t have to move around their food processor too much |
Cuisinart 7-Cup Processor | Suitable for people who want to clean their device in a dishwasher |
Breville 660SIL | Suitable for people who want to do a lot more than kneading dough |
Oster 1200 Food Processor and Blender | Suitable for people looking for a powerful motor |
Ninja Mega Kitchen System | Suitable for people looking for a small food processor |
Breville Chef’s Food Processor | Perfect for people who want a food processor with multiple chutes |
The Best Food Processors for Kneading Dough
The Culinary Cup Food Processor
The Culinary brand is widely popular amongst professional and home chefs. Apart from its kitchenware and cooking tools, the brand has become famous for its wide range of food processors, and the 8SV model is no exception.
This food processor has a working bowl that has eight cups of flour. The bowl also has markings on its side because of which you can put inside the exact amount of ingredients for kneading dough, and there’s no guesswork involved either. When you’re making cookie dough, it will help you achieve the right consistency, too.
The best part is that not only can it help you knead the dough, but it can also help with sliced fruits, chopped meat, purees, and soup dressings. It has an adjustable slicing disc to shred ingredients in different sizes. It also has a stainless chopping blade to knead pizza dough or chop ingredients.
When you’re kneading the dough with this, you’re going to have three-speed settings so that you can achieve the perfect gluten amount. These settings are:
- Pulse control
- Low
- High
This gives you ultimate control. Apart from the multiple speed settings, the motor has a speed of 350 watts which is decent if you’re trying to make dough or cake batter in small batches. While processing any ingredient, you can use the processor’s tube to introduce new items into the mixture.
By doing so, you can save yourself from the hassle of taking off the lid, adding new ingredients, and then shutting the lid. You won’t have to worry about the safety of this food processor, too. All of the parts are dishwasher safe.
The Pros
- It has a chopping blade and an adjustable slicing blade
- It has three different speed settings
- All of the parts can be removed and are dishwasher safe
- The working bowl has been marked so you can measure ingredients accurately
The Cons
- You can only prepare small batches with it
- It doesn’t give you a precise speed for kneading dough
Ninja Professional Food Processor
Another famous brand you can try is Ninja. This brand has kitchen equipment of all kinds, a food processor or a tea or coffee maker. This cup food processor is going to make your life a lot simpler because of its state-of-the-art features.
It has different settings for shredding ingredients, making a puree, kneading dough, or chopping vegetables and meat. You’ll just have to press the button on the processor once, and it’ll start doing its job.
If you don’t like having several discs and blades lying around, then this food processor is going to be the perfect option for you. Out of the box, it’s going to come with a metal disc for shredding and slicing ingredients, a chopper blade, and a dough kneading blade.
Whether slicing cheese or making bread dough, you install the appropriate attachment onto the machine and use it. Compared to Culinary’s food processor, it has a slightly larger bowl since it can fit nine cups of flour.
That said, you won’t have to worry about the ingredients you’re putting inside of it since it will give you consistent results every time. Be it cookie dough or vegetables, quality isn’t going to be a problem with this food processor.
To clean the components, you’ve used and the work bowl efficiently, the manufacturer recommends that you add a warm water and soap mixture into the bowl and then run the blade on pulse mode to clean it. You’ll also be happy to know that every component inside the box is dishwasher safe, too.
That said, the best part of this food processor is that it can run at a speed of 1,000 watts which is fantastic. A speed like that is enough to knead two pounds of dough in only 30 seconds. This is the best food processor for dough for some people since it delivers a higher power at an affordable price.
The Pros
- You can put the removable parts of this food processor into a dishwasher
- It has a dough blade, a stainless steel blade, and a chopper blade
- It has a capacity of nine cups
- The motor is powerful
- It has four different presets for operation
The Cons
- It can be a bit expensive
- It’s a bit heavy, so carrying it around isn’t easy
Oster Kneading Food Processor
Appliances by Oster and all kinds of kitchen tools have made their way into people’s homes since 1940. If you’re thinking of owning one, you can start by getting this one for your food processing needs!
This food processor gives you an easy way to prep dishes. It has preset settings that let you chop onions, slice carrots, shred cheese, or knead pizza dough. There’s a foot-wide mouth feed tube that lets you incorporate all kinds of ingredients into the food bowl. The motor runs at power 500 watts which is good.
With a power outage like that, you can knead dough to perfection quickly. It also has two additional speed settings to get your desired results. If you don’t feel like using the speed settings, you can also use the pulse to operate the machine at will.
This food processor can incorporate 10 cups into the bowl. The large bowl of this machine can let you prepare a meal for a family that has four members.
Even though the bowl’s lid has a locking system that is supposed to stop any spillovers, several users suggest that you do not overfill the bowl with ingredients since there’s no telling when it starts spilling over.
It has a special dough blade and a metal blade that help you get things done. The bowl that comes with it is has a large capacity to store items when you’re done prepping your food.
It also has room inside its base to neatly tuck away the adapter so that you don’t lose it.
The Pros
- The lid can be locked to avoid spillage
- It has an adjustable slicing disc that is great for food processing
- It can store 10 cups
The Cons
- The motor can only run at 500 watts
- It can heat up pretty quickly
Cuisinart 7-Cup Processor
If you have a small family, this food processor will be the perfect choice for your family. The work bowl of this food processor can fit up to seven cups which is pretty little according to market standards. You can easily prepare small batches of dough for family gatherings or a picnic, but you can’t use it to run a cookie shop.
Mass production is not where this processor exceeds, so that’s one thing you’ll have to keep in mind. However, whether you’re chopping onions for a pizza or shredding cheese for lasagna, the stainless steel disc will ensure you have a smooth experience since you’ll always get a consistent size and shape.
When attaching discs to this machine, you’ll first have to mount the stem onto the disc. It also comes with a chopping blade that you can use for meat or chopping nuts. However, the one thing people seem to love about this processor the most is its ability to stay quiet even while being supremely productive.
This means that if you’re trying to prepare a fresh loaf of bread in the morning without trying to wake up someone, this is the food processor you should get. Unlike several other food processors in the market, this machine also has a large feed tube that can let you put whole fruits and vegetables into the mix without going through the hassle of chopping them.
It also has small and large push guides that direct the different ingredients towards the work bowl’s center. Another handy item you’ll get with this machine is a spatula with the bowl’s appropriate size and width. When you’re done making bread dough or your favorite hummus, you can use the spatula to transfer it.
It is the perfect bowl scraper, and it’ll make your job a lot easier. Moreover, cleaning it isn’t a hassle since all of the parts that come with it are dishwasher safe.
The Pros
- It comes with a spatula that makes it easy to scrape items from the food bowl.
- The discs are made from stainless, and there’s also a dough blade
- The parts are removable and can be cleaned in a dishwasher
- It has a large tube that can let you incorporate whole fruits and vegetables into the mix
The Cons
- It only has the capacity for seven cups
Breville 660SIL
People often call this food processor perfect for professional chefs because of its features. However, it is a versatile appliance since it can be used in several conditions. Even though it will do a great job of mixing and mincing different ingredients, it also kneads dough pretty well.
If you’re looking for a new food processor, this is an option you should consider because you can use its blades to chop vegetables and also use its dedicated dough blade to mix flour easily.
Throughout every task, this machine will handle every task with efficiency. The induction motor installed inside it will make processing any ingredient easy. It’ll give consistent results every time because of its powerful motor. It’s heavy-duty and has a drive control that gives it kneading, cutting, and mixing abilities you would dream of.
Furthermore, it also has overload protection that ensures it does not fail from working when you’re doing those demanding food processing jobs with it. Even though people love using large chutes, this food processor outperforms the competition by including a mini chute and a medium with a bigger chute.
Now add a serrated blade system and a blade dough kneading to the mix, and you can rest assured knowing your food processor can handle almost all kneading tasks. Several people who have bought this food processor are impressed with its capabilities. Even users who have been using different food processors lauded this food processor’s ability to mix even the most complex ingredients without a problem.
People also love its adjustable slicing disc, and the heavy base can ensure it stays in place while you’re using it on the countertop. All in all, it is a capable machine that does everything pretty well. Like several other food processors from Breville, it is a bit on the pricey side, but it also delivers on that price tag.
The Pros
- It has an adjustable slicing disk.
- It comes with overload protection which ensures the ingredients inside the bowl don’t spill.
- It has three different chutes for introducing different ingredients into the bowl.
The Cons
- For a cup food processor, it has a weak motor
- It was a bit expensive
Oster 1200 Food Processor and Blender
Are you looking for a two-in-one cup food processor that works well as a blender and a food processor? If you are, then this food processor from Oster is perfect for you. It is without a doubt one of the most versatile pieces of kitchen equipment you’re going to come across, and it may easily take the place of many other pieces of equipment in your kitchen.
With this machine alone, you can easily create a wide range of ingredients for your food items that would typically take up a few dedicated places inside your kitchen space. The most exciting bit of this machine is its powerful motor which churns out 1,200 watts.
With this much power inside the motor, there are a plethora of tasks that you can perform since the motor isn’t to die on you any time soon. Like many other users in the market, the one thing that will draw you towards this food processor is its highly powerful motor. Many food processors in the market promise a strong motor, but this one goes the extra mile to deliver that performance.
That said, apart from being a powerful food processor, it’s also good at parts that require finesse. One of those activities is kneading dough. You wouldn’t necessarily want a food processor that plows through the mixture with brute force when kneading dough. That’s going to ruin the integrity of the dough, and you’re going to end up with a mixture that is too stringy.
This food processor has three different smart settings and seven different manual speeds. You can constantly adjust the processor’s speed just to ensure that you’re always in control.
According to online reviews, the one thing that has impressed buyers the most is the powerful motor. Some online reviewers also called it the most powerful food processor since it could easily plow through the heavy dough and liquid ingredients.
However, some users also stated that its extra speed is excessive for kneading dough. That said, you can always dial it down to a pace you’re comfortable with. So overall, if you’re looking for brute force, this is the food processor you should get. However, you’ll also notice that it can handle delicate tasks pretty well, too.
The Pros
- It has an extremely powerful motor that can plow through all kinds of ingredients.
- It has a variable slicing disc.
- It has seven different variable speeds, ensuring the dough is kneaded correctly.
The Cons
- The excess speed of this machine can make it get hot quickly, which kills the yeast fairly quickly.
- It’s a bit heavy
- It was slightly expensive
Ninja Mega Kitchen System
Let’s address the elephant in the room: kneading doughs aren’t exactly what food processors are used for. Even though many models have powerful motors for the job, the problem is that some of them can have motors that are too powerful. That said, this isn’t the case with this food processor.
It can handle light and medium kneading tasks with ease. However, you should also remember that it is not the food processor you’d want to use for kneading dough regularly. It doesn’t handle large amounts well, so you can forget about kneading dough in it if you have a large family. It can handle food prep well.
According to people who have bought it, the Ninja Kitchen System can do everything from juicing to blending frozen ingredients. It has a Total Crushing Technology that can crush ice in just a few seconds.
Needless to say, if you’re looking for a food processor that handles food prep well, the Ninja should be on the top of your list. That said, when it comes to dough kneading, there’s a different story to consider since the manufacturer claims it can handle small amounts of dough fairly easily. That said, it’s also fair to consider that even powerful food processors struggle with dough.
Online reviewers also state that it does well when working with cookie or cake batter, but it doesn’t perform too well with the dough. The only thing you should remember is that the Ninja is a compact food processor and a blender.
Once you factor in its ability to juice, the entire unit starts looking like a great deal. That said, if you plan on doing some heavy kneading with this food processor, then you should consider other options.
The Pros
- Great for cookie dough
- It doesn’t take up a lot of space
- It’s light which makes it easy to carry around
The Cons
- It doesn’t perform too well with the dough
- It can’t work with bigger batches of dough
Breville Chef’s Food Processor
While this processor can handle dough well, it’s a lot more versatile. Since it’s supposed to appeal to a specific niche, it’s slightly pricey. If you’re looking for a food processor while keeping a budget in your mind, then you may ignore this model based on its price alone.
However, after closer inspection, you’re going to see how its capabilities and features reveal a helpful device that has top-of-the-line features.
It can handle every kitchen task fairly well, including kneading dough. If you’re still unsure where your money went, you should look at this machine’s motor. It can produce 1,200 watts of power, making it one of the most powerful food processors in the market.
It has high torque and a direct drive design, giving the machine’s induction motor easy to plow through the dense dough. It has a stainless steel S blade vital for the machine’s power. But that’s not all!
Two blades are included in the box. One of them is a smaller blade for a 2.5 cup bowl, and the other is the S-blade for a 16-cup bowl.
You’re also going to get a variable disc for those complex cutting jobs and two different chutes for added versatility. For several people who have bought it before.
While the machine’s price may be a bit too much for those who are fixated on a budget, if you’re looking for great food processors, this is one of those options you must consider buying.
The Pros
- One of the most powerful motors in the market
- It has two different chutes
- It comes with two different blades
- It also has a storage box at the bottom
The Cons
- It can tend to heat up pretty quickly
- It’s a bit too pricey
Choosing a Food Processor to Knead Bread Dough
So now that you’ve decided to invest in a food processor to knead the dough, there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of. People buy food processors for various reasons, and dough kneading is just one.
Here are some essential things you must know before getting a food processor.
The Basics of Dough Kneading
Without getting too involved in chemistry, you should know that much of the bread dough’s texture and form is because of gluten. Gluten is the collective term used for the protein strands created when kneading flour into the dough.
Even though having gluten in your dough is essential, you can only have too much of anything, even when it’s good. If you end up with over-kneaded dough, you’ll have excess gluten. This will toughen up the dough, and you’ll get dense bread with low volume.
But Why Do Food Processors Matter?
Because most food processors have a powerful motor, it can be too easy to over-knead the dough. When you over-knead dough, the gluten strands start breaking up, reducing the bread’s overall elasticity.
Moreover, it’s also important to remember that a dough blade produces heat while kneading dough. Excessive heat from the chopping blade can kill the yeast present in the dough. As a result, the dough does not rise, which leaves you with dense bread.
That is why when you’re for the best food processor, there are a few considerations you’ll have to make. First and foremost, the food processor needs to have a “pulse function,” which lets you knead dough in short sequences. This will help you avoid the problem of over-kneading, and you won’t shred the strands of gluten.
Secondly, the motor’s speed settings should let you knead the dough at a pace that thoroughly mix the ingredients. While mixing the ingredients is easy, most food processors do it at a pace that overheats the dough or over-knead it. The best food processor for making bread dough will hit the sweet spot.
It’ll have all the benefits, and kneading dough will be a breeze. Yearning to know which one to get? Consider going through the list below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mix bread dough in a food processor?
Yes. Place dry ingredients into bowl and pulse for five seconds until thoroughly combined if desired. Add two tablespoons of flour and process once the dough is firmly attached to the blades. The dough may be a little sticky and not stick together, depending on the texture.
Is a food processor suitable for kneading dough?
Yes, however, you can also get a stand mixer. You can use a stand mixer, but most doughs can easily be prepared in the food processor. Food-pulling equipment makes the dough flexible within a few minutes without much effort.
Can I use a food processor to mix bread dough?
Yes. The easiest method of preparing dough is to use a processor. The quick-moving axis makes the dough elastic in about five seconds in the food processor.
Which food processor is good for making dough?
The answer to this question depends on your particular use case. Go through the options we’ve listed to know more.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Seven of the best food processors for kneading in the market today. With such a magnificent collection of machines, we don’t doubt that finding one that you like will be a breeze for you.
That said, you should remember that even though all of these are excellent machines, we can’t surely say each device will perform well in every kneading scenario.
Some of these can sift through big batches with ease, while others can handle small kneading jobs fairly easily. At the end of the day, the decision comes down to the specific scenario you’re dealing with.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!