Looking for a convenient way to chop almonds, walnuts and peanuts?
You're in the right place.
In this guide, we'll cover everything there is to know about nut choppers.
We'll cover...
- What are the best nut choppers of 2018?
- What else can a nut chopper do?
- Should you invest in a nut chopper?
- The pros and cons of all of our top picks.
Let's get to it!
Our Picks for Best Nut Choppers in 2018
In a rush? Here's a quick look at our top picks for the best nut choppers...
What is a Nut Chopper Exactly?
Nut choppers are small little devices that allow you to chop up nuts really quickly without the use of a knife. In most cases, we say that knife skills are the way to go when it comes to chopping. But in the case of of nuts, they can be super annoying to chop even for the most seasoned cooks. If you ever want to put nuts in your oatmeal, putting them in whole is kind of overkill, as you won't get nuts in every bite unless you completely overwhelm your oatmeal with nuts, which wouldn't be very cost effective or pleasant.
In some cases, you can also use an immersion blender.
What Else Can Nut Choppers do?
Nut choppers come in many different forms, but many of them have the capability to do different things. Some of the more versatile nut choppers (in addition to chopping almonds, walnuts, etc.) will allow you to do the following:
- Do a rough chop on certain vegetables and fruits - although a vegetable slicer/chopper would be superior.
- Turn coffee beans into coffee grinds.
- Grind up whole herbs and spices, making them easier to use in certain dishes.
Why Invest in a Nut Chopper at All?
In addition to chopping things with a knife, which we already mentioned is super annoying for nuts, the other alternative is getting a regular sized food processor. The problem with this is that they are normally pretty large. This means you have to take it out, plug it in, put on the blade, etc. A smaller nut chopper is going to be less versatile, but way more convenient compare to the alternatives. Given that they are relatively inexpensive and easy to store, there isn't much downside to picking one up.
Best Nut Choppers Reviewed & Analyzed
Ninja Express Chop (NJ110GR)
The Ninja Express Chop was our first choice because it has a perfect balance of all the ideal attributes. It's an ideal size for large and small jobs and a good size for storage as well. The way it works is pretty simple:
It has two main components: a base and a top. The top has a button (as you can see in the picture) through which the chop is initiated. The top also contains the motor (and also the plug) which attaches to the blades in the base. Simply add the blades in, add the food, hook up the top and you're ready to chop!
The one downside which we noted below is that this is an electric chopper. If you need something that you don't have to plug in - we've got some manual choices below.
PROS
- Dishwasher safe parts make it easy to clean.
- Has a 200-watt motor which is great if you're prepping a large amount of almonds, peanuts, walnuts etc. Good for both large and small batches.
- Has a 16-ounce capacity which is the perfect size for storage, but big enough to prep lots of nuts!
CONS
- Requires electricity, making it non-deal for camping or outdoor adventures.
Momugs Manual Hand Crank Food Processor
The Momugs Hand Crank Food Processor is ideal for chopping nuts and all sorts of other foods without the need for electricity. Compared to some of the other manual choppers out there, it has a pretty large 8 cup capacity. Using the Momugs couldn't be simpler. Simply mount the bottom to the table or counter-top with the included suction function. Install the blades, load up the nuts, close the lid, choose your gear, and crank! As a bonus, it also comes with a salad spinner which is ideal for coating or enrobing rather than chopping.
PROS
- Doesn't require electricity, but is still powerful.
- Has a salad spinner option which is ideal for mixing things rather than just chopping.
CONS
- None if you don't mind manually turning a crank to chop your nuts!
Ninja Master Prep (QB900B)
The Ninja Master Prep is the upgraded version of the Express Chop. It's pretty similar but is ideal for users who want a bit more power and versatility. The way it functions is ideally the same, but it comes with a more powerful motor as well as two different sized cups. If you plan on prepping watery veggies in addition to chopping nuts and don't have a blender, this could be a good option. One of the containers even has an easy pour spout.
Ninja also makes a bunch of other cross-compatible models that blend and chop which we've documented in our Ninja Model Comparison article.
PROS
- Has more wattage than the Ninja Express Chop coming in at 400 watts.
- Comes with two different sized jars.
- Has a pour spout for easily getting liquids out.
CONS
- Requires electricity.
- Might be overkill for some users.
ZYLISS Easy Pull Food Chopper and Manual Food Processor
The Zyliss Easy Pull Food chopper is part nut chopper, part lawn mower (just kidding). It's not actually a lawn mower, but it does operate by pulling or "revving" it. The blades are attached to a handle on a string that you simply pull to make them turn. It's compact, easy to use, and perfect for saving space.
PROS
- "Revving" method of spinning the blades which is pretty cool to watch!
- 25-Ounce bowl is large enough for prepping, but compact enough for storage.
- Comes with a 5-year guarantee.
CONS
- None - unless you don't want to pull strings to chop your nuts!
Chef'n VeggiChop Hand-Powered Food Chopper
The Chef'n Veggie Chop is very similar to the previous model in that it uses a pulling mechanism to do the chopping. Just like the other models, the amount of pulls is going to determine the fineness or roughness of the chop. In addition to that - these types of pull units also work great for guac salsa, pesto, etc. Given their typically low price point - it's not a bad thing to have lying around - chopping soft tomatoes is a pain!
PROS
- Hand pulling to chop is super fun and easy to do!
- Compact and easy to store.
- Extremely easy to set up and use.
CONS
- Not as "easy" as some of the electric models.
All of these choppers are great choices for chopping almonds, peanuts, walnuts, or any other nut you can think of. If you think you're going to be doing a lot of prep-work and have easy access to outlets, it's probably best to go for one of the Ninjas. If portability is key for you, then any of the manual ones will work out just perfectly.
