A lot of food prep tasks become a whole lot easier with a food processor. A food processor is the perfect small kitchen appliance for shredding, combining, pureeing or emulsifying ingredients to make all kinds of dishes, like homemade salsa, creamy pesto, garlic hummus, puréed soup, pastry dough, baby food and more. It’s no wonder a food processor makes a great gift for a foodie.

When choosing the best food processor for your kitchen, consider capacity, features, speed options and size. Do you want a food processor with multiple slicing options? If you enjoy baking, a food processor with a dough blade could come in handy.

If you don’t know how frequently you will use a food processor, choose a two-in-one appliance. For instance, you could choose a stand mixer that will pair with mixer accessories, like a vegetable slicer or shredder. If you like smoothies and milkshakes, you need a blender. So, you could look for a blender and food processor combo.

Using a food processor is straightforward, but you do want to take the time to read over the instruction manual thoroughly. Food processors use very sharp blades. So, it is important that you follow all assembly, use and cleaning directions properly. To take care of the blade and keep it sharp, ensure you use and clean it only as recommended.

You do not want to add foods to your food processor while it is running. Let it come to a complete stop before opening it to add ingredients. You also do not want to have your food processor plugged in while you are assembling or disassembling it for cleaning.

Before choosing your food processor and bringing it home, it is wise to pick a storage space for your new appliance. Think of where in your kitchen cabinets or your kitchen and dining room furniture you will be able to fit the food processor so that it is easy to access and put away. A mini food processor might be the best option if you have limited space.