Some food processors come with a lid that has a wider feed tube so you can process larger items, such as potatoes or cucumbers, without having to chop them up first. Dishwasher-safe attachments and accessories Choosing between a compact mini chopper and a full-sized food processor? As well as thinking about how much kitchen space you have, consider how much you want to spend and what you’ll be using it for. Food processors This 10-blade spiralizer comes with more blades than the others in our selection, meaning you can make everything from veggie angel-hair noodles to pappardelle. However, they’re not all for fine noodles. You’ll also get attachments for making wide lasagne ribbons, curly fries and a cool wavy slicer for ridged crisps. Where it also differs from the others is a solid build quality. It’s BPA-free, has reinforced ABS parts and a large suction pad with an on/off lever that attaches brilliantly to smooth, flat worktops. The best food processors take the hassle out of food prep, but not all models are fit for purpose – we've found some that struggle with the most basic tasks, such as grating cheese and dicing an onion. However, food processors can be large, bulky beasts and are often expensive. Bigger models, or models with multiple parts, can also be more of an effort to clean.

Make sure the food processor has the tools for the tasks you need to do. It’s worth buying a food processor with a jug blender attachment if you want the versatility of blending smoothies or soup as well as processing food. If you're buying a food processor, but like to bake, you may want to look out for a model that comes with a beater attachment for whipping and whisking and/or a dough blade.As well as chopping, slicing and grating, most can also whisk, whip, mix and knead. This is ideal if you also like to bake but don't have space or budget for a separate stand mixer. Some also come with a blender attachment for making soups and smoothies.

Food processors are designed to take the hassle out of food prep tasks and save you precious time in the kitchen. But they can vary massively in price, size and what they can do – and we’ve found some can be more of a hindrance than a help.

Ready to get creative in the kitchen? Turn vegetables into noodles, fries and more with our pick of the best spiralizers

Food processors are a versatile gadget that can be used to make a broad range of recipes. Visit BBC Good Food to find ideas for what to make in your food processor, from a basic shortcrust pastry recipe or puff pastry recipe , to a homemade peanut butter recipe and classic pesto recipe .

Depending on the severity and nature of the fault, you might be able to repair your food processor yourself.The Spiraliser Express comes with two interchangeable blades for producing different sized spirals. One blade for creating Spaghetti and the other for ribbons, great for Courgetti and Sweet Potato Ribbons. Easy Clean A large-capacity bowl means you'll be able to make bigger batches. However, the bigger the bowl size, the more space it’s likely to take up in your kitchen. It’s also worth bearing in mind that bigger bowls can be more of a faff to clean by hand or may be awkward to fit in the dishwasher. However much you decide to spend on your spiralizer, these are the key features you’ll want to look for. Number of blades