Best Blender and Food Processor Combo Reviews & Buyer's Guide [2021]

Do you want a blender that’s capable of a whole lot more? Many blenders come with food processors and attachments that are very versatile. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the best blender food processor combo.

Everyone needs a good, reliable blender. There’s nothing like those delicious smoothies or creamy milkshakes you can make at home. But what about the people who like to do a little more experimenting in their kitchen?

Instead of buying a separate food processor, you can find a blender food processor combo. This will let you enjoy your frozen smoothies with the same appliance with which you make dough for baking. Read more about this versatile kitchen appliance and how it can change your cooking experience.

What is a Blender?

A blender comes in several different types: countertop, personal/bullet, and immersion. The typically defining feature of a blender is its use of spinning blades to slice through ingredients.

The blades blend them into a smooth consistency giving you an evenly mixed drink. Blender blades are usually duller, but the motor of the blender gives it the power to crush and puree.

A countertop blender is the most basic type, typically consisting of a large jar with blades at the bottom. You can make larger batches with this blender, and it’s typically better at blending ice and frozen ingredients. They will usually be on the more expensive side. 

A personal bullet blender is better for making single servings. It’s easier to clean and usually a lot cheaper. They’re also more convenient to take with you on the go, often coming with lids and handles.

An immersion blender is typically used for cooking. It comes in the form of a long shaft with blades on the end that you insert into a container to blend the ingredients.

With a hand blender, you can blend the ingredients of soup into smooth chowder right in the pot. It’s much easier to use to make large batches than transferring it into a blender jar. These are usually on the less expensive side.

What is a Food Processor?

A food processor is similar to a blender in that it uses blades to slice through ingredients. However, the blades of a food processor are a lot sharper than a blender.

Food processors don’t have a particularly powerful motor, but they don’t need one. They’re super efficient at working through tough foods like nuts and seeds. They have many different functions, including chopping, slicing, dicing, and grinding.

A food processor is usually used in the process of cooking, whether you’re mincing garlic or making nut butter. Liquids don’t go well with food processors, as the bowl should never be overfilled.

However, they work well with chunkier dishes such as pesto or salsa. They can handle meats if you’re looking to make homemade meatballs. Some even come with special dough blades for making your dough.

What Is The Difference Between A Blender And A Food Processor?

Functionality

The most significant difference between a blender and a food processor is what you use them for. A blender is better used to make drinks or anything involving liquids.

Soups and purees, smoothies, and milkshakes are best suited for a blender. You can use them to make dips and nut butters, but they’re not ideal. Long story short— if you drink it, use a blender.

Food processors are made to handle both dips and nut butters, and they excel at chopping vegetables. They are also used for making dough and shredding cheeses.

While they can make soups and purees, you have to be careful about overfilling them. If you do, you risk them overflowing. To sum it up— if you eat it, use a food processor.

Shape

Blenders come with a tall pitcher that’s usually tapered, which gives them a cyclic vortex-like action that sucks the ingredients to the middle of the blender and helps blend ingredients evenly without leaving chunks. They have a tight-fitting lid on top and usually use one blade at the bottom. 

Food processors come with a big bowl that has a feeding tube where you insert the ingredients. The blade is usually S-shaped, and the top of the bowl locks into place to keep food in. The mixing containers are generally wide, which makes it easier to toss in the ingredients.

Size

The height of the blender depends on whether or not it’s a countertop or personal single-serve blender. Countertop blenders are usually as high as 22 inches, and they can weigh anywhere from 4 to 19 pounds.

Depending on the size, food processors can weigh anywhere from 5 to 22 pounds. They’re usually shorter than blenders but wider. Their capacity ranges between 3 to 16 cups.

Attachments

The more expensive the blender, the more attachments it usually comes with. Some of them have tamper to help you move ingredients around. They can also come with accessories to make things like frozen sorbet. Often, they include extra jars for preparing to go smoothies of different sizes.

Food processors often come with a multitude of attachments, including blades for different purposes. Dough blades, shredding blades, and grating blades are all standard attachments.

They also often come with accessories for extruding pasta. Whereas blenders typically come with one or two attachments, food processors usually come with a lot.

What Is A Blender Food Processor Combo?

A blender food processor combo is an appliance that comes with both a pitcher for blending and a bowl for food processing. They usually share the same base, although they use different blades. 

 A blender food processor combo is going to be more expensive than buying just one or the other. However, you’ll save money by getting one appliance that can do both.

What Are The Benefits Of A Blender Food Processor Combo?

Versatility

If you like smoothies just as much as you like cooking, you’ll love this appliance. You can use a blender food processor combo for almost any task in the kitchen. Use the blender to make your morning smoothie, then swap it out for the food processor to make dough for baking. You can then swap it back to the blender to make a milkshake for dessert!

Speed

Food processors save so much time in the kitchen. Having to chop ingredients by hand when you’re making a problematic recipe is not a great option. With a food processor, you can get it all done in minutes. Having a blender food processor combo saves time because you’re not trying to use an appliance for something it’s not meant to do.

Health

The more power you have in the kitchen, the easier it is to cook at home. Make healthy, delicious meals with whole, organic ingredients with your food processor. You can also make nutritious smoothies with fresh fruit and leafy greens. With a blender food processor combo, you can say goodbye to takeout.

Save Money

Don’t waste money by buying a blender separate from your food processor. If you get both in one, you only have to buy one appliance that saves you money by only requiring you to buy one base for both of them. You’ll also save money on shipping since you’re only ordering one appliance.

Save Storage Space

Buying a blender and food processor combo saves you storage space as well because you only have one base, and you can store it away much easier. You can even keep the base on your counter permanently and store either the blender or the food processor.

Best Blender And Food Processor Combo Reviews

1. Ninja 400-Watt Blender/Food Processor with 48-Ounce Pitcher and 16-Ounce Chopper Bowl (QB900B)

Blender Ratings

• Design: 7/10. The pitcher can develop cracks in the plastic.
• Features: 8/10. It’s versatile but too small to make large batches.
• Performance: 9/10. The motor is well-reviewed as being super durable.
• Usability: 9/10. It’s incredibly simple to use.

Key Features

• 400-watt motor
• 48-oz. blender pitcher
• 16-oz. food processor jar
• Splash guard
• No-slip base
• Storage lids

The Ninja 400-watt blender and food processor is the most budget-friendly blender and food processor combo on the list. Offered at an incredibly affordable price, it’s a small investment with a lot of versatility.

It comes with two conveniently sized jars that are easy to use. The one-touch pulsing is very simple, whether you’re blending, chopping, mincing or dicing.

The food processor has a 2-cup capacity, perfect for processing moderate amounts of food. The blender has a 48-oz pitcher, which is excellent for making large smoothies.

It also includes with an anti-spill splash guard, and easy-flip pour spout to reduce mess. The 400-watt motor is powerful enough to blend frozen ingredients and give you a perfect, even chopping. It provides a 1-year warranty.

2. Oster Pro 1200 Blender With Food Processor Attachment

Blender Ratings

• Design: 9/10. It’s well designed but hard to reassemble without leaking.
• Features: 10/10. Versatility is this appliance’s strength.
• Performance: 8/10. Leaking is a common complaint.
• Usability: 10/10. The different settings don’t make it any harder to use.

Key Features

• 1200-watt motor
• 8-cup Tritan blending jar
• 5-cup food processor jar
• 3.5” feed chute
• Seven speeds
• Three pre-programmed settings

This Oster blender is an incredibly versatile blender that provides a food processor attachment. It features seven different speeds as well as three pre-programmed settings for anything from smoothies to purees.

There’s also a pulse function for precise control over the blending process. The 8-cup Tritan plastic pitcher is BPA-free and dishwasher safe.

The food processor container has a 5-cup capacity. It has a 3.5″ feed chute that’s extra-wide so that ingredients can reach the blade easier.

The dual direction blade technology gives it extra blending power. It has a 1200-watt motor, which is perfect for crushing ice and tough to blend ingredients. It has a 3-year warranty.

3. Ninja Nutri Bowl Duo (NN102)

Blender Ratings

• Design: 9/10.  It would be nice to have a smaller container for making marinades.
• Features: 10/10.  Auto-iQ technology is the best at blending.
• Performance: 8/10.  Some reviews complain it breaks down quickly.
• Usability: 10/10.  It does all the work for you!

Key Features

• 1200-watt motor
• Auto-iQ technology with five pre-programmed settings
• 2 24 oz. Tritan Nutri Ninja Cups
• Nutri Bowl
• Two spout lids
• Precision Prep blades
• Dough blade

The Ninja Nutri Bowl Duo is designed as a super-powerful 1200-watt motor that can handle the toughest of ingredients. Like most Ninja appliances, it comes with an Auto-iQ Boost that uses five pre-programmed settings to do the work for you. This technology features a combination of pulsing, blending, and pausing patterns to optimize food processing.

The Pro Extractor blades are sturdy and well-assembled, breaking down ice and seeds like they’re grapes. The Ninja Nutri Bowl Duo comes with 2 24 oz. Tritan Nutri Ninja cups with two spout lids.

It also comes with the Nutri Bowl for food processing.  This food processor and blender combo offers a 1-year limited warranty.

4. Ninja Mega Kitchen System (BL770) Blender/Food Processor with 1500W Auto-iQ Base, 72oz Pitcher, 64oz Processor Bowl

Blender Ratings

• Design: 8/10.  If only the food processor jar was a tad bigger.
• Features: 10/10.  It’s got a great reversible slicing/shredding disc and grating disc.
• Performance: 9/10.  The screws on the bottom of the bowl may break.
• Usability: 10/10.  It’s easy to use and easy to clean.

Key Features

• 1500-watt motor
• 72 oz. blending pitcher
• 64 oz. food processor jar
• 2 16 oz. Nutri Ninja cups with to-go lids
• Reversible slicing/shredding disc and grating disc

The Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System is an incredible food processor and blender combo. With 1500-watts of power, this motor is unstoppable. Motor burnout is not a concern, and neither is style. It’s got a slim and sleek design that fits the style of your kitchen while remaining easily storable.

This blender and food processor combo can do anything from chopping the garlic to making nut butter. The bowl has a 64 oz. capacity, which is excellent for most things but a bit limited for dough.

The blender is a bit bigger at 72 oz., and it comes with two smaller 16 oz. cups, as well. The appliance offers a 1-year limited warranty.

5. Ninja Smart Screen Blender And Food Processor With FreshVac Technology, 1400-Peak-Watt Base

Blender Ratings

• Design: 10/10. FreshVac technology is incredible!
• Features: 10/10. You can do so much with this versatile blender combo.
• Performance: 9/10. There are some complaints about leaking and durability.
• Usability: 8/10. All these features can be a bit confusing.

Key Features

• 1400-watt motor power
• 9 Auto-iQ programs
• Three manual programs
• FreshVac technology
• Touchscreen
• 72 oz. pitcher
• 40 oz. bowl
• 20 oz. smoothie cup

The Ninja Smart Screen Combo has a super-powerful 1400-watt motor that can slice up veggies with ease. It comes with nine auto-iQ programs that are incredibly convenient when figuring out how to blend different things.

There are also three manual programs in case you want to control it yourself. The FreshVac pitcher is 72 oz., and the food-processing bowl is 40 oz. It also includes a smaller 20 oz. smoothie cup.

FreshVac technology uses a pump to remove oxygen before blending that makes the drink last longer, so you can create multiple batches at once. The touch screen also makes this blender so convenient to use. It has a 1-year limited warranty.

6. Nutri Ninja Mega 1200 Watts Kitchen System, Blending and Food Processing, 1 Base 2 Functions Auto-iQ Technology

Blender Ratings

• Design: 10/10.  Each feature is designed to handle specific ingredients.
• Features: 10/10.  It provides a ton of accessories.
• Performance: 9/10.  Most users love it, but some complained it broke down.
• Usability: 10//10.  This does all the work for you.

Key Features

• 1200-watt motor
• 72 oz. blender pitcher
• 64 oz. food processor jar
• 2 Nutri Ninja 24 oz cups
• Dough blade
• Chopping blade
• Stacked blade

The Nutri Ninja Mega combines Auto-iQ technology with a powerful 1200-watt motor to give you convenient and smooth blending. It also includes a suite of blades and attachments, including a 72 oz. blending pitcher and a 64 oz. food processor jar. The 2 Nutri Ninja 24 oz. to-go cups are great for taking single servings with you wherever you go.

The dough blade and chopping blade are both designed to give you the right consistency for your food.  It also includes a stacked blade for blending ingredients such as frozen fruit or ice.

It’s a reliable blender and food processor combo, but it’s worth it for how versatile it is. The Nutri Ninja Mega offers a 1-year limited warranty.

It is worth considering the additional blender/food processor combo machines

 

1. Cuisinart BFP-703BC Smart Power Duet Blender/Food Processor

2. FOCHEA 3 In 1 Blender and Food Processor Combo,Smoothie Shake Blender, 700W High-Speed Mixer Blender

3. Cuisinart BFP-650GM Velocity Ultra Trio 1 HP Blender/Food Processor with Travel Cups

How To Choose The Best Blender Food Processor Combo

What will you be blending?

The ingredients you want to blend will determine what kind of blender you should buy.  If you plan on crushing ice or blending frozen fruit, you’ll need a countertop or a robust personal blender.  If you plan on using it for blending soups and purees, an immersion blender will be fine.

What kind of food will you be making with a food processor?

If you’re a master baker, you’ll need a food processor that can handle the dough.  You’ll want to make sure the food processor can deal with the ingredients you plan on putting in it.  Check the product description as well as Amazon reviews to see if it’s up to the job.

Motor Power

Motor power is a tricky one.  You need a motor power strong enough to blend without overheating.  However, higher isn’t always better. Try and get an appliance that’s at least 700 watts, which will make it better at handling frozen ingredients and less likely to burn out.

Settings and Functions

Food processors usually only have an on and offsetting, but blenders often come with a ton of speed settings.  If you like more control over your blend, choose a blender food processor combo with multiple speeds. Pre-programmed settings also help do the work for you.

You’ll want a food processor that has different functions such as chop, whisk, and grate.  These will allow you to get the right consistency with your ingredients and avoid pureeing something you want to slice.

Size & Weight

If you’re limited on space, then you’ll want something small that will leave you more space for meal prep and allow you to store the appliance away.  However, if you’re going to make large batches, you’ll need something big enough to handle it. Find a reasonable compromise that works for your needs.

Blade Design & Material

The blades are one of the most critical parts of the blender food processor combo.  Sturdy stainless steel blades will stand up to the motor power and won’t break down.  You’ll also want to make sure that they’re the right design for your ingredients. If you need to make dough or shred cheese, you’ll need the right blades for the job.

Jar Capacity & Material

The jar capacity determines how much you can make in one go.  If you’re cooking for one, a personal blender is more than enough.  If you have a family to feed, you’ll want something with a bit more capacity.  Make sure you keep an eye on fill capacity as well just because it’s a 72 oz. pitcher doesn’t mean you can fill it all the way.

The jar material matters, as well.  If it’s plastic, you want to make sure it’s free of toxic BPAs and other harmful chemicals.  You also want to keep an eye out for cracks. Glass jars are safer, but maybe more fragile and prone to shattering.

Accessories & Attachments

These include the jars it comes with, the different blades, and anything else that increases its function.   More accessories mean more versatility, so try and find one that comes with more than just the jar and bowl. Many blender food processor combos come with extra smaller jars and lids to take with you on the go. These are great for reducing the dirty dishes and are a lot more convenient.

Easy to Clean

Cleanup is one of the downsides to the fun of cooking.  By choosing an appliance that’s easy to clean, you save time after you’re done.  Many blender food processor combos come with dishwasher safe materials. These help you save time since all you need to do is toss them in the dishwasher and let it run.

Warranty

A lengthy warranty is a must when buying a blender food processor combo. You especially don’t want that malfunction not to be covered by the warranty. Choose a blender food processor combo that includes all faults to help protect your investment.

Price

The price of the blender food processor combo varies between different designs.  You might think that the more expensive it is, the higher quality it is. But often you can find an appliance that’s better value for money at a lower price.  You also may not need all of the functions of one of the more expensive options. Choose a blender food processor combo that’s got everything you need and nothing you don’t.

What Is The Blender And Food Processor Combo Used For?

Blending

• Soups.  You can easily make soup in a blender by filling it with the ingredients and setting it to puree.  Many blenders will even heat the ingredients through the friction of the blades. Immersion blenders are especially good at making soups.
• Sauces.  Sauces are another food that is best made in a blender.  You can easily make homemade mayonnaise or unique sauces in a blender.  The constant agitation gives them a smooth taste perfect for your dish.
• Drinks.  Blenders are best suited for making drinks from frozen smoothies to protein shakes.  They blend fresh and frozen fruit and liquid to create a smooth, balanced drink. You can also use them to mix homemade cocktails if you like.
• Crushing Ice.  Any cocktail lovers know the importance of some freshly crushed ice.  Some blenders are powerful enough to break ice cubes into ice chips that will help you make a perfectly crafted cocktail that can rival any you’d have in a bar.

Food Processing

• Grinding meat. Many food processors will let you grind your meat into homemade meatballs or burgers.
• Chopping vegetables. Chop, shred and slice veggies for homemade salads or soups.
• Shredding cheese. Some food processors come with attachments for shredding cheese.
• Make ice cream. Some food processors even have attachments for making frozen sorbets and ice cream.
• Make sauces and dips. Food processors are especially good at making pesto, salsas, and other chunky or smooth spreads.
• Dough. Dough blades are suited for breaking the butter into the flour and mixing it into a dough.
• Nut butter. Food processors can make homemade nut butters both smooth and chunky.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use a blender instead of a food processor?

It depends on what you’re using it for. If you’re doing simple tasks like grinding coffee or making soup, a blender can handle that just fine. For more complicated tasks such as making dough, you’ll need a food processor.

Can you use a NutriBullet instead of a food processor?

A NutriBullet is pretty versatile so that it can handle some simple food processing tasks. However, it doesn’t come with the specific blades a food processor has for doing more complicated things.

Can you use a food processor to make a smoothie?

Not really. Food processors are not well suited for liquids. They don’t work well with frozen ingredients, and the cyclic action of a blender is better suited to making a smoothie.

What food can you put in a blender?

You can put most fruits and vegetables in a blender.  Most blenders can also handle ingredients such as ice or frozen fruit. You can also add powders, liquids, or anything else you want to make your smoothie nutritious and delicious: the better the blades and higher the motor power, the tougher the ingredients you can use.

What can you not put in a blender?

Never put potatoes in a blender, as they’re too tough. Mashed potatoes will also release too much starch and make them gummy.  Also, avoid placing the meat in a blender, because that’s not what it’s suited for. And dried fruit runs the risk of sticking to the blades and ruining them.

Can you put ice cubes in a blender food processor combo?

It depends on the motor power and blades. If it’s a separate container/blades for the blender vs. the food processor, you can use ice in the blender. If it’s all in one, the motor power of at least 700 watts should be able to handle ice. But again, make sure you’re reading the manual to determine whether or not it’s suited for ice.

Conclusion: Which Blender and Food Processor Combo Should You Buy?

Buying a blender and food processor combo is an excellent way of opening up the possibilities of cooking. You’ll be sure to enjoy making your homemade pasta alongside delicious frozen smoothies. But to find the right one, you need to determine what you can afford and what you’re using it for.

If your budget is limited, the Ninja 400-watt will serve your needs without breaking the bank. If you can afford to splurge, then the Nutri Ninja Mega 1200 Watts Kitchen System is the best option.  It’s got a ton of features that you’ll spend weeks exploring.

My personal favorite is the Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System BL770. It’s the best value for money and has everything you need to make exotic dishes. But whether you go low or you go high, you’ll love your new blender food processor combo. Go for it and buy one of these versatile appliances today!