In this article, we discuss what you need to look for in a food processor to make amazing pesto and avoid costly mistakes. We will give you our top recommendations for the best food processors for pesto in 2021 with pictures and videos and some handy links to Amazon.
There is nothing better than the taste and smell of fresh homemade pesto. There are so many versions. The traditional recipe is a blend of pine nuts, basil, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese but you can substitute almost all of the ingredients for something else, for examplehttps://www.delish.com/kitchen-tools/kitchen-secrets/a25725216/what-is-pesto/.
Despite how simple pesto is to make, chefs are divided on which tools are best for making pesto. Traditionalists swear by a pestle and mortar but you can get great results by using a food processor if you choose wisely: a food processor is so very useful for other things that you will never regret buying. We will also give you a couple of recommendations for pestle and mortars and blenders too, later in the article.
So why use a food processor rather than a pestle and mortar?
A common question is which is better for making pesto, a pestle and mortar or a food processor? The answer really depends on what you want to achieve.
- If you are all about flavour and texture then many people say that the pestle and mortar gives better results.
- Although people often choose food processors because they are quicker and easier than using a pestle and mortar, when you follow the right tips it is very hard (if not impossible) to tell the difference. Intrigued? Then keep reading where we will share our tips.
Key features for making pesto in a food processor
There are lots of opinions on how to make the best pesto in a food processor and like everything in life there isn’t one way. Here are some of the things we think you should look for but we’d love to hear what you think.
1. Food processor capacity
Why the size of the food processor is more important than you might think.
One of the top issues with making pesto in a food processor is food splatter: the fast-moving blades throw food up against the walls which prevent even mixing, which results in uneven chopping. Unless your aim is to make chunky pesto then this is less than ideal.
There can also be incomplete mixing when working with smaller quantities of ingredients in larger food processors. This is caused by the dead-spots created between the blade and the bowl. Whilst well-designed food processors minimized the problem, it can mean that the pesto is not as finely chopped as some would like.
For that reason. our recommendations list favors smaller models but we have included a larger model if you don’t need ultra-fine pesto and would prefer to have a more versatile food processor. Pesto freezes really well and will also even store in the fridge for a few days, which is good since pine nuts can be expensive, so making larger batches can work really well.
- To workaround incomplete mixing, you can use a spatula to scrape the food from the walls of the food processor. For that reason, it is best to avoid very small food processors which will make it difficult to fit in a spoon.
- Some models include a bowl-scraper attachment. These allow you to scrape the sides without needing a spoon or spatula. We think this is particularly useful if you plan to buy a larger model.
- Alternatively, you can use a table-top blender. The tapered walls help to funnel food towards the blade but you will often still need a spatula or spoon to clean food from the walls. Another drawback is that you may find you need to double the quantities to ensure that the blade is immersed in the pesto. This is our least favorite option but if you think it works best for you, keep reading for our food blender recommendation.
- An immersive blender is another option and gives excellent results. Hand-held immersive blenders and often better choices for space-limited city-dwellers than a bulky food processor or table-top blender. Some chefs have found this to be a better option than a food processor and almost as good as a pestle and mortar. They do a fine job in our opinion since you can easily keep on the pesto on the blade and the motor is well away to reduce heat exposure. We know you came here looking for food processors but if you change your mind keep reading for our recommendation. They are especially useful when making small batches of pesto.
2. Use a Sharp blade
Food processors often come with many different attachments but a sharp, metal blade will often be the best choice. The sharp blade cuts the basil leaves, which helps to retain the flavor.
3. Look for a fast, powerful motor
A sharp blade with a powerful motor is the best route to smooth pesto. It also is a great time-saver in the busy household kitchen.
4. Pulse features
We have discussed already how food processors can throw the pesto onto the container walls. Another downside is that the motors are often below the containers. These have a tendency to get hot which can impair the taste of the pesto.
For these reasons, a pulse feature is very beneficial. By pulsing and periodically scraping pesto from the walls back towards the blade, you can both help to get an evenly chopped pesto but also keep it cool – giving you a pesto with superb taste and texture.
5. Easy access lid
Many food processors come with a secure quick-release lid. This is handy since you will need to open it periodically to mix the pesto.
In addition, some will allow you to add ingredients without opening the lid. This means you can adjust the consistency without needing to open the food processor compartment every time. Large chutes are particularly handy to make it easy to add ingredients easily.
Our Recommendations
We realize that not everyone has the same requirements, so we have created top-picks for different purposes.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, Visual Product Guides will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Best Food Processor for making pesto (Editor’s Choice) – Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus 24 Ounce Processor (DLC-2ABC)
Our Rating: 9.2 / 10
- We love this 3-cup food processor. In our opinion, it is the perfect size for making pesto. It is not too small to make it awkward to scrape the pesto from the walls but it is still small enough to make fine pesto
- Cuisinart is one of the most popular brands of food processors and in our research it is the top most-searched-for make
- Being from a quality manufacturer you get a strong motor and sharp blades which are ideal for making pesto
- It comes with the all-important pulse feature which gives you greater control when making dips
- You can add ingredients without opening the lid which is great when you want to get the pesto just right
- Overall, customer feedback is excellent. There are some negative reviews but these are small in number so the majority of people should never have a problem
- Like the majority of food processors, they are powered from below which can risk heating the pesto
Best Large Food Processor for making pesto – Hamilton Beach 70730 Bowl Scraper Food Processor
- At under $50, this is keenly priced to fit the average budget. This food processor has a great set of features that make it ideal for pesto-making.
- We love the bowl-scraping attachment which makes it easy to make pesto without having to open the food processor lid frequently.
- The pulse-setting makes it a breeze to achieve even consistency and helps to reduce the impact of over-heating.
- Holds 10-cups which makes it versatile for many types of uses. This might not be large by food processor standards but it will handle many tasks for the average family kitchen,
- Hamilton Beach is a quality brand, which can be seen in the build quality and blades. In fact, for those who like to know what others are doing, we found Hamilton Beach to be the third most-searched-for brand of food processor on the internet. and is consistently in the highest Amazon sales rankings
- Our pick has excellent reviews There are a small proportion of negative reports where the food processor has broken down in the ensuing months. In our opinion, these are relatively few compared to the number of people buying the product so most people should never experience a problem.
- Hamilton Beach has a poor TrustPilot rating for customer service but this is the case for all of the major brands. These brands have not claimed their listing on Trustpilot which means that the ratings are initiated by the customers. Those who are most likely to give such a rating are more likely to be irate customers, which skews the results negatively.
Best Budget Food Processor for pesto – Proctor Silex 1½ cup capacity food chopper 72500RY
Our Rating: 9.0 / 10
- We couldn’t find a food processer under $20 that met all of the criteria on our wish-list but we think this model from Proctor Silex is a fantastic compromise.
- This compact model features the all-important pulse-setting to ensure even mixing and chopping without heating the pesto.
- Quality stainless=steel blades help to protect the basil leaves.
- Proctor Silex is part of the popular Hamilton Beach brand
- The food processor holds 1.5 cups and which is more than sufficient for a batch of pesto. You will need to open the food processor periodically to scrape the food off the walls but the lid is designed to be quick-release (you switch on the motor when you turn the lid) which actually makes this a little more convenient. The small size may make it a little more awkward to scrape but this is a minor irritation for the great price.
- Versatile for other everyday kitchen tasks
- Customer feedback is generally positive but as for our top pick there are a small number of complaints of the machine breaking
- There is not a hole in the lid to add ingredients but it is easy to remove the lid so this is not as important
Best Luxury Food Processor for pesto – Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System 72 oz. Blender
Our Rating: 9.6 / 10
- If money is no object and you want the best food processor for pesto, then we think you should take a look at the Ninja BL770.
- We love that it comes with a variety of attachments so you can choose between a blender or a food processor, for example. This kitchen tool is so versatile that you will find so many uses for it
- If it comes with an 8-Cup Food Processor Bowl if you want to make a larger volume and freeze it but it also comes with a single-serve cup, which is handy for making small batches
- As you would expect from a sought-after-brand, the machine is durable and high-quality with sharp blades, powered by high-performance motors which mean making pesto and other dips is a breeze
- Customer feedback is typically excellent
- If you are short on space then you might want to consider other models
Best Immersion Blender for pesto – Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Multi-Purpose Hand Blender
Our Rating: 9.0/10
- If you are going to own a hand immersion-blender then this is the one to choose
- This well-crafted blender has the right power and precision to help you make the perfect pesto. Pesto made in under 30 seconds!
- With the motor well away from the food, there is no chance for overheating
- In the manufacturer’s own words: “Designed and engineered to outlast and outperform the competition”. It comes with a 100% 1 year warranty – and yes it is an American guarantee
- You get a range of attachments which makes this more than just a blender. Whilst you are browsing your next pesto recipe you can relax with a frothy cappuccino!
- Hand-held blenders can be awkward to handle, so we recommend you choose (this) one with a comfortable non-slip grip
- Excellent customer feedback, coupled with the strong guarantee and great build quality means you will definitely not be disappointed
Best Pestle and Mortar for pesto – Health Smart Granite Mortar and Pestle
Our Rating: 9.4 / 10
- OK, so you want to make pesto the traditional way. You’ve already shown you are not afraid of hard work but this isn’t a workout!
- We chose a stone pestle and mortar. It is harder wearing and easier to look after. Believe it or not because it also makes it easier to crush the ingredients. And granite just looks beautiful
- This pestle and mortar is 5-1/8 inches in diameter and 3-1/4-inch deep. Mortars of this size make it much easier to make the pesto!
- The pestle sits comfortably in the hand which you will appreciate when you make the pesto
- We also really like the attention to detail with rough textured interior which chefs will know makes it easier to grind
Recap
So that is our top picks. You can make excellent pesto in a food processor when you choose the right model.
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