If you work with dough frequently, you must have thought time and again to give your hands a break. Well, that’s certainly not a bad idea!
With some vital appliances like food processors, every kitchen task has been made much easier than it was ever before.
Dough kneading by hand is not only boring and difficult for many people nowadays and with the help of the best food processors; making a delicious pie crust has become a lot easier and speedier than kneading by hand or with a stand mixer, cutting the minute’s job down to seconds.
7 Best Food Processors For Making Pie Crust Reviews 2022
In this article, we will review the 7 best food processors for pie crust by discussing all the unique attributes each of them provides, to help you make the top choice aimed to buy the best food processor for pie crust.
1. Cuisinart DFP-14BCWNY Food Processor
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Cuisinart is a renowned & reliable name for kitchen appliances. DFP-14BCWNY is a large food processor designed for large families and semi-commercial needs. It is powered by a brushed motor with a power rating of 720 watts.
The food processor has a pulse mode in addition to the standard on/off button. The range of detachable stainless steel blades along with slicing and shredding discs makes it ideal for a variety of kitchen jobs.
In addition to dough kneading, it features 7 preset functions for catering to different food preparations like mixing, chopping, slicing, shredding, emulsifying, and puree making. Its large Lexan work bowl has a capacity of ~14 cups perfect for family gatherings and entertaining guests at parties.
The cover has an extra-large feed tube to facilitate larger chunks of ingredients even whole fruits and vegetables eliminating the need to cut them to size. It also has a small feed tube and a pusher of the corresponding size to facilitate certain kitchen requirements.
The machine is designed in a manner to allow easy assembling/disassembling and all the parts except the base with electrical circuits are dishwasher safe. A range of stainless steel blades and shredding, slicing discs have been provided for efficient food processing.
It is also supplied with a spatula and a recipe book to help you start with your cooking journey if you are a novice in the kitchen. The durable control paddles are designed for a single-touch operation.
2. Breville BFP660SIL Sous Chef Food Processor
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Breville’s BFP660SIL Sous Chef is a powerful food processor designed for control, power, and versatility. Its beast of an induction motor has an electrical power rating of 1000 watts packing it with enough punch to grind, slice, and chop through anything and everything.
The direct drive mechanism allows high-speed rotation of the blade which is controlled by the standard on/off button. The momentary pulse control is also available to give precise, even mixing with maximum control especially when kneading pie dough.
BFP660SIL has a large capacity of 12 cups making it ideal for large family gatherings and smaller events. The plastic work bowl is made out of BPA-free polymers for food safety. The adjustable slicing disc can be set on any of 24 size options to cut from 0.3 mm paper-thin slices to 8.0 mm chunks.
It is supplied with three feed chute options in a range of different sizes. The largest feed chute has a maximum size of 5 inches & can be used to process the un-cut ingredients with ease. In addition to the standard 1-1/2 inches mini-feed chute, it also has a medium-sized option with a chute size of 2-3/4 inches.
The stainless steel S-shaped blades have a micro-serrated edge to provide swift and smooth cutting for any of the processing settings including chopping, mixing, etc.
The machine is supplied with safety features including electric overload protection and a safety braking system that does not let the blade turn if the cover is not properly secured. All in all, a good choice for kneading and mixing jobs.
3. KitchenAid 12-Cup Food Processor
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True to what they say, KitchenAid helps food lovers to explore cooking possibilities with much ease and effortlessness, making your kitchen a place of endless options, with their stylish and functional appliances for today’s hectic kitchen.
Featuring a powerful 700-watt motor, the KitchenAid KFPW760WH is a convenient and useful food processor which is not only capable to quickly slice, dice, and chop but can also make purees and knead doughs, working as your helper in the kitchen, significantly reducing preparation time.
The unit features an all-wrapped frame which not only makes the machine durable but also creates a sound barrier offering quiet operation. This KitchenAid food processor consists of 3 polycarbonate bowls, a large-sized main work bowl with a 12 cup capacity, a chef’s bowl with a 10 cup capacity, and a mini 4 cup sized bowl with a mini blade.
But unfortunately, the provided mid-sized bowl cannot be used with the multipurpose chopping blade. Featuring an ultra-wide mouth feed tube that accommodates most ingredients without slicing and the bigger ones like tomatoes, cucumbers, and potatoes with slight splitting or slicing, however, narrow feed tubes are also there.
Not only does it include a multipurpose blade made of stainless steel, but additionally dough blade, citrus press, and egg whipping also come in handy with this model, combined with three different sized precision stainless-steel discs for fine slicing to shredding (a 2-mm and a medium 4-mm slicing disc, and a moderate shredding disc 4-mm).
Other main attractions of this processor include the pulse control, a cleaning tool, and a tough storage case to help protect and organize the blades, discs, and accessories, so you won’t lose them. For auxiliary convenience, the control panel and base of the appliance can be easily wiped clean however other parts are dishwasher safe.
4. Cuisinart FP-14DCN Food Processor
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The Cuisinart Elite Collection 2.0, FP-14DCN is a 14 Cup multi-purpose Food Processor which howls with a 1300 watt ultimate power motor to plow through anything you throw at it, helping you to make your favorite recipes easily.
Its innovative design includes a smaller 4½ cup work bowl encapsulated in the 14 cups sized the main bowl, making it versatile; however, you can remove any of them as per your working requirements. The bowls are also made of BPA-free plastic with pour spouts & measurement markings.
The FP-14DCN also includes an adjustable slicing disc, and a reversible Stainless Steel shredding disc for fine or medium shredding, while the dough blades ideally help to knead any kinds of doughs, either for loaves of bread or pie crusts.
The exclusive and patented SealTight Advantage System seals bowls while locking blades to keep your kitchen counters free from spills whether using the processor for mixing, processing, or pouring. Moreover, the removable parts are all dishwasher safe with a cleaning spatula for user convenience.
Added attractions comprise a wide-mouthed feed tube and the easy On/Off Locking System on the Release of the Push-Button prioritizing the users’ safety. The Electronic touchpad comes with 4 controls of ON, OFF, DOUGH, and PULSE. The touchpad has blue LED lights indicating the mode of operation in use.
If compared with the Cuisinart DFP-14BCWNY 14-Cup Food Processor, this one is high priced as well as more powerful with a peak power motor of 1300 watts however both are the same size, making the Cuisinart Elite Collection 2.0, FP-14DCN a better choice for commercial use.
5. Oster Total Food Processor
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Need help preparing delicious gourmet meals or kneading doughs, the Oster Total Prep 10-Cup Food Processor is your perfect kitchen partner then.
The Oster food processor boasts multiple functions including slicing, shredding, chopping, pureeing, and convenient kneading, helping you to experiment with new recipes, without being afraid of any help.
With about 10 cups of capacity, supported by a powerful 500-watt motor, the Oster Total Prep is fairly sized for most processing projects with enough power. It comes with three attachments, a dough blade for convenience, hands and mess-free kneading of homemade pizza crust, cookie or pie doughs, and bread.
The found attachments are easy to use, sharp, and fairly skillful. The reversible stainless steel slicing/shredding disc is sharp, enabling both slicing and shredding plus it saves space. The disc is also designed with finger holes for user safety and easy handling.
The extra-large and continuous feed chute found on the Oster Total Prep can handle ingredients without being precut or with minimal slicing. The Oster 10-cup food processor comes with two-speed options and a pulse button to achieve precise results when working with soft products like dough ingredients.
It also takes in a unique S-shaped blade for better mixing and chopping results. The buttons on the control panel are very responsive and easy to use too. This machine is dishwasher safe (parts/ accessories) as well.
6. Cuisinart DLC-2009CHBMY Food Processor
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Perfect the art of food preparation with a beautiful, glossy Cuisinart 9-Cup Food Processor which is indeed the ideal fast and easy preparatory tool for any kitchen task. Being a Cuisinart, the DLC-2009CHBMY is compact as well as durable with its Brushed Stainless Steel frame, which will easily fit on any countertop, either big or small.
The large 9 cup capacity Lexan work bowl makes it easy to create any meal for your entire family from scratch! A 600-watt induction motor runs inside the stainless steel housing base plotted to tackle most of your processing jobs. The induction technology also makes the processor fairly quiet, consistent, and nearly maintenance-free.
Including the slicer disc, shredding disc with new chopping blade, shredding, slicing, and chopping ingredients is made easier simply with the push of a button. With its wide mouth feed tube, you can save on pre-cutting time as it can take up whole fruits and veggies.
The dough blade will have you baking the perfect pie crust like a pro because the speed automatically adjusts to attain the proper dough consistency for making all kinds of dough from pie, pizza dough to bread in this machine. The DLC-2009CHB-Prep-9 has smooth touchpad controls with 2 speeds and an off button.
The Pulse button lets you have full control over how much you want to have your food processed. The Lexan work bowl is practically unbreakable while this plus all the other removable parts are dishwasher safe and the included spatula makes cleanup a breeze.
This processor could come in handy if you’re on a Paleo, vegan, or raw food diet and need to do a lot of chopping. The DLC-2009CHB-Prep-9, in my view, would significantly speed up your food preparation, giving you more flexibility to do other things.
7. Ninja BL770 Blender & Food Processor
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The Ninja BL770 consists of 4 different containers, including the main pitcher (72 oz.), 8 cups food processor bowl (64 oz.), and 4 single-serve cups (16 oz. each). However, it is compact and only 9.2 pounds, so it would take minimal space on your countertop.
This beast of a machine operates on a powerful 1500 watts motor which enables it to crush, grind and slice anything and everything. With a large food processing bowl with a capacity of 8 cups and 4 single-serve cups with to-go lids, this machine offers an all-in-one solution to all of your everyday needs.
All of the vessels are made out of tough, BPA-free plastic and are Dishwasher safe too. The main pitcher is designed with a pouring spout while the food processing bowl can easily handle up to 2 pounds of dough easily.
The control panel is re-defined with touch buttons and an Auto-IQ function that works with five-speed settings. Starting from low speed for dough making, medium speed for emulsifying and puree making such as dips, sauces, etc. to all the way to a high-speed setting for crushing, chopping, and making smoothies.
The various blades work in different settings to give you ideal food processing. A special single-serving setting is designed for the smaller individual serving jars while the pulse function offers flexibility and control of blending especially when making pie doughs.
In addition to the dough blade, it is supplied with four, six stacked blades for high power blending jobs while the single-serve blades offer convenience when making individual-sized processing. A safety lock mechanism is in place which does not allow the blades to run if the jar lids are not properly closed at their appropriate place.
The Buying Guide Of Best Food Processor To Make Pie Crust
Food processors are a versatile kitchen tool and can be used for any number of things to aid your cooking, baking, and confectionary adventures. Using a food processor for pie dough is one of the many things you can do with it.
However, you need to consider some key features if you want to purchase a food processor for making pie dough. Our following buying guide will walk you through these key parameters:
Power of the food processor
As with anything tool, power is one the most important factor when considering buying one. The same is true for a food processor where you would require ample power to knead your pie dough.
Generally, the required power is directly proportional to the amount of pie dough you are kneading. For most common food processors with a capacity of ~ 4-6 cups, a moderate power rating of 500 – 700 watts should do. Anything more than that is essentially overkilled from a pie dough perspective.
Variable speed and Pulse Control
Generally, food processors are designed with two or more speed settings to allow handling various different tasks in the kitchen. From the pie dough point of view, you might also need this speed variation along with the pulse control.
Pulsing allows easier and evenly mixing of the ingredients in a controlled manner. Therefore this ability is one of the key parameters you should seek in your food processor for pie dough or any dough for that reason.
Capacity
The capacity of a food processor is totally dependent on your requirements. Since this kitchen tool is so versatile that it can be used for many more things in your kitchen, you should carefully consider the plethora of work you would be doing with it.
However, generally, the capacity requirement for pie dough is not very much. You can make a large pie out of ~ 3 cups of flour. Hence, for an average family, any food processor with a capacity below 5 cups should be enough for pie dough. For larger families or commercial usage, you can always choose a food processor with a bigger size.
Blades
Blades hold a place in a food processor that no other thing can be compared to. Since it is a versatile tool, food processors generally are supplied with a set of blades and various attachments for doing different jobs.
Different models boast a range of blade designs made out of either food-grade plastic or stainless steel for quick and efficient cutting& kneading.
Additional features
When looking for a food processor for pie dough, there are also some additional features that you might have interest in & would find very useful in your kitchen.
These include waterproof buttons, dishwasher safe parts, and provision of juicer attachments and accessories. These items may not directly be required for kneading pie dough but can make your life easy in many different things you do in your kitchen.
Wrapping Up
In this article, we have reviewed for you the seven best food processors for pie crust, out there. As believed, the dough kneading process using hands can be an extremely tedious task and with the invention of food processors, we definitely need not tire ourselves.
We want to repeat that you must have the ingredients to be cold before you jump onto making a pie crust, so make sure to store them in the fridge until the start of the mixing process.
Another thing to note is that you have to pulse the ingredients instead of processing nonstop not only to make the process easier but the pie crust softer and crispier.
Therefore, when looking for a food processor for making a delicious pie crust, apart from considering power, capacity, and different features for dough kneading make sure it has the onboard pulse control.
Keep these suggestions in mind and then buying any of the above-mentioned food processors will definitely lead you to achieve successful results. Happy Kneading!!!
People Also Asked About For Food Processor For Pie Crust
I have compiled the most asked questions that people ask about at different platforms;
What is the best size food processor for pie crust?
This should depend on the pan size and consequently the amount/size of pie you want to make. Generally, any food processor with a capacity of 3-5 cups can give you enough pie dough for a couple of standard-sized pies. For larger dough requirements or a commercial operation, you can look for the larger ones.
What can I use instead of a food processor for pie crust?
Apart from choosing the best quality ingredients, there are 6 easy ways to make a pie crust without using a food processor:
- Hands (not really recommended as the warmth from your hands tends to melt the fat)
- 2 Knives.
- Deep muffin pan.
- Pastry cutters.
- A stand mixer (using the paddle attachment)
Should you Refrigerate pie dough before rolling it out?
Refrigerating pie dough is one of the most crucial steps for making pies. Depending on different recipes you need to refrigerate the dough for a preset time to allow firming up of fat while simultaneously relaxing the gluten structure which will lead to the peculiar flaky texture of the pie.
