bigrus

I tested KitchenAid’s 3.5-Cup Food Chopper for a week – here’s what I learned

Harry October 31, 2024

KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper

Model: 5KFC3516
Bowl capacity: 3.5 cups
Drizzle basin: Yes
Dimensions: 5.95(D) x 7(W) x 8.74(H) inches
Weight: 2.7lbs
Speeds: 2 plus pulse
Material: Plastic
Engine: 240 watts
Cord length:
Colours: 11

Someone best food processors It is an indispensable kit for every kitchen. They can help you slice, dice and dice lots of fruits, vegetables and proteins to save time. And if fine chopping isn’t your forte, they’ll give you consistent results in such a short time that you can do it yourself.

But sometimes a standard-sized food processor may be too large for some tasks. Maybe you want to chop an onion, make a small smoothie, or make a sauce. All of this can be accomplished by using a compact device that handles smaller portions more easily than a large device where the ingredients will get lost in a large bowl.

With this in mind, I had the opportunity to test and review it. KitchenAidFind out if you’re up to the task with the 3.5-Cup Food Chopper, the smallest food processor made by KitchenAid.

KitchenAid 3.5 Bowl Food Chopper: Price and Availability

KitchenAid food chopper on the counter

(Image credit: Future)

You can normally find KitchenAid’s 3.5-cup Food Chopper at: Amazon for $59, but at the time of this writing, it has fallen 25% to $44. You can also buy directly from KitchenAid. $59which is now reduced to $44. This compact mini food processor is included with KitchenAid’s other food choppers and processors, ranging in capacity from 5 cups to 13 cups.

Although this product has a smaller capacity, it is similar in price to Hamilton Beach’s Food Processor. 54 dollars, It has a capacity of 10 cups.

KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper: Design

KitchenAid food chopper with pistachios

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

This mini food chopper has a simple and compact design and fits well with other KitchenAid appliances in your kitchen. The style is consistent with KitchenAid’s other small kitchen appliances, including Classic and Artisan stand mixers and Artisan Espresso Makers.

With 11 color options, you will definitely find the perfect match for the aesthetics of your kitchen. Even though I tested the device in White color, I quite liked its appearance. Peanut version, but if you prefer a bolder colourway, you can opt for Imperial Red or Onyx Black.

Befitting the size of the food chopper, it’s also lightweight, weighing only 2.7 lbs, so moving it around your counter and in and out of cabinets won’t be a problem. This is much lighter than this Cusinart’s Elemental 8-Pot Food ProcessorThe one we recommend as the best lightweight device in our buying guide. It also has a neat channel where the cable hides around the base of the device; This means you won’t have to deal with the cable when it’s not in use.

In addition to taking up little space, the base of the unit feels heavy-duty and sturdy; No issues with it moving or becoming unstable during use.

Unpacking the KitchenAid Food Chopper

(Image credit: Future)

Unpacking the device
Unboxing the device is simple. It comes in a cardboard box measuring 6.75 (D) x 8 (W) x 9.5 (H) inches and is compactly packaged without any excess packaging. However, this becomes easier as there are no oddly shaped attachments to fix in place and the blade is stored safely inside the bowl.

To create
This is relatively simple because you can choose from a single blade that easily fits into the work bowl. This is quite different Breville’s Paradise 16 Food Processor It comes with two boxes of add-ons. However I had an expert problem with how to properly secure the bowl to the base and I will explain more about this in the ‘Ease of use’ section.

KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper: Functionality

Picture 1 related to 3

KitchenAid Food Chopper disassembled — (Image credit: Future)

This food chopper is designed to chop raw fruits, vegetables or nuts, herbs and garlic. It can also puree cooked fruits or vegetables for baby food, soups and sauces.

The work bowl has a 3-cup capacity and features a pouring spout that allows liquids to be poured easily; Useful when blending smoothies and other liquids. The lid features a sprinkling can, so liquids can slowly pour onto your ingredients without having to stop the device every time you want to add extra liquid.

However, it only comes with one blade, namely the chopping blade; Therefore, if you are thinking of whipping mayonnaise, this device is not for you.

In addition to two speed settings operated by a lever at the base of the work bowl, you can press the handle on the lid to pulse the food and get a thicker or thinner mixture depending on your needs. And it measured 75 dBA when operational. On the contrary, it is not the quietest food processor. Cuisinart 14 Cup Special Food ProcessorIt registered at 65.2 dBA, but it didn’t seem overly loud, and yet you found the noise level too loud, but you won’t be able to keep it running for long.

KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Chopper: Performance

Three bowls of food chopped in the KitchenAid food chopper

(Image credit: Future)

Unlike a standard food processor that comes with multiple blades, I was limited in the food I could test. With only a single chopping blade and no other attachments, I couldn’t chop or slice ingredients.

However, I still chopped the pecans, celery, and onion mixture, and stirred in the flour and butter for a crumbly mixture. I also made hummus that I could use to test the drizzle bowl and pour oil.

Picture 1 related to 2

Chopped pecans in the KitchenAid Food Chopper — (Image credit: Future)

Although I love cooking, I’ve never been great at finely chopping ingredients, so I often use a similar tool to chop nuts and onions when I’m meal prepping. The great thing about this food chopper is its size. When you’re dealing with small portion sizes, there’s no need to lug around a large food processor to chop an onion or a handful of nuts. The compact device also takes up less space in the dishwasher, which is always an advantage.

Picture 1 related to 2

Chopped onion and celery in KitchenAid Food Chopper — (Image credit: Future)

I was impressed with the overall results. It chopped the nuts, celery, and onion mixture very quickly and evenly, and performed as I expected. She also mixed the flour and butter mixture for a crumble topping, which I then placed in another bowl to mix in the sugar. (It’s a quick shredding trick that I often do in my small food chopper and saves me from having to use my machine.) KitchenAid stand mixer.)

Picture 1 related to 2

Chop the mixture in the KitchenAid Food Chopper — (Image credit: Future)

I then made some hummus, which required mixing several different ingredients rather than simple chopping. I started chopping up a can of chickpeas before adding some tahini and letting it blend. The next step was to add some lemon juice, which I poured into the sprinkling can above the lid. This went relatively smoothly and the lemon flowed without any problems. However, when I started adding the olive oil from the drizzle bowl, I ran into a problem. It was very intense; It was sitting in the sink area and wasn’t dripping. So I had to remove the lid and pour the olive oil in like this. However, this meant that the device had to be stopped between each addition.

Picture 1 related to 3

Hummus made in the Kitchen Aid Food Chopper — (Image credit: Future)

Ever since I tried the KitchenAid Food Chopper, I’ve continued to use it. I blended red berries with Greek yoghurt to make a berry smoothie for one, and I also blended crackers to create ‘breadcrumbs’ to add to the meatballs. There seems to be no end to what this little appliance can help you achieve in the kitchen.

KitchenAid 3-Cup Food Chopper: Ease of Use

Oil spilling from the drain funnel on the lid of the KitchenAid Food Chopper

(Image credit: Future)

When I first started, I felt like the user manual that came with the product wasn’t worth buying. It’s full of warnings rather than instructions on how to use the product. The only useful information was on maintenance and cleaning. After some searching online I found something downloadable manualGiving clear instructions on how to use the device.

There isn’t much to the device and you don’t need to keep changing parts with a single blade. The lever that controls the speed is also easy to use. However, I found it a bit difficult to place the bowl on the base in the correct position to operate the device. And although I tried many times, I could never quite grasp this skill. In comparison, useful guidance Breville’s Sous Chef 12 Cup Food ProcessorMake it easy to align the bowl and lid.

The other problem I found was the drizzle basin. The gap allowed thin liquids like water, lemon juice, and vinegar to pass through, but olive oil was too thick. However, despite these two problems, it is still a relatively easy device to use.

KitchenAid 3-Cup Food Chopper: Cleaning

This food chopper is relatively easy to clean. The work bowl, lid and blade can be washed on the upper dishwasher rack. Alternatively, all parts can be washed in hot soapy water, rinsed and allowed to dry. The soleplate should be cleaned with a damp cloth, avoiding abrasive cleaners or scrubbing sponges. I had no problems cleaning the food chopper after adding lots of different ingredients. However, if food gets stuck in the blade, I recommend leaving it in place in the work bowl, adding hot, soapy water and letting it soak.

KitchenAid 3-Cup Food Chopper: Verdict

I enjoyed using this KitchenAid 3-Cup Food Chopper, which works well for small portions. While you won’t be able to make large batches of soup with this mini but powerful machine, it’s ideal for small batches when a standard food processor is too large. There doesn’t seem to be much point in using a regular food processor to chop a few nuts or blend sauces. Although it’s been a while since I’ve bulk processed fruits and vegetables to store in ice trays in my freezer, it might be ideal for pureeing baby food!

Harry

Pasteleria-edelweiss

Pasteleria-edelweiss

I tested KitchenAid’s 3.5-Cup Food Chopper for a week – here’s what I learned

Former Abercrombie CEO denies sex trafficking accusations

All the Best Dressed Celebrities at the 2024 LACMA Art + Film Gala

Olmsted County Road 35 bridge over I-90 reopens to traffic

Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine detained in New York over alleged parole violation

I tested KitchenAid’s 3.5-Cup Food Chopper for a week – here’s what I learned

Harry

You Might Also Like

Former Abercrombie CEO denies sex trafficking accusations

All the Best Dressed Celebrities at the 2024 LACMA Art + Film Gala

Olmsted County Road 35 bridge over I-90 reopens to traffic

Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine detained in New York over alleged parole violation