Do not, however, dismiss this food processor, it has its place, and for someone who will only expect it to perform light duties and doesn’t want to over-challenge it with large quantities, the Tower delivers good results, even if it does take a little longer than others. The machine is sturdy and with four suction-cup feet it clings to the work surface and keeps vibration to a minimum. But even with this steadiness, the motor is extremely noisy. Stability: It’s vital that a food processor is stable on a countertop because of the speed their blades spin at. All the models above have non-slip or suction-cup feet to limit movement. Pulse: A pulse function is great for controlling your chopping and avoiding any accidental puréeing, which can happen at full-speed. All the models featured above have this function. Whatever you need the Expert Prep Pro to do, the two BPA-free bowls ensure you have the right size tool for the task. If you need to prep really big quantities of food, you can use the 3 litre bowl with the large blade or discs, or for small amounts, use the 950ml bowl. The small bowl nests inside the large one and is fully sealed, so nothing will leak when you’re making small amounts of your favourite dips and dressings.

The Andrew James machine is good value considering it’s so well-equipped, meaning there is little need for any other gadget. The attachments are not as substantial as the more expensive machines but made short work of all the punishing processes it was put through, with little wastage. The controls are straightforward with the dial having two speed settings, pulse and off. Equally the set-up instructions were easy to follow and the machine was up and running in about 10 minutes – most of that time was spent sifting through all the attachments to sort out what was what. The Tefal processor has an impressive range of attachments, which at this price is a bargain. It’s sturdy and even on top speed there was little vibration, meaning a very quiet machine. There is also an in-bowl storage box and the cord winds neatly away, making this an excellent space-saving processor. There’s very little need to consult the instruction manual when assembling and we were able to start using the food processor not long after removing it from the box. First up we sliced cucumber, which was effortless, a whole cucumber fits easily into the feed chute and the slices were even in size with no waste.There is a recipe chip included in the price, which gives easy access to tried-and-tested, basic recipes displayed on the touchscreen. There’s also a subscription-based service called Cookidoo that provides access to thousands of recipes online.

The included booklet will have you prepping like a pro in no time. The bowls, blades and discs are simple to fit, and with just four buttons on the control pad – high, low, pulse and off – it couldn’t be easier to use. Are you a busy cook making family meals, baking, bread making and entertaining, or, do you merely want to speed up preparing ingredients? Your choice will help determine what functions are essential to you. How much space do you have?Multi-function processors are bulky, some with many attachments. Perhaps a compact style will suit you better. There are many parts to the Cuisinart Prep Pro and thankfully storage has been well thought through, with separate boxes for discs and blades. The dicer and spiraliser will need extra room in the cupboard but are worth it. Key specs – Size: 42(H) x 25(W) x 34(D); Bowl size: 1.5 litre; Power: 600w; Attachments: 1 grating/slicing disc, blender disc and stainless-steel chopping blade; Additional notable features: 1.4-litre blender Key specs – Size: 42.5(H) x 21(W) x 26.5(D) cm; Bowl Size: 3 litres; Power: 950w; Attachments: 2 slicing discs, 2 grating discs, dough blade, stainless steel blade, triple pusher and extra-large feeder tube, egg whisk, blending tool and spatula; Additional notable features: Large, medium and small bowl (with blades) The complete Ninja system also includes a large 2.1-litre blender and an even more fearsome-looking six-blade knife for making healthy smoothies, juices and frozen drinks. Impressively, the machine knows what jug you’re using (food processor, blender or single-size drinks cup) and intuitively adjusts speed and processing accordingly.