5 Best Blender Food Processor Combos, Tested and Reviewed

Every machine ran the same gauntlet, and we scored on the things that decide whether a combo earns its counter space. Blending tests pushed frozen berries and ice into smooth drinks, processor tests covered dicing, shredding, and dough, and we listened at full speed every run. Cleanup came after every batch, because sink friction kills most machines.

The wattage picture came out of those runs clearly: machines under roughly 1,200W handled soft-fruit smoothies and sauces, while 1,400W to 1,800W added headroom for dough and heavy ice.

All five units were bought at retail, no free samples from manufacturers, and the whole lineup ran through those three weeks of daily use before we locked in any scores.

Pros and Cons

Bottom Line

The BN801 is our best overall pick, and at about $170 it costs less than some single-purpose blenders. Check the price of the Ninja BN801 Professional Plus Kitchen System on Amazon.

Pros and Cons

Bottom Line

If you can live with the noise and footprint, the BL770 is the smartest money here. See the Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System on Amazon for pricing.

Pros and Cons

Bottom Line

For weekly shredding, slicing, and batch prep, the SS401 is the machine we would pick. Check the Ninja SS401 Foodi Power Blender Ultimate System on Amazon for pricing.

Pros and Cons

Bottom Line

For budget buyers who make smoothies and small batches, the Power Elite earns its counter space. Check the Hamilton Beach Power Elite on Amazon for pricing.

Pros and Cons

Bottom Line

If the price fits, the SmartPrep is the last combo you will buy. See the Vitamix A3500 Gourmet SmartPrep Kitchen System on Amazon for pricing.

Prices are what we saw at major retailers at the time of writing, and they move with sales cycles.

Choosing a combo means choosing two machines on one budget, so the criteria differ from a plain blender buy. The five points below decided our rankings.

Motor Power and Wattage

For true combo duty, 1,200 watts is the line to shop. The 700 to 1,000-watt range handles soft-fruit smoothies and sauces, while 1,400 to 1,800 watts adds headroom for dough and heavy ice. Below that line, treat the processor side as a chopper.

Pitcher and Bowl Capacity

Blender pitchers run from 40 to 72 oz, and processor bowls from a 3-cup mini chopper to a 12-cup. A 72-oz pitcher with a 64-oz max liquid capacity covers a family's smoothies in one batch, while a 3-cup chopper fits singles. Match capacity to the household, because a machine that is too small gets used less.

Blending vs. Food Processing: Know Your Priority

Decide which half you will use more before comparing wattage: a blender spins fast and loose for liquids, while a processor works slowly and deliberately on solids. The best food processors still make poor smoothies, and the best blenders still struggle to shred carrots. Blend daily and process occasionally, and buy blender-first; shred and slice weekly, and make sure the processor side carries real discs.

Attachments and Versatility

The attachments decide how versatile a combo really is. Slicing and shredding discs turn the processor side into a meal-prep station, which is why the SS401 and the SmartPrep outwork the others. Every extra cup is one more thing to store.

Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleanup friction is what kills combos in real kitchens, so look for dishwasher-safe jars, bowls, and blades. Watch the shapes too: overflow can collect in handles, and ridged glass is awkward to hand-wash. The warranty is a maintenance signal, with 1-year terms the norm, the Hamilton Beach at 3 years, and Vitamix at 10.

Can a blender food processor combo replace two separate appliances?

The caveats are capacity and discs. A budget combo's 3-cup chopper cannot handle a large onion in one go, and a combo without slicing and shredding discs will not replace a dedicated processor for heavy prep. The rule of thumb: blend daily and process weekly, buy a combo; heavy jobs both ways, keep two machines.

What are the disadvantages of a blender food processor combo?

Storage and compromise are the honest answers. Combos ship more parts than either single machine, so a full system can eat as much shelf space as the machines it replaces. Budget combos ship small choppers, and processor attachments rarely match a dedicated machine's discs. Replacement parts are available, and our long-term BL770's pitcher was replaced within days of a phone call.

When the testing was done, one machine kept earning the top spot, and we would spend our own money on it today: the BN801. The BL770 is the value call if you can live with its noise and footprint, and the SS401 earns its shelf space when shredding and slicing are weekly chores. The Hamilton Beach is a legitimate starter at about $60, and the Vitamix SmartPrep is the decade-scale buy for a kitchen that wants to be done shopping. Skip anything under 1,000 watts unless smoothies are the whole job.