Verdict
Head-to-head · Best Food Processors Under $200

Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor vs Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.0 vs 3.8). Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor is best for: small-kitchen cooks who want a compact, affordable Cuisinart for light-to-moderate everyday prep. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Food Processors Under $200
Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor
1 source$128.57as of Oct 24

The Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental is the compact pick: an 8-cup, ~$127 processor that Tom's Guide calls a strong value and Consumer Reports rates very good for chopping. The small footprint suits tight kitchens. Its 350W motor is the weakest in this lineup, though Tom's Guide found it never felt underpowered. For light-to-moderate daily prep in limited space, it is a sensible, affordable Cuisinart.

Strengths
  • — Tom's Guide praises strong value — "performed well in most of our tests"
  • — Consumer Reports rates chopping of almonds and onions very good
  • — Compact 8-cup footprint fits small kitchens and cabinets
Watch-outs
  • — 8-cup capacity limits batch size
Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor
Ranked #2 in Best Food Processors Under $200
Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor
2 sourcesall derived$129.99as of Oct 11

The Ninja BN601 Professional Plus is the best value food processor: 1000 peak watts and four Auto-iQ presets that power through dough and chopping for around $130. It makes 2 lb of dough in about 30 seconds and shreds cheese fast. The motor works hard on dough, and the build is plasticky. For one-touch power on a budget, no motor in this lineup is stronger.

Strengths
  • — 1000 peak watts — the strongest motor here, makes 2 lb of dough in about 30 seconds, per BestReviews
  • — 4 Auto-iQ preset programs (chop, puree, dough, slice/shred) for one-touch prep, as BestReviews describes
  • — Often around $130 — strong power-per-dollar
Watch-outs
  • — Motor works hard on the dough setting — BestReviews questions its long-term durability under heavy use
  • — Only 9 cups — smaller than the KitchenAid's 13

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor

The compact pick: its 8-cup bowl and 350W motor compare with 9 cups and 1000 peak watts on the Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor, and it has no presets where the Ninja has four. It holds less than the Hamilton Beach 70730 10-Cup Food Processor and Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap 12-Cup Food Processor and costs far more than either. Its motor warranty runs three years against the Ninja's one.

Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor

The power pick: its 1000-peak-watt motor is more than double the 450W of the Hamilton Beach 70730 10-Cup Food Processor and double the 500W of the Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap 12-Cup Food Processor, and nearly triple the 350W Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor. It adds four Auto-iQ presets, where none of those three has preset programs. Its 9-cup bowl holds more than the Cuisinart's 8 cups but less than either Hamilton Beach.

Specs side-by-side

SpecCuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8-Cup Food ProcessorNinja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor
Power350W1000W peak
Capacity8-cup9-cup
Speed ControlOn / Off / Pulse (3-speed)—
BladesChopping/mixing, slicing, shredding discsChopping, dough, reversible disc
Feed TubeWide chute—
Container MaterialBPA-free, dishwasher-safe—
Warranty3-year motor / 18-month limited1-year limited
FootprintCompact—
Dimensions7.6"D x 9.58"W x 15.19"H7.76"D x 9.88"W x 16.02"H
Wattage3501000 watts
Programs—4 Auto-iQ (Chop, Puree, Dough, Slice/Shred)
Feed Chute—Food chute + pusher
Controls—Preset buttons + pulse
Dishwasher Safe—Bowl, lid, blades
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