KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender two-minute review

The KitchenAid brand needs little to no introduction, but the concept of battery-powered kitchen appliances like the KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender might be unfamiliar to many people.

The beauty of the KitchenAid Go range of appliances is that they all use the same removable, swappable battery. This means if you invest in several appliances from the range they can share batteries, so you can save some cash and buy some of them without a battery included.

The KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender is designed to be used just like any other hand blender. But because it doesn’t need to be near a power outlet, you have a lot more freedom to blend soups on the stove or blitz a fruit puree on the dining table, something you'd struggle to do with any of the best blenders.

On test it certainly proved it was up to the job, creating smooth soups, milkshakes, and pureed vegetables. But I did manage to break the pan guard on the first use, which was a bit of a negative. You can read more about that in the performance section below.

Overall though, I found it easy and comfortable to use. And if you get frustrated by the lack of available power outlets in your kitchen, it could be a game-changer.

• KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender with battery for $99.99 at KitchenAid

KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender review: price & availability

• List price: US$129.99 / £179 / AU$268
• Availability: US / UK / AUS

The KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender is currently available in the US, UK and Australia. It can be purchased directly from KitchenAid.

It’s available with or without the battery. The prices above are for the model that includes a battery. Without a battery it’s around $30/ £30 / $69 cheaper at $99.99 / £149 / AU$199.

It’s important to point out that while KitchenAid does sell the compatible battery as a standalone accessory, it costs $49.99/ £69 / AU$69. Therefore if you're in the US or UK it's always cheaper to buy the appliance with the battery bundled in.

• KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender with battery for £179 at KitchenAid

Being cord-free does come with a premium price tag. A standard variable speed corded hand blender from KitchenAid will cost significantly less at around $60/ £109.

Whether or not a cordless hand blender is worth the additional investment does depend on your individual budget as well as your kitchen setup. But for many people it does solve a frustrating problem of working around the position of power outlets.

Discounts are sometimes available, so if the premium price tag is a sticking point for you, it’s worth keeping an eye out for a discount. For example at the time of writing there was a $10 reduction on the hand blender on the US KitchenAid website.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender review: design

• Built-in safety feature
• Well balanced
• Straightforward controls

The main hand blender features a removable blending arm with a stainless steel blade. This twists easily onto the main body of the blender. At the very top of the body, above where you hold it, is where the battery attaches.

The blender dimensions when assembled, including the battery are: 16 x 2.8 x 3.1" / 40.5 x 7 x 7.9cm (h x w x d). The weight is 1.9lbs / 880g which will feel weighty for some people, but it’s pretty well balanced so that the weight is distributed down through the blender and not into your arm.

As well as the main hand blender, in the box there’s also a 23.6oz / 700ml BPA free blending jar, with a handy lid, so you can easily store your creations in the fridge. There's also a plastic pan guard that clips onto the end of the blender to avoid damaging pans if you’re blending something directly in a non-stick pan.

There’s one main power button and the firmer it’s pressed, the higher the blending speed. However, the blender won’t work unless the unlock button beneath it is pressed simultaneously. At first this can feel like a bit of pain, but you soon get used to it and it’s a great safety feature - something that’s often lacking with hand blenders.

The removable battery comes with a USB charging cable, but no plug, so you’ll have to supply your own or buy the separate charging dock for $29.99 / £29. The battery itself features four small lights that each represent 25% power. So by pressing a button on the side of the battery, you can get a rough idea of how much power is left depending on how many lights illuminate.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender review: performance

• Speedy blending
• Comfortable to use
• Good battery life

For my first try with the KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender I made a protein shake. I added 8oz milk, a sliced banana, a scoop of protein powder and a heaped teaspoon of peanut butter to the blending jar and blended until it appeared smooth.

I stopped blending after 40 seconds and the drink was well mixed and pretty smooth. There was still a slight graininess so it wasn’t as smooth as if I'd made it in a high powered blender, but it was a pleasant texture nonetheless.

I tested the noise level when blending the protein shake and it hit 94dB on my noise meter, which is pretty loud and equivalent to a motorcycle at 50ft. But I must admit that I didn't think it was loud during use, I’ve certainly used louder hand blenders over my years of kitchen appliance testing.

I was concerned that with the battery on top, the hand blender might feel weighty or unbalanced, but thankfully that wasn’t the case. I actually found it very comfortable to use.

To test out its ability to puree I used it to make pureed potatoes. Now, to clarify, this is essentially a mash potato, but when you blitz the cooked potato with a hand blender it creates more of a silky puree texture than a fluffy mash.

This is where I had a bit of a mishap. I’d attached the pan guard so that I could puree the hot, freshly cooked potatoes in the pan. However, during blending I heard a funny noise and when I checked, the pan protector had come off and subsequently been chopped by the blade.

While I am pretty certain I had attached it correctly, I can’t say for definite whether it was the thick gloopiness of the potato puree that dislodged it, or incorrect installation. Either way though, I would urge you to exercise caution when using it in thicker foods. And it was disappointing to break it on the first use.

After retrieving all the broken plastic, I carried on pureeing the potatoes, which took around 90 seconds in total for a small pan of potatoes. I wouldn’t advise using this method for a big batch of potatoes though.

Next time I used it in a pan, I had to do so without the broken pan guard. This time, I was blitzing a homemade pea and mint soup. This task was a breeze for the hand blender and the soup was smooth after just 2 minutes of blending.

The variable speed button does noticeably increase the blending speed the firmer it’s pressed. But to be honest, I found that I naturally tended to press it all the way in and had to really think about loosening my grip for a slower speed.

Pancake batter was no match for this hand blender. In just 15 seconds my egg, milk, and flour were combined into a lump free batter. Similarly, 6.6oz of fresh raspberries were liquified in just 20 seconds. The seeds weren’t pulverized, but I’d have been very surprised if they were.

The battery takes around three hours to charge. But after all of the above tests it still showed 75% power on the battery level indicator lights. I had to use it for a further 6 minutes at full speed before the battery level was drained to 50%. It’s encouraging to know I could use it for several blending tasks and not need to recharge it too often.

The main blade is the only part that can’t go in the dishwasher. But on the whole, as long as I rinsed it immediately after use, it came clean very easily. The blending cup, lid, and pan guard can all go in the dishwasher. That said, none of it is too tricky to wash by hand either.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

How I tested the KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender

I set up the KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender in my own kitchen at my house. I used it several times for a variety of foods, including soup, pancake batter, protein shakes, pureeing potatoes, and pureeing raspberries.

I used it in hot food in a pan as well as for smaller volumes in the supplied blending cup. During this time, I was paying attention to the ease and comfort of use, as well as any issues or problems that arose. I also kept an eye on the battery to see how quickly it was drained.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2024

KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper two-minute review

KitchenAid is a trusted kitchen appliance brand that already offers a range of food choppers, but the KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper stands out for being battery-powered. Moreover, the same battery can be used across the KitchenAid Go range of appliances.

Whether you’re short on space, short on power outlets, or you simply want the best blender to use wherever you choose, having a battery-operated food chopper can offer the convenience you crave.

The size and functionality is similar to KitchenAid’s plug-in 5 cup food chopper, except the KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper offers two speeds and the freedom of not having to place it near a power outlet. But with this convenience comes a higher price tag.

On test, it reliably chopped, mixed and whipped its way through a variety of ingredients. I was relieved that the battery lasted long enough for several uses and didn’t need charging at all during testing. Plus all the accessories can be easily washed in the dishwasher.

It’s compact and easy to move around, which also means it doesn’t take up too much storage space. But the flip side of this is that its capacity won’t be enough for everyone. Read on further for my in-depth review of its design and performance.

• KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper with battery for £179 at KitchenAid

KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper review: price & availability

• List price with battery: US$129.99 / GBP £179 / AU$228
• List price without battery: US$89.99 / GBP £149 / AU$159
• Availability: UK / US / AUS

The KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper can be purchased with or without the battery. This makes a lot of sense because the KitchenAid Go Cordless Collection is a range of battery-powered small kitchen appliances that all work using the same removable, swappable battery.

The prices above are for the version that includes the battery, and buying it without the battery will save you $30/ £30 / AU$69. A word of warning though, a spare battery will cost $49.99 / £69 / AU$69. So if you're in the US or UK and think you may need it, then it makes sense to buy it bundled in with the appliance itself.

Being cord-free does come with a premium price tag, however: a standard variable speed corded food chopper from KitchenAid will cost significantly less at around $70/ £109 / AU$159.

Whether or not being cord-free is worth the extra investment will depend on your circumstances. For example, in a kitchen that lacks power sockets it’ll be worth considering spending the extra for the convenience of battery power.

Of course, you can always keep your eyes peeled for a discount. In the US it was on sale at the time of writing for $99.99 including a battery, so if it’s not discounted when you look, check back again later.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper review: design

• Compact and easy to store
• Streamlined appearance
• Simple to use and assemble

The KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper is a 39.9oz / 1.18 liter capacity food chopper. In addition to a chopping blade, it comes with a plastic whisking accessory.

There are two speeds to choose from, each speed represented by a button that has to be held down for the duration of the chopping or whisking task. Alternatively, the buttons can be pressed briefly but repeatedly, for a pulse action. There are no other controls to worry about, so using it is very straightforward.

The removable, swappable battery is charged via the supplied USB cable, but you’ll have to supply your own plug. Or, you can invest in a charging dock if you prefer.

In terms of dimensions, it measures 10.4 x 5.7 x 7.2" / 26.5 x 14.5 x 18.4cm (h x w x d) and weighs just 2.9lbs/ 1.3kg. It’s compact compared with a standard food processor, but still a usable size for chopping small to medium quantities and portions. It’s small and light enough to store neatly away in a drawer or cupboard, without being a hassle to move around.

The BPA free clear plastic bowl slots directly into position without a twisting or locking action. The lid however, does have to be twisted to lock it into place. On top of the lid there’s a handy little hole for drizzling oil or water in during mixing.

Unlike many other KitchenAid appliances, it doesn’t come in a multitude of colors, just the matte black finish. The appearance overall is streamlined and inoffensive.

• Design score: 5 out of 5

KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper review: performance

• Fast, efficient chopping
• Copes well with all ingredients
• Useable capacity for smaller batches

For my first test I added roughly 7oz of a mixed whole nut selection including brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and pecan nuts. I was looking for a chopped, not ground nut texture, so I pressed the lower speed button for quick one second bursts to pulse the nuts.

I stopped pulsing once there were no large nut pieces left, which took about 20 pulses. The finished texture of the nuts was a combination of chunkier chopped pieces and some powder. But in my experience it’s quite difficult to achieve a consistent chopped nut texture, especially when chopping a variety of nuts at once. With that in mind, this wasn’t a bad result.

When I needed to chop some whole dried apricots, I started off trying to pulse them like with the nuts, but it was quickly obvious this wasn’t doing a lot. So instead I kept the lower speed button pressed.

The apricots were chopped up in just 30 seconds and the pieces were impressively even given how sticky and difficult-to-chop dried apricots can be.

To make hummus, I put all the ingredients into the chopper and blended on the lower speed setting. It took just 25 seconds to create an evenly textured, slightly coarse hummus. It did wobble a little during blending but not so much that I felt the need to put a hand on the top to steady it.

Just before the end, I poured some extra olive oil in through the drizzle hole at the top. It’s very convenient to be able to do this without taking the lid off.

It’s not too noisy and since it’s generally only used for short bursts, I didn’t find the noise offensive. My noise meter registered 84dB on the lower speed setting and a slightly louder 88dB on the higher speed setting. These are pretty average noise levels for a blender or one of the best food processors.

When making a falafel mixture I used the chopper for several stages. First I chopped a small red onion. I peeled and quartered the onion before adding it to the chopper, then chopped on high speed for five seconds. I scraped down the sides and chopped for a further five seconds, which was all that was needed for a finely chopped texture.

Next I added roughly 1oz / 30g of parsley and cilantro including stalks, and again it speedily chopped the fresh herbs in just five seconds on the high speed setting. Finally I added all the falafel ingredients back into the chopper and blended it for 30 seconds on the lower speed, followed by 30 seconds on the higher speed.

The falafel mixture is relatively dry and heavy, so I had to stop mixing every 15 seconds and scrape down the sides. But the end result was beautifully evenly mixed and chopped.

To try out the whisk accessory I whipped up a ½ pint / 300ml carton of heavy cream on the high speed setting. After just 20 seconds I switched to the lower speed and it took only another five seconds before it was thick and whipped.

The battery life will vary somewhat depending on the type of use. But to give you a realistic observation from my time using the chopper, after all the chopping, mixing and whisking I’ve described above, the battery level still displayed 75%. After a further two minutes chopping on high speed, it was down to 50%, but I think that’s still pretty impressive, given how much I used it.

A full charge takes around three hours, but you can buy more batteries if you’d prefer to always have a backup charged and ready to go.

Any appliance with a sharp blade is always going to be a bit of a pain to clean. But all in all I didn’t find cleaning the parts by hand to be too tricky. In part this is because everything is small and cleans quickly. Additionally, though, after making particularly messy or oily mixes I just popped all the parts into the dishwasher, which was an easy and convenient way to clean up.

• Performance score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

How I tested the KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper

I used the KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper in my own home. I kept it on my kitchen counter for several days and used it to chop a variety of single ingredients, as well as to mix up hummus, and even whip cream.

I kept a keen eye on the battery to see how much I could use the chopper before it needed a re-charge. And I also noted how easy it was to clean, as well as any other design quirks or ease of use issues that I came across during normal day-to-day use.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2024

Nutribullet 600 Series: two-minute review

The Nutribullet 600 Series is a simple, affordable and effective model from the brand behind many of the best blenders on the market. It offers one blending speed and a twist-to-blend mechanism that works well, although some might prefer a good old-fashioned button instead. 

On test, I found it tackled frozen berries, fibrous fruit and nuts with ease, although wasn't powerful enough to crush ice. If that's a priority, you should opt for the 900 Series (which you can read about our Nutribullet 900 review), which is identical except for having a more powerful motor (900W vs 600W for the 600 Series), and being more expensive as a result.

It's not ideal for creating chunkier blends, because the single, fast speed means the lower ingredients immediately get pulverized into a paste, while the higher ones never reach the blades at all. I managed to use it to make a (rather wet) hummus, with a bit of shaking up in the middle on the process, but it was pretty useless when it came to pesto. (Really, blenders are designed to be used for creating liquids – if you want to be making salsas, pestos and the like, you're much better off reaching for one of the best food processors instead.)

The build quality is solid, as I'd expect from Nutribullet. And because it's a well-known brand that specializes in blenders, you have the benefit of a wide range of compatible accessories – cups of different sizes, and assorted lid options. Some are included with certain configurations of the 600, but if not they're available to buy if you need them. 

This budget model is pared-back in terms of functions and features, but it does the essentials (blending, even tough ingredients) really well. If you just want something reliable and effective for your morning smoothie, then it's a good shout. Read on for my full Nutribullet 600 Series review.

Nutribullet 600 Series review: price & availability

• List price: $69.99 / £59.99 /AU$99.95
• Available: US / UK / AU
• Lower-middle of the Nutribullet range, and budget price bracket overall

Price-wise, the 600 sits towards the lower-middle of the Nutribullet range, and in the budget price bracket overall. For the price, I think it's excellent value. It's simple in design and function, but does the essentials well. 

In the US, there's only one option. It comes with a blending cup and separate takeaway cup with lid and handle, and has a list price of $69.99. 

In the UK, you can choose the 'starter kit' version with just the blending cup, which costs £59.99. Alternatively, the 600 Series comes with an extra takeaway cup and costs £69.99. I'd actually recommend this second version, because it's super useful to have a lid, and not to have to decant your smoothie into a separate cup. 

In Australia, the version with a cup is called the 'Essentials set' and costs AU$109.95, while the no-cup version is AU$99.95. The takeaway cup is a little different with that version compared to the UK and US versions. 

The main difference between the different Nutribullets is the wattage – which translates roughly to 'how powerful is it?'. The 600 Series has 600W of power. The Magic Bullet To Go is cheaper ($58.95 / £34.99 / AU$59.95) but has only 200W of power, which means it's for very basic blending jobs only.

The version up is the 900, with 900W of power, and a list price of $109.99 / £89.99 / AU$99.95 (read our Nutribullet 900 review for more on that one). Head to the comparison table in this review for a basic rundown of how the different models compare.

Small appliances often attract discounts around major shopping events like the Black Friday sales or Amazon Prime Day deals, so that can be a good time to shop if it suits when you need to buy.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Nutribullet 600 Series specs

Nutribullet 600 Series review: design

• Twist-to-blend, no presets or pulse option
• To-go cup / lid included with some packages, or can be purchased separately
•  BPA-Free cup is dishwasher-safe, but blade isn't

The Nutribullet 600 Series has the classic Nutribullet design. The motor that powers everything is built into the base, while the extractor blade that does all the hard work comes in its own separate unit that screws onto the blending jug. The jug and blade then twist on to the base, which is weighty (so it won't go juddering across your countertop as you blend) but smartly designed. 

Rather than having buttons, this twisting mechanism is what starts and stops the blending. It's straightforward and works well, but some people might find a button easier to operate. If you're seeking presets or different blending speeds, you'll need to look elsewhere – this is an on/off situation only.

Nutribullet as a brand has a few different sized blending cup options, as well as handles, lids, sip rings (to cover the screw threads for more comfortable drinking) and drinking lids, that can be used with the Nutribullet blender range. Some 600 Series packages come with to-go accessories included, but if yours doesn't then they can be purchased separately to increase the versatility of your blender.

Cleaning

In terms of cleaning, the cups can be popped into the dishwasher on the top rack, but the blade isn't dishwasher-safe. Nutribullet recommends rinsing it under warm water to clean it, but I think this is one of the trickier blenders to clean. Mixture builds up around the edge of the blade section, and when the cup is removed, spills into the screw threads, which are very difficult to get properly clean. Food also gets stuck in crevices between the wide, flat blades. 

Even if you rinse (or, as I find most effective, add water to the cup, screw on the blade, and vigorously shake) straight after blending, there'll often be a bit of residue left in the nooks and crannies. And if you leave food to dry on the blade... forget about it. 

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Nutribullet 600 Series review: performance

• Effectively blends frozen berries to a smooth consistency
• Drier mixes often leave paste at the bottom and unblended mix at the top
• Not powerful enough for making crushed ice

I tested the Nutribullet 600 by making a smoothie and some hummus. Let's start with the smoothie. I added a puck of frozen spinach, frozen blueberries and frozen banana, alongside almond milk. It blitzed the fruit fine, but struggled with the frozen spinach. I'm not surprised, as it was a fairly large and solid chunk. After leaving it to melt slightly, it managed to break the spinach up fine. I'd surmise from this that it would be powerful enough to create crushed ice. 

For the hummus, it worked effectively, but required just the right amount of liquid. Too little liquid and it blended the ingredients next to the blade too effectively, leaving a paste at the bottom and never reaching the ingredients at the top. I had the same issue with pesto. I tend to reach for a food processor (or even just a mini-chopper) when I need to create a chunky blend, and to be fair that is the tool that's designed for the job. 

I'd say the fact that this model is powerful enough to blend frozen berries to a smooth consistency means it'll be plenty powerful enough for most people's needs. If you're regularly needing to tackle larger chunks of hard ingredients, you might consider one of the models with higher wattage. Smaller, handheld models often don't have the power to tackle anything hard (so while I haven't tested the To-Go blender from Nutribullet yet, I suspect it wouldn't have enough blending power for frozen berries).

There's only one blend speed here, but it'll work for most blending jobs. It's also easy to 'pulse' by just twisting the cup quickly, although some people may prefer buttons and presets. 

Like all blenders I've tested, it's noisy, although it doesn't feel overly so, and it's not at a particularly ear-splitting pitch. If you're very sensitive to noise, the pricier Ultra is designed to be quieter and operate at a more ear-pleasing pitch, relatively speaking (read TechRadar's Nutribullet Ultra review for more on that model). 

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Nutribullet 600 review: comparison table

Keen on the Nutribullet brand, but not sure which model is right for your needs? Here's a quick run-down of the differences between them...

Should you buy the Nutribullet 600 Series?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Nutribullet 600 Series

• Made a smoothie, hummus and pesto, and tried crushing ice
• Assessed how easy it was to clean
• Compared performance to other blenders and choppers

To test the Nutribullet 600 Series, I used it to make hummus, a smoothie and pesto, as well as seeing if it could crush ice. I made a note of the consistency of results and whether it needed a mid-blend shake-up. I also assessed the build quality, how easy the blender was to use and if it was overly or unpleasantly noisy. I hand-washed the cups and blade after each test to see how easy it was to get clean. I compared my results to other blenders and choppers I've used.  

Read more about how we test

First reviewed June 2024

Breville Paradice 16: Two-minute review

When it comes to premium kitchen appliances, Australian brand Breville (known as Sage in the UK) has become synonymous with quality and innovation (just ask my mother – she’s still using her Breville mixer from circa 1987). And I’m convinced the Paradice 16 food processor is no exception – it’s so solidly built, and with a powerful 900W motor that comes with a 30-year warranty, there’s a good chance one of my kids will inherit it and continue using it.

The Paradice 16 is essentially a brawnier version of the Breville Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro, meaning it can handle a lot more than the older 5 star-rated food processor. It launched alongside the Breville Kitchen Wizz 16 (called the Sage Kitchen Wizz 16 in the UK and Breville Sous Chef 16 in the US), which is practically identical but doesn’t come with what the Aussie brand is calling the Paradice Kit.

And it’s this ‘kit’ that sets the Paradice 16 apart from any other food processor I’ve tried – it uses two attachments to perform precision dicing in two different sizes. It includes an 8mm and a 16mm dicing disc which are paired with their own slicing attachments to perform a 2-in-1 function simultaneously for the perfect dice. The kit also includes a potato peeler, but I found this attachment to be rather superfluous – it might be able to peel 6-7 potatoes at a time, but the peeling isn’t even and the potatoes need to be round and of a specific size.

Other than its peeling and dicing prowess, the Paradice 16 can help with all the other usual food-prep chores – slicing, shredding, pureéing, kneading dough and whipping. It even has a French fry attachment to cut evenly-cut chips.

While its 16-cup / 3.6L capacity bowl is great for large quantities, it inherits the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro’s smaller 2.5-cup / 1L inner bowl for the smaller jobs. There’s also a smaller chute included that can shrink the 140mm main chute to just 45mm for when you don’t need to shove a large potato into the bowl below.

The Paradice 16 is remarkably easy to use and its 900W motor makes it quite powerful. It's also what makes it rather noisy and heavy too. Breville doesn’t specify how much the base alone weighs, but I suspect it comes close to the 9kg / 19.8 lbs that the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro weighs with the bowls fitted. And that’s not taking into account the two large boxes filled to rafters with the various attachments and blades. Yes, there are two. So, unlike the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro, which comes with one box of attachments, you’re going to need a lot of storage space for the Paradice 16.

You’re also going to need a decent amount of spare cash to get your hands on this kitchen pro, but then pros don’t come cheap, do they?

Breville Paradice 16 review: Price and availability

• Announced late 2023
• List price of $699.95 / £579.95 / AU$899

There’s no denying the Paradice 16 is an expensive food processor at its $699.95 / £579.95 / AU$899 price point. However, it can be a worthwhile investment if you really put all its functions and abilities to good use. Its performance and durability also justify the expense. It's a case of ‘you get what you pay for’ and, in this instance, you're getting a lot.

If you don’t need all the bells and whistles that the Paradice 16 offers, you can opt for the Kitchen Wizz 16 (Sous Chef 16), which is identical but misses out on the Paradice Kit for dicing. It will set you back $499.95 / £469.95 / AU$729.

If that’s also too high a price, the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro will set you back £419.95/ $399.95 / AU$699. There are cheaper alternatives available from other brands like KitchenAid and Ninja Kitchen, but none of them do as much as the Breville Paradice 16.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Breville Paradice 16 specs

Breville Paradice 16 review: Design

• Similar design to older Breville Kitchen Wizz series food processors
• Heavy base
• Two large storage boxes for the attachments

Breville is doing well sticking to its design aesthetic – rounded corners on the brushed stainless steel base housing the motor and controls give it a slight vintage look, but that base is heavy as! Not only does it weigh quite a bit, it’s also a bulky appliance, measuring 45 x 28.7 x 23.4 cm (17.7 x 11.3 x 9.2 inches) for the main unit. You also need to factor in two storage boxes for the various blades and attachments – each measuring 21.1 x 32 x 27.7 cm (21.1 x 32 x 27.7 cm).

One of these boxes houses the Paradice Kit, which contains two dicing blades – one 8mm and the other 16mm – each of which has a paired slicing blade that works in tandem. The paired blades are color coded, which is handy. Also in the Kit is the potato peeler. The other box is home to the other attachments – adjustable slicer, reversible shredding disc, French fry disc, Quad blade, dough blade, mini blade and the smaller-capacity 2.5-cup / 1L inner bowl.

So this is an appliance that is best left on the kitchen counter, plus you’ll need the additional storage space for the attachments. While it might be space-saving if you stow the attachments out of their boxes, I wouldn’t recommend it – the blades are ridiculously sharp and accidents can happen.

No matter what you need the Paradice 16 for, all the parts quickly click together and setting it up is very intuitive. Labels are provided on the bowl and lid to mark which direction they need to be turned to lock into place. The main bowl has a pronounced lip for pouring and a chute that can be configured to fit different-sized foods – going from a wide 140mm to a narrow 45mm.

The magic happens in that heavy base, which has three large buttons – power, start/stop and pulse. There are also up and down buttons to set a timer, which is displayed on a small screen in the middle of the base.

Given the large number of attachments that ship with the Paradice 16, I would suggest you take a look at the user manual. While there are no recipes on there, it is helpful in figuring out what blade you can use for what purpose and, handily, how to get the best results with the peeler.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Breville Paradice 16 review: Performance

• Simple to assemble
• Powerful and noisy
• Very versatile

I’m a busy mum, so as soon as I got the Breville Paradice 16, I began experimenting with all the attachments to see which would best streamline my cooking process, so I got familiar with them rather quickly.

While I didn’t find myself reaching for the dicing kits too often, I found the others quite useful, particularly the S-blade (what Breville calls the Quad blade). It’s the go-to for a lot of chopping, mixing and pureéing. The Paradice 16 fitted with the Quad blade effortlessly blitzed right through cooked chunky vegetables to create a smooth, creamy consistency I wanted for a soup.

The slicing discs, which come in different thicknesses, I found to be incredibly useful for prepping salads – the uniform slices made for some beautiful presentations and also made sure I had even cooking in my gratins. I also used the shredding disc frequently for quick coleslaws and to hide vegetables in my Bolognese sauce – such a breeze to add extra nutrition into my kids’ meals without them noticing.

I found the julienne blade to be a bit of a novelty, but it worked wonders for making carrot-stick snacks and garnishes. The plastic dough blade surprised me with how well it kneaded dough for homemade bread and pizza for the kids, saving me time and effort.

My absolute favorite attachment, however, has to be the French fry cutter – fresh chips are always a hit in my home and the Paradice 16 makes it quick and easy to make fries for impromptu snacks or family meals.

The biggest disappointment was the peeler attachment. While handy, it’s a bit hit and miss. Breville says it’s best for potatoes, but I hoped it would work for other fruit and vegetables too. Unfortunately, the produce you need to peel has to be of consistent size, which isn’t ideal for anyone who shops for the ‘odd bunch’ at farmers’ markets.

Let’s talk about power. The Breville Paradice 16 boasts a 900-watt motor, which is quite powerful. During my tests, this strength translated into incredible speed and efficiency no matter the task at hand. It’s also what makes the appliance quite noisy, clocking up an average of 85dB in most of my sound tests measured using the Decibel X iOS app – that's about how loud heavy traffic would sound, or a noisy bar.

I used the Breville Paradice 16 to make a variety of dishes and each task was completed quickly and with professional-level precision, cutting my prep time in half.

That said, I found that food would occasionally spill out of the small bowl and into the main canister, which annoyingly increased my cleaning-up time when this happened.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Breville Paradice 16 food processor?

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Also consider

If you’re not sure if the Breville Paradice 16 is for you, I’ve listed a couple of other options below for you to consider.

How I tested the Breville Paradice 16

• Used over a period of two months for various food-prep tasks
• Tested the different blades to see how well they perform
• Different types of raw and cooked produced were used, plus flour was kneaded

As soon as I received the Breville Paradice 16, I first spent some time getting familiar with the different blades and spindles supplied in the box. I read the user manual to get an idea of what the appliance was capable of.

I used it to prep for various other dishes. Over a period of a couple of months, I used the food processor to knead dough for homemade bread and pizza, plus create fillings for quiches and sausage rolls. As I mentioned earlier in the review, I also used it to make Bolognese sauce with hidden vegetables and veggie soup, and also used it to slice fresh salad produce. I also tried the peeler and the grater attachments.

I took note of how easy it was to clean the different parts of the food processor, including the attachments. While Breville claims the bowls are dishwasher safe, the manual recommends not doing so regularly, so I resorted to using the dishwasher once only to clean the smaller bowl, but hand-washed everything else.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed July 2024]