A stand mixer is a great investment if you love baking and bread-making. Read our reviews of top brands, including KitchenAid and Kenwood, plus more affordable buys
Whatever you like to bake, there’s no denying that the humble stand mixer is the hardest working piece of kit in the kitchen. Not just reserved for whipping up cake batter, it can also be used to knead dough and whisk together glossy, stiff-peaked meringues. Don’t be mistaken – I love hand mixers and have tried and tested many fantastic models over the years, but stand mixers offer something different: power. Equipped with high wattages, they can whizz through creaming and kneading tasks with absolute ease, not only saving you time, but effort, too. As an avid baker and expert product tester, I've put a range of stand mixers to the test, from models from big-name brands such as KitchenAid and Kenwood, to household names like Bosch, Cuisinart and Morphy Richards. Read on for my top recommendations, and don't forget to check out our guides to the best cake tins and best kitchen scales, too. The latest additions were tested by Annie Collyer. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website View oEmbed on the source website Best stand mixers at a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS 5/5 stars Best stand mixer: Kenwood Titanium Chef Patissier XL, £799.99 Best stand mixer and food processor: Bosch CreationLine kitchen machine, £239.99 Best large stand mixer: Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL, £449 Best of the rest Best stand mixer for versatility: Kenwood Cooking Chef Stand Mixer, £1,249.99 Best stand mixer for ease of use: Bosch Series 6 Stand Mixer, £599.99 Best stand mixer for dough: Ooni Halo Pro Spiral stand mixer, £699 Best powerful stand mixer: ProCook stand mixer, £249 Best bowl-lift stand mixer: KitchenAid 5.6L Bowl-Lift Artisan, £749 Best stand mixer for range of colours: KitchenAid 5KSM125, £356.15 Best compact stand mixer: Morphy Richards MixStar compact stand mixer, £189.99 Jump to: Best stand mixers to buy in 2025 How to choose the best stand mixer What is a stand mixer? What can a stand mixer be used for? Are stand mixers worth it? Handheld mixer vs stand mixer How we test stand mixers I tested a representative sample of stand mixers, from budget-friendly options to high-end investment models, and used them to whisk egg whites for meringues, make an enriched dough for cinnamon pecan sticky buns, and cream together butter and sugar before baking a classic lemon drizzle cake. I also tested all attachments, final baked products and scored the machines against the following criteria: Packaging: Like most high-value kitchen appliances, stand mixers often arrive with a lot of packaging. Those that had recyclable or biodegradable elements scored better. Overall quality of materials: Well-made stand mixers with quality components should last, so I looked for those that were robust. Results of functions: A machine that efficiently mixed all the ingredients at the same time was a staple requirement. I looked for pavlova mixes that were glossy and well-whisked, cake mixes that were light with evenly distributed zest and finally, well-risen dough that was soft and light when baked. Value for money: You can spend anything from £60 to £900 on a stand mixer, but whatever the performance and functionality, it should always match up with the price. Processor versatility: Stand mixers should take on key kitchen tasks that make life a lot easier. Whisking, beating and kneading attachments are key to this and I awarded extra points to machines that offer more integrated features, like weighing scales, timers and extra attachments. Ease of use and cleaning: Modern stand mixers can offer sophisticated features, but ease of use is incredibly important. Washing your stand mixer’s attachments by hand can also be a pain, so I looked for dishwasher-safe accessories to make cleaning less of a headache. Sustainability: I assessed the amount of packaging and its recyclability, and asked how easy it is to access spare parts, look at the length of the warranty and much more. Why you can trust Good Food reviews It probably won't come as a surprise that the Good Food team (myself included) loves to bake, and we've tried and tested around 25 different stand mixers over the last five years. We use our trusted matrix format to score each model fairly in the Good Food Test Kitchen – which is designed to replicate the average home kitchen rather than a laboratory-like setting. This means you can trust that, if an appliance performs well in our kitchen, it should in yours as well. We also never share product reviews with retailers or manufacturers before publication, and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, either. Best stand mixers to buy in 2025 Kenwood Titanium Chef Patissier XL Available from Amazon (£562.80), Kenwood (£599.99), Lakeland (£799.99) Best stand mixer Pros: Integrated weighing scales Warming function 7-litre EasyWarm bowl In-bowl illumination Cons: Heavy Expensive Large footprint Star rating: 5/5 When it comes to modernity in the world of stand mixers, Kenwood is a front-runner. This one adapts the classic design to make it a game-changer for usability, so the step up in price from the Chef Titanium XL stand mixer model is justified. Key are its integrated weighing and warming functions, which work in tandem with the deep 7-litre EasyWarm Bowl – this has two practical handles for simple loading and arrives with a second 5-litre bowl nested inside. The touchscreen display shows your chosen metric for weighing. It also offers presets for controlling the warming functions, which prove dough and whisk egg whites among other things. Once set, you can walk away and periodically snoop on your dough through the transparent bowl cover whilst it gradually doubles in size – the Chelsea buns produced were wonderfully soft. It's features like this that afford you the best possible chance of achieving the same dough prove and rise every time. In addition to the sophistication, you get all the basics you’d expect from a functional stand mixer like a beater, whisk and dough hook, except this model offers the capacity to make more, better and with great scope for personalisation. Read our full Kenwood Titanium Chef Patissier XL review. Wattage: 1400W Attachments: beater, whisk, K-beater, dough hook, splash guard Bowl capacity: 7L EasyWarm bowl and 5L extra bowl Warranty: 10 years Latest Deals Bosch CreationLine MUM5XW10 kitchen machine Available from Bosch (£239.99) Best stand mixer and food processor Pros: Integrated scales and timer function Dishwasher-safe attachments BPA-free plastics Overheat protection Cons: Weighs in increments of five grams Lacks pre-selectable processing time Expensive Star rating: 5/5 Finding a stand mixer/food processor hybrid is hard to do, but the Bosch CreationLine machine also throws integrated scales into the mix and the result is a versatile multitasker that’s a pleasure to use as well as practical. Design-wise, the gadget sits landscape on the counter-top so has a relatively unobtrusive footprint for a stand mixer. The two-in-one nature means it’s also a space-saver when it comes to cupboard space. A 1000W motor provides the oomph. All attachments arrive inside a two-pocket pouch, which is game-changing for storage. The patisserie set is tucked in one side (featuring a stirring whisk with silicone edge; height-adjustable beating whisk; and kneading hook with gear protector) and four food processor discs for slicing, grating and shredding in the other. All are dishwasher-safe. Combined with automatic retractile cord storage, this stand mixer is an expensive but versatile multitasker with modern frills that’s fun to use. Read our full Bosch CreationLine kitchen machine review. Wattage: 1000W Attachments: flexi stirring whisk, beater, dough hook, grating disc (medium-fine), reversible disc for slicing and grating, reversible shredding disc, reversible slicing disc, splash guard Bowl capacity: 3.9L Warranty: 2 years Available from: Bosch (£239.99) Latest Deals Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL Available from Amazon (£449.99), Kenwood (£449), Currys (£579.99) Best large stand mixer Pros: Two bowls included Built-in scales Lots of attachments Easy-lift head Powerful motor Cons: Expensive Large footprint Star rating: 5/5 Wattage: 1400W Kenwood is one of the key brands in the world of stand mixers. Decades of innovation have made them the go-to brand for keen bakers and professional chefs alike. This model includes a powerful motor and high-quality attachments that are built to last. While it's less technologically advanced than the Kenwood Chef Patissier XL above, it does include some of the features we loved. It comes with two bowls (seven- and five-litres) and in-built scales. I couldn’t fault this model’s performance; each bake, from our lemon and orange cake to Chelsea buns and meringue, was perfect. It's also sophisticated but remains humble and unfussy in design, with intuitive controls. A must have if you like to bake in bulk. Read our full Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL review. Wattage: 1400W Attachments: K-beater, dough hook, whisk, beater, splash guard Bowl capacity: 7L and 5L Warranty: 2 years Latest Deals Kenwood Cooking Chef Stand Mixer Available from Kenwood (£1,249.99) Best stand mixer for versatility Pros: Slim design Measurement markings on bowl In-bowl light 31 preset programs Doubles as kitchen scales Also heats to cook food App-compatible Cons: Expensive price Heavy Bowl doesn’t fit in a slimline dishwasher No cord storage Star rating: 4.5/5 The stand mixer that outsmarts all of the rest, the slim but weighty Kenwood Cooking Chef is one for those who'll use it enough to warrant the high price tag. It's your classic stand mixer with a few impressive added extras, like app compatibility. Its base features induction heating technology, so it can also cook your dinner. And that’s not all it can do. There's a huge range of compatible tools, so that you can grind meat, make your own ravioli, spiralize vegetables, juice fruit, and more. Arguably its most genius feature? When using a preset program, it weighs your ingredients and automatically senses how long to mix them for, so that you won’t risk over-whisking, folding, or kneading. With an on and off switch at the back, plus a touch screen and a dial, it's easy to use, but admittedly it’s not as smooth to operate as others we've tested because of its 15kg weight. Its swivel arm moves up and down by pressing a switch, and while its splash guard is great for mess-free cooking and mixing, it is a little fiddly to fit. This stand mixer packs the power thanks to its 2,000-watt motor. It features a built-in light to illuminate your mixing bowl, and if that isn’t enough, it also doubles as scales as you can weigh ingredients in its mixing bowl. In the box comes six tools, a splash guard and a spatula. Every tool (and the mixing bowl) is dishwasher safe. This large, 6.7L bowl is great for batch cooking, especially since it features engraved measurement markings, but be warned: it won’t fit in a slimline dishwasher. Wattage: 2000W Attachments: 31 preset programs, 8 mixing modes, 4 stirring modes and a pulse mode Bowl capacity: 6.7L Warranty: 5-year guarantee from date of purchase Available from: Kenwood (£1,249.99) Bosch Series 6 Stand Mixer Available from John Lewis and Partners (£599), Currys (£599.99), Bosch (£599.99) Best stand mixer for ease of use Pros: Comes with three attachments More attachments available to purchase Doubles as scales Intuitive design Dishwasher-safe bowl and attachments (fits in a slimline dishwasher) Cons: No cord storage No measurement markings on its mixing bowl Star rating: 4.5/5 The Bosch Seres 6 stand Mixer sits at a decent price while offering heaps of versatility. Providing you purchase extra accessories, it can become a blender, pasta maker, citrus press, food chopper, and more. Included in the box is a kneading hook, beating whisk and stirring whisk, as well as a 5.5L bowl – this bowl doesn’t feature engraved measurement markings. What sets it apart from the rest is how easy it is to use. Its intuitive dial and simple-to-use touchscreen make easy work of most recipes, whether you’re whipping up some iced buns or you need a tiny amount of icing sugar. You can select a speed mode from 1 to 7, or choose from one of the 7 sensor-driven automatic programs. The snail mode will kickstart a selected program or it will fold ingredients at a very low speed. Integrated into its design, you can find scales for easy weighing of your ingredients, and to minimise your kitchen sink clutter. On the machine, there are two buttons, one for ejecting attachments and the other for releasing and lifting the swivel arm, to eject the mixing bowl. Arguably, the best part about it is that its attachments and bowl are dishwasher-safe, and they even fit in a slimline dishwasher. Wattage: 1600W Attachments: 1 x professional kneading hook, 1 x professional beating whisk, 1 x professional stirring whisk Bowl capacity: 5.5L Warranty: 10 years Available from: John Lewis and Partners (£599) Currys (£599) Bosch (£599.99) Ooni Halo Pro Spiral mixer Available from Ooni (£699), Currys (£699), Lakeland (£699.99) Best stand mixer for dough Pros: High-quality design Fully recyclable packaging Produces excellent bread and pizza dough Secure on the worktop Cons: Very heavy Loud No handle on the bowl Struggles with smaller mixtures Star rating: 4.5/5 For breadmakers and aspiring pizzaiolos, this premium stand mixer from pizza oven brand Ooni is a dream to use. It's been designed with dough in mind and – unlike traditional domestic mixers – has a dual-kneading action that's aided by the heavy-duty spiral hook, breaker bar and rotating bowl, which helps with gluten development and prevents the dough from sticking. Other attachments include a beater and whisk, ideal for making cakes and meringues, though to achieve the best results you'll need to fill the 7.3-litre bowl with a large amount of mixture. The bowl also has a square-like bottom, which meant parts of our mixture got trapped and needed working back in. Making dough, however, was a breeze and the cinnamon buns I baked were perfectly fluffy. I loved the precision of the controls, too. The speed at which the mixer runs is set by a percentage (e.g. 45 per cent speed) and there's an integrated timer, so you can set your machine to work while you crack on with the next stage of your recipe. The motor is loud but powerful and efficient, and in all I found the Halo Pro Spiral a joy to use. Wattage: 750W Attachments: dough hook, beater, whisk, splash guard Bowl capacity: 7.3L Warranty: 1 year standard, 5 years when you register Available from: Ooni (£699) Currys (£699) Lakeland (£699.99) undefined ProCook stand mixer Available from ProCook (£249) Best powerful stand mixer Pros: Efficient motor Large-capacity bowl High-quality design Fully recyclable packaging Secure on the worktop Cons: Noisy in use Fewer speed settings than other models Struggles with smaller amounts of mixture Star rating: 4.5/5 This sleek and stylish model from ProCook really packs a punch in terms of speed and efficiency – perhaps to no surprise, as it has the most powerful motor of any stand mixer I've ever tested. The downside of this is that it's noisy, but I was still impressed with its lightweight design and strong suction feet, which kept it fixed to the worktop in use. Included with the mixer are a balloon whisk, beater and dough hook, as well as a splash shield. It has fewer speed settings than other models like it on the market – there are just six, plus a pulse function, each of which is easy to control. The six-litre bowl is ideal for large mixtures, but I found it struggled with smaller amounts, like egg whites when making meringues. I used the beater to make a cake batter, which was smooth and creamy, though had to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times when adding the eggs. The dough for cinnamon pecan sticky buns also came together well and had a good gluten structure. Wattage: 1800W Attachments: balloon whisk, beater, dough hook, splash shield Bowl capacity: 6L Warranty: 2 years Available from: ProCook (£249) undefined KitchenAid 5.6L Bowl-Lift Artisan Available from Harts of Stur (£449), Amazon (£499), KitchenAid (£749) Best bowl-lift stand mixer Pros: Attractive Large capacity 11 speed settings Available in a range of colours Cons: Difficult to insert and remove bowl Slow to react to speed changes Relatively noisy Star rating: 4.5/5 Typically more powerful and better for batch baking, bowl-lift stand mixers – like this newer KitchenAid model – have arms on either side that the bowl slots between, allowing ample space for large quantities. The mixer comes with a 5.6-litre capacity, balloon whisk, paddle, and dough hook, and I found the quality of design to be excellent. The motor was almost squeaky during use, and it took a few minutes longer than expected to reach the speed I wanted. Lifting the bowl in and out of the mixer was also trickier than hoped, and it took me a few attempts to get the hang of it. I achieved light, fluffy results when whisking egg whites, and again when making a basic cake batter. Mixing small amounts would likely prove difficult owing to its large size, but if you're baking for a crowd, this gadget can handle it all with ease. Wattage: 325W Attachments: balloon whisk, paddle, dough hook, splash guard Bowl capacity: 5.6L Warranty: 5-year guarantee and 15-year repair promise undefined KitchenAid 5KSM125 Artisan stand mixer Available from Amazon (£335), Harts of Stur (£348.95), KitchenAid (£356.15) Best stand mixer for range of colours Pros: Comes in a variety of colours Lots of accessories available 10 speed settings Consistent high-quality results Cons: Whisk isn’t dishwasher-safe Some ingredients go unmixed at the base of bowl Star rating: 4.5/5 This is KitchenAid’s most iconic stand mixer. It’s a medium-sized model owing to the 4.8 litre bowl, and is available in a wide range of colours including KitchenAid’s annual Colour of the Year. Like all KitchenAid mixers, this model is equipped with 10 speed settings on a sliding scale. This model comes with a beater, dough hook and balloon whisk – check out the full review to see what comes with the 175 and 185 models. This model did a fantastic job on all of the beating, kneading and whisking tests and produced consistently high quality results. My only gripe was that some of the cake mix was left unmixed at the bottom of the bowl, though this was nothing a flexible spatula couldn’t fix. If appearance is just as important as performance, this model is a great choice. Read our full KitchenAid 5KSM125 review. Wattage: 300W Attachments: balloon whisk, beater, dough hook, splash guard Bowl capacity: 4.8L Warranty: 5 years for mixer, 2 years for accessories Latest Deals Morphy Richards MixStar compact stand mixer Available from Amazon (£89.24), Very (£189), Morphy Richards (£189.99) Best compact stand mixer Pros: Storage caddy allows you to store attachments inside the bowl Easy accessible height and lid design Non-slip suckers for securing to the counter top Cons: ‘New product’ smell No handle on the bowl Star rating: 4.5/5 If space is at a premium in your kitchen, this innovative stand mixer by Morphy Richards is a compact alternative. It offers all the traditional functions from within a small footprint about the size and width of a large mixing bowl. Dishwasher-friendly attachments for whisking, kneading and beating are stored within a caddy that slots comfortably into the bowl. It arrives fully assembled so you immediately know where and how everything slots together. After that, it’s simply a case of loading your chosen attachment, donning its lid and peering over to watch it work. This is a great one to use with kids. Read our full Morphy Richards MixStar compact stand mixer review. Wattage: 650W Attachments: balloon whisk, beater, dough hook, splash guard Bowl capacity: 4L Warranty: 2 years Available from: Amazon (£99.99) Very (£189) Morphy Richards (£189.99) Latest Deals Other stand mixers tested and rated Kenwood kMix Editions stand mixer review, £239 What is a stand mixer? A stand mixer – also called a food mixer – is a machine that uses a rotating mechanism to carry out repetitive kitchen tasks. Thanks to the multiple attachments and large capacity of the bowl, they excel at making cakes, kneading dough, whipping and whisking, and work far more effectively than food processors in this respect (although the two are sometimes confused as they have a similar ‘spinning’ motion). Stand mixers have a hinged main body with an output for various attachments, typically whisks, beaters and dough hooks, although you can often upgrade and buy a wide range of attachments. They are known to whisk egg whites, whip up a dough and cream butter with sugar incredibly quickly. These appliances usually have simple speed settings and are easy to operate. They also come in a range of sizes – from small and compact models for those short on space, to bigger, professional-looking bits of kit, to medium-sized models that bridge the gap and are best for people who bake regularly. What can a stand mixer be used for? All the stand mixers the Good Food team has tested come equipped with a dough hook, beater and wire whisk. This means they’re ideal for bread, all kinds of cake from chocolate cakes to fairy cakes, as well as thicker mixes, like carrot cake and gluten-free cake recipes. The wire whisk will make light work of meringue, for classics including lemon meringue pie and pavlova, as well as fun dishes like a tiramisu meringue roulade. But stand mixers are incredibly versatile, so make a note of their other uses to really make the most of your machine. If you’re a fan of dumplings, use the beater to fully mix your ingredients together, see our gyoza and pork momos recipes for inspiration. You can even make your own butter by beating cream until it begins to split. Then separate the liquid from the solids until butter is formed. How to choose the best stand mixer Capacity: like batch baking for cake sales? You’ll need a larger bowl capacity and perhaps a more powerful mechanism that will plough through larger volumes of mixture. Buy the biggest machine you can afford that will fit in your kitchen. Versatility: stand mixers can work hard with the right attachments, which include everything from pasta rollers to sausage makers. Study the number of bolt-on accessories available if you want to use your machine frequently for lots of kitchen tasks. Weight: if you’re short on counter space and will be hauling the stand mixer in and out of storage, be aware that some of them can be very hefty. If you struggle with your back, this is a significant consideration. Value for money: there’s no point splashing out on a gadget-y machine with various accessories if you’re only going to use it to occasionally make basic cakes. Are stand mixers worth it? These stylish gadgets make light work of laborious baking tasks, but some come at a hefty price – particularly if you're after a top-rated model. Some stand mixers are also quite chunky, so might be difficult to store if you don't have room on the countertop. However, if you have the budget and space for one, here's a reasons why they could be worth the investment: Consistency: Using a stand mixer is a reliable way of achieving smooth, consistent results in your bakes, with little to no effort required. Time saved: From kneading dough to whipping cream, stand mixers are capable of handling laborious tasks effortlessly – you can switch it on and leave it to get to work, allowing you time to get on with other parts of your recipe. Ease of use: Each of the models we've tested benefits from an intuitive, user-friendly design and comprehensive instructions, ideal for both seasoned bakers and beginners. Durability: If you take good care of your mixer, it should perform reliably for years to come – check the manual for advice on how to look after it. Many manufacturers also provide spare parts, so if one of the attachments is broken or lost, it can replaced without needing to buy a whole new mixer. Handheld mixer vs stand mixer A hand mixer performs many of the same baking tasks as a stand mixer. A hand mixer (sometimes referred to as beaters) also operate using rotating attachments, but are far smaller than stand mixers, which in turn makes them more affordable. They can be easily packed away for storage and are straightforward to clean. If you want a gadget just to do the basics, a hand mixer will probably be sufficient. A stand mixer is more powerful, with a higher wattage and larger capacity. They’re potentially more versatile, with some offering a wide variety of attachments. One major advantage is that, in contrast to hand mixers, they’re entirely hands-free, allowing you to get on with other things while they work. The roomy bowls are designed to contain ingredients, minimising mess. They can also better handle heavier mixes such as pastry and pizza dough. Ultimately, a stand mixer is an upgrade from a hand mixer, but it depends on your budget. 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The best breadmakers for creating homemade loaves
Can a machine make your life (and loaf) easier? We test a range of models from Panasonic, Tefal, Lakeland and many more to find the best breadmaker for you
We’re no strangers to the traditional art of breadmaking – kneading, proving and shaping dough by hand can be immensely satisfying – but the best breadmakers have also made us rethink our approach. These machines take care of the entire process, from kneading to baking, leaving you with well risen, golden loaves with minimal effort. After just a few minutes of prep, you can sit back and let the magic happen, no hands required. Most breadmakers operate in a similar way: simply add the basic ingredients – flour, water, yeast – along with any extras, into the bread pan in the correct order. Many models allow you to select the loaf size and crust colour, to your preference. You’re not limited to basic white loaves, either. From creative recipes like asparagus, sundried tomato & olive loaf to stout & apple wheaten bread, these machines are versatile enough to accommodate a variety of bread-styles and mix ins. Some even go beyond bread, offering settings for jam, yogurt and doughs for recipes like this filled brioche centrepiece with baked camembert. Our top picks excelled in rigorous testing to earn their place in this guide. Read on to discover the best breadmakers you can buy right now. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best breadmakers at a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS Best breadmaker for small loaves: Panasonic SD-PN100, £109.99 Best breadmaker overall: Panasonic SD-B2510, £109 Best breadmaker for more than loaves: Tefal Pain and Delices, £80.72 Best breadmaker for gluten-free bread: Panasonic SD-YR2550, £159 Best breadmaker for spelt bread: Panasonic SD-YR2540, £239 Best breadmaker for rustic loaves: Panasonic SD-R2530, £139.99 Best value breadmaker: Russell Hobbs 23620 Compact Fast, £69.99 Best breadmaker for speedy bakes: Morphy Richards Fastbake breadmaker, £99.99 Best-looking breadmaker: Sage the Custom Loaf breadmaker, £249.95 Jump to section: Best breadmakers to buy in 2025 What to look for in a breadmaker Tips for using a breadmaker Why are the so many Panasonic models in this list? Are breadmakers energy efficient? How we test breadmakers On almost all of the breadmakers we tested, a simple white loaf was first on the list of presets, so any breadmaker worth its salt should be able to make one. We used Good Food’s easy white bread recipe to put each model to the test, then scored them against the following criteria: Quality of loaf: we wanted an even rise, open and airy texture, evenly browned appearance and, to state the obvious, a delicious taste. Ease of use: we preferred machines that had easy-to-use functionality and display. A viewing window was a bonus. Versatility: a good range of bread types was essential and other baking options, like different-sized loaves and browning levels, were a plus. Easy-to-follow instructions: there’s not much to using a breadmaker, but if you get it wrong, the machine can quickly be left to gather dust. Simple, clear guidelines were important. Broad recipe selection: we marked up machines with a good range of recipes. You may want to get creative after a while, but a good starting selection was essential. We also looked for manuals that told you the order to add ingredients in – this is essential info if you’ve never turned your hand to breadmaking before. Best breadmakers to buy in 2025 Panasonic SD-PN100 Available from Amazon (£109), John Lewis & Partners (£109), AO (£109), Lakeland (£109.99), Panasonic (£109.99), Argos (£110) Best breadmaker for small loaves Pros: Compact, premium design Makes small, soft loaves 18 settings, including gluten-free options Fully recyclable packaging Cons: No viewing window Star rating: 5/5 Wattage: 340W If you love the idea of owning a Panasonic breadmaker but have always found them too bulky and expensive, this newer compact model is a fantastic choice. Like the other models in the brand's roster, it's well made, smart-looking and comes with a wide range of presets, like basic white, wholewheat, brioche and jam, plus four gluten-free programmes for bread, cake, pasta and pizza dough. There are three browning settings (light, medium and dark) and a delay timer, plus an included plastic measuring cup and spoon. There's no viewing window, so you can't watch your bread while it's baking, but each setting has a clear indication of how long it will take – plus, there's a progress bar, so you can closely monitor which stage your loaf is at. The breadmaker sounds a loud timer once finished, after which you're advised to release your loaf from the tin straightaway and leave to cool. A small hole on the bottom where the paddle sits is to be expected, and even though ours also ripped a little, it came away easily. It had risen perfectly, too, and though the top was a little paler than the rest of the loaf, the texture was open and perfectly fluffy. Available from: Amazon (£109) John Lewis & Partners (£109) AO (£109) Lakeland (£109.99) Panasonic (£109.99) Argos (£110) undefined Panasonic SD-B2510 Available from Amazon (£109), John Lewis & Partners (£109), Hughes (£109) Best breadmaker overall Pros: Landscape design Lightweight and easy to move around Large variety of presets Customisable settings Cons: No viewing window No automatic dispenser Star rating: 5/5 Wattage: 550W The SD-B2510 is one of Panasonic’s more affordable breadmakers. Although it doesn’t come with an ingredient dispenser or the wealth of settings of its more expensive counterparts, this model produced one of the best loaves of all of the breadmakers we’ve tested; well-risen, evenly browned and an open and airy texture. It’s equipped with 21 settings including a range of breads, as well as cakes, jams and gluten-free bakes. This model is landscape in orientation, which offered a good deal of space in front of the machine for prep. Like all of the Panasonic breadmakers we’ve tested, this one does take a long time to bake. It took four hours to bake a simple loaf. But, if you’re happy to wait for fantastic results, this model is a must-have. Read our full Panasonic SD-B2510 review. Available from: Amazon (£109) John Lewis & Partners (£109) Hughes (£109) Latest Deals Tefal Pain and Delices Available from John Lewis & Partners (£84.97), Amazon (£98.88), Argos (£99), Argos (£119.99), Very (£139) Best breadmaker for more than loaves Pros: Quiet Very versatile: can make yogurt Good selection of gluten-free recipes Cons: Browns a little unevenly No viewing window Star rating: 5/5 Wattage: 700W Tefal are well known for their impressive pans and air-fryers and this breadmaker is no exception. If you’re in the market for a versatile breadmaker, this model is a fabulous choice. Not only does it make a wide selection of classic loaves but it can also be used to make pizza and pasta doughs, as well as a range of dairy products like yogurt and cottage cheese, using the dedicated pot provided. There’s no viewing window, which was a disappointing omission, but the loaf of bread produced was very good. It was well-risen, with an open and airy texture. The sides and top of the bread were exactly the same colour and both were within the range of the rich, nutty brown we were looking for. Read our full Tefal Pain and Delices breadmaker review. Available from: John Lewis & Partners (£84.97) Amazon (£98.88) Argos (£99) Argos (£119.99) Very (£139) undefined Panasonic SD-YR2550 Available from Amazon (£158.99), John Lewis & Partners (£159), Hughes (£159), Lakeland (£159.99), Panasonic (£159.99), Argos (£160) Best breadmaker for gluten-free bread Pros: Lots of settings Settings for gluten-free bread and bread mixes Intuitive to use Lightweight and easy to move Yeast dispenser Delay timer Cons: No viewing window Star rating: 5/5 Wattage: 550W If you’re taken by the Panasonic breadmaker at the top of the list, but are after a couple more settings (and are willing to spend a bit more), the SD-YR2550 comes with 31 settings in total, four of which are gluten free. There are settings for a wide range of breads, including six dough settings (including one for a sourdough starter), four sweet settings and three manual settings, allowing you to really make the most of your new breadmaker. It’s very intuitive to use, so ideal for first-time users and Panasonic loyalists alike. It doesn’t come with a viewing window, but does come with an ingredient and yeast dispenser, which is very useful. The loaf produced was nicely brown and well-risen. Read our full Panasonic SD-YR2550 review. Available from: Amazon (£158.99) John Lewis & Partners (£159) Hughes (£159) Lakeland (£159.99) Panasonic (£159.99) Argos (£160) Latest Deals Panasonic SD-YR2540 Available from John Lewis & Partners (£199), Amazon (£199), Lakeland (£199.99), Argos (£200) Best breadmaker for spelt bread Pros: Automatic dispensers Large range of settings Lots of accessories included Clear and informative manual Setting for bread mixes Cons: Expensive No viewing window Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 550W We tested the SD-YR2540 and the SD-YR2550 (above) side by side and found very little difference between the two models. They’re not quite the same shape, but performance-wise, they produced identical, high-quality loaves. Unlike the SD-YR2550, the SDYR540 comes with 32 presets, the addition being for spelt bread. Whilst there’s a decent jump in price between the two Panasonic models, if you’re a fan of Panasonic’s design and you’re after a model that can make spelt bread, then it’s worth the investment. Read our full Panasonic SD-YR2540 review. Available from: John Lewis & Partners (£199) Amazon (£199) Lakeland (£199.99) Argos (£200) Latest Deals Panasonic SD-R2530 Available from John Lewis & Partners (£139), Currys (£139.99) Best breadmaker for rustic loaves Pros: 30 programmes Good range of gluten free settings Fruit and nut dispenser Cons: Expensive Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 550W This Panasonic breadmaker comes equipped with 30 settings as well as a fruit and nut dispenser. It doesn't come with a yeast dispenser like some of the more expensive Panasonic models on this list, cementing this model firmly as one of their mid-tier breadmakers. After baking, our test bread had a distinct rustic look to it that we could have easily have passed off as being handmade. The crust was crisp, and whilst we'd have liked to have seen a little more even colour all over, inside, the loaf was light and fluffy. Read our full Panasonic SD-R2530 review. Available from: John Lewis & Partners (£139) Currys (£139.99) Latest Deals Russell Hobbs 23620 Fast Bake breadmaker Available from Amazon (£70.38), Very (£78) Best value breadmaker Pros: Quality for a budget price Good fast-bake functions Cons: No nut and seed dispenser Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 660W The Russell Hobbs breadmaker may have been the smallest machine we tested, but its size did not impede any of its many features – it can even make an impressive large 1kg family-sized loaf. With its soft curved lines and shiny black casing, it’s a machine you’d happily leave out on the worktop when not in use. There are 12 pre-programmed recipes, and most come in three sizes with three crust colours, plus two fast bakes which will have a loaf of bread out of the pan and cooling in under an hour. Read our full Russell Hobbs 23620 Fast Bake Breadmaker review. Available from: Amazon (£70.38) Very (£78) Latest Deals Morphy Richards 48281 Fastbake breadmaker Available from Amazon (£66.99), Morphy Richards (£99.99) Best breadmaker for speedy bakes Pros: Small footprint Easy to use Two fast settings Compact lid opening Cons: Browns a little unevenly Paddle baked into bread Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 600W Where most breadmakers take up a fair chunk of the countertop, this Morphy Richards model is a great option if you're after something a bit more compact. It has 12 settings, including functions for jam and cake. If you need bread in a hurry, there are also two fast-bake settings for small and larger loaves, which each take just 58 minutes. The controls are positioned on the front of the breadmaker, and we found them very responsive and easy to navigate. There's a viewing window, too, so you can easily check on the progress of the bread without opening the lid. After baking, we found the paddle came out with the bread and got stuck, and as no removal tool was provided, we had to tear the base to get it out. On the upside, our loaves had an open, pillowy texture, and the crust was nicely browned on the sides. Read our full review of the Morphy Richards 48281 Fastbake breadmaker. Available from: Amazon (£66.99) Morphy Richards (£99.99) undefined Sage the Custom Loaf breadmaker Available from John Lewis & Partners (£249), Amazon (£249), Hughes (£249), Currys (£249), Sage (£249.95) Best-looking breadmaker Pros: Stylish Custom programmes Cons: No recipe book included Noisy Star rating: 4/5 Wattage: 830W This large breadmaker from Sage impressed us with its high-quality stainless steel casing and range of presets. There are four loaf sizes to choose from, plus a range of pre-programmed recipes and a unique custom function for those who want to experiment. Other features include a handy light, which allows you to check on the bread as it bakes, plus a collapsible paddle for kneading. We were pleased with how quickly and easily we could use this model, and though it was loud during use and our loaves were a little misshapen, both the taste and texture were good. Read our full review of Sage the Custom Loaf breadmaker. Available from: John Lewis & Partners (£249) Amazon (£249) Hughes (£249) Currys (£249) Sage (£249.95) Latest Deals What to look for when choosing a breadmaker A timer function: this lets you wake up or come home to a freshly baked loaf. Memory recall: useful if in mid-cycle there is a power loss or the machine is accidentally switched off, as it will pick up on where it left off – within a reasonable time frame. Loaf size and crust colour: adds versatility and variety to your baking. Gluten-free programmes: for those with dietary restrictions. Dough only: these expand the repertoire of the machine with homemade pasta, pizza doughs, French sticks, or to bake your loaf in a conventional oven for more of a home-baked look. Non-bread functions: yogurt, sourdough starters and jam functions add even more usefulness. Extra features: viewing windows, separate yeast or nut and seed dispensers are handy but not essential. Tips for using a breadmaker If you have never used a breadmaker before, or are used to older models, here are a few tips for that perfect loaf. Breadmaking is an exact science, so measure carefully and closely follow the instructions for the machine, adding the ingredients to the pan in the correct order. Each model of breadmaker is carefully calibrated electronically, so too much or little of any ingredient, or adding them in the wrong order, will throw off the recipe. Use the flour as stated in the recipe; strong bread flour cannot be substituted with plain. Keep yeast and salt separate. The recipe should always indicate the order of ingredients, the salt will be earlier on, and yeast usually at the end (or from its own dispenser). Never add the two together as the salt will kill the yeast and the bread will not rise. Always put the finished loaf onto a rack to cool down to stop the loaf going soggy. Machine-made bread does not have any of the additives, stabilisers or improvers used in commercial production so does not keep as long as shop-bought. To keep the bread fresh, pop it into a large plastic bag and squeeze out the air, fasten tightly and it will keep for a few days, after which it is great for toast. It also freezes well once cooled completely. Why are there so many Panasonic models on this list? Panasonic offers a streamlined collection of kitchen appliances like microwaves, juicers and breadmakers, but its specialty is in the latter. The brand continuously advances its breadmaker technologies and it tends to bring out at least one new model annually. Panasonic breadmakers come with a large number of settings – anywhere between 20-40 – and often have useful additions such as yeast and ingredient dispensers. On the flip side, Panasonic breadmakers consistently take the longest to bake a loaf. Are breadmakers energy efficient? Breadmakers vary in their energy efficiency, but it is possible to calculate how much energy an appliance will use, which in turn will help you cost up the impact it'll have on your bills. Here's how: Take the appliance's wattage and multiply it by the gadget's hours of use per day, then divide the total by 1000. The result will be the appliance's daily kilowatt-hour (kWh). The cost per kilowatt-hour will vary depending on your energy tariff and area. If you have a smart meter installed at home, you'll be able to see the cost per use during cooking without having to calculate it. More kitchen appliance reviews Best bread knives Best hand blenders Best kettles Best pestle and mortars Best toasters Best slow cookers Best mixing bowls Best bread bins Best flour sifters Best cooling racks Best popcorn makers Best multi-cookers Best dishwashers Is HexClad worth it? Bread recipes and tips Our best-ever bread recipes Video: how to make bread Wholemeal bread recipes Ciabatta bread recipes All you need to know about bread Six steps to brilliant bread 21 of the best breadmaking equipment, tools and kit Top 10 flavoured bread recipes Five quick bread recipes 10 ways to use left over bread Lead image credit: Dougal Waters / Getty Images If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
10 best mini choppers for speedy kitchen prep
A mini chopper can chop, mince, purée, mix and blend in seconds. It's a smaller, cheaper alternative to a food processor. Read our expert reviews to find the best one for your kitchen.
When it comes to blitzing breadcrumbs, making flavourful and fragrant curry pastes, marinades and pesto, or whizzing up herby dishes like spring tabbouleh, mini choppers are an indispensable kitchen gadget that can make light work of time-consuming food prep tasks. Designed to deal with smaller quantities, mini choppers are a compact and lightweight alternative to a food processor. They typically come with just one blade for everyday chopping tasks, whereas food processors can come with different attachments for different jobs. We tested a variety of mini choppers across a range of price points – read on to discover our top picks. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website The latest additions were tested by Anna Lawson. Best mini choppers at a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS Best cordless mini chopper: CASO Designs Chop & Go cordless mini chopper, £64.99 Best premium mini chopper: KitchenAid Go cordless electric chopper, £161.95 Best classic mini chopper: KitchenAid 5KFC3516 mini chopper, £69.95 Best mini chopper for versatility: Cuisinart Pixie chopper, £39.99 Best looking mini chopper: Magimix 18115 Le Micro mini chopper, £64.99 Most versatile mini chopper: Russell Hobbs Desire mini chopper, £36.29 Best mini chopper for sauces, dips and pastes: Bosch Mini Chopper MMR08, £29.99 Best mini chopper for small spaces: Salter EK2182 Mini Chopper Pro, £18.99 Best Kenwood mini chopper: Kenwood Mini Chopper CH180A, £26.99 Best mini chopper for food-processing tasks: Cuisinart Mini Prep Pro, £59.99 Jump to section: Best mini choppers to buy in 2025 What is a mini chopper? What can you chop in a mini chopper? What to look out for when buying a mini chopper How we tested mini choppers We tested a range of mini choppers, using each one to blitz bread to breadcrumbs, as well as onions and parsley. For consistency, the onion was pre-chopped into 2cm pieces, which tends to be the standard requirement for mini choppers. We also made Good Food’s Thai green curry paste, not only to check that the blades could cut through fibrous ingredients, but to also ensure the bowl could house the quantity of ingredients required. We tested the mini choppers against the following criteria: Ease of use: we wanted to see mini choppers that were easy to assemble, with an unfussy control panel Speed of processing: the blades shouldn’t spin too quickly or too slowly. Different speed options are a plus. Safety: the blades should not spin if the lid is not secured Kitchen footprint and storage: mini by name, mini by nature. Small, compact designs are what we wanted to see, not something that could be mistaken for a food processor Finished results: we were looking for fine and even results whatever we chopped. Onions should be cleanly cut, not mushy. Breadcrumbs needed to be consistently cut. We didn’t want to see any tearing of the parsley leaves, and curry pastes should be smooth Design and aesthetic: logical design and good-looking pieces of kit were scored highly Functions: easy to use buttons, dials and knobs that make using the mini chopper a breeze were preferred Ease of washing: easy-to-clean parts with not too many nooks and crannies. If parts can be cleaned in the dishwasher, even better Best mini choppers to buy in 2025 CASO Designs Chop & Go cordless mini chopper Available from CASO Designs (£64.99) Best cordless mini chopper Pros: Powerful motor Easy to store Dishwasher-safe parts Comes with a handy non-slip mat Cons: Some plastic packaging Star rating: 5/5 Unless you're using it every day, a mini chopper is one of those appliances you'll probably keep stored away when it's not in use – so cordless models, like this one from CASO Designs, are becoming increasingly popular. This small but mighty gadget offers 1 hour of power on full charge, blitzing through ingredients ultra-efficiently using a sharp four-fold blade. In test, it cut through onions and parsley cleanly and evenly without puréeing, and made a smooth curry paste that needed the occasional scrape but was otherwise well incorporated. It also includes an emulsifying disc for whipping and blending sauces, dips and dressings, plus a handy non-slip mat to keep the bowl secure on the counter. Perhaps the only minor flaw we found was the plastic packaging, which can't be thrown away in kerbside recycling, but the instruction manual makes clear that it can be taken to dedicated recycling points. Wattage: 200W Working capacity: 500ml Accessories: 1L glass jug, non-slip mat, storage lid, emulsifying disc, stainless-steel blade, USB-C charging cable, spatula Warranty: 2 years Available from: CASO Designs (£64.99) KitchenAid Go cordless electric mini chopper Available from Amazon (£109), KitchenAid (£179) Best premium mini chopper Pros: Powerful Sleek matte look Innovative battery-powered design Cons: Expensive Star rating: 5/5 This cordless mini chopper is part of KitchenAid's GO range, which uses one battery that pairs with other compatible KitchenAid appliances. This goes some way to explaining its more expensive price tag, but does mean you only need to worry about charging one battery. It’s relatively lightweight, compact, and small enough to keep out on the countertop or store away. It’s also straightforward to use, offering one-touch operation via the power buttons on the front. There are two speed settings and a pulse function, which means it can really get to work when blitzing parsley stalks and chopping onions. We found no large chunks in our curry paste either, and only had to scrape down the sides once. Working capacity: 1.18L Accessories: 1.18L BPA-free jug with pouring spout, lid with drizzle basin, stainless-steel blade, whisk accessory, drive adaptor, USB-C rechargeable battery Warranty: 2 years Available from: Amazon (£109) KitchenAid (£179) KitchenAid Mini Chopper 5KFC3516 Available from Amazon (£69.95), Hughes (£76), John Lewis and Partners (£89), KitchenAid (£89) Best classic mini chopper Pros: Comes in a range of colours Small funnel for liquids Pouring lip Simple to use pulse button Dishwasher safe Cons: Not the cheapest Star rating: 5/5 Equipped with a range of added extras like a small funnel for liquids and a pouring lip, it’s no surprise this KitchenAid mini chopper secured star-buy status. It’s equipped with a 830ml bowl capacity, which equates to a working capacity of 500ml. It's available in a range of different colours to suit every kitchen. Whether you’re chopping or blitzing, this KitchenAid model offers total control. Chopped ingredients were fine and evenly cut and our Thai green curry paste was silky smooth. This is one of the more expensive models on the market, but the quality of the results makes it a worthwhile investment. Read our full KitchenAid Mini Chopper review. Wattage: 240W Working capacity: 500ml Accessories: 830ml BPA-free jug with pouring spout, lid with drizzle basin, stainless-steel blade Warranty: 2 years Available from: Amazon (£69.95) Hughes (£76) John Lewis and Partners (£89) KitchenAid (£89) Cuisinart Pixie chopper Available from Amazon (£29.99), Cuisinart (£31.49) Best mini chopper for versatility Pros: Very powerful for its size Attractive, compact and countertop-friendly Includes whipping disc BladeLock system Dishwasher-safe parts Cons: Some plastic packaging A little noisy Star rating: 4.5/5 Cuisinart's Pixie mini food processor certainly lives up to its 'small but mighty' promise. Straight out of the box, its compact footprint and stylish design make it instantly appealing – the kind of appliance you could easily leave on the counter and use everyday. And with its power and versatility, you’ll want to. Not only does the machine come with a reversible blade that chops, grinds and purées ingredients with impressive ease and speed, there’s also a whipping disc (a rare and welcome bonus) that makes light work of whipping cream, eggs and even emulsifying dressings. Plus, with its 700ml capacity bowl, the Pixie is a decent size for a mini chopper, making it ideal for slightly bigger portions of dips, pastes and purées while still handling smaller quantities efficiently. Assembly is quick and intuitive, with just the bowl, blade and lid to click into place. Operation is also simple, with two settings (chop and grind), that are controlled by simply pressing to pulse or holding to blitz for longer. The difference between the settings feels subtle but the manual provides helpful guidance on which one to use for different ingredients. On test, the Pixie was impressively fast and powerful. It blitzed Thai curry paste to a smooth consistency in about 30 seconds, crushed nuts in mere seconds and whipped cream with remarkable speed. It is a little on the noisy side and can shift very slightly on the counter due to its light build, but the results are excellent for such a small unit. We also appreciated the clever BladeLock system, which keeps the blade in place while pouring (so no more loose blades falling into your bowl or onto the counter) and the fact that all removable parts are dishwasher safe, for easy cleaning. For solo cooks, small households, or anyone wanting a compact machine with more range than the average mini chopper, the Cuisinart Pixie stands out as a powerful, versatile and great-value choice. Wattage: 250W Working capacity: 700ml Accessories: blade, whipping disc Warranty: 1 year Available from: Amazon (£29.99) Cuisinart (£31.49) Magimix 18115 Le Micro mini chopper Available from Amazon (£64.99) Best looking mini chopper Pros: Nifty chopper Looks the part Quiet Lots of accessories Cons: Sometimes tricky to lock into place Star rating: 4.5/5 Sleek, stylish and modern, this is one of the most aesthetically-pleasing mini choppers we tested and it’s available in a number of colourways (black, satin, cream and red). Considering its diminutive size, as well as its good looks, it’s definitely one you’d want to keep out on your countertop. It’s not the cheapest model on the market, but given its power, consistency and aesthetic appeal, it’s certainly worth the price if you’re looking to use a mini chopper on a regular basis. Read our full Magimix 18815 Le Micro review. Wattage: 290W Working capacity: 800ml Accessories: 800ml BPA-free plastic bowl, twin-opening lid, emulsifying attachment, stainless-steel blade, recipe booklet Warranty: 3 years Available from: Amazon (£64.99) Russell Hobbs Desire Mini Chopper Available from Argos (£30), Amazon (£38.99) Most versatile mini chopper Pros: Powerful Easy to operate Large capacity bowl Useful storage lid Cons: Heavier than some models Star rating: 4.5/5 One of the biggest benefits of this sleek model is its one-touch operation. To slice, dice and chop your ingredients, all that’s required is to firmly press the one-touch button on the top of the mini chopper. We loved the handy additional lid, which means the bowl doubles as storage for your food. The base unit is large, and comfortable to hold and press, and the button is easy to operate – meaning you can whizz up large batches of ingredients, or use it for a lengthy amount of time, with ease. Overall, for its affordability, ease of use and effectiveness, it is good value for money. Read our full Russell Hobbs Desire mini chopper review. Wattage: 200W Working capacity: 500ml Accessories: 1L glass bowl, stainless steel blade, processing lid, storage lid, spindle Warranty: 2 years, plus an extra year upon registration Available from: Argos (£30) Amazon (£38.99) Bosch Mini Chopper MMR08 Available from Bosch (£29.99), Amazon (£29.99) Best mini chopper for sauces, dips and pastes Pros: Large capacity Dishwasher-safe components Simple controls Cons: Chopping speed is difficult to control No non-stick feet Star rating: 4.5/5 This uniquely designed mini chopper features no buttons or switches – instead it is powered by pushing down on the lid. It has a generous 800ml bowl capacity, offering plenty of space for small and medium chopping tasks. Although we found the speed of the blade a little tricky to control, firm ingredients like onions were well chopped. It struggled when chopping bread for breadcrumbs, as the results weren’t as consistent as we’d have liked. But, our Thai green curry paste was perfectly chopped and consistent. At under £30, this is a steal. Read our full Bosch Mini Chopper MMR08 review. Wattage: 400W Working capacity: 800ml Accessories: 800ml plastic bowl, stainless steel blade, accompanying lid Warranty: 2 years Available from: Bosch (£29.99) Amazon (£29.99) Salter EK2182 Available from Salter (£18.99), Amazon (£18.99) Best mini chopper for small spaces Pros: Budget-friendly Compact Cons: May be too small for larger families Star rating: 4.5/5 The most compact model we tested, this is neat, tidy, and affordable. It can chop nuts, meat and fish, as well as make breadcrumbs and dips such as guacamole and hummus. It’s just the thing if you’re looking for a gadget to save you time in the kitchen every now and then. Larger families or keen cooks may want a more powerful or sizeable model. Its reasonable price means that even if it’s used only occasionally, it’s still worth buying. Overall, it’s a great entry-level mini chopper. Read our full Salter mini chopper pro review. Wattage: 150W Working capacity: 350ml Accessories: 350ml plastic bowl, stainless steel blade, accompanying lid Warranty: 1 year Available from: Salter (£18.99) Amazon (£18.99) Kenwood Mini Chopper CH180A Available from Amazon (£24.93), Kenwood (£26.99) Best Kenwood mini chopper Pros: Very compact Some elements can be washed in the dishwasher Dripper for liquids and oils Cons: Quite loud Could just about fit a small onion in the bowl Star rating: 4.5/5 This self-contained mini chopper from Kenwood is a neat and compact little machine. Equipped with two controls in one, speed one is activated by pushing the control button halfway down and for speed two you need to push the control button all the way down. The bowl is easy to fit and remove, making it a super simple mini chopper to use. It hasn’t got the largest chopper bowl – just a 150ml capacity – so we struggled to fit a small onion inside. But it chopped the onions, herbs and breadcrumbs brilliantly. We had to reduce our curry paste recipe by two-thirds to ensure all the ingredients would fit, so we feel this model is better suited to singletons or couples. Read our full Kenwood Mini Chopper CH180A review. Wattage: 300W Working capacity: 150ml Accessories: 350ml plastic bowl, stainless steel blade, accompanying lid, chopper stand Warranty: 2 years Available from: Amazon (£24.93) Kenwood (£26.99) Cuisinart Mini Prep Pro Available from Amazon (£59.99), Cuisinart (£60) Best mini chopper for food-processing tasks Pros: Two settings Can tackle coffee beans, nuts and more Cons: Can be tricky to lock into place Star rating: 4.5/5 The Cuisinart Mini Prep Pro’s 900ml bowl capacity is larger than most models we tested, making it a great contender for a large household, or those looking to batch cook or prep in advance. It comes with a dual blade – one is curved and sharp for chopping and mixing, the other is flatter and more blunt for tasks such as grinding. It’s also surprisingly compact. Aesthetics-wise, it’s nice enough to keep out on the counter, but equally can be stowed away without taking up too much space. It’s a powerhouse and an indispensable kitchen gadget for the keen cook. Read our full Cuisinart Mini Prep Pro review. Wattage: 250W Working capacity: 900ml Accessories: 900ml BPA-free plastic bowl, stainless steel blade, accompanying lid with drizzle holes Warranty: 5 years Available from: Amazon (£59.99) Cuisinart (£60) Other mini choppers tried and tested Tefal Jamie Oliver Chop & Shaker review, £12.93 How to choose the best mini chopper What is a mini chopper? Although some models look similar, a mini chopper should not be confused with a food processor. Mini choppers typically come in one of two key designs: either a smaller version of a food processor, with a button-controlled base, or a small device with a large bowl on the bottom and a pushable button on top. What can you chop in a mini chopper? These small but mighty bits of kit can be used in many different ways. If you're not confident in your knife skills or you don’t want your eyes to stream when cutting onions, a mini chopper can produce the results you’re looking for. While they won’t dice food to Michelin standards, they do produce a rough chop ideal for the base of a classic chilli con carne or this chicken & chorizo ragu. The ultra sharp blades will also render ingredients down to a wet paste, making them ideal for creating recipes like pesto. The strength of this small appliance means it can also work through hard veg, to create dishes like cauliflower rice, and even roasted nuts to pulverise them into a tasty homemade nut butter. What to look out for when buying a mini chopper Not all mini choppers are made the same, so there are a number of things to consider before buying one: Bowl capacity: Some mini choppers are very small, offering just enough space for an onion and a few extra ingredients. Others have larger capacities for bigger dips, sauces or pastes. Bowls up to 500ml are ideal for small chopping tasks. Anything above 500ml will process small and large (pre-chopped) ingredients. Speed settings: Most mini choppers will come with just one speed setting, but some come with two. The lower speed is usually reserved for chopping things like homemade breadcrumbs, nuts to garnish an easy carrot cake or dried fruit to use in this fruity tabbouleh with feta. The fastest speed is used for pureeing, so ideal for guacamole, marinades like this chicken marinade or to whip up a Thai green curry paste. Additional features: Not content with just chopping, some manufacturers have added extra features to the design of their mini choppers to make their use go further. Ones to look out for include: Dripper holes: these take the form of small indents in the lid of the chopper. They have a hole on the underside and can be used when making emulsions, like mayonnaise, as the oil drips into the mix slowly. Pouring lips: like a pouring lip on a jug, this feature makes getting your mixes out of the bowl cleaner and easier. Storage lids and bowls that double as serving bowls: store or serve your food in the mixing bowl instead of having to decant it. Dishwasher-safe: for convenience sake, dishwasher-safe bowls, blades and lids make clean up easier. Related reviews Best food processors Best blenders Best Cuisinart ice-cream makers Best pestle and mortars Best knife sets Best spice grinders Best hand blenders Best multi-cookers Best kitchen scissors How to sharpen knives Best knife sets Mini chopper recipes Classic guacamole Ultimate tomato salsa Best spaghetti bolognese recipe Thai green curry paste Spaghetti & meatballs Appliance deals Air fryer deals Coffee machine deals Microwave deals Fridge freezer deals Dishwasher deals Stand mixer deals Pizza oven deals Breadmaker deals This guide was last update in January 2025. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
The best meat delivery and subscription boxes tried and tested
On the hunt for good-quality meat that gets delivered straight to your door? Look no further. We've rounded up some of the best meat delivery and subscription boxes available nationwide
We are living in the age of convenience, so we're always on the lookout for ways to make food shopping easier. How much simpler can shopping for high-quality meat get than a delivery box straight to your door? Cut out the middleman and add freshness – by buying your meat directly from a supplier, you not only get the cuts you want with the quality you desire, but you can also save time and keep the meat from lingering around from supplier to shop to home. We have selected a variety of meat boxes to choose from – from those designed to fill the freezer for when BBQ season comes, to ones perfect for feeding a family. We have tested meat boxes from the likes of organic farms such as Abel & Cole to high-end suppliers including HG Walter, with all meat boxes coming straight from farm to table. We have plenty of recipes for some inspiration of how to use up the selection in your meat boxes. Browse our meat recipe collection, or beef recipes like feijoada (black bean & meat stew) or our rich braised beef for slow cooker meals. We also have plenty of sausage recipes the whole family will love, and chicken recipes such as our diced chicken recipes. Some meat boxes also come with unusual cuts of meat, so check out our guide on the six new cuts of meat to try and how to cook them. For more on subscriptions, visit our reviews section to find 400+ review round-ups, including the best recipe boxes, veg boxes, gin, beer, cheese and coffee deliveries, plus even the best meal delivery services for when you don't have time to cook. Best meat boxes at a glance Best meat box for a range of steak cuts: Warrendale Wagyu - Wagyu Steak Box, £110 Best meat box for a BBQ: Field & Flower 30 portions value box, £66.63 Best meat box for gifting: DukesHill Meat Lover's Hamper, £130 Best meat and fish box: Piper's Farm Surf and Turf BBQ Box, £58 Best meat box for steak night: Made in Oldstead The Big Steak Box, £60 Best organic meat box for families: Haye Farm organic meat, £68 Best lamb meat box: Swaledale Heritage Breed Lamb Box, £102 Best venison meat box: The Venison Company Venison Box, £45 Best fish box: Regal Fish Five Easy Dinners for Two Diners Box, £45.35 Best healthy meat box: MuscleFood Build Your Own Box, from £30 Best meat box for a small family: Abel & Cole Marvellous Meat Box, from £22.75 Best meat box for classic cuts: Riverford Essentials Meat Box, from £24.25 Best meat box for freezing: Farmison & Co Eat Better Meat Essentials Box, from £45 Best meat box for interesting cuts: HG Walter Butchers Cuts Box, from £33 Best traditional butcher's meat box: Parson's Nose Medium Meat Box, from £60 Best meat box for variety: Swaledale Chef's Choice Box, £68.45 Jump to section: Best meat boxes to buy How we tested the meat boxes Key terms explained Best meat boxes to buy in 2025 Warrendale Wagyu – wagyu steak box Available from Warrendale Wagyu (£110) Best meat box for a range of steak cuts A relatively young business, Warrendale Wagyu was established in 2017. This Yorkshire-based beef business works in partnership with over 800 UK farmers and, as the name suggests, specialises in wagyu-cross beef (F1 wagyu), which blends full-blooded wagyu genetics into local dairy breeds. There are a range of wagyu offerings on site, from prepared barbecue cuts such as skewers and brisket, to individual steaks and bone-in joints, as well as pantry and gifting items, like wagyu beef dripping. But, we tested one of the beef boxes, of which there's a wide selection available, including burger boxes, low-and-slow boxes (perfect for the slow cooker) and wagyu steak selection boxes. Our wagyu steak box included two sirloin steaks, two rump steaks, two bavette steaks and two flat iron steaks. They arrived fresh in a small cardboard box with ice packs, and each steak was vacuum-packed in plastic. We enjoyed our steaks a number of different ways: the sirloin in classic steak and chips, the bavette in build-your-own lettuce cups and the rump in an easy chilli beef with broccoli & oyster sauce dinner. Each steak was uniform in size and cooked beautifully. They were generously marbled with fat, and the different cuts provided a varied and flavoursome eating experience. If you’re looking to try a range of cuts, this box serves as a brilliant introduction to the variety of flavours and textures that different cuts of steak provide. Available from: Warrendale Wagyu (£110) Field & Flower 30 portions value box Available from Field & Flower (£66.63) Best meat box for a BBQ Established in 2011, Field & Flower began by rescuing grass-fed beef from the food chain and selling beef boxes. Since then, it’s launched an online subscription service, and offers fish, meat, poultry and deli items – all while continuing to support animal welfare and local farmers. Meat boxes from the range tend to include less expensive, sometimes underrated cuts that are still high-quality. We tried the '30 portions value box', which comprises pork rib-eye steaks, Cumberland sausages, pork & sage chipolatas, chicken legs, piri-piri chicken drumsticks, beef mince and diced chicken leg fillet. Everything arrived fresh with recyclable ice packs, and was vacuum-packed in plastic. No cooking instructions were included, but there are recipes on the Field & Flower website. We barbecued the majority of items and were impressed by the results. The chicken legs caramelised nicely, and the pork rib-eye steaks had a good thickness. The sausages, though clearly handmade and not quite uniform in size, were packed with flavour, and the burgers we made with the beef mince were succulent and held together well. At £1.77 per portion, we felt it was a great example of how you can enjoy sustainably sourced, quality meat without breaking the bank – and we enjoyed sampling a more diverse selection of cuts that we wouldn’t usually reach for in the supermarket. Available from: Field & Flower (£66.63) DukesHill Meat Lover's Hamper Available from DukesHill (£130) Best meat box for gifting This decadent hamper is a perfect present for anyone who prioritises savoury over sweet. Filled with a variety of classic meat cuts, there's something for every occasion in here, from picnics to hearty dinners. DukesHill is known for its ham, and a generous 1.2kg joint is the star of the show in this hamper – cut it into thick slices for a classic gammon steak, or serve in thin slivers as part of a ploughman's lunch. The addition of bacon and sausages will mean you can cook the ultimate full English, while the two rich, meltingly tender confit duck legs will make a special dinner for two. We also loved the porchetta joint as a showstopping centrepiece – a cut of meat that's trickier to find in supermarkets but a breeze to cook and easy to carve. A traditional pork pie and jars of pâté and sticky chorizo jam (add to burgers or serve alongside a cheeseboard) complete the loaded basket. Plenty of the meat can be frozen, too, if you can't eat it all in time. Everything comes delivered in a classic wicker basket and stayed perfectly chilled. It's ideal as a gift for a meat-lover, or a great way to stock up for a special occasion. Available from: DukesHill (£130) Pipers Farm Surf and Turf BBQ box Available from Pipers Farm (£58) Best meat and fish box Sustainability is at the heart of everything Pipers Farm does. By working with small-scale family farms both Pipers Farm and the farmers are able to agree a fair price for the food they produce. Livestock is grown slowly; only select breeds, native to the specific areas of the country are reared. Animals are given the time to grow at a natural pace and allowed to graze in the farmland and countryside that is familiar to them. The Surf and Turf box serves four to six and features two grass-fed sirloin steaks, one monkfish tail and six hand-dived scallops (with roe). The meat and fish arrived vacuum packed and fully frozen. It even came with a generously sized box of Maldon salt, which was a welcome surprise. As this box was only feeding two at the time of testing, we split it into its component parts and cooked them individually. The ingredients felt high-quality and would make the perfect addition to a barbecue. The two sirloin steaks were generously sized, though notably, were on the thinner side. To cook, we placed them in a ripping hot cast iron pan, searing on both sides so they remained a perfect medium rare. Both steaks had a substantial and flavoursome fat cap that crisped up well in the hot pan, with marbling throughout the beef that added to the overall flavour. The monkfish tail was large enough to get six portions out of. If you’re searching for inspiration, the packaging includes a QR code that links out to recipe ideas. With the tail delivered whole and with the bone in, it’s a versatile offering; great for the grill or slicing up into individual rounds. Meaty and bursting with flavour, this monkfish paired brilliantly with a fragrant coconut curry. And not forgetting the scallops: plump and juicy, these needed little more than searing and basting with butter. All meat and fish came vacuum-packed to avoid leaks and spills. The cardboard box was fully recyclable, as were the insulated packaging elements. Delivery to UK mainland addresses is Tuesday-Friday between 8am to 7pm for standard delivery and between 8am and 12pm for express deliveries. The courier delivering the Surf and Turf box provided excellent communication throughout, so we knew exactly when to expect the delivery. Whilst this is one of the smaller boxes on this list, you’re paying for the quality of the produce provided. If you’re after a versatile box of delicious and high-quality ingredients, perfect for creative cooks or to impress at a barbecue, this Surf and Turf box is worth every penny. Available from: Pipers Farm (£58) Haye Farm organic 'meat for the week' box Available from Haye Farm (£68) Best organic meat box for families Haye Farm in East Devon has a central aim of making a positive difference to the land it farms. This means it follows a range of sustainable practices, growing organic produce and farming to increase biodiversity. It has several meat boxes to choose from, including a steak box and organic lamb box. We tested out the organic 'meat for the week' box, which serves four and contains six different products. The main item is a whole chicken – perfect for a Sunday roast and leftovers all week – but the box also includes sausages, bacon, beef mince and burgers. The bacon is a highlight: cooked until perfectly crisp, it has a delicious herby flavour. The Italian-seasoned sausages in our box gave an extra flavour boost to bangers and mash, and we used the beef mince for a hearty bolognese. The variety makes it a great one for families – contents also freeze well if you want to spread out your produce. Available from: Haye Farm (£68) Made in Oldstead The Big Steak Box Available from Made in Oldstead (£60) Best meat box for steak night The Made in Oldstead The Big Steak Box, curated by Michelin star chef Tommy Banks, beautifully captures his farming heritage and commitment to quality. The côte de boeuf, aged for 55 days, is a standout – a thick, richly marbled piece of meat that was a joy to cook. We opted to cook it slightly under the recommended time, achieving a perfect medium rare with exceptional flavour. Paired simply with chips and a fresh salad, the steak took centre stage once carefully rested. The box also includes a bold peppercorn sauce and two South African wines –made by Tommy Banks and his brother, James – making it an ideal choice for an indulgent, restaurant-quality meal at home. This thoughtfully curated box highlights Banks’ simplicity and finesse as each element has been carefully chosen to elevate your steak night. Available from: Made in Oldstead (£60) Swaledale Butchers, The Heritage Breed lamb box Available from Swaledale Butchers (£86.90) Best lamb meat box A champion of traditional British lamb, Swaledale Butchers's Heritage Breed lamb meat box showcases the native breeds of the Yorkshire Dales. Sourced from small, family-run farms, the Swaledale, Lonk and Dalesbred lambs are perfectly adapted to their rugged landscape. The result is meat with a distinctive depth of flavour, a product of generations of shepherding tradition and natural grazing on wildflowers, grasses and herbs. There’s a brilliantly curated selection of lamb cuts included that cater to different styles of cooking. The box features a shoulder of lamb, a lamb leg, two generous lamb shanks, two Barnsley chops, four lamb chops and a pack of lamb Merguez sausages. Each cut arrives vacuum-packed and well-labelled, with clear instructions for storage and preparation. We cooked our way through the box over a number of meals. The shoulder of lamb made deeply flavoured birria tacos, rich with slow-cooked spices. The rolled leg of lamb was the centrepiece of a classic Sunday roast, and was tender and succulent after a long, gentle cook. The generously sized lamb shanks braised beautifully into fall-apart tender meat. The Merguez sausages were a particular standout: spiced with warming North African flavours, they made an excellent addition to a quick midweek meal. If you’re looking to explore the best of British lamb, this box is an excellent introduction to the versatility and quality of native breeds. Whether slow-cooked, roasted or grilled, each cut delivers a fantastic eating experience. Available from: Swaledale Butchers (£86.90) The Venison Company, Venison Box Available from The Venison Company (£40) Best venison meat box Hailing from the Lincolnshire Wolds, The Venison Company is a family-run business that has been raising healthy, farmed deer for 20 years. Venison is a lean, protein-rich meat, packed with iron and essential vitamins, yet low in fat and cholesterol. A nutritious choice, it offers a healthy, but no less flavourful alternative to more commonly found red meats. The meat box includes two 250g venison steaks, two venison burgers, two 500g packs of venison mince and 500g of diced venison. The meat arrived well insulated, with clear use-by dates and detailed instructions on storage and contents. We pan-fried the burgers and kept things simple with a crisp salad and a plain burger bun, letting the rich, earthy flavour of the meat shine through. Lean yet tender, the venison burgers had a pronounced taste without being overpowering. For the steaks, we went classic: butter-basted with redcurrant sauce and mash. Though the steaks were thin and unevenly shaped, once in the pan with plenty of butter, this hardly mattered. More robust and gamey than traditional beef steaks, they paired beautifully with the redcurrant sauce. If you’re keen to try venison but struggle to source it, this meat box is a fantastic introduction to its versatility. Once you've found your favourite cuts, The Venison Company also sells individual portions, so you can enjoy venison as and when you like. Available from: The Venison Company (£40) Regal Fish Five Easy Dinners for Two Diners box Available from Regal Fish (£45.35) Best fish box Making sustainable choices when buying seafood isn't always easy, but Regal Fish is a brand that's been striving to make that process simpler for over 35 years. Based in Grimsby, it sources all its fish from ethical suppliers around the globe, with fresh and frozen options available for delivery across England and north Wales. We sampled the Five Easy Dinners For Two Diners box, which is perfectly portioned and includes ingredients that take just a few minutes to cook. Two halibut fillets, two Thai salmon fillets, two sea bass fillets with lemon zest and butter, and a 400g bag of frozen king prawns (peeled and deveined) are included. You can purchase this box just once, or sign up to a weekly, fortnightly or monthly subscription. Our box arrived securely packaged with ice packs, and we loved the speed at which we could create simple meals using the ingredients, with little to no preparation needed. The Thai salmon, which we oven-baked for around 25 minutes and served with noodles and veg, had a good balance of sweetness and saltiness. The sea bass fillets, flaky and soft, worked as a great filler for fish tacos, and the halibut – which we seasoned with salt, pepper and chives, then pan-fried – was succulent, with crisp skin. The king prawns became the star ingredient of our paella, and we were blown away by just how meaty they were. For quick midweek suppers made with quality ingredients, you really can't do better than this fish box – and for under £50, we thought it offered great value, too. Available from: Regal Fish (£45.35) MuscleFood build your own box Available from MuscleFood (£30) Best healthy meat box MuscleFood is a delivery service which aims to bring convenient, high-quality, lean protein right to your door. Along with its range of fresh ingredients, it also offers lunch pots and tailored meal plans to make it easy for you to prep healthy meals and meet your nutritional goals. MuscleFood offers a range of boxes, starting at £30 to feed two people for a week and going up to £100 to feed a family or stock up the freezer. The frequency of delivery is up to you, and you can choose what you get depending on the meals you’re planning to make. So, whether you’ve been craving healthy burgers, homemade bolognese or spicy jerk chicken, it has got you covered. We tried the £50 box and were surprised to find so much inside. It was filled with lunch pots (whole meals in one, such as Thai chicken and rice or a sausage, beans and potato pot), lean steaks, burgers, beef mince, chicken, tuna and sausages – more than enough for two. At first we were overwhelmed by the amount of protein, especially as some had short use-by dates. However, we planned every meal for the week (and stuck anything freezable in the freezer) and eating it all soon became a manageable task. Our favourites? The chicken was juicy and flavoursome, the lunch pot healthy yet filling and the peri peri steak hache was a delicious surprise. When served with salad, all provided a nutritious meal. However, we did feel the tuna, sausages and beef steaks were simply supermarket quality and lacked flavour. And we couldn’t help but notice how much plastic had been used for packaging. Overall, the biggest pro of MuscleFood is how easy it makes eating a healthy, high-protein diet. For anyone looking to do so, this box could be for them. Available from: MuscleFood (from £30) Abel & Cole Marvellous meat box Available from Abel & Cole (£22.50) Best meat box for a small family Abel & Cole offers organic British meat boxes as part of its growing range of extras that can be delivered with its weekly organic fruit and vegetable boxes. Organic farming has always been front and centre for Abel & Cole, so when it comes to its meat boxes, it is championing free-range, 100% organic, high-welfare or sustainably wild food. We tried the Marvellous meat box but there is also a Seasonal meat box, Quick ’n’ Simple meat box, and several meat options paired with sustainable fish. The Marvellous meat box we received included three items: 400g of diced chicken leg from a farm in Devon, 400g of minced beef from Daylesford, and two Abel & Cole farmed pork escalopes, together weighing 320g. Although the meat didn’t come with recipe suggestions, the Abel & Cole website has some brilliant recipes, which are promoted from the purchase page. Using the chicken leg we made sticky lemon and sesame chicken with steamed pak choi and rice; with the beef, a bolognese sauce with a cup of split red lentils for the freezer; and breadcrumbed the pork to make schnitzels. Both the chicken and beef cooked well, not releasing too much water, and tasting flavourful. The pork had more fat than expected but, cooked another way, it could have melted. You can’t choose the delivery day as your box will be delivered when the vans are in the area (in order to be minimise the environmental impact of deliveries), which will be the same day every week. Apart from that, subscribing is flexible – you can buy boxes as a one-off or at intervals of up to eight weeks. Leave out the cardboard box and any other packaging the night before and it will be collected when the next box is delivered. There’s a flat-rate delivery charge of £1.99. The meat products arrived in a cardboard box, with ice packs surrounding the meat, which itself was wrapped with Woolcool – insulation packaging made from British sheep wool. The unconventional packaging worked well as the meat was still cold when we unpacked the box. We returned the cardboard box, defrosted ice packs and Woolcool to the driver the following week. The price for the Marvellous meat box was £17.50, which is fairly priced when the high quality farming methods are factored in. Available from: Abel & Cole (£22.50) Riverford essentials meat box Available from Riverford (£24.25) Best meat box for classic cuts Riverford may be best known for its organic fruit and veg, all grown on its own farms, but this organic principle extends to meat, too. Meat comes from its organic butchery in Devon, sourced from West Country farmers and chosen from traditional breeds for the best flavour. Our small essentials box included just three items: a two-pack of chicken breast fillets, 450g of beef mince and 6 pork sausages (400g). You can’t customise the box, but there’s a wide range of individual meat items to choose from on the Riverford website that you could add to your order. For £1 more, you could choose the Butcher's Choice box instead, which contains a 500g beef roasting joint, 300g of beef mince and two-pack of chicken legs. The three items are familiar staples, but we still appreciated the cooking suggestions on each one with ideas on how to use them (such as meatballs, burgers, ragus, chillies or pies for the beef mince) which would be useful if you subscribed to this box regularly and were beginning to run out of inspiration. We chose to freeze the meat and the packaging has clear freezing instructions. Everything froze and defrosted well: after defrosting overnight in the fridge, our sausages cooked perfectly in the oven without bursting, were golden and crisp on the outside and juicy inside. A simple banger perfect for sausages and mash, and nicely herby to work well in a full English breakfast. The chicken breasts were a much more generous size than supermarket basics and were great for for a chicken pie, while the beef mince was tender and flavourful. You can choose to get the box just as a one-off, or once every week, two, three or four weeks. Riverford delivers on specific days based on postcode in order to keep food miles down and follow the most efficient delivery route – our day was a Wednesday and this could not be changed. You can leave delivery instructions if you will be out. If you are going to be away, you can pause and cancel selected deliveries without cancelling the full subscription. Compared to buying meat in a supermarket, this is a more expensive way to purchase three staple items. However, the quality of the meat is high and reflects the premium cost of organic produce, and encourages you to think of meat as more of a treat. Meat boxes can often be large quantities, so this compact version is great for couples. Available from: Riverford (£24.25) Farmison & Co Eat Better Meat™ Essentials Box Available from Farmison & Co. (from £45) Best meat box for freezing This award-winning online butcher is based in the Yorkshire Dales, working with smallholding farmers that rear heritage breeds to create meat with more marbling and flavour. Cuts in the Essentials box change every four weeks, but include the likes of heritage breed minced lamb, bavette steak and pork belly steak, as well as smoked back bacon, sausage and a half chicken. All meat is freezable and each box comes with a couple of recipes, plus there are links provided in the confirmation email with step-by-step cooking instructions tailored to each cut. There are various subscription options depending on household size and needs. The Essentials box includes enough meat for 10 meals for two, while the Large Essentials feeds two for 15 meals, and the family box contains enough meat for 10 meals for a family of four. You can buy as a one-off, or get a subscription delivered every week, fortnight or four weeks. Packaging is recyclable and easy to box down so not too bulky in your kitchen. The high quality of the meat and variety in cuts provide excellent value, and we also recommend exploring some of Farmison & Co’s great-value showstopping seasonal joints, including seven-day dry-aged whole leg of lamb and 32-day dry-aged rib of beef. Available from: Farmison & Co. (from £45) HG Walter Butchers' Cuts Box Available from HG Walter (£33) Best meat box for interesting cuts Supplying some of the best chefs and restaurants in London, HG Walter sources its meat predominantly from small farms rearing free-range native breeds, such as Hereford and Aberdeen Angus cattle. Sustainability is a priority for the farmers from whom HG Walter sources, with livestock contributing to a biodiverse landscape. We all know that prime cuts – fillet, sirloin and rump steaks, for example – are much in demand, but the Butchers’ Cuts box aims to encourage customers to try ‘lesser cuts’ as they adapt to a more sustainable way of eating. Products arrived fresh and individually vacuum-packed and were suitable for freezing. These were two onglet steaks (200g each). Also known as hanger steaks, because they hang beneath the diaphragm, these lesser known steaks are best flash-fried and served rare. Check out our guide on cooking with onglet for more tips. We also received two pork chump steaks (250g each). The equivalent of a beef rump steak, they have a nice marbling of fat running through them so are good for marinating and cooking slowly, but they also make good schnitzel: tenderise them with a meat hammer, then dip them in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and fry for a few minutes on each side. Use them instead of escalopes in this recipe for pork schnitzels. The four chicken drumsticks included (380g) were so versatile. Roast, slow cook or dry rub with herbs and spices, and gently cook on the BBQ or soak in buttermilk, coat in seasoned flour and deep fry as seen in these chicken drumstick recipes. There was also one beef tri tip (400g), a triangular steak bursting with beefiness from the bottom of the rump. Finally, we had four lamb neck chops (500g) which are wonderful in a stew or a curry. Marinate in ginger, garlic and spices, and cook them low and slow for 1-2 hours. Products arrived in a simple, neat cardboard box with no freezer bags or padding. There is nationwide delivery to postcodes throughout the UK (except Highlands and Islands) four days a week, from Tuesday to Friday; next-day delivery on orders placed before 12pm. Minimum basket value is £40 and orders under £60 are charged £8.50 delivery fee. Orders over £60 qualify for free delivery, after discount codes or discounts are applied. We created five meals for a family of four with the meat in the Butchers' Cuts box. Not only was it great value for money, but also introduced us to some cuts we were unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, there were no cooking instructions or recipe cards, which would have been helpful, but there are plenty of recipes on the HG Walter website. Available from: HG Walter (£33) Parson's Nose medium meat box Available from Parson's Nose (from £90) Best traditional butcher's meat subscription The ethos of this family-run West London butcher is to bring back the traditional butchers' shop, which it has successfully achieved in three high street shops and a thriving online business. All meat is free range and comes fresh from the counter in minimal packaging, and is suitable for freezing. There are plenty of meat subscription options to choose from depending on household size (small, medium and large), plus the option of a mixed meat and fish box. The small box feeds two people for four meals, while the medium box covers four people for four meals, with cuts including a whole Sutton Hoo free range chicken, South Downs pork chops, and prime Scottish chuck steak. As a great extra touch, all the meat boxes also include a box of the season’s best fresh vegetables, therefore providing you with complete meals. You can buy the boxes as a one-off, or get a subscription delivered every week or four weeks. The Parson’s Nose’s BBQ box is also a great option if you are looking for easy entertaining, with cuts including a Scottish dry-aged T-bone steak, South Downs pork chops and traditional pork sausages, alongside marinated chicken kebabs to pop straight on the grill. Available from: Parson's Nose (from £90) Swaledale Chef’s Choice meat box Available from Swaledale (£68.45) Best meat box for variety Swaledale is an online ‘whole-carcass butcher’ based in the Yorkshire Dales, offering a huge variety of cuts of meat, from beef, lamb and chicken to mutton, venison and game. They combine these offerings into curated meat boxes for every occasion – from the Artisan Steak box for exploring different cuts to a Barbecue Meat box or ones focusing on heritage breeds. We tested out the Chef’s Choice box, which combines well-known staples with some less familiar cuts. It came in a smartly labelled cardboard box with ice packs to keep the meat cool and all items were vacuum-packed and clearly labelled. We were slightly confused as all the meat had the same best before date of just a couple of days after delivery, including bacon, which usually lasts a couple of weeks in the fridge. We froze some of our meat to spread it out – the sausages and sausagemeat both froze and defrosted easily. There was no information on the cuts or suggested recipes included with the box, which would be useful for some of the less familiar cuts, such as the large pig’s cheek and pork shoulder chop, as these are tricky to find recipes for. However, all the items are also sold individually on the website and some have more information or suggested cooking methods there. The Yorkshire breakfast sausages were a surefire hit as part of a weekend full English, cooking evenly and with lots of flavour. We used the spicy, well-seasoned lamb merguez sausages to make sausage rolls with a difference, while the red wine-infused sausagemeat was perfect for a tender ragu. The bacon was incredibly smoky and would add a big depth of flavour if used in risottos or stews. We’ve previously only ever cooked individual small pig’s cheeks, so it was enjoyable to experiment with a large smoked 750g pig’s cheek, slow-cooked to melting tenderness. Our box also contained bone marrow, a pork chop and a hefty kilo piece of salt beef. At just under £70 (plus £9 delivery), this box is guaranteed to keep you busy in the kitchen. It's great for combining familiarity (sausages, bacon) with unusual cuts and styles of meat you’d usually only find in restaurants, which will definitely help push your cooking skills. Available from: Swaledale (£68.45) How we tested the meat boxes We tried and tested a variety of meat boxes from different brands to get a good idea of the overall quality and value of the meat. We also noted the lack of halal subscription boxes on the market. One thing we strongly considered was the value for money – this is based on not only the quality of meat, but the amount or range of meats in the box for the price. We focused on where the meat came from, how fresh it was, and whether the box came with any cooking suggestions or extra features. We also understand that flexibility is a great consideration when it comes to subscription boxes so we researched the subscription and delivery options as well as the overall sustainability of the boxes, from the efforts of the farm to the packaging. Key terms explained Free-range This means that the animals are free to roam around the farm for at least some of the day. Organic Organic farming means that natural resources on the farm are protected. Chemicals such as artificial fertilisers and pesticides are not used on the soil, so the animals roam on natural land and avoid ingesting artificial substances. Organic farming also means more biodiversity in the farm, as there's an absence of veterinary medicines like antibiotics in rearing livestock, an avoidance of genetic modification and livestock do not have additives in their feed. Read our more in-depth guide to the term organic. Sustainable farming This means running a farm that takes into consideration the environment and public health. This can take the form of using renewable energy sources on the farm or efficient recycling methods, such as collecting rain water to irrigate crops or re-using crop waste or manure to fertilise soil. High welfare Meat coming from high-welfare farms means that the animals' well-being is prioritised. This means they're largely free to roam, have ample access to the outdoors and their environments are kept clean and comfortable. For poultry, it also means they have enrichment, such as perches or toys, to help reduce stress. Heritage breeds Livestock that are 'heritage breeds' have been around before industrial agriculture and generally stayed in the same environment, so they are well adapted to their local habitat. They have fuller flavour and generally more marbling. Regenerative meat This refers to meat that is not only grass-fed and organic, but also produced by farmers using regenerative agriculture. This aims to reverse effects of climate change by rebuilding organic matter in soil and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. Regenerative meat meets specific criteria to enhance the environment, soil health and animal welfare, and the farms treat workers ethically and fairly. Wild-range meat Animals that are wild-range are free to roam and eat from re-wilded land, which is rich in natural herbs and bark. This method of eating means they are slow-grown (not unnaturally fattened up), which creates richer meat. Dry-aged A technique where meat (specifically beef and sometimes lamb) is stored in a controlled environment (temperature, humidity, air circulation) until the natural enzymes of the meat breaks down, making it more tender and maximising flavour. Subscription reviews Best recipe box delivery services Best gin deliveries and subscriptions Best craft beer subscriptions Best cheese deliveries Best coffee subscriptions How to season cast iron Have we left out your favourite meat box? Share your meat delivery box tips below.
The best gingerbread house kits to buy in 2025
Build a Christmas masterpiece in your own kitchen this season with the help of these gingerbread house kits, including a chocolate option.
Is there anything more festive than gingerbread? It can take many forms – gingerbread cookies, gingerbread people, a gingerbread wreath or even a chocolate gingerbread advent calendar – but a decorated gingerbread house is a real spectacle. Baked gingerbread walls are ‘glued’ together with icing, then the house is abundantly decorated with colourful treats, making every component of the structure edible. When it comes to the flavours of winter, aromatic cinnamon and ginger are always warm and comforting. With the help of a gingerbread house kit, you can create a Christmas centrepiece in your own kitchen. Our favourite kits, below, include a range of ready-to-assemble gingerbread houses, made from pre-baked components accompanied by icing and sweet treats for decoration. There are also some sets that require baking, as well as an alternative offering for those who aren’t fans of gingerbread. We’ve found a gluten-free option, too, so no one misses out on the festivities! There are supermarket gingerbread house options from M&S starting at just £7, plus more elaborate ideas from Honeywell Biscuit Co to stretch your skills. If you’re starting from scratch, Good Food’s Lulu Grimes can walk you through how to make gingerbread and offer her top tips for cutting, shaping and decorating the dough. For more Christmas inspiration, visit our reviews section to find our best Christmas sandwich taste test, best panettone to buy, plus the ultimate foodie gift guide and the results of our Christmas Taste Awards. Discover more Christmas gifting inspiration with our best hampers, gin gifts or best baking gifts. Best gingerbread house kits to buy at a glance Best gingerbread house kit for gifting: Biscuiteers DIY gingerbread house kit, £38 Best chocolate house kit: Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate house kit, £14 Best gingerbread house kit for baking from scratch: Honeywell Biscuit Co gingerbread house kit, £24.50 Best budget gingerbread house kit: Marks & Spencer gingerbread house kit, £7 Jump to: Best gingerbread house kits to buy in 2025 Why do we make gingerbread houses at Christmas? What type of gingerbread is used for a gingerbread house? Best gingerbread house kits to buy in 2025 Biscuiteers DIY pre-baked gingerbread kit Available from Biscuiteers (£38) Best gingerbread house kit for gifting Presented in an ornately decorated square-edged keepsake tin, The Biscuiteers gingerbread house kit is a high-end treat that’s ready to assemble and suitable for the whole family. It would make a great gift to take home for Christmas. Inside, you’ll find the brand’s twice-baked gingerbread house pieces that have the snap you’d expect from gingerbread with the buttery crumble of shortbread. Vanilla-flavoured royal icing sugar, piping bags and an assortment of colourful decorations are also included. Available from: Biscuiteers (£38) Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate house kit Available from Boots (£11.25), Cadbury Gifts Direct (£14), Ocado (£14) Best chocolate house kit Although this isn’t your standard gingerbread house, this kit from Cadbury makes a great alternative. The compact kit comprises four firm Cadbury favourites: Dairy Milk Bar, Dairy Milk Winter Wonderland Edition, Milk Buttons and a Flake. Cement the walls together using melted Dairy Milk and decorate with the icing provided. For little elves who don’t enjoy the flavour of gingerbread, this Cadbury set ensures they can still have their fun. Available from: Boots (£11.25) Cadbury Gifts Direct (£14) Ocado (£14) Honeywell Biscuit Co gingerbread house kit Available from Honeywell Biscuit Co (£22.50), Not on the High Street (£24.50) Best gingerbread house kit from scratch This kit starts you off making and baking the gingerbread, so it’s a great project for kids (and adults!) who love cooking. A template, recipe card, icing and sweets are all included, with a few extras to nibble on during the build. Buy this for your family or to give as a foodie gift – there’s also a gift-wrapping option which includes a personalised message. Available from: Honeywell Biscuit Co (£22.50) Not on the High Street (£24.50) Marks & Spencer Gingerbread House Kit Available from Ocado (£7) Best budget gingerbread house kit The Marks and Spencer gingerbread house kit is the cheapest on our test at £7, and you get a lot of bang for your pennies. There’s no gingerbread or icing to make as it has all been done for you. Assembly is easy using the enclosed tray for support. And, as each gingerbread piece is meticulously scored where windows, doors and roof tiles are, the lines can be quickly filled using the enclosed icing tube with its plain nozzle. There are also decorative nozzles, sweets, and sugar decorations to use, so the house looks almost professional when finished. We loved this quality kit and its great price. Available from: Ocado (£5) Why do we make gingerbread houses at Christmas? The tradition of building houses made from gingerbread can be traced back to the fairytale of Hansel & Gretel by Brother's Grimm. In the story, an evil witch lives in a house of gingerbread - and German gingerbread guilds soon began creating their own creations. These have become the less sinister festive cottage designs we recognise today. What type of gingerbread is used for a gingerbread house? The term 'gingerbread' is a broad term that can apply to several different styles of spicy cookie and cake. Our gingerbread cookies recipe makes a soft, cakey result - a great festive snack, but not the type you need if you are building with your dough. This needs to be dry and strong to be able to stand up straight and set with icing without crumbling. Check out our simple gingerbread house recipe for a crisp, strong cookie if you've got time to make you own. The kits above vary between making your own or having readymade slabs so you don't have to worry. Gift ideas for Christmas Best sweets subscriptions Best letterbox-friendly gifts by post Our ultimate foodie gift guide Best Advent calendars Best marshmallow-toasting kits Best Christmas cookie cutters More gingerbread recipes Gingerbread loaf cake Gluten free gingerbread Ultimate easy gingerbread Gingerbread latte Gingerbread pancakes Gingerbread cake with caramel biscuit icing Lighter gingerbread Gingerbread syrup If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
13 best food processors for chopping, slicing and shredding
Food processors can help you slice, dice, chop and blitz with ease. We tested leading brands, including Kenwood, Magimix and Cuisinart to see which models perform best
There are many reasons a food processor can make life easier in the kitchen. Perhaps your knife skills don't make the cut, or that monster batch cook seems like a drawn-out chore? Plug in a processor for the speedy way to prep, every time. Not only do our favourite food processors slice, dice, blend and chop to perfection, but they also make grating, grinding and even dough making a breeze. Safety features ensure there's no need to sacrifice your fingertips in the process. As you whizz through ingredients for your favourite dishes at record speed, you'll wonder how you ever managed without one. I tried out a range of Good Food recipes and prepared basic ingredients to select the best machines on the market. I prepped everything from classic pesto to pizza dough, Thai green curry paste to precision-sliced spuds for delicious dauphinoise. Read on to discover our choice of food processors that are sure to be firm fixtures on the Good Food kitchen worktop. The latest additions were tested by Anna Lawson. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website View Green Video on the source website Best food processors at a glance 5/5 stars Best high-tech food processor: Ninja Detect 3-in-1 Power blender and food processor, £178.99 Best food processor overall: Sage the Paradice 9, £249.95 Best easy-to-use food processor: ProCook 3L food processor, £179 Best small food processor: Kenwood MultiPro Go food processor, £39.99 Best Ninja food processor: Ninja Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN650UK, £79.99 Best Magimix food processor: Magimix 4200XL 18473 food processor, £418.95 Best 3-in-1 food processor: Ninja 3-in-1 food processor with Auto IQ BN800UK, £199.99 Best of the rest Best value compact food processor: Cuisinart FlexPrep 1.1L food processor, £47.24 Best Kenwood food processor: Kenwood MultiPro OneTouch Pro food processor, £129.99 Best basic food processor: Cuisinart FP8U Easy Prep Pro, £80 Best compact food processor: KitchenAid 2.1-litre food processor, £178.03 Best food processor and blender: Russell Hobbs Desire food processor, £59.99 Best small food processor and blender: Magic Bullet Kitchen Express, £59.99 Jump to section: Best food processors to buy in 2025 What is a food processor? What can a food processor be used for? What does a food processor do? How we tested food processors How we tested food processors Myself and the team tested a variety of different food processors that ranged in price from budget buys to pricier blowout models. We also tested basic models that performed simple chopping and slicing tasks to behemoths that come with a vast variety of different attachments and accessories. To put each food processor to the test, we tested each of their attachments as well as their ease of use, ease of cleaning, as well as other factors like how sturdy they were on the kitchen counter and how much noise they made. As well as grating and slicing a range of produce (parmesan cheese, carrots, potatoes, herbs, nuts, onions) we also made a pasta dough to put the dough blade to the test, and a Thai green curry paste and classic pesto to test the slicing blade at two different speeds. Best food processors to buy in 2025 Ninja Detect 3-in-1 Power blender and food processor Available from Amazon (£222), John Lewis and Partners (£222), Ninja (£229.99), Currys (£229.99) Best high-tech food processor Pros: BlendSense for automatic functions Dishwasher safe (except for the base) Multi-function – covers all needs Easy and intuitive to use Cons: Noisy Star rating: 5/5 Renowned brand Ninja have brought the latest technology to their 3-in-1 Power Blender and Food Processor: a fierce, sturdily built machine ready to take on any task thrown at it with its 1200W motor, a chopping and a dough blade and a seriously sharp slicing/shredding disc. The processor bowl has a decent 1.8-litre capacity, with preset options for large, small and an even smaller, mince mode. These made short work of everything I gave it, and it excelled on the onion test. First, I did a medium chop, then a mince, and the result was beautiful, tiny, evenly chopped pieces. I whipped up a pizza dough in seconds using the intelligent BlendSense function, which calculates the amount and type of ingredients and processes them to create a tight, well-blended dough ball. I sliced potatoes, grated cheese, flew through carrots, and pulverised bread into crumbs. The Ninja Detect is an excellent, well-built machine with a wealth of features for both beginners and keen cooks. Wattage: 1200W Working capacity: 1.8L Accessories: detect total chopping blade, dough blade, slicing/shredding blade, hybrid edge blades undefined Sage the Paradice 9 food processor Available from Sage (£249.95), Currys (£249.99) Best food processor Pros: In-built storage caddy Powerful motor with 30-year warranty Range of accessories Good capacity without being too bulky Cord storage Cons: Dicer blade doesn't catch all ingredients Star rating: 5/5 Owning a food processor with lots of attachments can be a huge win in terms of versatility, but less so when it comes to storage – especially if you have a small kitchen, like I do. Sage has gone some way to solving this with its newest model, the Paradice 9, which melds a roomy 2.1-litre capacity with a compact, well-thought-out design. This is all thanks to the integrated storage caddy, which slots neatly on top of the food processor when it's not in use. Navigating where each part sits takes some practice (I'd advise using the manual for guidance), but the attachments are colour-coded and there are clear markings on the bowl and lid too. One speed setting and a pulse function are selectable on the front of the food processor, and in test I found the motor was powerful and efficient – blitzing through ingredients in just a few seconds. The dicer blade had some difficulty pushing through all the onion, leaving around half a centimetre stuck at the top, but otherwise produced uniform results. Wattage: 650W Working capacity: 2.1L Accessories: one bowl, chopping 's' blade, reversible shredder (coarse and fine), adjustable slicer (15 levels), dough blade, 12mm dicing blade undefined ProCook 3-litre food processor Available from ProCook (£149) Best easy-to-use food processor Pros: Intuitive controls Easy to use Lockable storage box Preset and variable speed settings Cons: On the heavy side Star rating: 5/5 The ProCook food processor comes in a large box, as it features not only a generous, sturdy food processor base and bowl but also includes a handsome, lockable storage box for the accessories. All the blades, discs and whisks are tucked neatly away – something I think every food processor should have, particularly when children are present. The processor was so easy to assemble that the instruction book was barely needed. There’s a choice of five presets which take away any guesswork on speed or time when chopping, making dough or processing eggs, a pulse button, plus a much-welcome cleaning function. The variable speed button allows the machine to transition from gentle to super-powerful at the top end. With this power, I was relieved that the machine stayed firmly in place on the worktop. All the test results were excellent and the built-in cleaning program made clearing up quick and easy. The ProCook is a superb, sturdy, hard-working machine that would be great in any kitchen. Wattage: 1300W Working capacity: 3L Accessories: storage box, 4 grater/slicer/ julienne discs, whisk, emulsifying disc, two sharp bowl blades undefined Kenwood MultiPro Go food processor Available from Amazon (£48.98), Kenwood (£49.99), Hughes (£52) Best small food processor Pros: Compact Attractive Integrated cord storage Intuitive Express serve attachment saves time and effort Good value Cons: No handle on the bowl Star rating: 5/5 If you're after a no-frills food processor, this compact Kenwood model handles the basics brilliantly. It comes with an express serve bowl attachment, so you can process ingredients from the bowl into the pan. The wrap-around cord storage ensures its footprint stays minimal. Despite its small size, it has a powerful motor that dices, slices and grates with ease. While I found the lack of handle on the bowl frustrating, its silicone feet help keep it firmly on the worktop. There's just one speed and a pulse function for shorter bursts of power, but what this food processor lacks in versatility, it more than makes up for in efficiency, intuitiveness and style. Read our full Kenwood MultiPro Go food processor review. Wattage: 650W Working capacity: 1.3L Accessories: two bowls, chopping blade, reversible disc for slicing and grating, express serve disc Latest Deals Ninja Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN650UK Available from AO (£79), Ninja (£79.99) Best Ninja food processor Pros: Good selection of presets Measurements and markers up the side of the mixing bowl Powerful performance Compact design Comes with everything you’d need for everyday processing Cons: Loud Short one-year guarantee Star rating: 5/5 Ninja is well known for its powerful pieces of kitchen kit, and this model, despite the low price tag, delivers impressive performance with oomph. The BN650UK is Ninja’s budget food processor offering and as such it doesn’t come with all the added extras such as blender jugs and takeaway cups. But if you’re looking for a food processor that performs basic chopping, grating, kneading and slicing tasks exceptionally well, this Ninja is a must-buy. This model comes with four Auto IQ presets for chopping, puréeing, slicing and mixing, as well as the usual low, high and pulse manual settings. I couldn’t fault the results as this model worked its way through every test with absolute ease. For added convenience the bowl and attachments are dishwasher-safe (top rack only). Our only minor gripe was that it is rather loud. Wattage: 850W Working capacity: 2.1L Accessories: chopping blade, dough blade, reversible slicing/grating disc Latest Deals Magimix 4200XL 18473 food processor Available from AO (£289), Amazon (£289) Best Magimix food processor Pros: Robust High-quality efficient machine Great recipe book Cons: On the heavy side Star rating: 5/5 This impressive food processor from Magimix will take care of most processing jobs needed in the kitchen, from shredding and grating, to blending, puréeing and slicing. It can also handle a very good rapid-knead pizza dough and much more. This well-made machine, with a clever three-bowl system, makes it one of the most versatile on our test. The controls are simple, straightforward and so good-looking I didn't want to put this in the cupboard. Read our full Magimix 4200XL 18473 food processor review. Wattage: 950W Working capacity: 1.3L Accessories: three bowls, two chopping blades, two grating discs (2mm & 4mm), two slicing discs (2mm & 4mm), BlenderMix ring (for blending), dough blade, egg whisk, spatula, storage box Latest Deals Ninja 3-in-1 food processor with Auto-IQ Available from Ninja (£199.99), Robert Dyas (£199.99) Best 3-in-1 food processor Pros: Intuitive, with fast and excellent results across the board Cons: Lacks a storage box Star rating: 5/5 The Ninja 3-in-1 combines three types of food processing into one machine, with a roomy food processor jug, sturdy glass blender and single-serve blender. This can be used for smoothies and juices to go, or to make small amounts of sauces and spice mixes. It's a fiercely efficient machine with a 1200-watt motor that can work through ingredients (whether chopped, mixed, grated, sliced, blended or puréed) in seconds. This machine’s IQ to select the correct process for each jug used makes it stand out in my test. Read our full Ninja 3-in-1 food processor review. Wattage: 1200W Working capacity: Food processor - 1.8L, blender - 2.1L Accessories: Blender jug and lid, stacked chopping blades, blender blades, 700ml cup, reversible slicing/grating disc, disc adapter, dough blade, chopping blade Latest Deals Cuisinart FlexPrep 1.1L food processor Available from Amazon (£54.99), Cuisinart (£69.99) Best value compact food processor Pros: Compact and attractive design Lightweight and easy to move Powerful Storage hub for parts Dishwasher-safe parts Blade-lock for safe, mess-free pouring Cons: No slicing blade Smaller bowl – not ideal for big batches Single, very powerful speed can be hard to control Star rating: 4.5/5 Cuisinart has described its FlexPrep food processor as a “compact powerhouse" and we couldn’t agree more. Its attractive design and small footprint mean it’s stylish enough to keep on the countertop, but for those with limited space, it’s also light enough to lift in and out of a cupboard easily. Plus, the plug and cord retract neatly into the base, while a ‘storage hub’ inside the bowl means that everything (bar the whipping disc!) can be neatly kept together in one place. Assembly is quick and intuitive, and operation couldn’t be simpler, with just two buttons: on and off/pulse. That means there’s only one speed, but it’s impressively powerful – 100ml cream went from soft peaks to curdled in about 30 seconds, so pulsing here is essential for control (and recommended in the instruction booklet). For other tasks, it excelled. Thai curry paste was made in seconds and the double-sided grating blade handled both carrots and cheese with impressive speed and ease (though the ‘fine’ side is pretty coarse, so it wouldn’t work for ingredients like parmesan). We really appreciated the clever blade-lock feature, allowing you to pour out ingredients safely without the blade coming loose, as well as the dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning. With its 1.1-litre capacity, the bowl is on the smaller side than other food processors we tested, so it’s not suitable for big-batch cooking. However, this powerful, thoughtfully-designed machine is a great choice for everyday cooking at a very reasonable price. Wattage: not stated Working capacity: 1.1L Accessories: chopping blade, grating blade, whipping disc, storage hub Available from: Amazon (£54.99) Cuisinart (£69.99) Kenwood MultiPro OneTouch Pro food processor Available from Amazon (£150), Currys (£169), John Lewis and Partners (£169.99), Kenwood (£199.99) Best Kenwood food processor Pros: Integrated weighing scales Good range of accessories Touch Clean function One-touch controls Excellent dough function Cons: Main body easily marks with fingerprints Instruction booklet is difficult to read Only a one-year guarantee Star rating: 4.5/5 Unpacking the Kenwood Multi ProOne Touch processor requires a little sorting before testing, as it comes with layers of discs, blades and accessories that need to be organised first. Once that was sorted, I tackled the instruction book, a hefty tome with mainly illustrations and some text, which I found unwieldy to navigate. Assembly and use are intuitive, though a beginner may struggle. From then on, I loved working with this machine. There are six presets plus a custom one-touch digital function buttons; a favourite was the dough function, which revs up and slows down until it ends with a well-kneaded piece of dough. And joy of joys, a self-clean function too. Alongside these are the manual speed controls, which allow for a little more control, as I did with the chopped onions, taking the gold star. I found the Express Serve (the funnel that shoots out chopped ingredients) a little messy, but everything else, from the integrated weighing scales to the juicer, slicing, grating, chopping and blending was exceptional. Wattage: 1000W Working capacity: 3L Accessories: dough blade, dual whisk, 2mm & 4mm slicing and grating discs, 2 blades, spatula undefined Cuisinart FP8U Easy Prep Pro Available from Cuisinart (£80) Best basic food processor Pros: High-quality components Attractive design Cons: No jug attachment Star rating: 4.5/5 This is a great food processor if you're looking for a reasonably priced machine that will do the basics with minimum fuss. The components are pared back but highly effective, working through ingredients quickly and efficiently. The materials all feel well-made, from the stylish outer shell to the strong blades. Read our full Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro review. Wattage: 350W Working capacity: Large bowl - 1.9L, small bowl - 0.7L Accessories: Small and large chopping blades, small and large reversible slicing and grating discs Latest Deals KitchenAid 2.1-litre food processor Available from Amazon (£178.03) Best compact food processor Pros: Small footprint Easy to store Innovative reversible stacking discs Quiet Oil drizzler Cons: Not great at finely blitzing smaller quantities Star rating: 4.5/5 The KitchenAid's style and small footprint are the first things I noticed about this machine. It's compact (about the width of a large kettle), lightweight, easy to unpack and manoeuvre, and sports handy grooves at its base. Non-slip feet keep it stable once settled. Each component and accessory feel quality-made and built to last. This is a step-down in size from the 3.1L KitchenAid, so better suited to those who don't want to bulk-blitz ingredients, but do want a practical machine for everyday use. Read our full KitchenAid 2.1L food processor review. Wattage: 250W Working capacity: 2.1 Accessories: dough blade, chopping blade, reversible slicing and grating blade, julienne disc, refrigerator lid, whisk accessory Latest Deals Russell Hobbs Desire food processor Available from Amazon (£62.49) Best food processor and blender Pros: Dishwasher-safe bowls and attachments 1.5-litre jug blender Non-slip feet, cord storage Cons: Only 1.5L usable capacity within the 2.5L food processor bowl Star rating: 4.5/5 At around £50, this 2-in-1 food processor and blender set offers great versatility for the price. Despite only having one reversible slicing and shredding disk, it over-performs. The simplicity of this model actually plays in its favour. Read our full Russell Hobbs Desire food processor review. Wattage: 600W Working capacity: Food processor - 1.5L, blender - 1.5L Accessories: chopping blade, slicing/shredding disc, dough blade, creaming disc Latest Deals Magic Bullet Kitchen Express Available from Amazon (£69), Very (£69), Nutribullet (£69.99) Best small food processor and blender Pros: Small Compact and fierce Cons: No storage for all the bits and pieces Star rating: 4.5/5 The Magic Bullet Express is a compact, multi-use processor and blender all in one machine that takes up little space. The sturdy machine comes with a generous work bowl for its size, plus a separate small blender attachment that neatly fits onto one of the two tall cups for smoothies using the to-go lid. The processor also has a reversible slice or shred disc. Packed with a powerful 250-watt motor, this is not only a versatile machine, but a pretty ferocious one, too. Wattage: 250W Working capacity: Food processor – 0.83L, blender – 0.8L Accessories: chopping blade, reversible slicing and shredding disc, blender blade, two travel cups Read our full Magic Bullet Kitchen Express review. Latest Deals Other food processors tested and rated KitchenAid 1.7-litre food processor, £189 What is a food processor? A food processor is an appliance designed to act as an extra pair of hands in the kitchen. One key benefit of a food processor is that it's a multitasker, often coming with various accessories and functions. Almost all use a rotating gear to turn their various accessories, which will typically include extra discs for slicing or grating, alongside the main blade arrays for chopping or mixing. Some food processors come loaded with additional blender accessories, so you can tick two appliance boxes with one purchase. Before choosing the best food processor for you, you need to ask yourself which functions you’d like it to perform. All food processors will come with a chopping blade as standard. This can be used for most tasks, including making hummus, cauliflower rice, even homemade tomato sauce. And then there are other attachments to consider. Some of the most common attachments include: Dough blade: looking not dissimilar to the chopping blade, this is often made from plastic with a dull edge and shorter arms. As the name suggests, it can be used to knead all kinds of dough. Shredding disc: this has teeth like the kind you have on a grater. Ideal for grating cheese, carrot and chocolate while keeping your knuckles safe Slicing disc: for super-even slices. On some models only one thickness of slice is available – on higher-end models you’re able to adjust the thickness The more expensive, premium food processors often come with these additional extras: Dicing and French-fry attachments: to produce perfect cubes of hard ingredients or batons for French fries Different-sized bowls: an additional small bowl that fits inside the main bowl makes life a lot easier if you’re only looking to process a small quantity of food You should also consider how much of a technical challenge you are willing to tackle. As a rule, the more functions a food processor has, the more complex it will be to assemble and use correctly. What can a food processor be used for? Many of the food processors on this list come with a whole host of attachments. But the majority, as standard, will come with attachments for slicing, grating, chopping and kneading. Some models will come with additional blender or mini chopper attachments, which offer an added level of versatility, but even the core accessories render the humble food processor a truly multi-functional appliance. Slicing Achieve uniform results with the slicing attachment; you can make: crispy garlic and rosemary slices, boulangere potatoes, dauphinoise potatoes, butternut dauphinoise, fennel dauphinoise, pickled red cabbage, potato and radish salad, coconut chicken with cucumber salad Grating Whizz through laborious grating tasks with the grating attachment, make: honey, parsnip and coconut cake, rosti fish cake, walnut and almond muesli with grated apple, grilled corn with garlic mayo and grated cheese, chocolate courgette cake, easy creamy coleslaw, oven-baked rosti cake Kneading dough Knead a variety of doughs with the dough blade: homemade pasta, pizza dough, edible cookie dough, vanilla shortbread dough, iced buns with cream and jam, raspberry and almond traybake. We recommend running the food processor on low to avoid being too aggressive with the dough. You’ll likely have to use a smaller quantity than the original recipe, as processor bowls have smaller capacities than stand mixers, for example. Chopping The chopping blade is the most versatile of all the attachments and will likely be the most-used. These sharp blades are great for everything from chopping to pureeing. Make: Thai green curry paste, Tom Kerridge’s madras curry paste, chocolate and hazelnut thumbprint cookies, cauliflower rice, frozen tropical fruit yogurt. What does a food processor do? Depending on the attachment used, a food processor can be used to chop, grate, knead and slice a whole host of ingredients, making them one of the most versatile kitchen appliances. But what’s the difference between a food processor and a blender? As the table shows, although both appliances have the ability to chop and blend, they are two very different bits of kit, and as such are not mutually exclusive. Think of a food processor as an extra pair of hands in the kitchen, the tool you pass off your prep work to or use for chunky dips, purees, as well as dry processing tasks. Choose your blender when you need to achieve smooth liquid results, think: soups, smoothies, cocktails and crushed ice. Related reviews Best mini choppers Best spice grinders Best air-fryers Best stand mixers Best multi-cookers Best hand mixers Best cake tins Best popcorn makers Best blenders Best slow cookers Best pressure cookers How to sharpen knives Best veg box Best smoothie makers Ninja Creami vs Deluxe Best dishwashers Is HexClad worth it? Best Cuisinart ice-cream makers Is KitchenAid worth it? Is the Ninja Swirl worth it? Appliance deals Air fryer deals Microwave deals Dishwasher deals Pizza oven deals If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Ninja Slushi frozen drinks maker – first-look review
Is the Ninja Slushi worth it? We tested frappes, frosé, juices and more to see if this frozen drink machine lives up to the hype.
If there’s one thing Ninja knows how to do, it’s take everyday kitchen kit and make it exciting. From its innovative air fryers to its oh-so brilliant ice cream makers, the brand has built a reputation for gadgets that promise fun as well as function. Its latest launch, the Ninja Slushi FS301UK, pushes that formula into new territory. This is a machine that can turn lemonade into a perfect icy slush in minutes, churn out creamy frappes for iced coffee fiends and keep frozen margaritas flowing at your next party. Available from Amazon (£224), Very (£224), John Lewis & Partners (£224), Ninja (£249.99), Currys (£224), Argos (£249.99) That’s the promise here – all without the need for ice cubes or fiddly pre-freezing bowls. At around £349 this isn’t a casual purchase and it takes up a fair bit of counter space, but it’s certainly one of the most intriguing appliances Ninja has released. Read on to find out if it lives up to the hype. Unboxing the Ninja Slushi We were thrilled to see all recyclable packaging surrounding the Ninja Slushi when we unboxed it. But this is a hefty piece of kit: it weighs around 11kg and is 43cm tall, so this isn’t really something to move to and from a cupboard when you want to use it. Inside the box you’ll find the following alongside the base: A 2.5L vessel (1.9L max capacity) Stirring auger Dispensing handle and tap Recipe guide Drip tray The assembly is very straightforward: simply insert the auger, attach the vessel to the refrigerated base and clip on the drip tray and tap. Despite its plastic shell, the Slushi feels well-made and robust. One key thing to remember, the base unit needs to sit upright for around half a day before first use (much like other compressor appliances) to let the fluids settle. Ninja Slushi: design, features and use The Ninja Slushi doesn’t use blades or ice. Instead, liquids freeze directly on the refrigerated metal cylinder in the centre of the machine and the auger scrapes and stirs, producing smooth ice crystals. There are five presets on the Slushi: slush, frozen cocktail, frappe, milkshake and frozen juice. And there are 10 freeze levels, allowing you to tailor your drinks to your desired consistency. We made four different drinks to put the Slushi to the test. We used a pre-made lemonade on the frozen juice setting, it took around 20 minutes to transform into a smooth refreshing slush that maintained its texture for around two hours. Our rose wine for frosé froze rapidly, producing a brilliant smooth consistency on the frozen cocktail setting. We wanted to try out a coffee-based drink, so married the coffee frappe in Ninja’s recipe book with our pumpkin spiced latte recipe, to create the ultimate autumn drink for when the sun’s still out. We chose the frappe setting – the final result was a little thicker in texture than the juice and frosé but we enjoyed a deliciously smooth and creamy frozen latte. Finally, we made frozen cola using the slush setting, which the Ninja handled with total ease. It had a fine icy texture that melted slowly rather than clumping. Even after 20 minutes in the glass, it remained spoonable rather than collapsing into liquid. Compared to a standard blender and ice slushy, the results with the Ninja were noticeably smoother and less watery, as nothing gets diluted by melting cubes. While Ninja calls the compressor 'WhisperChill', we found it was noticeably louder than a whisper, even in our busy test kitchen. It certainly won’t drown out conversation, but we always knew it was running. How does the Ninja Slushi work? It's surprisingly simple; at the centre of the Slushi is a chilled metal cylinder inside the tank. As liquid touches the walls of the cylinder, the auger (corkscrew paddle) scrapes the frozen layer and stirs it into the mixture. Because the Slushi works by balancing freezing points, whatever mixture you want to turn to slush must have around 5 per cent sugar to properly work. This means that diet or zero-sugar drinks won’t work unless you add sugar. Alcohol can be included, but with limits – Ninja suggests 3-16% ABV total. If there’s too much alcohol or too little sugar, your drink will stay liquid. How to use the Ninja Slushi Insert the auger and vessel, and lock them in Pour 0.5-1.9L liquid into the vessel Set the preset you want Adjust the freeze level Press start and let the machine do its thing Once it’s finished, pull the tap to dispense the mixture into glasses We found that the slush tends to plop rather than to flow smoothly out of the machine, and you’ll need to leave the machine running and powered while serving otherwise the mixture doesn’t move to the serving end and it can freeze solid. How long does the Ninja Slushi take? This depends on lots of different factors, such as quantity of liquid and the recipe you’re following, but broadly: 15-20 minutes: for small servings of sugary fizzy drinks or juices, 20-30 minutes: for juice-based drinks and lighter cocktails, 30-45 minutes: for dairy-based drinks like frappes, Up to 60 minutes: for large capacity drinks, higher ABV or lower sugar drinks. As a general rule of thumb, we found the more sugar and alcohol, the faster it tends to freeze. Whereas larger quantities and low-sugar mixes take longer. How to know when the Ninja Slushi is done? Usefully, the Slushi will beep when the preset cycle finishes. Plus, it’s really easy to see inside the machine, so you can easily gauge the level of "doneness" yourself. We found a quick dispense test is the easiest way to check: if the liquid pours out as a smooth slush, rather than watery, it’s ready. If it's not thick enough for your liking, you can extend the cycle or increase the freeze level manually. We also found that if you’ve over-frozen your mix, a little extra hit of liquid was enough to loosen it up again. How to clean the Ninja Slushi Cleaning the Ninja Slushi is very simple indeed. Once you’ve finished with the Slushi, just pour water into the vessel and run the rinse cycle – this flushes the auger and the sides of the vessel. Once you feel it’s been thoroughly rinsed, you can just flush the water out through the tap, but use a jug to catch the water. We found opening the tap slowly, so there’s only a little gap, is the best way to flush it without getting water everywhere. You can then disassemble the vessel, auger, tap and drip tray. While Ninja says these parts are all dishwasher safe, some are pretty hefty and would take up a fair amount of space in the dishwasher, plus we found they needed little more than a quick clean with soap and warm water. Return to the freezing cylinder and base and wipe these down with a damp cloth. Is the Ninja Slushi worth it? The Ninja Slushi is a go-to piece of kit for entertaining, family treats and cocktails. It’s ideal if you’re looking to churn out rounds of icy drinks for a kids party in the day, and frozen margaritas or piña coladas for the adults at night. It’s also the only domestic slushy machine available in the UK. We were consistently impressed by the Slushi’s versatility and the quality of the slush it produced. Whether it's a cola slush, a frappe or a cocktail, the results felt indulgent and often better than what you could buy elsewhere, plus you know exactly what's going into your slushies. The overall fun factor and inspiration to try new recipes are also highlights. There are of course some downsides. Firstly, it’s single function. Unlike a blender, the Slushi does one thing and one thing only, though, admittedly it does this very well. This, coupled with its size, weight and price, means you’re taking a lot on for something that may only get use half the year. Plus, if you’re looking for a frozen dessert maker that’s a little healthier than ice cream, the Slushi is a bit of a false promise given the 5 per cent sugar requirement. In short, the Ninja Slushi is a well-designed, high-quality machine that makes brilliant frozen drinks. It’s best for people who will use it often and get a lot from the fun, exciting results. If you only want occasional slushies, its price and footprint may outweigh the benefits. undefined More reviews Best ice cream makers Best Cuisinart ice cream makers Best ice lolly moulds Best doughnut makers Best multi-cookers Best iced coffee makers and accessories Ninja Creami vs Deluxe Best food processors Best blenders Slushy recipes Watermelon and strawberry slushy Frosé Frozen strawberry daiquiri Watermelon prosecco sorbet slushies Raspberry lemonade slushies Instant berry banana slush Frozen strawberry margarita Frozen pineapple margarita Frozen margarita If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
10 of the best juicers for blitzing fresh fruit and vegetables
We tested a range of masticating, centrifugal, and citrus juicers from the likes of Kuvings, Sage and Gastroback. Discover which models came out on top, plus find juice recipe inspiration
Making your own fresh juice at home with a juicer is one of the best ways to enjoy them, and is advocated by many health experts. Plus, juice is a delicious way to use up leftover fruit and veg – especially if you've got a glut of homegrown produce following this summer's hot weather. Check out our juice recipes for inspiration. There are many juicers on the market, from simple budget centrifugal machines, to powerful heavyweight masticating ones. Smaller wattage machines struggle with frozen berries and vegetables, but the rest will happily chomp through most ingredients. Our experts have tested across all types across a range of price points, so read on to discover their top picks. The latest additions were tested and reviewed by Elaine Lemm. Best juicer deals Looking to save on one of the juicers in this list? We've been scouring the market to find the biggest savings – here are the best we've found so far: Good Food in partnership with Tower juicer: Good Food stainless steel citrus juicer | £49.99 £34.99 at Tower (save £15 or 30% with code GOODFOOD30) More juicer deals: Ninja cold press juicer | £129.99 £99.99 at Ninja (save £30 or 23%) Magic Bullet mini juicer | £69.99 £59.99 at Nutribullet (save £10 or 14%) Sage the Citrus Press | £139.95 £119.95 at Sage (save £20 or 14%) Nutribullet Juicer Pro | £129.99 £109.99 at Nutribullet (save £20 or 16%) Nutribullet Juicer 01515 | £99.99 £69.99 at Nutribullet (save £30 or 30%) For even more offers, take a look at our round-up of the best kitchen appliance deals and find out how we put each product to the test, so you can shop with confidence. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best juicers at a glance Best cold press juicer: Ninja cold press juicer, £99.99 Best compact juicer: Magic Bullet mini juicer, £69.99 Best premium juicer: Nama J2 cold press juicer, £770.61 Best citrus juicer: Sage the Citrus Press, £119.95 Best entry-level juicer: Kuvings whole slow juicer, £345 Best masticating juicer: Hurom slow juicer, £1,120.18 Best versatile juicer: Fridja F1900, £109.99 Best juicer for large quantities: Sage the Nutri Juicer Cold Plus, £239.95 Best centrifugal juicer: Nutribullet Juicer Pro, £109.99 Best budget centrifugal juicer: Nutribullet Juicer 01515, £69.99 Jump to: Best juicers to buy in 2025 What types of juicers are there? What to do with leftover juice pulp How we tested juicers We put all traditional juicers to the test by making a simple carrot, apple, kale and ginger juice. The chosen ingredients allowed us to see how the juicer tackled four key juicing ingredients. Carrots to see how sturdy the masticating spindle or centrifugal spinner are. Apples are classic juicing ingredients, not only did we use them to see how much juice was produced, but also to check whether a whole apple could fit in the feeding chute. Without the kale, our juice would be totally orange, so to ensure that the juicers on test were able to process leafy greens, we looked for a strong green juice. Ginger is hard and fibrous, we wanted to ensure the juicer didn’t get blocked. For citrus juicers, or traditional juicers with dedicated citrus juicing attachments, we made a classic orange juice. We also tested the juicers against the following criteria: Ease of use: Although assembling the machines can be quite time-consuming, we noted how easy the instruction manuals were to use and the simplicity of each machine’s functionality. We also made sure they weren’t too noisy for an everyday kitchen. Smoothness: The juice produced needed to be smooth, clear and a strong, deep and rich colour to indicate that a high level of vitamins and minerals had been extracted. Ease of cleaning: We looked for machines with removable components that could be washed in a dishwasher or by hand. Ease of storage: Although all juicers tend to be big due to the nature of the work they do, we looked for compact appliances that could be stored in a kitchen cupboard. Sustainability: Juicers come with lots of component parts, so extra points were given to models/brands who offer spare parts. We also looked for transparency around where the juicer was made. And of course, favoured plastic-free, recyclable packaging. Features: Any added bonuses, like different options for frozen juices or veg prep, were taken into account. Best juicers to buy in 2025 Good Food in partnership with Tower citrus juicer Available from Tower (£34.99 – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30), Amazon (£49) Squeeze every drop from your favourite citrus fruits with this durable, no-fuss juicer. Simply press the handle down and the motor does the rest. It's ideal for everything from quick weekday breakfasts to brunch with friends. The dual cones handle fruit of all sizes, while the pulp control and anti-drip spout make juicing mess-free. Smart, solid and easy to clean. Available from: Tower (£34.99 – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30) Amazon (£49) Ninja cold press juicer with anti-clog filter JC151UK Available from Amazon (£98.99), Very (£99), Ninja (£99.99), Argos (£99), Currys (£98.99) Best cold press juicer Pros: Two filters included Simple to use Fully recyclable packaging Thorough manual and recipe booklet Cons: Noisy in use Large on the countertop Feeding chute is quite narrow Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 150W An upgrade of the Ninja cold press juicer, this masticating juicer is ideal for those looking to dip their toes into the world of homemade juices. What sets it apart from the original is the anti-clog filter, which keeps things running smoothly even when juicing fibrous veg or leafy greens. Inside the box is a clear, detailed manual, with useful tips on what to do with your leftover pulp. There are also two interchangeable, colour-coded pulp filters, allowing you to tailor the texture and thickness of your juice – whether your preference is ultra-smooth or extra pulpy. A bit of pre-chopping is required first, though, as the 4.5cm feeding chute is too narrow to fit whole or even half-cut ingredients. While a little whiny in operation, we thought the juicer produced great-quality juice in test – with the fine filter producing smooth, lump-free results, and the other filters adding texture as desired. All removable parts are also dishwasher-safe and the jug is a generous 700ml, so you can make up a good-sized batch for a crowd or to store in the fridge. Available from: Amazon (£98.99) Very (£99) Ninja (£99.99) Argos (£99) Currys (£98.99) undefined Magic Bullet mini juicer Available from Amazon (£44.99), Nutribullet (£59.99) Best compact juicer Pros: Small footprint Easy to assemble To-go cup included Cons: Only makes 470ml Noisy No frozen berries or vegetables Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 400W The description of the Magic Bullet as a mini juicer was not evident when we removed it from the box. The base is quite large, heavy and sturdy. Its four feet stick to a worktop and it's clear it won't move. The rest of the assembly is easy using the enclosed book and its clear diagrams. After a quick wash, the whole juicer can be assembled in minutes. The motor is only 400W and a little noisy, but it still makes short work of apples, kale, carrots and ginger. The juice was excellent and smooth, with plenty of juice produced (though a few kale leaves were found in the waste). Magic Bullet highly recommends that frozen fruits or vegetables are not used in this machine. The standout of this juicer is that it makes individual juice that's ready to go. The juice is dispensed directly into a lidded 470 ml cup – once filled with the lid firmly clipped shut, it’s ready to go. undefined Nama J2 Cold Press Juicer Available from Amazon (£770.61) Best premium juicer Pros: Versatile Produces smooth results Easy to use 15-year warranty Lots of accessories included Cons: Expensive Large footprint Fiddly assembly Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 200W As the heftiest and most expensive model on this list, the Nama J2 is a serious piece of kit for juicing enthusiasts. It's a self-feeding masticating juicer, so you can place all the ingredients inside the jug and leave it to do all the hard work for you, in just a matter of minutes. There are spouts on either side – one for the liquid to pour through, the other for the pulp – and two vessels for collecting each are also provided in the box. All the juices we made were smooth and delicious and we were pleased to see the bright green colour from the kale coming through in every beverage. After inspecting the pulp, we were also satisfied that the juice from each ingredient had been fully extracted. The set-up can be fiddly and time-consuming, which is frustrating since you have to disassemble it for cleaning after each use, then reassemble it again. On the plus side, the manual is thorough and comprehensive, and there's a video online that explains the steps in detail. There are also cleaning accessories included. The biggest turn-off is the cost. This is by no means a cheap appliance, but if you have the budget and space in your kitchen to house it, the Nama J2 is a worthwhile investment that produces superbly smooth results. Available from: Amazon (£770.61) Sage the Citrus Press Available from Harts Of Stur (£118.95), Sage Appliances (£119.95), Amazon (£119.95) Best citrus juicer Pros: Ergonomic handle Strains all juice effectively Comes with one-size-fits-all juicing cone Cons: Large footprint Excessive plastic packaging Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 110W If you like the idea of starting your day with freshly squeezed citrus juice with next to no elbow grease required, an electric juicer is a handy gadget to have in your arsenal. This stylish gadget from Sage is pricey, but what you get in return is quick and effortless results, delivered by a powerful motor. The citrus press is fitted with a power-assisted arm that feels comfortable to hold and required minimal pressure. The one-size-fits-all cone means you can switch from juicing small fruits to larger ones without having to change anything, and we were particularly impressed by how much juice it managed to extract from limes. undefined Kuvings whole slow juicer Available from Amazon (£345) Best entry-level juicer Pros: Lots of cleaning equipment provided Easy to assemble Informative manual Wide chute Cons: Parts can't be put in the dishwasher Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 240W This masticating juicer from popular juicer brand Kuvings is a fantastic entry-level model that ticks all the boxes. We found this model easy to assemble and although none of the parts are dishwasher safe, plenty of cleaning accessories are provided to make clean up a breeze. This model had no problem with hard veg, leafy greens and fibrous ingredients. The juice produced was bright green in colour, silky smooth and bursting with flavour. Read our full Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer review. Latest Deals Hurom slow juicer Available from Amazon (£934.70) Best masticating juicer Pros: Simple, attractive design Cleaning accessories provided Quiet Large self-feeding chute Cons: Expensive Pulp bin is small, No dishwasher-safe parts Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 150W Statuesque and impressive-looking, this Hurom Slow Juicer is strictly reserved for those who are really into their juicing or have a decent amount of money to spend. This model has been well-designed, featuring easy-clean parts and a self-contained pulp bin that contributes to the Hurom’s streamlined appearance. Little-to-no prep is required for ingredients, simply pop them in the large jug and let the self-feeding mechanism do the hard work for you. The juice produced was smooth, vibrant and foam-free. Read our full Hurom Slow Juicer review. Available from: Amazon (£934.70) undefined Fridja F1900 Available from Amazon (£98.99) Best versatile juicer Pros: Good range of accessories provided Slim Sturdy Heavy-duty Quiet Cons: Tall so may not fit under some cupboards A lot of non-recyclable packaging Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 240W If you’re looking for a juicer that can juice and do a little bit more, this Fridja model is the one for you. As well as juice, this model can be used to make sorbet, ice cream and even nut milk. This model is stable in use. It’s also the tallest model we tested. Whilst it’s tall, slim appearance is attractive, we felt this may pose an issue for people with overhead cupboards who want to keep their juicer on the kitchen counter. Assembling this model was very easy, as was cleaning it after use. The juice produced was smooth, clear and vibrant in colour. Read our full Fridja F1900 review. Latest Deals Sage the Nutri Juicer Cold Plus Available from Hughes (£199), Peter Tyson (£229),Harts Of Stur (£238.95), Sage (£239.95) Best juicer for large quantities Pros: Sleek-looking Wide chute Large-capacity jug included Multiple speed options Cons: Heavy and bulky Struggles to juice kale Non-recyclable packaging Star rating: 4/5 Wattage: 1200W-1300W A great choice for families or those who simply drink a lot of juice, this powerful gadget from Sage comes with a wide chute that eliminates the need to pre-cut ingredients. Included in the box are a 2-litre jug with a sealed lid (so you can keep juice fresh in the fridge for up to three days), a cleaning brush, large pulp bin, and detachable single-cup nozzle, which allows for liquid to be fed straight into a glass. Assembling the Nutri Juicer was a quick task, and operating it can be done with one hand – though you ideally need two to lock in the safety lever, which keeps the body of the juicer in place during use. The controls are simple as well: turn the dial to the low setting for soft ingredients, and to high for harder items. Just bear in mind it's very loud when switched on. We found the Nutri Juicer struggled with leafy greens like kale – even when using the high setting as suggested in the manual. It did a much better job with other ingredients like whole apples, ginger and carrots, though we anticipate you'd have to use a lot of ingredients to fill the pitcher to its maximum capacity. undefined Nutribullet Juicer Pro Available from Argos (£120), JD Williams (£129.99) Best centrifugal juicer Pros: Comes with lots of useful accessories Affordable model Cons: Loud Bulky and takes up lots of space Struggled to juice kale Star rating: 4/5 Wattage: 1000W This speedy juicer from Nutribullet is sure to impress those who want their juice ready fast. There’s lots to love about this juicer: it’s easy to assemble, dishwasher-safe and comes with some of the best sustainability credentials of all models tested. The juice produced was flavoursome and smooth, but we felt let down by the lack of green hue to indicate all of the kale had been processed. Plus, true to form with centrifugal models, there was a thick layer of foam on top of our juice. Read our full Nutribullet Juicer Pro review. Latest Deals Nutribullet Juicer 01515 Available from Currys (£69.99), JD Williams (£69.99), Argos (£69.99) Best budget juicer Pros: Budget-friendly Simple controls Easy to clean Cons: Juice wasn't as smooth as we'd have liked Loud Some fruits and veg went un-juiced Star rating: 4/5 Wattage: 800W If you’re just getting into juicing or are looking for a cheap and cheerful model for the odd occasion, this Nutribullet model may just be the ticket. It’s the younger sibling of the Nutribullet model above and is slightly cheaper looking too. Like the Nutribullet above, this model is easy to assemble and all the parts can go in the dishwasher. It’s fast, but not the quietest model, which doesn’t make it ideal for early morning juices. Whilst pleasant tasting, the juice produced was a little grainy and this model struggled a little with leafy greens. Read our full Nutribullet Juicer 01515 review. Latest Deals Other juicers tried and tested Philips Viva Cold Press masticating slow juicer review, £99 Sage 3X Bluicer Pro review, £339.95 What types of juicers are there? Although there are plenty of options on the market, the two main options are fast or slow juicers. Centrifugal (fast) juicers Once fruit and veg are fed down the feeding chute, these juicers work by spinning it very fast against a grater or slightly pronged disk, so the ingredients are completely broken down. The centrifugal force then draws all of the juice through a fine mesh sieve which is then channelled towards the juice spout. These seem to be the most popular choice because they are speedy, easy to use, and tend to be fairly budget-friendly. They’re louder than their masticating counterparts, but are – as the name suggests – significantly faster. Masticating (slow) juicers For anyone who considers juicing a vital part of their diet, masticating is often deemed preferable. These juicers work by squeezing or “chewing” fruits and vegetables using a corkscrew shaped device called an auger. The crushed ingredients are then pressed through a sieve or strainer and produce foam-free results. Although not as speedy, it will definitely do a much better job at breaking down the fruit or veg, particularly those hard-to-blend leafy greens. It’s often said that you will yield more juice from these, so they’re considered more cost-effective in the long run. Citrus juicers Similar in design to hand held citrus juicers, an electric model does the twisting for you. Simply halve your citrus and press it onto the central spindle, this will then start to rotate allowing you to move the fruit around the spindle, ensuring you get every last drop of juice out. Citrus juicers are a truly specialist appliance, but great if you drink or cook with a lot of citrus. What to do with leftover juice pulp After juicing you’ll be left with a pile of semi-dry pulp and fibre. Rather than simply throwing it out, the leftovers can be reused in a couple of interesting ways. Add it into a vegetable stock Turn kale (or any other leafy green) pulp into pesto Add pulp to homemade granola and energy bites Mix pulp into a muffin batter If you can’t find anything to do with it, make sure to add it to the food waste bin More on juicing What is a juice diet? Should I still drink fruit juice? What counts as five a day? Juice recipes Cucumber, apple & spinach juice Carrot, clementine & pineapple juice Fennel, blueberry & apple juice Celery juice Honeydew melon, cucumber & lime juice More reviews Best smoothie blenders Best food processors Best blenders Best stand mixers Best slow cookers Best health gadgets Best multi-cookers Best Cuisinart ice-cream makers More deals Air fryer deals Coffee machine deals Microwave deals Fridge freezer deals Dishwasher deals Stand mixer deals Pizza oven deals Breadmaker deals If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
13 of the best cake tins for showstopping bakes
Whether you're a keen baker or reluctant birthday-cake maker, we've tested the best to bring you the most practical and hard-wearing cake tins on the market.
Whether you’re constantly cooking tasty treats or you only bake occasionally, a good quality cake tin is a kitchen essential. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but are endlessly versatile – they can be used to bake cakes (of course), as well as sweet and savoury breads, cheesecakes or even used as moulds. Baking is a real science. If you have a good recipe, follow it to the letter, including using the correct tin, and success is guaranteed. Read our guide to successful cakes for some tips to help you master the essentials. Then hop over to our guide to classic cakes for a fantastic breakdown of how to bake the perfect traditional Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle cake and much more. As well as cake tins, you’ll need a couple of extra pieces of kit to get you going. Although not an essential, a stand mixer really will make mixing, whipping and folding a lot easier. If you're a traditionalist or short on space, a hand mixer is a great alternative. To ensure absolute precision you’ll need measuring spoons and kitchen scales. You’ll also need a mixing bowl and spatula to get every last drop of cake batter into your tin – no wastage here! Best cake tins at a glance Loaf tins Best enamel loaf tin: Falcon loaf tin, £32.50 Best non-stick loaf tin: Circulon Momentum loaf tin, £18.99 Best glass loaf tin: Pyrex Bake and Enjoy glass loaf tin, £11.69 Bundt tins Best enamel bundt tin: Falcon decorative cake tin, £34 Best bundt tin: Nordic Ware Bavaria bundt tin, £46.40 Best swirled bundt tin: Nordic Ware Heritage bundt tin, £52 Best budget bundt tin: MasterClass fluted cake tin, £15 Springform cake tins Best non-stick springform cake tin: Pyrex Magic springform cake tin, £10.85 Best springform tin available in different sizes: MasterClass springform cake tin, from £10.49 Circular cake tins Best enamel cake tin: Falcon cake tin, £22 Best 20cm cake tin: Pyrex Magic cake tin, £14.97 Best cake tin for tall sides: MasterClass 20cm cake tin, £16.55 Square cake tins Best enamel square cake tin: Falcon square bake tray, £31.50 Jump to section: Best loaf tins to buy in 2025 Best bundt tins to buy in 2025 Best springform cake tins to buy in 2025 Best circular cake tins to buy in 2025 Best square cake tin to buy in 2025 How to choose the best cake tin How we tested cake tins We chose our most popular recipes to put these cake tins to the test. We tested a range of brands including high-end that focus solely on making cake tins, to budget-friendly offerings for those not looking to spend lots of money. To test the loaf tins, we baked our lemon drizzle cake. For the bundt tins, we made Good Food’s banana and choc bundt cake with peanut caramel drizzle. In the springform cake tins, we made this and for the 20cm cake tins we baked our classic cappuccino cake. And what better recipe to try out a square cake tin than with our top-rated best ever chocolate brownies? We reviewed a representative sample of cake tins of different shapes and sizes and scored them against the following criteria. Practicality: we tested the tins we use most frequently in the Good Food kitchen, as well as showstopper tins for special occasions. Sturdiness: we chose hardy and robust tins that could withstand frequent use. Easy release: non-stick surfaces, springform release and loose bases were all given extra points. Even cooking: tins that conducted heat effectively came top of our list. Cleaning: tins with smooth curves, rather than sharp edges and folds, for ease of cleaning. Best cake tins to buy in 2025 Best loaf tins to buy in 2025 Falcon loaf tin Available from Season Cookshop (£32.50), Falcon (£32.50) Best enamel loaf tin Star rating: 5/5 This sturdy enamel loaf tin from Falcon is instantly recognisable, and available in a classic white and blue-rimmed finish as well as pillarbox red or pigeon grey. It’s generously sized, with a capacity of around 3lb, making it a great choice for larger loaf cakes or breads. There’s a subtle lip on the underside that provides just enough grip to make removing it from a hot oven feel safe and steady, despite the absence of handles. The tin is solid and stood up well during testing. Our loaf cake released easily with no sticking or tearing and the enamel surface wiped clean with minimal effort. We also appreciated the fully recyclable packaging – a thoughtful touch. While this tin isn’t non-stick in the traditional sense, its smooth enamel coating still delivered a neat, well-risen bake with a golden finish. Available from: Season Cookshop (£32.50) Falcon (£32.50) Circulon Momentum loaf tin Available from Amazon (£10.69), Circulon (£18.99) Best non-stick loaf tin Star rating: 5/5 Featuring Circulon’s tell-tale circular design on the bottom, this loaf tin is squat and wide with large handles on the short sides for easy removal from the oven. Although the walls feel quite thin, this tin is sturdy. The loaf cake we baked came out with ease, nicely risen and golden. We did notice some sinkage in the centre of the cake, but it was minimal. This tin is also dishwasher-safe and comes at a reasonable price. Latest Prices Pyrex Bake and Enjoy glass loaf tin Available from Amazon (£8), Harts of Stur (£11.69) Best glass loaf tin Star rating: 4.5/5 From well-known bakeware brand Pyrex comes this glass loaf tin. Shape-wise, it’s not dissimilar to the KitchenAid model as it’s long and thin, producing professional-looking results. It only features two small lips on the short sides of the tin, so removing it from the oven isn’t the easiest. We’d have liked to see Pyrex offer a little more information on baking in glass, as it cooks differently to metal. We followed our lemon drizzle cake recipe, baking it for the stated time, but the cake was still a little undercooked. Baking for 10 minutes longer helped us to achieve the results we were looking for. After baking, the cake had risen evenly was easy to remove from the tin. undefined Best bundt tins to buy in 2025 Falcon decorative cake tin Available from Falcon (£34) Best enamel bundt tin Star rating: 5/5 Falcon’s decorative cake tin is a take on a classic bundt pan, with fluted sides and a rounded form that gives bakes an elegant, old-school finish. At 27cm across and 8cm deep, it’s generously sized and suitable for cakes, jellies or even a festive nut roast. Made from heavyweight steel with a smooth enamel coating, it feels solid and well made. There was a brief moment of sticking during removal, but a firm tap on the base and a gentle shake saw the cake release cleanly, with the pattern clearly defined and intact. As with the rest of Falcon’s enamelware, it cleaned up easily and all the packaging is fully recyclable. While it lacks the non-stick assurance of some other bundt pans, the enamel coating performed well with a properly greased tin. The result was a well-risen, evenly browned cake that needed little extra decoration. Available from: Falcon (£34) Nordic Ware Bavaria bundt tin Available from Harts of Stur (£46.40), Amazon (£48.55) Best bundt tin Star rating: 4.5/5 This bundt tin from Nordic Ware features a unique pleated design that produces modern-looking cakes with minimal decoration, or you can add drizzles and icing to jazz it up. Made from cast aluminium, this pan is weighty and incredibly sturdy. We’d have liked to have seen a little advice from Nordic Ware on how to best prepare the pan, but found that a generous layer of butter and tapping it on the counter when full helped to achieve a clean release and a well-defined pattern. Our bundt cake was well cooked and evenly browned all over. This pan isn’t dishwasher-safe, so it does require some attentive cleaning to get into all the nooks and crannies. Latest Prices Nordic Ware Heritage bundt tin Available from Amazon (£51.99), Harts of Stur (£52) Best swirled bundt tin Nordic Ware's sturdy tins come in a variety of beautiful shapes, creating architectural cakes that require no additional decoration for that wow factor. We love this 2.4-litre classic design. The non-stick finish ensures the shape holds perfectly on release. Available in 2.4 litres and 1.4 litres in different designs. Latest Deals MasterClass fluted cake tin Available from Harts of Stur (£12.95) Best budget bundt tin Star rating: 4.5/5 Although this Masterclass bundt tin doesn’t achieve as defined results as the two Nordic Ware tins above, the cake it produced was no less impressive. It comes at a fraction of the price of the others and produces bakes with a subtle ridged design. It’s a lot thinner than the Nordic Ware tins, but still bakes exceptionally well. We removed our cake with absolute ease and nothing stuck to the pan. It was evenly baked and moist and fluffy on the inside. Latest Deals Best springform cake tins to buy in 2025 Pyrex Magic springform cake tin Available from Amazon (£15.71) Best non-stick springform cake tin Star rating: 5/5 This Pyrex springform cake tin has an impressive non-stick coating – nothing sticks to it. The clasp is easy to secure and release, though we did notice the tin popped open quite forcefully when undone, implying the seal was very tight. On the plus side, this tight seal did stop any raw cake batter seeping through the gaps. Our cake was well risen and evenly baked, though there was a crack in the centre. Despite this, the cake was spongy and moist. The tin is dishwasher safe and was the easiest to use and cook with. Latest Prices MasterClass springform cake tin Available from Amazon (£9.99) Best springform tin available in different sizes Star rating: 5/5 MasterClass’s springform cake tin is available in six sizes: 15cm, 18cm, 20cm, 23cm, 25cm and 30cm. Ideal if the recipe you’re using is calling for an obscure size or you just want a range of sizes on hand. Plus, all these tins are dishwasher-safe. This pan produced a super moist cake that was well risen and evenly baked. Usefully, the size of the pan is embossed onto the tin too. The mechanism is straightforward to secure and undo, it’s also ergonomically shaped for added ease of use. Latest Deals Best circular cake tins to buy in 2025 Falcon cake tin Available from Falcon (£22) Best enamel cake tin Star rating: 5/5 This enamel cake tin from Falcon measures 22cm in diameter and 4cm deep, making it a good option for sponge cakes, single-layer bakes or sandwich cakes. There’s a small lip around the edge, offering a bit of grip when lifting it in and out of the oven. Although it doesn’t have a loose base, our cake released cleanly, with no sticking or tearing, helped along by the smooth enamel surface. The sponge was evenly baked with a gentle rise and golden edges. As with the rest of the Falcon range, the tin feels reassuringly sturdy thanks to its heavyweight steel construction. It cleaned up easily and comes in fully recyclable packaging – a thoughtful touch for eco-minded bakers. While the tin isn't traditionally non-stick, a thorough greasing proved more than sufficient. Available from: Falcon (£22) Pyrex Magic 20cm cake tin Available from Amazon (£13.87) Best 20cm cake tin Star rating: 5/5 Another from Pyrex’s Magic range, this 20cm cake tin is ideal for sandwich cakes. It features a small lip for easy removal from the oven and our cake released cleanly from the non-stick surface with ease. The cake itself was well risen and evenly baked. There were no rips or tears anywhere. Although the pan is thin, it’s sturdy and robust. The tin is oven-safe to 230C and dishwasher-safe. Latest Prices MasterClass deep 20cm cake tin Available from Amazon (£10.99) Best 20cm cake tin for tall sides Star rating: 4.5/5 MasterClass’ 20cm tin is the deepest we’ve tested. Featuring high sides, it's ideal for taller cakes. If you’re into cakes with lots of layers, the pop-up base means you could use it as a mould to build a layer cake, then simply pop it out. The silicone seal is very secure, so you do need a bit of force to release it – just as we’d expect. Although it was soft and moist inside, we did think the cake looked a little lopsided and wasn’t quite as dark in the centre as we’d have liked. We solved this by another five minutes in the oven. This tin is dishwasher-safe. Latest Deals Best square cake tins to buy in 2025 Falcon square bake tray Available from Falcon (£31.50) Best enamel square cake tin Star rating: 5/5 This square bake tray from Falcon measures 25cm across and is 6cm deep, offering a generous amount of space for brownies, traybakes or deeper bakes like focaccia. Made from heavyweight steel with a smooth enamel coating, it has a solid, practical feel that held up well in testing. We baked a batch of brownies and found they released cleanly, despite the absence of a loose base. The enamel surface proved easy to clean and didn't leave any residue. A subtle lip on the underside provides a bit of grip when moving the tray in and out of the oven, and all packaging is fully recyclable. Available in Falcon’s core colours, it’s a versatile piece that works just as well for serving as it does for baking. Available from: Falcon (£31.50) How to choose the best cake tin It seems obvious, but one of the first questions you need to ask yourself before you buy a cake tin is ‘what am I going to bake in it’? All of our cake recipes will outline the size and type of cake tin you need for the bake, so you’ll know exactly what you need to buy. Whilst we favour versatile tins, like loaf tins, springform cake tins and simple 20cm tins, we’re also big fans of those used to produce showstopping desserts, like bundts. What can a cake tin be used for? Like most bakeware, cake tins are pretty versatile. They come in a range of shapes and sizes, but we’ve picked our most popular five to focus on. Loaf tin: these generally come in two sizes: 1lb and 2lb. They’re ideal for classic loaf cake recipes, like our brilliant banana loaf and easy pound cake. Or make an impact with our snowy coconut loaf cake and lemon curd and blueberry loaf cake. Not just reserved for cake, these tins are – unsurprisingly – ideal for loaves of bread, too. Try our simple seeded wholemeal loaf or our flavoursome honeyed carrot and thyme loaf Bundt tin: these ornate, highly decorative cake tins produce cakes that look fabulous straight out of the tin. Glamorous pans require equally glamorous recipes, like our banana and choc bundt cake with peanut caramel drizzle and our pineapple passion bundt. They also make great jelly moulds, so why not try our fresh raspberry jelly or fruity milk jellies recipe? The layers look really effective in a bundt tin. Springform cake tin: designed to make releasing a cake from a pan easier, springform cake tins have a mechanism that loosens the walls of the cake tin, allowing you to easily unmould the cake. They’re ideal for cakes like our easy caramel cake and chocolate and raspberry birthday layer cake, as well as cheesecakes. Try our no-bake chocolate cheesecake and white chocolate and raspberry baked cheesecake. Circular cake tin: otherwise known as sandwich tins, these cake tins are made from a single piece of stamped out metal. Cakes made in these tins need to be turned out from the mould. They’re ideal for sandwich cakes, like a Victoria sandwich. Riff on a classic with this summer apricot Victoria sponge recipe. Square cake tin: ideal for traybakes and brownies, use these tins to make perfect bites for picnics or lunchboxes. They’re the best choice for blondies, flapjacks and old-school desserts like chocolate sponge with hot chocolate custard. Cake essentials Best cake storage tins Best cake stands Best serving dishes and platters How to line different cake tins Best icing turntables Best stand mixers Best hand mixer Best kitchen scales Best mixing bowls Best spatulas What equipment do they use in The Great British Bake Off? Is KitchenAid worth it? Cake recipes Best ever chocolate cakes Our best Christmas cakes Our most cheerful cakes Birthday cakes for grown-ups Our best ever gluten-free Christmas cakes Top 10 summer cake recipes Best ever boozy cake recipes Loaf tin recipes Victoria sponge loaf cake Snowy coconut loaf cake Brilliant banana loaf Marzipan chocolate loaf cake Simnel loaf cake Sticky banoffee loaf with toffee sauce Bundt tin recipes Banana & choc bundt cake with peanut caramel drizzle Blood orange & olive oil bundt cake Chocolate & almond marbled bundt cake Soured cream bundt cake with butter glaze 20cm cake tin recipes Chocolate marble cake Pineapple upside-down cake Raspberry Bakewell cake Ultimate chocolate cake Gluten-free lemon drizzle cake Chocolate courgette cake Classic Victoria sandwich Cherry bakewell cake Easy chocolate cake Parsnip & maple syrup cake Coffee & walnut cake Cappuccino cake Square cake tin recipes Yummy scrummy carrot cake Best ever brownies Lemon drizzle slices Peanut butter brownies Gingery plum cake
11 of the best slow cookers for delicious faff-free meals
Discover our top slow cookers, plus recipes and practical cookery advice. We tested leading brands including Morphy Richards, Ninja and Crock Pot
It's no wonder slow cookers are a much-loved piece of equipment in the kitchen; who doesn't love the aroma of coming home to dinner, cooked and ready to serve? Yet, this is only one of the many benefits of using one. The cost of a standalone slow cooker is moderate and a multi-cooker with a slow cooker function may cost more, but you are also buying several functions. After your initial investment, though, the running costs compared to conventional ovens make either of these super-economical to run. Slow cooking means you can make the most of cheaper cuts of meat and budget-priced ingredients such as beans, lentils and root vegetables. A slow cooker also helps retain all the goodness in the food cooked, making foods healthier whilst delivering the maximum flavours often lost in faster cooking methods. Slow cookers are easy to use, with just a few settings, though some have convenient additions such as searing, steaming or keeping warm, which is handy for latecomers. This guide was brought to you by Cook Smart, a campaign designed by Good Food experts to help you save money and reduce food waste. Dive into more Cook Smart content in our budget hub. Slow cooker recipes are hugely popular and can be used to cook a range of delicious stews, casseroles, soups and curries, as well as less obvious dishes such as yogurt, grains, dhal and puddings. Read on to learn more about the different kinds of slow cookers on the market. The latest additions were tested and reviewed by Gabrielle Sander. Best slow cooker deals Looking for a discount on one of the slow cooker in this list? We've been scouring the market to find the best deals – here are the best we've seen so far: Good Food in partnership with Tower slow cookers: Good Food 3.5L slow cooker | £59.99 £41.99 at Tower (save £18 or 30% with code GOODFOOD30) Good Food 6.5L slow cooker | £69.99 £48.99 at Tower (save £21 or 30% with code GOODFOOD30) More slow cooker deals: Ninja 9-in-1 multi-cooker OP350UK | £229 £139 at Very (save £90 or 39%) Crock Pot Lift & Serve digital slow cooker | £68.99 £41 at Amazon (save £27.99 or 41%) Crock Pot Sizzle and Stew | £99.99 £74.99 at Amazon (save £25 or 25%) For more kitchen appliance deals, visit our guide, discover how our experts test products and let us do the hard work for you. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best slow cookers 2025 at a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS 5/5 stars Best slow cooker: Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker rice and slow cooker MC1101UK, £119.99 Best slow cooker for batch cooking: Instant Pot 7.1L slow cooker 7.1L, £49.99 Best large slow cooker: Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker 8L slow cooker, £119.99 Best multi-cooker slow cooker: Ninja 9-in-1 multi-cooker OP350UK, £139 Best slow cooker with timer: Morphy Richards EasyTime, £49.99 Best of the rest Best small slow cooker: Crock Pot Lift & Serve digital slow cooker, £39.98 Best hob-safe slow cooker: Crock Pot Sizzle and Stew, £74.99 Best slow cooker with automatic functions: Crock Pot Time Select, £64.99 Best no-nonsense slow cooker: Tower 3.5L Cavaletto Slow Cooker, £34.99 Best slow cooker for accessibility: Lakeland 3.5L Digital Slow Cooker, £59.99 Jump to section: Best slow cookers to buy in 2025 What to look for when buying a slow cooker How to use a slow cooker How we tested slow cookers We put most of the slow cookers through their paces with Good Food’s slow cooker beef stew recipe, and used a venison madras recipe for the more recent models in this guide. As the meat requires searing before cooking, if we were able to do this straight in the cooking pot, we did so. We looked for three key qualities in our final stews: tender and succulent meat, well cooked vegetables that retained some bite, and a flavoursome, slightly thickened sauce. We also scored the slow cookers against the following criteria: Capacity and size: the bowl capacity and the footprint for using and storing in the kitchen Ease of use: how easy it is to assemble and use Functions: additional functions on the slow cooker including browning, reheating, reducing and whether it is hob or oven-safe Quality of material: the material and the construction of the machines Design features: the type of lid, handles, automatic warming, countdown timer and indicator lights Sustainability: excessive use of plastic in packaging was scored negatively. We wanted to see brands pointing us in the direction of spare parts and transparency around how to recycle the product after use and where the product was made. Best slow cookers to buy in 2025 Good Food in partnership with Tower 3.5L slow cooker Available from Tower (£59.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30, Amazon (£59.99) Set it, forget it and come home to comfort. This 3.5-litre digital slow cooker delivers rich, flavour-packed meals with zero stress. Sear ingredients directly on the hob in the removable aluminium pot, then switch to slow mode to let flavours develop throughout the day. With timer settings, three heat modes and a sleek stainless steel design, it’s ideal for families (it's also available in a 6.5-litre size if you need to feed more). Available from: Tower (£59.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30 Amazon (£59.99) Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Rice and Slow Cooker MC1101UK Available from Very (£119), AO (£119), Ninja (£119.99), Currys (£119.99) Best slow cooker Pros: Versatile Hob-style searing function Easy to use Fully recyclable packaging Accessories included Cons: Exterior gets very hot in use Star rating: 5/5 Without a hob-safe cooking pot, searing your meat before it goes in the slow cooker often comes with the admin of having to transfer it from one vessel to another – creating twice the amount of washing-up. Ninja solves this issue with its six-litre slow cooker, which has sear/sauté functionality, as well as settings for steam, pasta and porridge. We've tested a lot of slow cookers over the last five years, and this model is easily among the best we've ever used. Its simple push-button interface and brightly lit digital screen are a doddle to navigate – even beginners need only glance at the manual to get a handle on how to use it. As the name suggests, the PossibleCooker doubles up as a rice cooker too, offering specific presets for white and brown rice, as well as accessories like a rice spoon and measuring cup, to help you achieve fluffy results every time. Perhaps the only gripe we had was that the exterior gets very hot in use, so watch that small children don't come near it. That said, there is a bold safety warning on the cooker base that serves as a handy reminder. Wattage: 1400W Capacity: 6L Weight: 5.5KG Functions: sear/sauté, slow cook, white rice, brown rice, pasta, porridge, steam, keep warm Warranty: 2 years Available from: Very (£119) AO (£119) Ninja (£119.99) Currys (£119.99) undefined Instant Pot Superior Slow Cooker 7.1L Available from Amazon (£64.70), Instant Pot (£79.99), Currys (£79.99) Pros: Sear and cook in one Serve the pot straight to the table Easy to clean Simple to use Sturdy construction Cons: Excessive non-sustainable plastic packaging Star rating: 5/5 Lifting the Instant Pot slow cooker from its box, we were delighted to find a solid, well-built large cooker complete with a glass lid plus an inner pot that goes from kitchen to table. This cooker is big at a whopping 7.1-litre capacity and dishes up ten portions, and we immediately saw it as the perfect companion for batch cooking. Using the Instant Pot could not have been easier. There are four functions: sear, steam, slow cook and keep warm. Slow cooking high and low heat; sear, which is done in the cooker and saves on washing up; steam is useful for delicate food such as fish, and keep warm, is ideal for latecomers, second portions and parties to keep hot food warm. We cooked a delicious beef stew and were thrilled with the results. The meat was meltingly tender; the gravy was glossy and thickened by the slow reduction and tender vegetables. If you are cooking for a large number or love to batch-cook your meals, this is the slow cooker for you. Wattage: 800W Capacity: 7.1L Weight: 8.7KG Functions: sear, steam, slow cook, keep warm Warranty: 1 year undefined Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker 8-in-1 slow cooker Available from John Lewis & Partners (£149) Best large slow cooker Pros: Includes serving spoon and steam rack Extra-large 8-litre cooking pot Fully recyclable packaging Tender results in short time Cons: Large countertop footprint Exterior gets hot in use Star rating: 5/5 This extra-large slow cooker from Ninja has sear, sauté, simmer and braise among its eight functions, and at eight litres, it's the perfect size for batch-cooking or feeding a crowd – though bear in mind it takes up a fair bit of room. We loved the vast cooking pot, which has stay-cool handles so you can seamlessly transfer it from the kitchen to the dinner table. While secure on the worktop, we found the rest of the slow cooker gets very hot in use, particularly when using the sear/sauté function, so it's worth keeping kids and pets away. Navigating the controls is a breeze, and we relied on the manual very little. An integrated spoon and steam rack are thrown in, too. We put the functionality of this slow cooker to the test by cooking a venison madras, which was perfectly tender and packed with flavour after four and a half hours on 'high'. The veg was also soft with some firm bite, and the sauce was thick without being too dry. Wattage: 1200W Capacity: 8L Weight: 5.5KG Functions: sear/sauté, slow cook, steam, braise, simmer, bake, prove, keep warm Warranty: 2 years Cost to run on high for 1 hour: 4.38p (based on a tariff of 22.36p/kWh) undefined Ninja 9-in-1 multi-cooker OP350UK Available from Amazon (£179), Ninja (£229.99) Best multi-cooker slow cooker Pros: Nine functions in one countertop cooker Accompanying recipe book Clear instructions Cons: Requires an additional slow cooker lid Large footprint for storage Star rating: 5/5 This is a newer, more sophisticated step-up from Ninja Foodi's 6-in-1 multi-cooker, packing in nine functions for performing key kitchen tasks, plus a couple for fun. We're talking slow cooking (which is very user-friendly) searing/sautéing, air-crisping, grilling, dehydrating, baking/roasting, yogurt-making, pressure cooking and steaming. It has a modern-feel with intuitive controls and an outer casing that only gets warm to the touch, rather than excessively hot. It's the ultimate kitchen gadget. Read our full Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 6-litre multi-cooker review. Wattage: 1460W Capacity: 6L Weight: 11KG Functions: pressure cook, air fry, steam, bake/roast, sear/sauté, grill, yoghurt, dehydrate. Warranty: 2 years Latest Deals Morphy Richards Easy Time Slow Cooker Available from Amazon (£75.62), Morphy Richards (£79.99) Best slow cooker with timer Pros: Hob-safe cooking pot Auto-keep warm setting Easy to use controls Clear countdown timer Non-stick pot Lid forms a good seal Cons: Pot not suitable for induction Star rating: 5/5 Simple, manual slow cookers are great for the job at hand, but often the only thing missing to elevate them (without overcomplicating things) is a timer. The Easy Time slow cooker ticks that box. It comes with three settings: high, medium and low, and has an automatic timer that runs for up to 12 hours in one-hour increments. We all know that life can throw us curveballs, so if you’re not able to get home before the timer is up, the Easy Time slow cooker will keep your food at the optimum temperature for two hours. A basic slow cooker, with just a little bit extra. Read our full Morphy Richards Easy Time Slow Cooker review. Wattage: 130-163W Capacity: 6.5L Weight: 2.86KG Functions: high, medium, low, keep warm Warranty: 2 years Latest Deals Crock Pot Lift & Serve digital slow cooker Available from Amazon (£44.99) Best small slow cooker Pros: Attractive Robust design Hinged lid Can cook for up to 20 hours Value price tag Cons: Lack of detail in manual Some controls can be confusing Beeper is too quiet Star rating: 4.5/5 Crock Pot is the name synonymous with slow cookers, and this compact 3.5-litre gadget is a solid choice for those with limited kitchen space. It has a simple interface and sturdy design, and alongside the usual low and high settings, there's also a keep-warm function that switches on automatically once the timer has ended. The timer itself is frustratingly quiet, so much so that we missed it going off the first time. Some of the controls also confused us – the button that looks like an 'on/off' switch is actually just an 'off' switch, and we failed to find any reference to this in the manual. On the plus side, the hinged lid allowed us to check in on our dishes without leaving splatters or drips of condensation on the worktop. We also enjoyed the beef stew we made in this slow cooker: the veg was a little too soft, but the meat was tender and the sauce was rich and thick. Wattage: 300W Capacity: 3.5L Weight: 3.2KG Functions: high, low, keep warm Warranty: 2 years Cost to run on high for 1 hour: 2.92p (based on a tariff of 16.6p/kWh) Latest Deals Crock Pot Sizzle and Stew Available from Amazon (£79.99), Argos (£80) Best hob-safe slow cooker Pros: Large capacity Main pot can be used on the hob Simple design Dishwasher-safe pot Cons: Carrots still a little firm No recipes in manual Star rating: 4.5/5 The Sizzle and Stew is a brilliant example of Crock Pot's simple but effective engineering. This model has a large 6.5L capacity, ideal for big families, meal-preppers or when entertaining. Unlike other models that come with a hefty ceramic bowl, the Sizzle and Stew’s pot is made from heavy-duty aluminium. This pot is hob-safe (gas and electric), meaning you can sear any meat or cook ingredients on the hob before transferring it to the slow cooker. Not only does this save on the washing-up, but it also means you don’t lose any flavour. Read our full Crock Pot Sizzle and Stew review. Wattage: 180W Capacity: 6.5L Weight: 3.2KG Functions: high, low, keep warm Warranty: 1 year Latest Deals Crock Pot Time Select Available from Amazon (£49.99), Argos (£75) Best slow cooker with automatic functions Pros: Lots of useful functions Bowl and lid dishwasher and oven-safe Capacity markings on bowl Cons: No recipes in the manual Star rating: 4.5/5 Another model from well-known brand, Crock Pot. The Time Select is a lot more high-tech than the Sizzle and Stew above, but still produced fantastic results. This model features automatic cooking functions for meat, poultry, soup and vegetables. Simply select your main ingredient, input the weight and desired finish time, and the Time Select will automatically adjust the cooking time and temperature of the ingredients to get the best results. For your much-loved tried-and-tested recipes, there’s also a manual setting. Read our full Crock Pot Time Select review. Wattage: 240W Capacity: 5.6L Weight: 5.8KG Functions: high, medium, low, keep warm Warranty: 1 year Latest Deals ProCook Digital Slow Cooker Available from ProCook (£44) Best slow cooker for a small family on a budget Pros: Good cooking results Internal pot is ovenproof and dishwasher safe Can cook for up to 24 hours Keeps food warm without overcooking Digital timer is clear to read Cons: Handles feel poorly made Outside and handles get very hot Limited settings Star rating: 4/5 Lifting the lid on our beef stew after three hours of it bubbling away quietly on the countertop, we were very pleased with what we found. Rich and saucy, with tender, juicy hunks of meat and vegetables, it was cooked to perfection. Two and a half hours later on the Keep Warm setting, it was still steaming and just as fresh-tasting. At 4.8 litre, the ProCook Digital Slow Cooker is big enough to feed a family of six, or four with some leftovers for another day. With the option to take it to 5.5L without the lid, if you pop the ceramic inner pot in the oven instead. The side handles could be better made, as the rough seams were a little uncomfortable to hold, and it’s on the heavier side, at 5.5kg, but all things considered, this is is a good option for small families looking for a reliable slow cooker with straightforward functionality, the ability to cook ahead and keep warm in confidence, at an accessible price point. Wattage: 250W Capacity: 4.8L Weight: 5.5KG Functions: high, low, keep warm Warranty: 2 years undefined Tower 3.5L Cavaletto Slow Cooker Available from Amazon (£34), Tower (£34.99) Best no-nonsense slow cooker Pros: Available in a range of designs Simple to use Dishwasher-safe pot Cons: A little plasticky Star rating: 4/5 This compact little slow cooker from Tower is a fuss-free option. It’s a modest option owing to the three simple settings: low, high and keep warm, but it gets the basics right. The design is simple, but if you’re looking to add a pop of colour with your new slow cooker, this one is available in pink and navy blue, as well as simple black and grey. Setting this model up is easy to do and it handled our beef stew recipe with ease; the meat was tender and the veggies still had some bite. Our only quibble was that the sauce was still a little watery. Read our full Tower 3.5L Cavaletto Slow Cooker review. Wattage: 210W Capacity: 3.5L Weight: 3.2KG Functions: high, low, keep warm Warranty: 3 years Latest Deals Lakeland 3.5L Digital Slow Cooker Available from Lakeland (£49.99) Best slow cooker for accessibility Pros: Lightweight and ergonomic Delay start for up to 10 hours Easy to use Comes with handy tips and recipes Effective non-stick Heatproof handles 3-year guarantee Cons: Lots of steam omitted when cooking Overcooked on the Warm setting Cooking pot isn’t dishwasher safe Star rating: 3.5/5 The first impression when unpacking the Lakeland 3.5L Digital Slow Cooker was just how light it was. It’s a cinch to get started, thanks to the clear and intuitive display, and some handy tips and recipes included in the instruction manual, and despite making enough to feed 4-6 people, it doesn’t take up too much room on the countertop. The just cooked results were very impressive, with some of the most tender meat on test, however, after two hours on the Warm setting, the sauce had significantly reduced and those hunks of meat were much less juicy. The versatile timer lets you delay the start for up to 10 hours, so with some forward-thinking it would be easy to avoid this happening, by timing it to be ready when you are. Solid, non-slip feet, raised buttons on the digital display, as well as the weight and comfortable, grippy side handles on both the cooking pot and main machine, make this a very ergonomic pot that would also benefit individuals with accessibility to consider. Wattage: 250W Capacity: 3.5L Weight: 2.6KG Functions: high, low, keep warm, delay Warranty: 3 years undefined Other slow cookers tried and tested Sage the Fast Slow Pro review, £179.95 Tower Infinity 3.5-litre slow cooker review, £39.99 Morphy Richards Sear, Stew and Stir slow cooker review, £45 Lakeland 6.5L slow cooker, £99.99 What to look for when buying a slow cooker With so many different slow cookers out there, choosing the right one for you can be confusing. Here are a few questions you might want to consider. Design Are you looking for a simple, budget-friendly option that just slow-cooks (but does it extremely well) or something more versatile that sous-vides, pressure cooks, bakes and roasts too? Do bear in mind that the more technological the slow cooker, the higher the price. Size With sizes starting at 1-litre through to a whopping 6.5-litres, choosing the right size for you is imperative. The smallest sizes are suitable when cooking for one or two. 3-litres to 4.5-litres (one of the most popular sizes on the market) serve four, and the large 6-6.5-litre models are super for families and batch cooking. It's also worth bearing in mind that the capacity stated on the sales blurb is the size of the bowl, not the working capacity, which can sometimes be half that. Space A slow cooker takes up space on the worktop and in the cupboard. There are two shapes, the round and tall, which has less of a footprint, and the oval, which takes up more room but can be more versatile. How to use a slow cooker No liquid escapes from a slow cooker, so when adapting a recipe not specifically written for a slow cooker, reduce any added liquid by a third. Don't remove the lid too often to avoid heat loss. The inner pot needs to be at room temperature before you start cooking. If you've kept a slow cooker dish in the fridge, you must wait for it to warm up before turning it on. Slow cookers vary considerably, so follow your manufacturer's manual for guidelines on temperatures and cooking times. Rice and pasta dishes work best cooked on high for the shortest time possible. Always use easy-cook rice, rinsed well first – the more starch you rinse from the rice, the better the finished result. Take time to brown your meat really well. Slow cookers tend to leach meat of its colour, so it’s important for appearance and flavour that they are well browned to start with. Flavours won't become more concentrated because the liquid doesn't reduce, so try to pack in as much flavour as you can. Slow cooker recipes Low-carb slow cooker recipes Healthy slow cooker recipes Slow cooker chicken recipes Summer slow cooker recipes Slow cooker curry recipes Slow cooker beef recipes Our best ever slow cooker recipes Slow cooker Christmas recipes Slow cooker mince recipes Kids’ slow cooker recipes Vegan slow cooker recipes Vegetarian slow cooker recipes Slow cooker curry recipes Slow cooker chicken recipes Appliance deals Air fryer deals Microwave deals Pizza oven deals Related reviews Best multi-cookers Best air fryers Best food processors Best blenders Best toasters Best kettles Best soup makers Best microwaves Is HexClad worth it? If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.