Prep work takes up a lot of time in the kitchen. When chopping with a kitchen knife, the cuts aren’t uniform, the counters get messy, and each slice of onion makes you cry. The best vegetable chopper eliminates these problems. Whether slicing ingredients for a salad, chopping vegetables for a side dish, or dicing produce for homemade soup, a vegetable chopper is a kitchen tool that is used almost daily.
If you’re not skilled in the culinary arts, chopping vegetables can be quite dangerous. The best vegetable chopper protects you from accidental cuts, prevents hand fatigue, and easily chops produce quickly. It’s compact and easy to store; it’s a kitchen gadget that proves its usefulness time and time again.
Keep reading to learn more about what to look for in the best vegetable chopper.
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BEST OVERALL: Alrens Vegetable Chopper Mandoline Slicer Cutter
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RUNNER-UP: Fullstar Vegetable Chopper – Spiralizer – Slicer
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BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Chef’n VeggiChop Hand-Powered Food Chopper
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BEST MANUAL: Vivaant Food Chopper – Manual Slicer Dicer Mincer
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BEST ELECTRIC: BLACK+DECKER 3-Cup Electric Food Chopper
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BEST ALL-IN-ONE: Fullstar Vegetable Chopper Onion Chopper Dicer
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Vegetable Chopper
The best vegetable chopper makes a home cook’s life easier. It’s uncomplicated, cuts cleanly and quickly, and is made from materials that are long lasting and easy to clean. Some cooks have a preference for a manual or electric vegetable chopper, and others value simple operation or a model that has a variety of blades. Here are some points to think about when selecting the best vegetable chopper for your home.
Material
Most vegetable chopper blades are made from food-grade stainless steel, an alloy steel that is both corrosion- and rust-resistant. Because it’s a nonreactive metal, it can be used to chop acidic produce such as lemons and tomatoes. Stainless steel blades come sharp out of the box and last a long time.
Catch trays and work bowls are typically made of plastic or glass.
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Plastic is a lightweight but strong material, so it’s easy to hold and doesn’t break easily. It may warp over time if it’s regularly cleaned in the dishwasher or if it’s heated by mistake. Certain foods, like diced tomatoes or puréed pumpkin, can stain some plastics, but staining does not affect the vegetable chopper’s utility.
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Glass is a heavier, sturdy material that’s more expensive than plastic. It can be heated without warping, and it always looks new. With care, it may last longer than plastic, but it is breakable and requires care during use.
Manual vs. Electric
Manual vegetable choppers cut by pulling, rotating, or pushing a handle that forces produce through the cutting blades. As it doesn’t require a power source, it’s portable and appropriate for camping and other electricity-free activities. These choppers are no-fuss devices that are less expensive and quieter than electric options, but they may come with fewer bells and whistles—they may not be able to purée, for example. The simplest manual choppers have just one blade that may not be detachable. Their catch trays typically store 1 to 4 cups, and they may need to be emptied frequently.
With the touch of a button, electric vegetable choppers use power to spin the tool’s blades. For safety, ingredients are added at the top of the machine far away from the blades. Electric choppers’ rotating blades result in less uniform results than vegetables cut by manual choppers, but they are typically multifunction tools that can chop, dice, grate, knead, and/or blend. Electric choppers are small food processors, so they tend to be larger than manual devices and therefore have a larger storage capacity.
Power
Electric choppers require electricity to operate. Motor power in vegetable choppers varies significantly depending on the machine’s functionality. Mini versions might use a mere 70 watts, and larger electric choppers and food processors might require up to 1,200 watts to operate. Before deciding how powerful a vegetable chopper you think you need, consider what you intend to use it for. High-use needs, chopping tough ingredients like root vegetables, and kneading dough can burn out a motor or alter the consistency of the ingredients. On the other hand, cooks who want a vegetable chopper only for basic functions like cutting or chopping don’t need a super powerful model. A straightforward vegetable chopper can run efficiently on as few as 175 watts.
Chefs looking for an all-in-one device with blending, kneading, and other high-energy modes need a more powerful option. Those with these more advanced needs require machines with more wattage and should use electric vegetable choppers with motors that have at least 600 watts.
Blades and Cuts
Vegetable choppers often come packaged with a variety of blades that serve different purposes and change the size and shape of the cut. On manual vegetable choppers, the blades are often inserts that home chefs switch out according to their needs. Electric vegetable choppers typically have rotating blades inside the device. Blades that may come with a vegetable chopper include:
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S-shaped blades whir around to chop vegetables into nonuniform shapes. These come standard with electric choppers.
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Chopping blades cut food into bite-size cubes.
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Dicing blades are similar to chopping blades, but the resulting cubes of vegetables are much smaller.
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Slicing blades cut vegetables into thin, uniform pieces.
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Ribbon blades slice in a thin rotation, resulting in long, noodle-like cuts.
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Spiral blades slice identically to ribbon blades, but cut vegetables into narrower strips.
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Shredding blades grate vegetables into small, thin strips.
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Crinkle-cut blades cut lines in one direction; the vegetable gets rotated 90 degrees, and lines are cut in the opposite direction to create waffle cuts.
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Wedging blades cut vegetables and fruit into uniform wedges.
Simpler manual models have only one blade, which may not produce uniform results. If you value simplicity over uniformity, a simpler model has fewer parts to use and clean.
Safety
Vegetable choppers have sharp blades, which is why it’s vital to exercise caution while using them. Ensure there aren’t any kitchen accidents by seeking out choppers with some of these safety features:
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Blade protection elements surround sharp blades so they’re not exposed. Manual chopper inserts use plastic casings around the blade to prevent gripping the blade directly.
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Nonslip bases prevent the vegetable chopper from sliding when it’s in use. Wider bases also prevent electric choppers from moving around when they’re in use.
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Nonslip handles help users maintain a solid grip on manual models so hands don’t slide when chopping. Handles can also serve as handguards that keep fingers from being exposed to the blades.
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Locking lids prevent the movement of blades until the vegetable chopper is in a securely locked position.
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Overheating protection in electric models automatically stops the vegetable chopper if it’s reaching a high temperature.
Additional Features
Some vegetable choppers are equipped with added features that can enhance your culinary experience. You may find food choppers that come with the following:
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Catch trays or work bowls attach to the vegetable chopper to corral cut produce until you need it.
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Juicers are handy for those who make citrus salad dressings or like to enjoy a glass of fresh juice.
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Egg slicers cut eggs for salads faster than a knife.
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Egg separators cleanly divide egg yolks and whites.
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Vegetable peelers efficiently remove peels from carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, apples, and other skinned vegetables.
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A storage lid is useful for capping leftover vegetables in the work bowl rather than dirtying another container.
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Side scrapers with electric choppers keep food from collecting on the sides of the chopping bowl.
Ease of Cleaning
Vegetable choppers with catch trays or work bowls make meal prep particularly easy because they make less mess than other choppers. These bowls contain the cut-up vegetables so they don’t fall on the counter or floor, which keeps the kitchen tidy while the chef readies the meal’s other ingredients.
It’s always easiest to clean a vegetable chopper right after it’s used, and cleaning right away also minimizes staining of the catch tray. Always unplug an electric vegetable chopper before washing it, then dismantle the chopper and rinse off large food particles. Some chopper blades may get food lodged inside them, and these particles need to be removed before the blades and chopper are washed. As you may have gathered by reading these steps, choppers that have fewer parts are easier to clean than those that have to be taken apart after each use.
Most vegetable choppers can be washed safely in the top rack of a dishwasher. These days, even electric vegetable choppers have dishwasher-safe parts, but double-check the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure. Dry all parts of the chopper (particularly the blade) completely before storing it.
Our Top Picks
These top picks are some of the best vegetable choppers on the market, chosen for their ease of use, practicality, and usefulness in the kitchen. Because home chefs have different needs, several award categories are here to help users find the vegetable chopper that suits them best.
Photo: amazon.com
Home chefs who want to add efficiency to their food-prep game should consider Alrens’ versatile vegetable chopper. It comes with two sizes of chopping blades, two shredding blades, a slicing blade, and a waffle blade, and cooks simply swap out the implement that best suits the task at hand. The gadget doesn’t just chop, either—it also comes with a mashing insert, egg separator, drain basket, and peeler, which kind of makes it a jack-of-all-trades for kitchen prep work. Constructed of BPA-free plastic with stainless steel blades, this manual-lever chopper holds 4 cups of prepped vegetables until they’re ready for use.
Though its variety of functions alone is enough to recommend the Alrens vegetable chopper, the fact that it also has protective safety features makes it even more worthy of notice. Its nonslip rubber handle provides leverage and stability, and its protective handguard ensures that users don’t accidentally cut themselves on the blades. Designed for quick cleanup, all of this vegetable chopper’s parts are safe to wash in the dishwasher.
Photo: amazon.com
Fullstar’s manual chopper uses lever force to quickly transform whole vegetables into a variety of cut shapes. From large and small cut pieces to vegetable spirals and ribbons, this small device’s blades chop, julienne, and slice veggies into the size and shape they’re needed—and save cooks a ton of time in the process.
Stainless steel blades cut smoothly and stay sharp for a long time. The BPA-free plastic container holds up to 4 cups of vegetables so users don’t have to empty it as often. For safety, the design includes a locking system to keep the blade inserts secure, a rubberized handle for leverage, and a nonskid base so the chopper doesn’t get away when the lever is in motion. The entire system can be disassembled, and it’s safe to wash on the top rack of the dishwasher. Once dry, it folds up nicely for convenient storage.
Photo: amazon.com
Take the work out of dinner prep and instead have fun cutting vegetables with this affordable manual food chopper from Chef’n. Home chefs chop vegetables by tugging on a pull cord that spins the chopper’s blades—the more pulls, the finer the chop; the fewer pulls, the coarser the chop. Pull the cord several times, and avocados and onions become fine enough to make rustic guacamole. VeggiChop’s BPA-free plastic container holds about 3 cups of ingredients, and its twist-and-lock lid keeps fingers far from the blades. If you’ve chopped more vegetables than you need, don’t fret about finding a container to store them—just pop on the included lid and stick the bowl in the fridge.
Well suited for small kitchens, casual cooks, and campers, VeggiChop is uncomplicated and does a fine job of chopping, but mise en place purists should know that the cut vegetables are not uniformly shaped. The chopper’s simple design, however, is super easy to clean, especially since all the components are dishwasher safe.
Photo: amazon.com
Don’t be fooled by its size: Vivaant’s manual food chopper is sturdy and finely cuts vegetables, fruit, nuts, and more with an easy push motion. Heavy-duty stainless steel blades fashioned in a zigzag design slice right through vegetables. With only a few pushes of the rubberized button, the 1-cup container fills with chopped, diced, or minced vegetables much faster than cooks could cut them with a knife.
The chopper’s versatile design means it can be used directly on a cutting board or with its nonslip base and cup that will contain the vegetables. The design incorporates two rotating scrapers so food doesn’t stick to the sides of the container, and vegetables are cut into a uniform size. The vegetable chopper disassembles easily—just rinse the removable blades and put all the pieces into the dishwasher for hassle-free cleaning. Once dry, press the lock button for easy storage.
Photo: amazon.com
BLACK & DECKER’s easy-to-use electric vegetable chopper simplifies cutting vegetables. While other electric choppers incorporate a multitude of features, this vegetable chopper focuses on doing one thing well. A one-touch pulse button puts home cooks in control of how coarse or fine they want their vegetables chopped. It uses the same blade to mix and purée dips and sauces if the button is held long enough. The 175-watt motor is powerful enough for chopping and mincing, and it has protective plastic housing. The 3-cup plastic work bowl keeps the chopper’s stainless steel blades away from fingers.
This vegetable chopper comes with a base, bowl, S-shaped blades, and a lid for clean and efficient chopping. The lid has small holes that are handy for home chefs who want to add oil to the bowl—think homemade salad dressings and dips—while the device is in use. All removable parts are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Photo: amazon.com
Made from BPA-free plastic and stainless steel blades, Fullstar’s vegetable chopper is practical and long lasting. This manual chopper comes with seven easy-to-change inserts and a blade organizer to keep all the accessories organized. Prepare vegetables with large or small chops, or cut them into ribbons or spirals. Switch to the egg separator insert for baking, or use the egg slicer for a salad. If ever there’s a need for fresh juice, there’s an insert for that, too.
The Fullstar chopper’s lever design keeps blades far from the fingertips, and its nonslip base ensures there aren’t any unexpected movements. The included vegetable peeler makes dinner prep even quicker. A large catch tray contains all chopped ingredients so there’s no countertop mess. Come cleanup time, the whole vegetable chopper can go in the top rack of the dishwasher for easy washing.
FAQs About Vegetable Choppers
A vegetable chopper is an excellent way to add more healthy foods to your diet. Before you decide which one to bring home, you may have lingering questions about how to use and maintain them. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about vegetable choppers to help you understand them a bit better.
Q. Can I make smoothies in a vegetable chopper?
Some electric vegetable choppers have a blending option that can work for smoothies. Most vegetable choppers do not have this function.
Q. Is it normal if parts of my vegetable chopper are discolored?
Yes. Foods like tomatoes and beets can stain some plastics, but the staining doesn’t affect the vegetable chopper’s functionality.
Q. How do you clean vegetable choppers?
Disassemble the vegetable chopper completely, rinse off any lingering food, and either put the pieces in the top rack of the dishwasher (if they’re dishwasher safe) or wash them by hand.