6 Best Food Processors for Ice Cream of 2026

Unleash the power of frozen treats with the Ninja QB900B Master Prep, specifically engineered to pulverize ice and frozen fruit into perfectly creamy textures. Its 400-watt motor is surprisingly robust for its size, paired with unique stacked blades that excel at breaking down challenging ingredients. This compact unit is a dedicated warrior against icy chunks, solving the common problem of grainy homemade ice cream and frozen drinks.

In real-world testing, the Ninja QB900B effortlessly transforms frozen berries and bananas into smooth “nice” cream in the 16-oz bowl, while the larger 48-oz pitcher is ideal for crushing ice for slushies or larger batches of frozen cocktails. The interchangeable pods offer flexibility for different batch sizes, though the pulse-only operation requires user interaction to achieve desired consistency. Its smaller footprint makes it a countertop champion for those short on space.

Compared to larger, more versatile food processors like the Ninja BN601, the Ninja QB900B is less about multi-tasking and more about specialized frozen blending. It offers a more focused capability on frozen desserts and drinks than the general-purpose Hamilton Beach 70725A, which has a larger capacity but less targeted power for ice. For users prioritizing effortless frozen creations over broad functionality, this Ninja offers exceptional value in its specific niche.

Simplify your kitchen prep with the BLACK+DECKER food processor, designed for straightforward operation and assembly. While primarily focused on standard chopping, slicing, and shredding, its 450W motor and stainless steel S-blade provide enough power to tackle softer frozen ingredients, making it a potential candidate for less demanding frozen dessert tasks. The easy-assembly design eliminates frustrating setup, a welcome feature for busy home cooks.

This 8-cup work bowl unit handles typical food processing jobs like making salsa or hummus with ease. For frozen applications, it performs best with ingredients that are partially thawed or cut into smaller pieces, such as slightly softened frozen fruit for sorbet. Hard ice cubes or large chunks of deeply frozen items may pose a challenge compared to units specifically built for frozen blending. The simple touchpad controls make operation intuitive for beginners.

Positioned as a general-purpose workhorse, the BLACK+DECKER offers a good balance of capacity and power for everyday tasks. It’s easier to assemble than some traditional designs, contrasting with the twist-lock bowls of older models. While it may not have the specialized ice-crushing prowess of the Ninja QB900B, it provides a larger capacity than that model and is a more accessible option for basic frozen needs than the premium Cuisinart or KitchenAid models, offering solid performance for its class.

Master your kitchen with the Ninja BN601 Professional Plus, a food processor built for serious performance across a wide range of tasks, including demanding ones like processing frozen ingredients. Boasting a mighty 1000-peak-watt motor, this machine doesn’t shy away from challenging textures, making it highly capable for creating dense frozen desserts or crushing ice for large batches. The Auto-iQ technology adds intelligence, offering preset programs that optimize processing for consistent results.

The generous 9-cup bowl is perfect for tackling larger recipes, whether you’re pureeing soups, mixing dough, or blending substantial amounts of frozen fruit for multiple servings of ice cream. Its precision blades and powerful motor work in tandem to break down ingredients efficiently, although like most standard food processors, very hard frozen blocks may require pulsing or smaller quantities. The inclusion of a dedicated dough blade highlights its versatility beyond just chopping and blending.

Compared to the smaller, frozen-focused Ninja QB900B, the Ninja BN601 offers significantly more power and a larger capacity, making it better suited for family-sized batches and tougher ingredients. While the Hamilton Beach 70725A offers an even larger bowl, the Ninja BN601’s superior motor strength and Auto-iQ programs provide a more professional and consistent result, especially when dealing with frozen items or dough. This Ninja is ideal for those seeking a powerful, versatile tool that handles both standard prep and demanding frozen tasks with authority.

Simplify large-batch food preparation with the Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap, a food processor designed for effortless assembly and high volume. Its standout Stack & Snap technology eliminates frustrating twist-locking, making setup incredibly intuitive. While its 450-watt motor is standard for this category, the extra-large 12-cup sealed bowl is a major advantage for tackling substantial quantities, including prepping ingredients for homemade ice cream or large batches of sorbet base.

The Hamilton Beach 70725A excels at standard processing tasks for big families or entertaining, such as slicing multiple cucumbers or shredding large blocks of cheese. When it comes to frozen ingredients, the 450W motor can handle softer frozen fruits or ingredients cut into smaller pieces, performing best when making bases that will be frozen later rather than directly processing hard-frozen items into a scoopable consistency. The Big Mouth chute saves time by reducing pre-cutting.

Offering the largest capacity among the reviewed models, this Hamilton Beach directly competes with units like the Ninja BN601 on volume but not on raw power or specialized features like Auto-iQ. It provides a more user-friendly assembly experience than many traditional processors, including the Cuisinart. For users whose primary need is processing large quantities of food quickly and easily, and who plan to use frozen ingredients that aren’t rock-hard, this Hamilton Beach offers significant value in terms of capacity and ease of use.

Discover simplicity and elegance with the Cuisinart 7-Cup food processor, featuring a sleek, modern design and incredibly easy controls. This unit strips away complexity, offering just two buttons: On and Pulse/Off. This focus on simplicity makes it approachable for any user, handling standard food processing tasks like chopping, mixing, and even dough with its universal blade.

The 7-cup work bowl is a versatile size, suitable for preparing mid-sized batches of ingredients, whether you’re chopping vegetables for a recipe or mixing components for a frozen dessert base. While it includes a universal blade capable of mixing, its ability to process hard-frozen ingredients directly into a scoopable texture is limited by its design and likely motor power (not specified, but typical for this control style). It’s best used for preparing ingredients before freezing or incorporating softer frozen items.

Compared to the KitchenAid KFP0718CU, which offers three speeds and in-bowl storage, the Cuisinart B0C78KTHKN prioritizes minimalist controls and design. While the Ninja BN601 offers significantly more power and capacity for tougher tasks, this Cuisinart provides a more straightforward user experience at a similar capacity to the KitchenAid. It’s an ideal choice for users who value ease of use and a clean aesthetic for standard food processing needs, including preparing components for frozen treats.

Experience intuitive control and smart design with the KitchenAid KFP0718CU food processor. This 7-cup model stands out with its snap-and-go, twist-free bowl assembly and clever in-bowl storage solution for all accessories, addressing common user frustrations with setup and organization. Its three-speed control (High, Low, and Pulse) offers more versatility than simpler two-button models, allowing for greater precision across various tasks.

The 7-cup capacity is well-suited for everyday food prep, from chopping vegetables to pureeing sauces. For frozen applications, the included multi-purpose blade and pulse function can handle softer frozen fruits or ingredients that are partially thawed, making it useful for blending components for sorbets or smoothies. However, like most standard food processors, it is not designed to pulverize hard ice or frozen blocks into a fine, scoopable texture as effectively as dedicated frozen blenders.

Offering a similar capacity to the Cuisinart B0C78KTHKN, the KitchenAid KFP0718CU distinguishes itself with more speed options and a superior storage solution. While it doesn’t possess the raw power of the Ninja BN601 for heavy-duty tasks or the specialized ice-crushing ability of the Ninja QB900B, its user-friendly design, flexible controls, and integrated storage make it a highly practical choice. This KitchenAid is an excellent mid-range option for users seeking a balance of features, ease of use, and convenience for standard food processing and lighter frozen tasks.