The Ninja BN601 Professional Plus is the best value food processor: a 1000-peak-watt machine with four Auto-iQ presets that powers through dough and chopping for around $130. It makes 2 lb of dough in about 30 seconds and shreds cheese fast, though the motor works hard on dough and the build is plasticky. For one-touch power on a budget, it's the strongest motor in this lineup.
Full review
Real-World Processing Performance
The Ninja BN601's headline strength is raw power. With a 1000-peak-watt motor — the strongest in this lineup — it tears through tasks that make lower-wattage machines struggle. FOX21's reviewer found that "within a surprisingly short amount of time the Ninja BN601 served up a well-mixed ball of naan dough," and other testers report it producing 2 pounds of dough in about 30 seconds. Best Reviews testing found its Auto-iQ programs "delivered nicely puréed pesto and rapidly shredded cabbage," calling it strong for shredding vegetables and cheese.
Consumer Reports, which tested it in their food-processor program, notes the combination of the high-wattage motor and Auto-iQ presets for chopping, slicing, dough, and purees. The 9-cup bowl is smaller than the KitchenAid's 13 cups, but it's plenty for most weeknight prep, and the power means it rarely bogs down.
Auto-iQ Presets and Controls
The BN601's four Auto-iQ programs — chop, puree, dough, and slice/shred — run timed pulse-and-run patterns so you press a button and walk away rather than feathering a pulse switch. For dough in particular this is a real convenience: the preset handles the mixing and kneading rhythm automatically. Tom's Guide, which lists the Professional Plus among the best all-around food processors, credits its "balance of power, versatility, and value."
Beyond the presets there's a manual pulse, and the package includes a chopping blade, a dough blade, and a reversible slice/shred disc plus a food chute and pusher. It covers the same core jobs as the KitchenAid, just with a more automated, power-first approach.
Build and Value
At around $130 the BN601 is the power-per-dollar champion of this category. The build is honest about its price — a sturdy but plasticky body rather than the more solid feel of the KitchenAid — and the footprint is compact enough not to dominate a counter. The bowl, lid, and blades are dishwasher-safe. For a cook who wants the most motor and the convenience of presets without paying KitchenAid money, it's a compelling buy.
Where It Falls Short
The flip side of the power-first design shows up under heavy use. Reviewers including FOX21 noted that on the dough setting "the motor seemed to be working especially hard," raising questions about long-term durability if you knead dough frequently. The build feels less premium than the KitchenAid, the 9-cup bowl is smaller, and slicing is competent but not as precise as the KitchenAid's adjustable ExactSlice system. The stacked blade tower also takes care to wash, the unit is taller than it looks on the counter, and the warranty is shorter than the multi-year coverage on some Cuisinart models. None of these undercut its value-and-power proposition, but they are the reasons it ranks behind the KitchenAid for an all-purpose buyer.
How It Compares to Alternatives
Against the KitchenAid KFP1318, the Ninja wins on motor power and dough automation but loses on slicing precision, capacity, and build quality. Against the Cuisinart FP-8SV, the Ninja is bigger and far more powerful. Against the budget Hamilton Beach 70730 and Stack & Snap, the Ninja is in a different league for power and presets, though those two cost roughly half as much. If your prep skews toward dough and heavy chopping and you want one-touch operation, the Ninja is the value sweet spot.
Who It's Best For
Buy the BN601 if you want the strongest motor and one-touch presets for under $150, especially if you make dough or do a lot of heavy chopping and shredding. It's ideal for a budget-conscious cook who values power and convenience over premium materials. Skip it if you knead stiff dough daily and worry about long-term motor strain, if you want the most precise slicing and best build (the KitchenAid KFP1318), or if you only need a compact processor for small jobs (the Cuisinart FP-8SV).
Strengths
- +1000 peak watts — the strongest motor here, makes 2 lb of dough in about 30 seconds
- +4 Auto-iQ preset programs (chop, puree, dough, slice/shred) for one-touch prep
- +Consumer Reports notes strong shredding and chopping performance
- +9-cup capacity with a Total Crushing blade tower and food chute
- +Often around $130 — strong power-per-dollar
Watch-outs
- −Motor works hard on the dough setting — questionable long-term under heavy use
- −Plastic build feels less premium than the KitchenAid
- −Only 9 cups — smaller than the KitchenAid's 13
- −Shorter warranty than the Cuisinart picks
How it compares
The power pick: its 1000-peak-watt motor and dough preset out-muscle the KitchenAid KFP1318 on stiff dough, but the KitchenAid is more precise at slicing and better built. Far stronger than the budget Hamilton Beach 70730 and Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap; bigger and more powerful than the compact Cuisinart FP-8SV.
Who this is for
At a glance: budget cooks who want maximum motor power and one-touch presets, especially for dough and heavy chopping.
Why you’d buy the Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor
- 1000 peak watts — the strongest motor here, makes 2 lb of dough in about 30 seconds.
- 4 Auto-iQ preset programs (chop, puree, dough, slice/shred) for one-touch prep.
- Consumer Reports notes strong shredding and chopping performance.
Why you’d skip it
- Motor works hard on the dough setting — questionable long-term under heavy use.
- Plastic build feels less premium than the KitchenAid.
- Only 9 cups — smaller than the KitchenAid's 13.
Rating sources
“Tested in Consumer Reports' food-processor program, the Professional Plus BN601 pairs a 1000-peak-watt motor with Auto-iQ presets for chopping, slicing, dough, and purees.”
“Within a surprisingly short amount of time the Ninja BN601 served up a well-mixed ball of naan dough — a workhorse appliance that cuts down meal-prep time without taking over your counter.”
“The Ninja Professional Plus delivers reliable performance for slicing, shredding, chopping, and dough — a balance of power, versatility, and value among the best all-around options.”
Our 4.5 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
