Best 8-cup food processors

Top pick: Cuisinart Elemental 8-Cup. It's the one I'd buy for everyday cooking — a proven 350-watt motor, four speeds including pulse, and a wide feed tube that saves you pre-chopping. Cuisinart's Elemental line is the benchmark at this size, and the ratings back it up.

Who the others suit:

• Braun Easy Prep 8-Cup — if you want a strong 500-watt motor and simple three-speed controls for doughs and tougher jobs.
• BLACK+DECKER 8-Cup (2 speeds + pulse) — a light, no-fuss choice for chopping, slicing and shredding basics.
• Cuisinart FP-8GM Elemental — the same Elemental design in a different finish, if you prefer that look.
• Compact 2-in-1 chopper/grinder types — fine for small batches of meat, nuts and sauces, but not a true processor for dough or slicing.

Skip the 3.5-quart "multifunction" model if you specifically want an 8-cup bowl — it's a much bigger machine.