ConsFirst / Food processors / Compare
Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor, 9-Cup vs Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes what we report. Learn more
The short answer
Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor, 9-Cup ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on ease of use, durability. Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper wins on dough & purées, easy cleaning.
The biggest complaint about the Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor, 9-Cup is doesn't purée smoothly; for the Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper it's stops working after a few months. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor, 9-Cup | Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in food processors | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $ |
| Type | Full-size | Mini chopper |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 5% | 18% |
| Overall score | 3.5 | 3.7 |
| Chopping & slicing | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Dough & purées | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Easy cleaning | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Durability | 3.0 | 2.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $80 · $$ $80–250 · $$$ over $250. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor, 9-Cup
- Doesn't purée smoothly
Food Network says it doesn't purée as finely, and its pesto was less fine than other models'. Several 1-star Walmart reviews say sauces stayed chunky even after long runs.
- Shredding blade breaks; durability is mixed
Amazon's summary says some owners report the shredding blade breaking. Durability is a net-negative aspect (206 of 328 mentions are negative), and opinions on the blades are split. A few Walmart owners report cracked bowls, a melted base, or a burning smell on first use.
- Food gets stuck under the lid
Serious Eats left it out of its picks because food frequently got stuck under the lid.
Source: Serious Eats
Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper
- Stops working after a few months
Amazon's summary says durability is mixed, with some units breaking down after about four months (24 of 35 durability mentions are negative). Opinions are split between owners who call it worth the money and those who warn not to buy it. 15% of Amazon ratings are 1-star.
- Must hold the button to run
Serious Eats says you have to keep pressing the power button, which gets tedious. Wirecutter confirms there is no continuous-on function.
- Tears herbs; loud
Wirecutter found it tore parsley into uneven pieces, and its paid testers preferred the KitchenAid 3.5-cup's chop. Wirecutter measured a high-pitched 100 dB running empty.
Source: Wirecutter
Who should pick which
Pick the Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor, 9-Cup if
Fast chopping of vegetables and cheese
Mid-budget buyers
People who want a lighter machine
Skip it if: You make smooth purées, sauces or hummus; You want a machine that lasts many years; You want expert-tested dough performance
Pick the Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper if
Mayo, dressings, pesto and other small-batch sauces
Chopping one onion or a few garlic cloves
Use alongside a full-size processor
Skip it if: You mostly chop fresh herbs; You want a continuous-run button; You want proven long-term durability
We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.