Blender/Processor Combos

Some models can multitask, but reviews are spotty

If you're interested in getting more functionality out of your food processor -- and saving a little counter space -- you may be interested in a model that combines a blender and a food processor. These appliances generally have a base unit that is interchangeable with a blender jar and small food processor bowl. While professional reviews are scarce, many models have owner reviews on websites like Amazon.com and Cooking.com.

One mini blender/food processor combo does perform well in a leading test: the Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004 (*Est. $70) . It consists of a 450-watt motorized lid and blades that attach to a 2-cup bowl, 5-cup bowl and 6-cup pitcher -- all made of BPA-free plastic. In a professional test, the Ninja Master outperforms all mini choppers at grating Parmesan cheese, and it does a very good job chopping and pureeing, too. Owners at Amazon.com largely agree, awarding it an average of 4 out of 5 stars in about 30 reviews. The cheaper Ninja Master Prep QB900 (*Est. $50) impresses owners at Amazon.com and Target.com just as much, although we didn't find any professional reviews for it. The Ninja Master Prep QB900 skips the 5-cup bowl and has a smaller motor (400 watts) than the Ninja Master Prep Professional.

The DeLonghi DFP950 (*Est. $300) comes with a full-size 12-cup bowl and a blender jar that holds just over 6 cups. It's a full-featured food processor, with both fine and coarse slicing/shredding discs, a dough blade and a whisk attachment, as well as a built-in digital scale. The Wall Street Journal picks it as one of its five favorite food processors, even though "the included blender bordered on the useless." ConsumerReports.org editors slam The Wall Street Journal's pick in a blog post, though: In their test, "the DeLonghi botched several basic tasks, including chopping, grating and pureeing." Editors add that they back up their food processor picks with thorough testing of more than 30 models, while The Wall Street Journal reviews only five food processors.