KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Chopper (KFC3516)

It ranks #10 of 16 on our food processors tier list, in D tier. That placement draws on 11 cited sources across 9 outlets.

None of the 10 sources with a clear view is critical of it. Slightly smaller capacity than the Core Custom. Less refined chopping than the Cuisinart Core Custom.

People who want a small, durable chopper from a brand with wide support, and do not mind it being second best. It is compact, has a drizzle basin and a locking blade, and our research calls it a perennial recommendation. It sits in D tier, tenth on our board, only because the Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper edges it on capacity and chop quality. Most buyers should take the Cuisinart.

The Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper. It holds slightly more, chops more finely, and won Food & Wine's mini food processor testing outright. Both are in D tier on a board where the top is held by full-size machines, so the choice between them is about small jobs only. If you need more than a mini, the KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor (KFP0718) in B tier is the next step.

Long enough. Our research calls it durable and very widely supported, so a broken bowl or lid is easy to replace. Nothing on the board reports it failing. Its ranking reflects being outclassed on chop quality, not on reliability.

Adding liquid while the motor runs. The basin in the lid lets oil drip steadily into the bowl, which is how you emulsify a dressing, mayonnaise or pesto without stopping to lift the lid. It is a small feature that makes a mini chopper more useful than a plain one.

No. A three and a half cup bowl is for garlic, herbs, nuts, salsa and small sauces. It has no slicing or shredding discs and its motor is not built for dough. If you want one machine for all prep, buy a seven cup or larger processor and keep the mini for quick jobs, or skip the mini.