The Black & Decker 8 Cup Food Processor has limited processing abilities and didn't perform well in most of our tests. However, it provides more versatility than a chopper and could still be an okay choice for a smaller household on a budget. It can handle basic processing jobs and could even easily grind nuts. It is also a breeze to clean.
You can compare the Black & Decker 8 Cup Food Processor (FP1600B) to other food processors in the Food Processor Review.
Overall WinnerThe Black & Decker 8 Cup Food Processor utilizes a 450-watt motor. It offers 8 cups of dry capacity and 1.6 cups of liquid capacity in one dishwasher safe work bowl. It has two speed settings, continuous and pulse, and comes with two attachments including a stainless steel chopping blade and reversible slicing/shredding disc. The 3" x 2" feeder tube is designed to allow for the continuous processing of any ingredients. The Safety Interlock System comes standard and suction cup feet help keep the appliance in place and safe on your counter. This compact model also offers cord storage to make stowing easier.
Unfortunately, the Black & Decker 8 Cup wasn't our favorite inexpensive food processor. The dry capacity was sufficient for most projects, but it didn't offer very much in the way of liquid capacity (1.6 cups). For $10 more, you can get double the liquid capacity (and more processing capabilities) in the Oster Total Prep 10 Cup. The Black & Decker has a simple control panel with easy-to-use and responsive buttons.
The Black & Decker comes with very basic attachments including a universal 'S' blade and a reversible shredding/slicing disc. In general, we really like a reversible disc because it is more versatile and easy to store.
The Black & Decker only has one feeder tube that measures 3" x 2". We think it is inconveniently positioned on the back of the machine, and it isn't even big enough to accommodate a whole tomato or potato. However, it is one of the only brands, except for the Hamilton Beach 8 Cup, that allows for continuous processing through the large feeder chute.
It has a standard safety locking system which prevents the machine from operating until the work bowl and lid are secured. It also features suction cup feet to help stabilize it during use.
Processing QualityThe Black & Decker did an okay job during all of the tests we conducted. With its 450-watt motor and 3.2-pound base, it had adequate stability and power to do all the tasks we asked of it including the heavier job of grinding almonds. However, results were generally inconsistent, and it is easy to end up pureeing foods you simply want to chop. Our feeling was that the 'S' blade wasn't sharp enough and seemed to beat up the foods rather than make clean cuts. Chopping left us with varied results in nearly every test. Onions ended up pureed on the bottom and still in big chunks on the top. Parsley came out looking wet and bruised.
It was incapable of our pizza dough test as the instructions advised against making dough. However, we found it surprisingly good at grinding almonds. It was both efficient and consistent. However, we do not recommend you try it for making almond butter.
We found that the shredding disc worked fine for both carrots and parmesan, but there was some significant inconsistency in the parmesan test.
The Black & Decker has such a small feeder tube that we had to pare down both the tomato and potato significantly in order to fit them in the chute. This resulted in very small, misshapen slices. We thought the tomato test really demonstrated the dullness of the blade as you can see from the mess below.
Ease of Set Up and Clean Up
While food processors are generally easy to set up, the Black & Decker 8 Cup has a tricky safety locking system and was the most difficult model in our test to assemble. The work bowl and lid must be secured in the correct place and in the correct order or the machine won't start. It takes a minute to figure out but should get easier with practice. With that said, this model was probably the easiest one to clean during our tests. Hand washing it was a breeze, but all of the parts are also top-rack dishwasher safe.
Storage OptionsThe Black & Decker 8 Cup was one of the smallest food processors we tested and is easy to handle and store. It does not have blade storage, although it does feature cord storage.
Best UsesThe Black & Decker 8 Cup is one step up from a chopper and offers increased dry capacity and versatility. It will probably be best for shredding, grinding, and pureeing.
ValueThe Black & Decker FP1600B retails for $49.99 and comes with a 2-year limited warranty that covers any defective workmanship or material. It was one of the least expensive models we tested, but we don't think it outperforms the less expensive Hamilton Beach 8 Cup or the slightly more expensive Oster Total Prep 10 Cup.
ConclusionAlthough the Black & Decker 8 Cup wasn't our favorite food processor, we want to acknowledge that we found it to be a powerful little machine. We did not think it was as loud as some of the online reviews claimed, and the price point is incredibly reasonable. But, you get what you pay for with this model, and capabilities are limited. What we loved about the machine was how easy it was to clean and we were pleasantly surprised with how well it did grinding nuts. If you are looking for a consistent workhorse, interested in a small processor, and willing to spend a little more, look at our Editor's Choice Award Winner the Cuisinart Pro Classic 7 Cup. Another reasonable, and less expensive food processor choice is our Best Buy Award winner, the Oster Total Prep 10 Cup.
Alternatives- $60
- 500-watt motor
- Capable of kneading dough
- Only has a 1-year warranty
- $100
- 600-watt motor
- Heavier base at 9.4lbs
- Simple paddle control
- $35
- 450-watt motor
- Lighter base at 2.8 pounds
We suggest that you check out our Buying Advice for Food Processors to get an idea for what machine will best suit your needs.* indicates required field
 |
The Best Food Processor Review Our Food Processor review compares 11 of the most popular models on the market. Read on to see how they measured up. |
Facebook