How to Clean and Care for a Food Processor

Updated: May 16, 2023

Shutterstock / Jan Schneckenhaus

Chop chop! Learn how to clean a food processor so you can keep your favorite kitchen gadget working the way it should.

Most of us don’t know what we’d do without our food processor. Well… we’d be spending a lot more time in the kitchen, endlessly chopping, dicing and mincing! Fortunately, the food processor makes that knifework optional, which means our lives are a whole lot easier.

But cleaning this convenient kitchen appliance isn’t always so easy. How do you get in all the nooks and crannies? Do you have to clean the outside? So many questions—and we’re answering them below with our guide on how to clean a food processor.

What to Clean After Each Use

Blades: Wash the blades by hand after each use with warm soapy water to avoid crusted-on food. Scrub from the center of the blade to the outside edge to avoid cutting yourself. Don’t put the blades in the dishwasher if you can help it. The hot water can damage the blades over time and even melt the plastic coating.

Container and Lid: An easy way to clean the container of your food processor is by squeezing a few drops of dish liquid in the bottom and filling the container halfway with warm water. Put the lid on and run the food processor for a few seconds. Then dump out the soapy water and rinse. You can also simply submerge the lid and container in a sink filled with warm soapy water and scrub with a kitchen sponge.

Test Kitchen Tip: Because cleaning the lid can be a pain, prevent extra scrubbing by placing a sheet of plastic wrap between the lid and the container before you use your processor.

Inside the Blade and Handle: Food can get stuck inside the crevices at the blade’s center and the processor’s handle. Use a mini scrub brush or a toothbrush to get up in those hard-to-reach spots. Put some dish soap and water on the brush, then scrub vigorously to clean out crumbs.

What to Clean Occasionally

Every couple of uses (or whenever you splash liquid or food onto the base), wipe down the outside of the food processor. Use a damp cloth with dish soap or vinegar to sanitize the exterior and remove any tough stains.

Deep Cleaning Tips

A thorough cleaning is necessary when you notice a smell coming from your food processor or suspect mold is growing. Soak the container and blades in a mixture of 1 part baking soda and 1 part warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly and dry completely before reassembling. (You can clean just about everything with baking soda.)

Now that you know how to clean a food processor, put your kitchen gadget to work making cauliflower rice or another surprising recipe!

40 Surprising Food Processor Recipes

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Sneaky Turkey Meatballs Like most kids, mine refuse to eat certain veggies. In order to feed them healthy foods, I have to be sneaky sometimes. The veggies give these meatballs a pleasing texture while providing valuable nutrients—and I'm happy to say my kids love 'em. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas Go to Recipe

Roasted Eggplant Spread Exps Hcka19 33070 C05 11 4b 3

TMB studio

Roasted Eggplant SpreadBlack pepper and garlic perk up this out-of-the-ordinary spread that hits the spot on a crisp cracker or toasted bread slice. —Barbara McCalley, Allison Park, Pennsylvania.