How to Clean a Food Processor

By Sarah Aguirre

Updated 06/13/18

Food processor
Dave King/Getty Images

Your food processor is the perfect tool to chop, slice, and shred many recipe ingredients. But cleaning all of its parts can seem like a lot of bother. If you get to know the steps you need to take, it can go easier and you'll be more likely to use your food processor. Don't let the clean up keep you from making healthy, tasty, and beautiful dishes featuring fresh vegetables and fruit. Here are some tips and tricks to keep your food processor clean and in tip-top shape in 15 minutes.

What You Need

How to Clean a Food Processor

  1. Take the food processor apart. Food processors have several pieces and you'll need to take off the top, remove the pusher unit, take out the blade, and take the bowl off the motor. Bits of food can hide in any of these areas and you'll need everything separated in order to clean your food processor. Set the blade aside for special care.
  2. Wash the blade. You should wash the blade first, immediately after use. This will help keep it sharp as any moisture from ingredients or soaking can dull the blade. This also prevents food from drying inside the crevices or tube attached to the blade. These will be easier to rinse out immediately after use. Taking care not to cut yourself, gently scrub it with a mild soap and a pad.  Dry the blade with a dry dish towel so there is no moisture that can lead to rust.
  3. Wash the removable parts. All the removable pieces of the food processor can be washed in warm water with a mild dish soap. You can let them soak for awhile if you don't want to do wash them immediately. Do not scrub the parts of the processor with abrasive cleaners or pads. Or, the removable parts other than metal blades can be washed in the dishwasher on the top rack.
  1. Wipe down the base/motor. Using a damp cloth, wipe down the base/motor area. Do not submerge this unit in water or pour water over the base/motor unit. A simple wipe down is usually all that is needed. For stubborn stains (like tomato), mild dish soap or a baking soda paste may be able to lift out the stain.
  2. Fully dry and assemble the processor. Dry the pieces of the processor completely. Put it back together and store it away. If you use your food processor on a regular basis, store it on a countertop or in another accessible location.

Tips

  1. If your processor is smelly, mix a 1-to-1 ratio of baking soda and water. Store it in the bowl of the processor for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. The baking soda will absorb the odors.
  2. Nylon brushes can help clean blades without as much danger of cutting yourself. For cleaning tubes, you may want a little wire brush that can get inside the tube.
  3. Be sure to dry all the pieces thoroughly to prevent bacteria growth or damage.