You've just made hummus, pastry dough, or a big batch of salsa. So tasty. But now your food processor is covered in evidence.
Knowing how to clean a food processor properly keeps your machine in great shape and means it's always ready for the next recipe.
This guide covers everything you need to know to clean your food processor: how to give it a quick clean for everyday use, plus a full step-by-step for a thorough wash. We've even got a few deep cleaning tricks to show you.
Before you start - safety first
Two things before you clean anything.
First, press Off/Pulse and unplug the machine at the wall. Second, fully disassemble it: remove the pusher, lid, blade assembly, and bowl.
On some models, the bowl rotates to unlock and separate from the base. With everything apart, you can clean each component properly without missing anything.
The quick clean for everyday use
For most everyday jobs, you don't need to fully disassemble. Just fill the bowl until it's about one-third full with warm water. Add a drop of dish soap, then seal the lid and run on high for 30 seconds, or pulse 5-10 times. Discard the soapy water, rinse the bowl, and you're done.
If you’ve prepped something that left a sticky residue like dough or hummus, there’s an extra step to do before all of that: reassemble the empty bowl and blade and pulse a few times. The centrifugal force flings stuck food off the blade onto the bowl walls, making it much easier to rinse away using the quick method above.
Keep reading for a deeper clean after heavier use.
How to clean a food processor: step-by-step
Step 1: Wash the removable parts
Wash the bowl, lid, and pusher in warm soapy water using a soft sponge or cloth. Avoid abrasive scouring pads because they scratch and cloud the plastic over time, and once the bowl is scratched it's harder to keep clean.
The bowl, lid, and most attachments are also dishwasher safe (top rack only, on a normal or gentle cycle). Avoid high-temperature sanitising cycles, which can warp or crack the plastic.
Good to know: while KitchenAid bowls, lids, and attachments are dishwasher safe, we recommend hand washing for longevity. It's gentler on the plastic and keeps your blades sharper for longer, which means better results every time you use them.
Step 2: Clean the blades
The blade is the part that needs the most care.
Always handle blades by the central plastic hub, never by the metal edges. Use a long-handled dish brush or an old toothbrush to scrub from the centre hub outward.
Food debris commonly collects inside the hollow centre tube of the blade assembly, so give that a clean with a small bottle brush too.
One important habit: don't leave blades soaking in a sink of soapy water. It's easy to forget they're there, risking an unexpected cut when you reach in. Wash blades straight away and set them somewhere safe to dry.
As with the bowl and lid, hand washing keeps the blades sharper for longer than regular dishwasher cycles.
Step 3: Wipe down the motor base
The motor base should never be submerged in water or held under a running tap. Dampness near the motor causes damage that's difficult and expensive to fix.
Instead, wipe it down with a damp cloth (a microfiber cloth works well). Clean the exterior, the buttons, and the power cord.
For food that's worked its way into the locking tracks or handle grooves, a damp cotton swab or an old toothbrush gets into the corners without any risk to the motor.
Step 4: Dry and reassemble
Place all components on a clean tea towel or drying rack and leave them to air dry completely before putting everything back together.
Don’t cut corners on this step – reassembling while parts are still damp traps moisture inside the machine. Moisture can lead to bacterial growth, unpleasant odours, or corrosion on the metal components over time. A few extra minutes of drying time is good insurance.
Cleaning your KitchenAid food processor
The steps above apply across the full KitchenAid food processor range, whether you use our 3.5 cup mini food chopper or our 13-cup workhorse for batch cooking or big families.
There are a few things specific to KitchenAid models that are worth knowing when cleaning a KitchenAid food processor.
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The bowl, lid, and attachments across the range are dishwasher safe (top rack, gentle cycle), but you should hand wash where you can to improve longevity.
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If plastic parts discolour from strong ingredients, you can try cleaning with lemon juice.
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Never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on any KitchenAid food processor component.
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For model-specific disassembly and care instructions, refer to your user guide.
