KitchenAid KFC3516WH Food Chopper Review

The letters after the model number are the color code. KFC3516WH is the white version of the same 3.5-cup chopper, and the machine inside is identical in every other finish: same 3.5-cup bowl, same 240 W motor, same two speeds and pulse, same blade, same lid with drizzle basin. A review of this chopper in any color applies to the white one word for word. The same chopper is also sold as KFC3516CU in Contour Silver, KFC3516IC in Ice Blue, KFC3516AQ in Aqua Sky, KFC3516BM in Matte Black and KFC3516IB in Ink Blue. Color is the only difference, so pick the finish that suits your kitchen.

The footprint is what makes it a countertop appliance you leave out: under 6 in deep and under 9 in high, with a cord that wraps around the base when you put it away. The locking blade and the pour spout mean you can tip the bowl and serve without lifting the blade out first. The drizzle basin is the one feature a plain chopper does not have, and it is what turns the machine into a tool for dressings and mayonnaise. Two speeds plus pulse give you coarse or fine control: the low speed for soft foods, the higher one for nuts and firm vegetables, and the pulse button for short bursts.

Chopping and mincing

Fresh fruits and vegetables, parsley, chives and garlic are among the advertised uses, and the pulse control is the tool for even, coarse results. Short bursts keep onions from turning to paste. The advertised results are chunky pico de gallo and salsa, so the machine is built for a dice and a mince rather than a fine grind.

Pureeing

Cooked fruit and vegetables for baby food, or bases for soups and sauces, are among the advertised uses. The 3.5-cup bowl suits a portion or a small batch of puree rather than a pot's worth.

Emulsifying

Mayonnaise, dressings, sauces and other condiments are among the advertised uses, and the drizzle basin is what makes them work: liquid goes in through the lid while the blade runs, which is how a stable emulsion forms. Creamy hummus and a smooth sauce or dressing are the advertised results.

Small jobs, fast

The chopper is compact and lightweight, built for everyday use, and the bowl, lid and blade go in the dishwasher. Buyers on Amazon most often praise the size and the easy cleaning, which fits a machine meant to be used daily and rinsed in seconds.

Serving straight from the bowl

The blade locks in place and the bowl has a pour spout, so you can pour out a dressing or a salsa without fishing the blade out first.

It chops, it does not slice, shred or grate

There is no feed tube and no discs, so slicing, shredding, grating and kneading are off the table. If those jobs are on your list, this is the wrong appliance.

The bowl is small

3.5 cups is a small-batch bowl: fine for a sauce, a dip, a salsa or a baby-food portion, not for family-size batches. Plan on processing in rounds if you need more.

One blade, two speeds

Everything runs through the same multipurpose blade, with no second blade and no whisk. Control comes from pulsing, not from a speed dial.

The lid takes practice

The lid has to seat and lock before the motor runs, and the first few tries usually take a moment. Reviews at other retailers mention the same thing, and the fix is a firm press and a turn until it clicks.

Cleaning the lid

The lid carries the drizzle basin, so it has more crevices than a plain lid. Rinse it promptly after dressings and sauces, and hand wash the blade to keep its edge.

Buyer feedback is mixed on reliability

Amazon's summary of its customer reviews reports mixed functionality and durability feedback. Some units run for years, while others arrive not turning on or with a lid that breaks early. The large majority of ratings are four or five stars, but the split is real and worth knowing before you buy.

Load it right

Cut food into roughly even pieces so the blade catches everything, and do not fill past the bowl's working level. Even pieces are what give you an even chop.

Pulse, do not hold

Use short bursts on the low speed for soft items such as herbs, cooked vegetables and tomatoes, and the higher speed for nuts and firm vegetables. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed.

Use the drizzle basin properly

Add oil or liquid in a thin, steady stream while the machine runs, then rinse the basin right after. That technique is what makes mayonnaise and vinaigrette come out smooth instead of split.

Seat the lid before you worry

Set the bowl on the base, press the blade down until it locks, put the lid on and turn it to lock, then pick a speed and press pulse. If nothing happens, re-seat the lid: that is almost always the cause.

Hand wash the blade

The bowl and lid can go in the dishwasher, but hand washing the blade keeps its edge sharp for longer.