There are a range of nuts that are nutritious and can add flavor to a variety of meals and desserts. But when it comes to chopping nuts down to the right size for everything from brownies to ice cream, doing it with a knife can be challenging and might even lead to accidental cuts. This is when a good quality nut chopper can come to the rescue.
With a nut chopper, you can grind and chop a variety of nuts, from hazelnuts and walnuts to pecans and peanuts, with ease and speed, and your hands can remain safe from the sharp blades at all times. Whether you opt to go with an electric nut chopper or a manual one is entirely up to you, but the end result should be the same: perfectly chopped nuts that are ready to be used however you’d like.
These days, it’s easy to find a nut chopper that is affordably priced. But not all choppers are created equal, and there are several features that you should look for. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of products and tips that you can use to narrow down your options.
1. Editor’s Choice: Cuisinart SG-10 Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder, Stainless/Black
When you want to make the job of chopping nuts super simple and quick, you can use an electric nut chopper/grinder like this one from Cuisinart, which has powerful stainless steel blades.
In addition to blades that are durable and can chop a variety of nuts, this product also features a heavy-duty 200-watt motor. And it can hold a total of 90 grams, so you can chop plenty of nuts for whatever you need to prepare for yourself or your family.
To use this nut chopper, all you have to do is press the lid down to turn it on or off. The non-slip rubber feet will help ensure it will remain in place, and it will efficiently chop and grind nuts, as well as spices.
In addition to all of that, the bowl and lid are both dishwasher safe, so cleanup is super easy. And if you want to store your ingredients without removing them from the bowl, you can just use the storage lid that is included to keep them fresh until you need them.
Pros:
- This electric grinder can chop nuts quickly, and you can turn it on and off by pressing the lid down onto the bowl.
- This product features stainless steel blades, a stainless steel bowl, and a powerful motor.
- The lid and bowl are dishwasher safe.
Cons:
- If you don’t want to have to plug in a nut chopper to use it, this product wouldn’t be right for you.
2. Runner Up: Norpro Nut/Topping Chopper
If you don’t want to go with an electric nut chopper, you can go with a manual one instead, and this is a good place to start. This product can work on chopping a variety of nuts, such as pecans, cashews, walnuts, etc. It can work quickly and easily, and you can be in complete control over how finely chopped your nuts become.
This nut chopper features stainless steel blades, and it consists of a glass base, a lid, and a handle that you can use to turn the blades that will chop nuts. All you have to do is put the nuts into the hopper and cover it with the lid. Then, attach it to the glass bowl, turn the handle, and watch the nuts fall through into the base. Detach the top from the bottom and use your chopped nuts however you’d like.
Pros:
- This nut chopper is easy to use because you just have to turn the handle to chop nuts quickly.
- This product comes with a glass base and stainless steel blades.
- You can use this item comfortably whether you are right-handed or left-handed.
Cons:
- This nut chopper may not be a good choice if you want to chop hard nuts because it is designed for use with soft nuts.
3. Best Basic: OXO Good Grips Chopper
Sometimes, a simple design is all you need to enjoy using a nut chopper that will quickly and easily transform whole nuts into small pieces. This particular nut chopper from OXO is available in two sizes, so you can select the one that will be big enough for your food prep needs.
This product features high-quality stainless steel blades that can chop a variety of ingredients, including nuts. Your hands and fingers can remain safe while this chopper will do all of the hard work for you.
We like that this nut chopper is simple to use. All you have to do is put the ingredients in the cup. Then, after adding the top piece to it, you just press down on the knob to push the blades down and chop the nuts. The rotating design helps ensure the nuts won’t stick to the sides and they’ll be chopped evenly, and the cup with measurements printed on it helps you get the right amount of ingredients too. Alternatively, you could place your ingredients on a cutting board and then use the top half with the blade to chop the nuts that way instead.
Once you are done chopping your nuts, you can keep them in the bowl for storage with the handy lid that’s included, or you can scoop them out with the spoon that you also get with this product. And to clean the blade, which is dishwasher safe, you can easily remove it.
Pros:
- This nut chopper is BPA free.
- This product comes with a lid for storing ingredients easily and a spoon for scooping them out of the cup, which has printed measurements on the sides.
- This nut chopper is simple to use, and you can control how finely chopped your nuts become.
Cons:
- If you’re planning on using this chopper for more than just nuts, keep in mind that it might not work well with all types of ingredients.
4. Best Manual: Progressive International Prepworks NUT Chopper
This is yet another manual nut chopper that you can use to break nuts down to the right size. You can use it to chop a variety of nuts, such as almonds, pecans, and almonds, and it can help you prepare your ingredients quickly. Plus, this is a fairly compact product, so it won’t take up a lot of space on your countertop during use or in your cabinet when you’re storing it away in between uses.
How does it work? Well, after you attach the top and bottom pieces, you can add your whole nuts to the bowl on the top and then seal it with the lid. Use the handle to turn the blades, chopping the nuts and allowing them to fall into the bowl on the bottom. You can keep track of how much you have, thanks to the measurements that are printed on the bowl, so you will know when you need to stop. You can also switch between fine and coarse grinds simply by changing the direction of the turn handle.
Pros:
- This nut chopper and grinder is designed to be easy to use, and it is compact in size.
- The bowl into which the chopped nuts fall is marked with measurements.
- You can operate this nut chopper manually by turning the handle, and you can get a fine or coarse chop.
- This nut chopper is dishwasher safe.
Cons:
- Because this nut chopper is made of plastic, it might not suit everyone’s preferences when it comes to materials.
5. Best with Printed Measurements: Prepworks by Progressive Nut Chopper with Non-Skid Base
Whether you want to add chopped nuts to your oatmeal for breakfast or your ice cream for dessert, this handy little chopper, which is available in multiple colors, will transform your whole nuts into tiny pieces quickly and conveniently.
To use this manual chopper, all you have to do is make sure the two pieces are in place. Then, add your whole nuts to the top bowl, on top of the blades. Put the lid on, and then turn the handle to start moving the nuts through the blades. They’ll end up chopped in the bowl on the bottom, so you can then scoop them out.
The bowl of this nut chopper has measurements printed on the side, and it can hold around 1½ cups. The upper chamber, on the other hand, can hold around ½ cup of nuts. Plus, depending on the direction in which you turn the handle, you can opt to chop your nuts finely or coarsely.
Pros:
- This nut chopper can handle hard nuts like almonds.
- This is a compact and easy-to-use manual nut chopper that has a bowl with measurements printed on the sides.
- This nut chopper features a non-skid base to help it stay in place during use.
- You can wash this product in your dishwasher.
Cons:
- This is a small nut chopper, so if you want something that can hold a larger amount of nuts at a time, it may not be right for you.
- Some consumers might not be happy that this product is made of plastic.
6. Best Mini: Simposh Mini Chopper
If you would prefer a small chopper, this mini option might be just right. It can work on chopping up a variety of ingredients, so you can use this for more than just nuts. It features a sharp stainless steel blade and durable plastic. And it measures roughly 7” tall by 2½” wide at the base.
You can use this chopper directly on a cutting board or you can attach the base to put the ingredients in there instead. Either way, all you have to do is push the top down repeatedly to push the blades into the nuts and break them down.
Pros:
- This nut chopper has a stainless steel blade that will automatically rotate to ensure your ingredients are chopped evenly and quickly.
- This is a small nut chopper, so it can work well if you don’t have a lot of ingredients to chop or you don’t have a lot of space in your kitchen.
Cons:
- Some customer reviews state that this nut chopper can be difficult to wash.
7. Best Vintage: RSVP Endurance Stainless Steel Vintage Inspired 1/4-Cup Nut Grinder
If you want an interesting looking, vintage inspired nut chopper, check out this one, which features a few attractive features. First off, it’s small and compact, measuring around 6½” tall by 3¼” wide, so it can be a fine choice even if you don’t have a lot of room to spare in your kitchen for another gadget.
This nut chopper has a clear jar that can hold around 1¼ cups, and it also has a stainless steel hopper. You operate it manually by turning the handle, and the chopped nuts land into the bowl so there’s no mess.
We also like that this product can be used to chop a variety of nuts, including hard nuts, so it isn’t like others on the market that can only be used with soft nuts. And it is easy to clean and dishwasher safe as well.
Pros:
- You can chop hard nuts and soft nuts quickly and easily with this nut chopper.
- This nut chopper is dishwasher safe.
- This product features a unique design that makes it different from others on the market.
Cons:
- This nut chopper might be too small for some users.
- Some customer reviews state that they found this product hard to use.
8. Best Nut Chopper with Glass Container: Fox Run Nut Chopper Grinder
Many people don’t like using a nut chopper that is made of plastic. If you’re one of those people, you might want to consider this option from Fox Run, which features a glass container instead of a plastic one.
This chopper should be easy to use, as you just put the nuts in the top half, close it with the lid, and turn the handle to move the nuts through the blades. As the nuts get chopped up, the pieces fall into the container at the bottom, so you can then remove the top half and scoop out the chopped nuts. Then, when you need to clean it, you have the option of popping it in your dishwasher.
Pros:
- This nut chopper has a plastic top and a glass bowl.
- This product has stainless steel blades that can handle all types of nuts.
- You can clean this nut chopper by placing it in the dishwasher.
Cons:
- According to some customer reviews, the handle can be uncomfortable to use.
Things to look out for:
Once you start shopping for a nut chopper and you begin to see the various options that are out there, you might find yourself feeling a little overwhelmed. How can you be sure that you will choose the right one? Well, there are some features you can focus on so you can determine if a particular nut chopper would be able to deliver the results you want. Here are some things we recommend considering:
To start, think about whether you want an electric nut chopper or one that you operate manually. While an electric one can be great for those who don’t want to have to push or turn anything by hand, it might be noisier, it might give you less control, and it might be a hassle to plug it in to use it. So, consider the benefits and drawbacks of each of these options as you shop.
Another thing to think about is the size of the product and the types of nuts that it can chop. Some choppers are smaller than others, so they might not meet your needs if you are planning on chopping a greater quantity of nuts. And if a product is designed for use with soft nuts only, you may be limited in terms of the ingredients you can prepare for your meals and desserts.
You also want the product’s components to be durable and easy to clean. If you want something that you’ll be able to clean in the dishwasher, be sure to look into the details regarding how to clean a nut chopper before buying it.
Overall, a nut chopper should be simple and safe to use. It should be designed to keep your hands safe from the blades. And, no matter what, you want the blades on a nut chopper to be sharp and effective at getting through a variety of nuts. This can help ensure the product will be easy to operate and will be able to give you quick results.
Photo credit: Algirdas Gelazius/Shutterstock