Braun TributeCollection Review

Performance Comparison

Chopping

The task that comes to mind first and foremost when talking about food processors is chopping. We chopped onions, carrots, and nuts and then scored each model based on the results, directly comparing them to one another. We also assessed how much control the "Pulse" button afforded us — whether it stopped immediately or kept spinning when the button was disengaged. It spins for a bit after the button is released. Still, it delivers an acceptable performance when chopping onions, with the majority being of uniform size with only a few outlying, larger chunks.

However, this model did substantially better when chopping carrots and nuts. The chopped carrots were of impeccable quality, and it only took about five pulses to achieve the desired result, with little to no aberrant pieces. Likewise, it is excellent for chopping almonds; practically all of the almonds were chopped, with only the occasional straggler escaping.

Mixing

The Braun delivered another stellar performance in our mixing metric. We compared the quality of pizza dough, pie crust dough, and mayonnaise by following identical recipes to determine the scores for each machine. It successfully and rapidly formed the ball of dough but vibrated around like crazy once the second cup of flour was added, per the recipe instructions. This was the only sign of struggle from this model, with the motor seemingly content and not issuing sounds of protests. It mixed mayonnaise without incident and made solid pie crust, displaying no visible inconsistencies when rolled out.

Pureeing

The Braun's performance dropped in our pureeing tests. We compared the quality of each machine's hummus, applesauce, nut butter, and tomato sauce produced and conducted a leak test with water to determine scores. The hummus was the second coarsest of the entire group and wasn't our favorite. This machine improved when making applesauce and tomato sauce — both were well-mixed but slightly chunky. However, it did the best in our nut butter test. It only required a single spatula scrape in the beginning and produced high-quality nut butter after 15 minutes.

This model lacks a max fill line on the bowl, but the manual states that the maximum capacity is two cups of liquid. This fills the bowl about halfway, and there were no discernible leaks when we ran the food processor.

Shredding

We evaluated the shredded cheese, potatoes, and carrots created by each machine to determine scores, as well as comparing if there was any adjustability allowed on the shredding settings. The Braun did very well. It has two shredding options: fine and medium. A two-pound block of cheese would not fit down the feed tube, necessitating that we slice it in half longways. The shreds were nice and large, with only a few crumbled bits interspersed throughout and very little stuck above the shredding disc.

It did the best job of the entire group at shredding potatoes, rivaling those of the Breville and the Cuisinart Elemental.

The shredded carrots were on the flimsier side, with a single small piece left un-shredded.

Slicing

While the Braun did well at shredding, it delivered an abysmal performance in our slicing tests. We evaluated how it did at slicing tomatoes, potatoes, and zucchini and how adjustable the slicing attachment was. It did a subpar job in every aspect of this test, except for potatoes. There was no adjusting the slicing thickness, and this model entirely and totally obliterated the tomatoes rather than slicing them.

It did a little better with zucchini, but not by much. The slices were very thin and uneven, with a prominent taper. The edges were also rough.

Cleaning

Rounding out the end of our tests, this metric assessed how easy it was to clean each food processor. Every part is dishwasher safe, except the small chopper bowl. The blade is decently easy to clean but has plenty of small nooks and crannies to trap food. The bowl also has small plastic details that are prone to trapping food pieces and require extra attention to ensure they are clean. The lid was easiest to clean, with all parts easily accessible.

Should You Buy the Braun TributeCollection?

The Braun is a great value and a model for the budget-oriented shopper who is still looking for a top-tier food processor. However, if you plan on slicing frequently, we'd recommend a different model because this one performed poorly in that area. Chopping and mixing performances were stellar, though, so this might be a good pick if that matches your food preparation needs.

What Other Food Processors Should You Consider?

If you know you'll be slicing veggies frequently, literally any other model in our test will be a better option than the Braun. The Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro was our overall favorite and scored very well in the slicing metrics (along with every other test metric). If you want a great machine in the price range of the Braun, we suggest the Cuisinart Custom 14. If you need to save some money, the Hamilton Beach 10-Cup scores decently across the board and is one of the least expensive models we tested.