The catch
Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
One nominal cup less comes with the twelve-cup bowl.
Side by side
Ninja NF701 vs KitchenAid 13-Cup KFP1318: KitchenAid stores the kit in its larger bowl, and Ninja runs timed programs
Quick verdict
Ninja NF701 is the choice for timed Auto-iQ preparation and a reversible fine/coarse shredder. KitchenAid KFP1318 is the choice for external slice adjustment, twist-free bowl assembly and an included in-bowl storage caddy. Adjustable slicing and a dough blade come with both. KitchenAid's thirteen-cup bowl is one nominal cup bigger than Ninja's twelve.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Slices adjust on both, yet only one has its control outside the bowl
On the KitchenAid, you fit the slicing disc, close the lid, and then pick thickness with an external knob. Ninja has you set the dial on its disc before installing it. If you often change the cut thickness between ingredients, that difference matters.
Where this comes from
The external slicing knob appears on page 9 of KitchenAid's manual. Ninja's disc assembly instructions say to select 0.3-8 mm on the disc before it goes onto the spindle.
The catch
KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
Timed recipe programs are not documented.
Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
- Why pick it
- Run supported chopping, puree, dough and disc work through four Auto-iQ routines
- Pick fine or coarse shredding on the supplied reversible disc
- The catch
- One nominal cup less comes with the twelve-cup bowl.
KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
- Why pick it
- Use the external adjustment knob to change slicing thickness
- Keep the supplied blades and discs in the bowl caddy that comes with it
- The catch
- Timed recipe programs are not documented.
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What this page compares
Deciding between Ninja NF701 and KitchenAid KFP1318? Look at timed programs, external slicing adjustment, bowl size and tool storage before you pick a food processor.
Ninja NF701 is the choice for timed Auto-iQ preparation and a reversible fine/coarse shredder. KitchenAid KFP1318 is the choice for external slice adjustment, twist-free bowl assembly and an included in-bowl storage caddy. Adjustable slicing and a dough blade come with both. KitchenAid's thirteen-cup bowl is one nominal cup bigger than Ninja's twelve.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I'd like a timed routine for chopping or dough
Auto-iQ routines are on the NF701, whereas KFP1318 works by manual control.
- Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
- Better fit
- KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
- Not suitable
I switch slicing thickness often as I move between ingredients
Thickness is adjustable on both. On the KitchenAid the control sits outside the bowl, but on the Ninja you set it on the disc itself.
- Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
- Good
- KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
- Better fit
I want a supplied caddy in the bowl to hold the cutting tools
KFP1318 explicitly comes with an in-bowl caddy, while the NF701 guide describes an optional storage box.
- Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
- Caution
- KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
- Better fit
Both fine and coarse shreds matter
KitchenAid's supplied disc is fine/medium, and Ninja supplies fine/coarse shredding.
- Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
- Better fit
- KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
- Caution
I'd rather the work bowl seat without twisting
Bowl assembly on the KitchenAid needs no twist. The Ninja guide specifies locking it with a clockwise motion.
- Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
- Caution
- KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
Slices adjust on both, yet only one has its control outside the bowl
On the KitchenAid, you fit the slicing disc, close the lid, and then pick thickness with an external knob. Ninja has you set the dial on its disc before installing it. If you often change the cut thickness between ingredients, that difference matters.
How we worked this out
The external slicing knob appears on page 9 of KitchenAid's manual. Ninja's disc assembly instructions say to select 0.3-8 mm on the disc before it goes onto the spindle.
Bowl size differs by about eight percent
At thirteen cups by label, the KitchenAid is one cup above Ninja's twelve, about 8.3% relative to Ninja. Read it as a modest gain in nominal bowl room, and do not assume an extra cup of dough or liquid is safe in every recipe.
How we worked this out
The gap is 13 - 12 = 1 nominal cup, and 1 / 12 x 100 = 8.3%. Real loads are governed by the manufacturer's recipe and fill limits.
Timed prep and supplied storage each solve their own problem
Ninja's programs automate processing sequences. KitchenAid's caddy, meanwhile, gives loose tools a designated place to sit. Having Auto-iQ does not remove the need to store discs and blades, and having a caddy does not decide how long to chop.
How we worked this out
Four timed Auto-iQ programs are documented for Ninja, and its storage box is marked as package-dependent. KitchenAid lists a supplied in-bowl caddy along with manual operating settings.
Option A
Ninja, NF701
Professional XL Food Processor
This 12-cup processor has adjustable slicing, reversible fine/coarse shredding and four Auto-iQ routines. Whether the nesting bowl and storage box are included depends on the selected package.
- Best for
- Run supported chopping, puree, dough and disc work through four Auto-iQ routines
Facts we checked
- Nominal main bowl: 12 cups
- Automatic programs: 4 Auto-iQ routines
- Slice adjustment: 0.3-8 mm, selected on the disc
- Shredding choices: Fine and coarse
Option B
KitchenAid, KFP1318CU
13 Cup Food Processor
This roomy KitchenAid pairs an external ExactSlice lever with a three-part feed tube and a tidy in-bowl caddy.
- Best for
- Use the external adjustment knob to change slicing thickness
Facts we checked
- Nominal main bowl: 13 cups
- Automatic programs: No timed recipe programs listed
- Slice adjustment: External ExactSlice knob, thin to thick
- Shredding choices: Fine and medium
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Ninja Professional XL Food Processor | KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal main bowl | 12 cups | 13 cups | KitchenAid has one more nominal cup, but actual recipe limits still depend on the ingredient. |
| Automatic programs | 4 Auto-iQ routines | No timed recipe programs listed | KitchenAid is run on manual settings, while Ninja adds timed Chop, Puree, Dough and Disc sequences. |
| Slice adjustment | 0.3-8 mm, selected on the disc | External ExactSlice knob, thin to thick | Thickness adjusts on both, with the control placed differently on each. |
| Shredding choices | Fine and coarse | Fine and medium | Both use reversible discs, yet the shred sizes are not the same. |
| Bowl assembly | Clockwise twist to lock onto base | Twist-free click-in bowl and latched lid | The motion needed to mount the bowl may sway which machine feels easier to set up. |
| Supplied tool storage | Storage box is not included with all models | In-bowl storage caddy included | KitchenAid explicitly supplies its caddy, so only the Ninja storage case needs separate confirmation. |
| Dough tool | Dedicated dough blade | Dedicated dough blade | Both machines have a dough blade, so it is not something unique to Ninja. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
- You select slice thickness on the disc, and whether you get a storage box depends on the package.
With KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
- The shredder it supplies is fine/medium. Ninja's is fine/coarse.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Priority goes to timed programs and fine/coarse shredding
Go with Ninja Professional XL Food Processor. Those programs and shred sizes come with NF701.
Slice adjustment from outside the bowl and included tool storage count most
Go with KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor. An external knob and an in-bowl caddy come with the KFP1318.
I'd expect the base package to include a dicing grid
Neither model fits. A dicing kit is not listed in either selected package.
Decision guide
How to decide
Go with Ninja NF701 for timed Auto-iQ preparation and a reversible fine/coarse shredder. Go with KitchenAid KFP1318 for external slice adjustment, twist-free bowl assembly and an included in-bowl storage caddy. Both supply adjustable slicing and a dough blade, and KitchenAid's thirteen-cup bowl adds one nominal cup over Ninja's twelve.
Treat recipe timing and slicing adjustment as different things
Different parts of preparation are covered by Auto-iQ and ExactSlice. Ninja can run a timed processing sequence, while KitchenAid gives you an external thickness control for its slicing disc. Ask yourself whether your recurring frustration is judging chopping time or changing slice thickness, since either machine already supplies adjustable slicing.
Confirm the exact package before you plan storage
As part of KFP1318, KitchenAid lists the caddy, with the blades and discs stored inside the bowl. Ninja's shared guide describes a storage box and nesting bowl that do not come with every model. Leave those optional items out of your base-package comparison unless the selected offer explicitly includes them.
Put the larger bowl in perspective
Thirteen cups against twelve is useful extra nominal room, but it matters less than the differences in controls and assembly. A dough blade comes with both processors, and both carry recipe-specific limits. Choose by the jobs you will do and the tool arrangement you like, not by treating the bowl label or a peak-power figure as a quality ranking.
What this page can’t tell you
- Cut consistency, speed, noise and durability were not tested. The exact millimetre range of KitchenAid's supplied slicer is not established here, which means no claim of a wider range is made.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the food processors we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Professional XL Food Processor |
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| KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
Run supported chopping, puree, dough and disc work through four Auto-iQ routines
See price & reviews on AmazonKitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor
Use the external adjustment knob to change slicing thickness
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