Black & Decker 3-Cup Ergo Chopper

First impressions

I put this Black+Decker 3-cup chopper to work the way I use any small processor: aromatics for weeknight dinners, small batches of salsa and pesto, nuts for baking, and the occasional breadcrumb blitz. It’s compact at roughly a paperback’s footprint, light at about 1.8 pounds, and easy to stash without rearranging a cabinet. The main promise here is simplicity—an ergonomic motor grip, a three-cup work bowl, and two pulse speeds for control. The bonus is a storage lid so you can prep and stash in the same bowl.

Design and setup

Assembly is straightforward. The stainless blade drops onto the center post, ingredients go in, the lid twists on, and you’re ready. The motor housing has a comfortable, contoured grip that makes one-handed operation feel secure. Two pulse settings—low and high—cover most chopping tasks. There’s no complicated locking sequence, no extra attachments to manage, and the bowl, lid, and blade are all dishwasher-safe. The base wipes clean with a damp cloth.

A practical touch I appreciate is the included storage lid. If I’m chopping onions in the afternoon for dinner, or making salsa ahead of a game, I can pop the lid on and move the whole bowl to the fridge. Fewer transfers mean fewer dishes and fewer tears.

One caveat: the power cord isn’t particularly generous. In my kitchen that meant choosing counter space near an outlet, not the island where I’d prefer to prep.

Controls and performance

The two pulse speeds matter. Low is ideal for delicate items—herbs, soft fruits, and anything prone to bruising or turning to paste. High is for nuts, carrots, and firmer vegetables. Using short bursts, I could step from rough chop to fine mince predictably, and the tactile on/off nature of pulsing makes it harder to overdo it. I rarely needed to run continuously for more than a few seconds.

• Onions, garlic, and chiles: A few quick pulses on low produced an even dice without turning watery. For finer mince, I finished with two short bursts on high.
• Salsa and pico: The three-cup capacity is a sweet spot for small batches. With restrained pulses on low, tomatoes stayed chunky; switching to high briefly tightened up the texture when I wanted a smoother dip.
• Herbs and pesto: Parsley and cilantro stayed vibrant when I kept to the low setting and scraped once halfway through. For pesto, it handled basil, pine nuts, and grated cheese well, but the bowl is small—think one or two servings, not a party’s worth.
• Nuts and breadcrumbs: Almonds chopped evenly on high; stopping before the oils warm maintains texture. Stale bread turns into fine crumbs in seconds.

Where it struggles is as revealing as where it excels. Like most compact choppers, it isn’t built for hard, dense, or frozen items. Frozen fruit slices tested its limits and made the motor protest; softening them slightly led to much better results. Parmesan blocks are also better pre-grated or cut into small shards before chopping. If you want to puree thick spreads (like a very dense hummus), you’ll likely need to loosen the mixture with liquid or work in smaller batches.

Noise and vibration

The chopper is loud for its size. High speed, in particular, has a sharp pitch that’s noticeable in an open kitchen. It’s not out of character for compact processors, but I wouldn’t run it early in the morning next to a nursery. Placing it on a silicone mat helped damp vibration and made it sound a bit less harsh.

Capacity and consistency

Three cups is a practical capacity for everyday cooking—bigger than “mini” choppers that top out around a cup, but still very compact. For single meals or small households, it’s almost always the right size. For larger batches, you can work in rounds, though that reduces the convenience advantage.

Consistency is best when you use brief pulses and respect ingredient size. Cutting vegetables into 1-inch chunks and avoiding overfilling the bowl produced more uniform results. Scraping the sides once mid-process helps prevent the classic “puree at the bottom, big pieces on top” issue.

Cleaning and storage

Cleanup is low effort. The blade lifts off easily, the bowl and lid go straight into the dishwasher, and there aren’t many crevices to trap food. The blade is sharp and stayed that way during testing, so I rinse it immediately and handle it with care. The base doesn’t pick up splatter thanks to the closed lid design, and a quick wipe leaves it presentable.

The included storage lid is more than a throw-in. It made short work of weekday prep: chop onions, add the lid, refrigerate; blitz a dressing, cap it, and it’s ready to pour later. For small kitchens, being able to use the work bowl as a storage container is a win.

Ergonomics and build

The ergonomic grip makes a difference during repetitive pulsing. It’s comfortable to hold, and the controls are within natural reach. The overall build is lightweight rather than heavy-duty, which matches its role as a prep helper. Aligning the bowl and lid is intuitive, and the unit feels stable in use, though I prefer a hand on the bowl during high-speed pulses to keep it planted.

As with any small chopper, respect its limits to extend its life: don’t overload the bowl, avoid continuous runs longer than a minute, and keep very hard or frozen items to small, manageable pieces.

Warranty and support

A two-year limited warranty provides a reasonable safety net for a budget-friendly kitchen tool. Given how often small appliances are used, it’s good to see coverage beyond the first year.

Who it’s for

• Cooks who want quick prep for aromatics, salsas, dips, dressings, and small-batch sauces.
• Small households and apartment kitchens where space is tight and a full-size food processor feels excessive.
• Anyone who values simple controls, easy cleanup, and the convenience of chopping and storing in the same container.

Who should look elsewhere: if you regularly process large quantities, grind tough cheeses, tackle frozen fruit, or expect silky purees without added liquid, a mid-size or full-size processor with more power and capacity will suit you better.

Pros

• Predictable control with two pulse speeds; easy to go from coarse to fine
• Compact and light, yet more useful than typical mini choppers
• Dishwasher-safe bowl, lid, and blade; quick cleanup
• Storage lid adds genuine everyday convenience
• Comfortable, secure grip; simple assembly
• Stay-sharp blade held up well in testing
• Backed by a two-year limited warranty

Cons

• Loud for its size, especially on high
• Short power cord limits placement
• Not suited to frozen or very hard ingredients without prep
• Small bowl means batch work for larger recipes

Recommendation

I recommend this Black+Decker 3-cup chopper for everyday prep in small to medium kitchens. It’s at its best when you want fast, controlled chopping with minimal cleanup, and the ability to pulse between low and high gives it more range than single-speed mini choppers. The storage lid and dishwasher-safe parts make it genuinely convenient. Keep in mind the noise and the short cord, and don’t expect it to power through frozen or very dense items. Used within its lane, it’s a reliable, space-saving helper that earns its spot on the counter—or in the drawer.