Black & Decker Power Pro 2-In-1 Food Processor And Blender

I put the Power Pro to work during a week of heavy meal prep and everyday blending, swapping between the processor bowl and blender jar to see where it shines and where it falls short. It’s a straightforward 2‑in‑1 that aims to cover the bases—slicing, shredding, chopping, puréeing, and basic blending—without a steep learning curve or a pile of specialty attachments.

Setup and build quality

Out of the box, the Power Pro feels solid and pleasantly no‑nonsense. The base has a reassuring heft (just over 12 pounds), and the non‑skid suction feet anchor it firmly to the counter. That stability matters once you start feeding tougher produce or blending thicker mixtures. The safety interlock is clearly designed to prevent accidental starts: the bowl and lid need to be correctly aligned, and the pusher must be in place to run. In practice, I found it reliable and easy to engage once I got used to the alignment marks.

At roughly 17.3 inches tall when assembled, it clears most under‑cabinet spaces in my kitchen, but it can be a tight fit. The footprint (about 15 by 9.5 inches) takes up a chunk of counter, so it’s worth measuring if you have a compact setup. On the plus side, you get meaningful capacity in return: a 10‑cup work bowl for the processor and a 6‑cup jar for the blender.

Controls and power

The control scheme is as simple as it gets: two speeds plus a pulse button. With a 600‑watt motor, the Power Pro isn’t chasing high‑end, high‑power machines; it’s aimed at reliable, everyday performance. Pulse is your friend here. For many tasks—chopping vegetables or coarsely grinding ingredients—short pulses deliver better control than letting a continuous speed run too long. The low speed handles delicate chopping and slicing without pulverizing, while the high speed is the default for purées and blending.

If you’re used to multi‑speed processors with programmable settings, this pared‑down approach will feel basic. The upside is that there’s virtually no learning curve, and the machine responds predictably. I never felt it was underpowered for typical home prep, though it’s fair to say it’s not built for frequent heavy doughs or large nut butter batches.

Food processing performance

I evaluated the processor on common prep tasks: chopping onions and herbs, shredding cheddar, slicing cucumbers, and making a simple hummus. The wide‑mouth feed chute is the unsung hero here. It reduces pre‑cutting and comfortably takes larger pieces of produce; I could feed halved onions and medium cucumbers without fuss. The included stainless steel disk handled both slicing and shredding. Slices came out consistent and suitable for salads and gratins. Shreds were fluffy and uniform—ideal for tacos and casseroles.

For chopping, pulse control gave me clean, even pieces without turning everything into paste. A few quick taps were enough for salsa-ready onions and peppers. When I pushed toward finer textures, I had to watch carefully; holding a continuous speed too long will take you from chopped to puréed faster than you might expect. That’s not a flaw unique to this machine, just the reality of a two‑speed motor and a sharp processing blade.

Puréeing soft ingredients worked as expected. A basic hummus (canned chickpeas, tahini, lemon, oil) reached a smooth, spreadable consistency with a few pauses to scrape down the bowl. For thicker spreads, adding liquid gradually while pulsing kept everything moving around the bowl without straining the motor.

Blending performance

The blender jar slots securely onto the same base, turning the Power Pro into a capable smoothie and soup maker. With frozen fruit, yogurt, and a splash of milk, I got a smooth blend on high speed after a short pulse sequence. Green smoothies benefited from starting with pulse, then shifting to high; leafy greens pulled down more evenly that way. Hot soups (cooled to a safe blending temperature first) puréed to a velvety texture without a lot of coaxing.

The 6‑cup capacity feels right for small families or a couple of tall smoothies. If you regularly make large batches, you’ll need to blend in stages. The jar’s shape promotes a decent vortex at high speed, which helps avoid stalled pockets—but if you load mostly dry ingredients, give it more liquid to keep things moving.

Stability, safety, and day‑to‑day usability

Between the suction feet and the machine’s weight, the base stays put. I never noticed wandering or rattling, even during tougher shredding jobs. The safety interlock is strict in a good way; it simply won’t run unless everything is seated properly. That might add a second or two to your setup, but I appreciated the peace of mind.

Swapping between the processor bowl and blender jar takes seconds and feels secure. There’s a storage lid included, which is handy for sealing the work bowl if you want to stash chopped or sliced ingredients in the fridge. Small touches like that make a difference if you batch prep.

Cleaning and maintenance

Cleanup is refreshingly simple. The parts come apart easily, and there aren’t many nooks that trap food. After chopping herbs and shredding cheese (the two tests that usually reveal cleaning headaches), a quick rinse and a soapy wash took care of residue. The slicing/shredding disk is stainless steel and rinses clean if you don’t let debris dry on it. I found it easier to clean promptly after each job rather than stacking tasks and letting bits crust over.

The base wipes down with a damp cloth. The control panel is minimal and doesn’t have seams that catch flour or liquids, which helps.

Capacity and workflow tips

You can load the work bowl generously, but you’ll get the best results by giving ingredients room to circulate. For most chopping jobs, I stop just shy of the max line; it reduces overprocessing at the bottom while the top stays chunky. With the slicer/shredder, feed pieces steadily and don’t force them—let the disk do the cutting, and you’ll get more uniform results.

For blending, start with liquids at the bottom and heavier solids on top. Use pulse to break large pieces before committing to high speed. If you’re working with fibrous greens, pack them loosely and alternate with liquid for a quicker pull‑down.

Where it excels—and where it doesn’t

Strengths:
- Versatile 2‑in‑1 design that genuinely replaces two separate appliances for most households.
- Wide‑mouth feed chute reduces prep, and the stainless disk delivers consistent slices and shreds.
- Stable, safe, and straightforward to operate with two speeds and a responsive pulse.
- Easy to clean and store components, plus a practical storage lid for the work bowl.

Trade‑offs:
- Only two speeds limit fine control compared to pricier models with more nuanced settings.
- The 600‑watt motor is capable but not aimed at frequent heavy-duty tasks like dense doughs or ultra‑smooth nut butters.
- The assembled height can be tight under low cabinets, and the footprint is not small.

Value and warranty

As a budget‑friendly combo unit, the Power Pro offers a lot of function per dollar. You’re not paying for an array of specialty blades or programmable modes you may never use. Instead, you’re getting core processing and blending capabilities that cover everyday cooking, backed by a 2‑year limited warranty. For most home cooks, that value proposition makes sense.

Final thoughts and recommendation

After a week of regular use, the Power Pro has earned a spot in my rotation. It tackled the everyday jobs—prep for salads and soups, shredding cheese, slicing vegetables, blending smoothies and sauces—without drama. I never fought the controls or the interlock, and cleanup didn’t slow me down. It’s not a powerhouse, and it doesn’t pretend to be, but it is a reliable, capable workhorse for daily cooking.

I recommend the Power Pro to home cooks who want a single, sensible machine for routine processing and blending, at a price that doesn’t sting. You’ll appreciate the wide feed chute, the steady base, and the simple control scheme. If your kitchen projects lean toward heavy doughs or you need ultra‑precise speed control, look higher up the range. For everyone else, this 2‑in‑1 hits the sweet spot of practicality, ease of use, and value.