Magimix 5200 XL 16-Cup Food Processor Review

We purchased the Magimix 5200 XL 16-Cup Food Processor so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

French culinary brand Robot Coupe designed one of the first food processors in the 1960s. Though the company originally outfitted professional chefs in the catering business, come 1971, they released the Magimix. This model was marketed as the domestic version of the professional-grade food processor before it. 

If you’ve checked out the Magimix 5200 XL’s extensive features or sky-high price tag, then you’re aware this food processor isn’t the most practical solution for a novice cook. If you’ve outgrown smaller food processors and are seeking something that can cater to larger crowds, though, read on to see whether the Magimix 5200 XL is worth the investment. 

Setup Process: Easy until you get to the attachments 

With just three buttons—Stop, Auto, and Pulse—and a main bowl and S-blade to start, the machine is very easy to setup and use. When you dive into attachments, however, things get a bit more complicated. 

Magimix includes a booklet with some basic instructions about what the attachments are and what they do, but more time is spent on recipe suggestions—many of which are hard to follow if you don’t know how to operate the food processor’s various bowls and slicing, grating, and blending discs. The instructions lack detail, and we quickly discovered that certain attachments were only compatible with specific work bowls and mounts. While the manual leaves much to be desired, we were able to get a better feel for the machine’s abilities after watching a tutorial on Youtube. 

Performance: Chops the competition 

The Magimix 5200 XL can chop, mix, slice, dice, shred, knead, and puree. With a 1100-watt motor (guaranteed by a 30-year warranty), the machine is an absolute powerhouse and it operates at pleasantly low decibels. If you’re seeking an appliance that can accommodate doubled (or tripled) recipes, then this 16-cup multi-bowl-mixer is as good as it gets. If you’re a newbie to the food processor scene, it might overwhelm you first, but you’ll get the hang of it.   

What makes the Magimix 5200 XL unique is that it includes three BPA-free work bowls in mini (6-cup), midi (12-cup), and main (16-cup) sizes. This design feature allowed us to whip through recipes without slowing down to clean a single bowl. Because the bowls nest inside one another, though, we found it nearly impossible not to splash or spray ingredients from the smaller bowls into the larger ones, which then required additional cleaning afterward. Nonetheless, it proved to be a helpful feature, especially for recipes that called for multiple chopped ingredients like no-bake energy protein bites. The Magimix allowed us to simultaneously pulse oats into powder, crush almonds into a creamy butter, and mash bananas to a pulp. 

An impressive feature of the Magimix is its two Sabatier stainless steel blades. The large and small S-shape blades are razor-sharp for pureeing and chopping. This model also comes with an array of additional attachments that are housed neatly in a bread box-size storage container. It comes with a dough blade, egg whip for whisking, fine grater, coarse grater, two (varying) thick slicers, as well as a dome-shaped citrus juicer attachment.  

We found the citrus juicer the most exciting addition to the food processor. It’s only compatible with the large work bowl and can only accommodate citrus fruits, but it does include a splash guard and both small and large attachments so you can work with fruits of various sizes. In our test, half of a grapefruit was juiced down to the rind in just a few seconds, and cleanup required virtually no effort save for a quick rinse of the attachment. 

If you’re into juicing, you can purchase an additional attachment that transforms the appliance into a real juicer which can handle all types of fruits and veggies. This is a great space- and time-saving option as the single appliance can do the job of two devices. 

When it comes to pitfalls, our one gripe is with the extra-wide feed tube, which claims to be ideal for larger ingredients. As the blades are very sharp, the machine won’t begin slicing until the food pusher is halfway down the chute. While this is a safety measure, of course, it forced us to precut things—like sweet potatoes—anyway, ultimately making the wider feed tube pointless. 

Design: Sizeable but chic  

Aesthetically speaking, this is an appliance you’re going to want to show off on your countertop. Because it weighs 24.5 pounds and measures 17.5 x 8 x 10 inches, we were grateful for that. This model isn’t going to tuck away easily under the average cabinet, but it does come in five chic colors including chrome, black, red, white, and cream. Visually, we found the chrome color to be an extremely versatile and attractive option.   

The Magimix also comes with a convenient storage box to house all of its attachments when not in use—and this model has a lot of attachments. The storage box has a clear, slide-to-open cover with a black base and is quite large. That said, it doesn’t fit the processor’s cover, splash guard, or food pushers. If you’re short on countertop or storage space, this might not be the best machine for you. However, if you’re looking for a 16-cup capacity appliance, then most models will be about this size regardless. One could also make the argument that the Magimix might actually save space because it has the potential to replace other appliances like a mixer or juicer.  

The plastic base and attachments are high-quality, durable plastic and depending on your culinary needs, this machine is customizable. Optional attachments include a creative kit with additional julienne discs, a juice extractor, French fry kit, veggie spiral, and graters of varying sizes. 

Ease of Cleaning: No elbow grease needed 

Cleanup is relatively easy, but the blades and discs are extremely sharp so we suggest taking extra caution when rinsing them. The grating discs can also collect food bits that are difficult to remove, so it’s wise to soak them immediately after use. According to the user manual, the work bowls are dishwasher safe, but other online reviewers have noted this can cause them to discolor. Rather than risk that, we chose to wash them by hand.  

Price: It’s definitely an investment piece   

At nearly $500, the Magimix is certainly an investment, but if you’re a seasoned cook that’s seeking a customizable machine that can handle a doubled (or even tripled) recipe, then it’s definitely worth considering.   

Competition: The battle of budgets

Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor: Breville’s food processor is another high-end, professional-grade appliance that’s almost on par with the Magimix. The 26-pound Breville boasts a 1200-watt motor compared to the 24.5-pound Magimix’s 1100-watts. Both food processors offer a 16-cup capacity and additional storage box that includes grating and slicing discs. The Breville comes with a french fry cutter whereas the Magimix version must be purchased separately. The Magimix offers a unique juicing attachment which the Breville does not.  

Their similar measurements makes them slightly larger than the average food processor and more difficult to store or fit under a cabinet. However, they are both sleek in design and pleasing to the eye. The Breville comes with a 1-year limited product warranty and a 25-year induction motor guarantee, whereas the Magimix comes with a 3-year warranty on the entire unit and a 30-year warranty on the motor. Both machines come with a high price tag in the $500 range, so the decision really comes down to which attachments you’ll get the most use out of. 

Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor with Bowl Scraper: For the average baker on a budget, the Magimix 5200 XL will be out of range, but the Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor rings in at a justifiable $45. On paper, the Hamilton Beach can’t touch the Magimix when it comes to capacity or power. Yes, the 10-cup Hamilton Beach model comes with a modest 450-watt motor, but it gets the job done even when it comes to frozen ingredients. It’s great for simple jobs like chopping, slicing and pureeing. While the Hamilton Beach model may not come with all the fancy extras, it most certainly proves to be an approachable and reliable option for first-time food processor owners. However, the more experienced chef may find it lacks capability and capacity.