Every prep cook hates five words: “Dice a bag of onions.” If you have ever diced 50lbs of onions by hand, you know the pain. The tears. The uneven cuts. The time lost.
The Nemco Easy Chopper 3 is the standard solution for high-volume manual prep. It is simple, brutal, and effective.
Like all serious prep equipment, it is NSF Listed, meaning it is designed for easy cleaning and food safety compliance. Some owners look at the $300 price tag and say, “A knife costs $20.” In this review, I will prove mathematically why the “Knife Method” is actually costing you thousands of dollars a year in wasted labor.
The Specs: Built like a Tank
- Material: Cast Aluminum Body, Stainless Steel Blades
- Cut Size: 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 1” (Interchangeable)
- Cutting Area: 4.25” Square (Fits jumbo onions)
- Origin: Made in USA
- Warranty: 2 Years
The Upgrade: “3” vs “2”
The old Nemco Easy Chopper 2 was industry standard for decades, but it had a fatal flaw.
- The Flaw: The Push Block (the plastic teeth) and the Blade Set look similar across sizes.
- The Accident: If a tired cook puts a 1/4” Push Block onto a 1/2” Blade Set, the teeth don’t align. They smash into the steel blades. CRUNCH.
- The Cost: You just destroyed a $50 push block and a $80 blade set.
The Easy Chopper 3 Solution: Color Coding.
- Red: 1/4”
- Blue: 3/8”
- Green: 1/2”
- Black: 1”
You match the Red Block to the Red Blade. You literally cannot screw it up. This feature alone makes the “3” the only choice for modern kitchens with high turnover staff.
2026 Durability Update: Nylon-Based Resin
The old black push blocks were brittle plastic. The new color blocks are Nylon-Resin.
- Benefit: They don’t shatter if you drop them.
- Safety: Zero risk of “black plastic shards” ending up in the salsa.
ROI Analysis: The Math of Labor Efficiency
Let’s do the actual commercial math. Why spend $300?
Scenario: Dicing 50lbs of Jumbo Onions (1 Bag).
- Hand Dicing (Chef Knife):
- Time: 60 minutes (Peeling + Cutting).
- Wage: $18/hr.
- Cost: $18.00 per bag.
- Risk: High (Cuts, Tears).
- Nemco Easy Chopper:
- Time: 10 minutes (Peeling + Slamming).
- Wage: $18/hr.
- Cost: $3.00 per bag.
- Risk: Low.
Savings: $15.00 per bag. Break-Even Point: 20 Bags. If you use 1 bag of onions a day, the machine is FREE after 3 weeks. After that, you are saving $450/month in pure labor.
Blade Size Guide: Which One Do You Need?
Don’t guess. If you buy the wrong size, your salsa will look like soup.
1/4” (Red)
- Use: Fine Dice.
- Best For: Pico de Gallo, Tabouli, fine onion topping for hot dogs.
- Warning: Takes the most force to push.
3/8” (Blue) - THE STANDARD
- Use: Medium Dice.
- Best For: Soup vegetables (Mirepoix), Pizza toppings, Salad bar peppers.
- Verdict: If you only buy one, buy Blue.
1/2” (Green)
- Use: Large Dice / Home Fries.
- Best For: Stews, Roast potatoes, Chunky salsa.
1” (Black)
- Use: Rough Prep.
- Best For: Breaking down veg for stock, Salad wedges.
Maintenance: The Guide Rods Rule
This machine is unkillable if you maintain it. The “Slide Mechanism” creates friction. Aluminum on Steel.
- The Secret: Food Grade Mineral Oil (Petrol-Gel).
- Daily: Smear a tiny bit of gel on the two vertical stainless steel guide rods.
- Why: If you run it dry, the aluminum slide drags. It gets stiff. The cook pushes harder. Eventually, they pull down so hard they bend the guide rods.
- The Fix: You can’t fix bent rods. You have to buy a new machine.
Cleaning Strategy: The Acid Problem
Onions and Tomatoes are acidic. If you chop tomatoes and leave the machine sitting for 4 hours, the acid eats the edge of the blade. It dulls it instantly.
The Protocol:
- Chop the veg.
- IMMEDIATELY rinse with hot water.
- Do not let onion juice dry on the blades (it becomes glue).
- Dishwasher? Yes, the blade cartridge is dishwasher safe, but hand washing keeps it sharper longer.
Troubleshooting Guide
Problem: The blade is dull.
- Can I sharpen it? No. These are razor-thin stainless tension blades. You cannot take a stone to them.
- Fix: Buy a replacement blade cartridge (~$80). It’s a consumable part, like a tire on a car. Expect to replace it once a year in high volume.
Problem: The pusher block has plastic shavings.
- Cause: The blade is bent and hitting the plastic teeth.
- Fix: Inspect the blade grid. Use a pair of pliers to gently straighten a bent blade. If it’s bad, replace it. DO NOT serve food with plastic shavings.
Problem: It slides on the table.
- Cause: Missing rubber feet.
- Fix: Buy the replacement feet ($5) or stick a damp towel underneath it for grip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I sharpen the blades on a Nemco Chopper? A: No. The stainless steel tension blades are razor thin and cannot be sharpened with a stone. You must replace the entire blade cartridge assembly.
Q: Is the Nemco Easy Chopper dishwasher safe? A: The blade cartridge is technically dishwasher safe, but hand washing is highly recommended to keep the blades sharper for longer.
Q: Why is my chopper sticking or sliding? A: You likely need to lubricate the vertical guide rods with food-grade mineral oil. If it slides on the table, you may be missing the rubber feet.
Final Verdict
It is safer than a knife. It is faster than a Robot Coupe (for dicing). It is consistent. If you serve burgers (tomatoes/onions) or tacos (salsa), the Nemco Easy Chopper 3 is a mandatory tool.
Chef Marco’s Rating: 10/10. (The Guide Rods lubrication is annoying, but necessary).