Food Processors: Reviews

Reviewers say the Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus DLC-2011CHB performs very well at chopping, slicing, shredding, kneading and pureeing. Design features, including rounded edges and a smooth touchpad, make cleanup easier, users… expandsay. Critics also say the Cuisinart food processor is versatile, thanks to functions like a continuous-on button, a pulse button and a dough setting, while it's 11-cup capacity can handle big jobs. The Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus has a brushed chrome finish; last year's white version (which was less expensive) has been discontinued but might still be available in some stores. Cuisinart's 10-year warranty on the motor and limited three-year warranty on the unit surpasses that of other manufacturers. collapse

For smaller families (or smaller budgets), experts praise the 7-cup KitchenAid KFP715, a more compact food processor. Professional reviewers rave that it's quiet, and one says it has enough oomph to slice hard sausage… expandlike salami and pepperoni, though it does encounter some performance issues when kneading dough. While most owners agree it is a workhorse, some say they wish this food processor had more than two blades for tasks other than chopping and slicing. This compact food processor has two speeds -- continuous and pulse -- and is available in white, black or red. KitchenAid backs it with a one-year warranty. collapse

If you don't want to invest much in a food processor, your choice gets tricky. Some inexpensive models get terrible reviews. An exception in this price class is the 14-cup Hamilton Beach Big Mouth 14 Cup food processor.… expandIt works just as well as pricier models in tests -- grating, shredding, chopping, slicing and pureeing -- and its 14-cup capacity makes it roomier than most. The wide feed tube makes it easy to load whole veggies. The Hamilton Beach food processor comes with a chopping blade and reversible slicing/shredding disc. There's no dough blade, though, and the one-year warranty is paltry compared to the Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus DLC-2011CHB (*Est. $165). The Hamilton Beach Big Mouth food processor comes in white (model number 70570) and black (model number 70573). collapse

If you only need to slice and dice small amounts of food, a mini chopper may be all you really need. Bon Appétit magazine picks the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus DLC-2A as its favorite mini chopper, and two other top sources… expandconfirm that it does a good job chopping, pureeing and grating in tests. Like other mini choppers, the Cuisinart Mini-Prep has a 3-cup capacity and a single blade, which reviewers say make it perfect for quick little jobs like mincing garlic. Cuisinart covers it with an 18-month warranty -- longer than the typical one-year warranties offered by other brands. collapse