food processors anyone?
I've been meaning to buy a decent food processor, but I can't seem to really tell one from another aside from capacity and price! I think having one that is a blender and food processor (I think these exist?) would be nice for making smoothies, but considering most run between $150-$300, I am jonesing for some good advice.
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15 Comments:
I have the tiny Cuisinart...and I mean, tiny...think it has like a two-cup capacity or something...however, I love it and use it all the time for things that really need it...and my blender for liquids. I think the big old behemouths are nice to have, but expensive. I got my "mini" at Kohl's for 30 bucks or so, and the blender is a "Target special" that I know I got change from my twenty on. Cuisinart is a good brand, and my rationale was that I'd just get a small one and use it in batches, if necessary.
rosezilla at 6:35PM on 05/13/08
I have a KitchenAid and it is okay. I splurged after I finally killed my cheapie one, and thought I would be happy.
I really would prefer a Cuisinart, in hindsight. Have used both and highly prefer it.
As for blenders, I am with rosezilla, I just use the cheaper brands (I think I paid $30 for the one I have now) and they do fine. I don't use the blender that often though.
sadiepix at 7:38PM on 05/13/08
I have the 7 cup Cuisinart that was $100 on sale at Macys, it works great, I also have the small one which I love. But I must admit that if I can ifnd a really good price on the 11 or 14 cup one I would buy it.
Back to your question Cuisinart works really well and will last a long time, the 7 cup is a really good buy at $100 and is able to do most things with no problems.
Sarahrm at 7:40PM on 05/13/08
I have a Cuisinart that is a blender and a food processor. I purchased it from Costco a few years ago. As a blender it's good. Has good capacity and adequate power. Not the best ice crushing blender, but if you spin it long enough it will produce a great margarita or smoothie. The food processor attachment is small. I would guess it's about 4 cup capacity. The big negative with this model is that it is LOUD. I mean really loud. For some reason it is louder when I use the food processor attachment. I mean, you want to cover your ears, it is that loud and shrill. I also think it is pretty inefficient. It takes too long to do a simple task. I made bread crumbs the other day and my ears were ringing a quarter way through the task. I find it extremely annoying and will avoid using it, if at all possible. I am looking at full sized fp by Kitchen Aid and CuisinArt. I think I'm leaning towards the Kitchen Aid.
I keep thinking about an episode of Ina Garten's where she grated like four pounds of cheese in about a minute--they didn't even cut the camera away--they showed her grating all of the cheese. It literally took about a minute AND it was not loud at all. Her stand mixer made more noise than her fp. That's the fp that I want. I have a suspicion it might be a commercial model. I really hope it's not.
wookie at 7:42PM on 05/13/08
I've had the same 9 cup Cuisinart for the past 11 1/2 years. The motor still works like new, but the bowl is biodegrading everytime I use it.
beth1 at 8:49PM on 05/13/08
I have a 12-cup wide mouth KitchenAid (named "Choppa") that I adore and use at least 5 times a week. I make a lot of pie dough, and use it for chopping, shredding, or slicing veggies, shredding cheeses, slicing beef, making bread crumbs, pureeing soups, etc. etc. I bought it after I got my stand mixer and was surprised that I use it much more than my mixer, and it has sped up my prep time tenfold.
If I didn't have a matching stand mixer I would have chosen a Cuisinart, both that and my KA are Cooks Illustrated recommendations, those are the only two brands I was willing to buy. I also LOVE the 3-cup mini bowl mine comes with for small jobs.
I always suggest buying the largest size you can afford because you usually need the extra room, especially if you make pie or bread dough you'll need something at least 9 cups.
My sister and bro-in-law have the Cuisinart blender/mini food processor and even though she likes it ok, after seeing how well my Choppa performs she'd rather have a larger FP.
bobcatsteph3 at 9:43PM on 05/13/08
I bought a black and decker cheap one. I think 30 dollars. It works really well but food gets stuck in parts that I can't really clean
Frantic foodie at 12:24AM on 05/14/08
11 cup cuisinart for over a decade. I would buy it again. Buy extra bowl or 2. Saves time later
JerzeeTomato at 3:53AM on 05/14/08
I've had my 11 cup Cuisinart since 1983(ish). I had to send it back to Cuisinart once during that time, but I wore out the spike to perfectly round, which wouldn't turn the blade.
I know there are newer whiz-bangier models out there but I love my Cuisinart.
chiff0nade at 5:40AM on 05/14/08
I traded in my 11 cup Cuisinart 2 years ago for a 14 cup Cuisinart after my daughter got married. (I gave her my old one.) I use it all the time and wouldn't consider any other processor.
izatryt at 9:02AM on 05/14/08
@iz - I was going to do that but I have too many acccessories for my 11 cup to warrant the switch. I would love a larger capacity FP! Unless they run a sale with the 14 cup Cuis and the pasta maker, juicer, et al, I have to stick with my ol' reliable 11 cup.
chiff0nade at 9:39AM on 05/14/08
Do any of you ever find that you bought too big? or is that thsimply not possible once you have it and start using it. Also, is it hard to find accessories, like a mini bowl?
joyyy at 11:09AM on 05/14/08
I use my blender a lot. All those parts in food processors overwhelm me. I I don't mind chopping veggies by hand or cutting fat into flour for pastry with two knives.
SavtaShayna at 5:31PM on 05/14/08
I have a GE 4-speed food processor and it cost about $40. I've used it for the past five years and it's held up very well. I've also used Cuisinart and RobotCoupe machines at work, and I can honestly say that there's nothing they can do that the cheaper model can't. It's a question of how often you'll use it, really. I only use mine once a week, but it makes sense to get something with a really sturdy motor for restaruant use.
Food processors are designed to chop more than make a smooth liquid like blenders, but if you add the liquid gradually to the chunks, you can use a food processor to make a smoothie. (If you have another $20 to spend, pick up a Braun hand-held blender (also called a stick or immersion blender), which is great for smoothies, soups, hummus, and sauces.
butterface at 10:34PM on 05/14/08
I bought my 11-cup Cuisinart at Costco in 1996. It has survived four moves back and forth across the country, and its front left corner melted because its perch on the 1.5' counter was too close to the oversized gas stove in a ridiculously small kitchen. It still works like a champ, though a loud one, having made hummus, mayonnaise, and Mark Bittman's bean burgers just this week. Love my ancient Cuisinart!
piglet at 10:35PM on 05/15/08