What is your choice for an easy to use food processor?

[jean]

One of our kids wants to buy one. It'll be her first small appliance purchase. She thought she'd go with either a blender or food processor, but the processor holds more intrigue and offers more possibilities.

Thanks!
:hi:

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Honestly, they all work pretty much the same way

The differences between brands is more about racing stripes and chrome exhaust pipes than any real substance. I am sure we all have our personal favorites, but in the end, there's little difference.

Cuisinart is the inventor of the food processor - originally for commercial use only. Their home machines are first rate. But so are the offerings from others .... Kitchenaid, for one, comes to mind, but there are many others that are also of excellent quality.

So what are the differences?

Essentially, they differ in size (capacity) and in accessories. Some of the lower cost full size models use a fixed blade. The more costly models use interchangeable blades, resulting in more cutting functions.

I have two Cuisinarts - a small one and a full sized one. The model numbers don't matter any more as both are old enough that the model numbers have been discontinued.

I would also advise against buying the mini models as a first purchase. They are made very specifically for small quantity work and first time users want to be able to at least try 'doing it all'. So buy one that is more capable. A big one can do 99% of what the small one can do, but the small one can do no more than 25% of what the big one can do.

There are a myriad of choices out there, but just study the capabilities. Maybe go to a place that sells them and compare side by side. If you're not familiar with them, I woujld absolutely advise you see them in the flesh. You might later decide to buy online, but don't do it untiul you get to touch and feel them in person first.

[jean]

4. great overview, thanks so much!

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

2. I don't even own a blender.

I use an immersible, hand-held one.

I love my Cuisinart & would be lost without it.

I don't know if owning the brand name is really important; they all work about the same. I owned a Sears knock-off for a few years. When I accidentally melted the work bowl & went to get another I found out Sears didn't make it anymore which made the entire thing worthless. So I got a Cuisinart. I've had it for so many years the model is discontinued, but Cuisinart made it for waay longer than Sears. So, I guess I'm saying to look for a brand that has been making the same one for a long time that way she can hopefully find replacement parts if she needs to or buy all the cool accessories if she wants to down the road.

best

[jean]

5. another long-lived Cuisinart? Sounds like we should look at them - thanks!

[NMDemDist2]

3. i have a little 4 cup FP from Black and Decker that is at least 10 years

old and it still does just fine.

I had a big Cuisinart (12 cup I think) that the ex got and I really don't miss it. the small one works fine for the two of us.

[jean]

6. thanks - she'll be using for for, probably, four people - the big one

might be what she ends up with.

[wildeyed]

7. Love my KitchenAid food processor.

It has a small bowl that fits inside the big bowl for small jobs like chopping herbs, plus all the full sized accessory blades. If it broke, I would purchase another. I like it better than my mother's Cuisinart, which I have used, too.

[fortyfeetunder]

8. Another Cuisinart user

I think my little DLC-11 is 15 years old. Reliable and fun to play with!