Cuisinart vs Kitchen Aid Food Processors?

[pharmarepgirl]

II am in the market for a new FP. just searched the threads was wondering if there were any new recs on these 2 brands. I think the latest thread I found was from 2006. I know both are solid brands but I was curious to see if there was anything new/else that I should consider.

[Jazzmatazz49]

I'll be watching this thread, as I've finally decided I have to have a food processor. I don't have that much counter space and will have to store it and drag it out when I need it, but after making a dozen batches of pesto in my blender, I've finally made the decision. I hope I will use it for a lot more than pesto!

[Lrimerman]

I have to say, I was at a cooking class Friday night and they used a Viking. It was really nice looking and has a mini prep bowl attachement so if you are just processing something small it doesn't dirty the whole bowl, it just fits on top while the big bowl is still on. It was way cool.

They sell it too and it was $300 but came with the juicer and egg beater attachements as well.

I am considering that when I finally spring for a new one. I might be able to find it cheaper online, I didn't look.

Lisa

[heavy hedonist]

If you have a KA stand mixer, you should look into the attachments to se if one of them doesn't fit your FP-ing needs, depending on how you use yours.
They have so many things to make the same appliance work harder. I intend to utilize that option to cut down on appliance storage problems!

[golden1225]

I have to say, I was at a cooking class Friday night and they used a Viking.

I volunteer as a Kitchen Assistant at a local cooking store/school, and all of the appliances are Viking. I like the Viking FP for most jobs, but my one complaint is with the shredding/slicing disc. There is too much space between its edge and the bowl, so you waste a lot of food. When shredding cheese there are big chunks left over that you have to either manually shred or chop up. I don't know how well the other brands handle this, but I'd definitely check out the space with that disc in place on those models.

:):)

[TravelingJ]

I went with Cuisinart because I didn't know any better. I've had it for over a year (I think) and it has served me very well! I have to use it whenever I make something that calls for a blender, and it does well (mixed drinks in a food processor gets you some REALLY weird looks).

I do use mine often for shredding. Any time I've needed large amounts of shredded cheese, or carrots, I have tried it-and had very minimal waste. We usually buy the baby carrots so we can snack on what isn't shredded, and there might be 2-3 half carrots that don't make it through.

When I was looking at them, I picked this model due to the size of the chute on top, so it would minimize how much I had to cut things down to fit!

[MaryH]

When my Kitchen Aid broke over the holidays I looked at both brands but ended up with another KA. I don't like the design on the Cuisinart as much as the KA. My previous KA had lasted at least 10 years or so and the current one is just as good. I also wanted KA because I did NOT want a 12 cup, I only need a 6-7 cup machine and the Cuisinart went from the mini prep (i.e. 1-2 cup) stright up to a full size 12 cup machine with nothing in between. Finally, as far as pricing went I thought the KA was the better deal.

[Hammster]

Mary, I'm not sure where you looked but Cuisinart makes inbetween sizes as well.

We have this 7 cup Cuisinart FP (http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-DLC-5-7-Cup-Capacity-Processor/dp/B00004YNX8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1214143666&sr=8-5)and are very happy with it.

Powerful, quiet motor. Very simple without a lot of interlocks. We also have the Cuisinart mini-prep FP that we have had for a jillion years and it just keeps on cranking away. So I expect similar life from the 7 qt.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411PZ4R4QHL._AA280_.jpg

[kathyann]

I have this KA 7 cup model with the mini-bowl incorporated, and I just love it! I had previously had a full size KA processor, and separate mini-chopper that I almost never used. I find with the mini bowl right there as part of the machine, I use it much more for dips and small preps, and I find the 7 cup size on the large bowl is more than sufficient for most anything else I'm making, since there are just 2 of us. One thing I love about the KA FPs is the rounded design and sealed buttons on the body makes it very easy to keep clean.
http://www.kitchenaid.com/assets/images/product/LargeView/kfp720er-largeview.jpg

[Jazzmatazz49]

They sell it too and it was $300 but came with the juicer and egg beater attachements as well.

Lisa

I saw a Viking online for $250, so you might want to shop around if you decide on it.

[dreamer101]

I haven't had a food processor for years except for a tiny one. I needed to make my Weight Watchers 1 point chili and didn't want to spend hours chopping so I went out and got a cheaper brand. It was on sale too. Regular it was $49.99 and on sale for $29.97. It works great. I didn't feel the need for spending hundred of dollars. The one I got was a Hamilton Beach (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B00004X12X/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=284507&s=kitchen). It does all the chopping, slicing, grating etc. No losing attachments as they all store in same bowl. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CVBD3CG4L._SS400_.jpg

[MaryH]

I have this KA 7 cup model with the mini-bowl incorporated, and I just love it! I had previously had a full size KA processor, and separate mini-chopper that I almost never used. I find with the mini bowl right there as part of the machine, I use it much more for dips and small preps, and I find the 7 cup size on the large bowl is more than sufficient for most anything else I'm making, since there are just 2 of us. One thing I love about the KA FPs is the rounded design and sealed buttons on the body makes it very easy to keep clean.
http://www.kitchenaid.com/assets/images/product/LargeView/kfp720er-largeview.jpg

Hammster,

Thanks for that info. I can't remember if I didn't like the design or the price on the Cuisinart but obviously they do have the middle size one.

This is the one I have but in cobalt blue. I also much prefer the buttons on it to the levers on the Cuisinart. The only other thing I remember being different was the warranty - one of them - and I think its the KA - only has a one year warranty on the motor. The other brand - the Cuisinart ? - has a much longer warranty.

[funniegrrl]

I have a Cuisinart that is virtually identical to the one Hammster posted. I bought it around 1983. The bowl developed a crack about 10 years ago that would experience some leakage with very liquid mixtures, so I bought a new bowl. Other than that, it works as well today as it did the day I bought it, and I still use the cracked bowl for things like breadcrumbs, nuts, etc.

[Sugarbetty]

I just bought a KA. I love it. It is so quiet and I keep it on my counter now because I keep finding new uses for it. I actually use it far more than I thought I would. I looked up what Cook's Illustrated said on Food processors and I copied it below.


Updated: September, 2005
The winning food processor from our November/December 2004 test, the KitchenAid Professional 670 (model KFP670, $279.99), has been discontinued. In its place are two larger models--and they cost less. We brought them into the kitchen for a test run. Both the 12-Cup Ultra Wide Mouth Food Processor (model KTA KFP760, $229.95) and the 12-Cup Food Processor (model KTA KFP750, $199.95) performed as well as our discontinued winner--and better than our original runners-up--in core tasks such as chopping, pureeing, and making pie and bread dough. The difference came down to the size of the feed tube. Ironically, the larger tube (that is, the Ultra Wide Mouth) was more limiting in terms of what we could process, thanks to the safety interlock system, a plastic "pusher" that guides the food down the tube and activates the power switch. For example, a large russet potato will fit into the large tube but must be laid on its side for the pusher to engage the slicer. Not a deal breaker, but the regular-size feed tube on the regular 12-Cup Food Processor (which is 2 inches by 3 inches) doesn't have that nagging safety feature; what's more, it costs less.

1.
KitchenAid
Professional 670, KFP670WH
PRICE: $279.99
BOWL CAPACITY: 11 cups
BASE WEIGHT: 12 lb 1 oz

The prep whiz: chopped and sliced as cleanly and evenly as a carefully wielded knife—and a lot faster. Comes with a mini-bowl attachment that makes quick work of parsley; bigger bowls in other models beat parsley into a sorry, bruised state. Leaked slightly during the puree test.

2.
Cuisinart Pro Custom 11, DLC-8S
PRICE: $159.99
BOWL CAPACITY: 11 cups
BASE WEIGHT: 10 lb 9 oz

The prep whiz: chopped and sliced as cleanly and evenly as a carefully wielded knife—and a lot faster. Comes with a mini-bowl attachment that makes quick work of parsley; bigger bowls in other models beat parsley into a sorry, bruised state. Leaked slightly during the puree test.
The original Cuisinart has changed little since its 1973 debut, but it handled every test (except bread dough) just as well as the newer, more expensive Cuisinart. In fact, it was better than the newer Cuisinart at grating and slicing and making pie dough. The feed tube design is “a pain.”

3.
Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus, DLC-2011
PRICE: $199.99
BOWL CAPACITY: 11 cups
BASE WEIGHT: 11 lb 3 oz

This redesigned Cuisinart has some nice new features. The ultimate machine for bread: Under a heavy load of dough, it purred like a Mercedes. Fruit and vegetable processing was less than perfect, however. Testers weren’t wild about the feed tube design on either this or the Pro Custom model, although they are the widest on the market.

[HealthyinMN]

We bought a Kitchen Aid 11 cup a few years ago and still love it - it does have that extra small bowl that slips inside the big one for when you only need to do a little bit of chopping.

I don't think you could go wrong with either KA or Cuisinart though.

[JanetB]

I love my KA 12 cup - it took me ages to actually give in and get one - but I love it - and I have to admit that I use it constantly. It gets so much use that it lives on the counter.

We have a mini bowl attachment - that I have to admit I never use.

[Home Chef]

I have a 12 cup KA and I love it. Mine also has a 10 cup insert bowl and a 4 cup insert bowl. I love that they all fit together and it is much sturdier than the Cuisinarts I've had in the past.
Easy to use and easy to clean and I have all the sizes I need in one. I never used a mini chopper, I had one once, but I do use this 4 cup bowl.

[pharmarepgirl]

I just bought my new 9 cup KA food processor today! I had a 20% coupon at BBB plus $100 GF so it only cost me about $46. Tonight I am going to make pesto and hummus and... YEAH!
Thanks for all the recommendations/thoughts.

[Alleycat]

I got this Cuisnart 11-cup for Mother's Day last year (my 7 cup one burned out a week before Mother's Day -- perfect!). I love it. Got it with a 20% off coupon at BBB. It has the buttons instead of the lever, which I like. I looked at the KAs, but thought the chute looked smaller than the Cuisinart.