Prime decide
This straightforward, sturdy meals processor comes with the whole lot you want and nothing you don’t. And it dices, slices, and kneads persistently and effectively.
The Cuisinart Customized 14-Cup Meals Processor has been our high decide since 2013 as a result of it does the whole lot a fantastic meals processor ought to do, with none pointless extras. With one blade, one grating disk, and one slicing disk, this processor excelled at practically each chopping and shredding process we tried. And it labored in addition to or higher than pricey machines with extra attachments.
In contrast to the bases of another fashions we examined, the Customized 14-Cup’s base remained steady on the counter—even whereas the machine was processing double batches of dough. This mannequin is simple to wash, and the attachments retailer neatly contained in the bowl, stopping muddle.
In our exams, the Customized 14-Cup chopped, shredded, and emulsified the whole lot successfully. It dealt with juicy tomatoes with ease, and the grating disk shredded delicate mozzarella cheese with out getting gummed up. We additionally made a firmer, extra steady mayonnaise within the Customized 14-Cup than in some other full-size mannequin we examined.
It has a robust motor and a heavy base. At roughly 18 kilos with the bowl on, the Customized 14-Cup stays steady throughout use. Although its 750-watt motor is much less highly effective than the motors of another fashions we examined—together with the 1,450-watt Breville Sous Chef 16 (our improve decide)—that didn’t negatively have an effect on the Customized 14-Cup’s efficiency. Making pizza dough was our most motor-intensive check, and the Customized 14-Cup kneaded it effortlessly, with out wiggling throughout the counter, as another processors we tried did.
Although highly effective, the motor in all fairness quiet. Whereas it was working, this meals processor emitted a deep, low rumble measured at 75 decibels (a bit above the vary of regular dialog, and a superb 15 to 25 decibels under our different picks). This was only a baseline quantity—some substances, like almonds, are louder to cut than others.
We additionally recognize the massive, 14-cup work bowl. It provides numerous room for grating cheese or shredding large batches of coleslaw substances.
We proceed to be received over by the machine’s simplicity. At first the Customized 14-Cup appeared form of puny subsequent to different fashions, which boasted nesting bowls, taller bases, and large bins of attachments. However after years of utilizing it in our check kitchen and our houses, we persistently recognize this machine’s less-is-more design.
We love that it has only one bowl and two working buttons: pulse and on. This mannequin additionally comes with solely probably the most helpful attachments: a chrome steel chopping blade and two disks (one for shredding and one for slicing).
Earlier variations of the Customized 14-Cup included a dough blade, and you may nonetheless buy one via the Cuisinart web site. However we discover dough blades to be pointless, and we’ve efficiently ready dough utilizing common chopping blades for years.
The work bowl was one of many best to wash. All through testing, we cleaned every bowl after each ingredient we processed—so we had been achingly aware of the gunk that may get trapped in more-complicated lids. And we discovered that the Customized 14-Cup’s bowl was simpler to wash than these of a lot of the different fashions we examined.
We additionally recognize the bowl’s hole deal with, which doesn’t entice meals particles and moisture as a lot because the Breville Sous Chef 16 bowl’s enclosed deal with.
With some cautious layering, you may retailer the entire blades and disks within the work bowl. This protects you a little bit of space for storing, and it’ll hold you from gouging your hand on a unfastened blade saved in a drawer. Against this, the Breville 16-Cup Sous Chef comes with a plethora of disks and equipment, which require extra space for storing.
The machine is comparatively compact and form of cute. At solely 15 inches tall, the Customized 14-Cup ought to match underneath most cabinets. We like its barely retro, modern design, and the bottom additionally is available in a number of colours (every of which has a distinct mannequin quantity).
The three-year guarantee is fairly good, although not the longest we’ve seen. And Cuisinart’s meals processors have a strong fame for total sturdiness—anecdotally, we all know of some which have lasted for many years. You can too purchase varied substitute components on Cuisinart’s web site.
How the Cuisinart Customized 14-Cup Meals Processor has held up
We’ve been long-term testing the Cuisinart Customized 14-Cup since 2013, and it stays a workhorse within the kitchen. Yr after 12 months, we’ve chopped slaws and nuts, grated cheese, blended dips, and kneaded pizza dough in it—and it continues to work properly. The bowl doesn’t leak, and the machine’s controls are precisely what you want. The bowl has scratched a bit, since we’ve saved the sharp blades inside it, however in any other case it seems to be like new. We’ve discovered that cleansing underneath the on/off buttons is barely annoying, however the process is simpler for those who use a moist sponge or paper towel.
One Wirecutter staffer—who was initially skeptical of this machine’s massive, 14-cup bowl capability—has stated that thus far their Cuisinart 14-Cup hasn’t been too small or too massive for any preparations. One other staffer—who admitted to being slightly tough on her machine—changed her Cuisinart 14-Cup with a brand new one after 11 years of use. In the meantime, kitchen group senior editor Marguerite Preston nonetheless makes use of a decades-old Cuisinart Customized 14-Cup that she inherited from her dad and mom.
Flaws however not dealbreakers
It dices delicate substances much less persistently. It took the Customized 14-Cup longer than our improve decide to get a advantageous parsley cube, and some massive items of parsley remained. And reasonably than shredding delicate mozzarella, which our improve decide managed to do, the Customized 14-Cup floor it up. This machine does work advantageous on tougher cheeses, although, and even with delicate mozzarella, the blades didn’t get gummed up.
The lid locks with the feed tube within the again. We learn a couple of evaluations by individuals who disliked this quirk (on most fashions, the feed tube is positioned within the entrance, the place it’s simpler to achieve). However we really assume it’s simpler to see the substances within the bowl when the feed tube is positioned at the back of the lid.
The slicing disk isn’t adjustable. The Cuisinart Core Customized 13-Cup’s and the Breville Sous Chef 16’s slicing disks have a number of settings, much like a mandoline. Nevertheless, if you’d like further slicing disks for the Customized 14-Cup, you should purchase them via the Cuisinart web site. The included slicing disk makes roughly 5-millimeter slices, which is okay for many duties. However to make potato chips, you’ll most likely need the 2-millimeter slicing disk.
It doesn’t embody a storage case for its attachments. For those who don’t wish to retailer the attachments within the bowl, and you’ve got further room in your kitchen, you could wish to buy a separate storage case.
