Food Processor Strategies For The Entrepreneurially Challenged

Assessing Cuisinart and KitchenAid Food Processors



Cuisinart and KitchenAid are the reigning brands in the food processor category, and for good reasons.
Both product lines are powerful, well-designed and backed by strong, well-established business names.
But if you're shopping for a food processor, how do you decide which brand to choose?
Side-By-Side Comparison: Cuisinart and KitchenAid Food Processors
To help you make a more informed decision, here's a side-by-side contrast of the two most similar
Models, Cuisinart's Prep 11 Plus 11-cup Food Processor (Model DLC-2011RN) and KitchenAid's 11-Cup


Design and Colors
Both machines are fairly similar in size and basic layout, while certain user-friendly features are the
cumulation of improvements on previous models.
Cuisinart's machine a wide mouth feed tube, while KitchenAid Provides a 3-in-1 feed tube that can
accommodate both large and narrow ingredients with a pusher.
Off, on, pulse, and dough choices. Both touchpad
Control panels are easy to wipe clean.


3/4 inches high.
The KitchenAid comes in silver, black, white, and red. The Cuisinart comes in brushed stainless only.
Features and Accessories
When it comes to features, KitchenAid has an edge, mainly due to its cool ExactSlice system, which
Allows you to use your food processor as a mandoline slicer.
An external lever adjusts the slicing blade from thin to thick. The KitchenAid model also includes a
Separate 3-cup work bowl and blade so that you can use it like a mini grinder or chopper. It comes with a
reversible shredding disk, the adjustable slicing disk for the ExactSlice feature, a dough hook, and a
storage case.
KitchenAid has designed its work bowl and lid with a special seal, allowing the cook to fill the food
processor to capacity without the threat of ingredients leaking out.
Cuisinart's Prep 11 Plus, meanwhile, comes with a shredding disc and a medium, 4mm slicing disc, as
well as a chopping/mixing blade, small and large pushers and a spatula. It does not come with a separate
Dough blade, although the regular blade may be used to make dough.
Warranty
If a warranty is important to you, you'll probably appreciate Cuisinart's generous limited 3-year warranty
On the whole unit and its 10-year motor warranty. KitchenAid, meanwhile, offers its Hassle-Free
Replacement Warranty, which guarantees it will replace a faulty item for one year after purchase.
The Bottom Line
KitchenAid's additional features, like the 3-cup work bowl and the slicing system, as well as its handy
Accessory storage case give it an edge, though it's a little more expensive. But those who love to
make doughs might be better served with Cuisinart's version.