I'm a big fan of Cuisinart and just retired my 20-year old, 7-cup for a 14-cup. I like the simplicity of the paddle.

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-DLC-10S-Classic-7-Cup-Processor/dp/B00004S9EM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450214787&sr=8-1&keywords=cuisinart+food+processor+7+cup

I've heard a lot of negatives about the Cuisinart 7 cup. It can leak and is quite flimsy and breaks easily. Maybe they've changed the way it was made over the years. I've heard Cuisinart isn't as good as it once was. Not the worst, but not the best unfortunately. :(

Except for the 14 cup, which seems to be really good, but too big for my needs.

I love both my Cuisinart's. I have the 7 cup in NY and the 14 cup in FL

Do you find any negatives for the 7 cup? Anything it can't do well? Do you find it durable?

Anyone else have another one that is good?

I just got this Cuisinart 14 cup. I've only used it once...worked great. I got it on Amazon. Free shipping.

Williams Sonoma has the Cuisinart 8 cup on sale for $99.95, but I couldn't tell you of its durability, etc , along with the others they have on sale.

I just got my 11 cup??? I think that's the size. I really like it. it's a cuisinart as well.

I'm really looking for something smaller since I will mostly use it for just myself, my husband and daughter. I've heard anything bigger doesn't do good with small batches and if I ever need to make more of something, I can do more than one batch.

It seems like every medium size(7-9) I've looked at, in all different brands, have things not good about them. I know I'm not going to find one that everyone likes, but I'd like to find one that seems to be quite good and is quite durable and easy to clean.

They've probably all changed over the years, so one from 15-20 yrs ago is probably better made than any of the newer ones(just like major appliances that used to last forever and now last 5-10yrs if you're lucky), so suggesting one that you've had for 20 yrs probably won't help.

If you have one that you've had for no more than a couple years and you really like it, please let me know. Thanks!

Correction- I had the 11 cup Cuisinart paddle lever model. I cook for 2 and would not go smaller. Bigger models can handle small batches, not vice versa.

There are many being sold used on Ebay and I think it's a grand machine.

I'm with you on wanting a smaller one. I don't keep mine out since I use it infrequently, and I don't take it out often because its so big and unwieldy. (Mine is a KA 14 cup, that I got for free, and that works great, but I still would like a smaller more convenient size, so I'm interested in the answers you get).

I have a 3 cup chopper that I use quite often which works pretty well for chopping, although instead of chopping, it actually dices, which is ok for veggies, but it shreds chicken rather than chopping it. I'll still use the chopper a lot since it's easy to use and very simple to wash the bowl, blade and cover, but I'm looking for something a bit bigger that does more(chop, slice, shred, mix, puree).

I've been looking for one, as well, Kathy. I have a 3 cup Cuisinart, but could use something bigger. I don't really think I want to go full size, since it will live in a cupboard the majority of the time.

Anyone have any experience with the 8 cup Elemental, also by Cuisinart? It's $99.93 on Amazon.

I researched medium food processors recently, to tell DH which one to get me for my birthday. (I know, I know, the romance of it!) I decided on the Prep Plus 9 cup Cuisinart. I found mostly good reviews on it, and I've loved it. It's big enough to make three piecrusts at once. I had never had one, and I'm enjoying thinking up uses for it.

Anyone have a smaller KA food processor or any other brand other than Cuisinart that you really like? I will never make dough in it and don't want to spend a lot.

I was eying some of the more expensive processors, but in the end, decided to take stock of how I REALLY would be using the thing...decided I really just needed it to slice or chop raw vegetables and purée soups.

I ended up buying a very inexpensive processor (my son has the same one and has been happy with it.) a few months ago and I like it. It does everything I need it to do.

It's an 8 cup model by Hamilton Beech with one slicer/ grater blade and a chopper blade. It cost $40 (CDN) at Canadian Tire. I figure if I ever need something better, I'm not out much money.

it has suction cups to secure it to your tabletop...works great...no "walking". It is a little noisy, but I figure it's only for a few seconds so I can put up with that.

I really think you need an 11 cup. I've had my Cuisinart since 1980 and have cooked for three and now two with it. I don't make bread and batters in it, but shredding cheese, pureeing soups and applesauce, and mixing a small meatloaf fills up the work bowl. It may do a better job of chopping when the ingredients can move around the bowl.

I have never liked slicing and dicing with it. It's a lot of clean-up when a knife works just as well, if not better. Do you have a good chef's knife and know how to hold it properly for chopping? I see people chopping with paring and boning knives. Or slicing veggies into cubes instead of chopping because of improper technique.

I have a KA 12 cup with a 4-cup mini bowl attachment (KFP 750.) I don't think they make it any more. Honestly though, even for 1 person, I wouldn't want anything smaller. The 12 cup, at times, is too small.

I saw the 9 cup KA at the store yesterday. That's more than big enough. With so many bad reviews on the KA and the Cuisinart, I don't know which is actually better. I'm also questioning since there are quite a few negative reviews on each, if it's a FP that I really need. I'd like something that chops well without turning things into mush, slices well, shreds and purees. Mostly for slicing and chopping veggies and potatoes, shredding cheese(or maybe veggies) and pureeing avocado etc. to get it smooth without any lumps. Whether it's one good machine that does all of that or more than one "gadget". I just want to be able to do things quickly and not by hand if possible and that whatever I use works well and is easy to clean.

Should I still go with a food processor or ??????

Gee, the chunks are the best part of guacamole. :)

I would stick with Cuisinart. They've been in the food processor business since the 1970s. Their motor has a 10 year warranty and three years on the rest of the unit--KA has one year. I don't know what the KA discs look like, but Cuisinart's always seemed more heavy-duty than the competition's.

The cooking forum would be a good place to ask about other gadgets and machines for different tasks.

I had a KA before my Cuisinarts and notice I said I HAD a KA. ;) I'm an infrequent user of my FP and I found it just didn't hold up well.

Like I said, I have the older model KA. It's a great machine, and for a long time it held the top reviews from both Amer. Test Kitchen and Consumer Reports. The discs on mine are very good.

However, I have not seen the new KA's, and during their last test (about a year, or so, ago,) Amer. Test Kitchen chose the Cuisinart. I'm not sure though what size they tested. The thing about the small and medium ones, is that the work bowl can look big enough, but when you blend liquids or sauces (even something thick like a Tahini) the hole in the middle, where you put the blade, is only 2" - 3" deep. It leaks and makes a mess.

Just the other day I made coleslaw and the 12 cup bowl got full just from shredding a just-over-medium size head of cabbage. If finances are the issue, well, don't let me persuade you, I know what that's like. But if you are just looking at them and saying: "I don't need that..." Don't be surprised that, if you buy the larger model, some day soon you say... "I'm glad I bought that!"

If size is an issue then look for a "continuous flow" model this chops/slices and then puts the chopped sliced food into your bowl at the side of the machine. They usually come with two interchangeable tops, one that is a bowl and one that flows the food to your bowl. Be sure to read the reviews some work better than others.

My Cuisinart's shaft is only 1 3/4" tall and I've had slight leaking on very rare occasions. So maybe the Cuisinart blade seals better than the KA's.

Have you ever used either a 9 cup or an 11 cup FP?

Hi Mayflowers, I brought up the depth of the center post, so I suppose you are asking if I've ever used the medium size bowls? Nope. I wouldn't want a smaller size. I see no benefit. As I said above, I have the 12 cup bowl and a 4 cup bowl in the same appliance. If anything, I wouldn't mind having the 14 cup Cuisinart. Is there a 16 cup? Lol.

Mine does an excellent job with medium and larger amounts. So, why have the smaller one? The 12 cup is quite flexible (I suppose the same for a larger size.) Besides, I rarely to NEVER cook for one meal. Whatever I make, I make enough to last a few days to a week. I cook for both my granddad and myself. Although, some of what I make in the food processor he won't eat.

The center post on mine is longer than yours (2"). I've learned to fill with liquids just so far. Now though, I have a blender (which I didn't have for a long time,) so I don't have to put many liquids in the processor anymore.

I do find the concept of the continuous flow that Practigal mentions very intriguing.

Those are the shooter models I think. I don't know anything about them.

I was actually asking Kathy if she had used a larger FP. You really can't go by how big the bowl looks because the contents don't stay all neat and tidy on the bottom.

Watch a few YouTube videos to see how much the models hold. I noticed that the blades and discs of the Cuisinart are exactly the same as my 1980 model, so they must believe in not messing with perfection.

I've never used any FP, just my 3 cup chopper, which I really like.

Never owned a food processor, and seem to have gotten along just fine prepping without one for over 40 years.

Call me old school, but here's my medium sized food processor... ;)

What about getting things like avocado really smooth with no lumps?

You can use an immersion blender. You can puree right in the pot or container. I haven't used one, but this blog says you can make peanut butter with them, so you should be able to chop nuts.

http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-immersion-blender/

For nuts, I use a wooden bowl and my mother's old Kwik-Kut chopper. It must be 50 years old and they are still making them, in the USA! Also great for making egg salad.

kwik-kut.com

Both of these are easier clean-up than a food processor, as is cookncarpenter's FP, which I own the exact model of!

I agree with mayflowers

"Gee, the chunks are the best part of guacamole. :)"

Personally, I don't like my avocado taken to a puree, a spoon and bowl get it to the right consistency for me...

I don't have a food processor per se, but a chopper with a 3.5 cup bowl. It sounds like what you are looking for -- although there are times that I have to run two batches to finish the proper quantity. Mine isn't made anymore (Lil Oskar) so I can't recommend a brand, but there are several on the market that look similar. Search Amazon for "mini-prep" and "chopper". Cusinart, KA and Hamilton-Beach all seem to have predominantly positive reviews there. Ninja is making a chopper that has gotten some good reviews also. I think on any brand you will find some that seemed to break early or don't work as expected.