When purchasing the best food processors for your home kitchen, you probably want an all-purpose machine. You want a durable food processor that can do more than these basic functions: slicing, mixing, and chopping.
The food processor you plan to buy should last long, should be versatile, and can process different types of food items. This article will discuss the KitchenmAid and Cuisinart mini food processor. We will also give our verdict and let you know which one of these food processors is worth buying.
Table of Contents
What are KitchenAid and Cuisinart?
KitchenAid and Cuisinart are kitchen appliance manufacturers and make some of the best food mini food processors. These two brands are one of the best kitchen appliance brands, and KitchenAid has been selling products for over a century. Cuisinart has been part of the market for over 4 decades and makes one of the most reliable kitchen products. Check out 5 Best Commercial Food Processors and 5 Best Food Processors for Vegetables.
The reputation of being solid and reliable has made both manufacturers the go-to brands for customers. Both these brands offer money-back guarantees and stand behind their products.
KitchenAid Food Processor Pros and Cons
Pros
- It comes with an extra slice system which lets the user adjust the thickness of slices
- It is equipped with an ultratight seal system to eliminate splatters and spills
- High, low speed, and pulse function
- Lighter in weight than the Cuisinart processor
- 2-in-1 feed tube enables the user to use a small or large opening
- It comes with a 3-cup and 11-cup bowl
- It comes in different sizes, colors, and configurations
Cons
- Expensive food processor
- It is tough to line up the lid, and the processor won’t start until the lid is set in place
- This processor can overheat sometimes
- It is not as powerful as the Cuisinart processor
- It feels a little plasticky
- Larger than the Cuisinart food processor
Cuisinart Food Processor Pros and Cons
Pros
- It comes with a huge feed tube
- It has a dough blade for kneading dough
- Powerful 600-watt motor
- Available in different colors, configurations, and sizes
- 3-year limited warranty
- 5-year motor mechanism warranty
Cons
- It only offers one blending speed
- The seal on the lid is ineffective and can lead to leaks
- The bowl is without a handle
KitchenAid Mini Food Processor vs. Cuisinart Comparison
Power
The Cuisinart food processor has the edge in the power department as it runs on 250 watts of electrical power. The KitchenAid food processor is not too bad either; it runs on 240 watts of power. With the Cuisinart mini food processor, you can chop or cut anything that can fit in the bowl.
However, please refrain from using the Cuisinart processor for making nut butter, but you can use the machine for kneading dough. Check out 5 Best Food Processors Under $ 100 and 5 Best Food Processors Under $ 200.
Colors and Construction
Both food processors look poorly made and feel cheap. These processors lack the robust build of full-size food processors. The only thing solid in both models is the motor base. The exterior plastic of the food processors doesn’t feel sturdy or robust. While the design is not up to the mark, all mini processors have the same construction.
As far as the color of both models is concerned, both come in various colors. However, the KitchenAid mini food processor has an extensive color range than the Cuisinart model.
Blade
The design of the blade is similar in both models. Both the blades are free spinning and drop in. Nothing is holding or latching the blades into place for the Cuisinart food processor. For the KitchenAid food processor, there is support for maintaining the sharp blade in place. The blades are fixed in the mixer to make maximum contact with the food.
When the food processors are running, you will notice that the blades are nearly coming in contact with the ground. If the blades fail to do this, the food will be unprocessed. One thing to remember for the Cuisinart processor is that the blade is prone to get damaged.
Some customers have complained that their Cuisinart food processor’s blade cracked after being used for just 12 months. You should always evaluate the blade and see if it has any cracks. If you see cracks on the blade, you should replace it immediately for safety reasons. However, the KitchenAid food processor has a sturdy blade and is not prone to damage.
Blending Speed
The KitchenAid food processor offers three blending settings: pulse, low and high. On the other hand, the Cuisinart mini food processor only offers two settings: on and pulse. The high and low speed of the KitchenAid mini food processor gives the user more control, which can influence the result of the dishes. Check out 5 Best Food Processors for Pureeing.
If you want a food processor for mixing dough or heavy-duty chopping, you should invest in the Cuisinart mini food processor. However, if you want more control, you should buy the KitchenAid model.
Size
When talking about the total capacity of both food processors, the good news is that both KitchenAid and Cuisinart produce processors with different capacities. You can easily get a 3-cup or a 14-cup processor from both brands. However, the 11-cup food processor models are the most popular and can handle foods of all types.
If you have a small family or are just cooking food for two individuals, you should invest in a 7-cup food processor. If you have a small kitchen, we recommend going for the Cuisinart food processor as it has a much smaller footprint than the KitchenAid model.
Both the food processors come with large-sized feeding tubes attached to the lid of the processor. You can put large ingredients in the food processor for chopping or shredding. However, if you require a smaller item, you should use a smaller feeding tube insert that is perfect for precision slicing.
This small feeding tube insert is compatible with mini food processors, and you can use this insert for making dips, salad dressings, sauces, or slicing food items such as vegetables and fruits.
Noise
Regarding the noise level, the Cuisinart mini food processor has the edge over the KitchenAid food processor. The Cuisinart model is much quieter than the KitchenAid model. Unfortunately, most commercial mini food processors are noisy, so if you want a processor that works silently, invest in the Cuisinart mini food processor.
Seal
One of the major drawbacks of the Cuisinart food processor is the seal, and unlike the KitchenAid food processor, this processor lacks an UlraTight seal. The UltraTight seal comes with a locking mechanism with a leak-proof ring and allows the user to fill the blender to its maximum capacity.
If you are interested in buying the Cuisinart mini food processor, you must be careful and don’t fill the blender to its maximum capacity.
How to Operate the Food Processors?
Cuisinart Mini Food Processor
If you have never operated the Cuisinart mini food processor before, it can be a little confusing for you to use the processor. For this food processor, you will need to put the bowl on top of the motor and lock the bowl in place. The blade of this machine is free-spinning, so nothing is latching onto it.
Then, you will need to lock the bowl on top of the blade. If the bowl is not properly locked in place, the machine will not operate. Once the bowl is locked in, push the speed button. The blade will do the grinding with its blunt side.
KitchenAid Mini Food Processor
The KitchenAid mini food processor works a lot like the Cuisinart model. First, you will need to lock the bowl into the motor base. Then, put the blade into the bowl and the lid on top of the bowl. Please ensure the lid is locked into place. Next, you will need to choose a setting for the processor.
On one side of the food processor is a puree and chop setting; select a setting, and then to operate the processor, depress the lid handle. The KitchenAid model has a slight edge over the Cuisinart model as it has a drizzle feature.
The drizzle feature slowly feeds the processor olive oil and enables it to make sauces or vinegrate. However, the KitchenAid food processing lid is a little annoying as it is tough to lock it into place.
What are the Two Mini Food Processors best suited for?
In terms of what ingredients and foods these processors are best suited for, these machines can tackle tasks such as slicing, grating, and chopping vegetables and fruits. These processors can also make sauces, pesto, salsa, and dips. The Cuisinart food processor can also knead the dough because it has a higher wattage than the KitchenAid model.
The Cuisinart food processor also has the edge over the KitchenAid model regarding shredding, as it is a more efficient shredder of food. The KitchenAid mini food processor is not good at shredding thick food or ingredients such as cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
Cheese can easily get trapped in the disc of the processor, making it hard for the processor to process food. However, you won’t have issues using the KitchenAid mini food processor to make an apple salad or simple coleslaw.
If you plan on using a food processor for commercial purposes, such as for a catering service or in a restaurant, you should go for the Cuisinart mini food processor.
What to Consider before buying a Food Processor?
This a question that confuses most people, but there are some factors that you should always consider before purchasing a food processor. The first factor that you need to keep in mind is the size. What size food processor do you need? To determine the size, you can think about the dishes you plan to make with the processor.’
If you have a family of four individuals, you should at least get a food processor with a 10-cup capacity. If you like to store extra food or cook large meals, you can purchase a larger food processor with a 14-cup or 16-cup capacity.
The second factor that you need to consider is the wattage. The wattages of food processors vary significantly. However, some processors, such as the Cuisinart mini food processor
, come with a powerful motor.
To purchase a food processor for basic tasks such as chopping and cutting, you should invest in a 700-watt food processor. The 700-watt food processor should be able to handle basic functions and can also knead or mix the dough.
However, no matter how powerful your food processor is, if it lacks sturdy blades, it will be incapable of processing food. Always invest in a food processor that offers many blade options and can puree food easily. Also, please check the material the blades are made of. While blades are made of different materials, stainless steel blades are the strongest.
Lastly, you should keep in mind the warranty of the food processor, especially if you have spent a lot of money buying the product. Kitchen appliances typically come with a 12-month warranty, but Cuisinart usually offers a warranty of several years for its products.
The Verdict
When deciding which product is better, things get a little complicated. It is hard to pick a winner because both the KitchenAid mini food processor and the Cuisinart food processor have pros and cons. However, in this section, we will pick one winner, and hopefully, you will invest in that food processor in the future.
However, deciding which product is better depends on your requirements. If you want a powerful food processor with a small footprint and can knead the dough, then we recommend the Cuisinart model. On the other hand, if you want to control the food processor by changing its speed settings, you should opt for the KitchenAid mini food processor.
The KitchenAid and Cuisinart food processors come with tight-fitting seals, multiple blades used for mixing, dicing, shredding, and other functions, and a plastic exterior. While the KitchenAid food processor is slightly more expensive than the Cuisinart processor, it also has a longer warranty period and a larger working bowl.
Both the food processors are available in many colors, although KitchenAid offers a much larger color range than Cuisinart. Both the food processors can handle all the tasks in the kitchen, but the Cuisinart food processor is a more efficient shredder than the KitchenAid model.
Both KitchenAid and Cuisinart mini food processors have a large and wide feed tube to accommodate large vegetables such as potatoes and onions. The food processors also come with three pushers with the feeding tube (Medium, small and large).
Both food processors have storage cases that you can use to store accessories. You can use both food processors for cooking healthy meals for yourself or your family at home. However, the main deciding factor is capacity, and the KitchenAid mini food processor has the edge in that department.
While the Cuisinart processor has a small footprint and is a bit more efficient than the KitchenAid processor, it lacks a good capacity, and you cannot use it for cooking food for an entire family. You can use the KitchenAid mini food processor for cooking food for 4 to 5 individuals, giving this food processor the edge.
Sources
- Kitchen Accessory Buying Guides
- Kitchen Appliance Buying Guides
- Kitchen Cookbook Buying Guides
- Kitchen Cookware Buying Guides
- Kitchen Pantry Food Buying Guides
- Does Food Go Bad Articles
- Food Comparison Articles
- Foods That Start With Letter Articles
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