Cuisinart Elite Collection 4-Cup Chopper/Grinder

by Cuisinart

• 4-cup chopper/grinder with simple touchpad control panel
• Auto-reversing SmartPower blade provides sharp edge and blunt edge
• BladeLock system keeps blade securely in place for safety.The blade needs to be pushed in and the lid should be locked properly for the item to turn on.
• Spatula and recipe/instruction book included; dishwasher-safe parts
• Measures 5-4/5 by 6-1/2 by 9-1/5 inches; limited 18-month warranty

Product Details

View the Product Manual [PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 6.5 x 9.2 inches ; 3.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B002IA0PH8
• Item model number: CH-4DC
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,400 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #31 in Kitchen & Dining > Small Appliances > Food Processors

Product Description

Color: Die Cast

More convenient than ever, the Cuisinart Elite collection 4-cup chopper/grinder effortlessly handles a variety of food preparation tasks such as chopping, grinding and pureeing. The smartpower blade has a patented auto-reversing ability with a sharp edge for delicate chopping and pureeing soft foods, while the blunt edge grinds through spices and harder foods. Additionally, the revolutionary bladelock system feature keeps the blade secure during processing and pouring. Small enough to keep on the counter, the 4-cup work bowl is the ideal size for many food prep tasks. The handle, touchpad controls, and dishwasher safe parts make it even more convenient to operate and clean. It's cutting-edge food prep from Cuisinart.

From the Manufacturer

In 1973, Cuisinart expanded the potential of every American kitchen with the introduction of the food processor. Now, the folks who revolutionized the way you cook are back with a collection that takes power and innovation to the next level.

	The Cuisinart Elite Chopper/Grinder handles a variety of food preparation tasks, such as chopping, grinding, pureeing, emulsifying, and blending. The 4 cup capacity holds enough ingredients to perform all your basic food prep tasks. The patented SmartPower auto-reversing blade features an incredibly sharp edge for delicate chopping and pureeing soft foods. The reverse edge is blunt, to grind through spices and harder foods. And the exclusive BladeLock System enables the blade to lock into the bowl, so you can now pour ingredients out of the bowl without first having to remove the blade. The powerful high-speed motor works hard and fast to accomplish small jobs with ease. Chop herbs, onions or garlic; grind spices or hard cheese; puree baby foods; blend homemade mayo and flavored butter -- all in one compact machine that is small enough to keep on the counter. You have virtually unlimited options with the Cuisinart Elite Collection Chopper/Grinder.
	Features
	Convenient Size, Compact Design: Small enough to keep on the counter, the 4-cup work bowl is the ideal size for many food prep tasks. The handle, touchpad controls, and the dishwasher safe parts make it even more convenient to operate and clean. Optimum Safety: No need to remove the blade after processing! The exclusive BladeLock System secures the blade in place for easy user-friendly pouring. Pour all you like -- these blades aren’t going anywhere. The patented blade system saves you the time and hassle of removing them before pouring out those potentially messy soups and sauces. Simplicity: The Chop/Grind touchpad controls and patented auto-reversing SmartPower blade offer powerful processing options at the touch of a button.

Tips for Better Food Processing
	Food size: Always cut large pieces of food into smaller pieces of even size -- about 1/2 an inch -- to produce a uniform chop.	Chop and Grind Function
	Bowl fill: Do not overload the work bowl; processed food should not reach more than two-thirds of the way up the work bowl. Please note: because of the powerful motor, it is recommended to use one hand to support the chopper/grinder during operation.
	Chop vs. Grind: Use the Chop function for chopping, pureeing and mixing. It is the right choice, for example, for chopping soft, fragile food such as herbs, celery, onions, garlic and most cheeses. It is also the right choice for pureeing cooked vegetables, making mayonnaise, and mixing salad dressing. Use the Grind function for grinding spices, and for chopping hard foods such as peppercorns, seeds, chocolate and nuts.
	Pulse vs. Continuous-hold: Pulsing is best when you are using the chop function. Two or three pulses are often enough. Be sure to check the food frequently to prevent over processing. If you over-process, you are likely to get a watery paste instead of a fine chop. A continuous-hold is best when you are using the grind function. Depending on the food, you may have to operate the unit for several seconds to achieve the desired results -- or as long as 20 seconds for some seeds. When operating in continuous-hold, use a pulse action every 10 seconds to allow food to drop to the bottom of the work bowl. This provides more consistent results. Never operate the unit continuously for longer than one minute at a time.
	Adding liquid: You can add liquids such as water, oil or flavoring while the machine is running. For example, you might want to add oil when making mayonnaise or salad dressing, or you could add vanilla or alcohol when making frozen yogurt. Pour the liquid through one of the two openings in the cover. Please note: only add liquid through one opening at a time. The other opening must be left unobstructed to allow air to escape. If both opening are blocked, liquid cannot flow smoothly into the bowl.
	Removing food from the sides of the bowl: Occasionally food will stick to the sides of the bowl as you process. Stop the machine to clear the food away. Once the blade has stopped, remove the cover and use the included spatula to scrape the food from the sides of the bowl back into the center. Do not put hands into bowl unless unit is unplugged.

Quick Start Guide

Place the work bowl firmly on the motor base. Opening the at the back of the bowl must face column at the back of the Chopper/Grinder. Turn bowl counterclockwise to lock in place. Insert the blade assembly. Carefully pick up the blade by its hub and place on the center stem until it drops to the bottom of the stem. Firmly push to lock the blade into position. NEVER TOUCH THE BLADE ITSELF AND NOTE THE BLADE IS NOT PERMANENTLY LOCKED. Place food in the work bowl. Be sure the food is cut into small pieces, and the bowl is not overloaded. Lock the cover into position. Press the appropriate Chop or Grind control, depending on the food you are processing. When you have finished processing the food, stop the machine by releasing the control button. ONCE THE BLADE STOPS MOVING, unplug the unit. Remove cover and work bowl Turn work bowl cover clockwise to remove. Turn work bowl clockwise to unlock and lift lid off base. Note: thicker ingredients can be removed while work bowl is still on base. To remove liquids and sauces from bowl: simply pour ingredients out of work bowl. The convenient BladeLock System keeps the blade safely in place. To remove thicker ingredients from bowl: Carefully remove the blade assembly by holding the handle on the top of the sheath and gently pulling up to disengage blade lock. Remove food with spatula. Tips: Always process foods in order, from dry to wet, to avoid having to clean bowl and blade between each task. Never operate the Cuisinart Elite Collection Chopper/Grinder without ingredients in the work bowl.

The BladeLock System

Cleaning and Storage
	To simplify cleaning, rinse the work bowl, cover, and blade immediately after each use. Wash blade assembly, work bowl, cover, and spatula in warm soapy water. Rinse and dry. Use caution when washing the blade.	Make Hummus in Minutes
	Avoid leaving the blade in soapy water where it may disappear from sight. The work bowl, cover, blade assembly, and spatula can be washed on the top rack of a dishwasher. Wipe the motor base clean with a damp sponge or cloth. Dry it immediately. Never submerge the motor base or plug in water or other liquid.
	The Cuisinart Elite Collection Chopper/Grinder stores neatly on the countertop in a minimum of space. When it is not in use, be sure to leave it unplugged. The hidden cord storage underneath the motor base will help to keep excess cord off the countertop. Store the unit assembled to prevent loss of parts. Store the blades out of reach of children.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

181 of 187 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a review of the product itself September 28, 2009

By paseo

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a food professional and have used this many times since it is a perfect size (not too large or too small) for the little tasks that often come up at home, and I don't want to use my big machine. It has done a terrific job on everything from bread crumbs to salsa, mayonnaise, grinding nuts, pureeing onions, etc. It is easy to control and not 'over process' whatever the job is since the blade comes to a complete stop immediately. The instruction book is Cuisinart's usual competent quality. I do highly recommend it for a small size processor.

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cutting Edge (Really) March 8, 2010

By Holly

Color Name:White|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm one of those who agonizes over appliance purchases...I read epinions and Amazon reviews and any other specs and faqs I can find. This was not a major purchase (in terms of outlay of money), but I wanted something a)easy to assemble, b)easy to use, c)that does what it is supposed to do, and d)that is easy to clean and put away. This little unit does all that. It is just right for small jobs, and cuts quickly. There is a small learning curve -- for me, anyway -- I've had to learn when to use "pulse" as opposed to a steady "chop" to prevent ingredients from being ground too small.

But overall, a great little cook's helper!

99 of 106 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars It's not actually die cast December 25, 2011

By T. Lane

Color Name:Die Cast|Amazon Verified Purchase

The "die cast" model is just silver plastic. And before you say "that's just the name of a silver-like color", let me stop you. Williams-Sonoma and Crate & Barrel sell a version of this model that is *actually* die cast. As in metal. I actually went down to their stores and saw them in person. They sell them for $60, a considerable premium over the plastic models. Calling this plastic model "die cast" is a deliberate misrepresentation of the product.