93 of 93 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The food processor SHOW DOWN: A comparison of 14 cup stainless Cuisinart food processors, October 14, 2009
This review is from: Cuisinart MP-14N Limited-Edition 14-Cup Food Processor (Kitchen)
When I buy a new kitchen or household item with lots of competitors I do loads of comparison/contrasting and research first if it's over a hundred bucks...Knowing it was time for a new food processor, I began comparing models. However, I found it a tad difficult to do with all the different blades, codes, etc.
Therefore, once I had completed my own shopping and comparisons, I thought it might be helpful for anyone else in the same situation if I posted my own comparisons here.
I'll start by saying I decided to order the Cuisinart Limited Edition Metal 14 cup food processor on Amazon. I found it to be the best value for my own needs and it was cheaper here than anywhere else I looked as of the time of my review. I chose Cuisinart because it's known to be the best but what made me decide on the limited edition may not be what you would want...this way you can compare and decide.
I chose a 14 cup because I love soups and big batches of dough.
I only looked at stainless because I only have 2 electronics on my countertops....this will be one. And it best match the appliances.
So...that said...here we go: (these are all by Cuisinart)
I compared The Custom 14 food processor DFP 14BCN.
I will call this "C from now on.
I compared it to the Limited Edition 14 cup MP-14N
I will call this "LE" from now on
I compared also the Elite Collection 14 cup FP 14DC
(I will call this "E" from now on)
and I compared the PowerPrep Plus 14 cup DLC-2014CHB
(I will call this "PP" from now on)
WARRANTY: I admit I equate this with how well it's built and how long Cuisinart expects it to last:
C: 5 year motor, 3 year entire unit
LE: 20 year motor warranty, 3 year entire unit
E:20 year motor warranty, 3 year LIMITED warranty
PP:10 year motor warranty, 3 year entire unit
CONTROLS:
C: Two controls: On/off and pulse. No dough mode button
LE: 4 controls: On, Off, Pulse, Dough
E: 4 controls: On, Off, Pulse, Dough
PP: 4 controls: On, Off, Pulse, Dough
MOTOR: (heavy doughs especially need the better motor if you use these)
C: regular motor, 720 watt
LE: most powerful: over ¾ horsepower commercial induction motor
E: regular 1000 watt motor
PP: induction motor 768 watt motor
HOUSING:
C: Brushed stainless overlay
LE: Heavy duty die-cast metal
E: Brushed stainless overlay
PP: Brushed stainless overlay
DOUGH BLADE:
C: plastic
LE: all metal
E: plastic
PP: all metal
SHREDDING BLADE:
C: stainless medium
LE: stainless medium
E: stainless reversible shredding disc (fine/medium)
PP: stainless medium
SLICING BLADE:
C: 4mm
LE: 4mm
E: adjustable 1-6mm
PP: 4mm
CHOPPING/MIXING:
C: large blade
LE: large
E:Large and small blades for various sized bowls it comes with
PP: large
How To DVD:
C:none
LE:included
E:included
PP: video included
All have extra large feeding tubes which replaced the small ones of food processors of yesteryear so you don't have to prechop veggies to get them in the feeding tubes. All come with spatulas to scrape them down. All have parts that are dishwasher safe.
Other:
C: none
LE: also comes with attachable beater blades so you don't have to keep your mixer on the countertop or drag out two appliances for some mixing chores. Bowl is made so no food gets caught in grooves or corners. Cord can be wrapped underneath machine.
E: also comes with attachable 11 cup and 4.5 cup bowls with pour spouts and measurement markings for small chores. These nest inside the 14 cup bowl. Some have complained that the narrow base and wide top, which makes the nestling bowls fit in, don't allow as smooth of mixing and also that food gets caught in a rim making this bowl harder to clean after mixing things that get trapped like shredded cheese and fine nuts. This is the only one that comes with an accessory storage case with a lock...nice to keep blades away from kids. You can also wrap cord under unit on this one.
PP:none
Conclusion:
What I wanted in my food processor may be different from you so I'll note a few things. For me, the Limited Edition was what I purchased because it was far higher priced everywhere else on the internet including the Cuisinart site itself so I thought it good value and its price on Amazon, it's warranty was the best and it had the most powerful motor of all of them so, since I use it often, this was a plus. Also because of its powerful motor it is best for doughs as was the solid metal dough blade. I have a huge kitchenaid mixer that I don't keep on the counter so having the beater blade attachment was great for quick mixing when I don't wish to drag it out of the pantry. Because most of my slicing is the 4mm and I never do any fine shredding, the adjustable blades weren't needed for me (and I can buy them later if I want them...all parts are interchangeable on the 14 cup Cuisinart food processors.) BUT if you are someone who wants a variety of bowl sizes and blades, then I'd say the Elite would be the best choice. It's also nice that that one comes with an accessory storage case. However, I find having to unstack the small bowls housed inside the large one and get food out that gets trapped in the seams were an annoyance I wished to avoid. I found the custom to be too simple with a lesser motor and poor warranty and no mode specifically for dough. And the powerprep is fine but more basic as well with a lesser warranty and motor for almost the same price as the uber food processor...(the limited edition). Might be ok for those who rarely use the machine who know they won't wear out the motor. Also, Cuisinart is really going "old school" on this model to include a VHS tape with it...rather than the DVD included in the newer models. Still it's got an induction motor which is still better than the Custom and the Elite...(but the Elite has more wattage to it's motor inspite of the fact it's not an induction motor.) Final thought is for the price, the parts, the mega motor, the commercial grade and the warranty of the Limited Edition along with its ease of cleaning and stremlined look... it just pulled out ahead of the game for me.
I'm very happy with my purchase...my old food processor was working fine but had the small chute and didn't offer near what this new one does and it looks impressive on the counter even though I'm very picky about anything out on the counter in my kitchen as my kitchen is open to the living room so I have to keep it neat. The metal is attractive, the motor is SO quiet for what it is, and the chopping power is tremendous...I did a couple batches of dough already too and it makes some FINE pizza in no time because of it!
Negatives: Some complain about the new food processors having safety mechanisms that won't allow the machine to start unless everything is aligned perfectly. For me this is not a negative because the newer machines with the commercial induction motors being loose would easily chop off your head. ' And that's a kitchen mess none of us want. They aren't your mama's old school food processors that whir at a low speed...these things do all but chop logs and they'd probably do that too. I want nothing loose when this baby starts!
p.s. If you buy shredded cheese, try shredding your own in the food processor instead...not only will you save lots of cash to help pay for the food processor, :-) but shredded cheese is coated so it won't stick together. If you shred your own it actually tastes soooo much better and fresher, and it melts better. Same with meat...except of course for the melting part!
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97 of 105 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A stellar performer from a stellar comany, February 12, 2004
This review is from: Cuisinart MP-14N Limited-Edition 14-Cup Food Processor (Kitchen)
I just ordered and received, from Amazon.com, a Cuisinart MP-14 (Limited Edition Metal 14-cup Food Processor. This new Cuisinart replaces my original 1977 Cuisinart, bought to make baby food for my infant daughter. Of course, as anyone who has ever used a high quality food processor knows, by 1978 that Cuisinart had seen a lot more, and a lot heavier duty than mere baby food pureeing!
That original Cuisinart is still going strong, but resides with my daughter, now an adult and newly married. She laid claim to the Cuisinart somewhere during her high school baking and breadmaking phase, and instead of registering for a new model during her wedding, she happily absconded with mine when she set up her household and I took off for life in SW Florida.
After a year without my Cuisinart, and making do with a small, outdated Oster mini processor, I gave myself a Valentine's gift an bought the Cuisinart MP-14.
Why?
-Because I am tired of hand making the bread doughs I love to grill as pizza or flat bread over the open flame of our outdoor grill.
-Because I am tired of scraped knuckles and sliced fingers from hand graters and razor sharp mandolines when shredding or thin slicing veggies for slaws, tempuras, or Potatoes Anna.
-Because I like to grate hard and soft cheeses in bulk for adding to lasagnas, topping pizzas, or blending into savory shortbreads and hor d'oeuvre pastries.
-Because I like to make my own chopped pork and beef mixture for Swedish meatballs.
-Because I love the speed and ease of a food processor in making bread crumbs, apple crisp and pie crumb toppings, chopping chocolate and nuts, and mincing and blending large quantities of garlic or herbs for dips, herb butters and spreads, or pestos.
-Because my daughter also laid claim to my heavy duty KitchenAid mixer, and it looks like this whisk attachment is going to be fine for mixing cheesecake batters, whipping cream or putting the final whip finish on mashed potatoes, as well as frothing the egg custard foundations to chocolate mousses and flourless cakes.
-Because I believe in the Cuisinart product line, which has proven itself to me for decades. I believe my newest Cuisinart will to be worth every penny, and perform flawlessly and efficiently for generations to come!
-And because maybe, just maybe -- in the not too distant future -my new MP-14 will whip up even more wickedly wonderful batchs of baby foods!
Cuisinart - I love you, and I adore this new 14 cup heavy duty MP 14 with whisk attachment, bread dough mixing blade and the dough setting to prevent overheating the dough. You are making my Valentine's Day very sweet indeed!
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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impressive Performance, August 19, 2006
This review is from: Cuisinart MP-14N Limited-Edition 14-Cup Food Processor (Kitchen)
I've had a Cuisinart DLC-11 for the past 20 years and it still works.
I decided to purchase this one based upon its larger capacity. It is superior to the older one in almost every way. Cuisinart has managed to improve the cover latching system, without making it cumbersome and hard to use (like on the KitchenAid that I tried at Williams-Sonoma).
The "dough" button appears to direct more torque to the blade, and the metal dough blade performs better than the former plastic one (although the old plastic blade has whipped up many a batch of pizza dough).
This unit also has a set of wire beaters, something that I do not believe I will get much use out of, since I am a mixer junkie and have 3 stand mixers (KitchenAid, Kenwood and DeLonghi). I think I'll leave the whipping to them.
The discs with the detachable stem perform admirably, as does the feed chute on this unit. I recommend purchasing the disc storage units from Cuisinart - if not for safety, certainly to keep the discs organized and ready to go to work. My DLC-11 discs were scattered throughout the drawers in the kitchen, making it easier to get a knife and a cutting board and chop, rather than conduct a treasure hunt through the kitchen to find the particular disc I needed. Keeping things organized in the kitchen is important - it makes it more fun to cook.
This unit is powerful and quiet, and intelligently designed.
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