Quick Overview
FEATURES
QUALITY
COST
Pros
Cons
There are plenty of remarkable benefits to discuss in this Cuisinart 8 Cup Food Processor review.
It's one of the more convenient options for a small appliance that takes the work out of preparing your favorite meals.
With its sleek stainless steel and gunmetal construction, it's an attractive option for any kitchen.
Cuisinart 8 Cup Food Processor Review
This food processor does precisely what you need to help minimize the amount of time you spend in the kitchen.
It's the perfect cooking partner for home chefs who enjoy making sauces, dips, shredded cheeses, and baked goods.
You'll find it's also powerful enough to chop meat, puree thick vegetables like carrots, and make baby food.
It can be quite beneficial to have a small appliance to rely on to take most of the hassle out of cooking.
You might even find that it will replace your favorite knives and blender since it perfectly cuts, chops, and combines many items.
It has a relatively compact design, making it easier to either fit on your counter or store in a cabinet.
Since Cuisinart is one of the most popular small appliance manufacturers in North America, it is reliable.
It's an affordable option that provides an original number of functions for professionals and casual chefs.
Is 8 Cup Food Processor Big Enough?
Any eight-cup food processor should be more than enough when it comes to preparing everyday meals.
On average, the work bowls in these devices are around four to five cups.
With eight cups, you can hold over one liter worth of liquids as well as a wide array of solid ingredients.
You'll find that making large family meals is a breeze, as is making personal-size treats, such as hummus.
Who Is This Food Processor Meant For?
Anyone in your family will benefit from having a food processor, especially if they want to save time.
The sole purpose of these devices is to chop, slice, shred, and puree ingredients in a matter of seconds.
Instead of preparing ingredients by hand, you can allow the motor in the processor to do the work for you.
With that said, food processors are handy for seniors and professional chefs.
If you're making a stew, for example, the unit will perfectly combine the ingredients for pouring into the pot.
One of the most notable features of the Cuisinart 8 Cup Food Processor is its food spout, which allows for efficient pouring.
You'll find this processor to be a significant upgrade from some of the less expensive models.
It has a far better build quality, as most of the device is constructed using stainless steel.
Also, its motor is on the more powerful end, offering up to 350W of continuous processing.
Even if you never could use a food processor before, this is an excellent entry-level device.
All of the functions are readily available, and it requires no experience to learn how to use them.
The innovative touchpad controls allow you to create custom meals in a matter of seconds with ease.
What's Included?
Multiple accessories come with the Cuisinart Elemental 8 Cup Food Processor, which is ideal.
Unlike other brands, you won't have to worry about buying extra blades or storage.
Most of the accessories can fit inside the work bowl.
When you order the food processor, you'll receive the following blades:
- Slicing disc
- Shredding disc
- Dough blade
- Chopping blade
In addition to the processor itself, it ships with an eight-cup work bowl, the work bowl cover, and a convenient pusher tool.
You can use the pusher tool when you add ingredients to the processor without removing the lid.
Like a juicer, you push the ingredients closer to the blade without putting your hands at risk.
Overview of Features
Some of the things you'd expect from this processor are:
- Eight-Cup Capacity
The most sought-after feature of this food processor is the capacity that it has.
Most other units offer up to five cups worth of space, while this unit has eight.
You'll find it's the perfect size for large gatherings or everyday family meals, as well as singles and couples.
- 350W Motor
The 350W motor is more than powerful enough to work with an assortment of ingredients.
Since the unit comes with a dough blade, you can guarantee it's recommended for working with thick and sticky ingredients.
You'll also appreciate the blades' quality, making it easier for the unit to chop up thick ingredients.
- Multiple Functions
Your new food processor does far more than chopping and slicing.
You'll be able to knead pizza dough, gently mix ingredients, as well as blend items for smoothies.
Using the slicing blade, you can work with more delicate materials, such as cucumbers.
Users can choose between medium or fine settings while using the shred/slice blade.
- Stainless Steel Blades
Stainless steel is a popular material for kitchen appliances because of its food-safe quality, durability, and maintenance.
You'll find this material helps keep the sharpness of blades locnger and can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Alternatively, you can opt to wash the removable pieces in the top rack of your dishwasher.
- BPA-Free
With a heavy focus on using eco-friendly products, BPA-free plastic is essential.
Not only is it better for the environment, but it also ensures there aren't any toxins added to your food.
All of the plastic components in this device are BPA-free, which is perfect for pureeing baby food.
- Rubberized Controls
When you're working with wet ingredients, it's easy to lose your grip on controls, causing you to overprocess foods.
With the addition of rubberized controls on this unit, you can easily switch from one setting to another.
The material also helps make sure the buttons are protected from liquids and dirt.
If the food processor's exterior gets dirty, it's straightforward to wipe down to keep the buttons clean.
- SealTight Advantage System
One of the largest gripes with lower quality food processors is their likelihood of leakage.
This issue is particularly notable if you enjoy making sauces and dips with your appliances.
The Cuisinart Elemental 8 Cup Food Processor has the SealTight Advantage System to avoid leaking.
Both the work bowl and the lid can be moved around the kitchen without spillage.
You'll find it to be quite useful when pouring your mixed ingredients into other containers.
How Do You Use the Cuisinart 8 Cup Food Processor?
Before you begin using your device, you must clean all of the included parts and take necessary safety precautions.
This process ensures any dirt or manufacturing debris is removed before adding your ingredients.
Once cleaned, you'll need to consider which function you want to do since it will determine the blade you need.
Getting Started
Regardless of your blade choice, preparing the food processor requires these steps:
- Lock the work bowl into the base by turning it clockwise.
- Place the dough blade over the accessory adapter to fit snugly on the bottom of the bowl.
- Add your desired ingredients and plug in the base.
- Ensure the feed tube and pusher are aligned with the work bowl opening.
- The food processor is now ready to be used.
Choosing the Speed Level
On the outside of the food processor, you'll notice there are a couple of control buttons.
You will need to decide between using the high and low controls based on how processed the ingredients must be.
Once the ingredients have been added, the LED lights will illuminate at the speed you've chosen and will start the motor.
When you're finished processing the food, you must push the "Off" button to power down.
Pulse Function
Instead of using the high or low settings, you can also choose to pulse your food.
This function ensures the blades are powered only when the button is pushed, offering accurate processing control.
Fortunately, it's effortless to use since all you have to do is push the button for one second to begin pulsing.
Cleaning the Unit
After you've prepared all of your ingredients, it's now time to consider cleaning the food processor.
Fortunately, the design of this model is easy to clean either by hand or in the dishwasher.
You must ensure there aren't any ingredients stuck in hard-to-reach areas that could cause molding.
After the parts have been washed, you must allow them to dry thoroughly before reassembling the food processor.
Another great tip for maintaining your appliance is to run vinegar through the work bowl every two to three weeks.
It's a food-safe way to offer extra sanitization and eliminate any excess materials stuck in crevices.
Alternative
One of the top-tier alternatives to the Cuisinart Elemental 8 Cup Food Processor is the BN601 food processor from Ninja.
Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor
This appliance has a multitude of innovative features you might be interested in considering, including:
- 1000W Motor
This unit is by far one of the most potent food processors you'll find.
It works through aggressive ingredients within a matter of seconds, making it ideal for professional applications.
- Auto-iQ Intelligent Presets
If you frequently work with the same ingredients, you'll live the four Auto-iQ Intelligent presets.
There are dedicated programs built into the unit, so you won't have to customize the settings.
All you have to do is press one of the four buttons for the perfect results.
- Nine-Cup Capacity
This model is recommended if you're looking for a food processor with a larger capacity than eight cups.
It allows for up to nine cups of ingredients, which makes it fantastic for larger meals.
You'll find it to be most beneficial for entertaining or if you work with a lot of dough.
- Quad Chopping Blade
Most food processors only have two blades for chopping, while the Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor has four.
This feature ensures that all ingredients are processed as quickly as possible.
- Recipe Inspiration Guide
If you're having difficulty finding delicious recipes to do with your new food processor, the included guide is ideal.
With twenty different inspiring recipes at your fingertips, you can truly put your new food processor to work.
- Simple Cleaning
There are three ways that you can choose to clean the Ninja Food Processor.
Owners can put the BPA-free components in the dishwasher or opt to hand wash them.
You can also use the pulse function along with dish soap and warm water for a quick rinse.
Verdict
There's a lot to take in with this Cuisinart 8 Cup Food Processor review.
Homeowners will love its stylish appeal that also packs a powerful punch while working with most ingredients.
You'll be able to puree thick vegetables, mix sauces, and knead the dough for pizza night, thanks to its versatility.