Side by Side Comparison of: KitchenAid vs Cuisinart

Met my expectations, just the right size for us. Quick and easy to use.

I'm so glad I got this! If you cook a lot, you'll love having this small, low maintenance chopper/processor on your counter. I use it most days. For big or elaborate jobs, of course, I still pull out my industrial-sized monster, but I am thrilled to have this little guy easily accessible. The three simple parts detatch easily and go right into the dishwasher.Home run.

I recently purchased the KitchenAid 3.5 cup food chopper and absolutely love this tiny kitchen helper. The KitchenAid food chopper easily does the following tasks:*Chops onions with ease*Chops garlic quickly*Blends up small amounts of dipsThe KitchenAid food chopper is very easy to assemble and to clean.I don't know why it took me so long to purchase this handy kitchen tool, but I am glad I did.Highly recommend.

I love this food chopper. I have owned a smaller capacity one for years and finally upgraded to a larger capacity. I use to chop ingredients for pico, chicken salad, veggies and much more. It has two speeds, which makes it very useful depending on the density of whatever you are chopping. The lavender color makes it a nice little pop of color on my counter when I get it out to use.

Excellent for salsa, hummus, guacamole, and anything else you want pureed or chopped. It's a nice size for me since I don't have much kitchen space but at the same time didn't want a tiny chopper. The price (I paid $32) is great for what you get. There are a lot of overpriced and/or poorly designed food processors out there, and this is absolutely not one of them. Having the parts stacked vertically saves a lot of space, and the assembly set up makes it easy to clean. I have no complaints.

Wish they had more colors to choose from but I bought it mainly because my husband hates onion chunks. So I use this to chop real fine almost into a paste haha. He can't tell anymore that I use onions in my cooking. Also another good thing to make home made baby food.

My mini processor that I had for 20 years was still working but someone at my house misplaced one of the parts...so I look at all the reviews and decide to go with this little Cuisinart. It is great and holds a little more than my other one did so that is a real plus. It is loud though. Maybe even louder than my old B&D one. That won't stop me from using it but I am now considering ear protection for using this and also my Vitamix as it is very loud as well.I also own a Cuisinart full size processor for much bigger jobs and love it too.

I've been using my HUGE cuisinart food processor for 30 years. I am SO GLAD I bought this little one! Clean up is a BREEZE! The old one I felt defeated before I even started because I knew what a hassle it was going to be to clean. I still use it for bigger jobs - but I just made mung sprout paste in the little one and everything was SO SIMPLE! Thank you!

This is my second Cuisinart Mini food processor. My first one served me well for 7 years with heavy use , so I went right out and purchased, another - this one! They are tough little choppers and truly my favorite kitchen gadget. I use several times per week. This one has a little bigger bowl than my first one did which I really like. It's a great size when cooking for 2-4 people.

Excellent little machine. I purchased for my elderly mother who has a parakeet she feeds lettuce to. Well she was spending at least a half to one hour had cutting the lettuce with scissors for him. This Cuisinart Mini-Prep took care of that for her. Just would remind those purchasing the blade is very sharp and easy to cut your fingers on. Take care when cleaning.

I have had a very small Black and Decker chopper for probably 20 years and loved it. Used it for shopping up celery and onion for tuna and egg salads, and once, when really craving coleslaw, I used it to grind the cabbage. It worked fine, but it took a LOT of grinding batches!I used to have a full sized food processor, but got rid of it. It was too big for my small kitchen and I usually only had tiny jobs for it. I got a Mandolin for the slicing jobs, a sturdy, hand-held cheese grater for that job, and now I wanted a mid-sized chopper. Something in which I could grind cabbage for 'Chick-fil-a' style slaw, or just chop a stalk of celery. And this is IT!The body is plastic, and yes, its lightweight, but I promise not to throw it around.The canister is roomy, the lid seats easily, and the blades do a superior job compared to my trusty old B&D.

I really like this mini food processor. I have a larger Cuisinart food processor as well, but since I am single I thought this smaller one would be a good choice for me. It is small enough that it minces garlic or ginger well and is a lot easier to use for that than my garlic press or mini-grater for this purpose. I do a lot of ethnic cooking and like to use whole spices like nutmeg, cumin seeds, szechuan peppers, ect., grinding them as I need them. Although I don't believe this food processor was intended for that, I found it does it well. I love the fact that the blade will go both directions, one to chop and the other to grind. I can't tell any real difference in the results by using just one or the other method, but using the processor both ways does an excellent job of evenly processing all the spices. When I use it for tomatoes and onions, it chops from coarse to fine depending on how long I hold the button. It gives pretty good control over being able to control how coarse or fine you want the results to be. Again, I doubt if it was intended for this, but it works well as a blender as well. It works excellent in making dips like hummus by just adding all the ingredients at once. Again, using the blade in both directions helps giving excellent results.The bowl, blade, and top are much easier to clean than my larger processor. I use this processor almost daily and hardly ever use my larger processor any more. I have taken the larger processor off my counter and it has given me more counter space. I really like the Cuisinart brand as it is always (except for a teakettle I purchased) well made and high quality. I have learned to trust the brand and at this price, the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor is an excellent buy.

I used to have a braun multimix but the gears got stripped and its no longer used in the US. This is similar to food chopper attachment and does a great job and is easy to clean. It would be better if it had more functions, but as a stand alone food chopper it works great.

Bought it becoz it's pink and cost only $14. Blade is sharp but you need to keep moving the food to the blade so that it blend properly. I'm OK if it's only$14, but won't buy it if it's anything more expensive than that.

I'm pretty happy with this purchase. It does the job well but there are a few issues I've noticed after a couple uses. The top where you can add in oil and other liquids while using is quite small and I often find myself overfilling it and making a mess. I also wish there was an option to leave it on instead of having to hold the buttons. Either way, it works for me as someone who doesn't use a food processor all that often. If you are going to be using a food processor everyday or even a few times a week, I would suggest going for a different option.

this little food processor works well for making fresh mayo, tho it is a little noisy, and shakes and slides on smooth surfaces like the granite counter tops I use it on. I've been cleaning it in the dishwasher and so far I've not had any issues with food getting stuck in the lid or it's parts.

I chopped some onions and peppers and it did a much better job of it than my old mini procter/silex brand. It is faster and the bell pepper didn't get stuck in the blades. I grinded some nuts and it worked well. I also made pesto and that come out great. I have to try grinding some meat I didn't realize it did that but the manual states so. I got a great price on it and it definitely has more power than the $12 dollar brand mini processors. I highly recommend. I gave it 4 stars because the design is bad in that it gets water in the lid and bowl, you have to let it sit in a dish rack until it dries. If you are doing more than one recipe at a time you have to try your best not to get soapy water in any of the compartments so you can reuse it without getting soapy dish water in your processor.

This is a replacement for the same KitchenAid which I purchased several years ago which no longer chopped. The 3.5 cup size is perfect for most of my needs. I like that it has two options, grinding and chopping. It would be nice if there was an additional blade for grating but I can live without it. When I need a larger capacity I do use my full size Cuisinart.What I dislike about this model; I feel the cover/top does not get clean enough. Food seems to get trapped in the underside of the top and I unable to get it clean.

Just arrived yesterday,and used today. First task was to puree some fresh tomatoes for chili. Did an excellent job. Then it was used to "chip" a couple of cooked burger patties for that same pot of chili....again, it performed quite well. The design seems to be very good. One very important thing for me is that I am single, and tend to prepare smaller amounts. And having owned a full sized processor for many years, I know that they require a minimum amount of food to work properly. This little guy is just the right size for my smaller portions.Of course I can't speak to longevity, but out-of-the-box, and first two jobs I'm very happy.

Chewy is 12 years old and loosing his back teeth so I use it to grind up his hard dog food. It does a good job with no strain on the motor. I had the smaller model and it would shut off but come back on in a while. For safety reasons , I guess. I can double the amount with the bigger one.

I use it to puree baby's food even though the only options are "chop" and "grind". Works very well, but it is extremely loud. Louder than my blender. It is easy to clean, though and very good quality. Haven't had problems with it regardless of how used it is.

I bought this for recipes where I only need to process a handful of ingredients. Most of what you're chopping gets stuck to the bottom and the sides, away from the blades, where it won't get chopped any further. I'm wondering if this is really much better than just using the big processor. With that said, it seems well built.

This is a great processor. The reverse feature is unique and very useful when trying to get to stuck food. BUT, I just bought the Kitchenaid 3.5 cup processor and it does a much more complete job of pureeing food. In fact it liquefies my mix of kale, spinach, tomato, onion, garlic and bell pepper. I've switched from blenders and juicers to small food processors because: they are easier to clean. smaller to store, and easier to visualize portion size. I eat a stew of vegetables as opposed to a blend of vegetables and fruit. Because I got tired of the sweet taste, and what I want to eat for my health are green leafy vegetables. Don't need the sugar in the fruit (and I lost my taste for it). Blenders and especially juicers take FOREVER to clean - way too much time. This stores in my dish rack using hardly any space. it cleans exponentially faster and the best part costs under $40. My juicer cost $300 and my blender cost $250. They are now collecting dust. With e.coli becoming prevalent it is important to be able to completely disinfect food processors. Again this type of unit has no screens, no filters and less little nooks and grannies than a blender and especially a juicer. I bought this unit because of reviews here. The Kitchenaid 3.5 cup unit is frequently compared to it here. The Cuisinart Mini Prep just does not liquefy. I can always find small pieces in the mix even after letting it rip for a long, long time. The Kitchenaid 3.5 cup unit liquefies - no chunks. It works almost as well as a high end blender. The goal with blending is to liquefy, mostly because most people don't take the time to chew and so food passes through whole without imparting nutrition. The Cuisinart does not liquefy - the Kitchenaid does. The Kitchenaid has larger, better designed blades, more power, a little more space, and a thicker plastic bowel. What the Cuisinart might do better is chop nuts. That is what the reverse feature is for. But that's not what "I" need it to do. My Cuisinart is a good appliance and I have it as a backup. But for those of you looking for pureeing, the Kitchenaid kills it.

UPDATE - 7 WEEKS LATER: This chopper (processor) has worked great. I've used it more often then expected and with more items to process. Besides carrots, onions, celery, pickles (is pickle a veggie?), broccoli and so on, I've used it chopping apples and also chopping/grinding cookies (Oreos, choc chip cookies) to create toppings for cakes, pies and even a yogurt topping. Of course with many items like cookies or apples, you need to break them down into smaller pieces and don't fill the container more then 1/3 high (also, OK for the cookies to come from the fridge but apples should be room temperature before processing).So...I give this processor a very strong 4 of 5 stars. My concerns remain the thin plastic container and flimsy lid (design) will not sustain heavy use.It works as described but I don't expect it to last beyond 24 months. The body, where the motor and two control buttons are seems sturdy. Aesthetically, it's more high-shine, chrome-like then a brushed stainless steel (not to my liking but I'll make a compromise for functionality). Where my concerns are is with the cup and the lid. Both are made of a thin plastic. While I consider my usage of this processor to be minimal (4x/month chopping baby carrots, celery and similar veggies), I don't think the cup or lid would withstand more use. Also, the tongue on the lid that when placed to allow the processor to turn on is also of thin plastic. If you drop it on the floor or tap it against another appliance or counter top, there's a chance it will chip or break off, resulting in turning your processor into a kitchen paperweight (it will not function).Bottom line: Good processor (blade is OK) with a thin plastic cup and lid that may not be suitable for excessive use.

It leaks from the lid when you process liquidy foods. It isn't very strong, but the size is great for small spaces and for two people.

A good replacement for the old chopper. It has functioned well so far.

I like this little processor, but didn't realize that there is no food feeding shoot, just a little hole for liquids.On the other hand, the whole top comes off very easily and the bowl accommodates more food than most tiny food processors.I also like the fact that the controls are at the top of the lid at the handle area. Makes a surprising quickness to the processing just turn the top in place and push down controls all in one motions.

I bought this since i had an older version i loved for quick chopping of every types of vegetables. The only thing i am not happy with is that it takes a lot of pulling and twisting to try to lock it in place so it turns on. When i am in the middle of cooking it is nearly impossible to lift it out to pour the chopped veggies out. Next time, i would look for another brand to try.

Pros:- Size- Easy to clean- Great for chopping onion, garlic or gingerCons:- There is no handle so its not easy to put the lid on- Operating buttons are on the lid and are not very sturdyFinal thoughts:I recommend it with some reservations

My previous one was incredibly hard to close for operation. Bought kitchenaid kind again thinking surely this would have improved. It has improved but still harder than expected to close. Better than nothing but wonder if another brand is better. While kitchenaid is a great brand, I won't make the mistake again should I need another. Will mention tho, the first one lasted approx 7-10 years ... Can't nail down exact life time.

Works OK. I had a Kitchen aid that lasted a long time that seemed to have much more power and was much better at getting the food down into the chopping blade. I always seem to be having to dig out pieces of food and chop it into smaller pieces to get it chopped in this thing. Container is OK, but seems a little thin and getting the lid on and into the safety catch at the back can take a few tries because it feels is a little sticky.

Not as sturdy as I thought.

I've owned this little mini-prep food processor since 2010. I was a great little workhorse until the metal blade started to split away from its plastic housing over the past year. Also, the little motor smells "electrical" whenever I use it for more than a couple of seconds at a time. On the plus side, the plastic bowl and lid did clean up nicely in the dishwasher. I'm looking for another mini-prep food processor but won't likely buy this one again.

Great for small batches of things that don't work well in my large, narrow-bottomed blender. Kind of hazardous to clean the blades, but probably the case with any food processor. Handy small holes at top for adding oil/liquid (like for pesto). Materials seem somewhat flimsy, will see how it holds up. Very handy size, when not using it, I stick it back in the box and fits in cupboard.Update: a year later, this thing is still going strong. I use it constantly for hummus, sauces, homemade 'Lara Bar" snacks, chopping onions/peppers/celery..... A great and powerful small capacity tool.Update number 2: Well, just after the 1-year mark, the plastic inner part of the blade stripped away so that the motor runs and the blade doesn't spin. Replacement blade costs almost as much as new machine, so I'm going to upgrade to a full size processor. Good while it lasted, downgraded to 3 stars.

I finally decided to get one of these being tired of having slicing onions and carrots. I really know nothing about food processors as I've never had one before and I was expecting good things. What I did not realize is that all this particular machine does is mush things up. It doesn't chop, it just pulverizes. I'm now considering buying the large food processor with adjustable slicer, because to me, that is the most important reason why I would want one of these. So if you're expecting your food to be sliced, this is completely the wrong food processor to do that.

The Cuisinart 4-Cup Mini Prep is great for simple light-weight jobs like making salad dressing and chopping onions, but when I use it with heavier foods (like cooked spinach) I can smell the motor burning. So to avoid motor burnout, I no longer use the Mini Prep to process even small quantities of high-density foods - a use limitation I hadn't anticipated.Regarding capacity, keep in mind that although the total volume held by the work bowl is 4 cups, you really can't work in batches much over 2 cups (less for dry items). If you exceed the batch limit, you'll end up with a result that is over processed on the bottom and untouched on the top. The user manual also advises that to avoid motor strain, the work bowl should never be filled more than two-thirds the way up the blade assembly column. So in practice, the 4-cup work bowl translates to a best-case maximum of 2 cups end product.I'd also like to point out that the motor casing for the Cuisinart Mini Prep listed here (model DLC-4CHB) is plastic with a faux stainless steel finish. When I bought this product, I inferred from the item title that the casing was constructed of stainless steel. But if you look closely at the detailed item description, you'll see (as I discovered only after purchase!) that the construction is plastic made to look like stainless steel. And the plastic is pretty flimsy at that, so just be aware of what you are buying.Bottom line: Would I buy this Mini Prep again? Probably not. For my needs, I think I'd look for something sturdier and more versatile. Do I think the Mini Prep is a complete train wreck? No, I use it for what it's worth at least 4 times a week and I appreciate how easy it is to clean. The important thing is to have a firm idea of how you want to use the Mini Prep prior to purchasing one. Want small batches of pesto, salsa or chopped onion? You're good to go. Want to make smoothies or process heavy and dense foods? You'll need to look for something with greater capacity and a stronger motor.One final note on a lesson I learned the hard way...if when using the Mini Prep you consistently end up with onions that are pureed not chopped or nuts that are pulverized to dust, try alternating pulses between the Chop and Grind buttons. Alternating the two buttons moves the food around the work bowl for a more even result.

I was really pleased with this product until it started smoking. I've had it for 2 weeks and I have only used it about 4 times. I started noticing a burnt plastic smell the last two times I have used it. As of this morning it started to smoke. You can't fit a whole lot in it. Much better for a travel food processor. I'm in college, so I didn't want to buy a huge one. I would get a different one if you plan on processing anything bigger than a 1/2 cup at a time

I bought this based off good reviews, but I have to say I'm disappointment. The lid never lines up well, nor does the blade. It's great with chopping small amounts, once you get the lid and blade over the guide. However, with all the grief it gives me, I might as well hand cut my veggies. Too bad I didn't use it soon enough to see that this was a problem. I might have been able to return it. I'm going to try another brand this time and start using it ASAP!

2 Stars for "cute look"... I don't understand why KitchenAid decided to remove the handle bar when they updated the look and size. From 3 cups with built in handle bar to 4 cups with absolutely NO built in handle bar. You would think, the bigger the size, the more you need of a handle bar. Because of that reason I sent it back. Not practical, couldn't even twist the top off without the help of the handle. Poor move, call and design. End up getting the Cuisart instead, double the price. You win some, you lose some. The handle was very important to have.

Had it for less than 7 months and the motor is already burned out. My wife only makes aioli in it and the motor started to smell. Now it is making a very loud grinding noise, which we stopped using it. Should have bought the Cuisinart.

I gave thus chopper two stars because its the right size, cute, and easy to use. But then the blade keeps getting stuck, so you have to pry it off... very carefully… This quickly gets tiring. Now, after ten months of the kindest use, the black section of the top has fallen off, exposing a pathetic activation mechanism: 2 tiny springs and a bit of plastic. I'm amazed it held up as long as it did.

I use this product to make humus and almond butter - it works perfect! And it matches my kitchen! Could not be happier!I purchased this food processor on May 7th, 2015. Last night, May 11th, 2016 the blade, were it attaches to the motor has completely stripped and I'm unable to process anything-this happened days after the one year manufacturer warranty went out so now I either have to find a part, no luck yet, or just buy a whole new one. Therefore, I'm lowering my initial review to two stars.

The Mini-Prep works great to chop and grind food, but is very loud as some reviewers have pointed out and I find myself not using it as much as I would otherwise. The cover and base are reversed from normal containers, so I find myself trying to open it and find it needs to go in the opposite direction. Normally to remove a cover or base, one would turn to the left or counter clock wise, this one moves in the opposite direction. Most people open and close containers, jars, etc without thinking and this one requires you to do so in reverse. Fits great in small spaces and works good when you don't feel like cleaning a large food processor.

It's the right size, and it does it's job, but it is insanely loud at an especially annoying frequency. Device can readily be re-purposed for warning of tsunami's. A true dual purpose device, but I shouldn't need hearing protection with a kitchen appliance!

Terribly noisy, all plastic, not like my old one.

The container doesn't stay put. When ON you have to hold it otherwise it doesn't work.We ve been using it for 6 months

Ended up returning this, did not feel we got the quality we paid for, had a very high-pitched loud motor while operating sent it back within weeks of trying it out. This seems to be the kind of product you really should buy at your local stores, there are too many features, possibilities of workmanship or lack of that you will never know until you get it home and I find it much easier to buy these locally.

The bowl broke and cracked after 6 mos of daily use for clients. I bought waring pro chopper and that lasted for 3 yrs. but the other day I ordered 2 extra bowls bc they might crack after using 4x/day for clients and dish washer.

Unfortunately, the unit did not work. I erred in not trying the machine when it first arrived because we were going on vacation, and the limited, 1-month warranty has now run out. The handle mechanism that is intended to engage the motor was broken. When we took it apart to investigate, the motor ran when manually engaged, but the broken handle part fell out. Perhaps the the motor had actually been refurbished and tested, but unit was not retested after full reassembly. Have had good luck with Kitchen Aid in the past, and generally, good luck with refurbished items. If you purchase - do test immediately.

Worked great at 1st, I ordered another for my Mom after I purchased the 1st one! After few months wouldn't work, looks great on my counter and worked great at first....very, very disappointed in it. Customer service was not helpful at all. Would NOT recommend . Don't purchase..you will be sorry you did!

poor design, no handle to grab it. It slipped from my hand. Unless you are a suquatch, you cant grab it properly cuz its moderately large to grab around it. The other problem is it takes forever to align the lid to the rest of the chopper to be able to close. You always have to try a few times like a blind person. Poor design. The motor is good and powerful but the container design is very poor and came from an incompetent designer.

The machine works great, however I'm very unhappy that you can't pull the plastic lid pieces apart to wash. Food particles get stuck inside the plastic lid and there is no way to wash this away. I only had this for a couple of months and the food that was stuck inside is now getting all moldy. Kitchen Aid designers please resolve this issue!!!!

First time was a bad experience. It took two people to get the bowl off after use. Wish I hadn't thrown out the box or I'd send it back.

I bought this chopper with great hope but couldn't use it for quite some time after purchase. On the very first use i realized that the product has not proven to be up to the mark. Further just after 10 days of random use, its jar has become difficult to adjust, & the lid of the jar also doesn't close. I think the manufacturers should be courteous enough to exchange/replace my chopper with a fresh piece.

IT'S PRETTY, but a really crappy chopper! You pretty much have to cut up everything into tiny pieces before you put it into the chopper and truly, isn't that the point of a chopper? I used this to replace an OLD Oster chopper that came with my blender that had to be over 20 years old. Just as small as this one but it was a beast with chopping! Needless to say, going back to Oster brand!

Size is too small to be able to do anything in it BECAUSE you can only fill it half way otherwise it will start poring out the minute you press either button. Does not work well for what I wanted it (grind seeds and raw oatmeal) or make homemade sauces (I'm vegan, therefore I don't buy anything prepped up, I tend to do everything at home). The only thing I could more or less use this for was hummus, but even then your hummus needs to be on the thicker side to be able to keep it from poring all over the place. Nothing even midly liquid is worth even trying to make here. You are better off with a blender (and that says a lot). The machine is also quite noisy and I had to maintain my hand on the lid most times to avoid too much of a mess. And before anyone goes around saying I didn't secured it, I did! The plastic bowl was secured, the blade was secured, the lid was secured and the entire container was secured onto the slot. It just simply spills, period!

It is super noisy! I should listen to the people who reviewed its before regarding the noisy problem! I ordered it few months ago, but I did not use it until last week when my baby is ready for solid food. Every time,when I use it, the noisy made my baby cry because it is too lound!

Worked sporadically once then quit but out of the return period.Ripoff!

The food processor looks good and it's easy to clean, but when we used it, it smelled like burned plastic and it started smoking. It seems like it's made of cheap materials. Amazon sent us a replacement that made even more smoke. We got a refund but what a waste of time for us and what a waste of resources.

I purchased this processors because of the reviews posted. After receiving my product ,I immediately proceeded to make a batch of pesto.My cheese and nuts used had been ground up prior. Upon adding oil and fresh basil leaves I started up this unit. I patiently turned the machineon and off hoping for a finished that was of a creamy texture. This process tuned out to be a lesson of futility. No matter how many times Iground my ingredients, the outcome remained a a chewy, grassy consistency. Now come on REALLY, this machine can't even grind up freshbasil leaves and yes I did not use any more leaves than was recommended in their brochure . After further reading their recommended proceduresI found that even said that butter had cut up into 1 in. pieces. What is the purpose of having a processor if it will not grind up butter withoutchopping it up in the first place? Also upon further review before chopping :celery-3/4 in.,onions 3/4 in. and other items to a size that I might aswell not bother dirty up this useless piece of machinery. Please be warned about the validity of reviews. This is not my first time using a mini processor. In the past and once again [after returning my cuisinart] I have kitchen aid processor that I swear by. This is in no way a plug forkitchen aid, it's just seem to be the best product out there for me. I have used mine [2 in 8 yrs.] with satisfaction.