good "starter" food processor that works?

[collegekitchen]

I love soaking up y'all's knowledge and would really appreciate some advice on a good food processor that's affordable but effective. I know, I know.. you get what you pay for. Which is why I'm steering clear of the $19.99 variety. I am a poor college student and I work night shifts for $9 an hour, so, no VitaMix for me unfortunately. I don't need anything super-extreme (I have no immediate need to crush lobster shells or grind narwhal horns), just a good, quality food processor that does its job, won't set me back too far, and won't break in two weeks.

Any specific suggestions?

[overresearched]

What is it you want to do with the processor?
Slice?
Dice?
Make perfect julienne fries everytime?

In other words, what fruits or vegs are you going to run through the device.

[collegekitchen]

I would love something that can slice AND dice. I don't need anything heavy-duty.. most of my concoctions would be for soups/stocks, dressings, marinades, ground spices, etc.

[pothead]

Since the introduction of the new Elite models, older version Cuisinarts are on sale almost everywhere nowadays. The 7 cup is now $79.99 at Macys, for example.

[Fuller]

Did you check places like craigslist? Used processors may not be the greatest thing in the world, but you certainly can buy a better quality unit if it's used versus new.

[Sarah]

How much cooking do you do and for how many people in general? Maybe an immersion blender with processing attachments?

[collegekitchen]

Right -- forgot that. I normally cook for no more than two, and I cook a lot. As often as I can. I've only had one experience with an immersion blender, attempting to puree the ingredients of a curried carrot soup, and didn't have an easy time of it.. maybe I just didn't get the hang of it? Are they at all powerful?

It sounds like a good idea, though. I'll definitely check into it. Any brand suggestions?

I certainly don't need one of those gargantuan, family-sized processors. I don't even have room in my puny little shelves for that.

[Sarah]

Here's a link for you to pore over. Hope it helps!
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/682722

[collegekitchen]

Thank you for that link, Sarah. I'm interested in the Bamix (I tried a Braun and it was the same situation.. just sort of spun things around, no real blending). It'll set me back $100 but I think it might be worth it. We shall see.

[ferret]

Don't buy into the mini processors, even the Cuisinart MiniPrep. Looks good on paper but essentially useless.