Cuisnart Elite Food Processor-help!

[veggielover]

I have a 30 year old 11 cup Cuisinart Food Processor that suddenly died, and I am trying to figure out what is the model to replace it. We used it all the time and often wished that we had a second with a smaller bowl for certain tasks, but we never bought a mini-prep.

What do you know about the relatively new Cuisinart Elite Food Processor with nesting bowls? Or should I be considering another brand or model?

[pikawicca]

I have the 16 cup Elite (from Williams Sonoma) and absolutely love it. I make a lot of soup, and this machine's the bomb. Absolutely does not leak. Great with heavy doughs. It can be a bit fiddly to clean the lid, but that's a minor issue for me. I find that I use the small and large bowls a lot, the medium not so much.

[L.Nightshade]

pikawicca - I'm on the verge of buying this model from WS, so searched for it on the cookware board. I've always had trouble with a thin line of soup spitting out around the room with my old cuisinart (that and the blade plopping into the bowl when I pour out the contents), so I was happy to read your post here. I think you've pushed me over to the must buy side of the decision. Hope you are still happy with it.

[pikawicca]

I am. Used it twice today.

[L.Nightshade]

Thanks, very good to hear!

[mikie]

I was just in the store looking at food processors yesterday. Unless you want something made in China, your only choice is Robot Coupe, MagiMix? Williams Sanoma has them, the others; Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Wearing were all made in China.

We have an older KitchenAid made in France, and gave out daughter an older Cuisinart we had that was also made in France. I detest buying stuff made in China, most of it is inferior in materials and workmanship.

I work in the plastics industry and you can't imagine how many times my customers have stuff made in China and they don't use the specified plastic, then the company has a part failure. Well, no kidding, it broke, well it's not made out of what it's supposed to be. Even big name brands, it's a crap shoot buying stuff made in China. Someday I'm going to post a rant.

[veggielover]

You have a point. Maybe, we'll need to buy a 3 year warranty for replacement parts.

I recently was advised to do so for the new washing machine we purchased to replace one 30 years old. I guess our stuff is beginning to wear out :-)

[veggielover]

Thanks everyone. Keep those opinions coming. I looked at Cook's Illustrated but I didn't see the 11/10 review on the website. The last review I saw was 2004. I will look again.

[Antilope]

On the Cook's Illustrated website, under Equipment Reviews - Small Appliances, there are currently two Food Processor headings. One with a 2004 review and one with a 2010 review.

[ospreycove]

Make sure it is not just the interlock mechanism and not the motor. If it is the bowl/cover/tube interlock there are parts available from places like the one listed below.
Goodmans.net

[veggielover]

A plastic piece broke off of the chute and it won't start. We already replaced the bowl and accompanying parts once, but the base also has a crack. We really need to replace the whole thing.

[andrewtree]

If your bowl/accessories are in good shape think about picking up an old base unit off ebay. I got one for $25 after moving to the US from the UK (different electric requirements). Worth doing because they were so well made in those days. Check out not just Cuisinart but also RobotChef (who I think I'm right in saying were then making the base units for Cusinart).