Cuisinart DLC-2007N Prep 7 7-Cup Food Processor, White

Cuisinart DLC-2007N Prep 7 7-Cup Food Processor, White

strongest motor of its class
We chose this model because we don't want to move really heavy appliances around on the countertop, but the mini-choppers are too small for our recipes. The 2007 weighs about 13 pounds and uses the same wattage motor and most of the same disks as the 11-cup model in this line, although it lacks the extra slow-speed control button for dough processing, and it uses the old-style plastic dough blade. (In this size, it's probably a pie-crust dough maker, not a bread dough maker, anyway.) It's the biggest motor we found on a food processor this size.

Good stuff:

Easy wipe-clean base--no crevices to catch food. Hurray!

Stable and relatively quiet during use.

Easy top-rack dishwasher clean-up (power-saver no-heat drying)

Easy to add small (or liquid) ingredients during processing. Small inner pusher piece is removable, giving access to a small feed tube. There's also a drip hole for liquids in the bottom of the small pusher piece.

Not so good stuff:

Very fiddly...

My new best friend!
We've had this processor in the house for just about a month. The item paid for itself the first time I used it, due to being a huge time-saver for my normally busy schedule (it enables me to try new recipes I normally wouldn't have time to mess with). I've used it to chop & puree for several soups (Mulligatawny, White Bean, Gazpacho, etc.). The shredding disk shredded a whole block of Manchego for Balsamic Portabello/Onion/Cheese Omeletes in about a second. It shredded potatoes just as fast for a crust to a Carmelized Onion/Fennel Pie (of which I used the slicing blade for the onions & fennel). I find the slicing blade to be a lifesaver for items I want to keep "on-hand" for salads, sautees, etc. (like onions/bell peppers). This is my first food processor, and I wondered about the learning curve--to which I found none. It is really easy to put together, as well as take apart & clean. I'm also amazed at how quiet this thing operates. We had cheap mini-chopper for chopping...

Buy this and you won't regret
I bought this from amazon after my cheap Black & Decker FP1400 Quick N' Easy Plus Food Processor became unusable just after a year (shattered bowl and eventual motor failure). I was a little hesitant to spend more than $100 for a FP, but I am happy I did. My wife compliments me whenever she uses it. It's very quiet, very well-built, and very powerful. You can't go wrong with the 3 yr overall/10 yr motor warranty.

Update (September 2011): Still going strong after 7 years!

Perfecting the art of food preparation. With a finish that adds a touch of elegance to any modern kitchen, the Cuisinart Prep Plus Food Processor is the ideal prep tool for any task. It's compact build allows it to fit comfortably on any countertop and the large work bowl makes it easy to create an entire meal from scratch. After all, it's a Cuisinart!Equipped with an extra-large feed tube, a small feed tube, a dough blade, and slicing and shredding discs, this 600-watt, 7-cup, midsize food processor provides all the power, versatility, and capacity needed by most households. Cooks experienced with Cuisinart food processors will welcome the new feed tube and pusher assembly, which are easy to use--at 4-1/4 inches by 2-3/4 inches, the large, oval feed tube accommodates whole fruits and vegetables. The small, cylindrical tube is located inside the pusher assembly and has its own hollow pusher, which removes with a twist. On the bottom of the small pusher is a pin-hole for dribbling oil into the bowl while making mayonnaise.

The Lexan work bowl is virtually shatterproof and impervious to heat or cold. There's the familiar stainless-steel chopping blade and a dough blade, which easily kneads up to 1-1/2 pounds of dough. Stainless-steel slicing and shredding discs, a plastic spatula shaped for the work bowl, a recipe booklet, and an instruction video showing basic use, tips and techniques, and preparation of some recipes from the booklet complete the package. (Existing Cusinart blades and discs also fit this machine.) Cuisinart warranties the motor against defects for 10 years and the remaining parts for three years. --Fred Brack

• Lexan 7-cup work bowl virtually shatterproof, dishwasher-safe
• One-piece Supreme wide mouth feed tube holds whole fruits and vegetables
• Stainless-steel slicing disc, shredding disc, chopping/mixing blade, and dough blade
• Speed automatically adjusts to ensure proper dough consistency
• Includes spatula, recipe/instruction book, and how-to DVD