Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection Food Processor Review

It runs like a champ with lots of usable options and features plus great customer feedback. But can you look forward to many years of happy processing with it? My Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection food processor review takes a thorough look at this model, so you can add it to your must have list or buy it if it has what you’re looking for.

If you’re like most people food processor shopping, you’ve probably been researching and looking for weeks or even months to find just the perfect model for you. My best advice to you is to get the best machine your budget can afford and make sure it has all of the features you need and would use.

Let’s examine this model closely…

Capacity

If having multiple work bowls is on your list of must haves, the Cuisinart Elite FP-14DC has got you covered. It comes standard with three nested bowls in different sizes that does not require any extra storage space, since the two smaller bowls store nicely in the large one. Having different size bowls means that you can process small jobs like chopping herbs or make large batches of coleslaw or salsa.

They’re all BPA-free and shatter and heat-resistant. In addition, all the bowls have convenient pour spouts and measurement markings and the maximum fill line is clearly marked on each.

In addition, the bowls have finger recesses and a locking feature which keeps them from falling out while you’re pouring out your food.

14-cup large work bowl – With this much capacity you’ll have plenty of room to make your nut butters, salsa or other large recipes in one go instead of having to do multiple batches. To give you an idea of how much it holds…

• can make cookie dough for about eight dozen cookies
• 14 cups of sliced or shredded fruits, veggies or cheese
• 10 cups of thin liquids
• 7 cups of nuts for nut butter
• 6 cups of white flour or 4 cups of whole wheat for bread dough

Well, I think you get the picture of how much stuff this thing holds.

11-cup medium work bowl – The maximum capacity for thin liquids is 8 cups and for sliced or shredded items it will take the full capacity.

4 ½ cup small bowl – If you love the idea of having a smaller bowl for those times when using the large bowl is overkill, then you’re in luck. This model comes with a 4 ½ cup small bowl. The big benefit of having that mini bowl is because it has sloped sides and it also comes with its own mini chopping blade. Which is ideally suited for chopping herbs or making dressings or sauces.

Now I need to let you know that even though you get 3 different size bowls that you cannot use the two smaller ones by themselves. You have to nest them inside the large bowl in order to use them. So you may find yourself needing to use the mini or the medium bowl after you’ve just did a batch of your recipe in the large bowl. Then you would have to take out and clean the big bowl before you can use the smaller ones. But with some planning ahead of time you can work around this inconvenience by starting with the smallest bowl first and working your way up from there.

Size of Feed Tube

Also included is the Cuisinart® Supreme® Wide-Mouth feed tube and cover assembly. The advantage of a large feed tube is that it can take whole fruits and veggies, which saves you the step of having to cut your foods down to size before putting it into the machine.

While the rubber seal on the lid virtually eliminates leaking. So if you’re making a lot of messy stuff like sauces, soups or smoothies, it is not going to leak. However, though a useful feature, it does pose another problem. Users have said bits and pieces of food get stuck between the lid and the seal. So make sure to give it a good clean as soon as you’re done using it and you won’t have a problem.

The pusher assembly (which fits inside the feed tube) includes a small food pusher that nests inside the large pusher. So you have the capability to process foods of different shapes and sizes.

Knead Dough

Want to make your own hamburger or hot dog buns? Or fresh homemade and delicious Challah bread? How about some baguettes, ricotta or gluten free bread? No problem. The included dough blade will have you baking up a storm in the kitchen. A food processor will knead your dough much faster than a stand mixer or kneading by hand. Though you have to keep a careful eye on it so as not to over knead the dough.

Controls

Electronic Touchpad Control panel with three speeds plus the off button. The electronic controls allow for easy operation of the machine. While the blue LED lights lets you know when the machine is on.

On – Lets you run the machine continuously like when you’re making bread crumbs.

Pulse – This setting gives you precise control over the consistency of your food. You can use pulse for example, when you’re making pasta dough or chopping nuts.

Dough – A food processor kneads dough very quickly. And therein lies the problem. It can overheat the dough or cause the machine to stall. But with the dedicated dough setting this should no longer be an issue. Because this setting actually stops the machine from overheating or getting bogged down during the process.

Power

The Cuisinart Elite FP-14 powerful 1000-watt motor will process all your favorite recipes with easy. It has enough power to handle all of your tough food prep tasks fast and efficiently. So if you’re into the whole raw food diet thing and you need to process lots of hard foods like nuts, this machine can stand up to that.

Blades/Discs

This Cuisinart Elite food processor comes with multiple blades and discs that give you the versatility to prepare all kinds of healthy recipes from hummus, dips and peanut butter to protein bars and baby food. With the six position slicing disc and the reversible shredding disc, it’s like getting eight different discs in all. True versatility.

They also have finger holes that lets you easily and safely attach and detach them from the stem adapter. However, some users have said that food tends to get trapped in the holes.

Both chopping/mixing blades lock into place and stays there. Which is a good thing as it prevents you from having to hold the blade in place or from the blades falling out when you’re pouring out your food.

Large Stainless-Steel Chopping/Mixing Blade – Used with the medium and large bowls only. The chopping blade is the true champion of any food processor and is the most versatile. You can use it to make fresh pasta and pizza dough, quick breads, preservative free peanut butter and grinding the nuts to make your own healthy protein bars and more.

Small Stainless-Steel Chopping/Mixing Blade – This for use exclusively with the mini bowl and can chop, mix and puree just like the larger blade.

Stainless Steel Adjustable Slicing Disc (1 to 6mm) – This disc is perfect if you need to slice a variety of different vegetables because you can go from very thin to thick. Another advantage of having an adjustable slicer is that it’ll save you from having to keep swapping out blades when you want a different size cut.

You adjust the disc by turning the rotator hub to your desired thickness before you place the disc on the stem adapter in the machine. The finger holes allow for easy placement and removal of the disc when you’re all done.

Stainless Steel Reversible Shredding Disc – One size is for fine shredding and the other side for medium shreds. You can shred foods like coconuts, cheese, apples, spinach and of course lots of cabbage for coleslaw.

Stem Adapter – Attaches to both chopping blades and the slicing and shredding discs and is required for operation.

Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection Food Processor Dimensions

Height: 17 inches

Width: 11.25 inches

Depth: 11.75 inches

Weight: 23.5 pounds

Power cord:

Additional Features

Here are some more user-friendly features that’s included with the Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection food processor.

The included storage caddy with safety lock houses all of the blades, discs and the stem adapter. No more rummaging around in the cabinet drawer trying to find the blade that you want. The case keeps them nice and clean and out of reach when not in use.

The SealTight™ feature locks and seals the lid on to the bowl(s) so you can fill the bowl up to capacity without have your food spill or leak all over your kitchen.

This model is available in die-cast, white and black colors.

Four rubber feet on the base of the machine keeps it firmly planted on the work surface, so it does not move around during processing.

Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection Food Processor Accessories

These items are included.

• 14-cup, 11-cup and 4-1/2-cup BPA-free work bowls
• Cuisinart Supreme Wide-Mouth feed tube and cover assembly
• Dough Blade
• Large Stainless Steel Chopping/Mixing Blade
• Small Stainless Steel Chopping/Mixing Blade
• Stainless Steel Adjustable Slicing Disc (1 to 6mm)
• Stainless Steel Reversible Shredding Disc (fine/medium)
• Accessory storage case with safety lock
• Spatula
• How-to DVD
• Recipe/Instruction Book

Extra Attachments

Here are some great optional discs you can add on later to increase the functionality of your Cuisinart Elite food processor.

• Whipping Disc
• French Fry/Fruit and Vegetable Disc
• Julienne Disc

Pros

• Multiple work bowls
• Powerful motor
• Quiet
• Retractable cord stores in base
• Accessory storage case with safety lock
• Dishwasher safe
• Heavy duty and durable
• Sturdy base, remains stable when in use

Cons

• Bulky and heavy
• Replacement parts are expensive
• Rubber seal on lid hard to clean

Manufacturer’s Warranty

As of this writing, Cuisinart offers a 20 year warranty on the motor and a 3 year limited warranty on the other parts and accessories.

Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection Food Processor Reviews and Ratings

Reviews. There’s lots of them. At the time of writing this review, the machine has 489 ratings on Amazon alone. The more ratings the better as this type of feedback gives you a better picture of the longevity and performance of the product.

Of those 489 reviews, 284 people gave it the highest rating of 5 stars. The remaining marks include 76 four star ratings, 35 three star ratings, 31 two star ratings, and 63 one star ratings. If you consider 4 and 5 stars to be above average, then about 74% of Amazon customers who commented rated this food processor above average. Not a bad recommendation at all.

Cuisinart has a loyal following and I noticed that many of the reviews were from “old timers” on their second or third model.

Users felt buying this model was a great investment. Many customers like the convenience of stacking the bowls for compact storage and also the included blade and disc holder. Customers were won over to this model by the six position variable slicing disc and the reversible shredding disc.

It’s always helpful to hear about some of the recipes completed with a certain machine. It helps one understand the capabilities and how they relate to uses that might be in mind. Some of the recipes people prepared include making hummus, gazpacho and marzipan, cubing meat, cookie and pizza dough, pureeing veggies and fruits for baby food, gluten free pie crust and bread, grind nuts to make nut butters, shredding potatoes and onions for homemade hash browns and much more. These demonstrate the versatility of the FP-14DC.

Several people noted that while the finger holes on the shredding and slicing disc allow for easy removal, chunks of food would fall through the holes and not get processed. Others, however, said they did not have a problem with this at all. It seems like this only happens with certain kinds of foods like baby carrots and cheese.

Another thing that some users disliked is that during processing, food particles tend to get stuck between the lid and the seal and it is hard to clean it out. Some people mentioned to clean the lid immediately after use. Because if you let it sit for awhile and the food gets dry and hard, it will take much longer to clean. You can use both ends (either the flat side and/or the brush side) of the “Cleaning Tool” that the manufacturer included to quickly do the job.

Another common gripe mentioned that because of a gap between the blade and the cover, some of the food gets trapped there and so does not get processed at all.

A few users said that they have to struggle to take the bowls apart and when using the smaller bowls it is hard not to get the larger bowl dirty. Hence they have to wash all three bowls instead of just one. They also said the bowls do take up a lot of room in the dishwasher.

One user found to her dismay that the machine can start even though the lid is not fully locked into place. While several reviewers said the the machine would get stuck in the “on” position and they were not even able to change the setting to something else. The only way to turn the unit off was to unplug it from the outlet.

Also, the storage caddy while a welcome addition, only holds the blades and discs that come standard with the machine. So if you end up purchasing any of the extra attachments, you’ll need to figure out how to store them.

Finally, some people complained that when they had to return the unit to Cuisinart for repairs during the warranty period, they still had to pay to ship the defective machine back to the company and also pay for return shipping as well.

Price

The price of the FP-14DC Elite hovers between $249 and $299 online. Amazon usually has the best price plus you may also qualify for free shipping. Amazon has online coupons as well to save you even more money. Be sure to check the coupons page first to see if there’s any there that you can use.

Summary

With the three included work bowls coupled with the blades and discs, the Cuisinart Elite 14 cup food processor can quickly and consistently chop, mix, slice, shred or puree large or small volumes of food efficiently. Saving you time and energy in the kitchen. Also the blade does not fall out when you are pouring out your food. And the sealed lid feature prevents liquids from leaking out of the bowl.

However, this machine is large and cumbersome. So if the thought of constantly pulling it out of your cabinet would get on your last nerves, then make sure that you have a permanent home for it on your counter or kitchen island before you buy it.

The 20-year warranty on the motor plus the 3-year on the other parts, along with the overall sturdiness and the functionality to do different tasks with ease, makes this Cuisinart model a very good deal overall.

So if you’re looking to replace an older model or just want to upgrade to a larger capacity and can fit it into the budget, consider the Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection 14-cup food processor.