We just got a Kitchenaid Processor and have used it three times (juicing & chopping) in the three days we’ve had it. It’s fantastic! Comes apart and cleans easily. I’ve had this machine for about a year now. It is solid, strong and quiet. My previous food processor was so loud, my kids would scream from fear when I’d turn it on. Not this one. It chops my liver and shreds potatoes to perfection. The base gets wiped, everything else goes into the dishwasher. In short, it does everything that a food processor is supposed to do. Here are my other thoughts:
1. The food pusher separates into 2 pieces. There is a red plastic insert that twists off and comes out of the larger, clear plastic food pusher. Removing this red insert creates a smaller feed tube in the larger pusher which is handy for feeding smaller (thinner) items such as carrots or the like when you want greater control of how the food hits the slicing blade.
2. The handle is the key for the locking mechanism for the lid-to-bowl and the bowl-to-base. Once the bowl is in place on the base and the lid is locked down to the bowl, there is a locking pin in the handle that engages and the bowl cannot be removed.
3. The base is again, very solid and well weighted. The button pad is completely covered so there is no chance of food leaking into the buttons. There is an On, Off, and Pulse button. I use the pulse button frequently as the engine is so powerful, you won’t need extended food processing times as you might with other food processors to accomplish the same goal.
4. Bravo to KitchenAid for scoring an A+ with such a simple, yet delightful and highly functional kitchen tool that is sure to please the most demanding chef in each of us. A bit on the pricey side, but worth every penny!
5. Pizza dough – It says to stick to around 3 cups. My recipe was slightly over that and not only did it handle it perfectly but it mixed it so thoroughly and quickly, I was amazed. Much faster than my Kitchenaid Mixer.
6. Everything with this unit is heavy and well-made. The included storage case is nice, but I agree that it should have a hinged lid, but that is a small matter compared to the way in which this product delivers.
This machine is awesome. I’ve had very good experience with KitchenAid products, and this one is no exception. It’s well-designed, quiet, and very powerful, easily kneading a heavy wheat bread dough. The smaller bowl is the perfect size for making pesto or doing similar jobs. The bowl- and blade-locking mechanisms are well designed – intuitive to use, without any leaking or messing around. Feels very stable and sturdy!