To pick up a proper Cuisinart food processor, one simply can’t ignore the Custom series, especially the medium and large models.

The series is the most successful line of food processors from Cuisinart and is currently one of the top recommendations in Kitchen Small Appliance category on multiple online retailers.

Let’s take a look at the Cuisinart Custom 14 DFP-14BCNY 14-cup.

Control

In contrast to the other collections, the Custom series highlights traditional values. Featuring physical paddle controls instead of electronic touchpads, Custom models steal the heart of users with simplicity and familiarity in designs.

The Custom unit has two paddles controlling the spinning: the ON and the OFF/Pulse paddle.

The ON mode will keep the motor running continuously until stopped with the OFF paddle, or until the lid or the large pusher is removed, which is a safety feature.

The fact that these units don’t have multiple speed choices does seem to be non-versatile.

However, according to many experienced owners, multiple speeds are not as useful as they initially thought. They usually get accustomed to a single speed mode and pulsing.

Work Bowl

As the name suggests, the work bowl of DFP-14BCNY is 14 cups of capacity. The docking is standard as the bowl locks into the motor base with a simple turn counterclockwise. The lid uses the same mechanics as we can lock/unlock it by only twisting.

Regarding the feed chute, the Custom 14 Cup offers two feeding options: one small tube for small vegetables produce and one extra large feed tube and large pusher for big, round veggies and fruits.

The small tube goes together with a small pusher, which offers one more feature: a drizzle hole. It allows liquid to drop through at a moderate pace and thoroughly incorporate into your mayonnaise or vinaigrette.

The cool part of the work bowl is the hidden safety feature: the motor can only be activated when the lid or the large pusher is locked in. As soon as you twist them out of place, the machine will stop operating immediately.

Blade & Discs

As a model from a standard, classic line of food processors, the DFP-14BCNY offers tools suited for all your daily kitchen needs.

A stainless steel chopping/mixing S blade is included to help you puree, chop vegetables, mix/knead doughs, and grind nuts, seeds, or dried fruits.

The package includes a standard, stainless steel slicing disc (4mm) to cut up your produce into even slices, and of course, a shredding disc to let you shred your potatoes, carrots, or cheese easily.

Disassembling & Cleaning

The Custom 14-Cup, overall, is not designed with complexity. So rest assured that it won’t take long to take the unit apart to clean and store it.

The design consists of 3 big essential parts: the motor, the discs and blade set, and the work bowl/lid. The assembling/disassembling of the lid requires some getting-used-to.

The stem that goes along with the discs also has a bit of a learning curve. You need to know where the cue symbol and the locking switch is, and which way to twist the stem.

It’s truly not as complicated as it sounds. Once you’ve seen how each part works, it won’t be a problem anymore.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that all the parts (except for the motor) are dishwasher-friendly like your typical kitchenware.

he other unit that has scored many consumers for Cuisinart is the medium size model of the Custom series: the Pro-Custom 11-cup.

To get a general idea of the machine, think of the Pro-Custom Cuisinart 11-cup model DLC-8SBCY as a combination of the Custom 14-cup and a Mini-Prep 4-cup mini processor, which we will be discussing later on.

Coming from the same series, the DLC-8SBCY 11-cup is very similar to the larger model. They look alike and operate with the same mechanics, from the work bowls to the motor base.

Still, here is why it is a different machine from the 14-cup, not much in form, but in usage.

Compact flat cover

The Pro-Custom 11-cup is with an extra compact flat cover with one drop-in hole which makes thing less complicated if your daily demands in the kitchen don’t often include shredding/slicing. That is what we meant by saying the model is “half” a mini processor (because the minis can’t shred or slice).

When you want to use the discs, the bulkier cover with feed chute is required. Thus, in scenarios of only chopping, mixing, pureeing, the compact flat cover of the 11-cup unit will prove to be much handier.

Plus, the compact cover takes less room when you tuck the machine in its corner.

Slicing disc

As to why the item is half the 14-cup unit, it has a thing to with the slicing disc.

Unlike the Custom 14 unit, the Pro-Custom DLC-8SBCY 11-cup offers not one, but two slicing discs: a thin (2mm) and a medium (4mm) slicing disc. The addition allows users extra-thin slices for garnishing purpose and the like.

If you’re looking for a machine that can assist with daily food prepping, the small bowl franchise is a fair consideration.

For casual demands, the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus series with touchpad controls has been a big hit in many kitchens. For today break-down, we chose the Mini-Prep Plus 3-Cup, our pick for the best small food processor, to be in question.

Control

As opposed to the less popular Mini-Prep models which have paddle controls, the Mini-Prep Plus adopts the more modern experience with touchpad controls.

With much, much less pressure on the buttons, oil from your fingertips are to be less imprinted, resulting in easy-to-clean marks if there were any. The unit of discussing has two operating modes, one for chopping/mixing soft ingredients and one for grinding nuts and such.

Work Cup

The “work bowl”— or work cup— is nothing too fancy. Standard Cuisinart safety mechanism and turn-to-lock for the cups and lid are expected.

The lid has two small holes to gradually drip in oil and liquid mid-process of making vinaigrette, mayonnaise or similar tasks. These mechanics allow any liquid to incorporate within the mixture more evenly, producing finer final products.

There is also a larger version, the Mini-Prep Plus 4 Cup. Though the 3 cup version is more popular, they are fundamentally the same machines featuring differently sized work bowls.

Blade

Most mini food processors from Cuisinart provide only one blade for chopping/mixing and grinding, as there are no needs for switching blades between said processes.

The auto-reversing SmartPower blade with sharp edges to chop/mix/ puree soft produce and blunt ones on the other side to grind will get all the actions done without replacement of the blade.

When users choose to chop, the blade spins in one direction using the sharp edges. Meanwhile, the blade will spin the opposite direction exploiting the blunt edges for hard texture ingredients.

However, according to several critical reviews, the Mini-Prep Plus series is apparently not up forgrinding. To be more specific, the ground results from the process is likely to escape the unsealed cups.

Disassembling and Cleaning

Aimed to be compact and easy to use, the Mini-Prep Plus 3 Cup mini food processor is built at extreme simplicity. One twist for the work cup and one for the lid, we’re all done.

Cleaning will also take next to nothing regarding efforts because of its dishwasher safe nature.