Cuisinart DLC-2014N PowerPrep Plus 14-Cup Capacity Food Processor, White

Also, the wide-mouth feed tube gobbles up whole fruits and vegetables, which means less prep work. The powerful direct-drive induction motor base has touchpad controls with indicator lights and a special alternate speed for bread kneading. This model comes with all the basic accessories, including slicing and shredding discs, a chopping/mixing S-shaped blade, and the fabulous PowerPrep metal dough blade (all are stainless steel), plus a plastic spatula, recipe and instruction books, and a 45-minute how-to video--complete with pizza dough secrets from the Culinary Institute's chef-instructor Bill Briwa. The 2-1/2-foot cord can be wrapped underneath, and all detachable parts are dishwasher-safe. --Erin Brown

Editor's Choice: With its powerful motor and large capacity, Cuisinart's 14-cup food processor is our choice for the best food processor over $300. This food processor, suitable for catering and restaurant use and for the home chef of a large family, features a direct-drive induction motor, 14-cup plastic bowl, and comes with slicing and shredding discs, a chopping/mixing S-shaped blade, and a metal dough blade (all blades are stainless steel). This is a fairly heavy and sturdy machine--the base measures 9 inches wide by 11 inches deep--but its streamlined design is classy enough that it looks nice on the counter. Its wide-mouth feed tube allows for quick loading, and the touchpad controls are not only easy to use, but also easy to clean. The controls also include a special alternate speed for bread kneading.

The accompanying video can only be watched by people who take food equipment seriously; other family members had to be asked to leave the room during the viewing, as there was much giggling about the over-earnest instructions. Nevertheless, I picked up some fabulous tips about using the Cuisinart, and recommend you sit (alone, or with a true believer) and watch it beginning to end.

The surface of the machine is very easy to clean, and Cuisinart recommends the dishwasher for the bowl and blades. Do be careful with the latter--Cuisinart should really include the disk holder, as it is dangerous to leave these accessories lying around in a kitchen drawer.

This is the third food processor I have owned, and though I mourned the demise of my trusty Panasonic (rated highly by Consumer Reports ten years ago), with this high-end Cuisinart I have "been to Paree" and have no intention of going back to the farm. If you do any industrial-strength cooking, or if you (like me) are sold on using a food processor as a high-powered, self-contained unit for basic mixing duties, this is a wonderful accomplice in your prandial ventures. Bravo Cuisinart!


The only appliance that stays on the counter   August 23, 2002
36 out of 36 found this review helpful

When shopping for a new food processor, this one looked good, but I hesitated at first because of the price. I went ahead and splurged, and I'm so glad I did. This machine is unbelievable. I use it almost daily. It is easy to use, easy to clean, voluminous, and sturdy. Plus all the pieces stack nicely inside the bowl, so it really does not take up much space. My favorite uses: chop herbs (which I HATE doing by hand), make bean dips, make veggie spreads, slice carrots, shred cabbage, puree soups (careful -- it can splatter and leak through the middle hole, out so don't fill it too much with liquid), and puree tofu-based sauces and pie fillings. If you're looking for a machine that does mostly liquids, (soups/smoothies), opt for a blender. If you only prepare small amounts of food, this machine is not for you. It does not chop small amounts evenly; it is made for large jobs and really comes through beautifully. It also kneads dough, but I use my bread machine for that.


Make room on the counter, you'll use it a lot   April 2, 2002
J. Huntington (Riner, VA USA)
76 out of 82 found this review helpful

I bought my DLC-2014 when replacement parts for my 15-year-old Bosch became too hard to find. I was encouraged by the Cuisinart reputation and the outstanding reviews it received, and wasn't disappointed when it arrived.
The machine is heavy- no more posting a kid by the counter to make sure it doesn't walk off if I have to step away for a few seconds. It's aerodynamically smooth on the outside, so it's a snap to clean. I don't buy many things that I have to wash by hand and everything but the base can be put into the dishwasher. I use it very frequently, and often find myself making, for example, 3 batches of bread dough in quick succession rather than pull out and assemble my big mixer. (I feel that the processor does tend to heat bread dough up a little, so I might recommend adjusting the temperature of the water in recipes.)
I was devastated the one time I had problems with it - my 7 year old was mixing cookie dough in it and it just stopped and simply would not start again. I suspect she must have put in ingredients in the wrong order. I felt a little better when I looked in the manual and saw that there is a 10-year warranty on the motor, and was overjoyed later when, after I gave it sufficient time to cool off, it worked as if it were new.
My biggest complaint about the processor, and this did not keep me from giving it a "5", is that with normal household use, the cover and pusher assembly have developed some cracks which, so far, have not affected performance. The white plastic piece on the work bowl handle is loose, too, and if it comes off completely it may end up causing me to replace the bowl, as it shields the locking mechanism. A friend has commented that she has been similarly disappointed with her Cuisinart processor. I don't coddle the parts; perhaps they were dropped at some point or had some heavy dishes placed on top of them in the sink, or it could have been stress cracks caused by the heat of the dishwasher (though I always place them on the top rack). Whatever the reason, I never expected the Lexan parts to show this much wear so quickly. After looking unsuccessfully for replacement bowls and covers at various online sites, I finally found that I could order them directly from Cuisinart. The price for a complete bowl and cover assembly shocked me- about a third of what I paid for the whole processor. Will I buy the parts, at what I feel are too steep prices? Of course. I have to. I won't even wait until the ones I have now become unusable, because that might mean going for a week without it, and I am just too dependent on it to take chances.

Update: My Cuisinart is now about 10 years old and I'm going to have to replace it. The plastic membrane button covers have been cracked/worn off for about 7 years; though unsightly, this did not affect the machine's performance, at least until now. I have noticed that over the last six months or so that it would make small switching noises, as if it was turning itself on - very creepy, particularly in that I only notice it late at night, when the house is dead quiet. I now leave it unplugged when not using it. The buttons have stopped working. The machine still works, but not to pulse or at the slower dough speed; my options are limited to plugged in (on) and unplugged (off). In retrospect, it has been a solid, useful appliance. I know there are people who talk about their Cuisinarts lasting for 20 years or more, but, having used it on average every other day for 10 years I have to say I got my money's worth out of it.


goddess of the kitchen   December 3, 2001
29 out of 29 found this review helpful

Oh My God! I love this machine!! I researched and researched til my fingers were numb and found this little beauty to be top of the line. I have literally used it every single day since then. I have no complaints except that the machine moves a little when pulsing- but that is just because of it's exceptional power, so there really is no complaint there. I have sliced, diced, mixed dough, chopped my way into several recipes and they have been outstanding.
The DLC-2014 comes with a new feeding system, wider mouth, which is fabulous....there is a new dough button which has proven to be exceptional in mixing dough in (literally) SECONDS!!! It is a little tricky to make sure not to overprocess onions and such because it is so powerful, but once you get the hang of it is is simple. I DEFINATELY recommend this processor to everyone. I also recommend the blade/disc holder since storing the blades is literally impossible. They are so sharp and abnormal shaped to store in any drawer, and protection is a consideration. Have fun with this baby!


I love this processor!   February 2, 2001
34 out of 36 found this review helpful

The Cuisinart PowerPrep Plus is a beautiful workhorse! It is large enough to handle large jobs in one batch, rather than having to make things in repeated batches as has been my experience with other machines. I love this processor and am finding more and more uses for it. I use it practically daily. The accompanying video demistifies the machine and also gives some good cooking tips. All pieces fit comfortably in the dishwasher so clean-up is a snap. I have not encountered any negatives as yet!