Review by :

I highly recommend the Cuisinart Mini-Prep. I’ve had one for 6 years and it is still running beautifully. For such a small unit it has a surprisingly powerful motor. It can chop or puree vegies, fruits, – even cooked beef, chicken, and fish. When I first bought it I used it mainly for chopping onions, garlic, herbs, etc., but then I began to discover the possibilities. Ofcourse, the portions you are able to prepare are small, but if you’re alone or have a very small family, it’s a great little machine. Also a breeze to clean (not like the large Cuisinart units). Only negative is that it is rather noisy, however, for this price it is a terrific value. I must add that I bought two other mini processors prior to this one (both by Black & Decker) and was thoroughly dissatisfied with them. The motors were not powerful at all and the blades were in a different position than Cuisinart Mini-Prep. They could not chop more than 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food at a time or it would not run. Neither unit would puree anything, only coarse chopping was possible. If you’re looking for a good mini processor the Cuisinart Mini-Prep is it!

Review by Southern Review:

A time for every seasoning……and a utensil for every purpose. The Cuisinart Mini Prep does not serve well as a primary processor for heavy jobs. That was not its intended design, or function.

I obtained my first mini prep as a promotional gift with a DLC-7 purchase. For many years they have been contributing to my cooking enjoyment as a problem-free, complimentary team in a busy kitchen. When their lexan lids eventually chipped, (which admittedly is a major cause of aggravation with Cuisinart’s products) I opted to replace them rather than spend up to 50% of their new cost for replacement bowls. I upgraded the old DLC-7 that is still mechanically perfect, with a MP-14 TM Limited Edition.

The Mini Prep perfectly compliments larger processors. I specifically elected to stay with Cuisinart’s older, boxier design; because its function is favored over the newer, sleeker model, the DLC-2ABC.

The mini prep makes delectable, creamy homemade sauces and dressings. It performs equally well making pesto, crèmed butter, chopped fresh herbs, including garlic, chopped nuts, small portion purees, deviled eggs, spreads, and speedy fresh salsas. It has a fast and slow lever whose function I like because they may be “pulsed” on and off with an instantaneous response. This offers a demanding cook tremendous control over several types of prep functions conducive to small processors.

Mini Prep seems perfectly designed to make one and a half cup portions of emulsified sauces and dressings, such as cilantro mayonnaise for grilled fish, or a dollop on fresh corn salad.

Here is a basic example of how I use this workhorse.

Herb mayonnaise: place dry seasonings, a dab of honey, poupon mustard, flavored vinegars, or lemon/lime juice in the jar. Pulse to mix. Add about a tablespoon (who measures?) of Just Whites, dry pasteurized egg whites to the liquid (no cholesterol, calories, or salmonellae fears) —pulse to mix—add a hand full of fresh herbs (cilantro, or dill, or tarragon is nice)—-pulse to chop slightly. Then use the wonderfully designed lid that holds oil and has two holes on the top that will drizzle in the oil of your choice, without opening the lid, or fiddling with additional attachments that drizzle oil. You have the additional control to shift the motor speed instantaneously from high speed, to slower, or pulse mode, in direct accordance to your temperamental sauce’s precise requirement as it thickens.

Result: Restaurant quality chef’s sauces come together effortlessly in minutes! Large processor’s work bowls are too large for this type of job. One must repeatedly scrape the bowl’s sides, and the motors are additionally too powerful to make small portions described above as successfully as the Mini Prep’s performance.

The Mini prep is very lightweight which makes it a delight to store in the pantry. It assembles and disassembles quickly and effortlessly. I especially love the function of the two (tiny) holes on the lid, along with the ease of the lid’s removal for ingredient additions. The design and function permit those who love to cook an opportunity to enjoy their creativity in the kitchen without fighting with obstinate, dysfunctional appliances.

It is a great convenience and a breeze to use. I love this little workhorse.

Review by J Keistler:

I’ve had one of these little fryer appliances since they first became popular in the seventies. The current model is the second one I’ve had, being larger than the original model that came out. For someone not needing to fry enormous amounts at one time, this little machine is ideal. It requires only a very small amount of vegetable oil. I’ve used it to fry chicken wings, quickly, to do french fries and onion rings, to do other smaller chicken parts, and it works beautifully. There is no thermostat; you just plug it in, wait 10 minutes, and the temp is 375. Having such a small amount of grease, it recovers heat more quickly than an electric skillet. When you are through, if you plan to reuse the grease you can simply let the machine cool, snap the plastic top on, the put the whole thing in the fridge. I don’t fry that often, and when I do, I tend to fry a lot, so usually I just discard the oil. Such a small amount is used (usually no more than 3 cups starting out) that I don’t feel bad about discarding the oil. The sides on this appliance are quite high, and splatter around the machine has never been a problem. I used common sense, though, when I fry, whether it’s here or on the stove. I’m sure the all-enclosed auto-fryers that are out on the market are nice, and if I fried a lot I’d probably get one. However, I only fry once or twice a month, and for that, this little machine is perfect. I’d recommend one to anyone–durable, simple, and does exactly what it’s designed for!

Review by shoe lover:

I fry things about 1-2 times a week, and I liked my fried things to be very crispy yet not laden with oil. I wanted something that would truly get to a hotter frying temperature, to make my frying quicker and more “healthful”…(healthy frying….is that an oxymoron or what?) Because I don’t fry THAT often, I just needed something simple. I like this fryer because the heat-up time is very quick, and there is much less splatter then if you were frying in a pot. When I fry, I usually do your typical fried foods: fries, onion rings, wontons, etc. I have not tried to do anything else in it yet.If the oil is fairly clean after I use it, I will put it in the refridgerator, but not keep more than a week. This is a very simple fryer. If you are a more heavy-duty fryer, then you might want to look into a fancier one. The exterior is not cool-touch, and there is no basket. If you only do small batches of things, and don’t really fry that much, or even if you do, then this will be a great fryer for you.

Review by Mary M.:

We almost didn’t buy this toaster because of all the negative reviews. Thankfully, we did. It’s fantastic. The blue portion is made of a material that doesn’t get hot – this is really helpful when raising the toast out because it doesn’t burn your thumb (which happened with another high end toaster we tried). We’ve been using it for about a month and it has made nothing but perfect toast. The dial turns beautifully – it’s not cheap and rattly like so many others and the crumb tray fits into its slot with perfection. The bagel button works great and is a nice good feeling button. We’re pretty picky about appliances but have absolutely no complaints about this one. We’d buy it again in a snap but doubt we’ll ever need to – it’s totally solid and built to last.

Review by K Sue:

I bought this toaster two Christmases ago and am now shopping for a new one. This toaster has been, since day one, a piece of crap. We don’t ask it to do much – just make a couple pieces of toast (regular bread) every now and then. Even on this simple task, it is hit or miss – the toast is either burned, or not toasted at all. It is a rip-off.

Review by Karma wilson:

I love this waffle maker! It’s like the ones our mom used, not those cheesy seeming plastic things they’re making now. It’s also got a lot of excellent features that make my life easier. I’ll mention right now that this is a VERY hot waffle maker. They make the plastic ones to be “cool touch”. I’ll trade the cool touch feature for the sturdier design of this versatile machine. I’m being careful and haven’t burned myself yet. But it’s something to consider if you’d like your children making waffles. My ten year old could be careful enough, but I keep my five and eight year olds away. The waffles this machine makes are great! They freeze well too. The family is very happy. When the light goes of the unit is ready to make waffles. Pour in the batter and the light comes on again–wait for it to go off and the waffle is done (however, I usually go on instinct and sometimes pull out the waffle before the light goes off.)The open grill feature makes wonderful pancakes and fried eggs. I have a big family and it’s nice to have two pancakes cook at a shot without taking up all my stovetop! I can have bacon and eggs on the stove and the pancakes on the waffle maker. (I can also have a heart attack if I keep eating all these bacon and eggs!) The sandwich feature is nice. I can cook two grilled cheese sandwiches at one time getting me out of the kitchen quicker. Some advice–cheese might drip out the side of the sandwich. Just keep the sandwich away from the back of the unit where the cables run in and the mess just wipes off–no problem. The sandwiches cook far more uniformly than they do in a pan on the stove. They taste great. This unit cleans up easily and changing the grills from waffle to flat is easy. I recommend it over a lot of more costly models if you want more value for your money. This is the most versatile waffle maker I’ve found and all the features actually work!

Review by :

I got this one after unsuccessfully trying the Cuisinart waffle maker. It is wonderful! None of the batters, not even gluten-free ones would stick. All waffles came out great, crisp outside and moist inside. The grill feature was a plus and makes great grill cheese or other types or grilled sandwishes in a jiffy.

Review by Frank J. Petruccelli:

Krups FMF5-14 10-cup programmable coffee machine, black.

I just don’t understand all the negative reviews about this Krups Coffee Maker. Was there a plastic smell while brewing? Yes, but only the first time running only water through the machine & not at all since. Were there air bubbles in the gauge that tells you how many cups you are brewing? Again yes the first time I used it with water only. All I had to do is remove the plastic indicator, blow through it and presto no more bubbles. It really isn’t rocket science.

I am not a a light coffee drinker & I have about 3-4 mugs a day, my coffee is very important to me, so when I read all the negative reviews about this coffee maker I panicked. I went out and bought a Cussinart Thermal Coffee Maker instead, that was a mistake.

I used to belong to the Gevalia Coffee Club & when I joined I got a free 12 cup non-thermal coffee maker. It made/makes great coffee. It is the one I have been using for over 8 years. I had learned years ago that even though it had the Gevalia name on it, it was actually made by Krups. I should of ignored the bad reviews of the Krup FMF5 Thermal Coffee Maker & go with a brand I know works great.

I returned my Cussinart, got this coffee maker & couldn’t be happier. This Krups makes great coffee, keeps it hot for hours & is hassle free. It also has some nice features like a water filter in the reservoir & an empty reservoir warning just to name a few. There is no plastic taste in the coffee.

So just follow the simple instructions & recommendations, sit back & enjoy a great cup of coffee. Come back in a few hours & you can do the same.

Review by D. REAMAN:

I bought this Krups to replace a beloved Krups thermal carafe that sadly passed on. This new model features too many flaws. For one, the swing-open filter door doesn’t always engage. Minor issue. If you pour your water into the machine too quickly, bubbles can form in the window, so you’re never quite sure how much is in the machine. Further, my model always seems to leak both water and brewed coffee from the bottom of the machine. Granted, it’s only the size of a quarter or half-dollar, but you don’t expect this from a Krups. Finally, the carafe, itself, pours so broadly that leaks are inevitable. Sadly, this product does not live up to the Krups’ reputation.

Review by R D:

Unlike many of the reviewers, I’ve only had this mixer for about a year, and it’s this specific model, the 250W 4.5 quart mixer (the bottom of the Kitchenaid line). It was a real splurge at the time we purchased it, but it has turned out to be well worth it.Before the Kitchenaid, I didn’t do much baking. I tend towards more “manly” cooking techniques: the hotter the fire, the spicier the recipe, the better as far as I’m concerned. But this machine is as satisfying to use as any power tool in the garage — there is something about using the *right* tool for the job, and I’ve found no tasks that one might consider using a mixer for that the Kitchenaid doesn’t excel at. But it’s especially good for baking, and once you start using it, you’ll have your oven running a lot more than you used to.The big difference between this mixer and the standard “two beater” models you may be familiar with is that it uses a single mixing attachment that rotates in two motions- it not only spins on its own axis, it also is rotated around the edge of the bowl. This does an extremely effective job of mixing ingredients without need for the bowl rotating, since the mixing motion covers the entire bowl. For most mixing jobs, it also requires no scraping of the sides with the spatula. IE: when it’s mixing, you can ignore it and work on other stuff.The first attachment I’ll mention is the dough hook, which is a godsend for kneading. In the last day, I’ve made pizza dough, bagels, and whole wheat bread. Although this is the least powerful machine Kitchenaid makes, it kneads stiff dough (like the aforementioned bagels made with high-gluten flour) that would turn your mother’s mixmaster into a smoking, stinking heap of fried motor components. Machine kneading takes a *lot* of the effort and variability out of making bread… you never “knead in” too much flour to keep it from sticking to your hands, and the 20 minutes you normally spend working the dough turns into 10 minutes you can use to clean up the kitchen.The other two attachments are the paddle and the whisk. The paddle is the all-purpose “workhorse” beater, and works extremely well for creaming sugar and butter together, mixing cookie dough or cake batter, or any other general-purpose mixing job. With the orbital motion, it comes right up to the edge of the bowl, so it is effectively scraping as it goes. The whisk is great for egg whites and making whipped cream. I’m sure it’s good for something else, but that’s what I’ve used it for.As for capacity, the 4.5 quart model is suitable for pretty much any “normal” home recipes. It’s a “standard mixer”. It will easily knead enough dough at once for two loaves of bread, or mix a double-batch of cookies.As for downsides: this thing is HEAVY. You won’t be moving it once it’s in place. If you knead very stiff dough, the bowl sometimes will get tightened to the extent that it is very difficult to remove from the base. It’s OK if you remember to leave it a little loose beforehand, but I always forget and I end up wrestling with the machine to twist it out. The metal trim band on the mixer right above the bowl has come a little loose on my model- the machine got a bit hot after some heavy kneading, and I think some adhesive got soft. It’s held in place well by something else, but sometimes it will slip when I’m wiping the machine off. It’s purely cosmetic from what I can tell, and it’s the only thing that feels cheap in any way about this machine. Other than that, I honestly haven’t had a single complaint.In summary: this is an expensive mixer, but it is very well worth it. Even novice cooks will find it’s use enjoyable, and it will inspire you to explore new things that you probably didn’t do before because of the time and effort involved.

Review by M. Baker:

A word of warning – the Kitchenaides made in the past 10 or so years have a less powerful and durable motor than the older ones. If you like making homemade bread (like I do) purchase a professional mixer to knead your dough (or do it by hand like I do now). Kitchenaides used on a regular basis to make homemade bread (especially using whole wheat flour) will destroy your motor. When you send the mixer in for repairs (under warranty) they will say you’ve been using it commercially and refuse to stand behind their warranty. If you tell them you use it to make bread they’ll tell you it’s not made for that (they can’t explain why they provide a dough hook though or neglect to provide any warnings against breadmaking in particular). I’ve always loved Kitchenaide appliances, my sisters is 15+ years old and going strong but my poor 4 year old mixer overheats and strains doing the same recipes. My next mixer will be a Magic Mill DLX Kitchen Machine, its twice as much, but will last like the old Kitchenaides do. I have to give 2 stars for the lousy warranty service and lack of honesty in their manuals.

Update: August 2004

Haven’t been using my KA for bread since (bought a breadmachine to mix my dough). Only using the KA for light use abut 4 times a month. Now it makes a grinding noise continuously while in use. Cookie doughs seems almost too hard for it too. My sisters is now over 20 years old and going strong (even with bread). I wish they made them like they used too……..

Review by Bob:

I had purchased 4 of these oster mini jars for grinding coffee beans, spices,etc. They work very well for that purpose. Later, I discovered that the pint sized Mason Jar will screw in to the base of the blender and can be used in the same way as the plastic jar (which over time seems to crack a bit and gets cloudy from abrasion). The advantage is that you can buy a case of 12 mason jars for only a couple of dollars more than what you pay for 1 plastic jar.

It’s worth a try and the mason jars can be used for other things if you don’t need that many for grinding,blending or chopping.

Review by sweetsting:

I just tried using an empty pickled cucumber jar…these are similar to the mason jars..and they will last longer than the mini jars…i got two minis already..i hate to think that the plastic that breaks and shreds into micro particles is in the food I am feedin my family…prefer the glass any day! u can use them to grind larger quantities too!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to the other reviewer who pointed this out!!! Simply Amazing!!

Update..Especially for those who Frequent India or Indian Stores here..

We get these chutney jar attachments for oster grinders in INDIAAAA…I was still looking for something sturdier than the glass mason jars..so when I went to India I carried the oster blade attachment with the black bottom thinking I can ask them to make one for me…To my surprise shops were already selling these attachments ..the proper steel chutney jar attachments …and if they didnt have it in stock they would make one for u…since I had my oster attachment to confirm…I could buy it…but even without it..i dun think it wud be a problem…The only thing is get few extras of the rubber bottom that fits on to the mixer… to attach itself…coz…i was almost upset to see that its wears off a bit when u first run the mixer…..but that happened for me just the first two times..It actually took the right shape of mixers attachment…its doesnt sound inspiring..but believe me…. now the chutney jar works perfectly with my osterizer…I make lotsa coconut chutney and grind whole spices..and this one really stands up the best…I havent had to replace the rubber bottoms as yet..and its been a year since I have been using it….Oster is a very well known brand in India and Vimal is the company that makes these attachmets for oster…Now I Love my oster!!! Hope this helps…u can also try checking with ur Indian store here…mine didnt have any…but u never know.

Ohh and the Steel Jar comes with its own four blades…so thats twice the power..Next time I go to India, I will also get the Big Metal Jar for better or say quicker grinding for my Idli/Dosa Batters which is also available.

Hope this helps all who came looking for the better solution to these mini jars on this page.

Update..Okay…I did go to India this time and oster has launched there too now. So we get these great Chutney jar and Batter Jars too which are not offered by oster here in the US. Since Oster had just launched I could not get just the attachments but I called them and the Rep let me know that Oster is distributed from our dear neighbor MEXICO and we can always call them up and get the attachments specially meant for the Indian market or difficult to grind foods in general (Coconut spices etc). I shall update with part number the next time.

Review by Dean Seidel:

The filters are what I expected, fit fine and good quality. You have to watch that the filter matches your filter model number because it can easily be confusing.

Review by Danielle:

At first I was a little concerned with the quality for the price. I just got my order (earlier then estimated) and the quality looks no different then the ones I was using. I bought them for my Whirlpool AP450 and they fit fine. In my opinion this is a good deal. I will purchase again when the time comes.

Review by T. D. Ely:

I have had a few full-size food processors in the past — both expensive and cheap models — and the main complaints I had with them were: bulkiness, noise, and cleanup time. Over time, I realized that I was doing fewer and fewer things with the processor, and then finally, it got put away for good.But lately, I found that I was chopping the same ingredients, in almost the same amounts, again and again.So, on a whim, really, I decided to give the Kitchenaid 3-cup chopper a try. I own a number of Kitchenaid large appliances, and have always been satisfied. This food chopper is no exception, as it exceeds my expectations for handling my chopping drudgery. Be it onions, garlic, emulsifying dressing, making bread crumbs, chopping nuts, whatever. This unit takes a very small amount of counter space, has a great look, stores its cord in the base, and its bowl and cover are dishwasher-safe.This appliance is a nice time-saver, and that, in my opinion, makes it a great item.

Review by S. Burch:

When I starting searching for a mini-chopper I was surprised by the huge rating difference between the Cuisinart DLC2 and the KitchenAid KFC3100, so I bought both and did a side-by-side comparison. The only explanation I can give for the ratings difference is that Cuisinart buyers must have higher expectations. For most operations they have nearly identical performance and for some operations the Cuisinart is the clear winner.

Onions: Many Cuisinart reviewers panned its performance here, claiming it made onion purée, but most KitchenAid reviewers praised its onion chopping ability. I found almost no difference between the two. Maybe its an issue with the instructions – for chopped onions you must use a few short pulses. A few more pulses and you get minced onion – more than this and both give you onion puree. I wouldn’t say either is great at chopping onions, but both are equally mediocre.

I also tested chopping nuts, and making breadcrumbs with similar results. Both performed about the same for a course chop, although the Cuisinart produced a more even chop on the nuts, but its when you want a really fine chop that the Cuisinart starts to shine. The first reason for this is the grind feature found only on the Cuisinart. This spins the blade in the opposite direction which allows the flat, back-side of the blade to impact the food. More importantly, it redistributes the food, so if you’ve got a couple of chunks that refuse to be chopped, a short pulse in the opposite direction helps it drop into the blade. For perfect, fine breadcrumbs I alternate between the normal chop mode for a few seconds, and grind for one second.

The other reason the Cuisinart gives a better fine chop is that it does a much better job of cycling the food through the blade. This is a real key when you’re working with softer foods like spreads, pâtés or purees. When I made a cream cheese spread in both choppers the Cuisinart did a far quicker and better job of pulling the ingredients down the center and into the blade. The KitchenAid kept larger chunks bobbing on top. If you’re making dips, spreads or baby food, the Cuisinart is the hands-down winner.

On the practical side, both choppers were equally easy to clean. Both have small holes in the lid for pouring in liquids on the fly, but only The KitchenAid has a slot for dry or thick ingredients – if that’s important to you. Overall, I found the Cuisinart easier to use for several reasons. First, the Cuisinart blade drops on easily, while the KitchenAid blade is keyed and I found myself turning it several times before it dropped in. Second, the KitchenAid lid must be removed first before you can lift off the bowl, but on the Cuisinart, the bowl and lid can be detached as an assembly. Finally, the Cuisinart blade has a “handle” that extends to the top of the bowl like a popsicle stick allowing you to remove the blade without getting your fingers in the food.

After all my testing, I really can’t understand the large ratings difference between these two. Neither is perfect – you’ll never get a perfect, even, course chop with things like onions or chocolate, but they do come in handy. For many uses either one will give you pretty much the same results. Because of its advantage with softer foods and its ease of use, I recommend the Cuisinart.