(checked 2026-10-10)
The long-running expert favorite: simple, sturdy, quiet and excellent at dough. Its slicing disk isn't adjustable, it is less precise on delicate herbs, and some owners report cracked plastic parts or a lid that won't lock.
Top complaints
- Plastic parts crack over time
Amazon's review summary says durability feedback is mixed, with some owners reporting plastic parts cracking after a year (318 of 506 durability mentions are negative). Value for money is also divided.
- Lid hard to lock, or the unit won't start
Several 1-star Walmart reviews say the lid is nearly impossible to lock or the machine won't start after assembly. Cuisinart's reply explains that the bowl, lid and pusher must all be fully locked for the safety interlock to allow it to run.
Source: Walmart reviews (lowest rated) - Basic attachments, less precise on delicate jobs
Wirecutter notes that the slicing disk is fixed at about 5 mm and isn't adjustable. The machine also left some large parsley pieces and ground up soft mozzarella instead of shredding it. Serious Eats dislikes that the feed chute sits at the back and that the pusher falls out when the lid is turned over.
Source: Wirecutter, Serious Eats
What owners love
- A long-term workhorse
It has been Wirecutter's top pick since 2013. One staffer replaced hers after 11 years of use, and an editor still uses a decades-old unit. It comes with a 3-year warranty, and Cuisinart sells replacement parts.
Source: Wirecutter - Simple controls, easy to clean
It has just on and pulse buttons. Serious Eats found it had the easiest controls it tested, and Wirecutter found its bowl easier to clean than most.
Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter - Stable and quiet, even with dough
Wirecutter says it kneaded pizza dough effortlessly without moving and measured a relatively quiet 75 dB. Amazon owners praise its noise level (339 of 356 mentions are positive) and call it rock solid on the counter.
- You want very thin, adjustable slicing
- You mostly chop fresh herbs finely
- You need lots of specialty attachments
- Most home cooks who want one reliable machine
- Kneading pizza and bread dough
- People who like simple two-button controls
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick since 2013: a simple, sturdy machine that dices, slices and kneads consistently. Its flaws are a fixed slicing disk, less consistent results on delicate herbs, and a feed tube at the back.
- Serious Eats: Best budget food processor with the easiest controls and a quiet induction motor. The chute is on the far side, and the pusher falls out when the lid is turned over.