Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor

Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor: Master of Chopping, Dicing, and More! (with Spiralizer Bonus)
Looking to step up your food prep game? The Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor with Spiralizer and Dicer (White) might be your new kitchen hero. This multifunctional appliance boasts a powerful motor and a range of attachments that can handle almost any food prep task imaginable.

Big Bowl, Big Potential

The first thing that stands out about this Cuisinart is the massive 13-cup work bowl. This means you can grate mountains of cheese, chop vegetables for a crowd, or blend enough soup for a whole party. Plus, there’s a handy 4-cup inner bowl for smaller jobs.

Beyond Chopping: Dicing, Spiralizing, and More!

This food processor goes way beyond just chopping. It comes with a dicing disc that creates even cubes perfect for salads, stews, or stir-fries. The real star of the show might be the spiralizer attachment, which lets you transform vegetables into nutritious, veggie noodles.

Power and Control

The 550-watt peak power motor ensures that Cuisinart can handle tedious tasks without breaking a sweat. The wide-mouth feed tube makes adding ingredients easy, and the included pushers keep your fingers safe. Plus, variable speeds and a pulse setting give you complete control over the food processing process.

Easy Cleaning

Cleanup is a breeze with the dishwasher-safe parts (blades excluded, of course). The SealTight Advantage System helps prevent leaks during processing, keeping your kitchen clean.

Is it Right for You?

This Cuisinart is a great choice for anyone who loves to cook and wants to save time and effort in the kitchen. The large capacity and several attachments make it perfect for families or those who entertain frequently. However, if you have limited counter space or only do light food pre-cook, a smaller food processor might be a better fit.

Final Verdict

The Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor with Spiralizer and Dicer is a powerful and multifunctional appliance that can handle different kinds of food prep tasks. With its large capacity, multiple attachments, and easy cleaning, it’s a great choice for busy home cooks.

 

Key Features

Here are the features of the Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor with Spiralizer and Dicer (White):

Large Capacity: 13-cup work bowl with a 4-cup inner bowl for both large and small jobs.

Multiple Attachments: Comes with stainless steel chopping/mixing blade, dough blade, small and large S-blades, dicing disc, reversible shredding disc (fine/medium), adjustable slicing disc (0-7mm), and a spiralizer attachment.

Powerful Motor: 550-watt peak power motor for handling tedious ingredients.

Easy Control: Electronic touchpad with High/Low/Off/Pulse settings and revealing blue LED lights.

Safe to Use: Supreme wide-mouth feed tube with small, medium, and large pushers.

Easy Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe parts and SealTight Advantage System to prevent leaks.

How to Use your Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor

While I can’t give you the full instruction manual here, I can walk you through the general steps of using the Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor with Spiralizer and Dicer. It’s always advised to check the full manual that comes with the appliance for detailed instructions and safety information.

General Steps:

1. Wash and Prep: Wash and dry all ingredients before processing. Cut large items into bits small enough to fit the feed tube.
2. Choose Your Attachment: Depending on your task (chopping, dicing, shredding, etc.), choose the appropriate blade or disc attachment. Check the manual for instructions on how to set up each attachment.
3. Assemble the Processor: Place the work bowl on the motor base and lock it into place. Add the chosen attachment and secure it with the lid.
4. Add Ingredients: Place your chopped ingredients into the feed tube. You can use the different sized pushers depending on the ingredient size.
5. Start Processing: Select your desired speed setting (High, Low, or Pulse) using the control panel.

• Pulse: Use the pulse function for short bursts of processing for tasks like chopping nuts or getting a coarse chop on vegetables.
• High/Low: Use the High setting for tasks like mincing cheese or blending soups. Use Low for softer ingredients or tasks requiring more control.

6. Process Until Desired Consistency: Use the pulse function or hold down the High/Low button depending on your chosen setting, until your ingredients reach the desired consistency.

7. Stop and Empty: Turn off the processor and unplug it before unlocking the lid and removing the work bowl.

For Spiralizing:

1. Follow steps 1-3 above.
2. Attach the spiralizer attachment with your chosen disc (ribbon or spaghetti) as stated by the manual’s instructions.
3. Prepare your vegetables according to the manual’s recommendations (firm vegetables like zucchini or sweet potatoes work best).
4. With the processor on, feed the prepared vegetable through the feed tube using the pusher. The vegetable will be spiralized as it comes out of the smaller opening.

Cleaning:

1. Unplug the processor before detaching.
2. Check the manual for instructions on detaching the blades and discs.
3. Wash the work bowl, lid, pusher, and most attachments in the dishwasher.
4. Wipe down the motor base with a damp cloth. Never submerge the motor base in water.
5. Hand wash the blades and discs with soapy water. Be very careful when handling sharp blades!

Safety Tips:

• Always unplug the processor before attaching or detaching attachments, cleaning, or after use.
• Never put your fingers near the blades while the processor is running. Use the pushers to feed ingredients.
• Don’t overload the processor bowl. Process food in groups if necessary.
• Don’t process hot liquids.

For detailed instructions and safety information, consult the manual that comes with your Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor.

 

Tips and Recipes Suitable for the Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor

Tips and Tricks for Your Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor:

1. Pulse for Perfection: Don’t just hold down the button! Use the pulse function for tasks like chopping vegetables or nuts. This gives you more control over the final consistency and prevents over-processing.
2. Prep is Key: Dicing your ingredients before using the food processor saves time and ensures even processing. Cut large vegetables or fruits into similar-sized bits before feeding them through the chute.
3. Freeze for Easier Grating: Try freezing hard cheeses like parmesan for 30 minutes before mincing. This will make them easier to grate and prevent them from clustering together.
4. Make Perfect Pie Dough: Use the pulse function to mix the dry ingredients for pie dough. Then, with the motor running on low, slowly add wet ingredients until the dough just comes together. Avoid over-processing for a crispy topping.
5. Leftover Makeover: Renew leftover cooked vegetables or roasts by pulsing them in the food processor for use in soups, stews, or fillings.
6. Homemade Hummus in Minutes: The dicing attachment makes quick work of preparing chickpeas for hummus. You can also use the processor to whip up other dips and spreads.
7. Quick and Easy Salads: Skip the chopping! Use the shredding disc to dice cabbage for coleslaw or carrots for a salad in seconds. The dicing kit is ideal for creating uniform cubes for different kinds of salad ingredients.
8. Healthy Veggie Noodles: The spiralizer attachment turns vegetables into fun and healthy noodle alternatives. Perfect for zucchini noodles (zoodles!), sweet potato noodles, or even beet noodles!

Recipes Perfect for Your Cuisinart Elemental
Main Courses:

• Homemade Veggie Burgers: Pulse vegetables like mushrooms, onions, and lentils in the food processor to create the base for delicious veggie burgers.
• Quick and Easy Salmon Salad: Poach or bake salmon, then use the food processor to mince it for a tasteful salad.
• Creamy Tomato Bisque: Blend cooked tomatoes and vegetables in the food processor for a smooth and creamy bisque.

Sides:

• Coleslaw: Use the shredding disc to dice cabbage and carrots for a classic coleslaw.
• Homemade Guacamole: The food processor makes quick work of whipping up fresh guacamole.
• Restaurant-Style Pico de Gallo: Pulse together chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and jalapenos for a refreshing salsa.

Desserts and Snacks:

• Homemade Pizza Dough: Use the dough blade to quickly mix ingredients for a delicious homemade pizza dough.
• Healthy Fruit Sorbet: Freeze your favorite fruits, then throb them in the food processor for a refreshing and healthy sorbet.
• Nut Butters from Scratch: The food processor is perfect for creating your own nut butters from scratch. Try out with different nuts and flavors for a customized treat.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. With its versatility, the Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor can be a lifesaver in the kitchen, helping you create delicious and nutritious meals quickly and easily. Be sure to check the cookbooks and online resources for even more recipe inspiration!

 

 

A Cleaning Guide

Following the instructions in the manual is the safest way to clean your Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor, but here’s an overall breakdown:

Safety First!

• Unplug the processor before detaching any parts.

Disassemble:

• Check the manual for specific instructions on detaching the blades and discs. Some attachments may lock in place and require a specific release mechanism.

Cleaning the Parts:

• Dishwasher Safe: The work bowl, lid, pusher, and most attachments are dishwasher safe (top rack recommended).
• Motor Base: Wipe down the motor base with a damp cloth. Never submerge the motor base in water or any other liquids.
• Blades and Discs: Hand wash the blades and discs with soapy water. Be very careful when handling sharp blades!

Drying:

• After washing, thoroughly dry all parts before reconstructing the processor.

Additional Tips:

• For stubborn food remnants, you can drench the blades and discs in soapy water before washing.
• The SealTight Advantage System should help prevent leaks during processing, reducing the cleaning required on the motor base.

Refer to the Manual:

Remember, this is an overall guide, and it’s always best to check the manual that comes with your specific Cuisinart model for detailed cleaning instructions. The manual will have specific information on which parts are dishwasher safe and any special cleaning recommendations for certain attachments.

 

What to Avoid when Using the Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor

Here are some things to avoid when using your Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor:

Safety Precautions:

• Never put your fingers near the blades: Always use the pushers provided to feed ingredients into the machine. The blades are very sharp and can cause serious injury.
• Don’t overload the bowl: Process food in groups if necessary. Flooding the bowl can strain the motor and make it difficult to achieve even processing.
• Don’t process hot liquids: The processor is not designed to handle hot liquids and could crack or become damaged.
• Unplug before cleaning or disassembling: This is essential to prevent accidental startup and injury.

Preventing Damage to the Food Processor:

• Don’t process very hard ingredients: This appliance isn’t meant for super hard ingredients like ice cubes or whole nuts. These can damage the blades and motor.
• Don’t chop or grind very dry ingredients: Very dry ingredients like flour or spices can put a strain on the motor and may not process well.
• Avoid using the dicing attachment for soft ingredients: Soft ingredients like cooked vegetables or fruits may turn floppy in the dicing attachment.
• Don’t force the lid: Make sure the bowl is properly locked in place and all attachments are securely fastened before starting the processor.

Additional Tips:

• Pulse for better control: Especially for tasks like chopping vegetables or nuts, use the pulse function to avoid over-processing.
• Prep your ingredients: Cut large vegetables or fruits into similar-sized bits before feeding them through the chute. This ensures balanced processing and reduces stress on the motor.
• Read the manual: The manual will have specific instructions and limitations for your particular Cuisinart model. Following these will help you get the most out of your food processor and avoid spoiling it.

In conclusion, the Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor is a powerful and feature-packed machine that can handle different kinds of food prep tasks. It’s perfect for those who cook frequently or in large groups thanks to its big capacity and multiple attachments. Remember to follow the manual’s cleaning instructions and avoid overloading the motor to keep this appliance running smoothly for years to come.