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Our top pick
Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor
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How we researched this
We did not test these food processors in person. This guide combines results from three independent test kitchens (Wirecutter, which has tested food processors since 2013; America’s Test Kitchen; and Serious Eats, which tested 23 models), Consumer Reports’ public buying guide, manufacturer pages, repair guides, owner threads on Reddit and the CPSC recall database. Every claim links to its source. Our full methodology. Researched and written by the Dudproof editors. Last updated November 3, 2026.
Quick verdict
DudProof Pick
Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor
A DudProof Pick is the product the evidence says is least likely to be a dud for most people. What our badges mean
Dud Score
Coming soon
We publish a Dud Score only after its safety, failure-pattern and support inputs are sourced. Progress for each pick is in the Dud Score inputs table below. How the Dud Score works.
| Pick | Why | Watch out for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for most people | Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup | Wirecutter’s top pick since 2013, America’s Test Kitchen’s winner and Serious Eats’ best budget pick; simple, quiet and long-lived | The slicing disk isn’t adjustable; the feed tube sits at the back |
| Best upgrade | Breville Sous Chef 16 | Serious Eats’ best food processor overall, plus the upgrade pick at Wirecutter and ATK; 24 slicing thicknesses | Huge, with a storage box nearly as big as the machine |
| Best smaller full-size | Cuisinart Pro Custom 11 | ATK’s Best Buy: aced its chopping, slicing and shredding tests | Smaller liquid capacity; the pusher can’t be fully removed for cleaning |
| Best for thin slicing | Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup | Wirecutter’s runner-up, with an adjustable slicing disk and storage that fits in the bowl | Louder, lighter and slower at dicing nuts and onions |
| Best mini chopper | Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper | Wirecutter’s mini pick: roomy, with two drizzle holes for sauces and mayo | Tears herbs rather than chopping them cleanly |
Bottom line: for most kitchens, the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup is the safest buy. All three major test kitchens put it at or near the top. Choose the Breville Sous Chef 16 only if you’ll use its extra disks and have room to store them. If counter space is tight, ATK’s Pro Custom 11 gives up a little capacity for a smaller footprint. One safety note before you buy secondhand or use an inherited Cuisinart: about 8 million older Cuisinart processors were recalled in 2016 for riveted blades that could crack (see the Dud Alert below).
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Comparison table
| Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup | Breville Sous Chef 16 | Cuisinart Pro Custom 11 | Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup | Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent picks | Wirecutter top pick; ATK winner; Serious Eats best budget | Serious Eats best overall; Wirecutter and ATK upgrade pick | ATK Best Buy | Wirecutter runner-up | Wirecutter best mini |
| Capacity | 14 cups | 16 cups + 2.5-cup mini bowl | 11 cups | 13 cups | 4 cups |
| Motor (as listed by testers or maker) | 720 W (Serious Eats, ATK); induction | 1,450 W induction on the current BFP810 (Breville) | 625 W (ATK) | Not yet confirmed | Not yet confirmed |
| Slicing | Fixed slicing disk (about 4–5 mm) | Adjustable, 24 settings from 0.3 to 8 mm | Standard disk plus an extra thin-slicing disk (ATK) | Adjustable disk | No slicing (chopper) |
| Noise measured by Wirecutter | About 75 dB | About 90 dB | Not measured | About 96 dB | About 100 dB |
| Warranty | Limited 3-year (Wirecutter, Serious Eats) | Testers list 1–2 years on the machine; Breville lists a 30-year motor warranty on the BFP810 | Not yet confirmed | Limited 3-year (Wirecutter) | Not yet confirmed |
| CPSC recalls on this model (checked Nov 3, 2026) | None on current units (the 2016 recall covered older riveted blades; see below) | None found | None on current units (the 2016 recall covered older DLC-8 riveted blades) | None found | None found |
| Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Where the testers agree — and where they don’t
Everyone likes the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup. Wirecutter has named it the best food processor since 2013, calling it “a simple, no-frills workhorse” that chopped, shredded and emulsified everything well and kneaded pizza dough without wiggling across the counter (Wirecutter). America’s Test Kitchen’s August 2026 review again names it the winner for power, precision and a compact design that stores all three blades inside the bowl (America’s Test Kitchen). Serious Eats calls it the best budget food processor and says it had “the easiest controls of all the food processors we tested” (Serious Eats). It’s also in Serious Eats’ November 2026 Gear Awards (Serious Eats Gear Awards).
They split on whether the Breville is the winner or the upgrade. Serious Eats ranks the Breville Sous Chef 16 first overall: it made mirepoix in just 20 pulses, and its adjustable slicer offers 24 thickness settings from 0.3 to 8 millimeters (Serious Eats). Wirecutter and ATK both like it but call it an upgrade for people who cook big, involved recipes often and have the storage space (Wirecutter, America’s Test Kitchen). ATK’s complaints: a lid with nooks that need detailing and multi-part blades.
A redesigned Cuisinart blade drew one small complaint. ATK found that the Custom 14-Cup’s chopping blade has been redesigned since its last test and now leaves slightly bigger gaps to the bowl, so it couldn’t fully incorporate egg yolks into a single batch of mayonnaise. A double batch worked well, and ATK found no other adverse effects (America’s Test Kitchen).
Specs don’t match from tester to tester. Wirecutter lists the Custom 14-Cup at 750 watts; Serious Eats and ATK say 720. Serious Eats’ Sous Chef 16 specs (1,200 watts) match Breville’s discontinued Sous Chef 16 Pro (BFP800), while the current BFP810 lists 1,450 watts and a 30-year motor warranty (Breville BFP800, Breville BFP810). Our link goes to the BFP810. Serious Eats adds that watts matter less than the motor type (induction) (Serious Eats).
The KitchenAid 13-Cup is a real disagreement. Serious Eats calls the KitchenAid 13-Cup “another great budget food processor.” ATK recommends it only with reservations: its light base jumped around while kneading, and its pulse ran on for more than three seconds (Serious Eats, America’s Test Kitchen). We don’t recommend it here for that reason.
Nobody has found a great cheap one. Wirecutter says it has “yet to find a serviceable budget food processor” and plans to test more (Wirecutter). Both Wirecutter and Serious Eats saw the Ninja Professional XL wobble or stall on dough (America’s Test Kitchen, Wirecutter, Serious Eats).
On minis, the testers picked different winners. Wirecutter’s mini pick is the Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup for its roomy bowl and double drizzle holes. Serious Eats’ best mini is the Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap 4-Cup, while Wirecutter found Hamilton Beach’s basic Mini Chopper turned tomatoes and parsley to mush (Wirecutter, Serious Eats).
How to choose a food processor that won’t be a dud
- Go for 11 to 14 cups. Serious Eats says most home cooks should get a 14- or 16-cup model; Wirecutter calls about 14 cups the sweet spot; ATK finds at least 11 cups most useful (Serious Eats, Wirecutter, America’s Test Kitchen). Consumer Reports notes that actual volumes often differ from claimed capacity by a cup or two (Consumer Reports).
- Look for a heavy base, not suction cups. Light machines skid or rock when kneading dough. ATK found suction-cup feet annoying because you have to rip them free to move the machine (America’s Test Kitchen).
- Blade gaps matter more than watts. ATK’s best machines left gaps as small as 2.9 mm between blade and bowl wall; the worst left up to 6.1 mm, which let food escape the blade (America’s Test Kitchen).
- A short, responsive pulse. Pulse buttons that keep spinning after you let go over-chop food. ATK measured more than three seconds of run-on on one model (America’s Test Kitchen).
- Fewer parts, easier cleanup. Wirecutter and ATK both favor three basic blades (chop, slice, shred) over big boxes of extras, and Wirecutter dropped models whose lids and handles trapped food where you can’t clean (Wirecutter).
Who each pick is for (and not for)
Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup — best for most people
- For: one machine for slaw, pesto, pie and pizza dough, hummus and shredded cheese; a gift a cook will keep for years.
- Not for: people who want paper-thin adjustable slicing out of the box (thinner disks are sold separately) or who prep tiny amounts (a mini works better).
- Evidence: Wirecutter top pick since 2013, with staffers using theirs for more than a decade; ATK winner; Serious Eats best budget (Wirecutter, America’s Test Kitchen, Serious Eats).
Breville Sous Chef 16 — best upgrade
- For: people who cook for a crowd several times a week, want adjustable slicing and a mini bowl, and have permanent counter space.
- Not for: small kitchens. Wirecutter says it’s almost 18 inches tall and nearly 20 pounds.
- Evidence: Serious Eats best food processor; Wirecutter and ATK upgrade pick (Serious Eats, Wirecutter, America’s Test Kitchen).
Cuisinart Pro Custom 11 — best smaller full-size
- For: couples and small households who still want a full-size bowl, slicing and dough kneading.
- Not for: big-batch soups or sauces; ATK lists its liquid capacity at 2.25 cups versus 3 cups for the 14-cup.
- Evidence: ATK’s Best Buy; it aced chopping, slicing and shredding and handled a double batch of pizza dough. ATK disliked that the pusher is now attached to a sleeve it can’t be fully removed from (America’s Test Kitchen). Cuisinart lists the older DLC-8SBCY as discontinued; our link goes to the current DLC-8SBCYP1 listing.
Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup — best for thin slicing
- For: cooks who slice a lot of potatoes and vegetables and want an adjustable disk without paying for the Breville.
- Not for: anyone bothered by noise (Wirecutter measured about 96 dB) or who wants the simplest possible lid to clean.
- Evidence: Wirecutter’s runner-up. It made thin, translucent potato slices, though less even than the Breville’s, and it rocked a bit (but didn’t skate) while kneading (Wirecutter).
Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper — best mini
- For: a single onion, garlic, salad dressing, small-batch pesto and mayonnaise; a good add-on gift for someone who already owns a full-size processor.
- Not for: finely chopped herbs; Wirecutter found it tore parsley. It also can’t slice or shred.
- Evidence: Wirecutter’s best mini food processor, the only mini it tested with two drizzle holes (Wirecutter).
Who should skip it
If you mostly want smoothies or puréed soup, a blender does that better. Serious Eats says a smoothie made in a food processor probably won’t turn out smooth, and ATK prefers a blender or immersion blender for soups (Serious Eats, America’s Test Kitchen). If you only chop an onion now and then, a good chef’s knife is enough. And if your old Cuisinart still runs well (and doesn’t have the recalled riveted blade), Wirecutter’s advice is to keep it.
Owner Proof: common complaints and problems to know about
These come from owner forums, repair guides and test-kitchen long-term notes, not from Amazon reviews.
- The safety interlock stops it from starting. Every processor is designed not to spin unless the bowl and lid are locked in place, and that system is the most common thing to fail. iFixit’s repair guide for the Cuisinart DFP-14BCN walks through replacing the base’s safety switch, a job that requires soldering (iFixit). Don’t defeat the interlock; replace the switch, lid or bowl.
- Broken lid tabs and brittle old bowls. An r/BuyItForLife owner who bought a decades-old Cuisinart DLC-7 found a broken lid latch and a bowl that had become hard to remove, and was weighing a replacement bowl and lid from Cuisinart (r/BuyItForLife thread). Another owner who inherited an old Cuisinart DLC-7E learned that its bowl isn’t compatible with newer models (r/Cooking thread). Replacement parts for current Cuisinarts are sold on Cuisinart’s site, which Wirecutter counts as a plus.
- A motor that clicks but won’t run. An r/breville owner reports a Sous Chef 16 that stopped mid-way through processing about 1.5 pounds of meat and afterward only clicked when the buttons were pressed, after fewer than 10 uses (r/breville thread). Test a new machine on a heavy job (dough, meat) inside the return window.
(Forum posts are anecdotes, not failure rates. See the Dud Score note below.)
Dud Alert: recalls to check
We searched all 3,733 CPSC recalls published since 2015 (via the CPSC Recalls API, data through October 29, 2026, plus a fresh API check on November 3, 2026 that found nothing new for food processors or choppers). The big one is Cuisinart’s 2016 blade recall, and it still matters if you own, inherit or buy a used Cuisinart.
| Date | Product | Units | Hazard | What to do | CPSC notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13, 2016 | Cuisinart food processors with four-rivet blades: models beginning CFP-9, CFP-11, DFP-7, DFP-11, DFP-14, DLC-5, DLC-7, DLC-8, DLC-10, DLC-XP, DLC-2007, DLC-2009, DLC-2011, DLC-2014, DLC-3011, DLC-3014, EV-7, EV-10, EV-11, EV-14, KFP-7 and MP-14, sold July 1996 to December 2015 | About 8 million (plus about 300,000 in Canada) | The riveted blade can crack, and small metal pieces can break off into food | Stop using the riveted blade; Cuisinart provides a free replacement blade | CPSC |
| Apr 4, 2024 | Mainstays electric mini choppers (Walmart only), sold Aug 2022 to Oct 2023 | About 51,750 | Blade can run unexpectedly during assembly or when not in the container | Stop using; Walmart gives a full refund | CPSC |
| Dec 1, 2022 | Cuisinart Compact Blender & Juice Extractor combos | About 66,000 | Blade nut can loosen and detach | Stop using the blender part; Conair sends a free replacement blade assembly | CPSC |
| Oct 29, 2020 | Mueller Austria onion choppers (manual), sold on Amazon | About 106,000 | Locking tab can detach, so fingers can slide into the blades | Stop using; free replacement with a redesigned tab | CPSC |
How to check a Cuisinart blade: the model number is on the bottom of the base. CPSC says only blades with four rivets are included; the recalled blades are silver stainless steel with a beige plastic center hub (CPSC). The model prefixes include DFP-14 (the Custom 14 family) and DLC-8 (the Pro Custom 11 family), so this applies to the same lines we recommend. Recalled units were sold through December 2015, so machines bought new after that aren’t part of this recall. Decades-old, inherited Cuisinarts are exactly where a four-rivet blade could still be hiding.
Black Friday: deal or dud?
Cuisinart and Breville processors are discounted often, and Cuisinart sells the same machine under several model numbers by color. Check the exact model (DFP-14 for the Custom 14, BFP810 for the current Sous Chef 16) and its price history on a tracker such as camelcamelcamel before you buy. Be wary of “deals” on the discontinued Sous Chef 16 Pro (BFP800) or on renewed units sold as new. See all our Black Friday picks and gifts under $50. Our Black Friday food processor deal page tracks the price history of these picks, with verdicts the week of Nov 20.
Dud Score inputs (in progress)
We don’t publish a final Dud Score until the inputs are sourced. Status for this guide:
| Input | Cuisinart Custom 14 | Breville Sous Chef 16 | Cuisinart Pro Custom 11 | Cuisinart Core Custom 13 | Cuisinart Mini 4-Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPSC recalls (5 yr) | 0 ✅ (2016 riveted-blade recall is older and covers pre-2016 units) | 0 ✅ | 0 ✅ (same note as the 14) | 0 ✅ | 0 ✅ |
| SaferProducts.gov incident reports | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending |
| Failure patterns (coded) | Pending (interlock and lid-tab failures need a count) | Pending (motor no-start reports need a count) | Pending | Pending | Pending |
| Owner survey: would not buy again | Pending (survey not yet run) | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending |
| Warranty & parts | Limited 3-year; parts sold by Cuisinart | 30-year motor (Breville, BFP810) | Pending | Limited 3-year | Pending |
| Dud Score | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon |
How we researched this guide
Sources used for this guide: Wirecutter’s food processor guide (updated September 29, 2025); America’s Test Kitchen’s food processor review (August 4, 2026); Serious Eats’ food processor review (23 models, updated July 9, 2026) and 2026 Gear Awards; Consumer Reports’ public food processor buying guide; Breville product pages; iFixit’s Cuisinart safety-switch guide; owner threads on r/BuyItForLife, r/Cooking and r/breville; CPSC Recalls API (3,733 recalls since 2015, searched Nov 3, 2026). Consumer Reports’ ratings are behind a paywall, so we don’t use them.
What we didn’t do: we did not use these food processors ourselves, and we did not use Amazon customer reviews or ratings.
How picks were chosen: we favored processors that more than one independent test kitchen recommends after chopping, slicing, emulsifying and dough tests, then weighed recalls, repairability and owner-reported failure patterns. Full methodology
FAQ
What is the best food processor in 2026?
For most people, the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup. It has been Wirecutter’s top pick since 2013, it’s America’s Test Kitchen’s winner, and Serious Eats calls it the best budget food processor.
Is the Breville Sous Chef worth it over the Cuisinart?
Only if you’ll use the extras. Serious Eats ranks the Sous Chef 16 first for its fast chopping and 24-setting adjustable slicer, while Wirecutter and America’s Test Kitchen call it an upgrade for people who cook big recipes often and have the storage space.
Was the Cuisinart food processor recalled?
Yes, in December 2016: about 8 million Cuisinart food processors sold from July 1996 through December 2015 were recalled because their four-rivet blades could crack and shed metal pieces. Only blades with four rivets are included, and Cuisinart replaces them free. Machines sold new after December 2015 aren’t part of it.
What size food processor should I buy?
Between 11 and 14 cups for most households. Serious Eats recommends 14 or 16 cups, Wirecutter calls about 14 cups the sweet spot, and America’s Test Kitchen finds at least 11 cups the most versatile.
Food processor or blender: which do I need?
A food processor chops, slices, shreds and kneads dough. A blender makes smoother smoothies and soups. Serious Eats says smoothies made in a food processor usually won’t come out smooth.
What’s a good food processor gift for a small kitchen?
The Cuisinart Pro Custom 11, America’s Test Kitchen’s Best Buy, or the Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper for someone who already owns a full-size machine. See our gifts under $50 for smaller ideas.
Great gift for: bakers. More Christmas gift ideas ›
Related guides
- The best blenders
- The best stand mixers
- The best chef’s knives
- Black Friday 2026: every DudProof Pick
- Black Friday food processor deals
Sources
- Wirecutter, “The Best Food Processor” — https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-food-processor/
- America’s Test Kitchen, “The Best Food Processors” — https://www.americastestkitchen.com/equipment_reviews/2194-food-processors
- Serious Eats, “The 8 Best Food Processors of 2026” — https://www.seriouseats.com/best-food-processor-equipment-review
- Serious Eats Gear Awards 2026 — https://www.seriouseats.com/serious-eats-gear-awards-2026-12163217
- Consumer Reports, Food Processor & Chopper Buying Guide — https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/food-processors-choppers/buying-guide/
- Breville, Sous Chef 16 (BFP810) — https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bfp810
- Breville, Sous Chef 16 Pro (BFP800, discontinued) — https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bfp800
- iFixit, Cuisinart DFP-14BCN Safety Switch Replacement — https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Cuisinart+DFP-14BCN+Safety+Switch+Replacement/72008
- r/BuyItForLife, Cuisinart DLC-7 bowl and lid thread — https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/comments/1qonmny/cuisinart_dlc7sp_keep_or_replace_work_bowl_and_lid/
- r/Cooking, replacement bowl for an old Cuisinart — https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/is99on/need_a_replacement_bowl_for_an_old_cuisinart/
- r/breville, Sous Chef clicking but not working — https://www.reddit.com/r/breville/comments/1lapadd/breville_sous_chef_food_processor_clicking_but/
- CPSC recalls: Cuisinart food processors (2016), Mainstays mini choppers (2024), Cuisinart blender/juicer (2022), Mueller onion choppers (2020), linked above
- CPSC Recalls API — https://www.saferproducts.gov/RestWebServices/Recall?format=json
Changelog
- Nov 3, 2026 — First published.