From Cuisinart's Black Chrome series, the Mini-Prep Processor DLC-1BCH is a multi-function chopper that packs a whole lot of power and performance.

This small beauty measures just 4.5 inches by 6 inches and stands about 8 inches tall. The contrast of the gleaming chrome and black is stunning.

The clear 21-ounce work bowl can handle up to 1 cup of homemade mayonnaise or salad dressing or about 2 cups of chopped vegetables or herbs. An impressive feature of the Mini-Prep is its ability to handle really hard food items, such as Parmesan cheese, chocolate, cinnamon sticks or coffee beans, which are impossible for most mini choppers.

The secret to the Cuisinart Mini-Prep is its reversible blade, which has blunt edges on one side and sharp edges on the other. The dual-edged blade works in conjunction with a two-speed motor to breeze through all your chopping tasks. The motor is somewhat noisy, but given the fact that it's operating for just a few seconds at a time, the noise level is secondary to the amount of power this unit delivers.

Two oversize control switches on the front of the machine activate the LO and HI speed settings. Both speeds operate on "pulse," which starts and stops the motor for short efficient bursts of power. You can keep the motor on by holding either control switch down; however, almost all tasks should be started with a few easy pulses to initiate the chopping.

This unit's secret weapon -- the two-sided blade -- is also its only complication, since you have to learn how to carefully remove and reverse the blade to perform different tasks. Since a majority of basic items -- parsley, celery, garlic, onions, herbs -- and any soft pureeing can be done with the sharp side of the blade, you can leave the blade with its sharp-side up most of the time, reversing it only when processing very hard foods.

Needless to say, we were extremely impressed with the speed and efficiency of the Mini-Prep. All tasks were accomplished in seconds with no fuss or uneven results. To obtain the best results, you should process foods in small batches, never overcrowding the work bowl.


Pros: Compact, yet extremely powerful
Cons: Reversible blade needs careful handling

Warranty
18 months, limited