Part of Cuisinart's premier line, the Prep 11 Plus Food Processor DLC-2011N may be all you need for food preparation in the kitchen. This versatile machine chops, slices, shreds, minces, grates, mixes, whips and purees and kneads dough quickly and efficiently.
 
The 11-cup capacity clear plastic work bowl comes with a cover and a two-part pusher assembly. Also included are a sharp metal chopping/mixing blade, metal dough blade, serrated slicing disc, shredding disc, detachable disc stem and plastic spatula.

The Prep 11 Plus has a unique one-piece Supreme wide-mouth feed tube assembly, which can accommodate whole fruits and vegetables. The feed tube has two openings. The smaller opening in the center can be used for pushing through small or narrow foods or for adding liquids. The larger opening and pusher handles whole items, such as potatoes, apples and onion, or can be used to fit larger quantities of small items. The two-part assembly is a bit more complicated than standard -- narrow -- tubes; however, the ability to obtain whole slices and the time saved in extra prep work -- i.e., not having to pre-cut pieces to fit the feed tube -- is well worth the extra trouble. The instruction book gives full instructions for use and a How-to DVD is also included.
 
The rounded base houses a 3/4-horsepower motor, which powers through every task effortlessly. A smooth touchpad control panel includes four settings: Off, On, Pulse, and Dough. The inclusion of the Dough setting is a nice extra. This button activates Cuisinart's dough control technology, which automatically adjusts the speed to ensure proper consistency.

Like all food processors, this unit has a safety interlock system that requires the work bowl and cover to be locked in place before the unit will operate. The expanded feed tube adds an extra step to the process, since the food pusher must be removed before twisting the cover on the work bowl.

The stainless-steel "S" chopping blade works wonders on vegetables and fruits, which can be chopped to any desired consistency, including puree. It is also suitable for meats, fish, cheeses and herbs. The 4mm slicing disc is perfect for slicing potatoes for an au gratin, and does a fine job of slicing firm fruits and vegetables. The shredding disc is handy for grating cheeses, vegetables, nuts and chocolate. The Prep 11 Plus can also be used for some mixing tasks, such as beating egg whites, mixing muffin batter, and preparing cookie dough. You won't achieve the same fluffy consistency that you would with a mixer, however.
 
The Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus reduces kneading time for bread and pizza dough to about 1 minute. The powerful motor can easily handle big batches of dough made with as much as five cups of flour. We were skeptical at first, because of the short processing time; however, we were not disappointed in the dough. The finished bread was absolutely delicious.

Extras on this unit include four rubber feet on the foot of the base, which keep the unit in place during processing; and dishwasher-safe accessories -- work bowl, cover, pusher assembly, blades, and discs. The plastic bowl is not impervious to scratches and discoloration with the processing of ice, spices, beans and some oils.

This powerful and efficient machine is worth every bit of counter space.


Pros: Large capacity, dough technology, expanded feed tube
Cons: Expanded feed tube is a bit more complicated than standard feed tubes

Warranty
3 years, entire machine (limited); 10 years, motor