The Cuisinart PrepExpress HFP-300is the first food processor that can be used two ways. It can sit on your counter or it can be lifted to dispense ingredients directly into a platter, bowl, pot or other receptacle. Unlike traditional food processors, there is no work bowl. Instead, the Prep express has a food chamber that processes and then ejects foods out its front chute.

The Cuisinart HFP-300 consists of a compact, wedge-shaped stainless-steel base with removable food chamber and three interchangeable stainless-steel cutting drums. This unit is far more compact then traditional food processors, yet has sufficient power (220 watts) for continuous slicing, shredding and grating.

When we heard that the unit was handheld, we expected to see a mini appliance with limited capacity. The Prep Express, while not truly "mini," is slightly larger than a large cheese grater. Its capacity is limited only by the size of the bowl into which you are processing. You can literally shed, slice and grate to your heart's content. The foods are fed into a square channel connected to the food chamber and are ejected out through the unit's round cutting drum assembly.

To begin, select the appropriate cutting drum and twist-lock both the drum and food chamber in place on the housing. An extra-long 63-inch power cord is stored inside the unit and can be pulled out as needed. When you are done, a quick tug on the cord retracts it back inside the housing.

We found this unit to be quick and efficient for slicing apples and potatoes, shredding carrots and grating hard cheeses. The slicing blade produces beautiful thin slices, but it can be a bit tricky to master. The key to achieving even slices is to stack the feed chute evenly and apply gentle pressure with the feed tube as you depress the power button. We noticed that wet foods tend to cling inside the drum, but are easily removed with a plastic spatula.

The unit is controlled by a thumb-operated button that is located just above the handgrip. The button clicks on and off, offering one-handed control and freeing your other hand to use the food pusher. The chute holds about several apple or potato halves or several carrots.

The wedge-shaped housing sits firmly on your counter for convenient loading of the feed tube. Also, you can leave the unit in its standing position while processing. Just position a large shallow bowl in front of the food chute to catch ingredients as they exit the cutting drum.

The unit is limited in its functionality. It cannot handle tasks such as pureeing vegetables and mixing batters and doughs, which need the containment of a work bowl.


Pros: Compact size, fast operation
Cons: Can't puree, mix or knead since there is no work bowl

Warranty
3 years, limited