ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review
Specifications
Performance Comparison
Functionality
The KitchenAid 11-cup Food Processor should be a great size for most households. Not only does it have 11 cups of dry capacity in its large work bowl, it also comes with a smaller work bowl that has 3 cups of capacity. Its main work bowl also has 3 cups of liquid capacity, which we thought was relatively good given its size. In terms of controls, the KitchenAid is designed with 4 touchpad buttons (Off, Low, High, and Pulse). We found them incredibly difficult to push, a complaint that we saw echoed in many other customer reviews.
The buttons on the KitchenAid were stiff and hard-to-use.
Credit: Mary Griffin
In addition to the standard 'S' blades for the small and large work bowl, the KFP1133 comes with a plastic dough blade, a reversible (medium/fine) shredding disc, and an adjustable slicing disc with the ExactSlice system. We really like the ExactSlice system because you can adjust the thickness from an external lever above the touchpad buttons.
The KitchenAid comes with a number of blade/disc attachments.
Credit: Mary Griffin
This KitchenAid model also features a 3-in-1 feed tube that offers a selection of openings for use with a variety of food sizes. We thought there were positives and negatives to this system. The multiple moving parts in the feeder tube provide more of a cleaning hassle. However, we liked that we could more precisely process smaller amounts of food. The feeder tube system has the standard safety features that you'd find on more expensive machines, but, unlike others we tested, we found that it offered slightly more vertical space. We were actually able to process an entire tomato and russet potato without paring either down.
The 3-in-1 feeder tube system on the KitchenAid.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Processing Quality
We were generally impressed with the KitchenAid's processing performance. We were a little surprised because its 360-watt motor was one of the least powerful motors we tested in this price point. The base was only 5.4 pounds, a lot lighter than other high-end models in our lineup. Although not atrociously loud, we did find that this KitchenAid model was louder than the Cuisinarts we tested that were of comparable price and size. During our tests, we thought the KitchenAid did an excellent job of slicing both tomatoes and potatoes. We loved the ExactSlice system for the array of thickness options that it provided and how easy it was to adjust.
The KitchenAid slices well, and we loved the versatility of the ExactSlice system.
Credit: Mary Griffin
The KitchenAid was also great at chopping onions and mincing parsley. We used the small work bowl to process the parsley and were satisfied with the outcome. However, parsley bits did get wedged into the feeder tube lid. This was not ideal for cleaning or consistency.
The KFP1133 produced a nice result during our onion test.
Credit: Mary Griffin
We also found the KitchenAid performed well on our carrot and parmesan shredding test. We used the fine grate side of the reversible shredding disc for the parmesan and it made fast work of the cheese, turning out consistent, nice looking shreds.
Shredded parmesan cheese.
Credit: Mary Griffin
We used the small work bowl for whipping cream and thought it also performed well. We love having the work bowl size choice, and the whipped cream that emerged was consistent and tasty.
Using the small work bowl for whipped cream.
Credit: Mary Griffin
The KitchenAid did really well kneading pizza dough, although the appliance did shake towards the end. In general, it seemed like it is best to use two hands on the machine during heavier jobs.
Homemade pizza dough.
Credit: Mary Griffin
We found that the KitchenAid did a fine job churning out almond butter. With the addition of some grapeseed oil to encourage the processing, this unit produced almond butter quickly and efficiently.
The KitchenAid produced a smooth, consistent almond butter.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Ease of Set Up and Clean Up
The KitchenAid is very straightforward to assemble and all of the pieces fit together relatively smoothly. However, we occasionally had some trouble getting the lid aligned properly, and we also needed two hands to snap the work bowl into place because the base is so light. We thought it was easy to clean as well, but the 3-in-1 feeder tube system was a little more work than some of the other models we tested. However, we washed everything by hand and the parts are dishwasher safe. Just be aware that your blades will dull over time if you put them in the dishwasher a lot.
Storage Options
The KitchenAid was one of the larger models we tested, but it will still fit on a counter under most standard cupboards. It doesn't have cord storage, but it does come with a container to store all of the attachments.
Best Uses
The KFP1133 did a great job on all of our food processing tests.
Value
At $200, we felt that you get a decent, versatile machine for your money. KitchenAid's warranty isn't quite as robust as Cuisinart's however. KitchenAid only provides a 1-year full warranty from the date of purchase.
Conclusion
Overall, we thought the KitchenAid 11-Cup Food Processor was a good size and performed well on our tests. We found it was easy to assemble, use, and clean. The drawbacks we noted included that it took considerable effort to push the buttons to turn on the machine. On occasion, we also found that the lid was hard to align which prevents the motor from starting. Despite these challenges, most of our experiences were positive. We felt like it was versatile with its small work bowl, reversible shredding disc, and adjustable slicing disc. We thought it was convenient to have the ExactSlice system on the outside of the machine so you could change the thickness of your slices without touching the disc. During heavier projects, it wasn't as stable as other full-size models we tested like the Cuisinart Custom 14 or our overall winner, the Cuisinart Elite Collection 2.0 16 Cup. Additionally, we wonder about the longevity of the motor given its size relative to the machine's capacity and its short warranty. Keeping that in mind, it still performed well on our tests and we thought it was a great food processor.
Alternatives:
Cuisinart Elite Collection 2.0 16 Cup
- $300
- More liquid capacity
- 1,300-watt motor
- 3-year warranty on unit and 20-year warranty on motor
Cuisinart Custom 14
- $200
- 720-watt motor
- 14-cup dry capacity and 3-cup liquid capacity
- 3-year warranty on unit and 5-year warranty on motor
Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus
- $180
- 625-watt motor
- 11-cup dry capacity and 2.5-cup liquid capacity
- 3-year warranty on unit and 10-year warranty on motor
We suggest that you check out our Buying Advice for Food Processors to get an idea for what machine will best suit your needs.
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