ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review
Specifications
Performance Comparison
Functionality
With 14 cups of dry capacity, we thought the Cuisinart Custom 14 was a good size for bigger household cooking projects. Its liquid capacity is only 3 cups, which may be an issue depending on how you plan to use your machine. We liked the easy-to-use paddle switches on this machine as well. However, we found these paddle switches slightly less responsive than the singular paddle switch on the Cuisinart Pro Classic 7 Cup.
Here you see the simple paddle control system.
Credit: Mary Griffin
In terms of attachments, the Cuisinart Custom 14 only has the basics - an 'S' blade, 4mm slicing disc, and medium shredding disc. However, these should handle most processing projects. The "extra large" feed tube was great - not as wide as some of the other models we tested, but it can still fit a whole tomato. Its position on the back of the lid though, is slightly less convenient. We also found that the feeder tube system didn't lock in smoothly, making it a bit difficult to process a lot of ingredients quickly. Like with other Cuisinarts, the safety mechanism doesn't allow for a continuous feed in the big chute, so you'll have to pare down foods like we did with our russet potato below.
We had to trim our russet potato to fit it into the feed chute.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Processing Quality
The Cuisinart Custom 14 performed well in the majority of our tests. It has a base weight of 11.6 pounds and remained relatively stable even when we pushed the 720-watt motor to the max. It has very sharp blades that made fast work of everything from whipped cream to almonds. The slicing disc even did a good job of slicing something very delicate like a tomato.
Using the Custom 14's slicing disc.
Credit: Mary Griffin
The shredding disc was excellent at shredding vegetables like the carrots below.
We shredded carrots quickly and easily with the Custom 14.
Credit: Mary Griffin
We were less happy with our results when we shredded parmesan. We thought there was a lot of waste and inconsistent shreds.
Pulverized parmesan.
Credit: Mary Griffin
The Custom 14 also had trouble chopping onions and parsley. The parsley emerged wet and bruised.
Chopped parsley.
Credit: Mary Griffin
The onions, as well, were not consistent in size.
Chopped onions.
Credit: Mary Griffin
However, this machine did a great job making whipped cream. It came together nicely and was really yummy.
Yummy whipped cream!
Credit: Mary Griffin
It also excelled at making almond butter. It didn't overheat, didn't shimmy on the counter, and produced a decent result.
Making almond butter.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Our pizza dough test also went well. It was a taxing project and the unit shook slightly at the end, but the dough came out perfectly.
Making pizza dough.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Ease of Set Up and Clean Up
The Cuisinart Custom 14 is relatively easy to set up and clean up. Everything fits together smoothly. Initially, we had trouble fitting the disc attachments into the spindle, but, once we figured it out, it was simple to assemble. The most difficult part to clean is the large feeder tube and sleeve system. We did all the cleaning by hand, but its parts are top-rack dishwasher safe if you prefer to go that route.
Storage Options
The Cuisinart Custom 14 is a mid-size food processor that will fit easily on a countertop or in a cabinet. It doesn't have cord or blade storage.
Best Uses
We thought the Cuisinart Custom 14 did well slicing and shredding fruits and vegetables. We were also impressed with its ability to handle more challenging projects like dough and nut butter.
Value
At $200, the Cuisinart Custom 14 is one of the more expensive food processors we tested. It didn't come with a lot of bells and whistles, but we thought it performed well and felt durable. It also comes with an excellent warranty that covers the entire unit for 3 years and the motor for 5 years.
Conclusion
Overall, we thought the Cuisinart Custom 14 performed well and was exceptionally quiet. It did a fine job shredding and slicing fruits and vegetables, easily handled dough and nut butter, and also made nice whipped cream. That being said, we didn't think it did quite as well shredding parmesan or chopping onions and parsley.
If you don't think you need this much capacity, we'd suggest checking out our Editor's Choice Award winner, the $100 Cuisinart Pro Classic 7 Cup. Its processing capabilities were similar and we found it much more user-friendly. If you are interested in a lot of capacity, you might want to consider the Cuisinart Elite Collection 2.0 16 Cup. It has 16 cups of capacity, a 2nd small work bowl, and additional blade/disc attachments. For a high capacity machine however, we like that the Cuisinart Custom 14 is relatively compact and efficient. We also really like the old school design of the base.
Alternatives
Cuisinart Elite Collection 2.0 16 Cup
- $300
- More liquid capacity
- 1300-watt motor
Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus
- $180
- 625-watt motor
- 11-cup dry capacity and 2.5-cup liquid capacity
- 10-year warranty on motor
KitchenAid 11-Cup with ExactSlice System
- $200
- 360-watt motor
- 11-cup dry capacity and 3-cup liquid capacity
- Adjustable slicing disc
- Only has a 1-year warranty
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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