A Old Friend Returns - Sort Of!

[danemodsandy]

I had a lucky break with eBay recently, one that gave me back something I've been missing.

In Atlanta, I had a trusty Cuisinart DLC-7 food processor and a Robot-Coupe RC-3500, too. When I closed out the house and disposed of its furnishings, I let the Cuisinart go, knowing it was easily replaced. The Robot-Coupe was a different story (it's a rare machine) and it's still in storage there.

But that left me processor-less when I moved to Waterloo. I acquired a very nice Cuisinart DLC-8, the 11-cup model, but it was never the same - I was used to 14-cup machines. As I used to say years ago when I taught: "You can always do less in a big machine, but you can't do more in a small one." I really missed having a DLC-7.

Week before last on eBay, what to my wondering eyes should appear but - a Cuisinart DFP-14BCN, the new stainless-and-black version of the DLC-7. It was used, and had one problem, a cracked pusher, but it was otherwise complete and was priced at - get this - $29.99, Buy It Now. Which, trust me, I did.

A replacement pusher/sleeve assembly was another $25, but that gives me a like-new machine for $55 plus the shipping. Not too shabby for a current model with a list price of $325 and a street price of $180.

I have also treated myself to a the DLC-70 nine-disc complete set of DLC-7 accessory discs, another bargain at $30, meaning that I have replaced the trusty old DLC-7 for under $100.

Best of all, the DFP-14BCN looks better with my chrome-and-black kitchenalia than the white processor did.

So, I'm back in biz. I feel some piecrusts coming on, and lots of do-ahead cooking for the freezer....

A photo showing the DFP-14BCN is below:

 

[frigilux]

I have the same processor; love it! I use it primarily for bread doughs, as the KitchenAid processor is a wimp in that department. Happy processing, Sandy.

 

[tolivac]

Classic "Square base" machine--better than the "Boot shaped" ones.Have both-the "boot" was booted to the pantry!!Ol' square base is still used!!!The older square design is more rugged,reliable-and the container handle is one peice-the new boot one has a two peice handle-pinches your hand as you put on or remove the container from the base.

 

[mikael3]

I don't often cook for more than two people, so I opted for a smaller model.  Even so, that fantastic giant DLC-7 has long been on my "one day" list.  But one thing I've always wondered about is that two-sized chute.  It looks a unwieldy.  Is it easy to work with?  Easy to clean (within reason, of course, since food processor nooks and crannies are notorious)? 

 

[tomturbomatic]

The two size chute (or expanded feed tube) is nice. I bought the kit for both the original from the 70s and the 7. The gallon sized one came with it. They are not that complicated to work with and hold things like potatoes nicely as well as give you the narrow tube for carrots, etc. They clean up just fine in the dishwasher, just remove the center tube from the assembly and load both components upside down.

 

[mattl]

I have the DLC 7e and I too like it. Dates back to the 80's. It has a crack in the area with the rod that turn the motor on but I managed to jam it down. I need a new work bowl and have an eBay alert out on one, but all are more than I want to spend when the unit is still working.

Glad you got your friend back especially at that price!

 

[danemodsandy]

John (mikael3):

The expanded feed tube on most DFP-14BCNs is one of Cuisinart's newer designs; it's not the same as the expanded feed tube was on the DLC-7. It is a bit easier to operate than older expanded feed tube designs, but it's also a bit more fragile. You have to get used to it and learn how to treat it gently. You squeeze the pusher/sleeve assembly to lift it off the feed tube, and squeezes that are too hard can eventually crack the little latch that's part of the safety features.

I don't think the DFP-14BCN is any harder to clean than any other current-model processor out there. It should be easier to clean than some I've seen recently.

The next time you're thinking about a new processor, I urge you to get the biggest machine you can.

 

[danemodsandy]

Rex:

Forgot to mention:

I hated the new "boot-shaped" machines on sight. As soon as I saw one, I could see that for the first time in Cuisinart's history, marketing considerations had overtaken functionality. The new machines use more parts to do the same jobs, contain shorter-lived membrane switches to replace electromechanical ones and have a more complicated bowl system.

There was NO reason to re-design the DLC-7 machine except marketing - the DLC-7 has been the standard by which all other home processors are judged for over thirty years. It has proved itself with many hundreds of thousands of owners, from grandmas to caterers. The stylistic update that transformed the white '80s look of the DLC-7 into the stainless/black look of the DFP-14BCN was okay, even desirable.

But there was no reason to re-invent the wheel with the "boot-shaped" models, except as an attempt to re-market existing customers with a new device. The founder of Cuisinart, the late Carl Sontheimer, had engineering background, and made certain that new machines had real advancements, not just doo-dads.

Sad to see the Sontheimer ethic gone.

 

[tolivac]

Danemodsandy:
I can agree with you on the food processors-The orig Cuisenart design was robust and simple.Straightforward,too.I have been trying to look for some of the earliest models-but no luck.Guess their owners like them so much they will not give the machines up for ANY price.The DLC series machine should live on and scrap that newer "boot" design-offhand don't know or remember the mod#'s just shoved mine back in the depths of the closet-probably NEVER to be used again.I also have a Robot Coupe machine I bought from a commercial cookware supplier-still works-the container will need to be replaced,though.For many of my food processor jobs just use the Blendtec or Vita-Mix.May our DLC "square base" processor machines live on!!The new boot one would make a good anchor for someones small fishing boat!!

 

[danemodsandy]

Rex:

If you are looking for a vintage, French-made Cuisinart, the trick is to search eBay using the term "cuisinart cfp." The first generation of Cuisinart processors all had model numbers beginning in the letters "CFP" (for Cuisinart Food Processor), from the CFP-4 to the CFP-9. The CFP-4 is the earliest, metal-boded machine, so basic it did not have an on-off switch; you operated it by twisting the lid of the workbowl.

If you're not a fan of the boot-shaped models, you may find this cuisinart.com discontinued processor page of interest:

http://www.cuisinart.com/discontinued/food_processors.html

 

[tolivac]

Don't use and HATE EBay-keep my eyes open at thrift places,swap shops,yard sales.

 

[tolivac]

Sandy: Link is very good-shows some of the models I would hunt for-again at the yard sales and swap shops.In my area some of this sort of machines are hard to find-they weren't popular here-like the Magnavox Hi-Fis.

 

[jkbff]

DLC-XPBCN

By largest you can buy, you mean the 20 cup model right?

 

[tolivac]

One of my Moms freinds had the DLC-XPBCN Never used it,but it was a beast just sitting on his counter.I understand this is the "Holey Grail" of food precessors.Remember when seeing the price on one they are VERY expensive.Also seen them sold thru commercial cooking equipment suppliers.

 

[danemodsandy]

The DLC-X:

Yes, it's larger than the DLC-7 and the other 14-cup machines derived from the DLC-7 design. But the X isn't really a home machine; Cuisinart makes it available to anyone who wants it, but doesn't market it to home users.

And the price is ridiculous - for that extra six cups of capacity, you pay around $750, or three times the list price of a DFP-14BCN. Discounts are not common, though I've seen a few people get a bargain on one.

 

[tolivac]

Guess you might be able to find a used DLC-X in the used equipment shelf at your local restuarant supply place.Guess I had better check the place near me!for a new DLC-X machine-be cheaper just to use the smaller one and do batches.

 

[danemodsandy]

Small Update:

I finally got time to unpack and clean the DLC-70 set of nine accessory discs.

Boy, did I earn my savings on those! They were filthy. The problem was congealed grease buildup, almost as if they'd been left lying out near a stovetop where a lot of frying was done, for a long time.

It took spraying with oven cleaner and scrubbing with a hard toothbrush (I buy them at CVS just for cleaning purposes; hard toothbrushes aren't easy to find these days), then a soak in water and bleach, then a scrub with Cameo stainless cleaner, then a final washing.

They are like new now, and sanitary, but it was quite the little job.