I got a Mini Prep for Christmas, and have used it about 8 or 10 times
by now. I don't have experience with larger food processors, so all I
can tell you is that I've observed directly on the Mini Prep.
1. It's very easy to clean. I hand wash it because unless I'm running
the dishwasher right away, I will need it again before I run the
dishwasher. No problem.
2. It's noisy! I live with it.
3. It works well and quickly on spices (fine grind for pepper,
coriander seeds, etc.) and garlic.
4. It doesn't do a coarse chop. It can only chop things up fine. The
manual says it can do a coarse chop by pulsing it, but I get very
uneven results that way. I have tried it with onion and cabbage, so
maybe it will do better with food that is not "layered" like these. I
debated taking it back for this reason, but decided that I can do a
coarse chop with a knife quickly enough, that it's the fine chop that
takes longer, and the Mini Prep does that just fine. I no longer have
to chop garlic by hand, since I usually want it chopped fine, and I do
a week's supply at a time. I now do it in the Mini Prep in about a
minute, including smashing the garlic, removing the skin and cutting
off the top, chopping, and cleaning the Mini Prep (quick rinse).
Overall, I like it, even with it's limitations. YMMV.

I got a Mini Prep for Christmas, and have used it about 8 or 10 times
by now. I don't have experience with larger food processors, so all I
can tell you is that I've observed directly on the Mini Prep.
1. It's very easy to clean. I hand wash it because unless I'm running
the dishwasher right away, I will need it again before I run the
dishwasher. No problem.
2. It's noisy! I live with it.
3. It works well and quickly on spices (fine grind for pepper,
coriander seeds, etc.) and garlic.
4. It doesn't do a coarse chop. It can only chop things up fine. The
manual says it can do a coarse chop by pulsing it, but I get very
uneven results that way. I have tried it with onion and cabbage, so
maybe it will do better with food that is not "layered" like these. I
debated taking it back for this reason, but decided that I can do a
coarse chop with a knife quickly enough, that it's the fine chop that
takes longer, and the Mini Prep does that just fine. I no longer have
to chop garlic by hand, since I usually want it chopped fine, and I do
a week's supply at a time. I now do it in the Mini Prep in about a
minute, including smashing the garlic, removing the skin and cutting
off the top, chopping, and cleaning the Mini Prep (quick rinse).
Overall, I like it, even with it's limitations. YMMV.

On 3 Jan 2005 08:45:12 -0800, "salgud"
> wrote:

> 4. It doesn't do a coarse chop. It can only chop things up fine. The
> manual says it can do a coarse chop by pulsing it, but I get very
> uneven results that way. I have tried it with onion and cabbage, so
> maybe it will do better with food that is not "layered" like these.

You are trying to use use it for something it's not meant
for. You need a regular sized food processor for cabbage
and whatever else it is you can't chop coarsely in a mini.

> I debated taking it back for this reason, but decided that I can do a
> coarse chop with a knife quickly enough, that it's the fine chop that
> takes longer, and the Mini Prep does that just fine. I no longer have
> to chop garlic by hand, since I usually want it chopped fine, and I do
> a week's supply at a time. I now do it in the Mini Prep in about a
> minute, including smashing the garlic, removing the skin and cutting
> off the top, chopping, and cleaning the Mini Prep (quick rinse).
> Overall, I like it, even with it's limitations.

Limitations???? If you weren't so cheap, you'd think it was
a decent garlic/tomato/pepper/parsley/cilantro/onion/bread
chopper.

> YMMV.

My mileage doesn't vary because I know how to use it
effectively and I have a larger sized food processor for the
jobs it can't handle.


sf

On 3 Jan 2005 08:45:12 -0800, "salgud"
> wrote:

> 4. It doesn't do a coarse chop. It can only chop things up fine. The
> manual says it can do a coarse chop by pulsing it, but I get very
> uneven results that way. I have tried it with onion and cabbage, so
> maybe it will do better with food that is not "layered" like these.

You are trying to use use it for something it's not meant
for. You need a regular sized food processor for cabbage
and whatever else it is you can't chop coarsely in a mini.

> I debated taking it back for this reason, but decided that I can do a
> coarse chop with a knife quickly enough, that it's the fine chop that
> takes longer, and the Mini Prep does that just fine. I no longer have
> to chop garlic by hand, since I usually want it chopped fine, and I do
> a week's supply at a time. I now do it in the Mini Prep in about a
> minute, including smashing the garlic, removing the skin and cutting
> off the top, chopping, and cleaning the Mini Prep (quick rinse).
> Overall, I like it, even with it's limitations.

Limitations???? If you weren't so cheap, you'd think it was
a decent garlic/tomato/pepper/parsley/cilantro/onion/bread
chopper.

> YMMV.

My mileage doesn't vary because I know how to use it
effectively and I have a larger sized food processor for the
jobs it can't handle.


sf

salgud wrote:

I use mine to make Hummus.

> I got a Mini Prep for Christmas, and have used it about 8 or 10 times
> by now. I don't have experience with larger food processors, so all I
> can tell you is that I've observed directly on the Mini Prep.
> 1. It's very easy to clean. I hand wash it because unless I'm running
> the dishwasher right away, I will need it again before I run the
> dishwasher. No problem.
> 2. It's noisy! I live with it.
> 3. It works well and quickly on spices (fine grind for pepper,
> coriander seeds, etc.) and garlic.
> 4. It doesn't do a coarse chop. It can only chop things up fine. The
> manual says it can do a coarse chop by pulsing it, but I get very
> uneven results that way. I have tried it with onion and cabbage, so
> maybe it will do better with food that is not "layered" like these. I
> debated taking it back for this reason, but decided that I can do a
> coarse chop with a knife quickly enough, that it's the fine chop that
> takes longer, and the Mini Prep does that just fine. I no longer have
> to chop garlic by hand, since I usually want it chopped fine, and I do
> a week's supply at a time. I now do it in the Mini Prep in about a
> minute, including smashing the garlic, removing the skin and cutting
> off the top, chopping, and cleaning the Mini Prep (quick rinse).
> Overall, I like it, even with it's limitations. YMMV.
>

salgud wrote:

I use mine to make Hummus.

> I got a Mini Prep for Christmas, and have used it about 8 or 10 times
> by now. I don't have experience with larger food processors, so all I
> can tell you is that I've observed directly on the Mini Prep.
> 1. It's very easy to clean. I hand wash it because unless I'm running
> the dishwasher right away, I will need it again before I run the
> dishwasher. No problem.
> 2. It's noisy! I live with it.
> 3. It works well and quickly on spices (fine grind for pepper,
> coriander seeds, etc.) and garlic.
> 4. It doesn't do a coarse chop. It can only chop things up fine. The
> manual says it can do a coarse chop by pulsing it, but I get very
> uneven results that way. I have tried it with onion and cabbage, so
> maybe it will do better with food that is not "layered" like these. I
> debated taking it back for this reason, but decided that I can do a
> coarse chop with a knife quickly enough, that it's the fine chop that
> takes longer, and the Mini Prep does that just fine. I no longer have
> to chop garlic by hand, since I usually want it chopped fine, and I do
> a week's supply at a time. I now do it in the Mini Prep in about a
> minute, including smashing the garlic, removing the skin and cutting
> off the top, chopping, and cleaning the Mini Prep (quick rinse).
> Overall, I like it, even with it's limitations. YMMV.
>

I didn't realize that by offering a few opinions in the forum, I'd be
flamed for no reason. Suddenly I'm cheap for not having a larger
Cuisanart and stupid for thinking about returning my Mini Prep, all
from a person (being generous here!) who's mileage never varies because
he has all the answers!
In the future, sf, whoever (or whatever) you might be, please ignore my
messages. I'll be certain to ignore yours!

On 5 Jan 2005 14:30:41 -0800, "salgud"
> wrote:

> In the future, sf, whoever (or whatever) you might be, please ignore my
> messages. I'll be certain to ignore yours!

You've posted here before? I hadn't noticed.

sf