I'm so curious to know how you ruined it! email me!

Have you price-shopped for a replacement bowl, or are you going by the MSRP? Maybe you can get a better price on eBay?

As a slow learner and a woman who has broken TWO food processor bowls (and various other parts... and a blender) because I keep sticking spoons into them while they're running, I can tell you that IF you are happy with all your FP's features and capacity, IF it is mechanically sound and IF your manufacturer can send you the replacement top, then replacing the part is the environmentally and economically sensible thing to do.

In your situation, I'd price out replacing both the shredding disk and the bowl (including S&H). If part replacement is even $10 cheaper, I'd go with it. If not, I'd buy a whole new unit... oh! and stop shoving spoons in it while it's running (easier said than done). ;o)

I'd buy a new FP. That's what I did when the bowl on my Cuisinart gave out. Good excuse to upgrade/up-size.

Nancy

If you replace your old processor, see if there is a charitable organization/church kitchen that would like your old one. The price of the replacement bowl, and perhaps even the shredder blade, might be feasible for them in order to have a good food processor.

I'd buy a new one too! Especially since you need the shredding disc. And if you can't find a church/soup kitchen or something you can always put your old one on freecycle. You might want to look on freecycle first just to see if there's a matching bowl out there.

I broke the lid on my Cuisinart a few years ago, and when I saw what a replacement lid would cost, I seriously considered getting a whole new machine. But then I remembered that the old one has a lifetime guarantee on its motor--they don't offer that anymore--and that I own every shredding and slicing disk ever made for that machine, and those would cost a fortune to replace.

So I shopped around on the Net and found some places with much lower prices than the official Cuisinart dealership. Got the new lid, and now this machine will probably outlive me.

Here are some places to look (sorry, I don't know how to do multiple clickable links here):

www.smallappliance.com (the best prices at the time, maybe not now)
www.thegourmetdepotco.com
www.totalvac.com (get a new bowl AND a vacuum hose!)

Well, it's a 7 cup Kitchenaid FP, it cost me about $85 a few years ago. I have done some price shopping online and I can still get the same size model for about the same price.

To replace the bowl I have found $31.99 plus shipping of about $5. The disc is $19.99 plus shipping. So it'll cost me about $60 to replace the parts, and for another $15 I could get a brand new one.

I have gotten by without the shredding disc for quite some time, so it's not like it's something I would use often.

I am trying to be environmentally friendly, but geez! Good idea to donate the old one, I may look into that as well.

Hadn't thought of Ebay...I'll look into that, too.

Linda

I've had good luck finding parts for my Robot Coupe from www.thegourmetdepotco.com which has every part imaginable. (used to be culinaryparts.com

Grace

Buy the new processor and save the other one so when you ruin the new one, hopefully it won't be the same part and you'll have a replacement all set to go lol!!

The housing that holds the blade on my old Robo Coupe cracked about 2 years ago and I was heartbroken because all the replacements I looked at were so flimsy compared to the one I had. But thankfully hubby was able to glue it - must have used superglue or something - and it's been working like a champ ever since. I'm going to hate to have to replace it when it does finally go. The ones today just can't compare in sturdiness.

Lisa

Ok so no one else wants to know HOW she did it? Sheesh!

I'm reading between the lines and I'm guessing I don't want to know how she did it!

Shaun, you're not alone, I'm dying of curiosity as to how she ruined her FP bowl!! :)

Well, let's just suffice it to say DO NOT put your FP work bowl in the microwave.
Under any circumstances.
For any reason.

Now....can we move on? LOL

Linda

I have an 11 cup KA FP -- for the $200 it costs, the bowl sure is a flimsy piece of plastic.

I'd just go buy a new one or the bigger model. Nows the time.. keep the old motor base for awhile because a replacement bowl may turn up and then you'll have two.

Linda, really? The microwave ruined it? But it's plastic! How did that happen??

Shaun, my Cuisinart FP bowl has a metal spring where it connects to the base. Hers may be similar. Sounds like bad news.

Eileen

No metal that I am aware of, but there is something in the handle that has a very low boiling point. In just one minute it was oozing goo and blew a hole out the side of the handle. This melting consequently disabled the locking mechanism and....well....there you have it.

It's history.

Linda

Not all plastic is micro freindly. Think deli container cups.

Look for a new bowl and blade, then price a new model. You might even want to look at other slicing blades in a set.

Oh, boy. Sorry to hear your bad news. I hope my Cuis. FP never breaks! I'm really worried lately to because my BF has been doing a lot of cooking and he loves the "power tools" of the kitchen.

But I couldn't live without my shredder for that long. Couldn't imagine not making carrot cake, zucchini bread, hashbrowns and coleslaw. (I'd never make any of them without my shredder.)

I second the idea to keep the old one for parts!