I don't know how many you regularly cook for....but the 7 cup model had done fine for me for a lot of years.
I like the Cuisinart...and once you learn how to work it easily and quickly, it will knead, mix, chop, slice, dice, juillienne, puree and about anything else you may need.
It won't do any of those operations where you want to beat air into the mix....but for bread, pie crust, veggies for soup. apples for pie, rhubarb for pie, lettuce for tacos, cabbage for slaw.....and the list goes on....
And yes....they chop tomatoes just fine!
Linda C

Thanks, you mean those things won't make mush out of my tomatoes? I've been thinking about the medium size ones because that way I won't have too much $$$ invested in it in case it ends up not being used.

I bought a 7 cup cuisinart for the church, at Kohls, with a 20% off discount and on a sale day....and with my sr. citizen discount, for $88.
They will definitly make tomato mush unless you learn to use a very light hand with the pulse/process. But once you learn how to use it....it's wonderful!
Linda C

I have a Kitchenaid, I think it's a 12 cup. Use it very often. The only advice I would add is to buy a good one the first time around. I went through 2 "cheap" ones (One a Black & Decker and the other I think was Hamilton Beach) before I got the KA. For the $$ I spent on two cheap crappy models that only lasted about a year or two, I could have had a much better FP.

Linda

Mine is a KitchenAid and it works pretty darn well. Too well, sometimes, I've had it since May and still haven't learned to chop vegetables without turning them to mush. I also learned that a couple of seconds too long and your pie crust is too hot to manage without half an hour in the freezer, LOL.

It made short work of 6 heads of cabbage for sauerkraut, though, and I've used it to mince beef for shepherd's pie and pork to add to meatloaf. It works better than anything else for hummus and for Jessica's lime chipotle glaze which I make at least once a month, I've even used that as salad dressing.

I tried salsa with the FP, though, and promptly went back to handchopping everything except the onions.

I have some severe carpal tunnel in my right hand and the food processor, bread machine and electric mixer have saved me a lot of pain....

Annie

I think that the bigger the better. There are many times that you don't need the large capacity, but it is nice to have the option. Especially if you decide to get into baking breads. I've had 4 Cuisinarts over the last 32 years, each one bigger than the next. I now have a

Ann

I find I use my little (approx. 2-cup capacity) Hamilton Beach Food Chopper more than my 7-cup Quisinart (2-person household). I usually use the small food chopper for grinding nuts into nut meal and finely minced onion. As well as other foods I only need a small amount chopped.

I remember when my mother first got her food processor and she made potato pancakes (raw potatoes) the first time. A formerly tedious chore that included scraped knuckles on the grater. She was the happiest person in the world.

I have a friend who lost her arm in a farm accident when she was a child and she uses her food processor for making bread dough and pastry (Martha Stewart's recipe).

As with many such kitchen "toys", you just determine you are going to figure out as many ways as possible to use it. I have several cookbooks dedicated to the Food Processor.

I agree with Annie when it comes to chopping cabbage for sauerkraut - a food processor is the BEST tool for the job.

-Grainlady

Here's another vote for the KA; have a 12-cup and use it all the time. I would be lost without it.

I have 2 FP, a mini Cuisinart and a 22 year old large off brand and I don't know how big it is but it's always been more room then I needed. I use my Mini almost every day sometimes several times a day. I've been using my large FP more since the holidays are approaching but it still is stored in the butler's pantry whereas my Mini is in the kitchen on the first shelf of an upper cab for easy access.

Michelle

Thanks for all your input. I'm definitely going to like doing pie crusts and bread in one and will be looking for one with a big enough capacity.

It WILL make mush out of your tomatoes. that being said I used Cuisanart for 15 years then replaced it with another one I have had for maybe five years now. Just bought my daughter one.

Actually, I disagree with Ann's "the bigger the better" sentiment. I usually just cook for DH and I, and have a 12 cup processor, and I often feel it is too big -- food can just spin to the outside of the bowl a little too often. I think if I was doing it over I'd get a 7-cup... I think a lot depends on how many people you are cooking for...

Emily