Cuisinart Elemental FP-13DSV

The Cuisinart® Elemental™ 13-Cup Food Processor with Dicing Kit (FP-13D Series) is a versatile kitchen appliance designed for a wide range of food preparation tasks, including chopping, mixing, puréeing, slicing, shredding, kneading, and dicing. This robust food processor aims to simplify meal preparation with its powerful motor and comprehensive set of accessories.

Function Description

At its core, the food processor is designed to process food efficiently and consistently. It features a heavy-duty 550-watt motor housed in a sturdy base, which drives a vertical motor shaft. This motor is capable of handling various recipes without slowing down, ensuring consistent results across different food types and processing tasks. An automatic, temperature-controlled circuit breaker is integrated into the motor to provide complete protection against burnout, ensuring the longevity of the appliance. Safety switches are also incorporated to prevent the machine from operating unless the work bowl and cover are securely locked into position. The motor stops within seconds when turned off, and a fast-stop circuit also engages when the pusher assembly is removed, enhancing user safety.

The appliance comes with two nested work bowls: a large 13-cup work bowl and a smaller 4.5-cup work bowl. This dual-bowl system offers maximum versatility, allowing users to select the appropriate bowl size for the task at hand, thereby optimizing efficiency and minimizing cleanup. The small work bowl is particularly useful for processing smaller quantities of ingredients, and it must be nested within the large work bowl with the stem adapter in place for operation. The large work bowl features a sealed drive system to prevent leaks, which is especially beneficial when processing liquids or batters.

Control of the food processor is managed through a touchpad control panel, which includes easy-to-clean buttons for High, Low, Off, and Pulse functions. The High and Low controls allow the machine to run continuously until the Off button is pressed. The Pulse button provides more precise control over processing duration and frequency, running the machine only while it is being pressed, typically for about two seconds per pulse.

A key feature of this food processor is its comprehensive set of cutting tools. These include:

Small Chopping/Mixing Blade: A stainless steel blade designed for chopping or mixing ingredients in the small work bowl. It incorporates Cuisinart's BladeLock System to keep the blade in place during pouring and handling.
Large Chopping/Mixing Blade: A heavy-duty stainless steel blade for processing a variety of foods in the large work bowl. This blade also features the BladeLock System for optimal ease when pouring.
Dough Blade: Specifically designed for gently kneading all types of dough, particularly yeast doughs. It is recommended for use at low speed and only in the large work bowl.
Adjustable Slicing Disc: A versatile 7-in-1 disc that allows for slicing thicknesses ranging from 1mm (thin) to 7mm (thick), indicated by markings on the rotating hub. This disc is exclusively for use in the large work bowl.
Reversible Shredding Disc: Offers options for either fine or coarse shredding, providing optimal results for various ingredients. Like the slicing disc, it is designed for use only in the large work bowl.
Dicing Kit: This specialized kit includes a Dicing Grid, a Dicing Disc, and a Dicing Grid Cleaning Tool. The Dicing Grid positions food for cutting into perfect squares, while the Dicing Disc cuts the food as it is pushed through the grid. The cleaning tool is essential for removing food trapped in the grid. The dicing function is recommended for use with the medium or small feed tube and is not suitable for frozen foods or meats.

The appliance also includes a stem adapter, a user-friendly tool that easily attaches to any of the discs, the small chopping/mixing blade, or the Dicing Grid and Dicing Disc to engage with the motor shaft. A spatula, uniquely designed for use with either work bowl, is also provided.

Usage Features

The Cuisinart® Elemental™ food processor is designed for ease of assembly and operation. Before first use, all parts should be washed. The base should be placed on a dry, level countertop, and the unit should not be plugged in until fully assembled.

Assembly:

Work Bowls: The large work bowl is placed on the base and locked into place by turning its handle counterclockwise. To use the small work bowl, it is placed over the stem adapter, which is first positioned on the shaft within the large work bowl, and then secured with a slight turn.
Blades/Discs: Chopping/mixing blades and the dough blade are placed onto the shaft (or stem adapter for the small blade) and pushed down until they lock into place. Discs are inserted over the stem adapter, with the adjustable slicing disc allowing thickness selection via its rotating hub, and the reversible shredding disc requiring the user to choose the fine or coarse side.
Covers: The main work bowl cover is placed over the work bowl with the feed-tube assembly shifted slightly to the right of the handle, ensuring the hub pin aligns with the center of the lid. It is then rotated clockwise to engage the lid locking mechanism and interlock. A flat work bowl cover is also provided for chopping, mixing, puréeing, or kneading tasks when slicing or shredding discs are not in use. This cover is placed on the work bowl with the Cuisinart logo facing up and then turned clockwise to lock.

Pusher Assembly: The 3-part pusher assembly consists of a small pusher inside a medium pusher, which in turn sits inside a large pusher. This design accommodates ingredients of various sizes. The large pusher has a lock feature, which can be pulled out to lock it and pushed in to unlock. This is particularly useful for processing heavy loads or dicing. The pusher should always be used when slicing or shredding to avoid contact with moving blades.

Processing Guidelines:

Chopping/Mixing: For raw ingredients, food should be peeled, cored, and cut into even ½- to 1-inch pieces for consistent results. Pulsing in 1- to 2-second increments is recommended for chopping, while continuous High or Low speed can be used for finer chops or purées. Low speed is ideal for doughs and batters, while High speed is for most other tasks.
Puréeing: Ingredients should be cut into 1-inch pieces. Pulse to initially chop, then process on High or Low until smooth. For puréeing solids for soups or sauces, strain the solids, process them alone, and add cooking liquid through the feed tube as needed.
Slicing/Shredding: Food should be packed evenly in the feed tube. Light pressure is used for soft foods, medium for medium foods, and firm for harder foods. Round fruits or vegetables should have a thick piece sliced off the base to sit upright. Small ingredients should be trimmed to sit upright. Cheese should be well chilled. Leafy vegetables can be rolled and stood upright in the feed tube.
Dicing: Only the medium or small feed tube should be used. Single items should be packed tightly to the left of the feed tube with consistent downward pressure. The recommended speed for most fruits and vegetables is High, with Low speed for very soft items like kiwi.
Kneading: The dough blade is used for yeast doughs, and the large pusher lock should be engaged to minimize movement. Dough kneading should only be done in the large bowl. The chopping blade at low speed is suitable for pastry doughs.

Maintenance Features

Proper cleaning, storage, and maintenance are crucial for the safety and continued enjoyment of the Cuisinart® Elemental™ food processor.

Cleaning:

All parts, except the housing base, are dishwasher safe. It is recommended to wash them on the top rack only, as intense water heat on the bottom rack may cause damage over time. The cover should be inserted with the feed tube facing up, and the work bowl and pusher upside down for drainage.
To simplify cleaning, rinse the work bowl, cover, pusher, and blades/discs immediately after use to prevent food from drying on them. If food lodges in the pusher, run water through it or use a bottle brush.
When washing blades and discs by hand, extreme care must be taken due to their sharp edges. Always handle them by their plastic hubs. Avoid leaving them in soapy water where they might disappear from sight. To clean blades, fill the work bowl with soapy water, hold the blade by its plastic center, and move it rapidly up and down on the center shaft. A spray attachment or brush can also be effective.
The housing base should be wiped clean with a soapy, nonabrasive material and thoroughly dried. If the rubber feet leave spots on the counter, they can be cleaned with a spot remover and a damp sponge, followed by a nonabrasive cleaning powder if necessary.
The work bowl is made of SAN plastic with metal components and should not be placed in a microwave oven.

Storage:

The food processor can be kept on the kitchen counter, unplugged when not in use.
Blades and discs should always be stored out of reach of children.
The appliance comes with an accessory storage case that safely holds all blades, discs, and the stem adapter. To open, turn the knob counterclockwise and gently lift the transparent cover. To lock, gently close the cover and turn the knob clockwise.
The Dicing Kit also has its own storage case. To open, turn the flat work bowl cover with the small pusher counterclockwise and lift. The dicing blade and grid should be carefully lifted out by their center knobs or openings. The cleaning tool sits in a dedicated space in the base of the storage case.
Never store any blade or disc on the motor shaft when the processor is not in use. To avoid malfunction of the work bowl switch, never store the processor with the cover assembly in the locked position.
The shipping cartons and plastic foam blocks should be saved for potential future shipment or moving.

Safety Precautions:

Always unplug the unit when not in use, before assembling/disassembling parts, removing food, or cleaning.
Never touch the cutting edges of blades or discs, as they are extremely sharp. Always use the plastic hubs for handling.
Keep hands, spatulas, and other utensils away from moving blades or discs during operation. Only a plastic scraper may be used when the motor is stopped.
Never push food down by hand when slicing or shredding; always use the pusher.
Ensure the motor has completely stopped before removing the cover.
Never try to override or tamper with the cover interlock mechanism.
Do not operate the appliance outdoors or with a damaged cord or plug.
Do not let the cord hang over the edge of a table or counter or touch hot surfaces.
If storing the appliance in an appliance garage, always unplug it from the electrical outlet to prevent fire risk.
The appliance has a polarized plug (one blade wider than the other) as a safety feature. If it doesn't fit fully, reverse the plug. Do not attempt to defeat this feature.

By following these instructions, users can ensure safe, efficient, and long-lasting performance from their Cuisinart® Elemental™ 13-Cup Food Processor with Dicing Kit.

Cuisinart Elemental FP-13DSV Specifications

General

Model	FP-13DSV
Category	Food Processor
Brand	Cuisinart
Capacity	13 cups
Motor Power	550 watts
Bowl Material	Plastic
Blade Material	Stainless steel
Pulse Control	Yes
Warranty	3 years
Housing Material	Plastic
Dishwasher Safe Parts	Yes
Controls	Touchpad
Feed Tube	Large feed tube
Included Accessories	dough blade, slicing disc, shredding disc