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Small kitchen? I test appliances, and my beloved mini Cuisinart food processor is just $30 for the Amazon Big Spring Sale

Chop, chop! Grab the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor while it's down to its lowest price in years for this Amazon Spring Sale.

Britt Ross

·Deals Writer

Updated March 22, 2024 at 10:29 AM

As a kitchen product tester (and former pro baker), I love to prepare meals — but even those of us who enjoy cooking dread certain tasks. For me, that's chopping onions. I don't hate the chopping part as much as the fact that my eyes inevitably start to burn as soon as I start slicing (which is why I wear onion goggles!), so about 10 years ago I bought myself the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor. I've lived in cities all my adult life, which equates to having a series of micro-sized kitchens, and while I was skeptical that this little machine would be powerful enough for my needs, lo and behold, it's proven itself to be an invaluable tool in my arsenal. Intrigued? You should also know it's down to $30 (from $40) for the Amazon Big Spring Sale (its best price in years).

Oh, you didn't know there was an Amazon Spring Sale happening? Think of it as a mini Prime Day event, only you don't need a Prime membership to partake! For even more savings, be sure to check out our team of shopping experts' Amazon Big Spring Sale picks — we'll be scanning the web, comparing prices and updating every day until the sale ends on March 25, so you'll know these are the very best deals of the bunch.

Amazon

Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor

$37$40Save $3

This small yet mighty space saver helps me meal-prep in a fraction of the time as manual slicing and dicing.

$37 at Amazon

Explore More Buying Options

$37 at Walmart $37 at Wayfair

Why is it a good deal?

According to our price trackers, this kitchen whiz is down to its lowest price since 2020, so if you're considering it, my recommendation is to snag it at this price. For a multitasker like this one, that's a steal.

Why do I need this?

As mentioned, I don't have a surplus of kitchen storage space, but the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus is small enough that I can fit it in one of my cabinets and still have room for pots, pans and the like. Its 24-ounce bowl is also large enough for almost all of my needs; I started out using it for onions, which I'll quarter before placing them inside. I can fit about two or three onions at a time, and in seconds they'll be chopped to my desired size. Success!

In the decade or so since I bought it, I've also used it for quickly making my own nut butters, smoothing out sauces and mixing up cookie and pie doughs. It even does a stellar job of whipping cream, which means you won't be seeing me do that by hand ever again!

I appreciate how user-friendly it is; there are just two options, chop or grind, though you do need to keep pressing the buttons down for it to work rather than just letting it go while you move on to another task. Honestly, I'm fine with this, since I rarely need to pulse for more than 30 seconds total, and it gives me more control, whether I want to keep things chunky or reduce them to a pulp.

One note I do have is that it doesn't have a feed chute like many larger models do, and there aren't any extra slicing disks. But I'd rather have a smaller version that's not a pain to get out several times a week than deal with a bulky behemoth. As far as cleaning goes, the bowl and lid are dishwasher-safe, though I prefer to wash by hand, because it takes hardly any time. That might be why mine still works just as well as it did the day I got it!

the silver mini cuisinart food processor next to some raspberries and almonds — Simplicity and economy defined, this thing can puree just about anything, from fruit to nuts. (Amazon)

What reviewers say

I could go on and on about my love of the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor, but I'll let some of its 22,000-plus Amazon fans take the mic.

"This was a wonderful surprise for us, because I have arthritis that is becoming worse in my hands, and handling the big and heavy glass blender was getting nearly impossible," shared this puppie parent. "I like to chop up a variety of veggies for my three dogs to mix into their dinner. Carrots are the most loved, and I was very concerned that this cute little Mini-Prep Plus processor would not be up to the task. It works fast, it works effortlessly and it leaves not one carrot chunk behind."

"I cannot keep my full-size food processor out on the counter all the time, but really needed something to use often," wrote another impressed buyer. "So far, this unit has not disappointed me. The size is perfect for everyday use and does not take up a lot of real estate on my counter. ... The BIG factor for me is that the blade's lowest point is as near to the bottom as it can get, so it doesn’t skip over some of what you're chopping/grinding. Additionally, the blade goes in both directions, which is key."

"This little powerhouse is a fabulous addition to your kitchen tools," raved a final fan. "As I age, it's hard to mince and finely chop garlic, onions, herbs, etc. This little food processor is full of power ... It comes apart easily, goes through the dishwasher perfectly and does a magnificent job of chopping or mincing. My only minor complaint is it's rather noisy, but as it's only run for a brief period of time, it's a non-issue for me."

Amazon

Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor

$37$40Save $3

At just 30 bucks? Go ahead and give it a spin — you'll thank me when you realize how versatile it is!

$37 at Amazon

Explore More Buying Options

$37 at Walmart $37 at Wayfair

Psst: Here's another Cuisinart kitchen staple of mine:

Amazon

Cuisinart Deluxe Convection Toaster Oven

$159$180Save $21

Faster food, cooler kitchen — this compact appliance is a no-brainer, especially during the warmer months.

Check out my full Cuisinart Deluxe Convection Toaster Oven review for more.

$159 at Amazon

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon’s Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog’s car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

Read more about how we review products and deals: Our deal-hunting team of writers, editors, and testers around the country are all seasoned experts in their fields (tech, style, home, beauty), many with 20+ years of experience. Our unbiased experts maintain strict editorial integrity: We only feature deals we believe will save you money.