Ina Garten's Kitchen Secret: The Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor You Can Grab on Amazon
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Ina Garten’s Kitchen Secret: The Cuisinart 14‑Cup Food Processor You Can Grab on Amazon
When you hear the name Ina Garten, you’re probably picturing her laid‑back “Barefoot Contessa” style, the comforting comfort‑food recipes that never fail to impress, and that unmistakable New York‑inspired flair for style and simplicity. What many of her viewers might not know, however, is that her go‑to kitchen weapon for chopping, slicing, and pureeing isn’t a stand‑alone appliance from one of those “premium” brands with a price tag that can run into the thousands—it's a trusty Cuisinart food processor, and you can find it right here on Amazon.
In the recent Food & Wine feature, the writers detail why Garten is enamored with this particular Cuisinart model (the 14‑cup capacity version, code‑numbered 11843135 on Amazon). While the article could easily have focused on a single product review, it goes beyond that to explain how this appliance fits into Garten’s overall kitchen strategy, and why it’s the sort of thing that can save you hours of prep work while still allowing you to keep the quality of your dishes at the very top level.
The Why: Garten’s Love Letter to the Cuisinart
Garten’s cooking is all about balance—high‑quality ingredients, a little bit of preparation, and a lot of love. When you ask her what she needs in a processor, she says, “I need something that’s powerful enough to handle everything from a carrot to a piece of steak, but that’s also quiet and easy to clean.” The Cuisinart 14‑cup model ticks all those boxes:
- Powerful motor – The 850‑watt motor can handle dense veggies, fibrous meats, and even a small batch of whole potatoes. Garten notes that she uses it for everything from finely minced garlic for a simple sauté to chunky chunks of roasted red pepper for a quick pasta sauce.
- Versatile attachments – The package comes with a stainless‑steel bowl, a shredding disk, a slicing disk, a chopping blade, a dough blade (for her famous lemon bars), and a reversible paddle. That means you can go from “grind this into a puree” to “slice this into perfect ½‑inch rounds” with a quick change‑over, keeping prep time minimal.
- Quiet operation – One of the common complaints about older processors is the noise. Garten says the Cuisinart’s motor runs “more like a whisper than a roar,” which is especially handy if you’re preparing a big batch in the middle of a family gathering or a weekday night.
- Easy clean‑up – The bowl, blade, and attachments are all dishwasher safe, and the entire unit sits in a single, compact space that won’t dominate the counter. Garten stresses that this is crucial for the family‑style, no‑fuss kitchen she prefers.
While many might assume that a higher‑end brand like KitchenAid or Breville would be a natural fit for a star chef, Garten says that Cuisinart offers the best combination of performance, price, and practicality. That’s why she recommends it in a Food & Wine article that highlights “chefs who can’t live without this kitchen essential” and why the product page is linked directly to Amazon—so readers can buy it without a trip to the big box retailer.
How She Uses It
Garten provides real‑world examples of the processor in action. She starts with a classic recipe, such as her “Roasted Vegetable Medley,” which requires a mix of finely diced carrots, potatoes, and parsnips. She demonstrates how the chopping blade creates uniform pieces, ensuring an even roast. In another example, she shows how to make a quick salsa, where the processor’s shredding disk can give the onions a uniform texture that makes the salsa’s flavor more cohesive.
The article also covers a more advanced usage: preparing dough. Garten uses the dough blade to handle her signature lemon bars, proving that the processor can handle heavier tasks. The same day, she shows how to turn a batch of raw spinach into a puree that can be folded into her green sauce for a simple but elegant pasta dish.
All of these snippets are punctuated with a link to Garten’s own recipe archives on Food & Wine, letting readers see how the processor integrates into her overall cooking workflow.
A Look at the Product Page
The Amazon product page for the Cuisinart 14‑cup food processor (the one Garten uses) is rich in detail. The page lists:
- Capacity – 14 cups (14 000 ml) of food, enough for a large family dinner or a small gathering.
- Motor – 850 W, dual‑speed control (slow, high), plus a pulse function for precise control.
- Attachments – The standard 13‑piece set includes a shredding disk, slicing disk, chopping blade, and a reversible paddle. The optional “premium” accessory pack adds a bread knife, a meat slicer, and a yogurt attachment.
- Price – The base model starts at roughly $149, with options for extended warranties and premium attachments that can push the price to $250–$300.
- Ratings – 4.7 stars out of 5, with thousands of customer reviews praising the processor’s durability, versatility, and quietness.
In addition, the product page contains a “Frequently Bought Together” carousel that recommends a Cuisinart “Food Processor Bowl Set” and a “Cuisinart Food Processor Accessory Pack,” both of which Garten’s recipes would find useful. The link to “Cuisinart’s 2‑Year Limited Warranty” is also prominently displayed—an important reassurance for anyone investing in a kitchen appliance.
Alternative Options
The article briefly touches on a few alternative processors that are also highly rated, for readers who might be looking at other options. A link to Food & Wine’s earlier feature, “The Best Food Processors of 2024,” is included. This secondary article compares the Cuisinart 14‑cup processor to the Breville Sous Chef 13‑cup and the KitchenAid KFP1123CU, highlighting key differences in motor power, noise levels, and attachment variety.
A quick look at the Breville model shows a slightly higher price ($200‑$250) but a more ergonomic handle and a “smart” sensor that adjusts motor speed automatically. The KitchenAid version has a more robust build and a reputation for durability but comes with a higher base price ($170). Garten acknowledges that each has its merits, but she remains loyal to Cuisinart because of its balance of performance, affordability, and ease of use.
Why It Matters for the Everyday Cook
Ultimately, the article’s core message is simple: you don’t need a fancy, expensive appliance to cook like Ina Garten. What matters is the quality of the tool, its versatility, and how well it fits into your kitchen routine. The Cuisinart 14‑cup food processor offers:
- Time‑saving prep – Turn hours of chopping into minutes.
- Consistent results – Uniform slicing and chopping leads to better texture in your dishes.
- Reliability – Built to last, with a sturdy design that can handle weekly bulk prep.
- Budget‑friendly – Affordable enough that you can upgrade your whole kitchen without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re a busy mom trying to whip up a weeknight dinner, a college student looking for a versatile appliance for dorm‑style cooking, or a culinary enthusiast who appreciates the precision of a good processor, this Cuisinart model is a compelling choice—especially given its endorsement from a trusted cooking icon like Ina Garten.
So the next time you’re scrolling through Amazon and the Cuisinart 14‑cup processor pops up, remember that behind the shiny stainless‑steel exterior is a kitchen tool that’s already been tested, loved, and recommended by one of America’s favorite chefs. And if you’re looking to bring a little bit of “Barefoot Contessa” flair into your own kitchen, you’re only a click away.
Read the Full Food & Wine Article at:
[ https://www.foodandwine.com/ina-garten-cuisinart-food-processor-amazon-11843135 ]