Cuisinart DFP-14N Series 14 Cup Food Processor Custom User Guide

Cuisinart DFP-14N Series14 Cup Food Processor

ABOUT Cuisinart

Conair Corporation is the owner of the American cookware and appliance brand Cuisinart. Carl Sontheimer established Cuisinart in 1971. The company initially made food processors, which were unveiled in 1973 at a Chicago food expo. “Food processor” has come to be synonymous with the term “Cuisinart.”

For your safety and continued enjoyment of this product, always read the instruction book carefully before using it.

CAPACITY

Recommended work bowl capacity for various foods

FOODS	CAPACITY
Chopped and Puréed Fruit	3 cups
and Vegetables
Chopped or Puréed Meat, Poultry,	2-1/4 pounds
Fish or Seafood
Bread Dough	3 pounds (6 cups flour, yielding two 1-1/2 pound loaves)
Nuts for Nut Butter	3 cups
Sliced or Shredded Fruit, Cheese, or Vegetables	14 cups
Cake Batter	4 pounds (5 8-inch layers)

 

IMPORTANT UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS

This package contains a Cuisinart^® Food Processor, and these standard parts for it:  metal chopping blade, dough kneading blade, slicing disc and shredding disc, detachable stem for discs, and spatula.

CAUTION:

THE CUTTING TOOLS HAVE VERY SHARP EDGES. To avoid injury when unpacking the parts, please follow these instructions:

1. Place the box on a low table or on the floor next to the kitchen counter or table where you plan to keep the food processor. Be sure the box is right side up.
2. Remove the cardboard panel and the instructional material.

NOTE:  Remember to return your warranty card complete with all information carefully filled out.

3. You will see a rectangular block of plastic foam that holds the processor parts and DVD, each fitted into a cavity in the foam. The dough kneading blade (A) and detachable stem (B) for the discs are in cavities at one short side of the foam block. Remove them first. The plastic spatula (C) is on one long side of the foam block. Remove it next. The slicing disc (D) is on one long side and the shredding disc (E) is on the other. Slide them out of their grooves WITH GREAT CARE; THE BLADES ARE SHARP. Now only the work bowl cover (F) and the pusher assembly (G) remain in the foam block. Grasp an edge of the work bowl cover and lift it straight up. Grasp the pusher assembly edge near the center of the box and lift it straight up.

4. Lift out the plastic foam block.
5. The machine base and work bowl with metal blades are at the bottom of the box. CAREFULLY REMOVE THE METAL BLADE BY GRASPING THE CENTER WHITE HUB AND LIFTING IT STRAIGHT UP. NEVER TOUCH THE BLADES, 3-1/2 pounds (90 cookies WHICH ARE RAZOR SHARP. Carefully remove each part from the 4 corners of the box.

8. Remove the base and bowl together by grasping the plastic bowl at the top with both hands and lifting the bowl straight up. Do not rotate the bowl clockwise on the base. This will cause the bowl to separate from the base.
9. Place the processor on a counter or table and read the instructions thoroughly before using the machine.
10. Save the shipping cartons and plastic foam blocks. You may want to use them in shipping the processor at a later date.

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

Always follow these safety precautions when using this appliance:

GETTING READY:

1. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
2. The blades are sharp! Handle them carefully.
3. Unplug from the outlet when not in use, before putting on or taking off parts, and before cleaning. To unplug, grasp the plug and pull from the electrical outlet. Never pull the cord.
4. Do not use outdoors.
5. Do not let the cord hang over the edge of the table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.
6. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug, or after the appliance has been dropped or damaged in any way. Return the appliance to the nearest authorized service facility for examination, repair, or electrical or mechanical adjustment.

Operation:

1. Do not use pusher assembly if the sleeve becomes detached from the pusher.
2. Keep hands as well as spatulas and other utensils away from moving blades or discs while processing food, to prevent the possibility of severe personal injury or damage to Custom 14^™ Food Processor. A plastic scraper may be used but must be used only when the Custom 14^™ Food Processor motor is stopped.
3. Avoid contact with moving parts. Never push food down by hand when slicing or shredding. Always use a pusher, or injury could occur.
4. Make sure the motor has completely stopped before removing the cover. If the machine does not stop within 4 seconds when you turn the cover, call 800-726-0190 for assistance. Do not use the machine.
5. Never store any blade or disc on the motor shaft. To reduce the risk of injury, no blade or disc should be placed on the shaft except when the bowl is properly locked in place and the processor is in use. Store blades and discs, as you would sharp knives, out of reach of children.
6. Be sure the cover is securely locked in place before operating the food processor.
7. Never try to override or tamper with the cover interlock mechanism.

Cleaning

1. To protect against the risk of electrical shock, do not put the base in water or other liquid.

General

1. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
2. Do not operate this, or any other motor-driven appliance, while under the influence of alcohol or other substances that affect your reaction time or perception.
3. This food processor is built to our professional standards. It is UL-listed for household use. Use it only for food preparation as described in the accompanying recipe book.
4. The use of attachments not recommended or sold by Cuisinart may cause fire, electrical shock, personal injury, or damage to your Custom 14^™ Food Processor.
5. To avoid possible malfunction of the work bowl switch, never store the processor with the pusher assembly in the locked position (activation position).
6. The maximum rating of 6.0 amperes is based onattachments that draw the greatest current. Other recommended attachments may draw significantly less current.

SAVE THESE  INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY

NOTICE
This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). As a safety feature, this plug will fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not attempt to defeat this safety feature.

INTRODUCTION

You may have bought your new Cuisinart^® Food Processor because you love how it looks in your kitchen, but superior performance makes this versatile food prep tool a legend. You’ll use it every day, for jobs as small as mincing a clove of garlic, to major tasks like kneading 3 pounds of bread dough. The bigger feed tube is easier to handle and means less precutting. And, as always, everything except the base is dishwasher safe. It’s the beginning of a long, delicious – and easy – relationship. Enjoy!

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

The machine includes:

1. Motor base with a vertically projecting shaft and two large control levers.
2. 14-Cup Work bowl.
3. Cover with a large feed tube.
4. Pusher assembly that slides over the feed tube.
   The pusher assembly has 2 parts:

1. • A small, removable, clear pusher that fits into a small center-located feed tube. This tube is for narrow food like carrots, for adding liquid, and for continuous feeding of small hard food like garlic.
   • A large pusher.

5. Plastic spatula.
6. Sharp metal chopping/mixing blade.The metal blade chops raw and cooked fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and cheese to the exact consistency you want – from coarse to fine, even to a purée. You control the texture. It chops nuts, makes nut butter, mayonnaise, and sauces, and mixes tender, flaky pastry. The metal blade also handily mixes cakes, frostings, cookies, quick breads, muffins, and biscuits.
7. Plastic dough blade. The dough blade mixes and kneads more efficiently than the metal blade when your recipe calls for more than 3-1/2 cups of flour.

8. Serrated slicing disc. The slicing disc makes beautiful whole slices with no torn edges. It slices whole fruits and vegetables, cooked meat, semi-frozen raw meat, and loaves of bread.

10. Shredding disc. The shredding disc processes most firm and hard cheese into long, attractive shreds. It also shreds vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and zucchini, and it processes nuts and chocolate to a grated texture.
11. The detachable stem fits both discs. The detachable stem fits both discs, making storage easy in limited space.

PRACTICING WITH FOOD

Try practicing with some food before you process food to eat. A zucchini or potato is a good choice. First, cut it into 1-inch pieces.

Try chopping other food, like meat for hamburger or sausage. Then make mayonnaise, pastry, or bread, as described in the recipes in this book. To obtain consistent results:

• Be sure all the pieces you add to the bowl are about the same size.

• Be sure the amount you process is no larger than recommended (see table inside front cover).

REMOVING PROCESSED FOOD

Before you do anything, wait for the blade to stop spinning.

• When it does, remove the cover first. You can remove the cover and pusher assembly in one operation. Hold the pusher assembly with your fingers away from the descending tabs and turn it clockwise. Lift it off, and the cover will come with it.
• Never try to remove the cover and the workbowl together; this can damage the workbowl.
• Remove the bowl from the base of the machine before removing the blade. This creates a seal to prevent food from leaking. Turn the bowl clockwise to unlock it from the base and lift it straight up to remove it.

Machine capacity

If a bread dough calls for more than the recommended amount of flour, mix and knead it in equal batches. Do the same for sweet doughs that call for more than 3-1/2 cups of flour. The recommended maximum amount of flour is 6 cups of all-purpose flour or 3-1/2 cups of whole-grain flour.

Using the right blade

• Measure flour by the “stir, scoop, and sweep” method described below. Use the dough blade when the recipe calls for more than 3-1/2 cups (17-1/2 ounces) of flour. Use the metal blade when a recipe calls for less than 3-1/2 cups of flour.
• Because the dough blade does not extend to the outside rim of the work bowl, it cannot pick up all the flour when small amounts are processed.
• Whichever blade you use, always push it down as far as it will go on the motor shaft.

Processing dry ingredients

Put the flour in the work bowl with all the other dry ingredients. If the recipe calls for herbs, oil, or solid fats like butter, add them to the flour. Turn the machine on and let it run for about 20 seconds. (Cheese, nuts, and raisins may be added with the dry ingredients or during the final kneading. To leave them almost whole, add them 5 seconds before you stop kneading. For a finer texture, add them sooner.)

Adding liquids

• All liquid should be added through the feed tube while the machine runs. Add liquid in a slow, steady stream, only as fast as dry ingredients absorb it. If liquid sloshes or splatters, stop adding it but do not turn off the machine. Wait until the ingredients in the bowl have mixed, then add the remaining liquid slowly. Pour liquid onto the dough as it passes under the feed tube opening. Do not pour liquid directly onto the bottom of the bowl.
• Follow the recipe carefully. It is important to add enough liquid to make the dough soft enough to knead. Kneading dough that is too stiff can strain the machine.
• The temperature of liquids used to dissolve and activate yeast must be between 105° and 120°F. Yeast cells are not activated at temperatures lower than this and die when exposed to temperatures higher than 130°F.
• All liquid, except that used to activate yeast, should be cold, to minimize the possibility of overheating the dough. You must never knead a yeast dough to a temperature higher than 100°F. Doing so will slow or even prevent the action of the yeast.

PRACTICING SLICING AND SHREDDING

1. Insert a slicing or shredding disc, put the cover on the work bowl, and insert the prepared food in the feed tube.
2. Prepare the pusher assembly. Lock the small pusher in place.
3. Slide the pusher assembly over the feed tube and push the sleeve down to lock it into place, Apply pressure to the pusher while pressing down the OFF/PULSE lever. Release the lever as soon as the food is sliced or shredded.
4. You can load the feed tube repeatedly without removing the work bowl cover. Press firmly on the tab and lift. The pusher assembly will come off easily, leaving the cover and feed tube in place. Your other hand is free to reload the feed tube.

REMOVING SLICED OR SHREDDED FOOD

Before you do anything, wait for the disc to stop spinning. When it does, remove the cover first. Lift, and the pusher assembly and cover will come off together.

Remove the slicing or shredding disc before removing the work bowl. Place two fingers under each side of the disc and lift it straight up. Then turn the bowl clockwise to unlock it from the base and lift it straight up to remove it.

You can place the disc on top of the inverted work bowl cover, to minimize drips and spills.

TECHNIQUES FOR SLlClNG AND SHREDDING

Small, round fruits and vegetables
Trim the opposite ends flat with a knife for large berries, radishes, and mushrooms. Insert the food through the feed tube, standing each piece on a flat end. You can fill the tube to about 1 inch from the top. The bottom layer gives you perfect slices for garnish. If you want all the slices to be perfect, it’s best to process one layer at a time.

Long fruits and vegetables

• Trim food like bananas, celery, and zucchini by cutting them into pieces a little shorter than the feed tube. Cut both ends flat. (Use a ruler as a guide, or
• the pusher assembly with the pusher pulled out as far as it will go.)
• Fill the feed tube with the pieces, standing them vertically and adding enough pieces so they are solidly packed and cannot tilt sideways as they are sliced or shredded.

SLICING AND SHREDDING CHEESE

Firm cheese like Swiss and Cheddar

Cut the cheese into pieces to fit the feed tube. Put it in the freezer until it is semi-frozen – hard to the touch but easily pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Stand the pieces in the feed tube and apply light pressure to the pusher.

IMPORTANT: Never try to slice soft cheese like mozzarella or hard cheese like Parmesan. You may damage the slicing disc or the food processor itself. You can successfully shred most cheeses except soft ones. The exception is mozzarella, which shreds well if thoroughly chilled. Hard cheeses like Parmesan shred well only at room temperature. Therefore, only attempt to slice or shred mozzarella when well chilled and Parmesan when at room temperature.

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM

Most problems with the food processor are easily solved. Here are some possible problems and their solutions.

Food is unevenly chopped

Either you are trying to process too much food at one time, or you are running the machine continuously instead of pulsing on and off until pieces of food are no larger than 1/2-inch cubes.

Liquid leaks from the bottom of the bowl onto the motor base

Remove the bowl from the base as soon as you finish processing. Do not remove the metal blade first. When the bowl and blade are removed together, the blade drops down and forms an almost perfect seal against the bowl.

Liquid leaks out between the bowl and cover when the machine is running

You added too much liquid. Never use more than 3 cups thin, 6 cups thick liquid.

The thicker the liquid, the more you can use. The figures above are for thick mixtures like pancake or cake batter.

Slices are uneven or slanted

Pack the feed tube more carefully. Maintain even pressure on the pusher.

Carrots or similar food fall over in feed tube

Cut food into enough short pieces of equal height to fill the feed tube. To slice one or two pieces, use a small feed tube. Cut carrots in half and insert one piece point down and the other stem down.

Sliced or shredded food piles up on one side of the workbowl

This is normal. Remove disc occasionally and even out processed food. When food gets close to the bottom of the disc, empty the work bowl.

A few pieces of food remain on top of the slicing or shredding disc

This is normal. In most cases, you can shred more of the food by moving the large pusher up and down, allowing the piece to be shredded, or by repositioning the piece in the feed tube and shredding it.

Soft cheese, like mozzarella, spreads out and collects on top of the shredding disc

The cheese was not cold enough, or the pressure on the pusher was too great. To shred soft cheese, do not push on the pusher but let the cheese go through by itself. Tap on the pusher to guide it through.

SOME TECHNICAL DATA

• The motor in your food processor operates on standard line operating current. The appropriate voltage and frequency for your machine are shown on a label under the base.
• An automatic, temperature-controlled circuit breaker in the motor ensures complete protection against motor burnout. If the processor runs for an exceptionally long time when chopping, mixing, or kneading a thick or heavy mixture in successive batches, the motor may overheat. If this happens, the processor will stop. Turn it off and wait for the motor to cool off before proceeding. It will usually cool off within 10 minutes. In extreme cases, it could take an hour.
• Safety switches prevent the machine from operating when the work bowl or the cover is not locked into position. The motor stops within seconds when the motor is turned off, and a fast-stop circuit stops it instantly when the pusher assembly is unlocked.

CLEANING AND STORAGE

• Keep your Custom 14^™ Food Processor ready to use on a kitchen counter. When it’s not being used, leave it unplugged.
• Store the blades and discs as you would sharp knives – out of the reach of children. The Disc and Blade Holders, optional accessories, offer safe and convenient storage.
• All parts except for the motor base are dishwasher safe, and we recommend washing them in the dishwasher. Insert the work bowl upside down. Remember where you place sharp blades and discs, and unload the dishwasher carefully.
• To simplify cleaning, rinse the work bowl, cover, pusher assembly, and blade or disc immediately after use so food won’t dry on them. Openings at the bottom of the large pusher provide drainage and make cleaning easy. If food lodges in the pusher, remove it by running water through it or by using a bottle brush.
• If you wash blades and discs by hand, do it carefully. Avoid leaving them in soapy water where they may disappear. To clean the metal blade, 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 of the bowl. The use of a spray attachment is also effective. If necessary, use a brush.
• The work bowl is made of Lexan^® plastic, which is shatter-resistant and heat-resistant. It should not be placed in a microwave oven. The tube at the back of the bowl houses the plastic rod that activates the motor.
• Chopping certain foods may scratch or cloud the work bowl. Among them are ice, whole spices, and oils like wintergreen. If you like to prepare your spice blends, you may want to keep a second bowl just for that purpose.
• The base housing is made of tough plastic with high-impact resistance. Its smooth surface will look new for years. Keep a sponge handy as you work and wipe spills from the base.
• Four rubber feet on the underside keep the base from moving on most work surfaces when the machine is processing heavy loads. If the feet leave spots on the counter, spray them with a spot remover like Fantastik or KM and wipe with a damp sponge. If any trace of the spot remains, repeat the procedure and wipe the area with a damp sponge and nonabrasive cleaning powder.
• To clean the inside of the detachable stem, slide the stem release bottom on the side up as far as it will go and hold it there as you run water through the stem.

IMPORTANT: Never store any blade or disc on the motor shaft. No blade or disc should be placed on the shaft except when the processor is about to be used.

FOR YOUR SAFETY

Like all powerful electrical appliances, a Custom 14^™ Food Processor should be handled with care. Follow these guidelines to protect you and your family from misuse that could cause injury.

• Handle the metal blade and discs carefully. Their cutting edges are very sharp.
• Always place a disc on a flat, stable surface before connecting the detachable stem.
• Never put the blade or disc on the motor shaft until the work bowl is locked.
• Always be sure that the blade or disc is down on the motor shaft as far as it will go.
• Always insert the metal blade in the work bowl before putting ingredients in a bowl.
• When slicing or shredding food, always use a pusher. Never put your fingers or spatula into the feed tube.
• Always wait for the blade or disc to stop spinning before you remove the pusher assembly or cover from the work bowl.
• Always remove the work bowl from the base of a machine before you remove the metal blade or dough blade.
• Be careful to prevent the metal blade from falling out of the work bowl when emptying the bowl. Remove it before tilting the bowl, or hold it in place with your finger, a spatula, or a spoon.
• Do not use pusher assembly if the sleeve becomes detached from the pusher. Call Cuisinart Customer Service immediately. Our toll-free number is listed in the warranty.

WARRANTY

LIMITED THREE-YEAR WARRANTY
This warranty supersedes all previous warranties on the Custom 14^™ Food Processor. This warranty is available to consumers only. You are a consumer if you own a Custom 14^™ Food Processor that was purchased at retail for personal, family, or household use. Except as otherwise required under applicable state law, this warranty is not available to retailers or other commercial purchasers or owners. We warrant that your Custom 14^™ Food Processor will be free of defects in material or workmanship under normal home use for three years from the date of original purchase. We suggest that you complete and return the enclosed product registration card promptly to facilitate verification of the date of the original purchase. However, the return of the product registration is not a condition of these warranties.

If your Custom 14^™ Food Processor should prove to be defective within the warranty period, we will repair it, or if we think it necessary, replace it. To obtain warranty service, please call our Consumer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-726-0190 or write to:

• Cuisinart 150 Milford Road East Windsor, NJ 08520

To facilitate the speed and accuracy of your return, please also enclose $10.00 for shipping and handling of the product (California residents need only supply proof of purchase and should call 1-800-726-0190 for shipping instructions). Please also be sure to include a return address, description of the product defect, product serial number, and any other information pertinent to the product’s return. Please pay by check or money order.

NOTE: For added protection and secure handling of any Cuisinart^® product that is being returned, we recommend you use a traceable, insured delivery service. Cuisinart cannot be held responsible for in-transit damage or for packages that are not delivered to us. Lost and/or damaged products are not covered under warranty.

• Your Custom 14^™ Food Processor has been manufactured to strict specifications and has been designed for use with the Custom 14^™ Food Processor accessories and replacement parts. These warranties expressly exclude any defects or damages caused by accessories, replacement parts, or repair services other than those that have been authorized by Cuisinart.
• These warranties do not cover any damage caused by accident, misuse, shipment, or other than ordinary household use.
• These warranties exclude all incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the foregoing limitation may not apply to you.

CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ONLY

California law provides that for In-Warranty Service, California residents have the option of returning a nonconforming product

to the store where it was purchased or to another retail store that sells Products of the same type. The retail store shall then, according to its preference, either repair the product, refer the consumer to an independent repair facility, replace the product, or refund the purchase price less the amount directly attributable to the consumer’s prior usage of the product.

If either of the above two options does not result in the appropriate relief to the consumer, the consumer may then take the product to an independent repair facility if service or repair can be economically accomplished. Cuisinart and not the consumer will be responsible for the reasonable cost of such service, repair, replacement, or refund for nonconforming products under warranty.

California residents may also, according to their preference, return nonconforming products directly to Cuisinart for repair or, if necessary, replacement by calling our Consumer Service Center toll-free at 800-726-0190.  Cuisinart will be responsible for the cost of the repair, replacement, shipping, and handling of such nonconforming products under warranty.

BEFORE RETURNING YOUR CUISINART^® PRODUCT

Important: If the nonconforming product is to be serviced by someone other than Cuisinart’s Authorized Service Center, please remind the servicer to call our Consumer Service Center to ensure that the problem is properly diagnosed, the product serviced with the correct parts, and to ensure that the product is still under warranty.

FAQS About Cuisinart DFP-14N Series 14 Cup Food Processor Custom

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