[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I recently got the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, in black. We have had a similar KitchenAid Food Chopper for over a decade. It's a little powerhouse. My wife, who is the accomplished cook in the house, uses it so much that she wanted a backup. The review is from her perspective, which I tried to capture.
In the box you get the chopper motor housing, the 3.5 cup container, with locking lid and with drizzle spout and pour spout, the blade/shaft/adapter, and documentation.
Key notes include the fact that the container and all items that fit in the container/on the container are top-rack dishwasher safe. The construction of the motor housing and other components are all KitchenAid quality… very durable, especially when compared to other manufacturers. Blades are super sharp, as one would expect. And the cord included is substantial, yet fits neatly around the housing to keep the cord organized when not in use. In addition, the feet on the bottom of the housing keep the unit in place when chopping, while reducing vibration. Ingenious.
The sturdy lid (and the chopper container) lock solidly into place to ensure that neither comes loose while in use. Neither she nor I knew what the hole was for on the lid of our current chopper. And, given we now had the instructions for the new chopper, we decided to check them out. Low and behold, the hole is a drizzle spout for slowly adding in oils to dressings, etc., without having to remove the locked lid. Will wonders never cease?
The chopper offers two speeds (chop and puree) and a pulse option. You lock the lid and body in place and hold down the integrated pulse/on “button” on the lid (by the handle, where your thumb would be as you hold the container, if you were pouring it) to chop or puree. The unit will not turn on unless the lid and body are securely locked in place. You pulse by quickly pressing and releasing the pulse/on button. Make sure to read the instructions if you have any questions (I wish we would've years ago). They're very clear and easy to read. But, even without the instructions, this thing is super easy to use and has a very powerful motor. My wife has made chimichurri with it (parsley, garlic, and oil) for steaks, salsa, pico de gallo, peanut butter, and a ton of other things. According to her, it's great for chopping/mincing onions for burgers, awesome for chopping nuts for baking and for use as ice cream toppings, and excellent at chopping fruits for jams.
I asked her for her overall rating, she said that it's a solid five-star. I asked her why. She said that the KitchenAid 3.5 cup chopper that we currently have has served her well for years. And, showing true KitchenAid quality, while the one we have isn't showing signs of slowing down yet… even after years of hard use… after trying this one to make sure it worked just as well, cleaning it up and storing it for when our current one eventually calls it quits, she said that she has no problem recommending this little gem to others. Give the KitchenAid 3.5 cup chopper a go folks. You won't be disappointed.
