Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This review applies to the White version of this unit, however except for color there are no other differences.
Expectation management is important when dealing with these mini-choppers. I have a Vidalia Chop Wizard which is perfect for large amounts of various vegetables, onions, etc. If you only need a small amount this food chopper is both convenient and useful. However you must limit the size of the food you are chopping to perhaps a one to one and one half inches in length and probably no more than about 3/4 of an inch in height. You must also pound the unit with some force to get it to really work effectively. I have carefully watched the Slap Chop infomercial ($27.95 with shipping and handling and an additional $7.95 S&H for the "Graty") and with camera angles that commercial creates a bit of a false sense of just what these products can and can't do. Several people have commented on how difficult this unit is to clean. The cleaning instructions on the box say "Remove container ring and carefully wash with soap and water." This has to be the most misleading and dumb instruction ever! The unit easily disassembles however the instructions on the box offer no assistance whatsoever.
What you need to do is first separate the food container from the unit by twisting the clear plastic container counterclockwise about one inch then pull down. This separates the food container from the cutting unit. Next depress the plunger approximately 3/4 of the way and then twist the sweeper/cover to the right or left pulling down until it separates from the remaining unit. This exposes the blades. You are now fully disassembled and ready to quickly clean and reassemble the unit.
The unit is dishwasher safe (top of DW only). You can use the unit with or without the base however with the base on the unit the food is all captured in the food container rather than on the cutting board.
From my observation this unit appears to be essentially a quality copy of the Pampered Chef chopper at about 1/2 the price. It uses a W wedge blade that rotates and also includes a scraper for the side of the food container unit so that the food doesn't build up on the side. This does not work perfectly but is a nice touch. With a litle practice and with the food size limitation mentioned above you can quickly learn the various techniques required for each of the foods you wish to chop. With a little more practice and some good camera angels who knows, you might end up doing a "Slap Chop" commercial for your friends only with a unit that costs less and works just as well. Just don't throw it over your back into the sink.
To recap, this is a very good mini chopper so long as your expectations are in line with the product's capabilities. However, KitchenAid needs to do better with their disassembly/cleaning instructions.
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Now you can chop anything from nuts and garlic to vegetables, herbs and even chocolates with ease! The Food Chopper by KitchenAid comes equipped with an ergonomic handle and spring loaded plunger for quick and easy chopping and dicing. With just a simple press of the handle, your chopper springs into action. The self-contained base eliminates the need for a cutting board and helps keep mess to a minimum. The sharp stainless steel blades and nonslip base create a hassle-free chopping system. This chopper detaches for easy cleaning and is dishwasher safe.
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