Cuisinart Mini Prep vs Mini Prep Plus Food Processor: Hands-On Comparison

Small food processors have become essential tools in my kitchen, especially when I don’t want to pull out a large, bulky machine for simple chopping or grinding. Over time, I’ve relied heavily on two compact units from Cuisinart: the Cuisinart Mini Prep Food Processor and the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus. On paper, they seem similar, but after testing them side by side for everything from chopping herbs to grinding nuts, the differences become more meaningful than you might expect.

This comparison is based entirely on my personal experience using both models regularly. If you’re deciding between the two, the insights below will help you understand which option is better suited to your cooking habits.

Key Difference Between Cuisinart Mini Prep vs Mini Prep Plus Food Processor

The most significant difference between the Mini Prep and the Mini Prep Plus lies in power and performance.

• The Mini Prep (110 watts) works well for light-duty tasks and smaller batches.
  • The Mini Prep Plus (250 watts) is almost twice as powerful, offering smoother chopping, faster grinding, and better performance with harder ingredients.

Capacity-wise, both are small processors, but the Mini Prep Plus provides a slightly larger 24-ounce bowl, making it more flexible for daily kitchen tasks.

Comparison Table: Cuisinart Mini Prep vs Mini Prep Plus Food Processor

Feature	Cuisinart Mini Prep	Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus
Bowl Capacity	21 ounces (2.63 cups)	24 ounces (3 cups)
Motor Power	110 watts	250 watts
Material	Plastic	Plastic
Blade Type	Reversible sharp/blunt stainless-steel blade	Reversible sharp/blunt stainless-steel blade
Controls	Push-button	Push-button
Dimensions	7 x 11.25 x 14.5 in	5 x 7 x 9.25 in
Weight	1.63 lbs	2.2 lbs
Voltage	220V	120V
Dishwasher Safe	Yes	Yes
Special Features	Basic chopping and grinding	Upgraded motor, better chopping of hard foods
Best For	Soft foods, herbs, garlic, light grinding	Harder foods, cheese, nuts, herbs, veggies
Check Latest Price & Deals	Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon

Detailed Comparative Review

I tested both processors for chopping onions, mincing herbs, preparing salad dressings, grinding nuts, and making small dips. Below is how each performed in real kitchen situations.

Design and Build Quality

Cuisinart Mini Prep
The Mini Prep has a sturdy feel, but its design is basic. The stainless-steel accents add a little visual appeal, although the appliance is clearly built for practicality rather than style. Its 21-ounce bowl is just enough for quick everyday prep. Because of its extremely light weight, it’s incredibly easy to move or store.

The build is adequate, but nothing about it feels premium. It is clearly a budget-friendly option.

Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus
The Mini Prep Plus immediately feels more refined. The brushed chrome exterior has a more modern look, and the unit feels more substantial in my hands. Despite being more powerful, it is compact enough to stay on the counter without creating clutter.

The 24-ounce bowl provides extra space, which I found surprisingly useful when doubling small recipes or chopping larger vegetables.

Both models use BPA-free plastic and dishwasher-safe parts, but the Mini Prep Plus has the more polished finish overall.

Ease of Use

Cuisinart Mini Prep
This model is incredibly straightforward. With two simple buttons for chop and grind, there’s no learning curve whatsoever. Even beginners can operate it confidently within seconds. The processor works best with soft ingredients—herbs, garlic, shallots, or cooked vegetables.

However, when I tried processing harder ingredients like almonds, the motor struggled unless I worked in very small amounts.

Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus
The Mini Prep Plus also uses the same two-button control system, but the feel is more responsive and the motor is clearly more capable. The push buttons deliver consistent speed, and the unit handles harder foods noticeably better.

Because of its stronger motor, it processes ingredients quicker and more evenly. I found myself choosing it over the standard Mini Prep whenever I had dense or fibrous ingredients.

Motor Power and Performance

Cuisinart Mini Prep

The 110-watt motor is suitable for lightweight kitchen tasks. It chopped herbs beautifully and handled onions without turning them into mush. For grinding nuts or spices, it performed reasonably well but lacked the torque needed for consistently smooth results.

If you plan to use it mainly for garlic, ginger, herbs, bread crumbs, or making small dressings, it performs reliably.

Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus

The 250-watt motor is where the Mini Prep Plus earns its “Plus” label. It feels significantly more powerful. When I used it to grind harder foods like almonds, cheese, or even chocolate chunks, the results were much smoother and quicker.

For chopping vegetables, the consistency was also notably better. The Mini Prep Plus simply handles more ingredient types without hesitation.

If you like preparing dips, sauces, or grinding tough foods, this model performs far beyond what you’d expect from a mini processor.

Functions and Blade Quality

Both models use the patented reversible stainless-steel blade, which flips between a sharp and blunt edge depending on whether you choose Chop or Grind. This feature works exceptionally well on both models.

However, the Mini Prep Plus takes advantage of the blade design more effectively due to its stronger motor.

In real use:
• Sharp side: Perfect for herbs, onions, and tomatoes
• Blunt side: Better for grinding nuts, hard cheese, and spices

The Mini Prep Plus retains more consistency and avoids over-processing, which was a recurring issue with the weaker Mini Prep when working with mixed ingredients.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Both processors have dishwasher-safe bowls and lids, and both motors can be wiped clean. This is one of the reasons I love Cuisinart’s mini processors—they are genuinely low maintenance.

The Mini Prep bowl is slightly narrower, so thick pastes stick a bit more. The Mini Prep Plus’s bowl is wider and easier to rinse.

Overall, both models are simple to clean, but the Mini Prep Plus edges out slightly in convenience.

Cuisinart Mini Prep Food Processor

Pros:
• Perfect for small batches
• Extremely lightweight
• Ideal for soft ingredients
• Reversible blade is efficient
• Easy to clean and store
• Affordable price point
• Straightforward controls

Cons:
• Motor is weak for hard foods
• Not ideal for nuts or cheese
• Slightly smaller capacity
• Less consistent chopping

Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor

Pros:
• Much more powerful 250-watt motor
• Handles hard and soft ingredients
• Larger work bowl
• Smoother, more consistent results
• Attractive, modern design
• Dishwasher-safe parts
• Great for small dips and dressings

Cons:
• Slightly heavier
• Higher price
• Still not a replacement for a full-size food processor

Conclusion and Recommendation:

After using both processors extensively, my conclusion is clear: although both are capable mini processors, the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus consistently outperforms the standard Mini Prep in nearly every category that matters in real daily use.

If you only prepare small amounts of herbs, onions, garlic, or soft foods, the Mini Prep will get the job done. It’s simple, compact, and budget friendly.

However, if you want a mini processor that can handle a wider range of foods—especially harder ones like nuts, cheese, and dense vegetables—the Mini Prep Plus is the better long-term choice. Its 250-watt motor makes a noticeable difference, and the slightly larger bowl offers more flexibility.

Between the two, the model that delivered the best value, best consistency, and best versatility during my testing was the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus.