I guarantee that by the time you get to the end of this post, if you should last that long, you're going to have your brains scrambled by how random and trivial it is. I'm not even sure I should post it….Yet, remember that time that I said something like, “I find that when I can't easily buy what I need, it's a sign that I have a solution on hand. I just have to THINK!”?
So call this a tutorial on standing there and racking your brains for the answer. Or else smack me for wasting your time….
I love my food processor and actually had this exact model circa 1981, and used it for 20+ years. I remember going to the kitchen store in Washington, DC. Nick was a baby and I bought the food processor and a good knife. I think it was the first time I felt confident going out with him and browsing in a store. Exciting!
This bowl is perfectly clean, I assure you — straight out of the dishwasher. It just looks like that because it's so well used. |
I studied the book it came with and the food processor cook book my neighbor lent me. I learned all its ins and outs. I used it every day, and liked it much better (even when I was cooking for 9-11 people every day) than the bigger model (which I tried at a friend's house), which seems designed backwards and doesn't slice efficiently.
But, it has a fatal flaw, which is that when the bowl (or any other piece) breaks, it costs so much to replace it that after a certain point, you might as well buy a new processor.
That kind of makes me mad, you know? Here you have a sturdy, well built motor, and an overall very helpful, useful appliance, and you just chuck it because you can't get a part for less than a third of the price of a new machine! It's not a good bet to invest in the bowl alone when your machine is old, because what if it dies (and with full honors, it's not like you would begrudge it the passing, not after 20 years) the very next month? I even looked into buying an old one, just for the bowl, but I really don't think the base ever dies.
I researched the replacement after a couple of years in denial about really, really needing another one. After all, I have a Kitchenaid and a blender. But when I wanted to make pie crust, pesto, or cole slaw, I wanted my food processor! I wrote about pie crust at length, but didn't even touch on the actual mixing of it in the food processor, which is how I do it. I can't do it “in a bowl using two knives” as the old cookbooks tell you; I just can't. And I simply refuse to believe that it could come out right using the Kitchenaid.
No. I needed a Cuisinart. So I researched a replacement, and ended up with the same (slightly updated) model. The reviews made it clear that the newer version is not as powerful. (I did leave the base at the recycling center with a note saying, “WORKS.” In case someone else had the bowl but no base.)
It now (as opposed to 30 years ago) comes with two covers.
There is absolutely no reason for this.
But the one on the right shows you that the one on the left doesn't need the fancy, moveable plunger apparatus (and didn't have it in the old model). Because –after a few years — (cue ominous music), the (ridiculously over-engineered) feed chute loses an important piece, namely, the plunger!
You see, the safety feature is that the thing only works when the lid slides on to the base and plunges down the thingy that activates the motor (and the base of that thingy, in the bowl itself, is without the ability to be cleaned, another bad design feature, but that's another long-winded post). The piece where that arrow points is broken off, after only a few years of use — the piece to the right locks the chute in place on the lid, in case you were wondering. The one on the left pushes that white plunger down, and also locks, which of course puts a lot of strain on it when you have a mad impatient cook plunging it down on her big pieces of carrot and what have you.
The element on the useless, but better designed, lid:
This one's not going to break anytime soon, because a) I don't use it and b) it's part of the lid, not moveable (and there is no reason for it to be! Stop being so fancy with your blasted fancy engineering! You know, real engineers take into account whether the part will last the life of the machine, and if not, be easily replaced!). But I can't just use this cover and forget about the other one, because it doesn't work with the grating and slicing disks, having no feed chute.
If you have this machine, you'll know what I'm talking about. And really, I'm going into this for you. If not, well, we're getting to my brilliant hack! Which you don't even care about but I'm just so stinkin' proud of myself for figuring out!
So just hang on.
You just need to get that plunger to be in the down position, right? Of course I googled for a replacement (not spending more than $5 on this, sorry) and even posted a “wanted” on freecycle. No go.
I stood there and I thought about what to use.
A Lego is what came to mind at first — Moms, does that surprise you? And believe me when I tell you that I have enough Legos to hack every Cuisinart in America and still have enough left over for all the children in town to construct a small building. Each.
But the Legos are — I don't even know where they are. I think they are in a big bin in the “dark attic,” the name of which clues you into my reluctance to go up there just then.
So I thought some more, and wandered around a little.
And then it came to me, in a beautiful inspirational flash: Cork!
Luckily, I have this drawer that holds the utensils I need every two years (that is my third, extra-large, whisk, only necessary for the rare convergence of a power outage and need for whipped cream, which, be honest, could happen), my extra soup spoons (because I have so much silverware that not everything fits in one drawer), and — corks! Enough to slice up and experiment to my heart's content! But the very first try worked! Only one cork was sacrificed for this project, which, phew, thank goodness, because we almost ran out.
So now my food processor works again. Isn't that fabulous?
What have you hacked this week?
emily barton says
This is beautiful! I never would have thought of it. And it inspires me to DO something about all those silly things that break, rather than complain about how things aren't made like they used to be made!
Tricia says
That's awesome!
Chrristine says
My husband the EE just called this post, “Engineering at it's most fundamental.”
Betsy M says
How very clever of you! Leila, I came to your site today not actually knowing that you had a new post but to “Hack” your metal shelving in your pantry. I am printing off the photo that you show of your pantry shelving and am quite blatently copying – I hope you don't mind. 🙂
Anitra says
I have exactly that (newer) food processor. The lid with the chute is so annoyingly engineered with lots of little nooks and crannies and that silly latch. I realize it's a safety feature… but is it really safe if it makes you JAM the lid on every time, hoping it won't break?
(I end up using the no-chute lid more often, because I primarily use the processor for pureeing baby food or for fine dicing, which doesn't need the chute. Maybe because it's so annoying to use it for slicing or shredding that I would rather do it by hand most of the time.)
Good for you for hacking it!
Margo says
Please do not disparage this post! It's BRILLIANT. I have this exact Cuisinart and I do not USE that fancy top because it's so irritating to fit everything together. I use my grater. However, I use the Cuisinart with the regular top at least several times a week.
My iron broke a year or so ago and I took it to an Amish repairman and he called me back: it's engineered to be tamper-proof and completely self-destruct if the compartment is opened. WHAT?!! So I can go buy another cheap piece of Chinese crap that will fall apart in a year??! It infuriates me that the solution to a broken thing is to BUY ANOTHER. I come from a family of fix-its and hacks, but our skills are often thwarted. So I'll just say again – thanks for a great post on a great skill!
Lisa G. says
Boy, am I learning a lot from you! About thinking about what I'm doing; figuring out what I need; PRAYING about what I need/would like to have!; – that sort of thing. I just sort of go along and put up with stuff. Hm.
I've never had a food processor – it seems like a nice thing, and I may get one some day. As for pie crust, I've never tried to two knife method – we've always had a pastry cutter, which works excellently.
You will probably never get dementia, Leila, because you use your mind so thoroughly, what with your reading, and your figuring out things.
Thanks for the enlightening post! (even tho I' don't have food processor and don't know what you're talking about)
Bethanne says
We were given a leather couch from a friend. After a year, the leather was torn. (So torn, it appeared that the children had taken a knife to search for hidden cash like gangsters in a movie.) They hadn't, but it was terrible. I looked for couches in stores and craigslist, etc. Nothing was right or too much money. I decided I would endeavor to cover the couch. I went to cloth stores–now I know why couches cost so much money! Material is expensive. Then I read that post about when you can't find the right thing, it may be right under your nose. So, we took the couch cover (that we had used to cover the hideous tears) and cut it apart and only covered the seat and the back. We left the arms because they were fine and because they were tricky. It cost us time, but no cash. All thanks to you! It sounds awful, but I put a picture up. (I'm not sure this is actually a link, it doesn't seem to be changing colors like it's supposed to do)
http://fraternityforeternity.blogspot.com/2011/08…
This is not nearly as brilliant as your cork solution, but I did feel great satisfaction at fixing a problem with the brain God gave me, rather than the money He didn't.
My husband jokes that we use the process that produces all those corks you have in your drawer as “hack” counseling for our marriage!
Lisa G. says
Bethanne, your couch looks darn good!! I tried to comment on your blog, but it wouldn't let me. Good work!
RubberChickenGirl says
[quote]This is not nearly as brilliant as your cork solution, but I did feel great satisfaction at fixing a problem with the brain God gave me, rather than the money He didn't. [/quote]
HAHAHAHAHAHA!! No, your hack is indeed brilliant. A. I have a leather couch which was saved from the cats front claws but alas they have back ones as well. and B. I have children who also excavated a former couch. I have been astounded for 20 years how destructive kids are.
Thx for sharing the link.
RCG
CarlynB says
I thought your couch looked great.
Ann Marie says
Ok, so I really don't understand this post. But I wish you had asked me before you bought one. I would have advised the Kitchen Aid brand. It is a most wonderfully incredible piece of engineering. (of course, it probably costs a fortune. I wouldn't know. I bought mine barely used from a couple who was selling off their wedding gifts to fund seminary. It was the best $100 I've ever spent.) 🙂
Incidentally, can I just say that I think of you EVERY time I go into a thrift store and see a shelf full of waffle irons? I think you may have referenced that in a baking mix post some time ago.
Anyway, I was just in one the other day because, oh yeah, I'm out of town for 5 days and forgot my son's shoes. And I'm not about to go to Tyson's corner to buy some shoes for 5 days, so there I was. Searching the internet for a 2nd hand shop in a haughty taughty DC suberb. (that's my mother-of-the-yr-award-story–unsolicited, I know.)
Deb says
Simply marvelously clever!
I am desperately in need of a drawer like yours… cork is so vital to a home school kitchen and is in drastically short supply hereabouts. 🙂
Blessings on the journey~
_Leila says
Deb, clearly you need to drink more wine!!
Deb says
Thought of you with a smile today as I bought a bottle of wine with a very nice cork in it. 🙂
Rachel says
Oh, yes, I know EXACTLY what you're talking about! I was handed down that exact Cuisinart, and the dad-blame top is so exasperating I rarely use it. But you are so convincing about its worth if you can finagle the lid…I may just get it out and give it a try. (And re-read your post on pie crusts.)
Or maybe not.
But I'll at least re-read the pie crust post. That much I can guarantee!
Rachel says
Oh, and also…
I totally imagine the first picture to be of your daughter as you are saying to her, “There's something I really think you should know about this food processor in case it gets handed down to you. Pay attention, because it will give you years of service if you only know some of its tricks…”
Donna L. says
Hi Auntie Leila, I don't know *why* you think this post is a waste! It was inspiring to read! Actually this must be “hack week” as I had to fix my Rowenta iron. The spring part that winds up the cord snapped and uncoiled making the bottom portion snap/break off completely. The iron was terribly unstable without the plastic base, and I was so disappointed that my iron, that could still iron something, was unusable now! Rats! So, I got out a pair of pliers, and a screwdriver, and “broke off” some little pieces inside and SUPER GLUED the base back on! I was so proud! And I am proud of you, too!
Thanks so much for sharing!
PS I have never owned any sort of food processer as I always felt like they were too “gimmicky” for me…I mean I am only cooking for 7…what sort of jobs does yours help with the most? And, would you recommend an older model if I can find one?
Sincerely,
Donna L.
_Leila says
Donna, good for you!
It's great for pesto in huge quantities, chopping all the veg for save-a-step applications http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2009/02/t…
— making hummus, chopping nuts, making pie crusts and crumb toppings, and I used to make all my bread in it, but now I do use the mixer for that, just because I can make more at a time.
RubberChickenGirl says
I chop my onions in it most of the time. Any grating like carrots, cabbage for slaw, potatoes for latkes etc is so much faster than by hand. Slice potatoes for scalloped potatoes.
Paula in TX says
First, I giggle when you say you are only cooking for 7. I “only” cook for 8, and it seems like a lot to me!! lol I buy food in bulk (to save money), and I often prepare in bulk, too (to save time later). That is when my food processor is so handy. When I need to grate 5 lbs of cheese, or chop 5 onions, that's when it gets used. Whenever I make potatoes au gratin, it's great.
I liked hearing about your iron fix. Good for you!! You sound like one determined lady!
(I would also say, yes, buy used. It seems older models that are still around work better than the new ones.)
Hollace says
I have the same Cuisinart and when I opened it on Christmas I thought to myself “This is the first piece that's going to go.” (Meaning that plastic flexible plunger.) If the point was to enable a chute to hold larger-than-your-average-chute-sized vegetables, why design such a flimsy connector point? I am always trying to get it to close on a poor unsuspecting potato or this week, zucchini, and you do have to use a lot of force to close the thing…
Now, about my 9 qt. slow-cooker which is fabulous except the ceramic liner got a crack the length of it. Company no longer in business. No other brands have a liner that fits, husband threw the cracked ceramic liner out just before we learned about the new 'disposable liners which would have made the old one safe to use. I can't give up the base because I live in HOPE, but “hope deferred maketh the heart sick”! This crockpot is the only one big enough to handle the 10# of mashed potatoes I make for our family get-togethers. Ultrex is the brand. ARrrrrrrRGH
_Leila says
Oh, Hollace! 9 quarts! That's a honkin big slow-cooker! Craigslist? Freecycle? Goodwill? I've never seen one that big. How about going to Goodwill and buying 2 of the regular ones? 🙂
RubberChickenGirl says
I also threw out a Fagor pressure cooker lid that I dropped and broke the plastic control on top of. *Then* I did some research thinking the company would sell a whole new lid. Nope they sell just the plastic bit that broke for like 19 bucks. Now I have to buy a whole new pressure cooker and I'm out $120. Ugh.
RCG
RubberChickenGirl says
I'll have to read the comments and your entry on pie.
Where to begin? Legos!? Silly woman….or you may be serious with all those sons.
I haven't hacked a thing this week but my proudest hack was my Swiffer. You *can* screw off the old cleaning fluid lids with a bit of a soak in hot water and refill with whatever you feel like (diluted trendy stuff like Mrs. Meyer's). I then cut out a $5 fuzzy wal*mart blanket for the velcro sticky side and cut out micro fiber towels for the mopping side and stitched them together. Voila! No disposable nothin'. However Swiffers break like matchsticks so after two of them I bought the new Libman thing that has a washable pad and refillable tank.
I bought my Cuisinart on eBay for like $25. Best purchase ever. Still alive and doesn't need a cork yet after some 10 years and it must have been at least that age when I bought it. I make my pastry (pie crust) in the processor per Cook's Illustrated's method as well. I'll think of you and your resourcefulness when I make it!
Hmmm…..LOVE the drawer of gadgets you use every 2 years. I am always tempted to chuck those things. The egg slicer. The potato masher. The corks. Funny that you have all that, too!!
Thanks for being you, Aunty Leila.
RCG
CarlynB says
I don't know if this counts as a hack, but recently I have discovered the joy of making my own full-fat, Greek style yogurt because I was fed up with not finding what I wanted in my local stores. All the plain yogurt in every grocery store for 60 miles around is no-fat. Well, I'm all about the fat in my dairy products. It finally dawned on me that I could make my own yogurt, but I didn't want to have to buy a yogurt maker. But making yogurt without benefit of the machine seemed too hard. It involved using a thermometer and stuff. After much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth about how scary trying to make yogurt would be, I found a recipe for making it in my CrockPot!
It's easy! No weeping, no wailing, no buying of extra kitchen gadgets. It does take time and patience but I've got plenty of time and I'm learning to be more patient. http://afreshpotoftea.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-mea…
Becks says
I had the same EXACT problem with my food processor – Someone melted the base by leaving in the stove with the burner on (::Sigh::), and then the top feed tube broke too. I actually found that if I just push down on the feed tube, mine still works, and I sort of think it's a little harder for my two-year-old to turn it on so, so it works for me for now. I love the cork idea though! Maybe I'll try that!
I ended up buying another bowl (a used but still perfectly functional) on e-bay – it was only $10, and it irked me too to think of replacing a perfectly good machine base over one (or two) broken parts. It seems unconsciounable to me that they make the parts so fragile AND expensive.
_Leila says
Yeah, see, Becks, I couldn't find one on ebay. 🙁
Shawna says
My food processor broke the safety feature too. There needs to be pressure on these 2 specific spots at the same time, so I use chop sticks! Looks silly, but works. My mom was constantly hacking things growing up poor and I learnt so much from her and continue to hack things in that grande tradtion, although there are things I toss, which probably makes my mom roll her eyes from Heaven at me!
Paula in TX says
I love this post. I didn't hack this, this week, but I did find a no-cost solution for my food processor, too. The part on the container handle that told the base that the lid was closed broke. The base wouldn't run the motor without this. So I broke another part of the handle on purpose, and then saw that I could use a chopstick to press in on the base. It tells it the container lid is on, and so It's okay to run the motor. I saved $50 for a new container and finally found a good use for those fancy chopsticks a friend gave me in college several years ago, after a trip to Japan.
I was raised in a family that figured fixes out quite often. I once sold a very used car that had been my parents to a friend. She asked me later on why there was a coffee can bolted in place under the hood of the car. I told her I had no idea, but if my dad (a mechanic) had put it there, she had better not move it. lol
Blessings to you and yours.
Karen says
I'll bet it was for screws and bolts and little parts removed during a repair so they wouldn't get lost. Or else to hold tools like screwdrivers and pliers that might otherwise be left where they would prevent the hood from latching closed properly, resulting in a hood flying open while driving. My dad's a mechanic too.
sara says
I have a cuisinart that I love, though it doesn't get nearly as much use with only 4 of my 6 children home. The biggest eaters are gone. 🙁 I'll have to remember your hack for when the inevitable happens. And I'll have to start drinking a lot more wine so I'm prepared when it does…..but I could always use a lego.
Lela says
I killed a 2″ cockroach with a ballet flat…does that count?
Joy says
Fantastic post! I'm not very good at hacking myself but my son is great at it. He always has a solution. 🙂
I love the idea in one of the comments about finding waffle irons in thrift stores. I must have missed that tidbit along the way. Mine is dying and I don't have any disposable income to throw around on a brand new one. I'll have to start wandering into thrift stores now and again.
briana says
I had to use a piece of wood on my old for the exact same reason. I don't remember if I thought of it or if one of my boys did. Great job!
Glenda Childers says
Very funny. I have an old food processer, as well. The plastic piece that has to be in place to start the motor, broke on mine, after years of use. So I permanently attached it with duck tape. It doesn't seem to care that it isn't still attached to the lid. Who knew? (Well, I guess you did.)
Fondly,
Glenda
Crafty P says
honestly, I cannot even begin to tell you how timely this is… I can't wait till morning to see if it will FIX mine! Just recently, I realized that I can't use that LARGE cover with the plunging thingy attached b/c something isn't quite “clicking”. I think a plastic piece is broken somewhere, but I need to study your pics vs. my pics to see if it's the same part. I wanted to shred zucchini and soap this week (Obviously, NOT for the same recipe) and couldn't get the cuisinart to turn on at all b/c of the lack of locking. ANYWAY, pls don't ever feel that you CANNOT talk about something here, b/c it just might help one of us!!! I was just about to go to the website and see about a replacement BOWL! Oh, I do pray I can fix mine as easily as you did yours!
Kendra says
Leila, this is funny because my Cuisinart, circa 1991, has a broken piece on its lid that keeps it from locking and I refuse to let it go for the same reason as you. I wrote the company in 2007 requesting the price of a replacement lid, and when I saw what it would cost, I decided I could make do a little longer. 4 years longer, so far. And what's the big deal, really? Everyone who uses it here knows you just have to press down on the lid when you're grating cheese or… flooooom! It'll be all over the kitchen. They learn quickly 🙂
Provincial Homemaker says
I don't have a hack to share but, thanks for the laugh. It was fun to see your creative solution. Few wine bottles here in australia seem to come with a cork anymore, most are screw top. Next time we have one in the house I will have to souvenir the cork for forthcoming hacks / craft with my daughter. But, nursing and pregnancy means only DH can partake so bottles coming in to our house are few and far between.
Karen says
My food processor is a bit different and so far, still operates. The only breakage has been the top edge of the feed tube plunger. I'm pretty sure I have seen your processor in the local thrift shop – why would someone get rid of something so useful? Anyway, my question is about your gadget drawer contents. What is that spirally thing next to your whisk? I have a similar one, from my grandmother, but am not sure what it is. An egg separator?
_Leila says
Karen, now that the power is on, I can answer your question! Well, my answer is I'm not exactly sure. It was a gift from my dear son Joseph, and I think it is and use it to remove such items as doughnuts from the deep fryer, pot stickers from boiling water, etc. And don't be fooled, that is only our *backup* corkscrew. The one people don't really like to use. And we have mashed potatoes way more than once every 2 years, but that masher is too big to keep in the utensil crock. Okay, I think that covers it! 🙂
RubberChickenGirl says
So, you don't use your kitchen Aid for mashed potatoes? You truly mash by hand?
RCG
_Leila says
Oh you betcha.
Christina A says
I mashed in my KitchenAid for awhile, but it 1) affronted my dish-conserving sensibilities, and 2) produced a smooth but somewhat gummy or overly starchy texture. So I went back to slightly lumpy but mostly creamy hand-mashed spuds. The best textured mashed potatoes I’ve ever had were made by a sweet church lady who blessed us with a meal after our 5th baby. I had to ask her how she achieved such perfection, and she said she used a potato ricer. That device has been on my thrift list ever since, but I haven’t found one yet.
Jackie says
Great Hack! I too tend to try a way around things when items break. I miss the days when things were built to last. It seems more and more they are not.
NY Mom says
You're wise to have saved your real wine corks. I BROKE my good corkscrew (the one I've had for 20+ years) on a PLASTIC “cork” last week. (sorry for the caps but I'm still fuming.) We couldn't even cut it off the inner screw thingie, and I angrily tossed the whole mess into the garbage. True cork is a beautiful material. I need to select my wine by its cork from now on.
Barb Szyszkiewicz says
I hacked my basement. We have a finished room in there that holds a spare bed, a desk, a dresser, some bookcases, and storage for school supplies, business files and Cub Scout Pack stuff. I tidied it up enough that I can use this little room as my “Mompound”–I can shut the door on the noise and all…and have a little peace and quiet. Chocolate is definitely NOT optional in the Mompound.
ayearinskirts says
I have had the exact same problem with my food processor. I resorted to sticking a butter knife in there each time to push that piece down, because YES I don't want to buy a WHOLE NEW MACHINE just because that stupid spring part isn't working!
Sue says
You are amazing, Lady! Inspiring. My husband is great at that thing – me, not so much, but I'm working on it!
Mine is an unable to hack story, I guess, since I just sent my Dyson off to be fixed this morning. It kills me that it will cost me about $200. I can say that I'm proud of myself for resisting the gal on the phone who tried to get me to trade in my old one for an upgrade. I saved a few hundred bucks by just getting the old one fixed, and I know it will come back looking completely new. I know that because this is not the first time I've had to send it in. The first time was because a little one pulled off the rubber between the hose and the main part, which seals it and allows that amazing sucking action to occur, and did who-knows-what with it. Sigh. At least this time it wasn't our fault… I don't think!
ginger says
We call that “Making Do,” in these parts. One time I went into the kids bathroom and there was the awful concoction in their water cups. I looked like something growing. “Peter” I yelled through the house. “What is in your bathroom cup?” Peter arrived with a big bright smile, and a sparkle in his brown eyes “Mommy, Natalie and I were “making do!”
justamouse says
I hacked nothing. I brought mine back to Kohls. I had just bought the Food Network food processor because it was cheaper than the Cuisinart. Big. Mistake. It broke after two–TWO uses. And I was just slicing cucumbers for pickles!
But, Kohls was awesome, they took it back without a question so I'm going to go get a Cuisinart there. Because I need to make pie crust.
Barbara says
Clever girl, Leila. I hacked my old Cuisinart with a metal skewer that my husband cut off (about 6 inches) with the hacksaw. I just jammed in the back so the thingy would stay down. Not pretty, but functional. Then my husband, God love him for doing the dishes, put the bowl in the dishwasher on the bottom rack and used the drying feature. The bowl warped and the lid wouldn't fit. I did end up buying a whole new machine because of the cost of the dumb bowl. They get ya comin' and goin'. I did the same thing you did — put the note on the base when I left it at the thrift store, but I imagine there are a lot of those bases floated around without bowls!
Mamabear, JD says
I love that you remember going to the store with a baby and buying the cuisinart and knife. My first Mother's Day gift was a cuisinart, and I remember going to the store with my husband and baby girl. Sweet the things we remember. I have a cheap popcorn maker that I love because it pops almost every kernel, but I keep breaking the bowl and have to hack it.
Denise says
You are my hero, Leila. GREAT post!
Shannon says
I have a mini food processor I use only for making baby food, so it has not been used in 3.5 years, I go it out to make baby food for my new baby, and can't find the lid! It has been getting in my way every time I turned around for 3 years, and now I need it and it is MIA completely! I posted about my solution here http://sillygeesedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/08/hom…
You have to scroll down some, but basically I dug up my never used pastry blender:D I turned around and used it again on my banana post to squash up bananas for banana bread! I was very pleased, now if I can just solve the missing lid problem cause I just can't see buying a new machine.
Crafty P says
okay, I just hacked mine as well. IT WORKS! I had to put my cork piece in a different place, but the machine was moving! Now, to shred zuchhini!! Thanks again for telling us how you did it! I'll post a picture tomorrow for PHFR
Stuart says
This is January, 2016, and I needed this post! Same thing happened to mine. Thanks for the close-up photographs. Awesome! I’m headed to my bag of corks. I’m so happy! Thank you!
Jim says
Six years later your “hack” appeared after I goggled around with the same problem. Baffled me at first but I think your cork fix crossed my mind at some point-how to get that piece of plastic to push the plunger down. Thanks, and I’m glad that your solution is still current!
Fred Smith says
Hah! Your fix just saved me the $75 a new bowl would have cost, not to mention the hassle. Thank you for a brilliantly simple hack!
Kelly says
Thank you. I didn’t have a cork so I shoved a cut off piece of the bottom of a pillar candle. Gives it just the right the bounce. So annoyed bc this is my 2nd machine. Gave in after years of using the broken safety hazard machine with a knife stuck in the hole to engage the motor. (Cir 1980s). The new one, broke for the same reasons.
The company makes the machine so you have to circumvent all it’s safety features to even use it.
It’s such a dumb design.
Emma says
Thank you! I just dropped my entire machine down a flight of stairs. Your post helped me troubleshoot exactly what broke after that. Luckily just the lid. I’m glad you were so far up in my google results!
Louise says
worked perfectly thanks!
natgutwirth says
You are the non-Grinch who saved Thanksgiving! Respect!!!
CHRISTOPHER says
I have been looking for this specific hack – I knew there had to be one given the poor design of this safety mechanism. I believe this is an intentional way to get us to buy a new Cuisinart every so many years. I too looked at replacing the lid, but the price was outrageous. I did put in a piece of foam to hold down the mechanism, but it lost its rigidity after a few days. I LOVE THE ATTITUDE THE WAY THIS HACK WAS WRITTEN…I take pride in making things working longing than the manufacturer intended. Keep publishing hacks. Good on Ya!
Leila says
Thanks, much appreciated!
Christina A says
I’m a huge fan of hacks that defy the engineered obsolescence of small appliances (I was so shocked to find out that it’s actually someone’s job to design products to fail *just* after the warranty runs out; how rude!). I acquired my 7 cup Cuisinart food processor at a rummage sale probably 10 years ago, and with how yellowed the plastic was, I barely expected to get my money’s worth, which was not a lot. It keeps surprising me by not dying! It came with no attachments, just the blade, but my cousin told me cheese grating wears the motor out anyway. Maybe this is why it refuses to die? I really don’t know, but sometimes I wish it would so I could justify buying one with a larger capacity. 🙂
Kim Bingham says
I knew someone had done this! I was recently broke so I googled to see if anyone else had this problem and found you! You inspired me. We used a rubber eraser, and it works great!