KenwoodMini Chopper, 0.35 Litre Dishwasher Safe Bowl, 2 Speeds, Rubber Feet for Food Chopper Stability, 300 W, CH180B, Assorted

A few years ago I was put off buying this chopper because of the label "a Delia cheat gadget" - not because of anything against the wonderful Delia but just not liking the idea of using a cheat! However, having bought one I would say that one of the things other reviews don't mention is how much FUN this wonderful gadget is to use. Its small but elegant design means it's a very neat and precise little tool. I really enjoy the whole experience of pulling it out of the cupboard to whizz something quickly, then rinsing the bowl and blade under a hot tap, without the chore of washing or dish-washing a full processor. (I've only dish-washed the bowl, blade and lid a few times, but for what it's worth I didn't see any sign of discoloration. Btw, the remaining motor housing is well sealed and easily wiped down.)Since buying the mini-chopper I've used it almost every day, and it shows no sign of wear. Mostly this is when cooking for two, but also easily for four. I use it a lot to make breadcrumbs for pané: preparing Scotch eggs or schnitzels for two, the chopper can take all the bread in one go if you want, but I've found it's actually faster in two short loads - a mixture of short and long pulses. I also use it when preparing baby food from fresh vegetables or fruit for our granddaughter.And having being used to laborious hand chopping when making duxelles for Wellingtons, etc., it is such a pleasure using the mini-chopper to render mushroom duxelles in about 4-5 seconds. Indeed, I now add mushroom and cabbage duxelles to most casseroles and pies for a really intense flavour, alongside diced onion (I still prefer to fine-dice onion by hand), and the chopper copes very well with finely chopping a chorizo sausage, mincing turkey and chicken meats, and grating up raw carrots, cabbage, apple and sprouts for coleslaw. (My wife now says her favourite way to eat sprouts is to have them finely chopped and sautéed for five minutes in a little butter with finely chopped chorizo.)Very, very highly recommended.

I had previously owned a variety of food processors before I purchased the Kenwood Mini Chopper, but one thing that they all had in common was that I very rarely used them! This was because I have a good set of knifes, I am quite proficient with them, and they were easier to clean afterwards; another reason was that all the processors were quite bulky and I'm a bit of 'fuss pot' when it comes to having clutter-free worktops, so more often than not they were stored at the back of a cupboard and by the time I'd got them out and set them up I could have probably done all the work with a knife!Anyway, you may find yourself wondering why if my trusty old knifes were so wonderful I'd end up buying one these choppers? Well its simple really, I used one at a friends house and just couldn't believe how good it was!I ordered one from Amazon as soon as I got home; that was over three years a go, so here I am giving a review based on extensive use over that period.Ok, lets start with the main selling point of this gadget, its size; it is exactly as advertised, just 190mm in length and 145mm from top to bottom, with an overall weight of approximately 950g.The two things that are quite surprising considering its minimal size are its power and capacity; the motor is 300w, and this coupled with Stainless steel blades, means that it is very good at chopping most reasonable things you throw in it, I use it primarily for onions, garlic, chillies, breadcrumbs and herbs.The bowl has a capacity of 350ml (150g), this is enough for a decent sized onion or a big old hand full of herbs; it is incredibly easy to remove and replace on the chopper, and it is dishwasher safe!The chopper uses a simple One Touch Control for operation; basically its a big grey button on the top that you can either hold down for continuous or tap for pulse. The chopper will not operate unless the safety interlock system is engaged, so to put it simpy unless the bowl is properly in place with the lid attached completely you cannot make the blades turn.This is a really nifty gadget; it is well made (as frequent use over a three year period attests to), effective at its job, surprisingly powerful, aesthetically pleasing, space-saving, well priced and ultimately it does make life in the kitchen easier!Highly recommended.