You get what you pay for

This is a good starter kit for those who might want a processor but aren't sure they need it or have space for it on the kitchen counter.

The accessories work fine, the blade is sharp and both grater and slicer work well. They're fairly easy to clean (the inside of the blade is quickly dealt with using the handle of the scraper). The buttons are fine, though you're likely to end up using the Pulse mode more often, as it makes it easier to control the output.

Sounds alrigt, so why only 2 stars? Well, the main bits aren't all that easy to clean - especially if you do your laundry by hand. Stickier residue like cheese and potato mash tends to cling to the inside of the lid and corners of the bowl, and it often takes 2-3 extra wipes to get rid of these. Also, the kit is not very sturdy! Granted, it's a cheap kit, but within less than a year the safety lip on the lid broke, and the plastic of the well/holder inside the bowl melted!

Finally, the bowl is a bit too small - it holds just enough room for 6 medium potatoes. You *could* work it in batches, but the point of a processor is to save time and the moment you start to split your processing in two you might as well go back to the bowl-and-handmasher system!

The good thing is, now I know what to look for in my next upgrade.

Verdict: I wouldn't recommend this kit for anyone but singles and salad/coleslaw lovers.

brill piece of kit!

I wanted a processor that was small enough to leave out so that it would get plenty of use but big enough that doing soup wouldnt be a complete nightmare!
This fits the bill. I use it just about every day to chop veg up... the up side is i use more veg in cooking, whihch has to be a good thing.! It also doesnt take up much space in the kitchen!
Its also made a few lovely soups as well.
Easy to take apart/ put together and use as well.
Definately recommended!!
The booklet only has a few recipes but is designed to tell you more whats possible with it. A little downside!

Pretty much everything you'll ever need

We looked long and hard at the food processors available and it's fair to say that the more we looked, the harder it was to decide. So, we searched by the main criteria, which were large bowl and small footprint, and that narrowed the choice dramatically - still a lot to choose from but at least the dual action processors where the liquidiser and bowl can be used simultaneously were eliminated. Then it was down to name / build quality, then price. The Kenwood name solves the quality angle and a mooch around revealed a price of £69.99 at Comet, which is a very good price indeed. However, it got better - ordering over the web gave us an additional 20% off making £55.99 - that was it, sold.

So we ordered, collected, unpacked and were staggered by the quantity and range of accessories included - we never knew there were so many things you could do.

Anyway, we wanted the large capacity for making crushed potato ( same as mashed potato but with the skin still on ) so we gave it a whirl. In went the potato cubes, a little cream and butter and the results were amazing - you just could never get them as smooth and creamy as that by hand, and in a fraction of the time. Just the ticket then - this is why we bought it, so job done on that score.

Size wise, this machine is fine - our kitchen is small so we struggle for space but as the actual machine base itself is very compact, it can sit permanently and unobtrusively on our worktop, so job done on that score too. The accessories, though, are a different matter. As part and parcel of the packaging, manufacturers should include a box or something which will store all the accessories compactly and in one place - no polystyrene would be needed to protect against transit damage so it shouldn't be too difficult to achieve. Yes, I know there is a carousel for storage and yes, I know it is better than nothing but it doesn't hold everything.

As for the actual FP730 processor itself though and its' bits, there is no detracting from that - it is absolutely superb. Curiosity, rather than necessity, meant we have now used most functions / accessories and they really are just great, although I don't think we'll use the juicer - as another reviewer pointed out, it's somewhat time consuming which defeats the object a little. Other than that, though, it really is spot on.

Although the FP730 was always a contender, we looked long and hard at the Kenwood 950 Libra at circa £150, and this is a superb piece of kit too. However, take away the Libra's inbuilt scales and there is not that much difference - a glass liquidiser as opposed to plastic on the 730 and other metal bits as opposed to plastic, but the gearing is still plastic on the Libra and the warranty is the same.

So, £150 for the superb 950 Libra or £55.99 for the superb FP730 ? Easiest decision we ever made. If you can justify practically 3 times the cost, then by all means go for the Libra, but it isn't 3 times better.

The FP730, being Kenwood, is a 'branded' product, it is of good build quality and really does feel like a quality piece of kit as you handle it, it has a large 3 litre capacity, a powerful 1000 watt motor which runs very smoothly and is much quieter than we expected ( this is partly down to the suction feet - not every appliance has these - which hold it very firm and steady indeed ), the variable speed dial is smooth and easy yet positive and to cap it all, there are more accessories than you can shake a stick at.

It retails at £100, which seems reasonable against its competitors, but at Comets' £69.99, it is a bargain. But if you can get the additional 20% off as well to bring it down to £56, well, you should stop reading now and just go and buy one.

We did.

Life after the hand blender died

Needed hand blender as my cheapie one from Sainsburys died , and a chopper to chop nuts and herbs etc. I have a bigger food processor which is great for larger quantities of food but needed something that could deal with smaller quantities and was easy to clean and store. This does the job really well, very compact and so great for smaller quantities such as baby food etc. Has 2 blade units - one for for blending and a flat one for chopping things such as nuts and coffee beans.

Don't drink coffee I'm afraid so not really sure how well it works in that respect, but the motor seems quite powerful so I am sure it would grind them a treat.

It also comes with 4 storage cups with lids which you use as the part of the unit, a juicer unit, blender and chopper. The cups allow you to store the food if you don't use all the quanities at one time.

Good price for a good piece of kit - does exactly what it says on the tin.

Smashing little machine

This is a great machine, works wonderfully well. I have to say it wouldn't be any use for a large family and it is quite noisy, but other than that, it is great.

Excellent product and good value for money

It's a really good product, would not cause any disappointment at all, very good value for money, I'm quite happy after buying it

Excellent!

I am a huge fan of food processors and this Kenwood did nothing to diminish my enjoyment of them. It makes life so much easier, doing chopping, slicing, whipping, juicing, etc, within seconds. It's quite compact too so it doesn't take up too much counter space.

It's only downfall is a basic design flaw. When you remove the processor from the base to take out the food inside, first of all it requires pressure to get it out - something not easy esp since its all so delicate. Secondly when you remove the bowl, the plastic beam in the center which rotates the blade stays in - and usually falls out (which means you can break it easily if you drop it one too many times). If you can get over htese two annoyances then it's a fabulous processor.

great while it lasted!! twice!!

I bought this item from a supermarket and I used it twice for chopping onions - ideal. It packed up and wouldn't chop. No problem getting a refund, but they sold out and was unable to get another - sold out. I would buy a similar product, but not one so cheap, as it may be more reliable.

What a Godsend!

I am delighted to write that the FP920 is now my best friend in my kitchen (apart from my Aga). The FP920 has taken all the hard preparation work out of cooking. I actually look forward to cooking meals, as I know it will only take a few minutes to prepare. The cutters and shredders work well when slicing all manner of vegetables and for grating cheddar cheese. The cutting blade is excellent for chopping up onions (no streaming tears anymore)and I include the garlic when chopping up onions because I hate cleaning out my garlic press after use. The only disappointment is the julienne disc in which I found that the french fries were too small. In my opinion, this disc is suitable for julienne vegetables but not the potato.
The main cutting blade also makes light work of cake making; takes no time to rustle up small cakes and scones and the cutter is also excellent for chopped vegetables. I also found the smaller bowl to be useful for smaller amounts.
I have used the grinder to chop nuts, dates and grind coffee beans. All were satisfactory. The coffee beans can be ground from coarse to fine depending on your preference. All of the equipment I have used so far has been excellent in its use as a kitchen aid, though I have not used the citrus press as yet.
I do agree with the lady who said you have to ensure the mixing bowl is in place before the machine starts up. I also spent about 10 minutes in which I thought I would have to return the item as faulty, before realising that I had not clicked the bowl into position. The spindle was a bit of a nuisance initially as it is not fixed. You have to take care when removing the bowl so as to control the spindle's movement.
The blender is excellent for soups, drinks and breadcrumbs. I liked the glass jug as it is so easy to wash, in fact all of the equipment is easy to wash - quicker than putting the bowl, etc in the dishwasher.
The FP920 is easy to use and looks handsome in the kitchen.

Fine while it works...

This mincer had moderate use (about a dozen times), and worked very well. The suction grip held perfectly on a kitchen work surface. Then, after nine months, during mincing some beef the plastic barrel, inside which the meat is pushed up to the cutters, split with a loud crack. The end.

No other brand as good

Having had 2 Kenwood chefs which ultimately broke, I finally decided not to waste any more money but find the extra to pay for a Magimix. My parents have had one for over 20 years and it is still going strong despite my Mother's best efforts. I have had my 3200 since September 2007 and have yet to fault it. Quiet, very steady and solid, attractive and extremely effective it cannot be beaten. I read lots of reviews before I finally did buy and it was clear that no other processors are as good. The 3200 meets all my needs as a family of four who entertain quite a lot. I have not seen how much bigger the 4200 or 5200 but this one is ample for most families I imagine.

OK blender

Blender is OK, easy to clean inside the chopper spindle, unit is easy to clean, bowl a little fragile, better grade of material, better thought to chopper spindle design would help as plastic an metal to not go, one wears quicker than the other, this means once worn the motor will spin and the blade will go nowhere. On the plus side more hygienic than Kenwood, as you can clean inside the chopper. But chop chop not so good, some how does not do it well you always end of with under-chopped bits and over chopped bits, shame !!!!!

Disaster!! Don't buy.

We bought this a year ago and it has been a massive disappointment. We have just tried to mix bread dough and it has now shredded the plastic drive shaft and ruined the whole thing. It is supposed to adjust its' speed to suit the mixture - doesn't happen. It is big, bulky and heavy. The way the various bowls need to fit together to use them, you end up washing up about 10 bowls and bits every time your use it for the smallest task. The manual is not helpful in explaining how to use the attachments (just pictures). Don't buy this. It is a waste of money.

magimix 5200 food processor

this item is great was sent next day from ordering and amazed me how soon it was at my home well packaged i would highly recommend this item and seller A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Flimsy, plastic rubbish!

Do not buy this food processor. The bowl broke the first time we used it. We purchased a replacement bowl, which took three weeks to arrive. However, it was no good as it didn't have the small piece of plastic on the bottom that presses down the"go" button on the unit. We did a"heath robinson" bodge job on it and thought,"Oh well, at least the blender will still work properly", only to find that where it had been stored upright in the cupboard, somehow the base of the blender had cracked and broken and won't sit on the unit. This whole thing has been a total waste of money. It is made of horrible, brittle, cheap plastic and is so flimsy as to make it useless. We wish we had not bothered to purchase such a cheap food processor and wish that we had gone straight for a magimix or kitchen devil. The only reason we thought this would be a good one to start with was the fact that it had been endorsed by James Martin, but our best advice to him is, find a more reputable company and endorse their products instead.