Black+Decker FP4100B Food Processor Review

The spec sheet describes a compact machine with a bowl big enough for everyday chopping and mixing.

At 15.2 inches tall, the machine needs clearance under an upper cabinet. Measure the gap above the counter before you buy, because a processor that does not slide under the cabinet tends to stay in the cupboard.

The carton holds the motor base, the 8-cup work bowl, the lid, the food chute with its pusher, the stainless S-blade and the reversible slice/shred disc.

What is missing matters just as much. There is no dough blade, no dicing kit, no second or mini bowl, no storage lid, no whisk and no continuous-feed attachment. Many shoppers assume an 8-cup processor arrives with a dough blade, and this one does not, so knowing it before checkout avoids a return.

The bowl, blade and lid seat in a fixed order, and that is what the Easy Assembly label refers to. The interlock that enforces that order is also why the machine stays off when a piece is misaligned.

Chopping

The S-blade is the heart of the machine, and the sheet lists chopping first. Onions, garlic, herbs, vegetables and semi-hard foods are its territory. Buyers on Amazon most often praise performance, and the summary of their reviews singles out chopping and mixing semi-hard items such as cheese and vegetables.

Mixing

Mixing is a listed function, so dressings, salsas, dips and batters that do not need a dough blade are within its documented range.

Slicing and shredding with the disc

The reversible disc slices on one side and shreds on the other, and the sheet lists both functions. Be clear about what the disc is: one fixed slice thickness and one shred size, with no adjustable slicer.

Easy assembly and cleaning

The headline feature holds up. Parts go together in one order, the removable parts are dishwasher-safe, and the base wipes clean. Buyers on Amazon often mention how quick it is to set up and how easy it is to clean.

Footprint

It takes up 9.7 inches of width and 9.4 inches of depth on the counter and weighs 5.8 lb, light enough to lift out of a cupboard and small enough to leave out.

Warranty

The 2-year limited warranty is real reassurance on a machine at the entry end of the market.

One slice thickness, one shred size

There is no adjustable slicing, no dicing kit and no julienne disc. If those are on your list, this is not the machine for you.

No dough blade

The sheet does not include one, so the page promises no dough work beyond the mixing function the sheet lists.

The manual's do-not list

The use-and-care manual rules out coffee beans, bones, grains and hard spices. It also rules out anything frozen so hard a knife tip will not go in, warm meat, and liquids that are boiling rather than merely hot. Meat and cheese must be well chilled before slicing or shredding.

Fill guidance cuts the usable capacity

Chop at half to two-thirds full and never above the marked line. The usable chopping capacity therefore sits well under the 8-cup nominal figure, which is the most useful capacity fact on this page.

No published run limit or liquid maximum

The manufacturer does not publish a continuous-run limit for this model. The same goes for a separate liquid maximum: it is not stated, so it is not claimed.

Nuts and hard foods

The manual warns that nuts and hard foods may scratch the bowl's interior finish. That is cosmetic, but it is documented.

Plastic bowl

Plastic is the material the sheet specifies. Hand washing preserves its appearance, and the manual puts removable parts on the top rack only.

The manual carries a short playbook that makes the machine behave better than its price suggests.

• Speed map: puree on HIGH or LOW, chop on PULSE, slice on LOW, shred on LOW.
• Disc work is LOW only, with light steady pressure on the pusher. Pushing harder does not speed it up.
• Chill cheese and meat well before slicing or shredding.
• Cut a flat base on round vegetables so they sit in the chute, and stand thin items upright.
• Pulse for chopping so you can watch the texture, and do not fill past two-thirds.
• Dry before wet when you have several jobs, and work in batches.
• Cleaning: top rack only, hand-wash the plastic, do not soak the blade or disc, brush the blade's internal shaft, and wipe the base rather than immersing it.
• Storage: the manual documents a nested arrangement with the bowl, blade, shaft set diagonally, inverted lid, pusher and disc stacked on top, which is how the machine earns its counter space back.

Troubleshooting from the manual

If it will not run, check the bowl and cover alignment, the plug and the breaker. If it will not slice or shred, the disc is probably installed the wrong way around or the food is unsuitable. If the cover will not close, the blade or disc is not seated.

Service

The manual says not to return the machine to the retailer. Use the manufacturer's warranty channel instead. The warranty is 2 years, limited, with replacement by a new or factory-refurbished unit, and it excludes commercial use, misuse and shipping.