Kitchen Wizz Pro (Sage by Heston Blumenthal) – Review
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been road-testing and reviewing a food processor called the Sage by Heston Blumenthal Kitchen Wizz Pro. Space, as I have mentioned lots of times within my posts, is in short supply in my kitchen. Gadgets either have to be used daily; e.g. the toaster, the kettle etc. or be multi-functional in order to stay on show and take up room on my counter. The only food processing device (aside from blenders) I’ve previously used is a very small mini chopper, which comes apart and can be stored in a drawer, although the most I can generally do with that is to chop one onion at a time, make a small quantity of pesto or biscuit crumbs in batches for a cheesecake base. So, the Kitchen Wizz Pro was quite a big step up for me and there were lots of elements for me to try out. What I really wanted to know was whether the Kitchen Wizz Pro would be a useful, time-saving device – sufficient to justify both the £399 (RRP) price tag and the space it would take up on my counter.
So, where do we start with food processors? Most consumers will have heard of, or know someone, who has a Magimix, Cuisinart or a Kenwood food processor and these sorts of brands have passed through enough kitchens for you to be able to make an informed choice and/or read enough reviews and recommendations when it comes to choosing which one to buy. The Sage by Heston Blumenthal range is comparatively new when it comes to choosing or identifying a kitchen or home appliance (though Sage are part of the BRG Appliances – Breville group) and there are also increasing numbers of celebrity chefs endorsing kitchen products. On the one hand, it makes sense – chefs spend the majority of their time in the kitchen and so should be well-placed to recommend products that they believe home cooks may benefit from investing in. On the other hand, does a celebrity endorsement guarantee a quality product?
In the case of the Kitchen Wizz Pro, there are lots of features that have been incredibly well thought-out. It is described as offering “super fine, variable slicing,” but, as I’ve discovered for myself, its functionality goes way beyond that to include dough kneading, whisking, emulsifying, milkshake/smoothie making and pureeing.
What do you get for your £400?
The Kitchen Wizz Pro comes with both a large capacity bowl (2.5 litres – 15 cups dry ingredients, 10 cups for liquid ingredients) and a smaller capacity bowl (the mini processing bowl neatly stored within the larger bowl), a timer mode, illuminated push button control (on/off/pulse), overload protection (a warning should the motor become overheated) and a 2000 watt heavy duty “direct drive” induction motor. A very specific unique feature is the wide feed chute (14cm) at the top of the food processor – again – with both a large and small feed chute, to allow you to process a wide range of ingredients. The machine also has rubber feet to stop it from wriggling around when in use.
The Kitchen Wizz Pro also comes with an “Accessory Storage Box” which I’ve re-named my “blade box” to neatly and safely house five multi-function discs –
- An adjustable slicing disc – a variable slicing disc which cleverly moves up and down so that you can manually adjust the thickness setting from 0.5mm to 8.0mm slices
- A julienne disc – long thin strips
- A chip cutting disc – for homemade, long, chunky chips
- A reversible shredding disc – fine and coarse shredding
- A whisking disc – for egg whites, cream and light batters
There are also three separate processing blades –
- A four blade processor – my favourite – four blades for maximum speed and power
- A mini blade – for the mini processing bowl
- A dough blade – for kneading/combining ingredients into a smooth dough or batter
Extras include a cleaning brush and a plastic spatula.
You can put all of the accessories in the dishwasher. Sage recommend not doing so too often with the main bowls. So far, I’ve found all the elements easy to clean.
Safety
I really like the fact that the accessories can be stored neatly away in the accessory box, perhaps in a cupboard or a drawer, and that the four blade processor (above) has an additional protective case within the box.
Another big tick in the box is the fact that the machine won’t operate until the bowl and lid are correctly in place (you’ll hear a click) – this is called the Feed Chute Safety System.
You’ll also get a warning should the motor start to overheat – called the Overload Protection System.
The blades are incredibly sharp – I’d recommend watching the full video guide (shown at the bottom of the post) before using the machine and reading the accompanying guide thoroughly. Also, watch your fingers when you change the discs/blades, take them out of the processing bowl, or wash them.
Guarantee
The Kitchen Wizz Pro comes with a 2 year repair or replacement warranty, plus a very generous 25 year motor warranty – with product registration.
What have I made in my Kitchen Wizz Pro?
I used the adjustable slicing disc to shred my white cabbage, followed by the reversible shredding disc to shred carrots (coarsely and thinly) for a quick coleslaw, as well as wizzing up some onions for my mince.
You can also make breadcrumbs or cheesecake biscuit crumbs, or whizz up onions, raw vegetables, fruit and cooked meats (e.g. leftover roasts). The smaller bowl is ideal for basil pesto, chillies, and for finely chopping nuts.
Another positive for me, with a third baby coming along soon, is the ability to be able to make purees and creamed vegetable soups by adding stock, cream or liquid in through the chute. The plastic components are made of BPA free material and are free of Bisphenol A, but I’d always leave any hot liquids to cool slightly before adding them in.
Cake-making gets a hand too, as you can use the Kitchen Wizz Pro to make all-in-one cake batters. You can also use the whisking disk (also called the emulsifying disc) to make milkshakes, smoothies and whisk egg whites. I’ve also used the emulsifying disc to make a quick homemade mayonnaise – you could use it for lots of sauces.
If you are a keen bread-maker or dough-maker, you can use the dough blade to knead dough – doughnuts here we come!
I also used the adjustable slicer to make thinly slices potatoes (as well as mincing my own meat and onions) in this Potato and Lamb Moussaka recipe.
As mentioned my favourite accessory is the 4 blade processor. I’ve been able to buy better quality cuts of meat to make my own mince for burgers, sauces and meals, such as lasagne and moussaka. I know exactly what I’m feeding my family and there is less gristle. I’d rather buy and eat less meat, but of a better quality and the speed at which the four blades cut through chunks of meat is very impressive.
Additional notes
The body measures 45x29x23 and it weighs in at almost 9kg so if possible, I’d recommend that you need enough space to keep the main body of the food processor out on your counter top, rather than storing it away between uses to get maximum use out of it.
The Kitchen Wizz Pro was also awarded the ‘Best Buy’ mark in the Food Processor category in 2013. Which? says:
“This food processor is a strong all-rounder, superbly chopping and blending at a rapid pace and earning itself Best Buy status.”
It scored 77%, putting it on a par with the Bosch MCM4100GB food processor with liquidiser. The only food processors to score more highly were the Kenwood’s CH250 mini chopper and the Magimix Le Micro mini choppers (12245, 18104, and 18103). The Kitchen Wizz Pro beat the Kenwood CH180A mini chopper, the Magimix Cuisine Systeme 4200 food processor, the Morphy Richards Accents 48911 and the Kenwood’s Multipro FP734. Granted, there are discrepancies in price amongst all of the products tested – but clearly, the Kitchen Pro Wizz has earned it place in the Best Buy charts through Which? testing.
My Overall thoughts
Once you get into the habit of using a food processor regularly, it quickly becomes second nature and there are plenty of multiple uses for the Kitchen Wizz Pro to justify the cost of the machine and the space it takes on the counter. The Kitchen Wizz Pro looks smart and professional and I like the fact that there are two bowls within the one unit – the larger bowl as well as the mini processing bowl. I really like the ‘Accessories Storage Box’ as it’s neat and can easily be stored in a cupboard or drawer, along with the instruction manual, so you don’t have to keep looking for bits or finding a place to store them all. It clips together securely so you can store it upright or horizontally. Some food processors have an additional jug blender, but I don’t really see the need to have an extra item to store, when the large bowl can quickly and efficiently process soups, milkshakes and smoothies. I have quickly got used to the different blades within the box and their uses and the machine as a whole, cleans up easily and well. The buttons, which light up, are easy to use and it really does take seconds to chop and slice once the correct blade is in place and you’ve locked the bowl and lid into place.
Look out for good deals – at the time of writing – Lakeland have an offer on – when you buy the Kitchen Wizz Pro you also get the Sage Multi Cooker for free – worth £89.99 – as well as free delivery.
You can also buy the Kitchen Wizz Pro on Amazon.co.uk for £360.00
For another perspective, read Gary’s review over on Big Spud here.
Here’s a You Tube video showing you how the Kitchen Wizz Pro works –
You can also follow @SageAppliances on Twitter and Like their page on Facebook/SageAppliances
Disclosure: I was sent the Sage by Heston Blumenthal Kitchen Wizz Pro for the purposes of a review. I was not required to write a positive review, nor paid any money to do so and all opinions are my own. Amazon affiliate links included. Other links editorially given.
Have you tried any of the appliances in the Sage by Heston Blumenthal range? Do you use a food processor in your domestic kitchen? Leave a comment to let me know!
Hi Ren,
I did a lot of sucking of teeth before finally committing to purchasing this beast just before Christmas for my kitchen’s Christmas present.
Driven by total disappointment in the Kenwood equivalent which was totally underpowered and even after 2 years still smelt of oil every time I used it, I spent more than I ever dreamed I would on a food processor. We use ours almost daily so I figured we’d get our money’s worth. Eventually.
We are a big family of big eaters and real foodies. So I need quantity and I need it fast. This machine does not disappoint when it comes to soup making – it’s so fast that I overdid it the first time and ended up with raw soup ! Lol. So no problem with cutting, slicing or chopping.
The first thing I did was clear out the cupboard beneath the work surface so it is right there when I need it. So far it has worked well.
The one thing I have struggled with is using it for cake making. I tried to make a double batch of muffins yesterday – no point in making a single batch in this family…. And it was a spectacular fail. The motor slowed right down, the body became warm. I ended up decanting into a bowl and doing it by hand. Where the heck have I gone wrong?
I’ve watched the muffin demo online and followed it exactly using the quadruple blade except I made a double batch.
Surely to Betsy with a bowl that size you can use this beast to make more than twelve muffins ? The mixture wasn’t even at the half way mark and you could still see the top blade….help!
I’m going to be seriously disappointed if it’s only any good for chopping veg !
I bought this having read the reviews and compared to the Kitchen Aid which was much more expensive, decided to get this one. Just had this a week and have used it a few times. Love how quiet it is, it doesn t move about on the counter top. I love the light that shine down into the bowl so you can see the mixture inside. The led timer shows how long to mix. You can set it to count up or down. The results have been great. So far I ve made a carrot cake and Victoria sandwich. The only negative I can say is that the cover for the bowl is tricky to fit and does come loose. Overall I m very pleased. You will need to make space for it. Looks good on the counter.
Thank you for the review! It looks pretty amazing indeed!
Hi Ren,
I’m researching before buying a new processor (always been a Kenwood fan so far). I’d be really interested to hear how you think this machine compares to the Vitamix which is slightly more expensive? I know it has a slightly different purpose but how does the Sage Kitchen Wizz cope with smoothies and juices?
Thanks for your thoughts,
Steph
Thanks for the review Ren! I’m hopefully getting hold of one of these after I’ve returned a processor from another brand that I was let down by.
One question (which you may not be able to answer if you don’t still have the product?): can you keep the mini-bowl in whilst using the grating/slicing discs? Lots of processors now have this “bowl within a bowl” system, and one of the features I liked about my last FP was that even the smallest inner bowl could be used with the slicing/grating discs, so that small amounts could be grated without dirtying the large bowl (it is far easier to take the smaller bowls in and out to wash than constantly remove the full-sized processor bowl).
In the pictures, the small bowl looks flared at the top, whether this is just to catch food from the chute or whether it’s wide enough to accommodate the discs isn’t clear.
That looks like a serious bit of kit. I have to hold my hands up and say I’d probably never change about the blades. As you say, you need to use it regularly to get into the swing of using it properly.
I think it will appeal to people who like to cook and experiment – it’s quite an investment but very versatile at the same time x
Great review, Ren. We got a Magimix 5200 a few years ago. I’m mostly pretty happy with it, though there are some issues which niggle. The Sage one looks very good, and with some excellent features.
Thanks Kavey, lovely to hear from you.
Oooh now that’s a nice piece of kit – It really does look worth the money (if only I was rich enough)!
Fantastic review Ren
Thanks Jan
That’s a pretty nifty piece of kitchen gear you have there. I love using a food processor especially when there is a large quantity to get through. For smaller jobs I seem to use my mandolin lately.
Thanks Heidi, I’ve never used a mandolin, too scared, but yes, this is quite a gadget!
That’s a nice thorough review Ren. Thank you. I have very limited space too, so something that can do just about everything sounds like a jolly good idea.
Thanks Choclette – pleased you enjoyed the review.
Wow, what a thorough review. Actually I have never ever thought about using a food processor to slice potatoes for moussaka. My brain obviously does not work like that. Seems like something we should all have in our kitchens.
Thank you Bintu, hope some readers will find it useful – it’s a really good machine, but with quite a price tag, so it really has to be good value for money.
I love how all the attachments are stored – very neat and tidy.
I did, too. One of it’s best features aside from the strength and power of the machine itself.
A very thorough review Ren. I’ve had mine for nearly a year, here’s my review from August 2013:
http://bigspud.co.uk/2013/08/25/heston-blumenthal-kitchen-wizz-pro-food-processor-review/
I’m writing a follow-up post to see how useful it’s been a year on. In short it’s chopping, grating and slicing is unparalleled for speed, power and consistency. Stray too far out of this group however and there are some snags: the emulsifying disc and dough blades don’t work very effectively. I’ve also found that water gets into the hopper and is hard to remove.
It’s crazy powerful though, it’s cut up some heavy duty stuff for me.
Ooh thanks Gary for popping over to comment. I’ll go in an add a link to your review, too, for another perspective. A follow-up post sounds good. Shame to hear the emulsifying disc and dough blade didn’t perform too well – I’ll have another go with mine and see what happens. I’m guessing you could use the mega 4-blade disc for cake mixes, with perhaps just a very quick pulse motion, as you would in a standard food processor. Will give it a go.
Thanks for the link Ren. Will let you know when my re-review post is up!
Thank Gary, link included
Here’s how I got on with the food processor, one year on…
http://bigspud.co.uk/kitchen-wizz-pro-food-processor-one-year-review/