Magimix CS 4200XL review

With only three buttons on the front of the unit (Auto, Pulse and Stop), the 4200XL is decidedly simple to use, given its flexible accessory system. Auto processes in a continuous mode, for even textures, fine chopping, mixing and blending, while Pulse triggers intermittent processing, switching off when you release the button for finer control over coarse chopping or mixing. Naturally, the Stop button brings the motor to a complete halt.

To get the motor going, the bowl and lid must be locked in place, and the feed tube pusher must be below the MAX line. Surprisingly, there’s no indication if you have the main bowl on the right way round, and it simply won’t start until you orient it correctly. This might catch you out the first time but afterwards it becomes second nature. The twist lock mechanism is also firm, yet easy enough to remove without significant force, and an overheat sensor detects the amount of ingredients being mixed at any time. If you’ve overloaded the mixer, it will automatically shut it down in order to protect the motor. 

The hardback user guide has around 100 recipe suggestions that make use of the various attachments, with preparation times and colour-coded icons representing specific accessories. There’s also a chef’s hat scale, with one hat indicating a very easy recipe, two a moderately easy one, and three indicating a more sophisticated method. I tried a variety, starting with a mayonnaise before moving up to a simple coleslaw. 

In the latter’s case, the CS 4200XL chopped and grated everything very quickly, but I was left with quite a few large chunks of onion and lettuce as the cutting blades don’t sit flush to the feed tube exit. The XL in this review model stands for Extra Large Feed Lid, but I still felt it had a rather compact feed chute, so you’ll probably still need to chop larger vegetables into smaller sections before you’ll be able to push them in. That said, it only took five minutes to make in total, and left me with just two or three dirty bowls and blades to wash up.

Whether you do a lot of baking, or simply want to speed up the Sunday roast, food processors like the Magimix CS 4200XL get the job done quickly. The CS 4200XL isn’t obnoxiously loud, it’s big enough to handle dinner for a family of four, and has a clever stacking mechanism that keeps all three bowls in one place rather than forcing you to find room for them in a cupboard. The attachment case is a great inclusion, too, as it means you can have everything you need within arm’s reach.

There are a few downsides, though, such as the optional accessories you’ll have to buy to make things like juices or smoothies, and when the base unit already costs £300, it all starts to become rather expensive, especially when there are competing models that include built-in scales and variable speeds. However, it’s built like a tank and will likely outlast most of the other culinary gadgets in your kitchen – whether it only comes out on a Sunday afternoon or if it’s in daily use thanks to its 30-year motor guarantee.