The Breville Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice and the Sous Chef 16 Pro are both high-performance food processors, but they are built for different kitchen tasks. The Peel & Dice excels at a very specific function - dramatically cutting down prep time with its specialized peeling and dicing kit - while the Pro is an all-in-one workhorse with extra attachments like a dough blade, designed for versatile, heavy-duty processing.
Here is everything you need to know to choose the right Breville food processor for your kitchen.
Breville Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice
The Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice is a meal prepper's dream. It takes Breville's powerful food processor platform and adds a headline feature: the ability to peel and dice vegetables with incredible consistency and speed. Built around a powerful 1200-watt motor and a large 16-cup capacity bowl, this machine is engineered to handle large batches of produce, saving a tremendous amount of time on tedious prep work.
- What it is: A high-performance 16-cup food processor with a specialized attachment for peeling and dicing.
- Key features: Powerful 1200-watt motor, dedicated peel and dice attachment, large 16-cup work bowl, wide feed chute for less pre-cutting, dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning.
- Price: Approximately $400
- Dimensions: Approximately 9" x 7" x 17"
- Materials/Construction: Features a durable plastic body with a sleek, brushed stainless steel finish and stainless steel blades.
- Style: Modern and professional, designed to look good on any countertop.
- Pros: Unbeatable at peeling and dicing, significantly reduces manual prep time, powerful motor handles tough jobs, generous 16-cup capacity is great for large families or meal prepping.
- Cons: Lacks some of the Pro's versatile attachments like a dough blade, specialized function drives its main value, plastic body is less robust than the Pro's die-cast base.
This model is ideal for home cooks who spend a lot of time chopping vegetables and want an efficient tool to streamline their meal prep process.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/food-processors/sbsc048.html
Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro
The Sous Chef 16 Pro is Breville’s flagship all-rounder, designed for serious home cooks who need versatility and power. It's built on a heavy-duty die-cast metal base and powered by the same 1200-watt induction motor, but it comes with a much wider array of attachments. With a dough blade, multiple slicing discs, and fine shredding options, this machine is designed to handle nearly any processing task, from baking to making complex sauces.
- What it is: A professional-grade, multi-functional 16-cup food processor for a broad array of culinary tasks.
- Key features: Robust 1200-watt motor, die-cast metal base for stability, variable slicing disc with 24 settings, wide range of attachments including a dough blade and multiple shredding discs.
- Price: Approximately $500
- Dimensions: Approximately 9" x 7" x 17"
- Materials/Construction: A heavy and durable die-cast metal base coupled with a BPA-free plastic bowl and high-quality stainless steel blades.
- Style: A sleek, professional machine with a substantial feel and premium finish that communicates its high-end performance.
- Pros: Extremely versatile and can replace multiple kitchen gadgets, heavy die-cast base adds superior stability, includes a dough blade essential for bakers, variable speed offers more control.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive, does not include the specialized dicing or peeling attachments, may be overkill for casual use.
The Pro model is for the ambitious home chef who needs a tireless kitchen workhorse that can slice, dice, knead, and shred without compromise.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/food-processors/sbsc046.html
Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice vs. Pro Comparison
Attachments & Versatility
This is the most significant difference between the two models. The Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice is a specialist. Its main selling point is the attachment that peels and dices, a function that no other food processor on the market performs as well. While it can also handle standard chopping, slicing, and shredding, its core value lies in automating tedious vegetable prep.
The Sous Chef 16 Pro is the generalist. It forgoes the peeling kit in favor of attachments that broaden its skill set across all kitchen tasks. The inclusion of a dedicated dough blade makes it a perfect companion for bakers who want to mix bread or pizza dough quickly. Its wider range of slicing and shredding discs offers more precision and options for different recipes. If your needs go beyond vegetable prep into baking and complex food processing, the Pro is objectively more versatile.
Materials & Construction
Both food processors are well-built, but the Pro has a clear edge in durability. It features a heavy, die-cast metal base that not only looks more premium but adds significant weight and stability. This prevents the machine from "walking" across the counter during intense tasks like kneading dough or processing hard cheeses.
The Peel & Dice also has a high-quality feel with its brushed metal finish, but its base is made of durable plastic. While perfectly adequate for its intended tasks, it doesn't have the same tank-like construction as the Pro, which is designed for more frequent and demanding use.
Price & Value
The Peel & Dice typically retails for around $400, while the Pro comes in at approximately $500. The $100 price difference is substantial and an important factor in deciding between them. The value proposition is very clear for each model.
If you genuinely despise peeling potatoes or spend hours dicing onions for meal prep, the Peel & Dice offers incredible value by saving you time and effort. Conversely, if you're looking for one appliance to perform the work of a stand mixer's dough hook, a mandoline slicer, and a box grater, the Pro’s higher cost is easily justified by its multi-functionality.
Dimensions & Scale
Despite their different builds, both models share a very similar footprint (around 9" x 7" x 17") and an identical 16-cup capacity work bowl. They are large appliances that will command a permanent spot on your countertop. The key physical difference is weight, the Pro's die-cast metal base makes it noticeably heavier, which is a pro for stability but a con if you plan to move it in and out of a cabinet frequently.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both Breville food processors are outstanding, but they cater to very different priorities in the kitchen.
Choose the Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice if:
- Your most-hated kitchen chore is peeling and chopping vegetables.
- You frequently meal prep or cook large batches of stews, soups, or roasted vegetables.
- You value speed and efficiency in your prep work above all else.
- You already have a stand mixer for dough and don’t need that functionality.
Choose the Sous Chef 16 Pro if:
- You want an all-in-one food processing powerhouse for a wide variety of tasks.
- You bake regularly and would use the dedicated dough blade.
- You prioritize a heavy-duty, die-cast metal base for maximum durability and stability.
- You’re willing to invest more for a machine that can adapt to nearly any recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the Breville Peel & Dice and Pro?
The key difference lies in their signature attachments. The Peel & Dice comes with a specialized kit for peeling and dicing produce automatically. The Pro model omits this kit in favor of more versatile tools like a dough blade and a wider variety of slicing and shredding discs, along with a more durable die-cast metal base.
Can the Sous Chef 16 Pro also dice food?
The Pro can chop and pulse food into smaller pieces, but it does not come with the specialized dicing kit that creates uniform cubes like the Peel & Dice model. If perfectly even dicing is your goal, the Peel & Dice is the right choice.
Which model is better for someone who bakes a lot?
The Sous Chef 16 Pro is the clear winner for bakers. It includes a dedicated plastic dough blade specifically designed for kneading bread, pizza, and pastry doughs efficiently, a feature the Peel & Dice model lacks.
Is the motor the same in both food processors?
Yes, both models are equipped with the same powerful 1200-watt heavy-duty induction motor. This ensures both have more than enough power to handle tough ingredients and large batches.
Is the Peel & Dice worth the money just for peeling and dicing?
For many cooks, yes. If you do a lot of meal prepping, cook for a large family, or have physical limitations (like arthritis) that make chopping difficult, the time and effort saved can be immense. It automates one of the most time-consuming and tedious parts of cooking.
Is it possible to buy the peeling and dicing kit for the Pro model separately?
Typically, Breville does not sell the specialized kits separately, as the machine bases can have slight variations. The dicing and peeling system is designed to work specifically with the Peel & Dice model.
Are Breville food processors easy to clean?
Yes, both models are designed with easy cleanup in mind. The bowls, lids, and most of the attachments are made from BPA-free materials and are top-rack dishwasher safe.
What is the warranty coverage for these models?
Breville typically offers a 1-year limited product warranty on its food processors, with an extended 25-year induction motor warranty. Always check the retailer or Breville's official website for the most current warranty information.
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