The Breville Sous Chef 16 and Sous Chef Pro are premium food processors from Breville that primarily differ in capacity, motor power, and price. The Sous Chef 16 boasts a larger 16-cup bowl and a more powerful 1200-watt motor for heavy-duty tasks, while the Sous Chef Pro is a more compact unit with a 12-cup bowl and a 1000-watt motor, making it better suited for daily cooking and smaller kitchens.
Here's everything you need to know to decide which high-performance food processor is the right fit for your culinary needs.
Breville Sous Chef 16
The Breville Sous Chef 16 is a powerful, high-capacity food processor designed for serious home cooks and those who cook in large quantities. Its massive 16-cup bowl and robust 1200-watt motor can handle everything from kneading large batches of dough to chopping ingredients for family-sized meals. It comes with a suite of versatile attachments and features designed for precision and efficiency in high-volume food prep.
- What it is: A large-capacity, high-power food processor for heavy-duty kitchen tasks.
- Key features: 16-cup capacity, quiet 1200-watt induction motor, multiple slicing and shredding discs, dough blade, wide feed chute, and an LCD timer.
- Price: Typically around $400 - $500.
- Dimensions: Approximately 11.8" x 8.7" x 17.3".
- Materials/Construction: Durable stainless steel components and a heavy-duty motor base for stability. All parts that contact food are BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.
- Pros: Huge capacity is perfect for batch cooking and large families. Exceptionally powerful motor tackles tough ingredients without struggling. Wide feed chute reduces pre-chopping time. Comprehensive set of high-quality attachments.
- Cons: Larger footprint takes up significant counter and storage space. Higher price point may not be justifiable for casual users. Heavier and more cumbersome to move and clean due to its size.
This model is ideal for culinary enthusiasts, small catering operations, or large families who need maximum power and capacity for frequent, demanding food prep.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/food-processors/sf660.html
Breville Sous Chef Pro
The Breville Sous Chef Pro offers much of the same professional-grade performance as its larger sibling but in a more kitchen-friendly package. With a versatile 12-cup capacity and a capable 1000-watt motor, it is perfectly equipped for most everyday cooking tasks, from slicing vegetables to pureeing soups. Its compact design and lower price make it an accessible yet powerful option for the home cook who values quality and efficiency.
- What it is: A versatile and compact food processor that delivers professional results for daily use.
- Key features: 12-cup capacity, 1000-watt induction motor, various attachment discs, wide feed chute, and simple pulse/on controls.
- Price: Generally between $300 - $400.
- Dimensions: Approximately 11.2" x 8.3" x 14.2".
- Materials/Construction: High-quality stainless steel and BPA-free plastics, with a sturdy motor base and dishwasher-safe parts.
- Pros: More compact design saves counter and storage space. More affordable price point. The 1000-watt motor is powerful enough for nearly all home cooking tasks. Easy to maneuver and clean.
- Cons: The 12-cup bowl may be too small for large batch prep or big family meals. The motor is slightly less powerful than the 16-cup model for extremely tough jobs. Fewer included accessories compared to the top-tier model.
The Sous Chef Pro is perfect for home chefs who want dependable, high-quality performance for their daily culinary routines without needing the massive capacity of the 16-cup model.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/food-processors/sf610.html
Breville Sous Chef 16 vs. Sous Chef Pro Comparison
Dimensions & Capacity
The most noticeable difference is size. The Sous Chef 16 stands tall with its 16-cup bowl, making it a sizable appliance at 17.3 inches high. This greater volume is a huge advantage for meal prepping, entertaining, or cooking for a large household. You can knead family-sized pizza dough or process large quantities of vegetables in a single go.
In contrast, the Sous Chef Pro is more practical for smaller kitchens with its 12-cup bowl and a height of 14.2 inches. This more compact footprint means it's a better fit under standard cabinets and is easier to store. A 12-cup capacity is ample for most daily recipes, from making dips and salsas to shredding cheese for a weeknight dinner.
Power & Performance
Power is another key differentiator. The Sous Chef 16 is equipped with a 1200-watt motor, giving it the extra strength to power through dense bread doughs, thick nut butters, and large batches without any sign of strain. It provides consistent, heavy-duty performance that's vital for those who use their food processor frequently and for demanding tasks.
The Sous Chef Pro’s 1000-watt motor is by no means weak, it is still a powerful machine that can handle kneads and chops with ease. For everyday use like slicing, dicing, and pureeing, the difference in power is negligible. You'll only feel the difference with the most intensive tasks, making the Pro more than sufficient for the average home cook.
Price & Value
With its larger capacity and more robust motor, the Sous Chef 16 comes with a higher price tag, typically around $100 more than the Pro. The extra cost provides a significant step up in volume and power, making it a good value for those who will consistently use its capabilities. If you regularly cook large meals, the time saved by a bigger bowl justifies the investment.
The Sous Chef Pro offers fantastic value by delivering commercial-style results at a more consumer-friendly price. It provides the same Breville build quality and thoughtful design in a package that meets the needs of most households. For individuals or smaller families, it's the more practical and economical choice that doesn't compromise on core performance.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both food processors are excellent machines, but they serve different users with different needs and kitchen sizes.
Choose the Breville Sous Chef 16 if:
- You regularly cook for a large family or entertain guests.
- You do a lot of batch cooking or meal prepping for the week.
- You frequently work with tough ingredients like dense dough or hard vegetables.
- You have ample counter and storage space for a large appliance.
Choose the Breville Sous Chef Pro if:
- You're cooking for one to four people on a daily basis.
- You have limited kitchen counter space or storage is a concern.
- Your budget is a primary consideration, and you want great performance for less.
- You need a versatile, powerful machine for everyday tasks rather than heavy-duty production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between the Breville Sous Chef 16 and Pro?
The main differences are capacity and power. The Sous Chef 16 has a 16-cup bowl and a 1200-watt motor, while the Sous Chef Pro has a 12-cup bowl and a 1000-watt motor. This makes the 16 better for large batches and a bit more powerful for tougher jobs.
Can both models knead dough?
Yes, both models are excellent for kneading dough. However, the Sous Chef 16’s larger capacity and more powerful 1200-watt motor give it an advantage for larger or more frequent batches of heavy dough.
Are the attachments interchangeable between the 16 and Pro models?
No, the attachments are not interchangeable. The bowls, lids, and blades for each model are sized specifically for their respective bases and capacities.
Which model is easier to clean?
Both models feature dishwasher-safe parts, making them equally easy to clean in that respect. The Sous Chef Pro’s parts are slightly smaller and lighter, which may make them marginally easier to handle and wash by hand.
Is the extra power of the Sous Chef 16 really necessary?
For most home cooking, the 1000-watt motor in the Sous Chef Pro is more than sufficient. The extra 200 watts in the Sous Chef 16 is most felt when performing very demanding tasks repeatedly, like kneading heavy dough or processing foods for extended periods, where it provides extra durability and efficiency.
Which food processor is better value for money?
Value depends on your needs. The Sous Chef Pro offers better value for the average home cook, providing professional-grade performance at a lower cost. The Sous Chef 16 provides better value for serious cooks or large families who would otherwise have to run multiple batches, saving them time and effort.
Will these food processors fit under my kitchen cabinets?
The Sous Chef Pro, at 14.2 inches tall, is designed to fit under most standard kitchen cabinets (typically 18 inches of clearance). The Sous Chef 16, at 17.3 inches tall, will be a very tight fit and may not fit under some cabinets, so it’s important to measure your space beforehand.
Are Breville food processors loud?
Both models use powerful induction motors, which are known for being quieter than traditional universal motors found in many appliances. While they still generate noise, especially at high speeds, they are generally considered to be some of the quieter high-performance food processors available.
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