What to know first
- The 16-cup bowl is the main reason to pay for this model: fewer stops to empty the bowl mid-prep.
- It is built for prep-heavy weeks: lots of chopping, slicing, and shredding in one session.
- An extra-large feed chute is a practical time-saver because it can reduce pre-cutting.
- It is a premium upgrade that makes sense when you use a processor several times a week, not once a month.
- If you do not need the capacity, a classic 14-cup style processor is usually the more sensible everyday size.
What the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor is
The Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor is a full-size, premium food processor designed for high-volume prep. It is meant to be your main countertop machine for chopping, slicing, shredding, mixing, and pureeing, especially when you are processing a lot of food at once.
The headline feature is right in the name: a 16-cup work bowl. In real cooking, that extra room matters most when you are doing long runs of vegetables (like shredding carrots or slicing zucchini for multiple meals) or when you are cooking for a crowd and do not want to stop, dump the bowl, and start again.
This model is also sold in configurations that include specialty kits. For example, a peel and dice setup is documented with a dicing kit that targets 12 x 12 mm cubes. If you are shopping specifically for dicing, make sure the version you are buying includes the dicing kit you want.
Why it stands out
Capacity is the clearest advantage. A larger bowl does not just mean you can make a bigger batch of hummus. It means you can keep feeding the machine during a prep session without constantly transferring ingredients out. If you meal prep weekly or cook for a family, that is the difference between a processor that saves time and one that still feels like extra steps.
The feed tube setup is another practical reason people pay for this model. It is described as having an extra-large feed chute, and at least one retail listing specifies multiple feed tube sizes (5.5-inch, 2.5-inch, and 1.75-inch). A wider chute can let you load larger pieces for slicing and shredding, which is one of the biggest everyday time-savers a food processor can offer because it reduces how much you have to pre-cut.
Breville positions the Sous Chef as a high-end machine for core food processor work like chopping, shredding, and mixing. If you are paying for a larger bowl, you want a processor that is built to keep up with bigger loads instead of forcing you to work in tiny batches.
Finally, it is an upgrade-style machine with a lot of included capability. One listing calls out a 16-cup work bowl plus a 2.5-cup mini bowl, along with multiple blades and slicing discs. The practical benefit is that you can handle both big and small jobs without needing a second appliance, as long as you are comfortable storing the extra parts.
What it is like to own
Buy the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor when you want a processor that can stay in motion during prep. The day-to-day benefit is workflow: you can do a long slicing or shredding run in fewer batches, and the larger feed chute can cut down on pre-cutting. If you prep vegetables for several meals at once, that is where the time savings show up.
Expect a more involved ownership experience than a smaller, simpler processor. A premium, accessory-rich machine can be great, but it also means more pieces to keep track of. If you like having the right disc for the job and you will actually use them, that is a plus. If you want one blade you can rinse and toss in the dishwasher, a simpler model will fit your habits better.
Cleanup and control are what decide whether a food processor becomes a weekly tool or a cabinet resident. This model is described as dishwasher-safe in at least one retail listing, which can make it easier to live with, especially after messy jobs like shredding cheese or mixing dough. Still, the more attachments you use, the more you will be washing and storing.
What to know before you buy
Do not buy the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor for the number on the bowl alone. In food processors, advertised capacity is not always the comfortable working capacity for every task, especially liquids, dough, or bulky vegetables. The practical question is whether you want fewer batches during real prep, and for many shoppers, the answer is yes. Just do not assume you can fill it to the brim for every recipe.
This is a bigger machine, and it is meant for people who have the space and will use it hard. If you are tight on counter space or you only pull out a processor for occasional salsa or pie crust, the size and premium positioning can feel like more hassle than help.
Also, pay attention to which package you are buying. Some versions include specialty kits like dicing and peeling. If dicing is part of your plan, confirm the exact included attachments before you check out.
The specs that matter
A larger bowl is mainly about fewer stops during prep. If you shred or slice a lot of vegetables at once, you spend less time emptying the bowl and restarting.
A mini bowl can make small jobs feel less wasteful, like chopping a small amount of herbs or making a smaller sauce, without needing to drag out a separate mini chopper.
A wider feed tube can reduce pre-cutting. That is one of the most noticeable ways a food processor saves time when you are slicing and shredding.
Attachments determine what the machine can do well without extra purchases. More included discs usually means you can switch between chopping, slicing, and shredding without improvising.
Higher wattage generally means more headroom when you are processing larger loads. For shoppers doing big batches, that can translate to fewer stalls and less babying the machine.
If you want consistent diced vegetables for soups, salsas, or meal prep, the cube size tells you what you are actually getting. This is a medium dice, not a fine mince.
Food processors are only convenient if you will clean them. Dishwasher-safe parts can make it more realistic to use the machine for weeknight prep.
Who this product fits
You meal prep vegetables every weekend
The Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor is built for long runs of slicing and shredding. The bigger bowl means you can process more before you have to stop and empty it, which is exactly what slows meal prep down on smaller machines.
You host often and cook for a crowd
When you are making big salads, slaws, or party trays, capacity is the difference between one prep session and several. This model is designed for those larger volumes, so you can keep moving instead of working in small batches.
You are upgrading from a standard full-size processor
If your current 13 to 14-cup processor feels maxed out during big recipes, this is the step up: more bowl space, a premium build direction, and a feed chute setup meant to speed up slicing and shredding.
You want dicing without hand-cutting (and you buy the right version)
If you choose a Peel & Dice configuration, the documented dicing kit targets 12 x 12 mm cubes. That can take a lot of knife work out of soups, stews, and big prep days, as long as you confirm the kit is included in the package you buy.
What else to compare
If the size or price of the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor feels like too much, these are the more sensible directions to consider.
Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor FAQ
Is the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor too big for everyday cooking?
It can be, depending on how you cook. If you mostly make smaller meals and only use a processor occasionally, a 13 to 14-cup model is usually easier to live with. This Breville makes the most sense when you routinely prep in volume.
What does a larger feed tube actually change?
A wider feed tube can reduce pre-cutting before slicing or shredding. That is one of the most practical time-savers with a food processor, especially when you are processing lots of vegetables.
Does the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor come with a dicing kit?
Some versions do, including Peel & Dice packages. The documentation for that setup specifies a 12 x 12 mm dice. Because configurations vary, confirm the included attachments on the exact listing you are buying.
Is the 16-cup bowl capacity the amount you can use for every recipe?
Not necessarily. Advertised bowl size is not always the comfortable working capacity for liquids, dough, or bulky ingredients. The real benefit is extra room during big prep sessions, not filling the bowl to the brim for every task.
Should I buy this or a classic 14-cup processor instead?
Choose the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor when you regularly outgrow a standard full-size bowl and want a premium upgrade for frequent use. If you rarely cook in volume, a classic 14-cup model is typically the more sensible everyday size.
Should you buy the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor?
Buy the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor if you are a frequent cook who does big prep sessions and wants a premium machine that does not feel cramped. The larger bowl and wide feed tube setup are the features you will notice every single time you slice, shred, or chop in bulk.
Skip it if you do not truly need the capacity. For smaller households and lighter use, a standard full-size processor is usually easier to store, easier to justify, and still handles the core jobs. The Breville makes sense when you will use that extra room regularly, not just admire it.