Head to head
Breville Sous Chef vs Cuisinart 14-Cup (2026)
Breville Sous Chef vs Cuisinart 14-cup: 1,200 watts vs 720, 24-setting slicing vs fixed disc, and whether the premium is worth it.
#2 in our rankings · Best premium
Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup (BFP800XL)
Best for: Serious home cooks who slice a lot, knead dough regularly, and want the most capable machine.
#1 in our rankings · Best overall
Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor (DFP-14BCNY)
Best for: Most home cooks who want one processor for chopping, slicing, shredding, and occasional dough.
Our recommendation
Buy the Breville if you slice precisely, knead dough regularly, or want the most capable machine regardless of price. Buy the Cuisinart if you want the rational default: most of the real-world capability at roughly half the price.
Motor power
The Breville's 1,200-watt induction motor handles stiff dough that stalls the Cuisinart's 720-watt motor, and runs cooler and quieter under load. For chopping and slicing, the difference is negligible.
Slicing
The Breville's 24-setting disc (0.3mm to 8mm) is the largest functional gap between the two: one disc replaces an entire set of fixed discs. The Cuisinart's single fixed thickness is fine for uniform everyday slicing.
Price and size
The Breville costs roughly twice as much and occupies more counter space. The Cuisinart is the smaller, cheaper machine that still does 80% of what most owners ask of a processor.
Choose Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup (BFP800XL) if…
- You knead bread dough regularly and need real motor headroom.
- You slice at varied thicknesses and want dial-controlled precision.
- You are buying a decade-plus flagship and the premium is acceptable.
Choose Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor (DFP-14BCNY) if…
- You want the best value in a full-size processor.
- Your dough work is limited to pizza dough and pie crust.
- Counter space and budget both favor the smaller, cheaper machine.
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup (BFP800XL) | Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor (DFP-14BCNY) |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | Premium | Mid-range |
| Bowl capacity | 16 cups | 14 cups |
| Motor | 1,200 watts (induction) | 720 watts |
| Slicing disc | Variable, 24 settings from 0.3mm to 8mm | — |
| Blade | Micro-serrated S-blade | Stainless-steel chopping/mixing blade |
| Feed chute | Extra-wide 5.5-inch | — |
| Discs included | — | Medium slicing disc + shredding disc |
| Controls | — | On / Off / Pulse paddles |
| Best for | Serious home cooks who slice a lot, knead dough regularly, and want the most capable machine. | Most home cooks who want one processor for chopping, slicing, shredding, and occasional dough. |
| Skip if | The price premium over the Cuisinart only makes sense if you will use the adjustable slicing and extra power weekly. | You need adjustable slice thickness or regularly knead large dough batches; the fixed discs and mid-range motor have limits. |
Strengths and limitations
Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup (BFP800XL)
Strengths
- The 1,200-watt induction motor is the most powerful here and handles stiff bread dough without the strain that slows lesser machines.
- The variable slicing disc adjusts across 24 thickness settings (0.3mm to 8mm) from paper-thin potato chips to thick tomato slices.
- The 16-cup bowl is the largest in this lineup, and the micro-serrated S-blade stays sharper longer than standard stamped blades.
Limitations
- It is the most expensive pick by a wide margin; casual users will not recoup the premium.
- The larger footprint and heavier base demand dedicated counter or cabinet space.
- More parts (multiple discs, adjustable mechanisms) mean more pieces to wash and store.
Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor (DFP-14BCNY)
Strengths
- The 14-cup work bowl is the sweet spot for family prep: large enough for a full batch of pesto, slaw, or pie dough without overflowing.
- 720 watts handles chopping, pureeing, and moderate dough work without bogging down on typical home recipes.
- The design is essentially unchanged for decades, which means replacement parts, blades, and discs are easy to find.
Limitations
- The slicing disc has a fixed thickness; you cannot dial it thinner or thicker the way the Breville's adjustable disc allows.
- Heavy dough batches (double pizza dough, stiff bread dough) can strain the motor; it is a sometimes-dough machine, not a dedicated one.
- The wide feed tube helps, but very large vegetables still need pre-cutting to fit.
How they fit the wider field
- Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup (BFP800XL): ranked #2 (Best premium) in The Best Food Processors. Read the full Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup (BFP800XL) review.
- Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor (DFP-14BCNY): ranked #1 (Best overall) in The Best Food Processors. Read the full Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor (DFP-14BCNY) review.
Neither one quite right? The full rankings cover 10 picks matched to different buyers.
Made your call?
Questions, answered
Is the Breville twice as good as the Cuisinart?
No. It is better on power and slicing precision, equal on everyday chopping, and roughly twice the price. The value depends entirely on whether you use the advantages.
Which has better parts availability?
The Cuisinart, by virtue of its decades-long production run. Breville supports its products well, but the ecosystem is smaller.