As a seasoned Food Processor consultant with over 15 years in kitchen appliances and a dedicated content creator for KitchenPro, I’ve seen countless innovations designed to make our culinary lives easier. Among the pantheon of kitchen workhorses, the Breville Food Processor 12 Cup stands out as a true game-changer for home cooks and aspiring chefs alike. It’s not just an appliance; it’s your personal sous chef, ready to tackle any prep task with remarkable efficiency and precision, transforming daunting recipes into delightful experiences.
Whether you’re a busy parent striving for healthier family meals, a passionate baker perfecting your dough, or simply someone looking to streamline their kitchen routine, the Breville 12-cup model, often known as the Breville Sous Chef 12, offers a blend of power, versatility, and intelligent design that genuinely elevates your cooking.
Why a Food Processor is Your Kitchen’s Best Friend
In the fast-paced modern world, time is a precious commodity. The right kitchen tools don’t just save minutes; they inspire creativity and encourage healthier eating habits by making fresh food preparation accessible. A food processor is the ultimate multi-tasker, capable of performing a wide array of chopping, slicing, shredding, mixing, and pureeing tasks in a fraction of the time it would take by hand. It reduces manual effort, ensures consistent results, and expands your culinary horizons, allowing you to experiment with new recipes and techniques that might otherwise seem too laborious. This singular appliance consolidates the functions of many, decluttering your countertops and simplifying your cooking process.
Unveiling the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup: Features That Shine
The Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup Food Processor (models like BFP660SILUSC or BFP680BAL) is engineered with thoughtful features that cater to both novice and experienced cooks. Its robust construction and intuitive operation make it a standout in its category.
Powerhouse Performance: The 1000-Watt Motor
At the heart of the Breville 12-cup food processor lies a potent 1000-watt induction motor. This heavy-duty motor delivers consistent power, effortlessly handling everything from tough root vegetables and hard cheeses to delicate herbs and dense doughs. Unlike some less powerful machines that might struggle or stall, the Sous Chef 12 performs with unwavering efficiency, ensuring smooth and even processing every time. One notable advantage of this motor is its relatively quiet operation, especially when compared to other high-performance models, which makes for a more pleasant kitchen environment. Its direct drive control and overload protection further underscore its durability and reliability, promising years of dependable service.
Precision at Your Fingertips: The Adjustable Slicing Disc
One of the most praised features of the Breville Sous Chef 12 is its innovative adjustable slicing disc. This isn’t just a simple slicer; it offers an impressive 24 thickness settings, ranging from an ultra-fine 0.3mm (think paper-thin potato chips) to a hearty 8.0mm (perfect for robust vegetable cuts). Adjusting the thickness is as simple as twisting a dial on the disc’s underside, eliminating the need to swap out multiple blades. This level of precision is typically found in professional-grade mandolines, but here, it’s integrated into a safe and easy-to-use food processor, ensuring perfectly uniform slices for salads, gratins, and stir-fries every time.
Versatility Unleashed: Multi-Size Feed Chutes and Blades
The Breville 12-cup food processor truly shines in its versatility, thanks to a comprehensive suite of attachments and a clever feed chute design.
- Multiple Feed Chutes: It boasts three distinct feed chute options: a generous 5-inch large feed chute that accommodates whole fruits and vegetables, minimizing pre-cutting; a mid-sized 2.75-inch chute for longer items; and a mini 1.5-inch chute, ideal for slender ingredients like carrots or herbs that need to remain upright for consistent slicing. This design significantly reduces prep time and expands the range of ingredients you can process.
- Essential Blades: The core of its processing power comes from the micro-serrated S-blade, designed for swift and consistent chopping, mixing, whipping, and pureeing. Additionally, it includes a reversible shredding disc for fine or coarse grating of cheese, vegetables, or chocolate, and a dedicated dough blade that gently combines and kneads doughs for bread, pizza, or pastries, sparing your hands from sticky, laborious tasks. The inclusion of a small 2.5-cup work bowl that nests inside the main 12-cup bowl is perfect for processing smaller quantities of ingredients like garlic, nuts, or herbs without needing to clean a large bowl.
Thoughtful Design: Safety and Ease of Use
Breville prioritizes user safety and convenience in the Sous Chef 12.
- Safety Interlock System: The appliance incorporates a Safety Interlock System that prevents the motor from operating unless the bowl, lid, and large food pusher are all securely locked into position. This crucial feature provides peace of mind, especially in a busy kitchen.
- Safety Braking System: Should the lid be unexpectedly opened during operation, a rapid safety braking system instantly stops the blades, further minimizing risk.
- Intuitive Controls: Large, illuminated buttons (Power/Off, Start/Pause, Pulse) make operation straightforward. The buttons glow when the machine is correctly assembled and ready to use, providing clear visual feedback.
- Smart Storage: A handy plastic organizing case keeps all the blades and discs neatly stored and easily accessible, preventing clutter and protecting sharp edges. Push-in cord storage helps maintain a tidy countertop.
Mastering Your Breville 12-Cup: Tips for Effective Use
Getting the most out of your Breville Food Processor 12 Cup is all about understanding its capabilities and applying a few smart techniques.
Getting Started: Assembly and First Use
Before its maiden voyage, always ensure all packaging materials and promotional labels are removed. Wash the work bowls, lid, and all attachments in warm, soapy water. When assembling, align the bowl with the motor base and twist clockwise until it locks securely. Then, place the desired blade or disc onto the spindle, followed by the lid, ensuring it locks into place. Remember, the safety interlock system means the machine won’t power on if components aren’t correctly assembled. Always add the blade before your ingredients.
Maximizing Efficiency: Using the Right Attachments
- Chopping & Mincing: For onions, garlic, herbs, or nuts, use the micro-serrated S-blade. A few quick pulses are often all you need for a coarse chop; for finer mincing, process a bit longer. Avoid over-processing to prevent turning ingredients into a paste unless intended.
- Slicing & Shredding: Leverage the adjustable slicing disc for perfect vegetable slices (cucumbers, potatoes, carrots) or the reversible shredding disc for cheese, cabbage, or firm fruits. The multi-size feed chutes are invaluable here; use the largest one for wide items and the smaller ones for slender ingredients to ensure consistent contact with the blade.
- Dough & Mixing: The dough blade makes quick work of pastry doughs, pizza doughs, and even cookie batters. For liquids, adhere to the indicated maximum fill lines (typically 8.5 to 9 cups for thick liquids) to prevent spills. The pulse function is excellent for incorporating ingredients gently or achieving specific textures.
Creative Culinary Adventures: What You Can Make
The possibilities with the Breville 12-cup food processor are virtually endless. Imagine whipping up:
- Homemade Hummus and Dips: Silky smooth in minutes.
- Pestos and Sauces: Fresh, vibrant, and perfectly blended.
- Salad Dressings: Emulsified to perfection.
- Grated Cheese: Far superior to pre-shredded varieties.
- Chopped Vegetables: For stir-fries, soups, or stews, ready in seconds.
- Salsa and Guacamole: Fresh ingredients, minimal effort.
- Nut Butters: Healthy, homemade, and customizable.
- Breadcrumbs: From stale bread, effortlessly.
- Pie Crusts and Pizza Doughs: Flaky and elastic with minimal fuss.
- Homemade Baby Food: Pureed to the perfect consistency.
“From quick weeknight meals to elaborate weekend baking projects, the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup acts as an indispensable partner, allowing home cooks to achieve professional-level results with remarkable ease,” says Chef Isabella Rossi, a renowned culinary expert and long-time admirer of smart kitchen tech. “Its power and precision truly simplify complex recipes.”
Keeping It Pristine: Maintenance and Cleaning Your Breville Food Processor
Maintaining your Breville 12-cup food processor is straightforward, thanks to its smart design.
Daily Care: Quick Cleaning Tips
For most uses, a quick clean after processing is sufficient. Unplug the unit, carefully remove the blades/discs (they are very sharp!), and scrape any food residue from the bowl with the included spatula. The bowls, lid, and attachments can generally be rinsed under warm running water with a drop of dish soap.
Deep Clean: Dishwasher-Safe Components
Many of the Breville Sous Chef 12’s components, including the work bowls, lid, and most attachments (like the S-blade, shredding disc, and dough blade), are top-rack dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. Always refer to your user manual for specific care instructions, especially for any parts that might contain electrical components or non-dishwasher-safe materials, though with the Breville, most contact parts are designed for easy cleaning. Remember to air dry or thoroughly dry all parts before reassembly or storage to prevent water spots and ensure longevity.
Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup vs. 16-Cup: Choosing Your Perfect Match
When considering a Breville food processor, you might encounter the larger 16-cup model. Deciding between the Breville Sous Chef 12 and the Breville Sous Chef 16 often boils down to specific needs and kitchen space.
Capacity Considerations
The most obvious difference is capacity. The 12-cup model is ideal for most families and everyday meal prep, comfortably handling medium to large batches of ingredients. The 16-cup, on the other hand, is a true workhorse for very large families, extensive entertaining, or serious batch cooking and preserving. If you frequently process whole heads of cabbage, multiple pounds of cheese, or double recipes of dough, the 16-cup might be appealing. However, for many, the 12-cup capacity, complemented by its smaller nested bowl, provides ample room without the added bulk.
Power and Features: Is Bigger Always Better?
While the 16-cup model typically features a more powerful 1200-watt motor compared to the 12-cup’s 1000-watt, both motors are exceptionally robust and handle tough tasks with ease. The 16-cup often comes with additional specialized discs, such as a French fry cutter or dicing kit, and may include an LED display with a timer for enhanced control. If these very specific, high-end features are essential to your cooking style, the 16-cup might be worth the upgrade. Otherwise, the 12-cup’s core functionality with its adjustable slicing and comprehensive blade set satisfies the vast majority of culinary requirements.
Counter Space and Storage
The 16-cup model is significantly larger and heavier, often featuring a stainless steel construction versus the 12-cup’s plastic bowls. This can be a critical factor if kitchen counter space is at a premium or if you prefer a lighter appliance to move around. The 12-cup is designed to be more compact, making it a better fit for smaller kitchens or those who prefer less visual clutter. While both come with smart storage solutions for their accessories, the overall footprint of the 12-cup is generally more manageable for the average home kitchen. For most home cooks, the Breville Sous Chef 12 offers the perfect balance of robust power and practical capacity without overwhelming your kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Breville 12-Cup Food Processor
Q: Can the Breville 12-Cup Food Processor make dough?
A: Absolutely! The Breville Sous Chef 12 comes with a dedicated dough blade designed to knead and mix various types of dough, from pizza and bread dough to pastry crusts, with excellent results.
Q: Is the Breville 12-Cup Food Processor noisy?
A: While no food processor is completely silent, the Breville 12-cup model is notably quieter than many other powerful machines on the market, thanks to its efficient 1000-watt induction motor. You might notice some noise when processing harder ingredients, but it’s generally considered to operate at a lower decibel level than many competitors.
Q: Are the parts of the Breville Sous Chef 12 dishwasher safe?
A: Yes, the work bowls, lid, and most of the included blades and discs are designed to be top-rack dishwasher safe, making cleanup after use very convenient. Always refer to the user manual for specific care instructions for all components.
Q: What is the benefit of the adjustable slicing disc?
A: The adjustable slicing disc is a standout feature, offering 24 precise thickness settings from 0.3mm to 8.0mm. This eliminates the need for multiple fixed blades and allows for unparalleled control over your slicing, ensuring perfectly uniform results for any recipe, from delicate garnishes to thick vegetable cuts.
Q: Does the Breville 12-Cup Food Processor come with a small bowl?
A: Yes, it includes a nesting 2.5-cup mini processing bowl, which is ideal for smaller tasks like chopping herbs, mincing garlic, or making small batches of dips and sauces without having to use or clean the larger 12-cup bowl.
Q: What safety features does this food processor have?
A: The Breville Sous Chef 12 is equipped with a comprehensive Safety Interlock System, which prevents operation unless the bowl, lid, and large food pusher are correctly locked. It also features a Safety Braking System that quickly stops the blades if the lid is unexpectedly opened, and non-slip feet for stability.
Conclusion
The Breville Food Processor 12 Cup, or the Breville Sous Chef 12, is more than just a kitchen gadget; it’s a foundational tool that empowers you to cook smarter, healthier, and more creatively. With its robust 1000-watt motor, unparalleled adjustable slicing precision, versatile multi-chute system, and intelligent safety features, it consistently delivers professional-grade results that simplify meal preparation and elevate your culinary creations. Whether you’re shredding cheese, kneading dough, or pureeing soups, this appliance proves itself to be an indispensable asset in any modern kitchen. If you’re ready to transform your cooking experience, embrace the power and precision of the Breville 12-cup food processor – you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. Try it today and share your kitchen triumphs!