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Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor vs Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor ranks higher (#2 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on chopping & slicing, dough & purées, durability. Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper wins on easy cleaning.
The biggest complaint about the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor is very expensive; for the Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper it's stops working after a few months. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor | Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in food processors | #2 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $ |
| Type | Full-size | Mini chopper |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 7% | 18% |
| Overall score | 4.1 | 3.7 |
| Chopping & slicing | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Dough & purées | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Easy cleaning | 3.0 | 4.5 |
| Durability | 3.5 | 2.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $80 · $$ $80–250 · $$$ over $250. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor
- Very expensive
It costs about twice as much as Wirecutter's top pick, and Food Network lists the price as its main con. Value for money is mixed on Amazon, where some owners call it an expensive mistake (117 of 349 mentions are negative).
- Huge, with a big accessory case to store
Wirecutter says it is almost 18 inches tall, weighs nearly 20 pounds, and comes with an accessory case almost as big as the machine. Serious Eats and Food Network both flag the size, and Amazon owners give mixed feedback on it.
- Bowl cracks; mixed durability
Amazon's summary says durability is mixed, with some owners reporting bowl cracks despite infrequent use (87 of 155 mentions are negative). Wirecutter calls the general warranty underwhelming for the price, though the motor has a separate long warranty.
Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper
- Stops working after a few months
Amazon's summary says durability is mixed, with some units breaking down after about four months (24 of 35 durability mentions are negative). Opinions are split between owners who call it worth the money and those who warn not to buy it. 15% of Amazon ratings are 1-star.
- Must hold the button to run
Serious Eats says you have to keep pressing the power button, which gets tedious. Wirecutter confirms there is no continuous-on function.
- Tears herbs; loud
Wirecutter found it tore parsley into uneven pieces, and its paid testers preferred the KitchenAid 3.5-cup's chop. Wirecutter measured a high-pitched 100 dB running empty.
Source: Wirecutter
Who should pick which
Pick the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor if
Cooking big, prep-heavy recipes several times a week
Paper-thin, even slicing
Finely chopped herbs
Skip it if: You have little counter or cabinet space; You only use a food processor occasionally; You're on a budget
Pick the Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper if
Mayo, dressings, pesto and other small-batch sauces
Chopping one onion or a few garlic cloves
Use alongside a full-size processor
Skip it if: You mostly chop fresh herbs; You want a continuous-run button; You want proven long-term durability
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