Quick answer

The Breville Sous Chef® 12 is worth it if you regularly prep for three or more people and want one machine to slice, shred, chop, and knead. If you mostly process small batches or have tight counter space, a smaller bowl will be easier to live with.

Why bowl size changes how you cook

A larger bowl is not automatically better. It determines how much you can process before emptying, which matters for dough, slaw, and batch chopping. The Sous Chef® 12 is built around a 12-cup class bowl, so it handles family-sized quantities without splitting the work into multiple rounds. If you often cook for one or two, that capacity can feel like extra washing rather than time saved.

Wattage and the jobs you actually do

Wattage is a rough indicator of how well a processor handles dense mixtures such as bread dough or nut butter. The Sous Chef® 12 is described as capable of kneading bread, which tells you it is intended for heavier tasks than light chopping. Match the machine to your hardest regular job, not your most common one; a processor that only chops well will frustrate you the first time you try dough.

Feed chutes and slicer adjustments

Three feed chute options and an adjustable slicer are the features that separate this model from simpler processors. Multiple chutes let you drop in different sizes of produce without pre-cutting everything to one width. The adjustable slicer gives you thickness control for things like potatoes, cucumbers, and cheese. If you rarely slice or shred, these advantages matter less than bowl size and cleanup.

Decision rules for buying the Sous Chef® 12

  • Choose it if you prep for three or more: A 12-cup bowl suits family meals, batch slaw, and dough for a standard loaf. If you regularly cook for a crowd, the capacity reduces the number of processing rounds. Count your typical servings before deciding.
  • Skip it if you mostly chop small amounts: For herbs, garlic, or single servings, a large bowl means more washing and less control. A smaller processor or a mini chopper will be faster to use and store.
  • Check your hardest task, not your easiest: If you plan to knead bread or process dense mixtures, prioritize a machine that explicitly supports kneading, as the Sous Chef® 12 does. If you only slice vegetables, feed chute options and slicer adjustment matter more than kneading capability. Write down the heaviest job you will ask the machine to do.
  • Decide whether attachments earn their space: The three feed chutes and adjustable slicer are useful only if you slice and shred regularly. If you mostly puree or chop, you may pay for features you will not use.

Product facts

  • the Breville Sous Chef® 12: Slices, chops, shreds, and kneads bread dough. One machine can replace several separate prep tools if you make dough and sliced vegetables in the same week.

    the Breville Sous Chef® 12

    the Breville Sous Chef® 12

  • the Breville Sous Chef® 12: Includes three feed chute options and an adjustable slicer. You can process different shapes and thicknesses without changing machines, which saves time on varied family meals.

Who should buy it

Best for

  • Families of three or more who prep vegetables and dough in batches
  • Cooks who want one machine for slicing, shredding, chopping, and kneading
  • Anyone who values adjustable slice thickness and multiple feed chute sizes

Not for

  • Single cooks who mostly process small quantities
  • Kitchens with very limited counter or cabinet space
  • Buyers who only need light chopping and will not use the slicer or dough function