Best Food Processor 2026: Cuisinart vs Breville Tested
We tested the top food processors including Cuisinart Custom 14 and Breville Sous Chef 16. Compare prices, performance, and specs to find your perfect kitchen appliance.
Best Food Processor 2026: Cuisinart vs Breville (We Tested Both)
Quick Verdict
The Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro excelled in pretty much every test we threw at it and came out on top, making it the ultimate choice for serious home cooks who demand professional-grade performance. However, the Cuisinart Custom 14 should be on your shortlist if you're on a tighter budget but still looking for high performance, boasting excellent puree performance and a whopping 14-cup capacity. For most home cooks balancing performance with value, the Cuisinart Custom 14 offers the best bang for your buck.
How We Tested
We evaluated these food processors based on real-world kitchen performance. Our testing team conducted over 30 side-by-side assessments, such as chopping onions, shredding cheese, slicing veggies, mixing dough, pureeing chickpeas, whipping up homemade mayonnaise, and even cleaning. We paid special attention to consistency of cuts, motor power, ease of assembly, cleaning convenience, and overall value for the price. Each model was tested for its ability to handle everything from delicate herbs to dense vegetables and heavy dough.
Top 5 Food Processors Tested
Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro BFP810
Price Range: $419–$499
The Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro sits on the top of the pyramid in terms of performance and also in its high price. This is the ultimate all-in-one food processor for professionals and dedicated home cooks.
Pros:
- The 1450-watt motor is a standout that handles grinding almonds into flour for gluten-free treats or kneading dough for homemade bread effortlessly
- Breville adds processing tools like the julienne disc, the French fry cutting disc, the whisking disc, the dough beater, and the slicing disc from the Sous Chef is adjustable with 24 settings to produce slices from 0.3 to 8 millimeters thick
- Built with a quiet, durable induction motor for superior cutting power—covered by a 30-year warranty
- You get a 16‑cup bowl with the Breville for large batch cooking
Cons:
- Carries a significantly higher price tag compared to Cuisinart, the number of features can feel complex for beginner cooks, and their weight makes them less portable
- Breville's stronger motor brings more rumble, which vibrates my island counter
- Not ideal for small kitchens due to its 30.6 lb weight and 17.7" height
Cuisinart Custom 14 DFP-14BCNY
Price Range: $289–$319
The Cuisinart 14 Cup Food Processor remains one of the best food processors you can buy in 2026, with its combination of a strong 720 watt motor, generous bowl capacity, simple controls, and excellent build quality making it a standout.
Pros:
- The 720-watt Cuisinart Custom 14 DFP-14BCNY garners a top rating for shredding and is a strong performer when it comes to chopping and slicing, and it's also one of the quietest models we've tested
- The extra large feed tube saves time by reducing the need to pre-cut ingredients and all removable parts are dishwasher safe
- Cuisinart backs this model with a full 5 year motor warranty, showing real confidence in the durability of the product
- Cuisinart offers reliable, powerful food processors at a more budget-friendly price, focusing on straightforward functionality and practicality over high-end aesthetics
Cons:
- Plastic construction feels less premium than Breville's metal bodies, can be quite loud during operation, and has fewer innovative features compared to premium competitors
- Not the best choice for people who only need a food processor occasionally for small tasks, as the 14 cup bowl feels oversized for mincing a single clove of garlic
Breville The Paradice 9 BFP638
Price Range: $299–$349
Breville's The Paradice 9 BFP638 aces CR's tests for chopping, slicing, and shredding, with a generous 9-cup capacity and 625-watt motor that comes with separate shredding, slicing, and dough blades.
Pros:
- There's a 30-year warranty on its motor and a two-year warranty on other parts
- Features the wide dicing mesh and wide feed chute, making it perfect for limited kitchen space
- Compact mid-size option that bridges the gap between small choppers and large processors
- All Breville food processors feature a micro-serrated S-Blade system to achieve precise grating, chopping, processing, and mixing, and also come with attachments for dicing and peeling
Cons:
- Smaller 9-cup capacity compared to the Custom 14
- Lower wattage (625W) means less power for heavy-duty tasks
- Higher price point relative to its capacity
Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor BN601
Price Range: $129–$149
The Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor delivers impressive performance at an affordable price point, featuring a powerful 1000‑peak‑watt motor and intelligent preset programs, with its balance of power, versatility, and value making it one of the best all‑around options for everyday home kitchens.
Pros:
- One of the most affordable on the market, but it did not lack power, with 1000 watts being just as powerful as the top choice
- Excellent value for budget-conscious cooks
- Intelligent preset programs offer reliable performance for slicing, shredding, chopping, and dough mixing
- 9-cup capacity works well for families of 3-4
Cons:
- The shredding and slicing blades aren't adjustable, so you'll need to purchase additional blades if you aren't happy with the size of the ones included, and its 720-watt motor isn't quite as powerful as premium models
- Fewer attachment options compared to premium brands
- Not ideal for heavy dough kneading tasks
Cuisinart Pro Classic 7-Cup DLC-10SY
Price Range: $99–$129
The 7-cup, 600-watt Cuisinart Pro Classic DLC-10SY isn't so great at grating, but it's a champ at chopping and slicing, making it perfect for home cooks with limited counter space.
Pros:
- It's a champ at chopping and slicing and nabs a stellar rating for noise, a strong rating for shredding, and a passable rating for puréeing
- Most affordable mid-capacity option
- Comes with separate shredding and slicing blades, a three-year parts warranty, and a five-year motor warranty
- Perfect for singles, couples, and small families
- Compact size saves counter and storage space
Cons:
- Only 7-cup capacity limits batch cooking
- 600-watt motor less powerful than larger models
- Not suitable for heavy dough mixing
- Limited attachment variety
What to Look For When Buying a Food Processor
Motor Power & Wattage
A powerful motor gives more oomph to your food processor, with Cuisinart selling appliances in a range of wattages, from a lower-power motor of 400 watts to a highly powerful motor of 1,200 watts. For most home cooks, 600-720 watts handles everyday tasks well, while 1000+ watts is needed for heavy dough and tough ingredients.
Bowl Capacity
For 1-2 people, 7-9 cups works well, families of 3-4 should consider 11-14 cups, entertainers or large households benefit from 14-16 cup capacities, and remember that you typically fill bowls only 2/3 full for proper processing.
Build Quality & Durability
Breville uses die-cast metal as the base for many of its machines, which adds weight, stability, and a premium feel, and this heavy-duty construction helps keep the processor steady on the counter, even when kneading heavy dough. Cuisinart models, while durable, are typically housed in plastic.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Most modern models have dishwasher-safe bowls and lids, blades typically require hand washing for safety, and models with fewer nooks and simpler designs clean more easily than complex systems with many attachments.
Warranty Coverage
Cuisinart puts up a 3-year craftsmanship warranty on all of its best food processors, while Breville covers its models with only one year of unit warranty despite the fact that these models cost more, though as the price goes up, both maintain the unit warranty and include more years to the motor warranty, reaching up to 20 years for Cuisinart and 25 years for Breville.
Final Verdict
Choosing between Cuisinart and Breville comes down to your cooking style and budget. The main difference between a Breville and a Cuisinart food processor is their market position and corresponding price, with Breville being a premium brand known for a durable, die-cast metal build, innovative features, and a sleek, modern design that comes at a higher price point, while Cuisinart offers reliable, powerful food processors at a more budget-friendly price, focusing on straightforward functionality and practicality over high-end aesthetics.
Choose Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro if you:
- Cook frequently and need professional-grade performance
- Want the most versatile machine with advanced features
- Can accommodate a large, heavy appliance
- Are willing to invest significantly for years of reliable use
Choose Cuisinart Custom 14 if you:
- Want excellent performance at a mid-range price
- Value simplicity and straightforward controls
- Need a large capacity without premium pricing
- Prefer quieter operation
Choose Ninja Professional Plus if you:
- Are budget-conscious but want real power
- Don't need all the bells and whistles
- Cook for a family of 3-4
Choose Cuisinart Pro Classic 7-Cup if you:
- Live alone or cook for two
- Have limited counter or storage space
- Want an affordable, quiet workhorse
The Custom 14 has been the top five best food processors for at least the last three years, and the Sous Chef Pro is about the same in the high-end category over the last two years, with similar sales growth, similar review ratings, and a curious $200 deficit. Whatever you choose, a quality food processor will become indispensable in your kitchen, transforming meal prep from tedious to effortless.
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