Breville Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice BFP820 review

Peeling and grid-dicing are separate jobs in this older package

The Breville Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice BFP820 is an earlier 16-cup processor with a different package from either the BFP800 Pro or current BFP810. The exact U.S. page identifies the Brushed Aluminum SKU BFP820BAL1BUS1 and explicitly marks the model discontinued. It lists a peeling disc and a 12 mm dicing kit in the box. Breville says 8 mm and 16 mm dicing sets were sold separately; the included 12 mm grid should not be described as a choice of three sizes.

The distinction matters because peeling is not a slicing or dicing function. The peeler is for batches of whole, rounded, firm produce; the manual says about six to seven potatoes depending on size, with enough room to roll, and warns that a very small batch may be less efficient. The page mentions peeling beets and sweet potatoes, while the booklet frames the peeler around round firm produce. Check the instructions for the produce you intend to use rather than treating the attachment as a universal skin remover.

Use the dicing grid within its task limits

The 12 mm grid works with a matching dicing disc, geared spindle and distributor/cleaning pieces. The manual says to add the distributor when processing more than five cups, not to dice more than ten cups at a time, and to clear the grid after each use or each ten cups. It prohibits sweet potato dicing because the dry, fibrous texture places a high load on the kit and can damage the bowl lid. For hard vegetables such as carrots, the booklet describes how chute choice and preparation affect jamming risk. These are practical constraints, not a claim that the machine dicer will handle any hard ingredient.

Breville rates the work bowl at 16 cups/3.6 L and describes a three-size feed chute. Its standard cutter set also includes an adjustable 0.3–8 mm slicer, reversible fine/coarse shredder, julienne disc, French-fry disc, S-Blade, dough blade, whisk/emulsifying disc, mini blade and bowl, brush, spatula and storage case. This creates many possible prep workflows, but more parts also means more sharp pieces to assemble, wash and store. If the task you repeat most is dicing and peeling, this is the model's reason to stay on the list; if you only need ordinary slicing and chopping, the added tools may not justify the extra handling.

Manual quantities are not interchangeable

The U.S. manual lists a 500 g flour maximum for both pastry and bread/pizza dough with the dough blade. In the printed U.S. text extraction, the cup numeral is unclear, so the matcher and this review do not turn that amount into a cup ceiling. The booklet says to use the START/PAUSE button at intervals. If processing more than two batches of dough, allow the motor base to cool about 30 minutes before another kneading cycle; after overload protection, its separate troubleshooting advice is to cool for 20–30 minutes. Neither note is a universal run limit for slicing, dicing or peeling.

The 16-cup figure is also not an invitation to fill every attachment to the brim. The dicer has its own ten-cup cap, the peeler is used as a rolling batch, and the manual distinguishes dry and liquid bowl levels. A product specification claiming 1,200 W conflicts with the manual's 905 W rating-information block. Because those source numbers do not align, wattage is left out of this comparison and is not presented as a performance test.

Plan for handwashing the parts that need it

For routine cleaning the manual says to handwash the work bowl and lid, with only occasional top-rack dishwasher use. It says the large food pusher and geared spindle must be handwashed; the disc spindle, blades and discs may go in the dishwasher. The dicing grid is sharp and needs its cleaning cap after use. That is more involved than placing a few blades in a dishwasher basket, especially when the peeler or dicer has been used. The storage box helps organize the accessories, but it needs its own cabinet space.

The manufacturer lists a 1-year product warranty and 25-year motor warranty. That split should not be mistaken for full-machine coverage over the motor term. The published dimensions are 11 × 8 × 18 inches under a width/depth/height label; confirm the exact unit's shelf clearance and room to lift the pusher and bowl before choosing a permanent location.

Where this model sits among the Sous Chef 16 options

The BFP820 is an earlier reference, not a current manufacturer buy. Its exact documented differentiator is the included peeler plus 12 mm dicer. The BFP810 is a current 16-cup choice with the mini bowl and wide chute but no dicing kit in the standard box. The BFP800 Pro is another earlier package with a julienne and emulsifying disc but no included dicer or peeler. If you want current grid-dicing and a larger choice of cube sizes instead of peeling, compare the current Paradice 16 BFP838. If the peel workflow is essential, check the model and every attachment in any used listing against the exact booklet and confirm the peeler, grid, distributor and cleaning cap are present.

Read the full three-model comparison before deciding whether the additional assembly and cleanup fit your kitchen. Breville's BFP820BAL1BUS1 U.S. product page, BFP820 support page and BFP820 U.S. instruction book identify the older configuration and its limits. This is a source-based review, not a statement of personal testing or current product availability.