There’s some exciting news on the horizon for those interested in precision cooking!
ChefSteps, in partnership with Breville, has announced the Breville Control Freak Home.
If you’re not familiar with the Breville Control Freak, it is a precision induction cooktop that allows you to control both the surface temperature of your pan as well as the internal temperature of the food you are cooking.
It is by far my favorite kitchen tool, and I wrote an extensive review on it a few years back.
Introducing the Breville Control Freak Home by ChefSteps
The Breville Control Freak Home by ChefSteps offers a smaller footprint while maintaining the same 10-inch induction coil and temperature sensor as the original model. It retains three heat intensity settings (slow, medium, and fast) and a dual fan cooling system. The home version is also advertised as having the same 1800 watt power rating. What’s more, you get all these features at a more affordable price point!
In addition to the more compact size, the Breville Control Freak Home will feature a touch screen where you can easily access factory programs and your own custom presets.
The touch screen on the new Breville Control Freak Home makes it simpler to input custom preset names, a task that was cumbersome on the original model due to having to dial in letters on a knob. While typing names was a hassle, I, and many others, prefer the tactile control of temperature via a knob over a touch screen, especially when hands are wet or sticky. Therefore, it’s reassuring to know that the Breville Control Freak Home will still include a knob for manual temperature control.
Get Notified When the Control Freak Home is Available for Purchase
- Through-the-glass pan temperature sensor allows the thermostat to touch the pan directly
- Directly sensing the temperature of the ingredients, Probe Control can hold temperature stability of ingredients to within 1.8 Degree
- The Control Degree Freak's patented twin fan cooling system keeps you cooking all night, even at searing temperatures in the hottest kitchen
- The world's first induction cooker that can set and hold any temperature from 86 DegreeF-482 Degree for any length of time
- Can be used with any induction compatible pot or pan ; cookware should have a minimum diameter of 4.5" / 12cm and a maximum diameter of 10" / 26cm.
Pricing last updated on April 27, 2024 - 1:28 MDT. Pricing and images from Amazon Product Advertising API. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Breville Control Freak Home vs. the Original Breville Control Freak
While the smaller footprint and inclusion of a touch screen may appear to be upgrades in the new Breville Control Freak Home compared to the original model, there could be some potential downgrades to consider.
The ChefStep website hints that the Breville Control Freak Home might not have the same robust cooling system and water protection as the original model, which concerns me. I’ve relied on the original Control Freak’s durability, easily handling large spills of oil and water without any issues. Its dual fan setup has even allowed me to leave 16 quart pot of chicken stock boiling unattended overnight without any overheating problems.
In terms of construction, the original Control Freak boasts a thicker shell (0.8mm compared to the Control Freak Home’s 0.4mm stainless steel) and incorporates a metal chassis, offering durability and sound construction. In contrast, the Control Freak Home opts for a polymer chassis, potentially indicating less durability. Finally, the home version adopts a sealed ceramic glass construction while the original Control Freak utilizes a bonded ceramic glass construction.
Alongside the custom presets also available on the original Control Freak, the home version will introduce menus featuring factory-programmed ingredients and techniques, enhancing its user-friendliness straight out of the box.
Measuring at 12.2 inches long, 16.9 inches deep, and 4.1 inches high, the Breville Control Freak Home boasts a smaller footprint compared to the original Control Freak, which spans 14.5 inches in length, 17.3 inches in depth, and 4.3 inches in height.
Unlike the original Control Freak, the home version will not include a travel case, which has proven useful for transporting the Control Freak to different kitchens.
The home version of the Breville Control Freak promises temperature stability of +/- 1 °C/1.8 °F, with temperatures being measured 20 times per second, maintaining the same specifications as the original Control Freak. It offers an overall temperature range of 86–472°F, identical to the original, and can be operated for up to 72 hours, matching the maximum timer duration of the original model.
| Control Freak Home | Control Freak Original | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature Range | 86 °F–482 °F | 86 °F–482 °F |
| Intensity Control | 3x Intensity Control | 3x Intensity Control |
| Sensors & Accuracy | Dual NTC Sensors (+/-1.8 °F) | Dual NTC Sensors (+/-1.8 °F) |
| Probe | Dual NTC Temperature Probe | Dual NTC Temperature Probe |
| Voltage & Wattage | 110–120v, 1800W | 110–120v, 1800W |
| Product Size | 16.9” x 12.2” x 4.1” | 17.3” x 14.5” x 4.3” |
| Interface | Color Touch Screen | Color Screen |
| Construction | 0.4 mm Stainless Steel Polymer Chassis Sealed Ceramic Glass | 0.8 mm Stainless Steel Metal Chassis Bonded Ceramic Glass |
| Cooling System | Dual Fan Cooling | Dual Fan Cooling |
| Certification | UL/IEC Commercial Certification | NSF Commercial Certification |
| Warranty | 2 Year Consumer Limited Product Warranty | 2 Year Commercial Limited Product Warranty |
| Accessories | Accessory Storage Box Probe Pot Clip | Accessory Storage Box Probe Pot Clip USB Tough Padded Carry Case |
Get Notified When the Control Freak Home is Available for Purchase
- Through-the-glass pan temperature sensor allows the thermostat to touch the pan directly
- Directly sensing the temperature of the ingredients, Probe Control can hold temperature stability of ingredients to within 1.8 Degree
- The Control Degree Freak's patented twin fan cooling system keeps you cooking all night, even at searing temperatures in the hottest kitchen
- The world's first induction cooker that can set and hold any temperature from 86 DegreeF-482 Degree for any length of time
- Can be used with any induction compatible pot or pan ; cookware should have a minimum diameter of 4.5" / 12cm and a maximum diameter of 10" / 26cm.
Pricing last updated on April 27, 2024 - 1:28 MDT. Pricing and images from Amazon Product Advertising API. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Final Thoughts about the Breville Control Freak Home by ChefSteps
I am genuinely excited about this new product and eagerly anticipate getting my hands on a unit for a proper head-to-head comparison with my original Control Freak. Stay tuned for an in-depth review once I’ve thoroughly tested the Breville Control Freak Home by ChefSteps. While an exact release date hasn’t been specified, ChefSteps anticipates it will be available by mid-April. Keep an eye out for further updates!
