For weeknight meals, choose an all-in-one cooker if you want to prepare, mix and cook in one appliance, provided its functions and accessories suit your recipes. If you already prepare the ingredients, a multi-cooker may be better suited to automating the cooking. If kneading and whisking are your priorities, consider a heated stand mixer instead. In each case, compare the usable capacity, space needed, cleaning requirements and access to recipes.
If you want to move from preparation to cooking with fewer appliance changes, check which tasks an all-in-one cooker can actually handle for the dishes you usually make. Guided recipes can help you follow each step, but you’ll still need to wash the appliance and add the ingredients.
A multi-cooker could suit you if you mainly want the appliance to take care of the cooking. According to Que Choisir, multi-cookers generally don’t stir food automatically, so you’ll need to allow for this step if your recipe requires it.
A heated stand mixer is worth considering if kneading and whisking matter as much to you as cooking. For tasks such as chopping or blending, check which accessories are included with the version you choose.
Start with the tasks you want to hand over to your appliance, then compare each model’s capacity and practical considerations with the meals you usually make.
Consider it: if your dishes call for preparation, mixing and cooking in one appliance.
Check: the tasks it can perform depend on the recipe and the model’s accessories.
Consider it: if you chop the ingredients yourself and mainly want to programme the cooking.
Bear in mind: stirring is generally done by hand, according to Que Choisir.
Consider it: if kneading and whisking are a big part of your cooking.
Check: chopping and blending may require separate accessories, as Kenwood notes for its Cooking Chef range.
| Priority | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Time and supervision | Separate ingredient preparation time from cooking time. Look at guided steps, tasks you’ll need to do by hand and programmes that suit your recipes. | In the evening, I want to know what I’ll still need to chop, add or keep an eye on—not just how long the programme takes. |
| Ingredient preparation | Check the exact model’s chopping, mixing and cooking functions, as well as the accessories included. Multi-cookers generally don’t stir automatically, according to Que Choisir. | If I also want to hand over ingredient preparation, an appliance focused on cooking won’t meet that need on its own. |
| Capacity | Compare the usable capacity with the total volume stated. Check the fill limits for soups, sauces and pressure cooking. | I want to make my usual portions in one go, without assuming that the bowl or pot can be filled to its full stated capacity. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space needed with the bowl and lid in place. Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and how to clean the blades, seals and lid. | An appliance I use during the week needs to fit in my kitchen and be easy enough to clean after dinner. |
| Access to recipes | Check the built-in recipes, the functions available without an internet connection and the access requirements for the chosen model’s app. Vorwerk requires a subscription to Cookidoo after any free periods; Moulinex and Magimix describe their recipe apps as free. | If I plan to follow guided recipes every week, I want to know which ones will remain available with my appliance. |
A multi-cooker can offer several cooking modes, but according to Que Choisir, it generally won’t stir food automatically. You may therefore still have to do some of the tasks you hoped to hand over to the appliance.
List the tasks that are essential for your meals—for example, chopping, mixing and cooking—then check the functions and accessories included with the exact model.
The total volume of a bowl or pot isn’t necessarily the amount you can use for every preparation. Fill limits vary, particularly depending on the recipe and cooking mode.
Compare the usable capacity and fill instructions with the portions of soup, sauces and slow-cooked dishes you actually make.
If you rely on guided cooking, access to the recipe library could influence your choice. Vorwerk requires a subscription to Cookidoo after any free periods, while Moulinex and Magimix describe their recipe apps as free.
Check which recipes are available directly on the appliance, which functions you can use without a subscription and whether the app is compatible with the version you’re considering.
A heated stand mixer designed for kneading and whisking won’t necessarily chop or blend with the accessories in the box. Kenwood sells some multi-function accessories for its Cooking Chef range separately.
Compare the list of included accessories with the recipes you want to make each week.
Depending on the pack you choose, the accessories you need may be sold separately.
These examples illustrate the different approaches taken by manufacturers. The features listed relate to the specific ranges or versions mentioned.
The Thermomix TM7 combines on-screen guided cooking with access to Cookidoo recipes.
The Companion range combines preparation and cooking, while Cookeo is more suited to automating the cooking process.
The Cook Expert range combines preparation and cooking, with features that vary by model.
The Cooking Chef Experience KCL96.004DG is for people who value kneading and whisking, but also want cooking functions built in.
Que Choisir includes Silvercrest’s Monsieur Cuisine models among the all-in-one cookers worth considering.
This selection includes two all-in-one cookers for preparing and cooking, followed by three multi-cookers for cooking ingredients you’ve prepared yourself. Compare them according to the tasks you want your appliance to handle.
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Worth considering if you want to combine several preparation and cooking steps for weeknight meals. Check that the included accessories can handle the tasks your recipes require, and look at the usable capacity and access requirements for guided recipes.
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A model to consider if you want to prepare and cook with on-screen guidance. Before choosing this version, compare its usable capacity with your portion sizes and check the cleaning instructions and recipe access requirements.
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A multi-cooker to consider if you prepare the ingredients yourself and want to hand over the cooking. Compare the 5.7 L pot’s fill limits with your recipes. When pressure cooking, follow the steam release instructions.
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Worth comparing if you want to cook several portions after preparing the ingredients by hand. The stated capacity is 7.1 L; check how much you can use for your dishes and follow the fill and steam release instructions when pressure cooking.
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Worth considering if you prepare ingredients by hand and want an 8 L pot with 12 preset programmes. Check the usable capacity, dimensions and cleaning instructions. When pressure cooking, follow the fill limits and steam instructions.
No. Depending on the recipe and accessories, it may combine chopping, mixing and cooking, but you’ll still need to wash the appliance and add the ingredients, and you may need to get involved during cooking. If you choose a multi-cooker, you’ll generally need to stir by hand, as Que Choisir points out.
It depends on the appliance and the service it uses. Vorwerk requires a subscription to access Cookidoo after any free periods; Moulinex and Magimix describe their recipe apps as free. Also check which recipes are available directly on the model you’re considering and the requirements for using its connected functions.
Start with the portions you usually cook, then compare them with the usable capacity and the fill limits for your recipes. For example, Magimix lists 3.8 l of usable capacity for the Cook Expert XL Connect, compared with a stated total volume of 4.8 l. These figures don’t refer to the same usable amount.
Check the manual for the exact model to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and how to clean the blades, seals and lids. Que Choisir recommends checking how easy the appliance is to clean. Vorwerk lists a pre-cleaning mode and some dishwasher-safe parts for the Thermomix TM7.