Choose an all-in-one cooking appliance if you regularly want to prepare and cook food in the same machine, provided its capacity, size and cleaning requirements suit your kitchen. If you already cook on your hob, in your oven or in saucepans, a food processor without a cooking function can take care of the preparation. Separate appliances are still a good option if you prefer to choose each tool for a specific task.
You want to chop, mix and cook your meals at home in one go. As Que Choisir points out, the integrated cooking function is what sets an all-in-one cooking appliance apart from a standard food processor.
You use your hob, oven or saucepans and mainly need to chop, grate, slice, knead or whisk. A food processor without a cooking function can take care of these preparation tasks.
You need to be able to set up or store the appliance without getting in the way in your kitchen, then clean its parts after meals. Check what this involves for the model and accessories you’re considering.
Consider it: if the meals you usually make require both preparation and cooking, and you want to do both in one appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for the bowl, accessories and appliance, and you’ll need to clean them after use.
Consider it: if you mainly want to prepare ingredients and your existing equipment already takes care of the cooking.
Bear in mind: preparation and cooking remain two separate steps, carried out with different equipment.
Consider them: if you’re happy with your cooking appliances and prefer to choose a preparation tool for a specific task.
Bear in mind: several appliances may need more storage space and require you to coordinate different steps.
| Criterion | What to check | Who might this suit? |
|---|---|---|
| Combining preparation and cooking | Identify the cooking functions you need for the meals you usually make, and check which accessories come with the model you’ve chosen. | If I want to prepare and then cook my meals in the same appliance, an integrated cooking function is my top priority; around 33 % of consumers might put it first. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space needed when the appliance is set up for use, and check the cleaning instructions for its parts. | If I have to put the appliance away after every meal, its size and how easy its parts are to clean come first; nearly 27 % of consumers might prioritise this. |
| Capacity and accessories | Compare the usable capacity with the portions you make, and check that the pack includes the accessories you need for your chosen tasks. | To make my usual quantities without missing a necessary accessory, I look first at the bowl and what’s included in the pack; around 20 % of consumers might put this first. |
| Ease of use and recipes | Check the instructions and how to access guided recipes, if you want to use them. | If I need clear instructions, I want to understand the interface and how to access recipes before choosing; around 20 % of consumers might share this priority. |
A food processor can handle a range of preparation tasks, but that doesn’t mean it can cook food. Que Choisir identifies the integrated cooking function as the feature that distinguishes an all-in-one cooking appliance.
Make a list of the meals you prepare often and separate the preparation tasks from the cooking steps before choosing a category.
The usable capacity may differ from the total capacity advertised. Some tasks also depend on the accessories supplied with the exact model.
Compare capacities measured on the same basis, and check what’s included in each pack for every task that matters to you.
An accessory you need may be sold separately or included only in a different pack.
An appliance that’s difficult to set up or clean may not suit your routine. In its survey of all-in-one cooking appliance owners, Que Choisir lists having too much washing-up among the reasons for using the appliance less.
Measure the space with the bowl and lid in place, then check how to clean and store each part you’ll use regularly.
In France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to a private individual. Any commercial guarantee has its own terms and conditions and does not replace this right, as explained by the Ministry of the Economy.
If a commercial guarantee is offered, compare its duration, exclusions and any additional services before deciding whether it’s right for you.
The Thermomix range combines food preparation, cooking and guided recipes through Cookidoo.
The Companion family includes all-in-one cooking appliances with different configurations, depending on the model.
The Cook Expert range combines food preparation and cooking functions; the Cook Expert XL is designed for larger quantities.
Silvercrest’s Monsieur Cuisine all-in-one cooking appliances are among the alternatives reviewed by Que Choisir.
These products include all-in-one cooking appliances that combine food preparation and cooking, as well as food processors for preparing ingredients when you cook separately. Compare their features with the meals you usually make before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare and cook with the same appliance. The title lists an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen; check the usable capacity, included accessories and recipe content before choosing this model.
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Worth a look if you’d like a guided interface to help prepare meals in an all-in-one cooking appliance. The product name lists scales and a touchscreen; compare the usable capacity with your portions, and check the accessories and cleaning instructions.
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Worth considering for preparing ingredients if you already use other appliances for cooking. The title lists a 5 L bowl, a 1,5 L glass blender and a meat grinder; check the accessories included in the pack and the cleaning instructions for your needs.
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Worth a look if preparing ingredients before cooking them separately is your priority. The title specifies a capacity of 1,5 L and a power rating of 600 W; compare the capacity with your portions and measure the space you have for the appliance.
No. According to Que Choisir, guided recipes aren’t essential for using an all-in-one cooking appliance. If you’d find them helpful when you’re getting started, check how to access them and the terms that apply to the model you’ve chosen.
Check the cleaning instructions for the exact model, part by part. Pay particular attention to the bowl, lid, blades, seals and accessories you’ll use often, rather than assuming that everything is dishwasher-safe.
In France, an appliance sold by a business to a private individual may be covered by the statutory legal guarantee of conformity if it doesn’t match the seller’s description, as explained by the Ministry of the Economy. Any commercial guarantee offered is in addition to this protection and does not replace it.