To prepare several meals in one session, choose an appliance based on the step that slows you down: a multicooker for dishes cooked in a pot, a multi-tier steamer for cooking ingredients at the same time, or a food processor with a cooking function if chopping and mixing matter too. An oven is suited to tray bakes and gratins; a basic microwave is mainly for reheating, while extra cooking modes depend on the combination model you choose. Before adding another appliance, check its usable capacity, the cooking tasks you want to combine and the space you have available.
The right choice depends less on how many recipes you have planned and more on how you organise each cooking session.
If you cook rice, pulses or a slow-cooked dish one after another, a multicooker could suit your needs, letting you cook in one pot with less supervision. You’ll still need to prepare the ingredients separately: as Les Numériques points out, a multicooker doesn’t chop or blend.
If your meals include several steamed components, look at the number of separate baskets rather than just the total capacity. Separate tiers let you cook different ingredients during the same steaming session.
If chopping, grating or mixing takes as long as cooking, consider the functions of a food processor with a cooking function. Check its usable capacity and how much space it will take up, especially if you’ll need to get it out and put it away every time you cook.
Start with the recipes you actually make, then distinguish between the size of each batch and the number of components you need to cook at the same time.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Run cooking cycles one after another | Look for modes that suit your recipes, a timer and, if available, a keep-warm function. A single pot is designed for running successive cycles, not for cooking several separate dishes at once. | I want to start cooking a dish or a base, then move on to the next without having to keep an eye on every cycle. |
| Cook several things at once | Count the baskets or tiers you can use for the cooking you have in mind. SEB says its Ultracompact VC204800 distributes its 9 L across three separate 3 L steam baskets. | I need to be able to cook vegetables and other steamed components during the same session. |
| Choose the right batch size | Distinguish between total capacity, usable capacity and the way the space is divided between compartments. Check the volume needed for each dish rather than adding together litres that serve different purposes. | I want enough room for my portions without choosing a large pot if what I really need is to keep ingredients separate. |
| Cover the right tasks | Note whether your recipes involve chopping and grating, browning, oven cooking or reheating. Les Numériques distinguishes food-preparation tasks from those of a multicooker; check the combination functions of a microwave on a model-by-model basis. | If chopping slows me down, cooking modes alone won’t solve that problem. For gratins or tray bakes, I also need to consider the oven. |
| Storage and cleaning | Check the dimensions, weight, how the baskets store and which parts the instructions say are dishwasher-safe. Make sure you have the accessories needed for the modes you plan to use. | An appliance that’s easy to get out and clean is more likely to become part of my weekly meal-prep routine. |
Cooking may need less supervision, but that doesn’t mean less chopping or grating. Les Numériques explains that a multicooker doesn’t slice, chop or blend.
Make a list of the tasks that take up your time. If food preparation is the main issue, look for a food processor with the functions you need; if it’s keeping an eye on the cooking, focus on the multicooker’s modes instead.
A single pot and several baskets don’t divide up ingredients in the same way. SEB describes its Ultracompact VC204800 as having three separate 3 L steam baskets, so its 9 L capacity is split across the tiers.
Work out the size of each batch, then check the usable capacity, number of compartments and the dishes each one can cook.
Don’t assume every microwave has steam, convection, grill or two-tier cooking functions. Panasonic lists these features for the NN-CS88LB, a specific combination model.
Before relying on it for part of your cooking session, check the modes, usable tiers and accessories included with the model you’re considering.
A model’s specifications don’t tell you whether the version on offer includes the accessories you want or whether it’s available from your chosen retailer.
Before ordering, confirm the exact model, what’s included, its availability and the repair options listed for it.
These examples illustrate different types of appliance. The specifications relate to the models mentioned, not every product from each brand.
The Cookeo range focuses on cooking dishes in one pot.
The Ultracompact VC204800 steamer is suited to cooking different ingredients on several tiers.
The NN-CS88LB is an example of a combination microwave with several cooking modes.
The Cook Expert combines cooking with food-preparation tasks.
These options include food processors with cooking functions, which combine preparation and cooking, as well as multicookers for preparing dishes in one pot ahead of time. Compare their functions with your recipes rather than assuming they can also handle oven cooking or steaming in several baskets.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking in one appliance. The product title mentions an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity for the batch sizes you have in mind.
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An option to compare if you want to follow recipes on a touchscreen while using a food processor with a cooking function. The product title mentions built-in scales and 680 recipes; check the bowl’s usable capacity and the modes you need for your recipes.
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Worth considering for cooking dishes in one pot and switching between the modes listed in the product title: pressure cooking and an air fryer lid, with built-in scales. Check which accessories come with the version on offer and the pot’s usable capacity for your portions.
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This multicooker is worth comparing if you prepare dishes in one pot using timed cycles. The product title mentions 9 menus, two pressure settings and a 24-hour function. Check how the timer works, as well as the language of the instructions and recipes provided.
Depending on its modes, your chosen model can cook dishes in one pot, but it won’t cover every part of batch cooking. Les Numériques points out that a multicooker doesn’t chop or blend, so make sure you have a way to prepare the ingredients if these tasks take up a large part of your cooking session.
Estimate the volume of each batch and how many ingredients you need to cook at the same time, then check the usable capacity. Moulinex’s 6 L Cookeo Simplicity pot and SEB’s three separate 3 L baskets in the Ultracompact VC204800 are designed for organising cooking in different ways.
Yes, if the model’s modes suit your recipes; don’t assume they’re available on a basic microwave. For its NN-CS88LB, Panasonic lists steam, convection, grill and microwave cooking, with steam and convection cooking on two tiers. Check that the model you plan to buy has these functions.
Read the model’s instructions for setup, filling and cleaning, then check which parts are dishwasher-safe. If you want to cook several components together, also check the number of separate baskets and arrange the ingredients according to the manufacturer’s instructions.