Choose an appliance based on the step that slows you down: a food processor for chopping and kneading, a blender for blending, a multicooker for cooking, or a cooking food processor to combine preparation and cooking. A multi-function appliance can cut down on transferring ingredients between containers, but before replacing several appliances, compare its usable capacity, the space it takes up, the accessories that need cleaning and the parts available for the exact model.
You prepare several dishes or ingredients in a row and want to avoid transferring them between containers for chopping, mixing and cooking. Cooking food processors from Moulinex, Magimix and Vorwerk combine some of these tasks, with capacity and accessories varying by model.
You already have the tools to prepare your ingredients, but you’re looking for an appliance to handle the cooking. Moulinex lists steaming, slow cooking and pressure cooking among the modes on the Cookeo+; you’ll still need to prepare the ingredients yourself.
You already own some of the equipment you need and want to avoid buying a duplicate. Work out whether you’re missing an appliance for chopping, blending or cooking, then check the usable capacity and accessories against your available storage space.
If you’re preparing several meals in one session, start with the step you want to simplify. Then check how much you can make in one go and how much extra cleaning the appliance involves.
Worth considering: if chopping, grating or kneading several ingredients is the task you repeat most often.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to cook separately; the functions listed by Magimix for the CS5200XL are for food preparation.
Worth considering: if you mainly need to blend ingredients, for example to make sauces or blend soups that have already been cooked.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to chop and cook ingredients another way; Magimix says its Blender Power 5 XL does not heat food.
Worth considering: if you want to carry out some preparation and cooking steps in the same appliance.
Bear in mind: tasks have to be done one after another in the bowl, which can’t hold two separate preparations at the same time.
Worth considering: if your ingredients are already prepared and cooking is the main thing slowing you down.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to chop or knead ingredients beforehand; the modes listed by Moulinex for the Cookeo+ are for cooking.
Worth considering: if your current kitchen equipment is missing a particular cooking method.
Bear in mind: you’ll need storage space and will have extra parts to clean; check that it won’t duplicate a multicooker you already own.
| What matters to you | What to check before you buy | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Combining preparation and cooking | Check which tasks the appliance can handle and what accessories you’ll need. | I want to chop or mix ingredients, then cook without transferring them between several containers. Around 31% of consumers prioritise being able to combine these steps. |
| Preparing ingredients | Compare the chopping and kneading functions with the dishes you make. | I already have cooking covered, but preparing several ingredients takes time. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this prep work. |
| Cooking several portions | Look at the cooking modes you need and the bowl’s maximum fill levels. | I can prepare the ingredients, but I want to get a dish cooking while I do something else. Cooking is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Saving space and reducing cleaning | Measure the space you’ll need and check how to clean the parts and whether replacements are available for your chosen model. | I’m short on space and don’t want more accessories to wash or store. Around 19% of consumers prioritise these practical and maintenance considerations. |
The usable capacity for a particular preparation may be less than the bowl’s total capacity. For example, Magimix lists a total capacity of 3.5 L and a usable capacity of 2.5 L for the Cook Expert, compared with 2.8 L total and 2 L usable for the Blender Power 5 XL.
Compare the usable capacity with the quantities in your recipes and check the fill limits for the functions you plan to use.
The cooking modes listed by Moulinex for the Cookeo+ and the food preparation functions listed by Magimix for the CS5200XL are designed for different tasks. Choosing one to solve a problem the other is made for could leave your most time-consuming task unchanged.
Think about what you repeat most during your session: chopping, kneading, blending or cooking. Then compare appliances with the functions you need.
A brand’s stated availability period applies to the specific model it refers to; it doesn’t tell you by itself which parts and accessories will fit your version.
Make a note of the exact model number and check with the manufacturer that the bowl, accessories and any replacement parts you might need are compatible.
ADEME offers the Bonus Réparation scheme for certain appliances, subject to conditions. It’s also worth checking whether your appliance is still covered by a warranty or insurance, and whether you can use a repairer approved under the scheme.
Before choosing a replacement, check your appliance’s cover, whether it qualifies for the scheme and which approved repairers are available near you.
The I-Companion XL cooking food processor and the Cookeo+ multicooker are designed for two different uses: combining food preparation and cooking, or focusing on cooking.
The Cook Expert, CS5200XL food processor and Blender Power 5 XL are suited to combined cooking and preparation, food preparation and blending respectively.
The Thermomix TM7 is a cooking food processor for anyone who wants to combine food preparation and cooking, with guided recipes.
These appliances cover two possible stages of batch cooking: cooking food processors combine preparation and cooking, while multicookers are suited to sessions where ingredients are prepared separately.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking. The title mentions built-in scales and a large touchscreen; check the exact model and the recipes included, as product details vary between listings.
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For sessions where you prepare the ingredients before cooking. The title describes a 7-in-1 multicooker with a nominal capacity of 5.7 L, including slow-cooking and steaming functions; check the fill limits for the dishes you make.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a larger nominal bowl capacity and already have food preparation covered. The title describes a 7-in-1 multicooker with a stainless-steel inner pot; check the permitted fill level for your recipes.
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Worth considering if you prepare ingredients separately and want to plan how they’re cooked. The title lists a nominal capacity of 6 L, nine menus, two pressure settings and a 24-hour timer; check the fill limits and care instructions for this model.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking in one appliance. The title mentions built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes; check the bowl’s usable capacity and the cleaning instructions for the accessories you’ll use.
Compare the usable capacity and fill limits for your recipes, not just the bowl’s total size. For example, Magimix lists a usable capacity of 2.5 L for the Cook Expert’s 3.5 L bowl, and 2 L usable for the Blender Power 5 XL’s 2.8 L bowl. These figures alone don’t tell you how many portions you’ll be able to make.
Not if you need it to grate, slice or knead: these are among the functions Magimix lists for the CS5200XL, while the modes Moulinex describes for the Cookeo+ are for cooking. If both steps slow you down, look at the functions and accessories available for the specific cooking food processor you’re interested in.
Look up the parts and accessories for the appliance’s exact model, then check that they’re compatible with your version. Magimix says parts will be available for the Cook Expert for 30 years, while Moulinex promises 15 years of repairability for the I-Companion XL. Always check which specific model these claims apply to.
For a new, second-hand or refurbished product bought by a consumer from a business, the legal guarantee of conformity applies in certain cases, including when the product doesn’t match its description, as explained by the French Ministry of the Economy. Separate from this guarantee, the Bonus Réparation scheme promoted by ADEME may cover certain appliances bought in France that are no longer covered by a warranty or insurance, provided you use an approved repairer. Check whether your appliance is eligible before arranging a repair.