To prepare several meals in one session, choose a cooking food processor if you want to prepare ingredients and cook them in the same appliance. Opt for a multi-cooker if your main priority is managing the cooking and you’re happy to prepare ingredients separately. An air fryer or blender is better suited to a specific step in your routine. Before choosing, compare the usable capacity, the space it takes up and the parts you’ll need to clean with the quantities you usually prepare.
If you’re preparing other ingredients while a dish cooks, a multi-cooker can take care of that step. A cooking food processor is also worth considering if you’d like to prepare ingredients in the same appliance. Que Choisir notes that multi-cookers generally don’t stir food.
If you chop, mix and cook several components in one session, a cooking food processor’s functions may be useful. Check the model’s usable capacity and accessories, though: versatility doesn’t guarantee it’ll suit every recipe you make.
If you’re happy with your current cooking equipment, an air fryer can cook a side dish while another dish is underway. A blender can meet a separate blending need, particularly for soups and sauces, without taking the place of a cooking appliance.
Start with the step that slows down your weekly meal prep: cooking, moving between tasks, cooking two things at once or cleaning the appliance.
Worth considering: if you regularly chop, mix and cook in a single session.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to store and clean the accessories, and the bowl must be the right size for the quantities you prepare.
Worth considering: if you mainly want to get things cooking while you prepare the rest.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, you’ll generally need to stir food by hand, as well as prepare the ingredients beforehand.
Worth considering: as an add-on for cooking a roasted or crispy side dish while another appliance is in use.
Bear in mind: it’s another appliance to find space for, and it won’t chop or mix ingredients.
Worth considering: if your cooking appliances do the job but blending or chopping slows you down.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to store another appliance, and it won’t cook food on its own.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-off cooking | Check that the cooking modes suit your dishes and whether you’ll need to stir during cooking. | When I need to cook several dishes in one session, I want to be able to work on something else without constantly watching the bowl. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this hands-off cooking. |
| Preparation and cooking in one appliance | Compare the bowl’s usable capacity with the accessories you need for the tasks you do. | If my recipes involve chopping, mixing and then cooking, I’d rather avoid transferring ingredients between appliances. Bringing these steps together is the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Cooking two things at once | Check how much fits in the basket and how much space the appliance needs. | Sometimes a roasted side dish needs to cook while another dish is in my main appliance. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the option to cook two things at once. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space available and check which parts need to be taken apart and washed. | In a kitchen where every appliance needs to be put away after use, I want setting it up and cleaning it to fit into my routine. For around 20% of consumers, this matters more than anything else. |
Depending on the recipe and the appliance’s instructions, you may need to leave some space in the bowl. Que Choisir highlights the importance of observing multi-cooker fill limits in particular.
Compare the quantities you usually prepare with the usable capacity and the limits set out in the model’s manual.
A large number of programmes doesn’t mean the appliance can chop or stir ingredients. Que Choisir notes that multi-cookers generally don’t stir food.
Make a note of the tasks that take up your time, then check which ones the model and its accessories can actually handle.
The product name alone won’t tell you how much food will fit in the basket or how much space the appliance will take up in your kitchen.
Check the basket, dimensions and number of batches you’ll need to cook. For four people, Que Choisir recommends starting with a 6 L capacity, but this isn’t a guarantee that it’ll suit every use.
Statements about parts availability apply to a specific model and set of conditions; they don’t predict how long your appliance will work.
Keep a note of the exact model number and check the warranty, parts availability and repair terms before choosing.
The Companion range combines preparation and cooking functions in a cooking food processor.
The Thermomix TM7 is designed for people who want to follow guided recipes using a multifunction appliance.
The Cook Expert XL combines preparation and cooking for households looking for a usable capacity that suits their batch sizes.
Philips air fryers are worth considering if you want to add a separate cooking option to your weekly meal prep.
These cooking food processors and multi-cookers meet two different needs: combining preparation and cooking, or leaving most of the cooking to one appliance. Choose according to the tasks you’d like it to handle and the quantities you plan to prepare.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to combine preparation and cooking steps in a cooking food processor. The product name lists an XL bowl, built-in scales, a large touchscreen and 750 recipes. Check that the usable capacity, accessories and recipe access terms suit your routine.
Image unavailable
This cooking food processor is suited to recipes that involve several steps before cooking. The product name lists scales and a touchscreen; check the actual usable capacity, how to clean the parts and the terms for accessing recipes.
Image unavailable
Worth a look if your priority is organising cooking rather than preparing ingredients in the same bowl. The product name lists 24-hour programming, nine menus and two pressure settings. Check the fill limits, space required and pressure-cooking instructions.
Image unavailable
This multi-cooker may suit households planning to cook in larger quantities and with enough space for the appliance. The product name lists a capacity of 7.1 L. Check the fill limits for your recipes before working out how many batches you can make, and follow the instructions for closing the lid and releasing steam.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want a multi-cooker to handle cooking, with a stated bowl capacity of 8 L. The product name lists 12 menus and a power rating of 1200 W. To plan your meal prep, check the usable capacity, space required and fill limits for pressure cooking.
Check the usable quantity for your recipes and the fill limits, not just the bowl’s total capacity. Que Choisir notes that you can’t necessarily fill a multi-cooker to the brim; compare the model’s instructions with the quantities you cook.
A multi-cooker may be all you need if you already have equipment for preparing ingredients and mainly want to manage the cooking. According to Que Choisir, multi-cookers generally don’t stir food. A cooking food processor may also handle some preparation tasks, depending on the model and its accessories.
It can be useful if you regularly prepare a roasted or crispy side dish while another appliance is in use. Check how much food fits in the basket and how much space you have. For four people, Que Choisir recommends starting with a 6 L capacity, but you should still check the model you’re considering.