To prepare several meals each week, start by choosing the appliance that tackles the most time-consuming step: a multicooker for dishes cooked in one pot, or a cooking food processor if you also want to chop, blend and mix. Dedicated appliances may be better suited to separate tasks or cooking two things at once, but they need more space and cleaning. Whichever you choose, check the usable capacity and the tasks covered by the model.
If your make-ahead meals are mostly one-pot dishes, rice or steamed vegetables, take a look at multicookers and their programmes. To work out how many portions you can make, check the permitted cooking volume rather than just the pot size: UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the two for the Moulinex Cookeo.
If your session involves making soups and sauces, chopping ingredients and cooking dishes, a cooking food processor brings several tasks together. Check which accessories are included and the bowl’s usable capacity, though: it may be occupied by one recipe when you want to start another.
If chopping and blending don’t slow you down, but you need to cook two things at once, a dual-basket air fryer could complement your setup. It won’t mechanically prepare ingredients for you.
Best if: several meals rely on cooking in one pot, particularly rice and slow-cooked dishes.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to chop and blend separately.
Best if: you regularly move between food preparation and cooking in the same session.
Bear in mind: a bowl that’s in use can’t be used for a second preparation at the same time.
Best if: you already have a cooking appliance and want to add chopping, blending or two cooking zones.
Bear in mind: you’ll have several appliances and accessories to set up, coordinate and clean.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking several portions | Programmes suited to your dishes and the pot’s fill limit, which is different from its stated capacity. | I want to get complete dishes cooking and prepare something else while they cook, without having to do several batches. Around 31% of consumers would rank this ability to cook larger quantities as their top priority. |
| Combining preparation and cooking | Included functions and accessories, as well as the bowl’s usable capacity for the portions you plan to make. | When I make sauces, soups and chopped ingredients in one session, switching between appliances slows me down. This seamless workflow would be the priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Cooking two things at once | The capacity of each basket and whether two cooking programmes can be synchronised, depending on the model. | I already have the tools to prepare ingredients, but I want two hot or crispy components to be ready together. This would be the main need for around 23% of consumers. |
| Targeted food preparation | The tasks the appliance actually handles, the bowl’s capacity and the space needed for accessories. | I’m happy with my cooking setup; it’s mainly slicing vegetables or blending ingredients for a base that makes my session take longer. Around 15% of consumers would make this step their priority. |
If a pot is too full, you may need to cook in several batches. UFC-Que Choisir says that the 6 L Moulinex Cookeo pot can hold a maximum cooking volume of 4 L: these figures refer to different capacities.
Compare the fill limits in the instruction manual with the volume of your recipes and the number of portions you want to make.
Functions and accessories vary from one cooking food processor to another. Without the right accessory, you may still need another way to grate or slice ingredients.
Make a note of the tasks you repeat each week, then check which accessories are actually included and how they can be stored.
Extra accessories can also mean more parts to wash after every session.
A dual-basket air fryer lets you cook two things at once, but it won’t replace chopping, blending or making a sauce.
Choose one as an addition if cooking two things at once is your main bottleneck. Otherwise, start by identifying which preparation or cooking step is slowing you down.
The Cookeo and Companion ranges illustrate two different options: a multicooker for one-pot cooking, and a cooking food processor that combines mechanical food preparation with cooking.
The Thermomix TM7 is a cooking food processor to consider if you want to combine food preparation and cooking in one machine.
The brand lets you compare a cooking food processor with appliances dedicated to blending or chopping.
The Philips 3000 Series dual-basket air fryer is an additional option when you need to cook two components at once.
These Joybuy appliances offer two ways to organise a weekly cooking session: combine preparation and cooking in a cooking food processor, or cook dishes in a multicooker. Choose according to the tasks you want the appliance to handle and the capacity your recipes require.
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Worth considering if you want to move between food preparation and cooking in a cooking food processor.
The model name indicates an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity and the recipes on offer before buying.
If you want to make two recipes at the same time, bear in mind that they can’t both use the same bowl simultaneously.
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Worth considering if you mainly cook dishes in a pot and would also like an air fryer lid.
The model name indicates a 6 L pot, pressure cooking and built-in scales. Check the fill limit for your recipes: 6 L is the stated pot capacity, not necessarily the cooking volume.
If your session includes chopping or blending, check separately which functions and accessories you’ll need.
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Worth considering if you want to cook several dishes in succession in one pot.
The model name indicates a 5.7 L capacity, pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming and four customisable presets. To plan your portions, check the fill limits for each type of food.
Plan to use another method for any chopping or blending you want to do during the session.
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Worth comparing if you plan to cook several portions per session and have room for an 8 L pot.
The model name indicates 12 preset menus and functions for rice, steaming and slow cooking. Check the volume actually permitted for the foods and recipes you make.
For chopping, grating or blending, check which other tools you’ll need.
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Worth considering if you want to bring food preparation and cooking together in one machine with recipes included.
The model name indicates built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes. Compare the bowl’s usable capacity with the number of portions you plan to make, and check that it includes the accessories for your usual tasks.
With just one bowl, you’ll need to prepare items that use it one after another.
No. Also check the permitted cooking volume and the fill limits in the instruction manual for your recipes. UFC-Que Choisir says that a 6 L Cookeo pot has a maximum cooking volume of 4 L; you shouldn’t automatically apply this limit to other models.
Not if you rely on a cooking food processor to chop, blend and prepare slow-cooked dishes. A dual-basket model is better suited to cooking two components at once; for the Philips 3000 Series model mentioned, Philips lists separate 6 L and 3 L baskets.
Compare the appliance’s dimensions, the space needed for its accessories and the washing instructions for each part. Focus on the accessories you’ll use every week rather than just the number of functions listed.
No. Check the commitment that applies to the specific model you’re interested in. For example, Moulinex states a 15-year repairability commitment for the Companion mentioned in its product listing; this statement from the brand doesn’t necessarily apply to its other appliances.