When preparing several ingredients or portions, start by choosing the appliance that best suits the task you repeat most: a food processor for chopping and blending without built-in cooking, a cooking food processor if you also want to cook in the same bowl, or a stand mixer if dough and whisked mixtures are your main focus. Then check that its capacity suits your recipes, what accessories are included, how they can be stored and how much space the appliance needs.
The right appliance depends less on how many features it claims to have and more on the tasks you repeat during your cooking sessions.
If you regularly make toppings, sauce bases or purées, check which grating, slicing, chopping and blending tools are actually included. Bowl size and accessory storage also matter when you’re working through several preparations. Magimix and Bosch set out these functions in their food processor ranges.
If you also want to cook and stir a mixture in the appliance, the cooking function is what sets it apart. Que Choisir identifies this as the difference between a cooking food processor and other food processors; check that it’s useful for dishes you make regularly.
For bread, brioche, cakes or whisked mixtures, prioritise a capacity that suits your recipe and the right kneading or whisking tools. Chopping functions require a separate check of compatible accessories, as Kenwood’s stand mixer range demonstrates.
Before comparing bowls, work out whether your regular tasks are mainly preparing ingredients, cooking in the appliance or making batches of dough. A blender may also be enough if you only need to blend.
Choose one if: you already use separate cooking appliances and mainly want to chop, grate, slice and blend.
Bear in mind: cooking is done separately, and the tasks it can handle depend on the accessories included.
Choose one if: preparing and then cooking in the same bowl is a regular part of your meals.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, the built-in cooking function sets this type apart; it’s generally bulkier than a food processor.
Choose one if: your batches are mainly dough or mixtures that need whisking.
Bear in mind: grating and slicing may require additional accessories; check the appliance’s size and weight too.
Consider one if: you mainly make blended recipes, such as purées or smooth sauces.
Check: if you also need to grate, slice or knead, look for the tools designed for those tasks rather than relying on blending alone.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Versatile food preparation | Check which discs and blades are included, and the quantities each accessory can handle. | If I’m preparing several vegetables, sauces and toppings in a row, my main aim is to cut down on chopping and switching tools; this would be the top priority for around 31% of consumers concerned. |
| Built-in cooking | Check for cooking modes that suit your dishes and a capacity that works for your portions. | I want to go from preparation to cooking without switching appliances when making a dish or soup in quantity; around 31% of consumers concerned would put this need first. |
| Dough and baking | Compare the stated dough capacity for your recipe and the kneading or whisking tools. | When I have several batches to make, I prioritise a dough hook and a suitable dough capacity over vegetable-slicing discs; this would be the main need for around 23% of consumers concerned. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space you have available and check which parts are dishwasher-safe. | In a kitchen where the appliance needs to be put away after use, I want to be able to store it and its accessories easily; around 15% of consumers concerned would put this constraint ahead of the others. |
Noise is worth checking separately if you cook at a time when it might disturb your household. Look for information about the exact model rather than assuming how noisy it will be based on the bowl size or type of appliance.
If your sessions mainly involve chopping, grating and blending, built-in cooking doesn’t meet your main need. Que Choisir specifically distinguishes cooking food processors by this function.
During your next few cooking sessions, make a note of the dishes for which you’d genuinely want to prepare and cook in the same bowl. Then decide whether the function is worth the space the appliance takes up.
A bowl’s volume, a stated dough capacity and the number of portions an appliance can make don’t describe the same limit. For example, Bosch lists a 3.9 L bowl and a dough capacity of up to 1.5 kg for the MultiTalent 8 MC812M844, while Kenwood states a dough capacity of up to 2.56 kg for the Titanium Chef Pâtissier XL KWL90.009SI.
First, compare the limit that applies to what you’re making: dough, soup, sauce or chopped ingredients.
Included tools and cleaning instructions vary by model and by part. Bosch, for example, says several accessories for the MultiTalent 3 MCM3100W can be stored in the bowl and that some parts are dishwasher-safe.
Check the list of included accessories and the manual for the exact model. Check the discs, blades, bowls and lids separately.
You may need additional accessories for the recipes you want to make.
A large bowl doesn’t solve the problem of where to keep the appliance. Kenwood lists the Titanium Chef Pâtissier XL KWL90.009SI as weighing 12.28 kg, which is worth considering if it won’t stay on your worktop.
Before ordering, measure the available surface, the clearance beneath your cupboards and the space you’ll need for the appliance and its accessories.
These ranges are designed for different uses; check the capacity and accessories for the specific model you’re interested in.
The CS range focuses on preparing ingredients without built-in cooking.
The Companion range combines food preparation and cooking in one appliance.
The MultiTalent 3 and 8 ranges offer different food preparation capacities without built-in cooking.
The Titanium Chef Pâtissier XL range is mainly designed for dough and whisked recipes.
These two cooking food processors are for people who want to prepare ingredients and cook in the same appliance. If you only need to chop or are mainly making dough, start by comparing the other types of appliance described above.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare ingredients and then cook them in the same appliance.
Built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check that the bowl’s usable capacity suits your recipes and find out which parts are dishwasher-safe.
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Worth a look if your cooking sessions involve both preparing ingredients and cooking.
Touchscreen and 680 recipes stated in the model name. Before choosing this appliance for several portions, check the bowl’s usable capacity and the cleaning instructions for its parts.
A cooking food processor is a good choice if you regularly want to prepare and then cook in the same bowl. Que Choisir notes that its cooking function sets it apart from a food processor. If you already use a saucepan or another appliance for cooking and mainly want to chop and blend, focus on food preparation features.
Compare the capacity that suits your recipe, not just the bowl volume. Bosch lists a 3.9 L bowl and a dough capacity of up to 1.5 kg for the MultiTalent 8 MC812M844; Moulinex lists a 4.5 L bowl for the Companion Pro HF850810/702. These figures don’t describe the same usable quantity for every preparation.
Check which parts you’ll need to wash after each session and the care instructions for the exact model. Also check where you can store the accessories: Bosch, for example, says several tools for the MultiTalent 3 MCM3100W can be stored in the bowl.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual, according to the Ministry of the Economy. The ministry states that you have two years to claim under this guarantee for new or second-hand goods. If the goods are faulty or don’t conform to the contract, keep your proof of purchase and contact the business that sold them.