Choose a cooking robot if you want to chop, mix and cook in the same appliance for soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes or steaming. A food processor is a better fit when your cooking appliances are already suitable, while a cooking stand mixer makes sense if kneading and large batches of dough are your priorities; in that case, check which cutting accessories you need.
You regularly prepare soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes, steamed recipes or guided recipes, and want to minimise transfers between appliances. In a Que Choisir survey published in 2020 among 1,695 newsletter subscribers who owned food processors, 52% of respondents with a cooking robot said it saved them time and 59% said they ate fewer ready meals; these responses describe the participants surveyed, not all French households.
You already have suitable hobs, an oven, a slow cooker or a multicooker, and are mainly looking for an appliance to chop, grate, blend and knead. A food processor can then provide the preparation functions without adding integrated cooking that you would rarely use.
You knead regularly, sometimes in large quantities, and would also like to prepare sauces or hot dishes in the same appliance. A cooking stand mixer is worth considering when planetary mixing and a kneading bowl matter more to you than everyday chopping or grating.
Choose this if: you want to prepare and cook soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes or steamed recipes in the same bowl.
Things to consider: check the usable capacity, included accessories, footprint and the terms for accessing recipes.
Choose this if: your hobs, oven or multicooker already cover cooking and you mainly want to prepare ingredients.
Things to consider: you will need to transfer ingredients to a saucepan, oven or another appliance to finish a dish.
Choose this if: bread, brioche, yeasted dough and baking are just as important as hot preparations.
Things to consider: cutting functions may depend on accessories purchased separately, depending on the model.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs and survey responses |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking combined | Check that the appliance heats, mixes or slow-cooks in the bowl. Also check the steaming accessories and usable capacity for your portions. | I want to go from chopping to cooking without changing containers. In the 2020 Que Choisir survey of 1,695 food processor owners, 52% said their cooking robot saved them time in the kitchen. |
| Recipes and guidance | Compare built-in recipes, the app, included books and the terms of any subscription. Make sure the recipes match the meals you usually prepare. | I value step-by-step guidance, without finding out after purchase that full access depends on an ongoing service. In the same Que Choisir survey, 49% of respondents said their cooking robot had broadened their recipe repertoire. |
| Useful functions for home cooking | For soups and sauces, look for documented chopping, mixing and heating functions. For grating or slicing, check the exact contents of the pack. | I want an appliance that helps turn raw ingredients into meals, not just one that blends or kneads. In 2020, Que Choisir reported that 59% of respondents surveyed said they ate fewer ready meals thanks to their cooking robot. |
| Cleaning and available space | Measure your worktop and the clearance beneath cupboards. Check, part by part, which components are dishwasher-safe, how many accessories are included and how they can be stored. | The appliance needs to remain accessible without creating an excessive amount of washing-up after every recipe. I therefore compare the bowl volume with my usual portions, rather than looking only at the stated total capacity. |
A food processor can chop, grate and blend quickly, but it does not necessarily allow you to cook and mix the same dish in a single bowl.
List three complete dishes you often prepare, then check at which stage the appliance actually heats and when a saucepan or another cooker is still needed.
With a non-heating model, hobs, an oven, saucepan or multicooker are still needed to finish cooking.
Recipes displayed on the screen or in an app do not all offer the same access: some are free, while others may depend on a subscription after a trial period.
Before choosing a connected model, distinguish between recipes included with the appliance, free apps, books and platforms that require renewal.
Vorwerk states that full access to Cookidoo works with an annual subscription that renews automatically after the trial.
Chopping, grating, slicing, certain steaming functions and some baking uses may depend on accessories that are not always supplied with the model you choose.
Compare the exact model number, box contents and accessories required for your most frequently prepared recipes, rather than relying on the overall number of functions in the range.
Additional accessories can also increase the space needed for storage and cleaning.
A large bowl may suit family meals, but it does not guarantee convenient use for small quantities and increases the amount of cleaning required.
Measure your space, check the clearance beneath cupboards and compare the usable capacity with your usual portions before choosing a large bowl.
The Companion range includes multifunction cooking robots designed to prepare and cook everyday dishes, with both connected and non-connected models.
Thermomix is aimed at people looking for a cooking robot focused on guided cooking, paired with the Cookidoo recipe platform.
The Cooking Chef range is designed for users who value kneading, whisking and dough-making just as much as the ability to heat and cook.
Magimix offers both Cook Expert cooking robots and multifunction food processors without integrated cooking, making it easy to compare the two approaches.
These Joybuy options correspond to the cooking robot solution: they combine preparation and cooking functions to make complete dishes in a single appliance.
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An option for preparing, mixing, heating and steaming in a single appliance.
The product states that it has a 3 L usable bowl for 6 to 8 people, integrated scales, a touchscreen, cutting accessories and steaming baskets. The stated temperature range is 37 °C to 130 °C.
The bowl and accessories are stated to be dishwasher-safe. Check the terms for accessing new recipes via Wi-Fi and measure the intended space: the appliance measures 40 × 26 × 36 cm and weighs 9.4 kg.
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This option is designed for complete meals prepared without moving from a cutting appliance to a separate cooking appliance.
The stated functions include chopping, mixing, kneading, grating, steaming, slow cooking and weighing. The main bowl is stated to have a 3.5 L capacity for up to six people, with more than 680 built-in recipes and eight automatic programmes.
Before buying, check the accessories supplied for chopping, grating and slicing, which parts are dishwasher-safe, and the terms for accessing recipes and Wi-Fi updates.
No, not if you want to cook in the same appliance. A food processor can chop, grate, blend, knead or emulsify, but cooking must take place elsewhere; it is suitable if you already own hobs, an oven or a slow cooker and are happy to transfer ingredients between preparation and cooking.
No. Moulinex states that a free recipe app is available for the Companion XL, while Vorwerk says that full access to Cookidoo is based on an annual subscription after the trial, with automatic renewal. Check the terms for the model and offer at the time of purchase.
Check which bowls, lids, blades and accessories are genuinely dishwasher-safe, as the motor base is not included. Also check how many accessories need to be washed and stored: Que Choisir lists a significant amount of washing-up among the reasons some owners reported using their appliance less.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity can be claimed for two years for new and second-hand goods bought from a professional seller. For a new product, during the two years following delivery, the consumer does not have to prove that the defect existed on the day of sale; a commercial warranty is in addition to, and does not replace, the legal guarantees.
A cooking robot is classed as electrical and electronic equipment. ADEME recommends prioritising repair, donating the appliance or taking it to a suitable collection scheme rather than putting it in household waste; take-back arrangements depend on the shop and the type of equipment.