Anyone cooking in batches
If you prepare several dishes or sides at once, separate oven shelves and hob rings matter more than a single bowl or pot. The models featured by Electrolux France demonstrate both options.
Who are these appliances for?
Anyone who wants to leave one dish to cook
You want a dish to simmer, steam or cook under pressure while you get on with something else. UFC-Que Choisir describes this more hands-off cooking as one of the uses of a multi-cooker.
Anyone looking to cut down on prep
You’d like to combine weighing, chopping, mixing and cooking for sauces, soups and other recipes suited to a cooking food processor’s bowl. Vorwerk highlights these functions across its Thermomix range.
Which features should you prioritise?
First, identify what slows you down: a lack of cooking surfaces, having to keep an eye on a dish or the prep itself. Then check the capacity and limitations of the type of appliance that meets your needs.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking several dishes at once | Number of usable hob rings or oven shelves; fitting dimensions and compatible cookware. | If several dishes need to cook at the same time, I don’t want to wait for a pot to become free. Around 30% of consumers prioritise cooking several dishes at once. |
| More hands-off cooking | Pot capacity and cooking modes suited to the recipes you have in mind; accessories and parts to clean. | If I want to leave a dish cooking while I get on with the rest, I mainly look for an appliance suited to that preparation. More hands-off cooking is the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Combining preparation steps | Usable bowl capacity; functions, accessories and access to guided recipes. | When weighing, chopping and mixing mean lots of handling, I prefer to combine those steps, as long as my quantities fit in the bowl. Around 20% of consumers put this kind of all-in-one preparation first. |
| Adding another way to cook | Basket shape and number; space needed on the worktop and removable parts. | If the oven is already in use, I want to be able to cook a suitable side separately in a basket. Around 20% of consumers put this need for an additional cooking option first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Expecting a multi-function appliance to replace every cooking method
A single bowl or pot can make some preparations easier, but it won’t give you the separate cooking surfaces of an oven with several shelves or a hob with several rings.
Make a note of the dishes you usually cook at the same time. If they need several trays or saucepans, keep suitable cooking surfaces and consider a food processor or multi-cooker as an addition.
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Comparing capacity in litres alone
An oven cavity, cooking pot, food processor bowl and basket all hold food differently. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether your dishes, or two separate recipes, will fit.
Start with a recipe you make regularly and check the shape of the container, the shelves or baskets available and the accessories included.
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Assuming energy-saving claims apply to every meal
Tefal’s speed and energy comparisons for the Easy Fry Mega are based on tests using frozen chips; they don’t reflect how every meal you cook during the week will perform.
For your own needs, consider the quantities you’ll cook, cooking times, whether preheating is needed and the exact conditions behind any comparison claims.
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Overlooking the installation requirements for a built-in appliance
An unsuitable recess, cut-out or connection can prevent you from installing your chosen oven or hob.
Before buying, compare the product’s dimensions and electrical requirements with your kitchen. Also check which accessories are included and whether the appliance can be repaired.
If installation requires a professional, you’ll need to arrange this before you can use the appliance.
Brands to consider
Moulinex
The Cookeo range showcases cooking in a single pot, including pressure cooking and steaming.
- Moulinex lists a 6 L pot, six cooking modes and a steam basket for the Cookeo+; the pot and basket are stated to be dishwasher-safe.
- A single pot can’t replace several saucepans or large oven trays used at the same time.
Vorwerk
The Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation and cooking with guided recipes.
- Vorwerk lists a 2.2 L bowl and scales with a capacity of up to 3 kg for the TM7.
- Check that the bowl capacity suits the quantities you prepare, and that the functions and recipes fit the way you cook.
Tefal
The Easy Fry Mega is an example of an air fryer used as an additional cooking option.
- Tefal lists a 7.5 L basket, a temperature range of 80 to 200 °C and a dishwasher-safe basket for this model.
- Its single drawer doesn’t let you set two cooking programmes independently; the brand’s speed and energy comparisons are based on frozen chips.
Electrolux
The models featured by Electrolux France demonstrate cooking on several oven shelves and preparing food across multiple hob rings.
- One oven featured by the brand has a 72 L cavity; a separate induction hob model has four rings.
- Features vary by model. Check the fitting requirements and power supply, as well as whether your cookware is suitable for induction.
Equipment for different cooking needs
These Joybuy appliances suit several ways of organising a cooking session: adding basket cooking, using multiple hob rings, combining certain preparation steps or cooking in the oven. Compare each format with the recipes you have planned and your kitchen setup.
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12QT dual-basket air fryer, with 50 cooking liners
Worth considering if you want to add basket cooking to a session when the oven or hob is already in use.
The product name mentions two baskets, a viewing window and dishwasher-safe parts. Check the worktop space available and the usable dimensions of the baskets for your recipes.
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AEG IKS64453IB, 60 cm built-in induction hob, 4 zones
Worth considering if you need several saucepans cooking at the same time.
The model name lists four zones and a Bridge function. Check the cut-out dimensions, electrical connection and whether your cookware is suitable for induction.
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TOPWISH, 60 cm built-in induction hob, 4 zones
Worth looking at if you want to cook several dishes in saucepans at the same time.
The product name lists Boost, a timer and a child lock. Confirm the connection requirements, cut-out dimensions and whether your cookware is suitable.
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Robby Smart Multifunction Cooking Robot, with built-in scales
Worth considering if you’d like to combine some preparation and cooking steps in one appliance rather than use lots of different utensils.
The product name mentions an XL bowl, a large touchscreen and 750 recipes. Before choosing, check the bowl’s usable capacity, the accessories and how you can access the recipes.
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Bosch HBA514BB3, 71 L built-in oven
Worth considering if your meals include dishes that need to cook in the oven during the same session.
The product name mentions 3D hot air. Before buying, confirm the number of compartments with the seller, along with the required fitting dimensions and connection.
Frequently asked questions
Can a multi-cooker replace an oven for weekly meal prep?
Not if your recipes need several oven trays or shelves: a multi-cooker keeps cooking to its own pot. It can, however, cook a suitable dish using its available modes while you use the oven for other preparations.
Which capacities should you compare between these appliances?
Start by comparing the usable capacity for your recipes, rather than looking at litres alone. A multi-cooker pot, food processor bowl, air fryer basket and oven cavity all have different shapes and cooking possibilities; check how many shelves or compartments are available, too.
What should you check when it comes to cleaning?
Identify which parts are removable and which the manufacturer says are dishwasher-safe. Moulinex lists the Cookeo+ pot and steam basket as dishwasher-safe; Tefal says the same for the Easy Fry Mega basket. If your oven has a pyrolytic cleaning function, remember to check how its accessories need to be maintained, too.
What should you do if an appliance doesn’t match the seller’s description?
If you’re a private individual who has bought from a professional seller in France, an appliance that doesn’t match its description may be covered by the legal guarantee of conformity. The Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that this guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. Contact the seller and keep a copy of the product description and proof of purchase.