If your recipes regularly involve both preparation and cooking, a multifunction cooking food processor can bring these steps together. If you mainly knead and whisk, it’s also worth comparing a cooking stand mixer. If your current equipment already takes care of cooking, a food processor without a heating function may cover your preparation needs, but you’ll need to use two appliances. In every case, check which tasks the appliance can actually handle, which accessories are included, its usable capacity, how much space it needs and how to care for it.
You often make soups, sauces or slow-cooked dishes and want to bring some of the preparation and cooking together. Check that the accessories supplied suit the tasks your recipes involve. Que Choisir recommends checking the appliance’s size and how easy it is to access recipes.
You cook for several meals or people: compare the usable capacity for your recipes rather than looking only at the bowl’s total volume. For the Cook Expert Chrome Mat, Magimix lists a 3.5 L bowl and a stated usable capacity of 2.5 L.
You’re mainly looking for help with chopping and mixing, and your current equipment already suits the dishes you make. A food processor without a heating function may be all you need. Que Choisir distinguishes it from a cooking food processor, which has an integrated cooking function.
If you regularly prepare home-cooked meals, start by choosing according to the steps you want the appliance to handle. Que Choisir also recommends considering space, cleaning and access to recipes.
Choose this if: you regularly chop, mix or knead before or during cooking that the appliance can carry out.
Check: the accessories supplied, maximum fill levels and cleaning requirements vary from model to model.
Choose this if: kneading and whisking are among your regular tasks and you’d also like to cook in the bowl.
Check: which accessories are supplied for other tasks, and how much space you’ll need to store them.
Choose this if: you mainly want to grate, slice, chop or mix, and already have a suitable cooking appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to transfer the prepared ingredients to the other appliance, and you’ll need space for both. Que Choisir describes this option as generally taking up less worktop space than a cooking food processor.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Bringing useful tasks together | Check which tasks the exact version can handle and which accessories are actually included. | If I want to move from preparation to cooking without adding extra steps between appliances, this is a priority for around 29 % of consumers. |
| Preparing the right quantity | Compare the usable capacity and maximum fill levels with the recipes you usually make. | When I’m preparing several portions, I want to know how much can actually be cooked in the bowl; around 18 % of consumers prioritise usable capacity. |
| Finding space for the appliance and cleaning it | Measure the space available and check the cleaning instructions for each part. | If I need to take the food processor out, move it and clean it regularly, space and upkeep come first; around 18 % of consumers prioritise these aspects. |
| Checking accessories and services | Check what’s in the box and how to access the recipes or functions you plan to use. | I’d rather know before choosing whether my recipes require particular accessories or specific access; around 23 % of consumers share this priority. |
| Following guided recipes | Look at a few recipes you’re interested in and check how to access them on the model you’re considering. | If I’d like to follow the steps on screen rather than set up each recipe myself, around 12 % of consumers prioritise this guidance. |
The stated volume doesn’t always match the amount you can use for a recipe. For the Cook Expert Chrome Mat, Magimix lists a 3.5 L bowl and a usable capacity of 2.5 L.
Compare the maximum fill levels with the portions you prepare instead of relying on the total volume alone.
The supplied contents and accessories that add extra functions vary by model reference. This can affect which tasks you can carry out without additional equipment.
Check the exact reference and list of included items before relying on a chopping, mixing or baking function.
Que Choisir explains that an automatic rinse is often just a pre-clean and may not remove the need for a more thorough wash.
Check the manual for instructions on taking the appliance apart and washing each part, including which parts are dishwasher-safe.
Recipes and how you access them vary between appliances and services.
Check the access requirements for the recipes you plan to follow and make sure they suit the way you cook.
The Companion range brings preparation and cooking together; check the specifications of the exact version.
The Cook Expert range combines preparation and cooking. The Cuisine System 4200XL is a food processor without a heating function, to consider alongside a separate cooking appliance.
The Cooking Chef experience KCL95.424SI combines stand mixer functions with cooking.
The Thermomix TM7 combines preparation and cooking with guided recipes on screen, for anyone who wants this kind of support.
This selection focuses on multifunction cooking food processors that combine preparation and cooking steps for home-cooked meals.
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Worth considering if you want to move through preparation and cooking steps and follow guided recipes on screen.
The product description mentions chopping, grating, mixing, kneading, steaming and slow cooking, as well as a manual mode and automatic programmes.
The bowl and its contents heat up during cooking, so handle them with suitable protection. The rinse programme may only provide a pre-clean.
If your current equipment already cooks your recipes, compare food processors without a heating function for preparation. If you’d also like to mix or prepare ingredients while the appliance cooks, consider a cooking food processor.
Don’t assume so: Que Choisir says an automatic rinse is often just a pre-clean. Follow the manual for your model to find out how to take it apart and wash each part, including which parts are dishwasher-safe.
No, guided recipes aren’t essential. Que Choisir points out that the recipes supplied aren’t necessary to use the appliance. If you’d like to follow guided steps, check the access requirements for the specific model and service.
The legal guarantee of conformity covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a private individual. The French Ministry of the Economy and Finance distinguishes it from a commercial guarantee or a paid-for extended warranty.
No. The DGCCRF explains that the CE mark is neither a certification mark nor a performance rating, so it can’t be used to compare food processors by their functions or capacity.