A cooking food processor is a good choice if your meals regularly involve preparing and then cooking ingredients in the same appliance. If you’re happy with the cooking appliances you already have, a food processor may be all you need for chopping and mixing, but you’ll still need to cook your food separately. Either way, start with the recipes you usually make and check the usable capacity, attachments, space required and cleaning.
If your recipes often go from chopping or mixing to cooking, a cooking food processor can reduce the need to transfer ingredients between appliances. However, check that the model can handle every step you need: built-in cooking doesn’t mean that all the preparation attachments are included.
To make your usual portions, compare the bowl’s usable capacity and the fill limits for specific recipes, rather than relying on the total capacity alone. Also allow space to open the lid and store the attachments.
If your current appliances already take care of cooking and you mainly want to chop, grate or knead, a food processor is worth considering. Que Choisir highlights this distinction between preparation needs and the real benefits of built-in cooking.
Consider it if: your recipes regularly involve both preparation and cooking, and you’d like to do both in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the bowl and attachments, as well as cleaning them, need to suit your portions and your kitchen.
Consider it if: you mainly need preparation functions and already have suitable cooking equipment.
Bear in mind: you’ll cook in a separate appliance. Que Choisir presents this as an option if you don’t need to cook in the bowl.
Consider it if: your dishes rely mainly on cooking rather than automated chopping or kneading.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, these appliances generally don’t mix food, so you may still need to prepare it separately.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Combining preparation and cooking | List the steps in your recipes and check that the cooking functions and required attachments are included. | When I make a dish that involves chopping, mixing and then cooking, I want to avoid switching between appliances. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Portions and available space | Compare the usable capacity or fill limit; measure the available space, including room for the lid and attachments. | I need to make my usual portions in the bowl without cluttering my worktop. This is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and storage | Check which parts need washing after making a complete recipe and how much space the attachments take up. | If making a meal means too much washing-up and too many parts to store, I may use the appliance less. Around 20% of consumers prioritise keeping maintenance to a minimum. |
| Recipes and guidance | Check which recipes are available, the terms of access and whether you can adapt your own recipes. | To keep my menus varied, I value instructions I can actually follow with the attachments provided. Around 20% of consumers put this kind of guidance first. |
Grating, slicing and other preparation tasks may require separate attachments. In its testing, Que Choisir only assesses certain functions when the appliance comes with a suitable attachment.
For the recipes you make most often, list the steps involved and check what’s included with the exact model you’re considering.
Some recipes may require additional attachments.
The stated capacity doesn’t always reflect how much you can prepare. For example, Magimix gives the Cook Expert Connect cited as having a total capacity of 3.5 L, but a usable capacity of 2.5 L.
Compare the usable capacity for recipes similar to yours, then check how much space the bowl and lid need.
Guided recipes can help you get started, but their availability doesn’t guarantee they’ll suit your menus. Que Choisir recommends checking which recipes are included and which require payment to access.
Check the access terms, whether you need an internet connection and which settings are available for cooking your own recipes.
Depending on the model, access to some recipes may require a subscription or an internet connection.
The bowl isn’t the only part that needs cleaning: the lid and attachments matter too. In a survey published in 2020, Que Choisir listed too much washing-up among the reasons some owners gave for using their food processor less often.
Check which parts need to be taken apart and which are stated to be dishwasher-safe for the exact model, and make sure you have space to store them.
The Companion range combines cooking with food preparation functions. Moulinex states that the Companion cited has a usable capacity of 3 L; specifications vary by version.
The Cook Expert Connect combines cooking with food processor functions. For one version, Magimix gives a total bowl capacity of 3.5 L and a usable capacity of 2.5 L; for the XL Connect version cited, these figures are 4.8 L and 3.8 L respectively.
The Thermomix TM7 focuses on guided cooking, with cooking and food preparation functions. Vorwerk states that the bowl has a capacity of 2.2 L.
The Monsieur Cuisine Smart combines food preparation and cooking functions with guided recipes. Lidl states that this model has a 4.5 L bowl, with a fill limit of 3 L.
These two Robby models are options to consider if you’re looking for a cooking food processor for meals that involve both preparation and cooking. Compare their stated functions with your recipes, then check the attachments, usable capacity and recipe access on the product page for your chosen model.
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Worth considering if you’d like to prepare and cook your meals in one appliance. Check that it includes the attachments you need for your recipes, as well as how many recipes you can access and the terms of access.
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Worth considering if you’d like to prepare and cook in one appliance while following guided recipes. Check the usable capacity for your portions, the included attachments, how to clean them and the terms for accessing the recipes.
No, not for every recipe. Built-in cooking lets you combine some steps, but grating, slicing and other preparation tasks depend on the functions and attachments of the model you choose. Start with the dishes you usually make and check exactly what’s included.
First compare the usable capacity and fill limit for the recipes you make. For example, Magimix states that the Cook Expert Connect cited has a total capacity of 3.5 L but a usable capacity of 2.5 L. The total capacity alone doesn’t tell you what portions you can make.
Check all the parts you’ll need to clean after making a complete recipe, whether they’re stated to be dishwasher-safe and how much room you’ll need to store them. Think about the bowl, lid and attachments you’ll use, not just any cleaning programme the appliance may have.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional trader to a private individual, as the French Ministry of the Economy explains. If your food processor doesn’t match what was agreed, keep the product description and proof of purchase so you can raise the issue with the seller. Any commercial guarantee offered doesn’t replace this statutory guarantee.