Choose a cooking food processor if you want to prepare ingredients and cook them in the same appliance, checking the functions and accessories included with your chosen model. If your meals mainly consist of rice, soups or slow-cooked dishes, a programmable multicooker can take care of some of the cooking, but it won’t usually stir the food. If you already have a cooking appliance that suits you, a food processor or separate appliances may be a better fit for the function you’re missing.
For rice, soups or slow-cooked dishes, you mainly want the appliance to take care of some of the cooking. A multicooker suits this purpose if its programmes match your recipes; you’ll still need to prepare the ingredients.
You want to chop, stir, blend or whisk, then cook without using several appliances. A cooking food processor can bring these steps together, depending on its functions and the accessories supplied.
If your slow cooker or multicooker meets your cooking needs, a food processor can help with the preparation tasks you’re missing, such as grating, slicing or kneading, depending on the model.
Start with the steps involved in your usual meals. Your choice depends as much on preparing the ingredients as on the cooking you want the appliance to handle.
Consider it: if you want to prepare and cook a range of recipes with one appliance.
Bear in mind: available functions and recipe access vary by model. Also check how much space it needs and how easy it is to clean.
Consider it: if you mainly cook rice, soups or slow-cooked dishes and want to programme the cooking.
Bear in mind: chopping and blending will generally need to be done by hand or with another appliance.
Consider it: if preparing ingredients is your main priority and you already have a way to cook them.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need another appliance to cook rice and slow-cooked dishes.
Consider them: if your current equipment already covers most of your recipes and you’re only missing one function.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to coordinate several utensils or appliances for preparation and cooking.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Programmed cooking | Compare the programmes with the dishes you cook. Check whether the specific model has a keep-warm function and a delayed start, then follow its instructions for quantities and pressure cooking. | For rice or slow-cooked dishes, I want the appliance to handle some of the cooking without assuming the whole recipe will be made without any input from me. |
| Ingredient preparation | Check which chopping, blending, kneading or mixing functions are actually available, and which accessories are included. A multicooker doesn’t usually stir food, as UFC-Que Choisir explains. | My recipes often start with vegetables to slice or ingredients to blend. I want to know whether I’ll still need a separate appliance. |
| Capacity and space | Distinguish the total capacity from the usable capacity, and check the filling limits for each recipe. Measure the space on your worktop as well as your storage space. | I cook several portions at once, but the bowl also needs to suit liquid mixtures, and the appliance must fit in my kitchen. |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Find out which parts are removable and which are specifically dishwasher-safe. Check the cleaning instructions and whether spare parts or accessories are available for the model. | After a weekday meal, I’d rather know which parts need to be washed by hand than judge how easy an appliance is to maintain by the number of functions it has. |
| Recipes and controls | Check which recipes are available at no extra cost, the terms of any subscription and whether there’s a manual mode. UFC-Que Choisir recommends distinguishing between free and paid recipes. | If I use my own recipes, I want to be able to adjust the cooking without relying on a catalogue. Guided recipes only matter if I’m likely to use them. |
A multicooker can handle some of the cooking without chopping, blending or mixing the ingredients. This means you may still need to do an essential step by hand or use another appliance.
Break down a few of your usual meals into steps, then check each task against the functions and accessories of the model you’re considering.
A bowl’s total capacity doesn’t necessarily tell you how much you can cook, particularly when a recipe or pressure cooking requires you to stay below a certain fill level.
Check the usable capacity and the maximum fill level in the instructions for your largest recipes.
A function may require an optional accessory, while access to guided recipes may depend on the service offered. For example, the French Thermomix TM7 page mentions a Cookidoo subscription.
Before choosing, check which accessories are supplied, whether there’s a manual mode, which recipes you can access and the renewal terms for any subscription.
These product ranges show different ways of combining preparation, cooking and recipes. Always compare specific models rather than brands as a whole.
The Cookeo range is designed for programmable cooking, while Companion combines food preparation and cooking.
According to Vorwerk France, the Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation and cooking functions with guided recipes via Cookidoo.
According to the Magimix product information, the Cook Expert XL combines food preparation and cooking with a large-capacity bowl.
This Joybuy selection includes cooking food processors that combine preparation and cooking, as well as multicookers for meals that rely on programmed cooking. Compare their functions with the steps in your recipes before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare and then cook with the same appliance. The product name specifies an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check that the accessories suit your recipes and confirm how many recipes you can access.
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This option combines food preparation and cooking for households that want to follow recipes on screen. The product name specifies built-in scales and 680 recipes. Check the access terms, the bowl’s usable capacity and the instructions for washing its parts.
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If you mainly want an appliance to cook your meals, compare its programmes with the dishes you make. The product name specifies 12 pre-set menus and a non-stick bowl. Check the instructions for the filling limits for each recipe, particularly when pressure cooking.
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Worth considering if you cook several portions in a multicooker rather than using a food preparation appliance. The stated capacity is 7.1 L. Check the instructions for the permitted quantities for your recipes and which parts are dishwasher-safe.
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This option is for households interested in a connected multicooker for everyday cooking. The product name specifies a 5.7 L capacity and Wi-Fi connectivity. Check the app’s functions, the filling limits and which parts are dishwasher-safe, as set out in the instructions.
Not if your recipes regularly need you to chop, blend or stir ingredients in the appliance. UFC-Que Choisir describes a multicooker as a programmable cooking appliance that generally doesn’t stir food. A cooking food processor can also handle preparation steps, depending on its accessories.
Don’t assume so: the stated capacity doesn’t necessarily match the permitted fill level. Check the instructions for the usable capacity for your recipe, particularly when cooking liquids or pressure cooking.
No, access terms depend on the model and service. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking whether recipes are free or paid; Vorwerk France mentions a Cookidoo subscription for the Thermomix TM7. Check what’s included and the renewal terms before buying.
No. Even if a model handles some cooking steps or releases pressure automatically, follow its filling limits, use the specified accessories and observe the handling precautions given by the manufacturer.