A cooking food processor could be right for you if you want to prepare and cook food in the same appliance, provided its functions, accessories and footprint suit your everyday needs. If you’re happy to keep your existing cooking appliances, a food processor may be all you need for preparation. If kneading and making large batches are your priorities, consider a heated stand mixer instead. In every case, allow for the space you’ll need to use and store its parts.
If you want to cut down on the number of kitchen tools you keep, start by thinking about the tasks you actually do. Then check the cooking modes, usable capacity and accessories included: how versatile the appliance is depends on the model you choose.
A single appliance only saves space if its bowl, lid and accessories are easy to fit and store. Also measure the clearance beneath your cupboards and the space needed to open the lid.
If you plan to use the appliance often, check which parts are actually dishwasher-safe and where you’ll store the accessories. For guided recipes, find out which ones are available on the appliance itself and which are offered through a connected service.
If your kitchen has limited equipment, first decide which tasks you want to combine. Then check the space available, how easy the parts are to clean and how you’d like to access recipes.
Consider this if: your main priority is preparing and cooking food in the same appliance.
Bear in mind: the available functions and included accessories vary by model.
Consider this if: you mainly want to chop, grate or mix, and already have a way to cook your food.
Bear in mind: a standard food processor doesn’t cook.
Consider this if: kneading, whisking and making large batches are just as important to you as integrated cooking.
Bear in mind: check its weight, footprint and how much space any optional accessories will take up.
Consider this if: you already have a cooking appliance that works well for you and only need help with a few specific preparation tasks.
Bear in mind: several appliances may need more storage space and cleaning.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking | List the tasks you want to combine, then check that the appliance has the right cooking modes and accessories for each one. | If I want to move from preparation straight to cooking without getting out several appliances, the model I choose needs to handle both steps. Around 33% of consumers would put this combination at the top of their list. |
| Footprint | Compare the appliance’s dimensions with the space available, remembering to allow room to open the lid and store the parts. | When my worktop is small, I need to be able to set up and use the appliance without constantly moving the rest of my kitchen equipment. Space would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and accessories | Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and whether the accessories you need are included. | If I use the appliance often, I don’t want lengthy washing-up or awkward-to-store parts to make every meal more complicated. Around 20% of consumers would make easy cleaning their top priority. |
| Guided recipes | Check which recipes are available on the appliance itself and which are offered through a connected service, and find out how to access them. | If I plan to follow on-screen instructions, I want to know which recipes will remain available in the way that suits me. Access to recipes would be the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Grating, slicing or juicing may require an attachment that isn’t supplied with the model you’re considering. Que Choisir explains that it only tests additional accessories when they are supplied.
Make a note of the tasks you need the appliance to handle and compare them with exactly what’s included, rather than just checking the list of compatible accessories.
A large bowl may be useful for making several portions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the appliance will fit easily on a small worktop.
Measure the space where you plan to keep it, the clearance beneath your cupboards, the room needed to open the lid and the space for storing its accessories.
Que Choisir says you don’t need recipes to use a cooking food processor. However, a connected service could still influence your choice if you want to follow its guided recipes.
Check which recipes are available on the model you’re considering and what conditions apply to the service you’re interested in.
The bowl, blade, lid, whisk and steamer basket may not all need to be cleaned in the same way.
Check the manual for the parts you’ll use most often instead of assuming that every accessory is dishwasher-safe.
The Companion range is an example of a cooking food processor designed to combine preparation and cooking for several portions.
Thermomix combines food preparation, cooking and guided recipes in a connected appliance.
The Cooking Chef is a heated stand mixer worth considering if kneading and making large batches are your priorities.
These two Robby models are designed to combine food preparation and cooking. If you’re choosing one for a small kitchen, check that it has the functions you need, measure the space available and look into how its parts are cleaned.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking in one appliance.
Large touchscreen. Measure the space you’ll need on your worktop and beneath your cupboards, and check how many guided recipes are available if that matters to you.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation, cooking and following recipes on the appliance.
Before choosing, measure the space available and check the cleaning instructions for every part you plan to use.
Not necessarily: functions, capacities and accessories vary between cooking food processors. List the tasks you want to combine, then check whether the model has the right setting and accessory for each one.
No. According to Que Choisir, you don’t need recipes to use a cooking food processor. If you’re interested in a guided recipe service, check its access terms separately and find out which recipes are available on the appliance.
Check the manual for every part you’ll use regularly, especially the bowl, blades, lid and accessories. Even if the appliance has a rinse programme, check the cleaning instructions for each individual part.
In France, you can take an old electrical appliance to a collection point or recycling centre, return it to a retailer or pass it on to a social and solidarity economy organisation, depending on the options listed by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition.