A cooking food processor could suit you if your meals regularly involve chopping, mixing and cooking in the same bowl. If pressure cooking is your priority and you’re happy to use a second appliance to prepare ingredients, consider pairing a multicooker with a food processor. Separate appliances are still a good option if you want to prepare several things at once. In every case, check how much space you’ll need, the usable capacity and the cleaning involved.
If your recipes involve chopping or blending, mixing and cooking, a cooking food processor lets you tackle these steps in one appliance. Be sure to check that it has the functions and accessories you need for the dishes you usually make.
A multicooker paired with a food processor is worth comparing if you’re mainly looking for a large cooking pot or pressure cooking, and are happy to prepare some ingredients in a second appliance.
Compare the space taken up by the appliance and its accessories with the equipment you already own. If you rarely use built-in cooking functions, keeping separate appliances may better suit the way you cook.
Consider it: for recipes that regularly combine food preparation and cooking in the same bowl.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to complete the steps one after another in the same bowl, and make room for the appliance and its upkeep.
Consider it: if capacity or pressure cooking matters more to you than preparing ingredients in the cooking pot.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for two appliances and will have to transfer ingredients between them.
Consider them: if your pans and other appliances already meet your needs, particularly when you prepare several things at once.
Bear in mind: preparation and cooking won’t be combined in the same bowl.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking | Think about the tasks your recipes call for: chopping, grating, mixing and then cooking. Check the functions, settings and accessories included with the model you’re considering. | I want to prepare and cook soups or slow-cooked dishes without having to move between appliances every time. |
| Capacity and space | Compare the usable capacity, fill markings and dimensions with the bowl and accessories in place. The total volume isn’t necessarily the same as the amount you can use. | My meals need to fit in the bowl, but I also need room to use and store the whole setup in my kitchen. |
| Cleaning and accessories | Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe. Make sure the accessories you need are included and consider how much storage space they’ll take up. | If I use this appliance often, cleaning the bowl, lid and accessories will factor into my decision. |
| Guided recipes | Check which programmes are built into the appliance, which recipes you can access and whether any services require a subscription. If you adapt recipes, also check whether you can adjust the settings manually. | I want to know whether I can follow instructions on screen or cook without relying on a recipe service. |
The amount you can prepare depends on the usable capacity and the recipe. Magimix lists the original Cook Expert as 3.5 L in total, with 2.5 L usable, while the Cook Expert XL Connect has a total capacity of 4.8 L, with 3.8 L usable.
Compare usable capacities where these are given, then check the fill markings in the manual against the recipes you make regularly.
The Moulinex Cookeo+ offers pressure cooking, among other functions, but its cooking modes don’t mean it can handle chopping or kneading like a cooking food processor.
Think through the steps involved in a few of your usual meals and check which appliance and accessory would handle each one.
Built-in programmes, accessories included in a pack and access to a recipe service are separate things. Vorwerk, for example, describes Cookidoo as a renewable subscription.
Check what’s included in the pack and the terms for accessing recipes for your chosen model, including what happens when any trial period ends.
Cleaning instructions vary by part and model. Que Choisir also treats ease of cleaning and how well accessories withstand washing as separate from their food preparation performance.
Check the instructions for the bowl, lid, blades, seals and other accessories before you choose.
The Companion and Cookeo ranges are designed for different uses: Companion combines preparation and cooking, while Cookeo is a multicooker.
The Cook Expert range combines cooking in the bowl with food preparation tasks that vary by model and its accessories.
The Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation and cooking functions with a screen and guided Cookidoo recipes.
These two cooking food processors are options if you’re looking for one appliance that combines preparation and cooking. To compare them, check the accessories included, usable capacity and cleaning requirements for each model.
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If you want to prepare and cook with one appliance, check that the included accessories cover all the steps in your recipes. The title mentions an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Confirm the exact model and how you can access recipes before choosing.
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To combine preparation and cooking, check that the accessories are right for the tasks you have in mind. The title mentions built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes. Check the bowl’s usable capacity, recipe access terms and cleaning instructions.
A cooking food processor adds cooking to food preparation tasks. That’s the distinction made by Que Choisir. A conventional food processor can chop, grate or knead, for example, but don’t assume it can cook unless this is confirmed in its product details.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then compare these with the appliance’s dimensions in the setup you plan to use. Magimix, for instance, lists different dimensions for the Cook Expert XL Connect depending on which bowl is fitted.
No. It depends on the model and service. Moulinex offers a free recipe app for some Companion models, while Vorwerk provides Cookidoo as a subscription service. Check what remains available on your chosen appliance without the service.
Check the manual to see exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe and which need to be washed by hand. A dishwasher-safe bowl doesn’t mean the lid, blades or other accessories are suitable for the dishwasher too.