Choose a cooking food processor if you regularly need to cook in the bowl or steam ingredients as part of your weekday meals. If you mainly want to chop, grate or blend and already use other appliances for cooking, a food processor may be a better fit. If kneading is your priority, consider a cooking stand mixer too. In each case, compare the quantities you prepare, the accessories included, the space available and how easy the appliance is to clean.
If soups, sauces, stews or steamed vegetables regularly feature on your menu, preparing and cooking in the same appliance could suit the way you cook. Que Choisir makes the distinction between a cooking food processor and other food processors specifically on the basis of its cooking function.
You already use a pan or oven, but regularly chop, grate, slice or blend ingredients. In that case, a food processor’s preparation functions can meet your main needs without replacing your cooking appliances, as Que Choisir points out.
If you regularly knead dough for bread, pizza or brioche and would also like to cook in the bowl, consider cooking stand mixers separately. Check the recommended dough quantity and how much space the appliance needs.
Start by working out which steps you want the food processor to handle and which are already covered by your current appliances.
| Priority | What to check | Who this suits |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in cooking | Do your meals often need to be cooked in the bowl or steamed? Check the usable capacity too. | For regular soups, sauces or stews, I want to prepare and cook with the same appliance. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this built-in cooking function. |
| Chopping and blending | Check which tasks the included accessories can handle, particularly grating and slicing. | If I already cook using a pan or oven, I mainly want to prepare ingredients for my meals. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this food preparation without built-in cooking. |
| Kneading | Compare the dough quantity suited to the model and the accessories needed for other tasks. | If I often make bread or pizza, working with dough matters more than a function I would only use occasionally. Around 20% of consumers prioritise kneading. |
| Storage and cleaning | Measure the space needed for the appliance and its accessories, and check the washing instructions for each part. | If my kitchen already has several appliances, I want to be able to store and clean the one I choose without making mealtimes more complicated. Around 20% of consumers put everyday convenience first. |
A food processor can already handle a wide range of preparation tasks, while cooking is what sets a cooking food processor apart, according to Que Choisir. This difference matters most if your weekday recipes regularly involve cooking in the bowl or steaming.
For a week or two, make a note of the tasks you repeat and separate chopping or mixing from cooking.
A stated function may require a disc, basket or other accessory, depending on the version you choose.
Check what comes in the box for the exact model and the tasks you actually do, then make sure you have somewhere to store the accessories you need.
You’ll need space in your kitchen for the bowl and its accessories, and they’ll need cleaning after use. A large capacity isn’t enough on its own to make an appliance the right choice.
Measure the space you have, compare the usable capacity with your portion sizes, and check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe.
Que Choisir has reported accounts of burns involving the Moulinex Companion HF800. This warning relates to that specific model and does not mean that the same issue affects the whole range.
If you’re buying a second-hand or refurbished appliance, identify the exact model and check the condition of the lid, seals and locking mechanism, as well as the manufacturer’s safety information.
The Thermomix range combines cooking with guided recipes on connected models.
The Companion range includes cooking food processors designed for both preparation and cooking.
The Cook Expert combines cooking with food preparation functions.
The Cooking Chef Experience KCL95.429SI is a cooking stand mixer to consider if working with dough is a priority.
These models cover two ways to make weekday meals: prepare and cook with a cooking food processor, or prepare ingredients before cooking them with your usual appliances.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to bring food preparation and cooking together in one appliance. This version is listed with an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity, as well as the number of recipes available and the terms for accessing them for your chosen model.
Image unavailable
Another model to consider for preparing and cooking meals in one appliance. Its name includes scales and a touchscreen; check which accessories are supplied for chopping and slicing, and read the cleaning instructions before choosing this version.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to prepare ingredients and already have an appliance for cooking them. The product name lists a 1.8 L bowl and slicing and grating discs; compare the capacity with the quantities you usually prepare.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for smaller quantities when you’ll be using another appliance for cooking. The bowl is listed as 1.1 L; check that this capacity suits the quantities you usually prepare.
It may suit you if you mainly want to prepare ingredients and will continue using your existing cooking appliances. It won’t replace cooking in the bowl or steaming if you want a cooking food processor to handle those tasks regularly; that’s the distinction made by Que Choisir.
Start with the quantities you actually prepare, then compare the usable capacity rather than just the total capacity listed. Also check that you’ll be able to handle and wash the bowl in the space available in your kitchen.
No, this depends on the model and its configuration. Check exactly what’s included in the box before relying on these functions for your weekday meals.
Follow the manual for your chosen model to clean the bowl, blades and accessories. Which parts are dishwasher-safe varies by appliance. Que Choisir points out that the motor unit of a food processor must not be immersed in water.