Choose a cooking food processor if you regularly make recipes that involve both preparing and cooking ingredients, provided it fits comfortably in your kitchen and is easy enough to clean. If your main aim is to programme the cooking, a multi-cooker is a more direct fit. If you want to prepare ingredients without built-in cooking, compare a food processor with the tools you already own.
If the meals you usually make suit the available programmes, a multi-cooker can take care of the cooking. A cooking food processor is also worth considering if you want to prepare the ingredients in the same appliance.
If you regularly chop, blend, grate or knead, an appliance with these functions could be a good fit. Check which accessories come with the model you choose: UFC-Que Choisir notes that its accessory tests cover only the items actually supplied.
Measure the space available, including room for the accessories, then check which parts need washing after the meals you make most often. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends considering the appliance’s footprint before you buy.
Start with the tasks you want the appliance to handle, then compare models against your portion sizes, available space and preferred way of following recipes.
Worth considering if: you want to prepare and cook ingredients in one appliance for recipes you make often.
Bear in mind: several parts may need storing and washing, and the functions available depend on the model’s accessories.
Worth considering if: your priority is programmed cooking for dishes that suit its settings.
Bear in mind: you may still need your usual tools for chopping, grating or kneading.
Worth considering if: you mainly want to prepare ingredients and prefer to keep using your existing cooking methods.
Bear in mind: accessories vary by configuration, and you’ll need to cook the food separately.
Stick with these if: your hob, oven and utensils already meet the needs of the recipes you make.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to manage the preparation and cooking stages yourself.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | List the tasks the model can handle: chopping, blending, grating or kneading. Check which accessories are included. | I want to avoid getting out several tools for the steps my recipes actually require. |
| Cooking | Compare the available settings with the dishes you usually make, and distinguish between programmed cooking and step-by-step guidance. | For stews or steamed dishes, I’d like to be able to start cooking without staying by the hob the whole time. |
| Capacity | Look for the usable capacity and fill limits that suit your cooking, rather than comparing total capacities alone. | The portions I cook need to fit in the bowl or cooking pot, including for the recipes I make most often. |
| Recipes | Check which recipes are available on the appliance, any requirements for using an app, and whether you can cook without guided recipes. | I’d like to vary my meals without relying on a service whose terms don’t suit me. |
| Space and cleaning | Compare the dimensions of the assembled appliance and consider where you’ll store the accessories. Check the manual for washing instructions for each part. | In my kitchen, the appliance needs to fit somewhere practical and be easy to clean after the meals I usually make. |
Programmable cooking doesn’t mean the appliance can chop, grate, blend or knead ingredients.
Think of a few recipes you make often. For each one, identify which steps the appliance can handle and which you’ll still need to do by hand.
Total capacity and the amount you can use for a particular preparation aren’t necessarily the same. You also can’t compare the stated capacities of two different types of appliance without considering the recipe.
Check the usable capacity and fill limits for soups, doughs or steaming, as well as the manufacturer’s portion guidance.
Dishwasher compatibility may apply to only some parts. Vorwerk, for example, says the base of the Thermomix TM7 must be cleaned by hand.
Check the instructions for every part of the exact model, especially if you plan to use the appliance every day.
Recipes stored on the appliance and those available through a connected service may be subject to different terms. Some accessories needed for your recipes may also be optional.
Check which recipes you can use without a subscription, what happens when any trial period ends, and exactly what’s included in the box.
These models illustrate different approaches. The features listed apply to the models named, not every appliance made by each brand.
The Cookeo+ CE851A10 is a multi-cooker designed for cooking with built-in recipes.
The Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation, cooking and guided recipes on Cookidoo.
The Cook Expert XL combines food preparation and cooking, with a configuration designed for larger quantities.
The Monsieur Cuisine Smart is a cooking food processor with guided recipes.
This selection includes two cooking food processors for preparing and cooking in one appliance, followed by three multi-cookers designed mainly for cooking. Start by choosing the tasks you want the appliance to handle.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation, cooking and on-screen recipe guidance. The title and product description give different recipe counts, so confirm the figure for this model, along with the terms for accessing new recipes and the cleaning instructions for its parts.
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An option to compare if you’d like to prepare and cook with recipes shown on screen. The title lists 680 recipes. Check the terms for accessing them, the usable capacity for your portions, the dimensions and how to clean the accessories.
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Designed for those mainly looking for programmable cooking modes rather than chopping functions. The title lists two pressure settings and a 24-hour timer. Check whether the instructions and recipes are available in French, as well as the dimensions and cleaning requirements.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for cooking with pre-set programmes: the title lists 12. The stated 8 L capacity doesn’t tell you how much you can use for each recipe, so check the dimensions and cleaning instructions too.
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Worth comparing if you want to programme cooking and have built-in scales. The title mentions an air-fryer lid. Confirm which parts are included with this offer, then check the usable capacity, dimensions and cleaning instructions for the components.
Not necessarily. Compare the usable capacity and any limits that apply to your recipes. Magimix, for example, lists a total capacity of 4,8 L and a usable capacity of 3,8 L for the Cook Expert XL. You can’t directly compare the capacity of a different type of appliance without considering how it’s used.
It depends on the appliance and its associated service. Check which recipes are built in and which require access to a platform. Vorwerk offers new Thermomix TM7 subscribers three months of Cookidoo. Check the terms that apply afterwards and which recipes are available without the service.
No. It depends on the model and the individual parts. Vorwerk says the base of the Thermomix TM7 must always be cleaned by hand. Check your model’s manual before putting any removable part in the dishwasher.
Before you buy, check that parts are available and find out what repair options are offered for your chosen model. In France, the Ministry responsible for Ecology describes a repair bonus deducted from the bill when you use an accredited repairer. Check that your appliance and the repair you need are eligible.