If your recipes often involve preparing ingredients before cooking them, a cooking food processor can bring those steps together. If you mainly want to control the cooking, consider a multicooker; and if you’re happy with your existing cooking appliances, a food processor may be all you need for preparation. To choose, check the usable capacity, which accessories are actually included, how easy it is to clean, how much space it takes up and whether guided recipes are available. None of these options eliminates every bit of hands-on work.
You’d like one appliance to handle several of the jobs you regularly do when making meals. Whether it’s worthwhile depends on the recipes you actually make and the accessories included. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes cooking, the defining feature of a cooking food processor, from the functions offered by other food processors.
You already prepare the ingredients and are mainly looking for programmes that control the heat and cooking time. The available programmes and modes vary between multicookers, as UFC-Que Choisir notes in its testing protocol for these appliances.
Your hob, oven or pans meet your needs, and you’re mainly looking to make chopping, grating or mixing easier. A food processor can complement your existing equipment without adding an integrated heating function.
Start by deciding whether you want to hand over the preparation, the cooking or both. Then check for anything that could affect everyday use.
| Feature | What to check before buying | Who cares most about it |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking in one appliance | Compare the steps in your usual recipes with the model’s functions, and check which accessories are included. | I often make soups, sauces or slow-cooked dishes that need mixing before cooking. Around 33 % of consumers prioritise having preparation and cooking in the same appliance. |
| Controlled cooking | Check that the programmes suit the dishes you make and that the model offers the cooking mode you want. | If I can prepare ingredients easily but want to keep a closer eye on the cooking less often, I look at the available programmes first. Around 27 % of consumers prioritise control over cooking. |
| Preparation only | Identify which tasks you want to make easier and check which blades, discs or other tools are included. | I’m keeping my cooking appliances and mainly want to speed up chopping, grating or mixing. Around 20 % of consumers prioritise preparation using their existing cooking equipment. |
| Portions, space and recipes | Compare the usable capacity with the quantities you make, measure the space available and check the terms for accessing guided recipes. | Before choosing, I want to know whether the appliance suits my portions, my kitchen and the recipes I plan to use. Around 20 % of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
The amount you can use may differ from the stated total volume. A recipe or programme may also have its own limit.
Compare the usable capacity stated for the exact model with the portions you usually make.
If you need to make more than the applicable limit allows, you may have to cook in batches.
A function may depend on a specific accessory, and what’s in the box can vary by model or version. UFC-Que Choisir notes that some tests of additional accessories are only carried out when those accessories are supplied.
Check the exact contents of the box against the tasks you want to make easier. Don’t assume they’ll be the same from one version to another.
If a function you want requires an accessory sold separately, you’ll need to buy it to use that function.
Access terms depend on the service and the model. Cookidoo offers a free 30-day trial when you sign up, followed by a subscription; other offers advertise a free recipe library for a specific model.
Check the terms of the service linked to the model you’re considering, and find out which functions remain available without a subscription.
If you continue using a paid service after its trial, a recurring subscription fee may apply.
In its 2020 survey of 1,695 newsletter subscribers who owned food processors, UFC-Que Choisir reported that washing up, the time involved and unsuitable recipes were among the reasons people used their appliances less. These responses describe those participants, not today’s buyers.
Think through a few everyday meals: count the steps, the parts to wash and any cooking that will still need to be done separately.
The Companion range combines preparation and cooking, while Cookeo takes a different approach, focusing on programmed cooking.
The Cook Expert range combines cooking and preparation, with usable capacity and connectivity varying between versions.
The Monsieur Cuisine Smart SKMS 1200 C1 is an example of a cooking food processor with guided cooking on screen.
The MultiPro Compact FDP31.360GY is a preparation-only option to use alongside the cooking appliances already in your kitchen.
Thermomix and Cookidoo may appeal to households looking for guided recipes who want to check the service terms.
This selection includes a cooking food processor, multicookers and a food processor to use alongside your cooking appliances. Choose according to the task you want to make easier. Accessories, functions and usage instructions vary by model.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to combine preparation and cooking in one appliance with guided recipes.
The title lists built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes. The product description advises handling the blades with care and notes that the bowl and its contents get hot during cooking.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you prepare ingredients separately and mainly want to programme the cooking.
The title lists a 6 L capacity, nine menus and two pressure settings. The product description advises against forcing the lid open while under pressure and says to follow the pressure-release instructions.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re happy with your existing cooking appliances and are looking for an appliance to help with preparation.
The title lists a 1.5 L capacity and 600 W of power. The product description advises handling the blades and grating or slicing disc with care.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your main priority is programming the cooking for several portions, without assuming it has preparation functions.
The title lists a 7-in-1 configuration and a stainless steel inner pot. The product description mentions pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing and steaming, among other functions. Keep your hands and face away from the valve and follow the pressure-cooking instructions.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you prioritise cooking programmes and want a stated capacity of 8 L.
The title lists 12 menus. The product description advises observing the filling limits, not forcing the lid open while under pressure and keeping children away during pressure release.
Not necessarily. Compare the usable capacity for the model with the quantities you plan to make and the limits of the programme or recipe. Magimix distinguishes between total and usable capacity in its Cook Expert range.
Check the instructions for each model and each component. Dishwasher compatibility stated for some accessories doesn’t automatically apply to the motor unit or every part.
It depends on the service and model. Cookidoo offers a free 30-day trial when you sign up, followed by a subscription; the product information for the Monsieur Cuisine Smart SKMS 1200 C1 lists a free recipe library. Check the terms for the specific model, and distinguish access to recipes from cooking in manual mode.
The statutory guarantee of conformity is mandatory for new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer, and you claim it from the seller. In its information sheet dated 9 September 2026, the Ministry of the Economy notes that any commercial guarantee is in addition to the statutory guarantee and does not replace it.
No. For products covered by the relevant European regulations, CE marking is required before they can be placed on the market and indicates the manufacturer’s commitment to their compliance; it is not a certification mark. In its information sheet dated 30 March 2022, the DGCCRF clarifies that it does not replace independent testing.