For weeknight meals, a cooking food processor lets you prepare and cook food in the same appliance. If your ingredients are already prepared, a multicooker is better suited to programmed cooking. If you cook on the hob or in the oven and mainly want to chop, grate or knead, consider a multifunction food processor. Before choosing, compare these functions with the recipes you usually make, then check the usable capacity, space needed, cleaning requirements and access to guided recipes.
The key difference is which step you want the appliance to handle: preparation, cooking or both.
If your meals involve chopping, mixing and then cooking, consider a cooking food processor to reduce the need to transfer ingredients between appliances. Also check that its capacity and cleaning requirements suit the portions you usually make.
If you’re happy with your hob, oven and pans, a multifunction food processor could meet your needs if they’re mainly chopping, grating, kneading or blending, without bringing cooking into the mix.
If you’re happy to prepare ingredients by hand, a multicooker can cook them in one pot. UFC-Que Choisir notes that these appliances generally don’t stir food.
To compare a cooking food processor, multifunction food processor, multicooker and the appliances you already have in your kitchen, start with the meals you make regularly during the week. They’ll show you which steps you still need to do yourself.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks to hand over | UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes a cooking food processor by its ability to cook as well as prepare ingredients. A standard multifunction food processor prepares ingredients, while a multicooker focuses on cooking them and generally doesn’t stir. | I want to reduce the steps from chopping to mixing and then cooking, or hand just one of these steps over to an appliance. |
| Quantities | Compare the maximum fill level with the size of the bowl or cooking pot, then check the quantities specified in your recipes. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a multicooker’s cooking capacity may be lower than the volume of its pot. | My portions need to fit in the appliance without exceeding the recommended limit, even when I’m making several parts of a meal. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space available on your worktop and in your cupboards. Check the model’s manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and which need to be washed by hand. | I plan to use the appliance several evenings a week, so it needs to fit into my routine in terms of both storage and cleaning. |
| Guided recipes | Check which recipes are available on the appliance or in its app, whether they’re compatible with your model and whether a subscription may be required. UFC-Que Choisir notes that recipe access may be free or paid, depending on the service. | On-screen steps would help me plan meals, but I want to know what I can access without a subscription. |
| Appliances you already own | Make a note of the tasks your existing appliances already handle and the accessories you need for the functions you actually use. Using several appliances means you’ll still need to transfer ingredients between them. | If I can already chop, blend and cook without difficulty, I want to identify exactly which step a new appliance would change. |
The maximum fill level may be lower than the stated volume of the bowl or cooking pot. For example, Lidl France lists the Monsieur Cuisine Smart bowl as 4,5 L, but gives its maximum fill level as 3 L.
Compare the model’s limits with the quantities in the recipes you make. Don’t estimate your portions based on the bowl’s volume alone.
A multicooker is mainly for programmed cooking. According to UFC-Que Choisir, these appliances generally don’t stir food, so preparation remains a separate step.
Think about your weeknight meals and work out whether your main challenge is chopping and mixing or cooking.
A recipe platform can play an important part in meal planning, but access varies depending on the appliance and service.
Check which recipes are available without a subscription, the terms of any free trial and whether you can cook your own recipes without using the platform.
Vorwerk requires a subscription for full access to Cookidoo after any free trial periods. This is worth bearing in mind if you plan to use the service regularly with a Thermomix TM7.
The accessories supplied and the tasks an appliance can handle vary by model. A function listed in the specifications doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether the appliance will suit the recipes you make most often.
Think of a few dishes you make regularly, then check which accessories are included and what the model’s instructions say about each one.
These ranges show different approaches to food preparation and cooking. Each feature mentioned applies to the specific model or service named.
The Companion XL and Cookeo make it easy to compare a cooking food processor with a multicooker range from the same brand.
The TM7 is designed for people who want to follow guided recipes and plan meals using Cookidoo.
The Cook Expert range combines a cooking food processor with an official recipe website. Check the specifications for each version.
According to Lidl France, the Monsieur Cuisine Smart combines food preparation, cooking and guided recipes.
This selection includes cooking food processors that combine preparation and cooking, as well as multicookers for a more focused cooking solution. Compare them based on the step you want the appliance to handle.
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Worth considering if you want to follow on-screen steps while preparing and cooking in the same appliance. Check the terms for accessing the recipes you’re interested in, and make sure you have enough space for this XL model.
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An option to consider if you want to prepare and cook in the same appliance while following guided recipes. For the meals you usually make, check the maximum fill level and the cleaning instructions for each part.
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This multicooker is suited to cooking ingredients you’ve prepared separately. The 5,7 L capacity is included in its name; check the maximum fill level for your recipes before estimating how many portions it can make.
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If you prepare ingredients yourself and are looking for a multicooker with a larger stated capacity, compare this model with the quantities you usually cook. Check that its maximum fill level and size will suit your kitchen.
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Designed for programmed cooking, this model is listed with a 24-hour timer, 9 menus and 2 pressure settings. Check the maximum fill level for your recipes, and make sure the instructions are available in a language you can use.
No. Choose according to the steps you want to hand over. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes a cooking food processor, which combines preparation and cooking, from a standard multifunction food processor, which focuses on preparation, and a multicooker, which focuses on cooking and generally doesn’t stir food.
Go by the model’s maximum fill level rather than the volume of its cooking pot alone. For example, UFC-Que Choisir says a 6 L Cookeo pot can cook a maximum of 4 L, while Lidl France lists the Monsieur Cuisine Smart’s 4,5 L bowl as having a maximum fill level of 3 L. Then check the quantities specified in your recipes.
No, access terms vary by service. Vorwerk requires new subscribers to take out a subscription for full access to Cookidoo after any free trial periods, while Moulinex says the Companion XL comes with a free app. Check the terms for the model you’re interested in.
Check the model’s manual and look at the bowl, lid, blades, seals and accessories individually. Dishwasher-safe parts or a pre-cleaning mode don’t necessarily mean that every part can be cleaned in the same way.