A cooking food processor is worth considering if your meals regularly involve preparing ingredients and then cooking them, and its accessories match the tasks you actually do. If you already have equipment for chopping and blending, a multicooker may be a better fit if you mainly need help with cooking. If preparing ingredients is your priority, compare food processors without cooking functions instead. In every case, check how much space you have, how easy the appliance is to clean and how you can access guided recipes.
If you chop or mix ingredients before simmering or steaming them, a cooking food processor can bring those steps together. Remember to allow space for the appliance, and to factor in washing its bowl and accessories.
If you already have a chopper, blender or food processor at home, the main question is whether built-in cooking will save you transferring ingredients between appliances, or simply duplicate what you already use.
Step-by-step guidance may influence your choice. Before choosing a model, check which recipes are available directly on the appliance, which are offered through an app and which require a subscription.
Start with the meals you regularly prepare. The steps you take, rather than the length of a feature list, are what will help you decide between appliances.
Consider one if: your recipes often involve preparing ingredients and then cooking them in the same appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to set aside space for it and clean the bowl and any accessories you use.
Consider one if: chopping, grating or mixing is your main need and you’re happy with your existing cooking equipment.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to transfer the ingredients to another container for cooking.
Consider one if: you already have the ingredients-preparation stage covered and mainly want cooking modes suited to your dishes.
Check: a multicooker won’t necessarily replace your chopping or blending tools.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Functions replaced | List the steps involved in each recipe: chopping, grating, blending, then simmering or steaming. Check the accessories supplied with the exact model and the cooking modes it offers. | I want to avoid buying an appliance that repeats what my existing tools already do, without taking care of the step I’m missing. |
| Capacity and space | Compare the stated capacity with your usual portions. Measure the space needed with the bowl and lid in place, then allow room to store the accessories. | For the meals I usually make, a larger bowl is only useful if I can use it and find somewhere to keep it in the kitchen. |
| Cleaning and controls | Check the instruction manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and how many components you’ll use for your recipes. If possible, see how easy it is to start the programmes you’ll use. | I want to be able to clean the parts and easily find my settings again after an everyday meal. |
| Recipe access | Check whether recipes are built in, available through an app or provided as part of a subscription service. Find out how long any trial lasts, whether it renews automatically and which features are available without a connected service. | If I plan to follow on-screen instructions, I want to know which recipes I’ll be able to access in the long term. Que Choisir points out that supplied recipes are not essential for using a cooking food processor. |
Bringing preparation and cooking together doesn’t mean every food processor comes with all the accessories you need for chopping, grating or blending. A food processor without cooking functions and a multicooker won’t necessarily cover the same tasks either.
Make a note of a few meals you often cook, then check each step against the features and accessories listed for the model you’re considering.
Guided-cooking options vary by service. Vorwerk France offers a one-month trial for Cookidoo, and its customer support says the subscription renews automatically at the end of its 12-month term.
Check the trial and renewal terms, as well as which features and recipes you can use without a subscription. Moulinex France says that its Companion range offers recipes through a free app or directly on certain appliances.
The stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether an appliance is right for your portions or the space you have available. The accessories will also need storing and washing.
Compare your usual quantities with the model’s usable capacity and measure the space with the bowl in place. Check which capacity applies to the recipes you make most often.
A listed feature doesn’t tell you on its own what the results will be or how easy the appliance is to clean. In its cooking food processor tests, Que Choisir assesses factors including food preparation, accessories and how well they stand up to washing.
Read tests covering the dishes you’re interested in, then check the accessories included and the care instructions for the exact model being sold.
These ranges give you useful points of comparison for features and recipes, but their specifications won’t necessarily apply to every model.
A range of cooking food processors associated with guided cooking through Cookidoo.
A range of cooking food processors where features and recipe access vary by model.
A range of appliances for food preparation and cooking, with different capacity options.
A range of cooking food processors associated with the Monsieur Cuisine recipes offered by Lidl France.
This selection includes cooking food processors that combine preparation and cooking, as well as multicookers to consider if you’re already happy with your food-preparation tools. Compare each model’s features with the steps involved in your meals: being in the same category doesn’t necessarily mean these appliances can replace one another.
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Worth considering if you want to follow your preparation on screen and weigh ingredients in the appliance. Check which accessories you’ll need for your recipes, how much space the XL bowl takes up and the terms for accessing recipes; the number advertised varies between the product listing’s details.
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Worth comparing if on-screen instructions are important to you during food preparation. The product name lists built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes. Check the terms for accessing recipes, the accessories included and the care instructions for the parts.
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Worth considering if you already have tools for preparing ingredients and are looking for an appliance to cook them. Compare the stated 7.1 L capacity with your usual quantities, and check the available modes and instructions for the model.
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If you already use other tools to prepare ingredients, compare this 5.7 L multicooker with your usual portion sizes. Check its cooking modes and care instructions before deciding which appliances it could replace in your home.
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Worth considering if you cook large quantities and use separate tools to prepare ingredients. The product name lists 8 L, 1,200 W and 12 programmes. Before buying, check that the voltage is compatible with your installation in France, along with the dimensions in use and the cleaning instructions.
No. Que Choisir explains that supplied recipes aren’t essential for using one. If you’d like on-screen guidance, check what the model offers: Vorwerk France offers Cookidoo with a trial followed by a subscription, while Moulinex France says recipes are available through a free app or directly on certain Companion models.
It can combine food preparation and cooking, provided the model has the accessories and modes your recipes need. Make a list of the tasks you regularly do: a food processor without cooking functions is still useful for preparing ingredients, while a multicooker is mainly for cooking.
Check the manual for the exact model to find out which parts are dishwasher-safe and which need washing between steps in a recipe. To compare how well parts stand up to cleaning, Que Choisir says its test protocol puts bowls, lids and accessories through 50 dishwasher cycles.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies. The French Ministry of the Economy states that you have two years to claim under it, whether the goods are new or second-hand. A commercial guarantee is optional; the DGCCRF explains that it supplements statutory guarantees rather than replacing them.