Choose a cooking food processor if you regularly need to chop or mix ingredients, then cook them in the same bowl. If you’re happy with your hob and mainly want to grate, slice or chop, a food processor paired with separate cooking is a more direct fit. In either case, check the capacity, space needed and cleaning requirements.
If you regularly make soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes or steamed food, a cooking food processor can cut down on transferring ingredients between preparation and cooking. Que Choisir treats this heating function as distinct from the functions of standard food processors.
If you mainly want to chop, grate, slice, blend or knead, and you’re happy to cook on the hob, start by looking at the functions and attachments of a food processor. These tasks are included in Que Choisir’s testing protocol for this category.
If kneading and whisking matter just as much as some heated preparations, a heated stand mixer is worth considering. Check the bowl capacity and how much space your chosen model will take up.
Start with the tasks you repeat when making meals. Cooking in the bowl can make all the difference if it saves you transfers you genuinely want to avoid. Then compare capacity, useful attachments and the space available.
| Criteria | What to check | What consumers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare and cook in the bowl | Check that the cooking modes suit your meals, and look at the usable capacity and included attachments. | When I make soup or a slow-cooked dish, I’d rather not transfer ingredients between two appliances; around 40% of consumers prioritise this all-in-one process. |
| Prepare with the food processor and cook on the hob | Check which grating and slicing discs are included, along with the bowl capacity. | I’m happy with my hob, but want to make ingredient preparation easier; this is the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Knead and whisk, with heating | Look at the tools included, the stated dough capacity and the preparations the model can heat. | I often work with dough or whisked mixtures and would also like to heat some recipes; around 20% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
| Keep the number of appliances down | Take stock of your appliances and measure the space needed for the food processor and its attachments. | If my current appliances already cover my occasional needs, I’d rather not add another piece of equipment that I won’t use much; around 10% of consumers put this first. |
A cooking food processor stands out because it can heat food, but this may not change your routine much if you already prefer to cook in a frying pan or saucepan.
Before choosing this option, think about which of your usual meals you’d genuinely want to prepare and cook in the same bowl.
Functions, capacities and what’s included vary between models. Don’t assume that every appliance comes with the attachment you need for a particular recipe, or offers access to the same guided recipes.
Check the included attachments and access requirements for the recipes you’re interested in on the product page for the model you’re considering.
An appliance that’s awkward to keep within easy reach, move or store can make regular use more difficult. Que Choisir lists size and ease of cleaning among the criteria to consider when choosing a cooking food processor.
Measure the space you have in mind, including the clearance beneath cupboards, then check where you’ll keep the bowl and attachments after use.
These products suit two ways of approaching multi-step meal preparation: cooking food processors that prepare and cook in one appliance, and a food processor to pair with separate cooking.
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Consider this if you’d like to chop or mix ingredients, then simmer or steam them in the same appliance.
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Worth considering for chopping, grating or mixing ingredients before simmering or steaming them in the appliance.
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Consider this if your priority is chopping, blending, slicing or grating, with cooking done separately.
It can take the place of your saucepans for some recipes made in its bowl, but not necessarily for every meal. For soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes or steaming, check that its capacity, programmes and attachments are suitable. If you prefer the flexibility of cooking in a frying pan or oven, you’ll still need those utensils.
Check how the bowl, lid, seals and attachments come apart, and which parts the instructions say are dishwasher-safe. Que Choisir includes ease of cleaning among the criteria for choosing a cooking food processor.
No. The content and access requirements vary by model. Check which recipes are available on the appliance, whether a recipe book is included, and the terms for connected features if you plan to use them.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer, according to the Ministry of the Economy. If the food processor doesn’t match its description or the use you’d normally expect, contact the seller with your proof of purchase. Any commercial warranty is in addition to your statutory rights, not a replacement for them.