Who are these options suited to?

People who make complete meals at home

If you regularly cook soups, sauces, stews or desserts, check which preparation and cooking steps each model can bring together in its bowl.

Households that cook in larger quantities

For family meals, entertaining or batch cooking, compare your usual portions with the usable capacity for each recipe. Also consider how much space you’ll need and how easy it is to handle the bowl when full.

People who often bake bread and cakes

If kneading and whisking feature heavily in your recipes, a heated stand mixer is worth considering. Check its cooking capabilities separately, along with the accessories you’ll need for savoury dishes.

What should you check before choosing?

Start with the steps you do most often, then check what’s included in the offer and how much space the appliance will take up in your kitchen.

Multifunction cooking food processor

Worth considering: if your meals often involve preparation followed by cooking, and you’ll use both functions in the same appliance.

Keep in mind: functions and accessories vary between models, and you’ll need to make room for it somewhere practical.

Separate appliances

Worth considering: if you mainly need help with food preparation and are already happy with your cooking equipment.

Keep in mind: you’ll still need to cook with another appliance, sometimes in a different dish.

Heated stand mixer

Worth considering: if you often make dough, whisked mixtures and bakes, and need a heating function for some recipes.

Keep in mind: a heating function doesn’t guarantee the chopping, blending or grating features you’d expect from a cooking food processor.

Factor What to check Think about your needs
Functions and accessories Look at which cooking steps the appliance can handle. Check which accessories are supplied for chopping, grating, whisking or steaming, depending on your recipes. I want to prepare and then cook some dishes in the same appliance, without assuming that every accessory in the range is included.
Bowl and footprint Compare the stated capacity with the quantities you need for your recipes. Measure the space you have available and consider how easy the bowl is to handle. For family meals, I need enough room in the bowl, but also an appliance that’s easy to set up and put away.
Cleaning Check each part individually to see if it’s dishwasher-safe, and count how many pieces need cleaning. Look at the bowl, lid and accessories you’ll use regularly. If I regularly make dough or stews, cleaning up after each recipe matters just as much as the programmes on offer.
Recipes and services Check which functions are available without a subscription, the terms of the recipe service and which accessories are needed for guided recipes. I’m only interested in guided cooking if I’ll use the recipes and am happy with the terms of access.

Which pitfalls should you avoid?

  • Confusing preparation with cooking

    A food processor that chops or kneads but doesn’t cook won’t cook ingredients in its bowl. You’ll still need to use your cooking appliances.

    Make a note of the recipes you cook in a typical week and identify which ones would genuinely benefit from an integrated cooking function.

  • Relying on the bowl capacity alone

    The stated capacity or the number of people specified by the brand won’t necessarily translate into the same portion sizes for every recipe. A larger bowl also takes up more space.

    Compare the quantities you usually cook with the usable capacity for the dishes you have in mind, then check the appliance’s dimensions.

  • Forgetting to check access to recipes

    A guided cooking service may require a subscription that’s separate from the appliance.

    Check the recipes and functions you’re interested in, as well as the access and renewal terms. Vorwerk France, for example, states that Cookidoo subscriptions renew automatically after 12 months.

  • Assuming every accessory is included

    An accessory shown as part of a range won’t necessarily be included with every offer. This can affect which recipes you can make straight away, as well as how much storage space you’ll need.

    Compare the exact contents of the box with the recipes you make, then check that accessories are compatible and find out how to clean them.

    Specialist accessories may be sold separately; Magimix, for example, offers an XXL steamer basket for the Cook Expert.

Which ranges should you know about?

These ranges illustrate different ways to use these appliances. Don’t assume that the features mentioned apply to every version or are included with every offer.

Moulinex

The Companion range combines food preparation and cooking for everyday meals.

  • Moulinex states that the Companion Pro HF850810 has a 4.5 L bowl, built-in scales and a free app.
  • Check which accessories come with the version you’re considering and what quantities suit your recipes, rather than relying on the stated number of people alone.

Magimix

The Cook Expert range combines cooking with several food preparation functions.

  • According to Magimix, the Cook Expert can cook, mix, chop, grate, slice, knead and whisk, among other functions.
  • Steaming and larger-capacity accessories are available for this range. Check which ones are included and compatible with the version you’re considering.

Kenwood

The Cooking Chef range is designed in particular for people who want to work with dough and heat certain mixtures.

  • Kenwood states that the Cooking Chef KCL96.004DG has induction heating up to 200 °C, weighing functions and 60 built-in recipes.
  • If you also want to chop, blend or grate, check which accessories are included with the specific offer.

Vorwerk

The Thermomix and Cookidoo ecosystem may appeal if you’d like to use guided recipes and meal plans.

  • Cookidoo offers features for recipes, meal plans and shopping lists.
  • According to Vorwerk France, its annual subscription renews automatically after 12 months and can’t be paused during this period. Check the terms if you plan to use the service.

Cooking food processors available on Joybuy

These two cooking food processors fit the idea of an appliance that combines preparation and cooking. Compare their features with your recipes; this selection alone won’t determine whether a cooking food processor or separate appliances are right for you.

Robby Smart multifunction cooking food processor with XL bowl

Robby Smart cooking food processor with XL bowl, scales and touchscreen

Worth considering if you’d like to combine preparation and cooking for meals at home. The product title mentions an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the usable capacity, included accessories and number of recipes available with the offer.

View on Joybuy
Robby multifunction cooking food processor with scales and touchscreen

Robby cooking food processor with scales and touchscreen

Worth comparing for recipes that need both preparation and cooking. The title mentions built-in scales and a touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity, the accessories supplied and which parts are dishwasher-safe for the way you plan to use it.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can a standard food processor replace a cooking food processor?

Not if you want to cook ingredients in the appliance. A food processor designed for preparation can chop, blend or knead, depending on its accessories, but you’ll need to cook the food separately.

Do you need a subscription to use guided recipes?

Not always; it depends on the service. Vorwerk France requires a subscription for Cookidoo, which renews automatically, while Moulinex describes its Companion Pro app as free. Check which features are available with the version you’re interested in.

How can you avoid a cooking food processor that’s difficult to clean?

Check whether each part is dishwasher-safe, and look at the bowl, lid, seals and accessories your recipes will use. The number of programmes alone won’t tell you how much cleaning is needed after use.