An all-in-one cooking food processor is a good fit if your recipes often combine preparation and cooking in the same bowl. If you mainly want to chop or grate ingredients before cooking on the hob, a food processor without a heating function is better suited to the job; a heated stand mixer is designed with kneading and whisking in mind. Separate appliances still make sense when several components need to cook at the same time. Whichever option you choose, check the usable capacity, included accessories, cleaning requirements and access to recipes.
For soups, sauces and recipes that involve cooking, a cooking food processor can bring several steps together. Compare the usable capacity, the functions your recipes need and how easy it is to clean after use.
If you mainly want to chop, grate or slice ingredients, and prefer to cook using your pans or oven, consider food processors without a heating function. Cooking will remain a separate step.
If kneading and whisking are central to your recipes, a heated stand mixer is worth considering. Check separately whether it includes the accessories you need for slicing or chopping.
Consider this if: your recipes regularly combine preparation and cooking in the same bowl.
Bear in mind: not every model comes with the same functions and accessories.
Consider this if: chopping, mixing or kneading are your priorities and you’re keeping your existing cooking appliances.
Bear in mind: prepared ingredients will need to be transferred to a separate cooking vessel.
Consider this if: you often knead or whisk and sometimes want to heat a mixture in the bowl.
Check: slicing and chopping may require optional accessories, as with Kenwood’s Cooking Chef range.
Consider this if: you need to cook several parts of a meal at the same time.
Bear in mind: this setup means transferring ingredients between vessels more often.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| How the steps fit together | List the steps involved in the recipes you make regularly: chopping, mixing, heating or steaming. Check which of them are possible with the model and the accessories included. | I want to reduce the number of transfers between appliances, without assuming that every recipe will be quicker. In a survey published in January 2020 of 1,695 cooking food processor owners subscribed to its newsletter, UFC-Que Choisir reported that 52% of respondents felt their cooking food processor saved them time in the kitchen. |
| Cooking at the same time | Identify which ingredients need to cook simultaneously and what vessels they require. Compare this with the cooking modes available on the appliance you’re considering. | I sometimes need a saucepan and frying pan on the go at the same time; combining steps in one bowl won’t always meet that need. |
| Capacity and space | Compare the usable capacity, not just the total volume, with the portions you make. Measure the space available for the appliance and its accessories. | I sometimes cook several portions at once and want to leave the appliance somewhere I’ll actually use it. |
| Cleaning | Check the bowl, lid, seals and accessories that need washing. Find out which parts of your chosen model are dishwasher-safe. | After making a multi-step recipe, I want to know how many parts I’ll need to take apart and clean. |
| Recipes and accessories | Check exactly what’s included in the box, then distinguish between built-in recipes, app access and any subscription. Make sure the recipes on offer suit the meals you cook. | I’d like to find new ideas without relying on an accessory that isn’t included. In the same survey published in January 2020, UFC-Que Choisir reported that 49% of respondents said their cooking food processor had helped them broaden their recipe repertoire. |
A food processor without a heating function can prepare ingredients, but it can’t simmer or cook a recipe on its own.
Write down the steps involved in a few dishes you make regularly, then check the functions of the model you’re considering, including its accessories.
The total capacity may be greater than the amount you can use during food preparation. For example, Magimix lists the Cook Expert XL as having a total bowl capacity of 4.8 L and a usable capacity of 3.8 L.
Compare the usable capacity and any limits for your recipes with the portions you actually cook.
Grating, slicing or steaming may depend on what’s included in the box. Manufacturers including Kenwood and Magimix also offer optional extras.
Check the list of items included with the exact model, rather than relying on a picture of the range or a list of compatible accessories.
A versatile appliance still leaves you with a bowl and accessories to handle after cooking. Its size also matters if you plan to use it regularly.
Measure your available space and check which parts are dishwasher-safe, what needs to be taken apart and whether the recipes on offer suit your meals.
The Thermomix range combines food preparation and cooking with guided recipes from Cookidoo.
The Companion range includes cooking food processors, while Cookeo is a multi-cooker range; the two product families don’t cover the same food preparation tasks.
Cook Expert is a range of cooking food processors with bowls and food preparation accessories.
Cooking Chef is part of Kenwood’s heated stand mixer range, worth considering if kneading and whisking are a big part of your recipes.
The MultiTalent range is an example of a food processor designed to prepare ingredients without cooking them.
These two Robby cooking food processors are suited to anyone looking for one appliance that combines food preparation and cooking. To choose between them, compare the exact accessories and features with the steps involved in your recipes.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to follow recipes on a large touchscreen while preparing and cooking in one appliance. Check how many recipes are available with the model on sale, and make sure you have room for the XL bowl.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for guided recipes that combine food preparation and cooking. Before choosing this model, check the usable capacity, the accessories included for the tasks you do regularly and how much space it will take up.
No. A cooking food processor can combine some food preparation and cooking steps, but its functions and capacity depend on the model. If several ingredients need to cook at once, or a particular technique isn’t supported, keep the appropriate pans and other vessels.
Check the list of items included with the exact model. A product image or the word ‘compatible’ isn’t enough: Kenwood and Magimix, for example, list some accessories as optional extras.
No. UFC-Que Choisir recommends distinguishing between recipes supplied with the appliance and those available for a fee. For the model you’re considering, check what remains accessible on the appliance or in the app, and the terms of any subscription.
Check the usable capacity first and compare it with your usual portions. The two figures can differ: Magimix lists the Cook Expert XL as having a total capacity of 4.8 L and a usable capacity of 3.8 L.