Choose an all-in-one cooking robot if you want to chop, mix and cook in the same appliance for varied meals. A multi-function food processor with separate cooking is better suited to situations where preparation comes first, while a multicooker is mainly ideal for one-pot, steamed or slow-cooked dishes.
You alternate between soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes, steamed food, pasta and desserts, and want to combine preparation and cooking in one appliance. Check the usable capacity and available space before buying.
Guided steps, integrated weighing and meal planning can make organising your cooking easier. However, distinguish between included recipes and services available through a subscription.
If you already have a hob, oven or casserole dish, a multi-function food processor may be enough when chopping, grating, slicing, kneading or blending are your main requirements.
Choose this if: you want to move from preparation to cooking in the same bowl for soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes, steamed food, pasta or desserts.
Bear in mind: the space it takes up, cleaning the bowl and accessories, and the terms for accessing guided recipes.
Choose this if: your meals mainly require chopping, grating, slicing, kneading, whisking or blending before cooking on your usual equipment.
Bear in mind: the extra steps involved in separate cooking and the accessories actually included.
Choose this if: you mainly want to start one-pot, steamed or slow-cooked dishes with less supervision.
Good to know: it does not replace the chopping, grating or kneading functions of a food preparation robot.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Active time | Compare the preparation and cooking functions genuinely combined in the appliance, the automatic programmes and the steps that still need to be done manually. | I want to be able to start preparing a dish while I get on with something else. In the 2020 Que Choisir survey of 1,695 subscribers who owned food processors, 52% felt they saved time in the kitchen. |
| Guided recipes | Check how many recipes are accessible, the meal-planning functions and the access terms for the platform associated with the model you choose. | I am looking for ideas and guided settings to vary my evening meals. In this 2020 Que Choisir survey, 49% of respondents said their robot had broadened their recipe repertoire. |
| Capacity and accessories | Compare the usable or filling capacity, steamer baskets and chopping accessories included with the portions you usually prepare. | To cook more meals from ingredients, the food needs to fit in the bowl and the accessories must match the recipes you plan to make. In the 2020 Que Choisir survey, 59% of respondents said their robot helped them eat fewer ready meals. |
| Storage and cleaning | Measure your worktop, the height beneath cupboards and your storage space. Also check which parts are dishwasher-safe and which accessories need to be dismantled. | I want an appliance I can leave within easy reach or store away without the clean-up after dinner becoming a deterrent. |
Cooking robots, multi-function food processors and multicookers do not cover the same tasks: integrated cooking, chopping, kneading and pressure cooking do not completely overlap.
List five to ten typical weekday meals and identify the steps that take the most time. Then choose an appliance and accessories that genuinely cover them.
The bowl’s total volume does not always correspond to the usable volume for soup, dough or cooking with a steamer basket.
Prioritise the usable or filling capacity when it is published, then compare it with your usual portions and the storage space available.
A guided recipe service may require a subscription, and the accessories needed for your recipes are not always included.
Before choosing, check the contents of the box, the accessories useful for your menus, the recipe service terms and the commonly required spare parts available for the exact model.
Spare-part availability commitments and repair procedures vary by brand and reference. Cooking robots are not among the categories currently listed by the authorities for the mandatory repairability index.
Before buying, check the stated spare-part availability period, the repair process, the after-sales service network and the critical parts.
The Companion and Cookeo ranges let you compare a fully featured preparation-and-cooking robot with a multicooker focused more on cooking.
The Thermomix TM7 is aimed at households that prioritise guided cooking, a screen and a recipe ecosystem offering preparation and cooking in a single appliance.
Cook Expert food processors are aimed at households looking for generous capacity, versatile preparation functions and stated commitments to long-term durability.
The Monsieur Cuisine Smart is a connected option worth considering for households wanting guided recipes and multi-level cooking.
Joybuy options for weekday meals: all-in-one cooking robots and multicookers designed for one-pot cooking.
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For varied meals requiring preparation, cooking and guided recipes in one appliance.
Integrated scales, temperature adjustment from 37 to 130 °C, chopping accessories, steamer baskets and a stated usable bowl capacity of 3 L.
Stated dimensions: 40 × 26 × 36 cm; stated weight: 9.4 kg. Check the terms for accessing Wi-Fi recipes, spare parts and after-sales service.
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For preparing and cooking without having to use multiple appliances during weekday dinners.
Integrated scales, Wi-Fi, touchscreen, timer, rinsing programme and a stated 3.5 L bowl capacity for up to 6 people.
Stated dimensions: 38 × 28.5 × 31 cm; stated weight: 8.3 kg. Check the accessory contents, whether they are dishwasher-safe and the after-sales service terms.
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For family meals cooked in one pot when automated cooking matters more than preparation.
Stated 5.7 L capacity for up to 6 portions, with pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, sautéing, automatic shut-off and dishwasher-safe parts.
Chopping and grating functions are not specified; check the dimensions and spare-part availability according to your needs.
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For batch cooking or households wanting to cook large quantities with less supervision.
Stated 7.1 L bowl capacity for up to 8 portions, pressure, slow-cooking, sauté and steaming modes, plus four customisable buttons.
Stated dimensions: 30.9 × 41.5 × 29.8 cm; stated weight: 8.1 kg. Grating, blending and kneading functions are not specified.
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For small and medium-sized households looking for one-pot cooking with straightforward settings.
Stated 3.8 L capacity, 12 programmes, stainless-steel bowl, pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice, steaming, sautéing, yoghurt and keep-warm functions.
Stated dimensions: 35.1 × 31.8 × 25.6 cm; stated weight: 4.72 kg. Chopping, grating and kneading accessories are not specified.
No. Its usefulness depends on your recipes, the bowl capacity and the accessories supplied. A multi-function food processor mainly handles preparation, while a multicooker focuses more on cooking.
Compare the usable or filling capacity with your usual portions rather than looking only at the stated total volume. For soups, dough and steaming, allow for the space taken up by the food and accessories.
No. Vorwerk states that Cookidoo works with an annual subscription after an introductory period, while Lidl presents a free recipe library for the Monsieur Cuisine Smart. Check the terms that apply to your chosen model before buying.
Check whether the accessories suited to your meals are included: bowl, lid, vegetable slicer, steamer basket or other attachments. Also check the availability of parts you may need to replace over time.
Cooking robots are not among the categories currently listed by the authorities for the mandatory repairability index. Therefore, check the model’s commitments regarding spare-part availability, the repair procedure and after-sales service directly.