If you’re happy with your cooking equipment and find yourself repeating several food preparation tasks, start by comparing food processors without a cooking function. If you’re missing just one function, a blender or chopper may be all you need; choose a stand mixer if kneading is your main priority, or a cooking food processor if you’d also like to cook in the appliance. In every case, check which accessories are included, whether the capacity suits the quantities you prepare, and how easy the appliance is to store and clean.
You often chop, grate or slice ingredients, but already have a way to cook them. Que Choisir Ensemble recommends starting with the food you actually prepare and the appliances you already own before choosing a food processor.
You’re looking to add a missing function without bringing home a set of bowls and accessories that duplicate what you already have. Que Choisir Ensemble and Moulinex France describe specialist appliances, such as blenders and choppers, which you can compare according to the task you need them for.
You knead regularly and want to choose an appliance that suits the quantities you make. The tests described by Que Choisir Ensemble and the accessories presented by KitchenAid France can help you distinguish kneading from chopping and slicing tasks.
Que Choisir Ensemble recommends taking your needs and the equipment you already own into account. The considerations below can help you compare the tasks each appliance handles, its accessories and the care it needs.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Combining several tasks | Match each of your usual food preparation tasks to an accessory included with the exact model you’re considering. If available, look for tests covering those tasks. | If I want to chop, grate and knead with one appliance, versatility is my top priority. Among consumers considering these options, around 33 % prioritise this need. |
| Avoiding duplication | Take stock of the appliances you already own and compare a complete set with a blender or chopper suited to the function you’re missing. | When my existing equipment already covers most tasks, I only want to fill the gaps. Around 27 % of consumers considering these options prioritise avoiding duplication. |
| Kneading your usual quantities | Compare the stated dough capacity for the model you’re considering with the amount in a comparable recipe, rather than relying on the bowl’s overall volume. | If I regularly make bread or other doughs, I check how much the appliance can process in one go. Kneading is the priority for around 20 % of consumers considering these options. |
| Storage and cleaning | Consider how much space the base and accessories need, how they can be stored, and the washing instructions for each part. | When cupboard or worktop space is limited, I prefer an appliance with parts that are easy to store and care for. This is a priority for around 20 % of consumers considering these options. |
A list of functions doesn’t tell you how well the appliance handles each task. Que Choisir Ensemble’s testing protocol assesses certain tasks and accessories separately.
Match each accessory actually included to a task you do regularly, then look for tests covering that use.
Accessories you rarely use take up space and add more parts to store and clean.
Bosch’s product information for the MCM3501M, a model Bosch says is no longer available, lists a 2,3 l bowl and a dough limit of 0,8 kg. These figures apply to this model only and shouldn’t be assumed to apply to others.
Compare the amount of dough you make with the limit stated for the exact model, rather than with the bowl’s total volume.
If a batch exceeds the model’s limit, you may need to prepare it in several portions.
Moulinex distinguishes between the standard accessories in the Companion range and its additional accessories. A vegetable slicer is one of the accessories the brand lists separately.
If grating or slicing is important to you, check what’s included with the exact configuration before buying.
The chopping tool you want may need to be bought separately.
The MultiPro Express range includes food processors without a cooking function.
The brand offers food processors without cooking functions, specialist appliances and the cooking-enabled Companion range.
The Cuisine System CS4200XL is presented with several bowls and food preparation tools, but no built-in cooking function.
The MCM3501M is an example of a food processor with several attachments.
The brand’s stand mixers are worth considering when kneading is your priority.
This selection brings together food processors for a range of preparation tasks and specialist appliances to complement your existing equipment, including choppers and blenders.
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Worth considering if you’d like to bring several food preparation tasks together in one appliance.
The model name specifies a 1.5 l bowl and 600 W of power. Check which accessories are included for the tasks you have in mind.
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Worth considering if you’d like to combine several food preparation tasks, including chopping and blending.
The title lists a 2.5 l bowl, a 1.5 l blender jug, three speeds, a Pulse function and 1300 W of power. Check exactly what’s included in the box.
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Worth a look if you’re mainly after an appliance for preparing vegetables. Check which cuts it can make and which accessories are included with this model.
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Worth considering if you want to add to your existing equipment and chopping is the task you’re missing.
The title specifies three bowls and uses for meat, vegetables and sauces. Check the bowl specifications and the cleaning instructions for each part.
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Worth considering as an addition to your existing equipment if blending drinks or other liquid preparations is your main need.
The title lists a 1.9 l jug, 450 W of power and a bottle. Check the usable capacity and cleaning instructions before choosing.
Compare the full model number and the ‘what’s in the box’ section with the manufacturer’s product information. Que Choisir Ensemble distinguishes between accessories supplied as standard and additional functions assessed separately, so a function being mentioned doesn’t guarantee it’s included with every configuration.
No, don’t assume they can. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the model and each part before washing them. Que Choisir Ensemble also considers how appliances stand up to repeated washing.
For a purchase made by an individual from a professional seller, the French Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory guarantee of conformity covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods and can be claimed within two years. A commercial guarantee offered by a brand is separate: check its terms and keep your proof of purchase.
The DGCCRF advises using utensils and containers intended for contact with food, and following their conditions of use. The glass-and-fork symbol can help you identify them; its absence alone isn’t enough to establish non-compliance when the item is clearly intended for food use.
The categories listed in the information published by the ministries responsible for the ecological transition don’t include food processors. So the absence of an index doesn’t, by itself, establish a failure to comply. Instead, ask which parts and after-sales services are available for the model you’re considering.