Choose your appliance based on the tasks you do most often: a food processor for chopping, grating and slicing; a stand mixer for whisking and kneading; or a blender if you mainly blend liquids. If you only need to perform one task, a specialist appliance may also be worth considering. In every case, check which accessories are included, whether the capacity suits your recipes and how much space the appliance will take up.
Start with the recipes you make regularly rather than the total number of functions listed on the box.
You regularly grate, slice, chop and mix ingredients for several meals. A food processor can bring these tasks together, provided it has the discs, blades and bowls you need. Moulinex, Bosch and Magimix describe these tasks for some of their models; check which accessories come with the exact model you choose.
You often make bread, pizza, cakes or mixtures that need whisking. First, check the bowl tools and the maximum quantity of dough the machine can handle. Kenwood offers stand mixers with a whisk, dough hook and beater, but the equipment and limits vary by model.
If blending is the main task, a blender is better suited to it than a set of chopping accessories. Moulinex offers blenders designed for drinks and sauces, among other things; check the jug capacity, which preparations it can handle and how easy it is to clean for the recipes you make.
Identify your main task, then check what the model you are considering can actually do. If you repeat just one task, compare a specialist appliance too, rather than paying for functions on a more versatile machine that you may never use.
| What matters | What to check | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Chopping and preparing solid ingredients | Discs and blades included for grating, slicing and chopping; check that optional accessories are compatible with the exact model. | I regularly prepare a variety of ingredients and want to avoid switching between different hand-held tools. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise these repeated chopping tasks. |
| Kneading and baking | Whisk, dough hook and beater included; check the model's stated maximum dough capacity, which is different from the bowl's volume. | If I often make bread, pizza or cakes, my usual batch sizes matter more than occasional chopping functions. Kneading and baking would be a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Blending liquids | Jug capacity and the types of preparations it can handle, especially if you want to blend hot ingredients. | For my soups, sauces and drinks, I mainly want an appliance designed for blending, without assuming it can grate or knead too. Around 23% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Space, cleaning and long-term use | Dimensions, parts that need hand-washing, and model-specific references for accessories or spare parts. | With limited kitchen space, I want to be able to get the appliance out, clean it and put it away without making every preparation more complicated. This would be the main concern for around 15% of consumers. |
A bowl's volume alone doesn't tell you how much dough it can handle. Likewise, a spare-parts catalogue doesn't mean every accessory fits every model. Make a note of the exact model number before comparing.
Grating, blending or chopping may require an optional part. Moulinex and Magimix, among others, have accessory catalogues, but the fact that an item is listed doesn't mean it comes with every food processor.
Compare what's in the box with the tasks you do most often, then check that any extra accessories you are considering are compatible with the exact model.
The maximum amount of dough a machine can handle is different from the bowl's volume. Bosch states that the MultiTalent 8 MC812M844 can handle up to 1.5 kg of dough, while Kenwood gives a figure of 960 g for the Prospero+ KHC29A.A0WH. These figures apply to those two models, not their entire ranges.
For your usual batches, compare the manufacturers' stated dough limits and follow the instructions for the model you choose.
Changing discs or bowls between preparations means more handling. Moulinex says that the relevant parts of the Easy Force FP242B10 are dishwasher-safe, except for the motor base; this doesn't apply to every food processor.
Check the appliance's dimensions, how much room its accessories need and the cleaning instructions for each part.
A blender designed for blending doesn't automatically come with the grating and slicing discs found on a food processor.
If you alternate between making smoothies and chopping vegetables, check which appliance and accessories can actually handle both tasks.
If you find yourself chopping regularly after buying a blender, you may need a second appliance.
These ranges show the different types of food processor and ways they can be equipped. Check the specifications of the exact model you're interested in.
The brand offers food processors, stand mixers and blenders, as well as a model-by-model search for parts and accessories for several of its food processors.
The MultiTalent range includes food processors in different sizes and with different equipment.
Its stand mixers are designed for mixing, whisking and kneading; some models accept additional accessories.
The brand offers food processors and lists accessories and parts for different models.
These Joybuy appliances are suited to different preparations: chopping and a variety of tasks with food processors, dough and mixing with a stand mixer, or blending with a blender. First choose the type that suits your recipes, then compare the specifications of each model.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you switch between chopping and other preparations using one appliance. The product name states 600 W and 1.5 L; for your batches, check the usable capacity of the bowl separately, as well as the maximum amount of dough it can handle.
Check which accessories are included and how to clean them. Never immerse the motor base in water.
Image unavailable
Consider this if you'd like one cooking food processor to handle both ingredient preparation and cooking. It's described as having a large bowl, built-in scales and a touchscreen; check which chopping accessories are suited to your recipes.
Before setting aside space for it, measure the room available for the appliance and its accessories. Also confirm what's included with this model.
Image unavailable
Worth comparing for regular chopping and blending. The product name states 750 W and 1.8 L, and lists a blender, meat grinder and chopping discs among its features.
Check which parts actually come with the version on offer, along with the usable capacity and cleaning instructions.
Image unavailable
Consider this if your regular preparations are mainly doughs, mixtures and recipes that need whisking. Compare the maximum dough capacity and included tools with the size of your usual batches, rather than relying on the bowl's volume alone.
When making heavy dough, follow the operating times and rest periods set out in the instructions. If you also want to grate or slice, check separately which accessories are compatible.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you mainly blend drinks or purées rather than grating or kneading. The product name states that it has a 1.5 L jug, two speeds and an ice-crushing function.
If you make soups, check the temperature limits for the jug. Also read the cleaning instructions before buying.
No. The equipment varies by model and version. Check the list of included parts and make sure separately sold accessories are compatible before relying on these functions.
Not necessarily. A stand mixer is primarily designed for mixing, whisking and kneading. If you often grate or slice ingredients, check whether a suitable accessory is included or listed as compatible with the model you're considering.
Check the instructions for the exact model, part by part. For example, Moulinex says that the relevant parts of the Easy Force FP242B10 are dishwasher-safe, except for the motor base. Don't assume the same applies to another appliance.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual, as noted by the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. If the food processor you receive doesn't match its description, contact the professional seller so they can assess the lack of conformity.