Choose according to the task you do most often: a food processor for preparation without built-in cooking, a cooking food processor if you also want to cook in the appliance, or a specialist appliance if your needs are mostly limited to blending, chopping or kneading. Before you buy, compare the usable capacity, accessories, cleaning requirements and storage space with your usual meals. Also check the terms for accessing guided recipes if that feature matters to you.
If soups, sauces or slow-cooked dishes feature several times a week, you may want an appliance that combines preparation and cooking. Que Choisir distinguishes cooking food processors specifically by their cooking function.
If you mainly want to chop, grate, slice or blend, consider which accessories you’ll use and how much room you’ll need to store them. Que Choisir recommends taking account of the appliances you already own and how you’ll actually use the accessories.
If you’re buying an appliance for bread, brioche or whisked mixtures, a stand mixer’s dough hook, beater and whisk are better suited to these tasks. KitchenAid recommends these accessories for kneading, mixing and whisking; check that they’re compatible with your chosen model.
Start with the tasks you actually repeat, then check the quantity you’ll prepare and how much space the appliance and its accessories will take up.
| Criterion | What to check | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking | Check which cooking steps the appliance can handle for the dishes you usually make, then compare its usable capacity with your portion sizes. | I want to combine preparation and cooking for the meals I make most often, without having to use several appliances; around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Preparation without cooking | Check that it has the chopping, grating or slicing functions you need, and see which accessories are actually included. | I already have what I need for cooking and mainly want to make everyday food preparation easier without filling my cupboards with unused accessories; around 29% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Kneading and whisking | Check which accessories are compatible with the model and how much dough you usually make. | If I regularly make bread or whisked mixtures, I want an appliance that’s designed for these tasks first and foremost; around 21% of consumers would prioritise kneading and whisking. |
| Care and lifespan | Check the manual for cleaning instructions and find out about spare parts, accessories and the terms for guided recipes. | I want to be able to clean and keep using my appliance without relying on hard-to-find accessories or a service I won’t use; around 14% of consumers would make this their top criterion. |
Que Choisir recommends listing the appliances you already own and making sure you’ll actually use the accessories. A versatile appliance isn’t necessarily equally well suited to all your tasks.
Make a note of the tasks you do every week. If you only blend or chop, compare specialist appliances too.
Make room for the bowl, motor unit and any accessories you plan to keep close at hand.
Total capacity and usable capacity can differ. A bowl described as large doesn’t tell you on its own how much of your usual recipe you’ll be able to make in it.
Compare your portion sizes with the usable capacity, if stated, then measure the space available with the parts you plan to leave assembled.
Guided recipes may be part of a separate service, while some attachments and parts are sold separately. Vorwerk, for example, describes Cookidoo as a renewable subscription.
Check what’s included with your chosen version and the terms of any recipe service you want to keep using.
A time period announced by a brand applies to the products and conditions it specifies. The DGCCRF also states that spare-parts availability requirements apply only to certain categories of goods.
For the model you’re considering, ask which parts are available, for how long and how to order them.
The Cook Expert range is designed to handle preparation and cooking in one appliance. Magimix presents the Cook Expert XL Connect as suitable for larger quantities.
The Companion family includes multifunction cooking food processors. Moulinex presents the Companion XL HF80CB10 as suitable for family meals.
According to Vorwerk, the Thermomix TM7 combines several preparation and cooking functions with guided cooking through Cookidoo.
The MultiPro Go range is designed for preparation without built-in cooking, with a focus on easy storage.
These appliances cover preparation with cooking, preparation without built-in cooking, and more specific blending or chopping tasks. Start by choosing the task you do most, then compare the versions available.
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Worth considering if you want to combine preparation and cooking for regular meals.
The product name mentions built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the terms for accessing the recipes and updates you plan to use, as well as whether the usable capacity is right for your portions.
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Worth a look if you’re after a cooking food processor with recipes to follow on a touchscreen.
The product name mentions built-in scales. Check the terms for accessing the recipes and the manual to find out which parts of this version are dishwasher-safe.
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Compare this if you already have cooking appliances and want to combine several food preparation tasks.
The product name mentions blending, chopping, slicing and grating. Check which accessories come with this version and how much space you’ll need to store them.
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Worth considering if your main tasks are blending, chopping and whisking rather than using a cooking food processor.
The product name lists a 700 ml beaker, a 500 ml chopper and a whisk. For operating time, the product description recommends one minute of use followed by one minute of rest.
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Worth considering if you mainly need a mini chopper for specific jobs, rather than an appliance that handles several stages of a meal.
This version is described as a mini chopper and blender. Check that the bowl capacity suits the quantities you usually prepare.
Not if your main needs are grating, slicing, chopping or blending and you already have cooking appliances that work for you. A cooking food processor is worth considering if cooking is a regular part of the tasks you want to combine. Que Choisir identifies this function as what sets it apart from other food processors.
No, it depends on the part and the model. Check the manual for your chosen version to see which parts, such as the bowl, lid and accessories, are dishwasher-safe and which need to be cleaned another way.
Check the terms of the Cookidoo subscription and any applicable free trial period. Vorwerk describes it as an annual subscription that renews automatically. Consider whether you’ll keep using the guided recipes once the initial period ends.
No, check the commitments that apply to the specific model. The DGCCRF states that the legal requirement to make parts available applies only to certain categories of goods. Ask the retailer how long parts are guaranteed to be available and how to order the ones you need.