Choose a food processor cooker if you want to prepare ingredients and cook them in the same appliance. A multicooker is a better choice if you want to set a meal cooking in the pot and keep an eye on it as little as possible. Keeping separate appliances makes sense if your existing equipment already covers cooking. In a small kitchen, also compare the space required, usable capacity and the parts you’ll need to clean.
For soups, sauces and multi-step recipes, a food processor cooker is worth considering if you want to avoid transferring ingredients between different utensils. Check that the model can handle the tasks you actually need, from chopping to mixing.
If you mainly make rice, steamed vegetables or slow-cooked dishes, take a look at the programmes on a multicooker. However, Que Choisir notes that these appliances generally don’t stir food, so you’ll still need to prepare the ingredients separately.
If your pans and oven meet your needs, a separate food-preparation appliance may be all you need for chopping, grating or blending. In a small kitchen, also think about the space its bowl and accessories will take up when stored away.
Start with the tasks you want the appliance to handle: preparing ingredients, cooking, or both. Then consider how that fits with your recipes, available space and cleaning routine.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in food preparation | Check that it has the chopping, mixing or kneading functions you need, and see which accessories are included. | When I’m cooking a multi-step recipe, I want to prepare the ingredients without constantly switching appliances. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise combining food preparation and cooking. |
| Programmed cooking | Look for settings suited to your dishes and check how the programmes work; see if it keeps food warm if you need that. | For rice or slow-cooked dishes, I’d rather be able to start cooking and get on with something else. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise cooking that needs little supervision. |
| Available space | Check the appliance’s dimensions when set up, and consider where you’ll store the bowl and accessories. | My kitchen already lets me cook meals; I mainly want to prepare ingredients without adding more appliances to the worktop. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this approach. |
| Portions and cleaning | Check the usable capacity and fill limits, along with which parts need washing and any cleaning instructions. | I want to make enough portions without choosing an appliance I’ll find a chore to clean. Around 20% of consumers would put how well it suits their household ahead of other criteria. |
Recipes with liquids or ingredients that foam, and pressure-cooked dishes, may need extra room in the bowl. So the total volume doesn’t necessarily reflect how much you can cook.
Compare the usable capacity where it’s stated, and check the fill limits for recipes you make often.
According to Que Choisir, multicookers generally don’t stir food. Chopping, grating or blending may therefore still need to be done separately.
Make a note of the tasks you want to hand over to the appliance before choosing between a programmable cooking pot and a food processor cooker.
If those tasks are essential, allow space for the utensils or food-preparation appliance you’ll still need.
Recipes stored on the appliance and those available through a linked service may come with different access conditions. Some accessories shown as part of a range may also be optional.
Check which recipes are available on the model you’re considering, the renewal terms for any service, and exactly what’s included in the package.
Removing the bowl, opening the lid and storing accessories all affect how much space you’ll need day to day. If you cook often, you should also consider how easy the blades and other parts are to clean.
Measure the space with the appliance set up for use, and check the washing instructions for each part.
With Thermomix, Vorwerk offers food processor cookers that combine food preparation, cooking and guided recipes.
Moulinex offers two distinct ranges: Companion for food preparation and cooking, and Cookeo for cooking in a pot.
The Cook Expert XL Connect combines cooking and food preparation, using bowls and food-processor accessories.
These models cover two of the uses discussed here: combining food preparation and cooking in a food processor cooker, or focusing on cooking in a pot with a multicooker. If your current equipment already covers cooking, also consider whether it’s worth keeping.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare ingredients and cook them in the same appliance. The listing mentions an XL bowl, built-in scales, a large touchscreen and 750 recipes. Before ordering, confirm the exact model name and what’s included in the package.
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Consider this if you’re looking for a food processor cooker with built-in scales and recipes displayed on screen. The listing states that it includes 680 recipes. Check the fill limits for your portions and the cleaning instructions for its parts.
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Compare this model if you prefer cooking meals in a pot and are looking for a nominal capacity of 8 L. The listing states 1,200 W and 12 pre-set programmes. Check the fill limits for your recipes and make sure you have enough space before choosing this size.
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Worth considering if you want to cook in a pot rather than prepare ingredients. The listing describes a 7-in-1 multicooker with slow cooking, steaming and four customisable programmes. Check the fill limits and make sure its dimensions will suit your kitchen.
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Worth a look if you want a pot with a nominal capacity of 7.1 L for everyday meals. The listing describes a 7-in-1 pressure multicooker. Compare its fill limits with the quantities you cook, and plan to prepare ingredients separately if you need to chop or grate them.
Not if you also need it to chop, grate or knead. A multicooker is primarily designed for cooking in a pot; Que Choisir notes that food generally still needs to be stirred by hand. Check your recipes before getting rid of your food-preparation utensils.
Choose based on the portions your recipes make, not just the total volume shown. For example, Que Choisir cites a 6 L Cookeo pot that can only be filled to 4 L under the conditions described. Check the fill limits for the specific model and type of food you’re preparing.
No, access terms depend on the model and service. Vorwerk offers Cookidoo on a renewable subscription, while Moulinex describes the i-Companion Touch XL app as free. Check which recipes remain available on the appliance and which require a linked service.
If you bought it as a consumer from a business seller, you may be able to rely on the legal guarantee of conformity if the appliance doesn’t match its description. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that this statutory guarantee covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business. Keep the product listing and proof of purchase so you can explain the problem clearly to the seller.