People who prefer guided meal planning
You want to organise your meals, follow recipe steps and put together a shopping list. Before choosing a recipe service, consider whether you’ll use these planning features regularly.
Who is each option for?
People who cook in large batches
You prepare several portions and meal components in one session. The usable capacity for your recipes, chopping attachments and number of batches matter more than the capacity printed on the bowl alone.
People who already have cooking equipment
You have a hob, oven or large cooking pots and mainly want to cut down on chopping or keeping an eye on food as it cooks. Pinpointing the task that slows you down will help you choose a useful addition without doubling up on cooking functions.
What should you prioritise for batch cooking?
Food processor with cooking function
Worth considering: if you want to chop, mix and cook in one appliance, possibly with the help of guided recipes.
Bear in mind: the bowl may mean you need to cook in several batches, and the attachments need cleaning. In a 2020 UFC-Que Choisir survey of 1,695 kitchen appliance owners, 52% of those questioned who owned a food processor with a cooking function said it saved them time. The survey did not specifically measure batch meal preparation.
Food processor without a cooking function
Worth considering: if grating, slicing or chopping ingredients takes up most of your time and your current equipment already takes care of the cooking.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to transfer the ingredients and manage the cooking separately.
Multicooker
Worth considering: if your priority is setting rice, pulses or slow-cooked dishes to cook.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to handle the chopping separately, and the bowl’s stated capacity may not match the quantity you can cook.
Your current equipment
Stick with it: if you only batch cook occasionally or your utensils already do the jobs you need during a cooking session.
Bear in mind: chopping and coordinating the cooking will remain manual. The French National Consumer Institute describes preparing several meals in one session without linking it to any particular appliance.
| Criterion | What to check | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Guidance and hands-on time | Steps that need your input; manual settings and recipes available with the model you choose. | When I’m preparing several dishes in a row, I want to cut down on settings and decisions without following recipes that don’t suit my meals. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise this kind of guidance. |
| Quantities prepared | Usable capacity and filling limits for different recipes; included attachments for preparing ingredients. | To make enough portions in one session, I’d rather avoid cooking multiple batches or transferring food between containers. The quantity an appliance can prepare would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Space and duplicated functions | How much room the appliance and stored attachments take up; tasks already handled by your oven, hob or utensils. | If my cooking is already well organised, I want to solve a specific problem rather than add a second cooking appliance. Around 24% of consumers would put duplicated functions and available space first. |
| Cleaning and recipes | Which parts are dishwasher-safe for the model you’re considering; how recipes can be accessed and which attachments are needed. | I don’t want cleaning the parts or organising recipes to make my weekly cooking session more complicated. For around 18% of consumers, easy cleaning and use would be the main priority. |
What to avoid before you buy
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Confusing bowl capacity with the amount you can cook
Filling limits depend on the appliance and the recipe. UFC-Que Choisir notes, for example, that the 6 L Cookeo bowl can cook a maximum of 4 L. Relying on the stated capacity alone could lead you to plan too many portions for one batch.
Check the usable capacity and instructions for the model you’re considering, then compare its filling limits with the soups, pulses or saucy dishes you usually make.
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Choosing an integrated cooking function when chopping is the only problem
If your hob and oven already do the job, adding a food processor with a cooking function won’t necessarily take care of the task that slows you down.
Work out whether you spend most of your time chopping, keeping an eye on food as it cooks or cleaning up. If chopping is the main issue, look at the attachments available for a food processor without a cooking function.
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Overlooking recipe access or attachments
A steamer basket, chopping disc or recipe service may be useful for your meals, but availability and terms of use can vary between models.
Check what’s included in the pack and distinguish between recipes available with the appliance and those linked to a service. Vorwerk describes Cookidoo as a subscription service.
Extra attachments can also mean more parts to wash and store.
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Making extra portions without planning how to store them
Cooking ahead doesn’t remove the need to plan how you’ll cool and store your meals. Choosing a food processor won’t, by itself, determine how long each dish will keep.
Set aside suitable containers and fridge space before you start cooking. Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 and +4 °C. Adjust storage times to the food you’ve prepared and freeze portions you plan to eat later.
Brands to know for these uses
Vorwerk
According to Vorwerk France, the Thermomix TM7 combines a food processor with a cooking function, guided recipes and meal planning through Cookidoo.
- Vorwerk states that the bowl holds 2.2 L and that more than 10,000 recipes are available through Cookidoo.
- Compare this capacity with your batch sizes and check which recipe features require a subscription.
Moulinex
Moulinex offers the Companion XL for food preparation and cooking, as well as the Cookeo for managing cooking.
- Moulinex lists the Companion XL as having a 4.5 L bowl and a usable capacity of 3 L. The brand also offers the My Moulinex recipe app.
- Check the attachments and dishwasher-safe parts for the model you choose. For the Cookeo, UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the bowl’s capacity and its cooking limit.
Magimix
The Cook Expert range combines cooking with attachments for preparing ingredients.
- Magimix states that the Cook Expert XL has a 4.8 L bowl, with 3.8 L of usable capacity.
- Check exactly what’s included in the pack if you plan to grate or slice large quantities: some attachments are sold separately.
Food processors with cooking functions and multicookers on Joybuy
The first two appliances combine food preparation and cooking; the other three are mainly for batch cooking. Compare them with the task that slows you down, and don’t assume that a large stated capacity means you can prepare the same quantity of food.
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Robby Smart Multifunction Cooking Robot, XL bowl and scales
Worth a look if you’d like to combine food preparation and cooking in an appliance with a touchscreen. The title mentions an XL bowl and integrated scales; compare the usable capacity with your recipes and check how many recipes are available with this model.
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Robby Multifunction Cooking Robot, scales and touchscreen
Worth considering if guided recipes are important to your cooking session. The title lists 680 recipes and integrated scales; check the usable capacity for your dishes and the cleaning instructions for the attachments.
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Cecotec Programmable Cooker Model D, 6 L
Worth a look if you want to schedule cooking and prepare ingredients separately. The title lists 9 menus, two pressure settings, a 24-hour timer, plus frying and voice control functions. Check the filling limit and the language of the instructions for the model being sold.
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Instant Pot Classic 5.7L, Daydream Blue
Worth considering if you prepare ingredients separately and want an appliance to handle the cooking. The title mentions pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming and four customisable programmes. Check the permitted quantity for your recipes rather than relying on the stated 5.7 L capacity alone.
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Midea 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 8 L, Black
Worth a look if you’re mainly after cooking programmes for several portions. The title lists 12 menus and a power rating of 1,200 W; check the filling limits for the dishes you make and the care instructions for the removable parts.
Frequently asked questions
Does a food processor with a cooking function save time when preparing meals for the week?
It can take some of the work out of certain steps, but the result depends on the recipes, how much input is needed and the cleaning involved. In a 2020 UFC-Que Choisir survey of 1,695 kitchen appliance owners, 52% of those questioned who owned a food processor with a cooking function said it saved them time. The survey did not specifically measure a session spent preparing several meals.
What capacity should I compare when cooking several portions?
Compare the usable capacity for each recipe and the filling limits, not just the bowl’s stated capacity. UFC-Que Choisir notes, for example, that the 6 L Cookeo bowl can cook a maximum of 4 L. Then check how many separate dishes your meal plan requires.
Do you need a subscription to use guided recipes?
Not necessarily: terms vary by appliance and service. Vorwerk offers Cookidoo as a subscription, while Moulinex describes My Moulinex as a free app. Check which recipes and features are actually available with the model you’re considering.
How should I store meals prepared in advance?
Plan how you’ll cool the food, which containers you’ll use and where you’ll fit it in the fridge before cooking several portions. Anses recommends a temperature between 0 and +4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge. Adjust storage times to suit each dish and freeze any portions you won’t eat soon enough.