A food processor with a cooking function is most useful if your usual recipes involve both preparation and cooking, and the model you choose has the functions, accessories and usable capacity you need. If your existing appliances already cover cooking, a food processor without a heating function may be enough to prepare ingredients. For occasional use, your current equipment may still be all you need. Que Choisir Ensemble distinguishes food processors with a cooking function from other food processors by their cooking function. You should also check the appliance’s size, how easy it is to clean and the terms for accessing recipes.
If your recipes start with chopping or mixing before simmering, steaming or making a sauce, check which transfers between utensils a particular model can genuinely save you. Que Choisir Ensemble distinguishes food processors with a cooking function from multifunction food processors, particularly by whether they can cook.
Compare the usable quantity for your recipes with the total stated capacity, and check which accessories you’ll need. Fill limits can matter more than the headline capacity alone.
If you already have what you need to cook, consider whether a food processor would simplify preparation often enough to justify having another appliance and extra parts to store and wash.
Worth considering: your dishes regularly involve preparation and cooking as part of the same process.
Bear in mind: the appliance and its accessories take up space and need cleaning; functions vary by model.
Worth considering: you often chop, grate or knead, while your hob, pans or oven already cover the cooking.
Bear in mind: cooking, transferring ingredients and keeping an eye on the food remain separate tasks.
Worth considering: your recipes rarely require preparation and cooking as part of the same process, or you want to avoid adding another appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll do more by hand and won’t have guided programmes built into a food processor.
To compare these options, start with the recipes you make regularly. Note the tasks involved, the quantities you need to prepare and the parts you’ll have to use and clean.
| Consideration | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Combining preparation and cooking | For two or three recipes you make regularly, check which settings and accessories are actually supplied for each task. | When my recipes start with chopping or mixing before cooking, I want to avoid transferring ingredients and know whether the pack includes the right parts. Around 33% of consumers prioritise combining these steps. |
| Quantity per batch | Check the fill and kneading limits for your recipes, rather than just the bowl’s total capacity. | To prepare a meal in one go, I compare the usable quantity with the portions I need. Around 27% of consumers prioritise batch size. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space available and check whether each part is dishwasher-safe. | If I have limited worktop space or want to cut down on washing-up, I check where to store the base and which parts need to be washed by hand. Around 20% of consumers prioritise space and cleaning. |
| Guided recipes and accessories | Check which recipes are built in, whether there’s an app or subscription, and which accessories are included or sold separately. | I want to know whether the guided recipes and accessories I need are included or subject to separate terms. Around 20% of consumers prioritise these access terms. |
With the Monsieur Cuisine Smart, the stated bowl capacity and the fill limit are not the same. This difference can affect how much you can prepare in one go.
Check the limit for your recipes and plan quantities around it, rather than relying on the total capacity alone.
If the limit is too low for a recipe, you may need to cook several batches.
The ability to cook is what distinguishes food processors with a cooking function from food processors without heating. Available accessories also depend on the model number and pack contents. Que Choisir Ensemble notes that its tests of additional accessories depend on whether they are included.
Match each task in your recipes to a function and a part that is actually included with the model you choose. The Kenwood MultiPro Compact FDM301SS is an example of a food processor without an integrated cooking function, according to Kenwood.
Terms vary by model and service. Magimix advertises recipes in its app; Vorwerk says that, after the free period, new TM7 customers can access Cookidoo under specific terms.
Check the current terms for the model and account in question, then consider whether you’ll actually use the guided cooking feature.
In a survey published in 2020, Que Choisir Ensemble found that reasons for using an appliance less often included having too much washing-up, recipes that didn’t suit people’s menus and the appliance taking too much time to use. These findings are historical and don’t reflect every model’s current user experience.
Work through your usual dishes step by step and count the parts used, the times you need to add ingredients and the cleaning involved.
The time needed to add ingredients and do the washing-up comes on top of the preparation time, depending on the recipe and accessories used.
The Companion range includes models that prepare and cook food. The i-Companion Touch XL HF938E00 has its own model-specific features.
Monsieur Cuisine models cover food preparation and cooking, but the Smart and Compact versions are not interchangeable.
The Cook Expert XL Connect combines food preparation and cooking; its configuration differs from other versions and Premium packs.
According to Vorwerk, the Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation, cooking and guided recipes through Cookidoo.
The models mentioned cover two distinct approaches: the MultiPro Compact FDM301SS prepares food without cooking it, while the Cooking Chef KCL96.004DG is a cooking stand mixer.
This selection features multifunction food processors with a cooking function for recipes that combine preparation and cooking.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a multifunction food processor with a cooking function, built-in scales and a touchscreen.
The product title lists 680 recipes. The chopping, grating and slicing blades are very sharp: handle them carefully when using, assembling, taking apart and cleaning the appliance.
No. It can’t replace integrated cooking, so you’ll still need a saucepan or another cooking appliance. Also check that the accessories supplied with your chosen model can handle the specific tasks in your recipes.
Measure the space needed for the appliance and its accessories, then check the manual for the model you’ve bought to see which parts are dishwasher-safe. Kenwood says the blender on the FDM301SS is not dishwasher-safe.
No, the terms depend on the model and service. Magimix advertises recipes in its app; Vorwerk offers new TM7 customers a free period, after which terms apply to Cookidoo access. Check these terms against the features you want to use.
Subject to its conditions, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a trader to a private individual, whether they are new, second-hand or refurbished. The DGCCRF states that claims must be brought within two years of delivery of the goods. Any commercial guarantee is additional and optional, according to the Ministry of the Economy.