If your appliances already cook your meals but chopping, grating or kneading is still a chore, a food processor could fill that specific food-preparation gap. A cooking robot is worth considering if you also need integrated cooking. If your everyday tasks are already covered, keeping the appliances you have means you won’t need to find space for another one. In each case, compare the bowl capacity, attachments and overall size with the way you’ll actually use it.
You already have cooking appliances and want to know whether preparing ingredients is still a task they don’t cover. Que Choisir makes a clear distinction between this function and integrated cooking.
You need to be able to set out or store the appliance, its bowl and its attachments without losing space you need for cooking.
You switch between small preparations and larger meals, so the bowl capacity needs to suit the quantities you use, not just your biggest batch.
Consider it if: you already have cooking covered and the tasks you repeat most often involve preparing ingredients.
Bear in mind: it won’t cook, and you’ll also need space for the bowl and attachments.
Consider it if: you’re looking for integrated cooking that your current equipment doesn’t provide. According to Que Choisir, a cooking robot combines food preparation and cooking, while a multicooker is mainly designed for cooking.
Bear in mind: they don’t offer the same food-preparation functions, and the bowl’s total capacity may not match the amount you can actually cook in it.
Keep them if: they already cover the preparation and cooking tasks you do regularly.
Bear in mind: some preparations may still require several appliances or separate steps.
If your kitchen is already well equipped, start with the task you’re missing most. Then compare the space you’ll need and the quantities you prepare.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Uncovered function | Identify the food-preparation tasks you do often that your current appliances can’t handle, then check which attachments you’ll need. | If I already have appliances for cooking but still chop or grate by hand, I want to add a useful function rather than a second cooking solution; around 33% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Size | Check the appliance’s dimensions when in use, as well as the space needed to store the bowl and attachments. | In a small kitchen, I need to be able to get the food processor out and put it away without losing worktop space; space would be the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Quantity prepared | Compare the smaller and larger batches you make with the stated usable capacity of the bowl or cooking pot. | When I switch from small quantities to family meals, I’m looking for a bowl that suits both; around 25% of consumers would prioritise the quantity it can prepare. |
| Integrated cooking | Identify the cooking modes you’re missing and the food-preparation tasks the appliance can also handle. | If I also want to cook or simmer in the appliance, a food processor on its own won’t meet my needs; around 17% of consumers would put this first. |
The cooking function that sets a cooking robot apart may duplicate what you already have, while chopping or kneading could still be your main need.
List the frequent preparations you still find difficult before comparing cooking programmes.
The total capacity doesn’t always tell you how much you can actually cook. Que Choisir, for example, points to a 6 L multicooker pot with a usable cooking capacity of just 4 L.
Compare the usable capacity and the stated limits for recipes with the portions you usually make.
Extra attachments take up space and need cleaning, even if you only use some of the advertised functions.
Check which attachments are included for the tasks you do regularly and where you’ll store them.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that you can make a claim under the statutory guarantee of conformity for two years for a new or second-hand product. A commercial guarantee is a separate offer, and the stated term may include this statutory period.
Before taking out an extended guarantee, compare how much extra cover it really adds, any exclusions and how claims are handled.
The range lets you consider a food processor and a Companion cooking robot separately.
The Cook Expert is worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking.
The MultiPro Go range is worth a look if easy storage is a priority for your food processor.
The MultiTalent 3 range includes food processors designed for food preparation without cooking.
These models illustrate two different buying options: a food processor for preparing ingredients when you already have cooking covered, or a cooking robot if you’d also like to cook in the same appliance. Keeping your current equipment is still an option if you don’t need either of these functions.
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Worth considering if you want to add food-preparation functions and already have cooking covered. The bowl is listed as 1.5 L and the power as 600 W; check the usable capacity and dimensions against your needs.
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Consider it if you’re looking for integrated cooking as well as food preparation. It’s described as having an XL bowl, built-in scales, a large touchscreen and 750 recipes; check the usable capacity, dimensions and whether its cooking functions offer something your current appliances don’t.
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Worth comparing if you’re mainly looking for food-preparation functions and already have cooking covered. It’s listed as having a 5 L bowl, a 1.5 L glass blender and a meat mincer; check which attachments are actually included for any other tasks you have in mind, as well as how much storage space you’ll need.
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Worth considering if cooking in the robot meets a need that your current appliances don’t cover. It’s described as having built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes; compare the bowl’s usable capacity and dimensions with your portions and available space.
Not if you need integrated cooking. Que Choisir distinguishes between a food processor, which prepares ingredients, and a cooking robot, which can cook them too. Check which tasks your current appliances still leave you to do.
No. Choose a bowl that suits the quantities you prepare regularly. For a multicooker, also check how much you can actually cook in it rather than relying on its total capacity alone.
Check which parts can be removed and how the bowl and attachments should be washed. If you expect to use several attachments often, also consider how long they’ll take to clean and put away.
If you buy a new food processor from a professional seller in France, you can make a claim against the seller under the statutory guarantee of conformity if the product isn’t as described. According to the Ministry of the Economy, you have two years to make a claim; any additional commercial guarantee doesn’t replace this right.