Choose a food processor with a cooking function if you often want to prepare and cook meals in the same appliance, with fewer transfers between devices. If you already use a saucepan or multicooker and mainly want to chop, grate or blend, a standard food processor is a more direct fit. In either case, compare usable capacity, storage and cleaning with your everyday needs .
How often you cook isn’t the only thing that matters. The best choice depends mainly on which steps you want to bring together.
You often make soups, sauces or slow-cooked dishes and want to avoid transferring ingredients from one appliance to another. A food processor with a cooking function is worth considering if its settings suit the recipes you actually make.
You use a hob, oven or multicooker, but often grate, slice, chop or blend ingredients. A standard food processor can handle these preparation tasks without bringing cooking into the same bowl.
You need to find room for the appliance, its bowls and its accessories. Measure the space available and think about how easy the processor will be to get out and clean. A versatile appliance can still take up a lot of room if you don’t have space for all its parts .
First, decide whether you want to cook in the processor. Then compare the quantities you need to prepare, the accessories that will be useful and the space required, whether you choose one appliance or keep preparation and cooking separate.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in cooking | Compare the cooking settings with the dishes you make regularly, and check whether preparation and cooking can be done one after the other in the same appliance. | If I often make soup or sauce, I want to avoid transferring ingredients before cooking; this all-in-one convenience would be the top priority for around 36 % of consumers. |
| Ingredient preparation | Check which accessories are included for chopping, grating, slicing or blending, based on the tasks you repeat most often. | If I’m already happy with my saucepans, I mainly want to speed up chopping vegetables; around 29 % of consumers would put preparation without built-in cooking first. |
| Usable capacity | Distinguish between total volume and usable capacity, then check the fill limits against the portions you usually make. | If I’m cooking for several people or want to make more in one go, I need to know how much the bowl can actually hold; this would be the top criterion for around 21 % of consumers. |
| Space and cleaning | Check the dimensions with the parts assembled, how the accessories can be stored and which parts are dishwasher-safe according to the instructions. | In a kitchen with limited cupboard space, I want to be able to get the processor out, put it away and clean it easily; around 14 % of consumers would prioritise this. |
A multicooker paired with a standard food processor keeps the two tasks separate: according to UFC-Que Choisir, a multicooker generally doesn’t mix food. Separate preparation appliances may also be enough if you only use them occasionally or for specific tasks, as long as you have room for them and the washing-up they involve.
A food processor with a cooking function won’t necessarily make mealtimes easier if you rarely use its cooking settings or already prefer cooking in a saucepan.
Make a note of a few meals you prepare regularly and separate the preparation tasks from the cooking steps. Choose a processor that cooks in the bowl if it will genuinely replace a step you do often.
The total capacity isn’t always the usable capacity. Magimix, for example, lists a total capacity of 4,8 L but a usable capacity of 3,8 L for the Cook Expert XL Connect. The figure that matters depends on how much you want to prepare.
Compare usable capacities and the fill limits given for your recipes, especially if you’re making several portions or using the steam-cooking function.
Discs, bowls and extra tools are only useful if they suit the food you prepare and are easy to get out and clean.
Check which parts are included with the version you’ve chosen, where they can be stored and the cleaning instructions for each one.
Recipes supplied with a processor and those available through a separate service may be subject to different terms.
Before choosing a model for its guided cooking, check which recipes are available on the appliance, the terms for accessing the service and whether you can use the processor without it.
These ranges give you a starting point for comparing built-in cooking, capacity and food preparation alone. The specifications mentioned apply to the named models, not every appliance from each brand.
The Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation, cooking and guided recipes. Vorwerk lists a 2,2 L bowl and a 6,8 L Varoma accessory for steaming.
The range includes the Companion XL YY4591FG cooking food processor and the Double Force FP821811 food processor: two options depending on whether built-in cooking is useful to you.
The Cook Expert XL Connect is a cooking food processor designed for preparing larger quantities. Magimix gives a total capacity of 4,8 L and a usable capacity of 3,8 L.
These Joybuy products cover two needs: combining food preparation and cooking in one appliance, or preparing ingredients with a standard, compact or mini food processor before cooking them separately. Focus on the tasks and quantities that suit your meals.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare and cook meals in the same appliance. This version is described as having an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen.
Check which recipes are actually available and the terms for accessing them: the number differs between the title and product descriptions. Also check how much worktop space you’ll need.
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Another cooking food processor to consider for meals that involve both preparation and cooking, with built-in scales and a touchscreen listed in the product title.
If you’re relying on specific accessories or guided cooking, check which parts are included and the terms for accessing the recipes. Also compare the usable capacity with your usual portions.
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For regularly preparing vegetables and other ingredients when you already use a separate appliance for cooking. The product title lists a 1,8 L bowl, a blender and 750 W of power.
Check which discs and accessories are included for the types of chopping you need, as well as the space available for storage.
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Worth considering for smaller preparations, such as chopping ingredients or making purée. This version is listed with a 1,1 L bowl.
For larger meals, compare this capacity with your usual portions: you may need to prepare several batches. You’ll need a separate appliance for cooking.
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This mini chopper is better suited to small preparations, especially when you only need to process a limited quantity of ingredients. Its bowl is listed as 0,7 L.
It won’t replace a food processor for larger quantities or a cooking appliance. The product description advises against processing hot food or liquids in it.
No : built-in cooking is most useful if it replaces a step you often take when following your recipes. If you already enjoy cooking in a saucepan or multicooker, a standard food processor can handle chopping, grating or blending without combining these tasks with cooking.
Compare the usable capacity and fill limits with the quantities in your recipes, rather than relying on the total volume alone. If a brand gives portion sizes, also check what type of dish those portions refer to.
Unplug the appliance before cleaning the motor unit, and don’t immerse it in water, as advised by UFC-Que Choisir. Follow the instructions for the bowl, blades and discs: whether they are dishwasher-safe depends on the parts and the model.
The legal guarantee of conformity may apply if a food processor doesn’t match the seller’s description, when a business sells the product to an individual in France. The Ministry of the Economy states that this compulsory guarantee covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods; it is separate from a retailer’s returns policy.
An old electric food processor comes under the waste electrical and electronic equipment scheme, as set out by the Ministry for Ecological Transition. A retailer may offer to take it back, depending on the conditions at the point of sale, particularly when you buy an appliance of the same type. Check the arrangements before you go.