Choose a cooking food processor if you want to prepare and cook different types of dishes in one appliance. First check the bowl’s usable capacity, the accessories and the space available. If you mainly chop or knead without cooking in the appliance, a multifunction food processor or a cooking stand mixer may better suit the way you cook. Separate appliances are still a good option if you need to prepare several things at once. Access to guided recipes also depends on the model and the service it uses.
The role cooking plays in your meals is the best place to start. It will help you decide whether you need an appliance that heats food or one that mainly prepares it.
If you chop and mix ingredients before cooking soups, sauces or stews, a cooking food processor can bring these steps together. Que Choisir distinguishes between preparations that involve cooking and those that do not, so start with the dishes you usually make to decide whether this function will be useful.
When preparing larger quantities, compare the amount you can actually use for your recipes, rather than just the bowl’s stated capacity. If you knead regularly, check the dough capacity too, as well as how much space the appliance needs.
If grating, slicing, whisking or kneading takes up more of your time in the kitchen than cooking in the bowl, consider a multifunction food processor or a cooking stand mixer. The tasks assessed in Que Choisir’s testing of multifunction food processors show why it is worth comparing their preparation functions in detail.
First decide whether you need to cook in the appliance. Then compare the quantities you prepare, the tasks you do most often and the space you can make available.
Consider this if: you want to prepare and cook in the same bowl, particularly for soups, sauces or stews.
The trade-off: with just one bowl, you may need to prepare dishes in stages when several things need to cook at the same time.
Consider this if: chopping, grating or slicing is your priority and you already have what you need to cook your dishes.
The trade-off: it won’t replace the equipment you use for stewing or steaming.
Consider this if: kneading and whisking, particularly in larger quantities, matter more to you than preparing dishes in a cooking bowl.
The trade-off: depending on the model, you may need extra accessories for some chopping or blending tasks.
Consider this if: you prepare several things at once or already own appliances suited to the tasks you do most often.
The trade-off: keeping several appliances takes up space and means more parts to clean.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing and cooking in the same appliance | Look for the cooking modes that suit your dishes and the accessories included to prepare them. | If I want to chop ingredients and then cook a soup or stew without switching appliances, having both steps in one place matters more than other functions. Around 31 % of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Quantities prepared | Compare the total and usable capacity for your recipes. If you knead, check the dough capacity separately. | When I prepare several portions or a large batch of dough, I need a bowl that can handle the amount I’m actually making. This would be the main factor for around 31 % of consumers. |
| Preparation tasks | Check that it comes with the accessories you need for grating, slicing, whisking or kneading. | If my meals mainly involve chopping or I often make dough, I choose an appliance based on these tasks first. Around 23 % of consumers would make them their priority. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the available space, including room to open the lid, and check which parts are dishwasher-safe. | With limited worktop space, I want to be able to set up and clean the appliance without making every meal more complicated. This would be the deciding factor for around 15 % of consumers. |
The total capacity does not necessarily match the amount you can prepare, particularly for soup or sauce. Magimix, for example, lists a total capacity of 3,5 L and a usable capacity of 2,5 L for the Cook Expert Connect.
Check the usable capacity for the dishes you usually make. If you bake bread or brioche, also check the dough capacity.
A multifunction food processor can handle many preparation tasks, but you’ll still need cooking equipment for dishes that have to be stewed or steamed.
List the steps involved in a few meals you make regularly. If you also want to cook in the appliance, look at the cooking modes on a cooking food processor, not just its chopping functions.
What an appliance can do depends on the model, what comes in the box and the recipe service it uses. A feature name alone doesn’t confirm that the relevant accessory is included.
Check exactly what comes with the version you’ve chosen and which recipes are available without an additional service.
An appliance that fits on your worktop also needs enough room for you to handle the bowl and open the lid. After preparing several dishes, the number of parts to wash matters too.
Measure the space you have in mind and check whether each part of the model you’re considering is dishwasher-safe.
These examples give you an idea of the ranges and models available. Their features do not automatically apply to every version from a brand.
According to Vorwerk, the Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation and cooking with guided recipes through Cookidoo.
The Companion range includes cooking food processors designed, in particular, for preparing family meals.
The Cook Expert Connect is a cooking food processor for which Magimix clearly distinguishes between total and usable capacity.
The Cooking Chef KCL96.004DG is a cooking stand mixer to consider if working with dough is a priority.
These two cooking food processors are worth considering if you want one appliance that combines food preparation and cooking. Compare their features with the quantities you usually prepare and the functions you really need.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare and cook several portions in one appliance. The product title lists an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the usable capacity and accessories included with this version to make sure they suit your recipes.
Before choosing this configuration, also confirm the bowl material and how you can access the recipes.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking, with built-in scales and a touchscreen.
To see if it suits preparing several portions and is easy to clean, check the bowl’s usable capacity, the accessories included and which parts are dishwasher-safe.
Check the usable capacity for the dishes you make, not just the bowl’s total capacity. For example, Magimix lists a total capacity of 3,5 L but a usable capacity of 2,5 L for the Cook Expert Connect. If you knead, check separately how much dough the model you’re considering can handle.
Yes, for your preparation tasks, as long as you continue cooking on the hob, in the oven or in another appliance. If you also want to stew or steam in the appliance, compare the cooking functions of cooking food processors instead.
No. What’s included depends on the model and its configuration. Check the list of included accessories if your meals call for a steaming basket, grating or slicing discs, or baking attachments.
It depends on the food processor and the recipe service it uses. Que Choisir highlights several ways of accessing recipes. For a Thermomix TM7, check with Vorwerk how Cookidoo works and which functions remain available without the service.