If you want to prepare and cook meals in a single appliance, choose a cooking food processor with enough usable capacity for your portions. If you already cook on the hob or in the oven, a food processor is better suited to chopping and preparation; if you regularly knead and whisk, consider a stand mixer instead. A blender is a useful extra for specific blending tasks, but it won’t replace these other appliances.
If you often make soups, sauces or slow-cooked dishes, a cooking food processor can bring together some of the preparation and cooking in one appliance. Check that its usable capacity suits your portions and the recipes you make.
If you already cook on the hob or in the oven, the chopping, mincing and blending functions of a food processor may meet your main needs. Magimix bowls and food-preparation accessories vary by model.
For yeasted doughs, cakes or frequent batches of baking, compare the kneading and whisking tools first, along with the stated dough capacity. The bowl’s overall capacity alone doesn’t tell you everything about what it can handle.
Choose one if: chopping and preparing ingredients before cooking take up most of your time in the kitchen.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to use the hob or oven to cook your meal.
Choose one if: you want to prepare and cook soups, sauces or slow-cooked dishes in the same appliance.
Bear in mind: the bowl stays in use while food is cooking and may need washing between stages.
Choose one if: kneading dough and whisking mixtures are your main uses.
Bear in mind: you’ll need other appliances for chopping ingredients and cooking meals.
Choose one if: you already have what you need to chop and cook, and mainly want to blend drinks, sauces or soups.
Bear in mind: this appliance won’t replace chopping discs or kneading tools.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking in one appliance | Usable capacity to suit your portions; cooking modes and accessories for your recipes. | When I make soup or a slow-cooked dish after work, I’d rather avoid transferring food between appliances. Around 36% of consumers would make integrated cooking their top priority. |
| Chopping and homemade ingredients | Included bowls, blades and discs; storage space needed for the accessories. | I already cook my meals on the hob or in the oven, but I’d like to make preparing vegetables, minced ingredients and sauces easier. For around 29% of consumers, these preparation tasks would be the main priority. |
| Kneading and baking | Stated dough capacity, included tools and space available for the appliance. | I regularly make bread or cakes in larger quantities, and mainly need to work dough and whisk mixtures. This would be the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Storage and cleaning | Dimensions, removable parts and model-specific cleaning instructions. | In a kitchen where space is limited, I might use an appliance less if it takes a long time to get out and clean. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise ease of use. |
Blades, discs, bowls and baskets can vary between models in the same appliance range. A listed function doesn’t necessarily tell you whether the tool you need for your usual recipe is included.
Make a list of the things you prepare each week, then check them against the accessories specifically listed for the model you’re considering.
Some discs, bowls and specialist accessories may be sold separately, depending on the model.
Bowl capacity, usable cooking capacity and dough capacity measure different things. The figure that matters depends on the recipe and the type of food processor.
For cooked dishes, check the usable capacity; for bread and brioche, look for the stated dough capacity. Treat the number of portions as a guide, as it depends on the recipe.
Instructions can differ for removable parts and the electrical base. For example, Vorwerk says that the Thermomix TM7 base with its screen must be cleaned by hand. To protect the materials, it recommends hand-washing the other parts where possible.
Check the instructions separately for the bowl, blades, seals, lid and base of the model you’re considering.
A warranty offered by the manufacturer or retailer is separate from the statutory guarantee of conformity that applies to purchases from a professional seller in France.
Keep your proof of purchase and check the terms of any commercial warranty to understand what it adds to your statutory rights.
Magimix food processors are designed to prepare ingredients before they’re cooked separately.
The Companion range combines preparation and cooking functions, with programmes and a manual mode.
Kenwood stand mixers are designed in particular for people who regularly knead and whisk.
The Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation and cooking with guided Cookidoo recipes.
These appliances suit three different needs: preparing and cooking in a cooking food processor, preparing ingredients before cooking them separately, or kneading and whisking with a stand mixer. First decide which task you want the appliance to handle, then check the specifications of each model.
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Worth considering if you want to combine preparation and cooking for your meals. The model name mentions built-in scales, a large touchscreen and 750 recipes; check that the functions and bowl capacity suit the dishes you usually make.
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An option for preparing ingredients or homemade bases before cooking them separately. Compare its stated 1.1 L bowl capacity with the quantities you usually prepare.
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Worth a look if you want an appliance for preparing ingredients before cooking. The product name mentions slicing and grating discs; check which accessories are included and the model’s cleaning instructions.
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Designed for recipes where kneading, whisking or mixing matters more than chopping ingredients. The product name lists a dough hook, whisk, beater and a stated power of 400 W; check that the dough capacity suits your recipes.
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Worth considering if you mainly make doughs and baked treats at home. The stated 4.1 L bowl capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much dough you can work with, so check the capacity recommended for your recipes.
No. A cooking food processor is mainly for people who want to prepare and cook in the same appliance. If you mainly want to grate, slice or chop ingredients before cooking them separately, compare the tools on a food processor with those on the cooking food processor you’re considering.
Choose based on the recipes and portions you usually make, comparing like-for-like capacities. Moulinex states that the Companion shown has a usable capacity of 3 L, while Vorwerk lists a 2.2 L bowl for the Thermomix TM7. For a stand mixer, also check the stated dough capacity, which is different from the bowl capacity.
No. Follow the instructions for each part of the model. For the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk says that the removable parts are dishwasher-safe, but the base with its screen must be cleaned by hand. The brand also recommends hand-washing parts where possible to protect the materials.
You can make a claim under the statutory guarantee of conformity with the professional seller if the fault is covered by that guarantee. The French Ministry of the Economy states that you have two years to claim under it. This protection is separate from any additional commercial warranty.
Take it to an appropriate collection point rather than putting it in your household rubbish. The French ministry responsible for ecology lists collection points, waste recycling centres, retail outlets and social and solidarity economy organisations among the options.