If you mainly want to prepare ingredients before cooking, choose a food processor with accessories suited to the tasks you do regularly. A cooking food processor makes sense if you also want to cook in the appliance, while a separate tool may be enough for a specific need or a kitchen that is already well equipped. Then match the usable capacity per batch, the appliance’s footprint and accessory storage to your habits, rather than relying on the number of advertised functions alone.
If you regularly grate, slice or chop ingredients, look for tools suited to the quantities you usually prepare, rather than paying for functions you’re unlikely to use. Darty’s guide and Bosch’s information on the MCM3501M illustrate why it’s important to consider the tasks you do and the accessories included.
If you also want to cook, mix or steam, compare the functions and usable capacity of the specific model. Moulinex lists an internal steam basket among the accessories supplied with the Companion XL HF80DB10, while Darty distinguishes between total and usable capacity.
If your other appliances already cover most tasks, focus on the one thing you’re missing, such as blending or kneading dough. The accessories listed by Moulinex and Kenwood show which tools are included with the models featured here.
Start with the tasks you do regularly, then check that the usable capacity, accessories and available space suit the way you prepare food. The percentages below show the approximate share of consumers who prioritise each need.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| The right tools for regular tasks | Match each task to the accessories included, particularly discs for grating or slicing, and tools for smaller quantities. | If you often prepare vegetables or ingredients in several batches, you’ll want a set that covers these tasks. Around 31% of consumers prioritise tools suited to the tasks they do regularly. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the limits for each type of preparation, whether you’re making dough or processing ingredients or liquids. Total volume alone doesn’t tell you the usable capacity. | If you prepare several portions at once, look for a capacity suited to the batch you’ll actually be processing. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the usable quantity per batch. |
| Size and overlapping functions | Measure the available space and check how the bowl and accessories can be stored. Take into account the appliances you already own. | If worktop and storage space are limited, you’ll want to avoid an appliance that duplicates functions already covered by your other equipment. Around 19% of consumers prioritise available space and how well an appliance complements their existing equipment. |
| Built-in cooking | Check the cooking functions, the stated temperature range and whether the exact model comes with a steam basket or the accessories you need. | If you want to automate cooking as well as preparation, check these functions before choosing a cooking food processor. Around 13% of consumers put built-in cooking first. |
| Cleaning and servicing | Check the cleaning instructions for the exact model and search for spare parts by model number. Distinguish the manufacturer’s commitment from the terms that apply to each individual part. | If you plan to use the appliance regularly, you’ll want to know how to clean its components and find a suitable replacement part. Around 12% of consumers prioritise cleaning and after-sales service. |
Sets in the same range can come with different accessories. A range name or number of functions doesn’t confirm that the discs or tools you need are included.
Match every task you have in mind to an accessory explicitly listed for the model you’re buying.
If an essential tool isn’t included, you may need to find a compatible accessory separately.
A bowl’s total capacity isn’t a universal limit for every type of preparation. For the MCM3501M, Bosch lists a 2.3 L bowl and a separate dough limit of up to 800 g, using 500 g of flour plus the other ingredients.
Compare the limits given for the preparation you make most often, rather than choosing an appliance based on bowl volume alone.
If a batch exceeds the limit for that preparation, you may need to process it in several goes.
Magimix advertises a 30-year motor warranty for its food processor range. This applies to the motor; it doesn’t mean every part and repair is covered on the same terms.
Read the terms for the motor warranty and those for other components separately, and check the information about the statutory guarantee of conformity.
The examples below relate to specific ranges or models; what’s included and the terms advertised may vary from one set to another.
The MultiTalent range may suit ingredient preparation; the MCM3501M combines a bowl with tools for food preparation.
The Double Force and Companion ranges suit different uses: multifunction food preparation in one case, and preparation with cooking in the other.
Cuisine System models may appeal if you carry out several preparation tasks one after another; some sets include additional accessories.
The Chef range is worth considering if kneading, whisking and mixing are your main priorities.
This selection includes appliances for preparing ingredients with a food processor, a specialist tool or a cooking food processor.
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For blending, whisking or chopping specific preparations, with containers sized as stated for these attachments.
The product name states a maximum power of 1,200 W and a speed of 15,000 rpm. The beaker holds 700 ml and the chopper 500 ml. Limit each continuous use to one minute, then let the appliance rest for one minute.
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For tackling several food-preparation tasks in a 1.8 L bowl, as stated in the product name.
The title lists blender, chopper and vegetable-slicing functions, as well as grating and slicing discs. The description says the parts are removable and easy to clean.
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For chopping or puréeing ingredients in smaller or larger quantities, with two separate bowls.
The name states a power rating of 300 W. The description recommends the 0.6 L bowl for smaller preparations and the 2 L bowl for larger ones. Don’t run the appliance continuously for more than 30 seconds; let it cool between cycles. The bowls and lids are not heat-resistant, so don’t process hot or boiling ingredients in them.
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For combining food preparation and cooking in one appliance when both are part of what you need.
The description gives a total bowl capacity of 4.5 L and a usable capacity of 3 L. It lists functions including mixing, kneading, chopping, grating, steaming and slow cooking. Don’t exceed the stated usable capacity.
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For combining food preparation and cooking in a food processor with a stainless steel main bowl.
The description lists a 3.5 L main bowl, built-in scales and a touchscreen. It also mentions mixing, kneading, chopping, grating, slicing, steaming and slow cooking. It warns that the blades are very sharp and the lid must be locked before use.
No. Check the accessory list for the exact model. The official list for the Companion XL HF80DB10 featured here includes an internal steam basket, among other accessories, but no vegetable slicer.
No, total capacity isn’t a universal limit. For the Bosch MCM3501M, Bosch lists a 2.3 L bowl and a separate dough limit of up to 800 g, using 500 g of flour plus the other ingredients. Check the limits for the task you have in mind.
No. For the HF80DB10, Moulinex describes its repairability commitment as being at a “fair price”; it doesn’t promise free repairs. The statutory guarantee of conformity is separate: according to Service-Public.fr, for a purchase from a professional seller, the fault must appear within two years of the goods being delivered.
No. The Directorate General for Enterprise explains that the CE marking is neither a certification mark nor an indication of geographical origin. For a specific appliance, check the information that applies to the model and variant in question.
Anses recommends storing cooked meals in the coldest part of the fridge, at 4 °C, and avoiding overfilling it so that air can circulate. This advice concerns food storage, not the features of the food processor.