If you also want to chop, mix or knead in the appliance, look at food processors with a cooking function. If your ingredients are already prepared and you mainly want to programme how they cook, compare multicookers. Moulinex product pages illustrate the difference between built-in preparation and cooking in a bowl. In either case, check the quantities allowed for your recipes, which steps you’ll still need to do yourself, cleaning requirements and access to guided recipes. A stated capacity or a range of programmes doesn’t guarantee a hands-off meal.
You’re looking to cut down on chopping, mixing and kneading before and during cooking. Check which accessories are included and whether the recipes suit your model. Moulinex, for example, lists preparation accessories for the Companion XL.
You prepare the ingredients separately and want cooking modes to suit your dishes, with less need to keep an eye on the bowl. Moulinex product pages, for example, describe cooking modes for the Cookeo+; check that they match the recipes you make.
You want to set a cooking time and keep food warm, rather than use built-in preparation tools. Crock-Pot describes these features for the SCCPRC507B slow cooker.
Start with the steps in your recipes you’d like the appliance to handle, then compare portions, cleaning requirements and recipe services for the model you’re considering.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention during cooking | Check which steps you’ll still need to do and which modes are available for your recipes. | I want to minimise the tasks I need to do once cooking has started, without assuming all preparation is taken care of; around 28% of consumers prioritise reducing the need to intervene. |
| Built-in preparation | Check that the included accessories can handle the tasks you do regularly. | If I chop, mix or knead regularly, I want to know whether the appliance can take care of those steps; around 22% of consumers prioritise built-in preparation. |
| Quantity per batch | Compare the usable capacity and the fill limits for your chosen mode with the quantities in your recipes. | To avoid cooking multiple batches, I check how much my usual recipes can actually accommodate; around 22% of consumers put batch size at the top of their list. |
| Size and cleaning | Measure the space available and check which parts are dishwasher-safe. | I need to be able to store the appliance and its accessories, and clean the parts after use; around 17% of consumers prioritise space and cleaning. |
| Guided recipes | Distinguish between built-in recipes, apps and any subscription, and check the terms of access. | I want to know which recipes I can access and the service terms before choosing; around 11% of consumers prioritise access to recipes. |
The advertised capacity, usable capacity and amount allowed for a particular cooking mode don’t always mean the same thing. Magimix, for example, gives different usable capacities for variants of the Cook Expert.
Compare your recipe portions with the fill limits stated for the model and mode you’re using.
If the quantity you want exceeds the recipe limit, you may need to prepare several batches.
Programming a cooking cycle doesn’t mean the appliance can chop, knead or mix. Moulinex lists preparation accessories for the Companion XL and bowl-based cooking modes for the Cookeo+.
List the steps in your recipes and check that every accessory or programme you need is available for the model you’re choosing.
With a bowl designed mainly for cooking, you’ll still need to chop and prepare ingredients yourself, possibly using utensils you already own.
Built-in recipes, apps and guided recipe collections have different access terms. Que Choisir notes that recipes aren’t essential for using a food processor with a cooking function.
Before choosing, check which recipes are available and the terms for the model’s app or recipe collection.
The brand offers options for preparing and cooking with the Companion XL, or mainly programming cooking in the bowl with the Cookeo+.
The Cook Expert range lets you compare food processors with cooking functions that have different usable capacities and connectivity.
The SCCPRC507B is a programmable electric slow cooker with a keep-warm function.
The Thermomix TM7 combines various preparation and cooking functions with Cookidoo guided cooking.
The Classic multicooker range includes appliances with various bowl-based cooking modes.
The products below are designed for programmable cooking in a bowl and are mainly suited to people who prepare ingredients separately.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a programmable multicooker with different bowl-based cooking modes.
The product title lists a 6 L capacity, 9 menus and two pressure levels, as well as frying and voice control functions.
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A size worth looking at if you want a compact multicooker for meals advertised as serving up to four people.
The product title lists a 3,8 L capacity and seven functions. When pressure cooking, follow the fill markings and wait for the float valve to drop before opening the lid.
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Worth considering if you want to compare a compact multicooker with your bowl-based cooking needs.
Leave the clearance around the appliance specified in the instructions, and take care of hot steam when opening it.
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Worth a look if you want to compare a multicooker advertised for larger quantities cooked in the bowl.
The product title lists a 7,1 L capacity, seven functions and a stainless steel inner pot. When pressure cooking, follow the instructions for closing the lid and releasing steam.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a bowl-based appliance with several cooking modes.
The product title mentions a power rating of 1200 W and 12 pre-set menus. Follow the MAX line and, for foods that expand, the fill limit stated in the instructions.
No. Compare the usable capacity and the quantities allowed for your chosen recipe and mode. Magimix, for example, lists a usable capacity of 2,5 L for the Cook Expert Chrome Mat and 3,8 L for the XL Connect Premium; Moulinex separately lists a 6 L bowl for the Cookeo+ CE851HF0.
Allow space for the appliance and its accessories, then check the cleaning instructions for each part. Moulinex says the bowl and steam basket of the Cookeo+ CE851HF0 are dishwasher-safe; this doesn’t automatically apply to the lid or other models.
It depends on the model and service. Moulinex lists built-in recipes and the free MyMoulinex app for the Cookeo+ CE851HF0; Vorwerk offers access to the Cookidoo collection for the TM7 under its service terms. Check what remains available after any trial period.
No. The DGCCRF explains that the CE mark represents the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the applicable requirements. It is not a certification mark or a rating of cooking performance.
For a refurbished appliance bought by an individual from a professional seller, the Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory guarantee of conformity can be invoked within two years of delivery of the goods. This guarantee is the seller’s responsibility and is separate from any commercial guarantee offered by the manufacturer.