A cooking food processor is worth making space for in a small kitchen if you often make meals that need both preparation and cooking in the bowl, and the appliance and its accessories fit in the space you have. If your hob and oven already take care of the cooking and you mainly want to chop, grate or knead, a non-heating food processor may be better suited to those tasks. If you bake often, also look at the features offered by a heated stand mixer.
The right choice depends on the steps you repeat when making meals, as well as how much room the appliance will take up between uses.
If every appliance has to earn its place on your worktop, compare the tasks and cooking steps a food processor could combine with the space it and its accessories will take up. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking that it will fit in your kitchen before you buy.
For soups, sauces or dishes that need preparing and then heating, check whether the cooking functions and accessories suit the recipes you usually make. In its testing protocols, UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between cooking tasks and preparation tasks that don’t involve cooking.
An appliance you use often should also be easy to clean and put away after an everyday meal. Check which parts need cleaning, which accessories you’ll need and how to access any guided recipes you plan to use.
Worth considering if: you regularly need to prepare ingredients and then heat them in the bowl.
Bear in mind: the bowl and accessories take up space and add to the washing up.
Worth considering if: you mainly want to chop, grate, knead or whisk, and already have the appliances you need for cooking.
Limitation: you’ll need to handle the cooking separately, and what you can do will also depend on the accessories included.
Worth considering if: you often make dough and bake, and need to heat some preparations.
Check: a heating function doesn’t guarantee the chopping, blending or steaming functions you may want for other meals.
Start with a few meals you make regularly, then check the functions, accessories and cleaning needed for each step.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking | Identify the steps that involve heating. Check the cooking modes and preparation tasks available on the model you’re considering. | I often make dishes that go from chopping or mixing to cooking in the bowl, or I’d rather keep using my current cooking appliances. |
| Space and storage | Measure the space you have, including clearance for opening the lid and room for the accessories. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking the appliance’s dimensions before you buy. | I want to keep my worktop usable and be able to get the food processor out without moving several other appliances. |
| Accessories | Compare what’s actually in the box with the tasks you want to do: grating, slicing, kneading or steaming. Don’t assume that a compatible accessory is included. | My usual recipes call for specific tasks. A long list of functions won’t help if the parts I need aren’t included in the configuration I choose. |
| Cleaning | Count the parts you’ll use to make an everyday meal and check the washing and drying instructions for each one. | After cooking, I need to be able to clean and put away the bowl, lid and accessories without making my routine more complicated. |
| Recipes and guidance | Check which recipes remain available without a subscription, any renewal terms and whether the model can be repaired. | If I plan to follow recipes on screen, I want to know what will remain available over time and how to get the appliance serviced. |
A food processor that can chop, grate or knead won’t necessarily heat your ingredients. If you often make dishes that need simmering or steaming, this difference will determine which other appliances you still need to use.
Write down a few meals you make regularly and mark each step that involves heating before comparing the models’ functions.
A function advertised for a product range may require an accessory that isn’t included in the configuration you choose. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocols also distinguish between tests carried out with the accessories actually supplied.
Check what’s included with the exact model for every task that matters to you, particularly grating, slicing or steaming.
You may need to buy extra accessories for certain tasks.
A bowl, a lid and several accessories to wash can make an appliance less convenient for everyday use. In a survey of food processor owners, UFC-Que Choisir lists too much washing up as one reason for using an appliance less often.
Measure the space you’ll need with the lid open, then think about washing, drying and storing the parts after one of your usual meals.
Access depends on the ecosystem you choose. Vorwerk says that Cookidoo subscriptions automatically renew after 12 months.
If guided cooking is a major reason for your choice, check which recipes and functions are available without a subscription, as well as the renewal terms.
These ranges show different ways of combining cooking and recipes. Always check the functions and services available with the specific model you’re considering.
The Thermomix ecosystem is linked to Cookidoo for guided recipes and meal planning.
Magimix describes the Cook Expert as a multifunction cooking food processor and also offers non-heating multifunction food processors.
Moulinex describes Companion as a range of multifunction cooking food processors, with accessories and app support depending on the model.
These two Robby models are for people looking for a cooking food processor that combines preparation and cooking. Compare their features with your recipes and the space you have. They don’t represent the non-heating options mentioned above.
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Worth a look if you want to prepare and cook meals in one appliance. Check that its functions and included accessories cover the recipes you usually make.
This model is shown with an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Before making room for it, check its dimensions, the clearance it needs and the terms for accessing recipes.
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Worth considering for meals that involve preparation and cooking in the bowl. First compare this model’s functions and accessories with the tasks you do often.
This model is shown with built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes. Check the space it needs, the terms for accessing recipes and the cleaning instructions for the parts you’ll use.
It can combine preparation and cooking steps if its functions and accessories suit the meals you make regularly. If you want to chop, grate or knead without integrated cooking, a non-heating multifunction food processor may be enough if your current appliances already take care of the cooking.
It depends on the model and service. Vorwerk France says Cookidoo automatically renews after 12 months, while Magimix and Moulinex offer recipes through their apps. Check the terms and available features for the model you choose.
Check how many parts you’ll use to make a typical meal, then look at the washing instructions and the space needed to dry and store them. Don’t assume the bowl, lid and all the accessories have the same cleaning instructions.
Ask for information about spare parts and repair services for the specific model, rather than assuming a promise made for one model applies to an entire range. If you’re considering the repair bonus in France, the Ministry of the Economy says it applies to products that aren’t covered by a warranty and are repaired by an accredited professional. Check that the appliance is eligible too.