If you switch between grating or slicing vegetables, chopping or blending ingredients, and making dough, start by comparing food processors and checking which accessories actually come with each model. If kneading and whisking are the mainstays of your cooking, look at stand mixers instead. A blender can complement equipment you already own, while a cooking food processor is designed for a different need: cooking food in the appliance itself. In every case, compare usable capacity, size and cleaning requirements with your usual routine.
If you regularly grate, slice, chop and knead, a food processor is worth considering. Make a list of the discs, blades and baking accessories you need, then check that they’re included with the exact model you’re looking at.
If most of your baking involves kneading, whisking and mixing, compare stand mixers first, along with the amount of dough you typically make. Check separately for slicing attachments if you also want to prepare vegetables.
If the appliance and its accessories need to fit in a small space, compare their dimensions, how they can be stored and which parts need washing after each use. Just make sure a smaller bowl is still large enough for the quantities you usually prepare.
First, decide whether you need an appliance to prepare ingredients, or one that can cook them too. When choosing a food processor, think about the recipes you make most often, then compare the included accessories, the quantities it can handle and how easy it is to clean.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Included accessories | Check what comes in the box for the version you’ve chosen: discs, a blade, a dough hook or a blender, depending on your recipes. Make sure you distinguish between accessories that are included and those that are merely compatible. | If I often switch between grated vegetables, sauces and dough, I want to be able to make them with the accessories supplied; around 36% of consumers would make this kind of practical versatility a priority. |
| Capacity and storage | Compare the usable capacity and maximum dough quantity with your usual batches, then measure the space needed for the appliance and its accessories. | For my regular batches, I want a bowl that’s the right size without taking up too much storage space; around 29% of consumers would prioritise this balance between capacity and available space. |
| Cleaning and spare parts | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and whether parts or accessories are available for the exact model number. | If I use the appliance often, I want to be able to clean its parts and replace a compatible component if needed; around 21% of consumers would prioritise easy cleaning. |
| Built-in cooking | Consider whether you really need to cook or simmer food in the appliance, as well as preparing the ingredients. | I prepare ingredients, but need to decide whether I also want to cook them in the same appliance; around 14% of consumers would make this distinction their first consideration. |
Grating, slicing, blending and kneading all depend on the accessories supplied with the model you choose. Que Choisir explains that its tests of additional accessories cover those supplied with the appliance.
Make a note of the accessories you need for your recipes and compare the list with the contents of the box. Don’t confuse “included” with “compatible”.
If a disc or dough hook isn’t included, you’ll need to buy it separately to make the corresponding recipe.
The bowl’s volume, its usable capacity and the maximum amount of dough it can handle are not the same thing. A compact model may limit the size of your batches.
Start with the largest amount you usually prepare and compare it with the guidance for that recipe. Also measure the space where you plan to store the appliance.
Discs, blades, the bowl and the lid all add more parts to wash and store. A “dishwasher-safe” label may apply to only some parts of the appliance.
Check the washing instructions for each part and look up replacement parts using the exact model number.
If you use several accessories regularly, taking them apart, washing them and putting them away can take time.
According to Que Choisir, the cooking function is what sets cooking food processors apart from food processors and stand mixers. On its own, it won’t meet your need to grate vegetables or make dough.
If you mainly want to prepare ingredients, compare the accessories and capacity of food preparation appliances. Consider a cooking food processor if you also plan to cook in it.
The range includes food processors designed for a variety of tasks. For the CS 4200XL, Magimix lists a dough hook, an egg whisk and four discs among the included accessories.
The MultiTalent range lets you compare food processors in different sizes for chopping, grating, slicing and mixing.
The range includes the Easy Force FP242B10, among other models, and a catalogue of spare parts and accessories that you can search by model number.
The MultiPro range includes compact models for preparing ingredients and slicing vegetables.
This food processor is worth considering if you mainly prepare ingredients for chopping, blending, slicing or grating. If you bake, check separately whether the accessories include a dough hook and a whisk.
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For preparing ingredients to chop, blend, slice or grate, provided the required accessories are included with the version you choose.
Stated power: 750 W; stated bowl capacity: 1.8 L. Compare the usable capacity with the quantities you usually prepare.
Check exactly what’s in the box, including the discs, and whether a dough hook or whisk is included if you make dough. Check the washing instructions for each part before putting anything in the dishwasher.
No, it depends on the model and version of the food processor. Check what’s in the box: a disc may be included, sold separately or simply compatible with the appliance.
Compare the maximum dough quantity stated for the model with the size of your usual batches, rather than relying on the bowl’s volume alone. Bosch lists a capacity of up to 1.5 kg of dough for the MultiTalent 8 MC812M844; this figure cannot be directly compared with a usable capacity measured in litres.
No, it depends on the model and the individual part. For example, Moulinex says that the Easy Force parts are dishwasher-safe except for the base. Check the instructions for the model you’ve chosen, including those for the bowl, blades and each accessory.
In France, consumers who buy goods from a business are covered by the legal guarantee of conformity, as explained by the Ministry of the Economy. If the food processor doesn’t match the seller’s description, keep a copy of the product listing and your order confirmation so you can raise the issue with the seller. This is separate from returning an item simply because you’ve changed your mind.