If chopping, grating or kneading is what slows down meal prep, a food processor can complement an oven, hob or multicooker you already use. Choose an all-in-one cooker instead if you also want to prepare and cook in the same bowl. Either way, compare the usable capacity, included accessories and space required before adding another appliance to your kitchen.
If you regularly grate vegetables, blend sauces or knead dough, but already use another appliance for cooking, a food processor can take care of these prep tasks. Check that it comes with the accessories you need for your recipes.
If you want to take soups, sauces or slow-cooked dishes from prep to cooking without changing containers, an all-in-one cooker could be just what you need. UFC-Que Choisir points out that integrated cooking is what sets it apart from a food processor.
If your oven, hob or multicooker already covers your everyday needs, think about which tasks a new food processor would genuinely take on. The bowl’s capacity, the space the appliance takes up and somewhere to store its accessories all matter just as much as its list of functions.
Start with the step you want to make easier: preparing ingredients, preparing and cooking in one go, or avoiding overlap with the appliances you already own.
| Your priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Regular food preparation | Chopping, blending and kneading functions that suit your recipes; accessories actually included. | When grating vegetables or making sauces and dough takes up most of my time, I want to make these tasks easier while continuing to cook separately. Around 33% of consumers would make food preparation without integrated cooking their main priority. |
| Cooking in the bowl | The cooking modes you need for your dishes and the bowl’s usable capacity for your usual quantities. | If I want to make a soup or slow-cooked dish without moving food between several containers, I’m looking for an appliance that can prepare and heat it. Preparing and cooking in the same bowl would be the priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Space and avoiding duplication | Tasks already covered by your appliances; the food processor’s dimensions and accessory storage. | If my kitchen is already well equipped and space is tight, I only want to add functions I’ll actually use. Avoiding overlap would be the main criterion for around 25% of consumers. |
A food processor can handle several preparation tasks without cooking in its bowl. So it won’t eliminate the cooking steps or the need to transfer food to another appliance.
Look at your usual recipes and identify the steps you want to hand over to an appliance. If it’s the cooking, look specifically for an all-in-one cooker.
Depending on the model, grating, slicing or steaming may require separate attachments. UFC-Que Choisir notes that it only tests some additional accessories when they’re supplied with the appliance.
Compare what’s in the box with the tasks you do often, then make sure you have somewhere to store the parts you’ll use.
Total capacity and usable capacity aren’t necessarily the same. Magimix, for example, states that the CS 5200XL has a usable capacity of 1.8 L.
Check the usable capacity of the model you’re considering and compare it with the quantities in your usual recipes.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to an individual, according to France’s Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. A commercial guarantee doesn’t replace it.
Read the terms of any additional protection and check what information is available about spare parts before you decide.
The range includes food processors for preparation, such as the CS 5200XL, as well as the Cook Expert all-in-one cooker. Compare the two types of appliance based on whether you need integrated cooking.
The Companion XL is part of Moulinex’s range of all-in-one cookers, designed to combine preparation and cooking.
The Thermomix TM7 is a cooking appliance with modes and guided recipes displayed on screen.
These Joybuy products cover food preparation, preparation with cooking and, for smaller quantities, more specialised chopping. Start by choosing the task your kitchen is missing, then check the capacity and accessories for each model.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare ingredients and then cook in the same appliance. The name of this version indicates an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the accessories included and the functions that suit your recipes. The stated number of recipes varies between product details, so confirm what’s available for this version.
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Worth a look if you want to combine food preparation and cooking. This version is listed with built-in scales and a touchscreen. To see what quantities it can handle and which tasks it covers, check the usable capacity and the list of included accessories.
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An option for preparing meal ingredients if you already use another appliance for cooking. The bowl is listed as having a capacity of 1.1 L. Compare this with your usual quantities and check that the included accessories suit the food you plan to prepare.
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Worth considering if you want to combine several food preparation tasks rather than cook in the bowl. The product name states 750 W and 1.8 L. Check exactly which blades, discs and other parts are included before relying on a particular function.
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A more specialised option if you mainly need to chop small quantities or prepare sauces. Don’t choose it on the assumption that it will replace the wider range of functions offered by a food processor. Check the instructions too, for recommended operating times and the breaks you need to allow.
It mainly offers something different if you want to prepare and then cook in the same bowl, with fewer transfers. If your current appliances already cover cooking and chopping or blending is what slows you down, consider a food processor instead.
Start with your recipes. Check that it includes the blades or discs you need for chopping, grating and slicing, and, if you’ll use them, kneading tools or a steamer. UFC-Que Choisir notes that some additional accessories are only assessed in its tests when they’re supplied with the appliance.
Count the bowls, lids, blades and other parts you’ll actually use, then check you have somewhere to store them. Consult the instructions for your model to find out which parts are dishwasher-safe. Don’t assume this applies to the whole appliance.
No. France’s Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that the legal guarantee of conformity covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to an individual. Check the terms of any commercial guarantee separately, along with the information provided about spare parts availability.