For those who mainly prepare ingredients
If you already cook on the hob, in the oven or with another appliance, a food processor can handle chopping, grating, slicing and blending. It won’t cook the dish for you.
Which solution is right for you?
For households that want to prepare and cook in one appliance
An all-in-one cooker is worth considering if you want to combine preparation and cooking, perhaps with guided recipes. Check that its usable capacity, functions and parts to wash suit the meals you usually make.
For households that already own a multi-cooker
If your multi-cooker takes care of cooking but can’t grate or slice ingredients, a food processor can complement it. Bear in mind, though, that you’ll need space for and have to maintain two separate appliances.
What should you consider before choosing?
Food processor
Consider it if: chopping and mixing are the tasks you repeat most often, and you already cook with another appliance.
Trade-off: cooking remains a separate step, and bowls, blades and discs need to be stored and cleaned.
All-in-one cooker
Consider it if: you want to prepare and then cook in the same appliance, with guided recipes if the model’s recipe offering suits the way you cook.
Trade-off: you’ll need to consider how much space it takes up, how much food you can actually prepare and the terms for accessing recipes.
Food processor and multi-cooker
Consider it if: you already own one of the appliances, or want to keep chopping separate from pressure cooking, steaming or slow cooking.
Trade-off: this setup requires two spaces and two sets of parts to maintain.
Once you’ve settled on a solution, compare each model with the meals you make and the space in your kitchen. The figures from the Que Choisir survey published in January 2020 relate to 1,695 owners who took part, not all French households.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Check which tasks it actually handles: chopping, grating, slicing or blending. Check which blades and discs are supplied with the specific model. | I mainly want to spend less time preparing ingredients before cooking them on the hob or in another appliance. |
| Cooking and hands-on time | Check the model’s cooking modes, which steps still need to be done by hand and how much you can prepare in its bowl. | I want to spend less time at the cooker, not just less time chopping. In the January 2020 Que Choisir survey of 1,695 owners, 52% said their all-in-one cooker saved them time. |
| Recipes | Compare the guidance provided on the appliance, the recipes available for your chosen model and the terms for accessing them after any introductory offer. | I’d be happy to use recipes tailored to the appliance to add variety to my meals. Of the 1,695 owners surveyed in the January 2020 Que Choisir study, 49% said their all-in-one cooker gave them access to a wider range of recipes. |
| Cleaning | Find out which parts need to be taken apart, which the manufacturer says are dishwasher-safe and which accessories you’ll use for your usual recipes. | After a meal, I’d rather not have lots of bowls, discs and utensils to wash. |
| Space and capacity | Measure the space available, including room to open the lid and store accessories. Distinguish the total capacity from the usable capacity suited to your portions. | My worktop is already busy, so the appliance and its accessories need to fit there or be easy to store elsewhere. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
-
Assuming ingredient preparation means cooking is built in
A food processor can chop or grate ingredients without cooking a soup or stew in its bowl. These are two different needs.
Think about the meals you make most often: if chopping takes up your time, look at the blades and discs; if cooking is what keeps you busy, check the cooking modes and guided recipes.
-
Going by the stated capacity in litres alone
A bowl’s total capacity doesn’t necessarily tell you how much you can use for each preparation. Magimix, for example, gives the CS 4200XL a usable capacity of 1.3 L.
Compare the usable capacity with the quantities given in the recipes you make, rather than assuming capacities are directly comparable across models.
-
Assuming all recipes remain available on the same terms
Services vary: Vorwerk mentions three months of Cookidoo included for some new TM7 subscribers, while Magimix offers free recipes in its Cook Expert app.
Check which recipes are available with your chosen model, what works without an internet connection and what terms apply after any introductory offer.
Depending on the service, you may need a subscription to access recipes once the included period ends.
-
Counting two appliances as though they were one
Pairing a food processor with a multi-cooker neatly separates the tasks you need, but requires two spaces and means cleaning two sets of parts.
Measure the space available before choosing this duo, especially if you don’t already own either appliance.
Also check which accessories are included: Moulinex says Extra Crisp is sold separately for some Cookeo models.
Which brands offer examples of these solutions?
These ranges show different ways of dividing up preparation and cooking. Functions and accessories depend on the model you choose.
Magimix
Magimix offers CS food processors for preparing ingredients without built-in cooking, as well as Cook Expert all-in-one cookers.
- According to its product information, the CS 4200XL can grate, slice, chop and blend, among other tasks; its stated usable capacity is 1.3 L.
- For a Cook Expert, check the functions, capacity and accessories of the specific version rather than assuming they are the same across the range.
Moulinex
Moulinex offers Companion all-in-one cookers and Cookeo multi-cookers, which can take care of cooking alongside a food processor.
- Moulinex’s Cookeo+ product information lists six cooking modes, a 6 L bowl and 150 built-in recipes.
- A Cookeo doesn’t replace a food processor’s discs for grating or slicing; the Extra Crisp accessory is sold separately for some models.
Vorwerk
With the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk combines food preparation and cooking functions with a guided recipe platform.
- Vorwerk lists chopping, mixing, kneading, steaming and cooking among the TM7’s functions.
- The three-month Cookidoo offer applies to some new subscribers. Check the terms for accessing recipes after this period, as well as which accessories are included.
All-in-one cookers available on Joybuy
These two Robby models are options if you’re looking for an all-in-one cooker to prepare and cook meals in a single appliance. To see how well they suit your needs, check the accessories, space required and recipe access.
Image unavailable
Robby Smart, XL bowl, built-in scales and large touchscreen
This all-in-one cooker is designed for meals where you want to combine preparation and cooking. Its name highlights an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Before choosing this model, check how many recipes are available, the terms for accessing them and which accessories are included.
Image unavailable
Robby, built-in scales and touchscreen, with 680 recipes listed
This model suits anyone looking to prepare and cook in the same appliance. Its name lists built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes; check the terms for accessing those recipes. Also check the dimensions, included accessories and cleaning instructions for everyday use.
Frequently asked questions
Can a food processor replace an all-in-one cooker?
Not if you want to cook the dish in the appliance. As Que Choisir explains, a food processor is mainly for preparing ingredients; it may be all you need if you cook on the hob, in the oven or in a multi-cooker.
How can I assess cleaning requirements before buying?
Check which parts of the specific model are dishwasher-safe and how many accessories you’ll use for your recipes. Vorwerk lists a pre-clean mode and dishwasher-safe parts for the TM7; Moulinex says the bowl and steam basket of the Cookeo+ CE851HF0 are dishwasher-safe. These details don’t apply to every model from either brand.
Are guided recipes always free?
No, access terms vary by service and model. Vorwerk offers three months of Cookidoo to some new TM7 subscribers, while Magimix offers free Cook Expert recipes in its app. Check what access is available after any introductory period.