If you regularly make meals from scratch, start by thinking about the tasks you repeat most often. A food processor is mainly suited to chopping, blending and sometimes kneading, while a cooking food processor can take you from preparation through to cooking. If dough-making and whisking are your main priorities, consider a stand mixer and its attachments instead. And if your current appliances already cover the jobs you do most often, keeping them could save you from adding another machine and finding space to store all its parts.
What you prepare most often matters more than the number of functions listed.
If you regularly grate, slice, chop or blend, but don’t want to cook in the appliance, a food processor is worth comparing with the appliances you already own. Check whether it can knead too, if making dough is part of your regular routine.
If you often make soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes or steamed food, a cooking food processor lets you consider doing these steps in one appliance. Check the capacity, cooking accessories and cleaning requirements of each model.
If kneading, whisking and mixing are your main tasks, a stand mixer is another option to consider. A blender or food processor bowl can expand what it can do, provided you check which attachments are compatible and which are actually included.
First, list the jobs you do regularly. Then weigh up the useful functions against the space you have and the upkeep each set-up requires.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Food preparation tasks | Check which slicing discs, blades, whisks and dough hooks are included. Compare what they can do with the jobs you repeat; a function offered across a range won’t necessarily come with every model. | I often grate and chop ingredients for meals, so I want the right tools—not just a long list of possible functions. |
| Built-in cooking | Check the slow-cooking and steaming settings, the accessories provided and whether the capacity suits your dishes. According to UFC-Que Choisir, cooking is what distinguishes a cooking food processor from food processors and stand mixers. | If I want to cook soups or dishes in the appliance too, built-in cooking matters. Otherwise, my current cookware may be all I need. |
| Dough and whisking | Compare the bowl, the tools supplied and the preparations the appliance is designed for. If you’re considering a stand mixer that can be expanded with attachments, check the compatibility and inclusion of chopping or blending accessories separately. | Dough and whisked mixtures are a big part of my cooking; chopping is only an occasional extra. |
| Capacity and storage | Compare the usable capacity with your usual quantities, then measure the space available, including the height beneath your cupboards. Allow room for the accessories too. | I want to prepare enough for my household without letting the appliance and its parts clutter the worktop. |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe. Look at how easy it is to reach the bowl, lid and seals, and check the availability-of-parts commitment for the specific model. | An appliance you use often should be easy to clean and maintain, so I’d rather check what’s involved before choosing. |
| Appliances you already own | Make a list of the appliances you already use and the tasks they cover. Compare any gaps with the accessories and storage space a new appliance would require. | If my blender, chopper or cookware already meets my regular needs, I can stick with separate appliances. |
UFC-Que Choisir tests different preparations separately, and only tests some tasks when the relevant accessory is supplied. So a function listed in the product name doesn’t, by itself, tell you what comes with the model you’re considering.
Make a note of a few things you genuinely prepare regularly, then check the included accessory and required capacity for each one.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that cooking is its key functional difference. If you won’t use this feature, it won’t meet the need behind your purchase.
If you want to chop, grate or blend without cooking in the appliance, first compare a food processor with the appliances you already own.
Slicing discs, blades and other tools need their own storage space, separate from the appliance itself. When choosing a food processor, UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking the bowl, accessories and storage into account.
Measure the space you have, including beneath your cupboards, and decide where you’ll keep each accessory after use.
Manufacturers’ stated time periods apply to specific models and conditions. The DGCCRF identifies documentation, ease of dismantling and parts availability among the criteria relating to repairability for the categories concerned.
Check the commitment that applies to the exact model, which parts it covers and how to access a repair service.
These examples show different set-ups. The features mentioned apply to the specific models listed, not every appliance from each brand.
The CS 5200XL is an example of a food processor designed for preparation, with no built-in cooking function.
The Companion XL HF80DB10 is an example of an appliance that combines preparation and cooking.
The Chef XL and Titanium Chef Pâtissier XL are primarily designed for kneading, whisking and mixing.
These models bring together several food preparation tasks, with different set-ups. If you also want to cook in the appliance, check the functions and accessories included with the model you’re considering before you buy.
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Worth considering if you want one appliance for both preparation and cooking, with built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the accessories, the space required and the cooking functions included with the version on sale. Also confirm what’s included in terms of recipes, if that matters to you.
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An option for bringing several food preparation tasks together without looking for a built-in cooking function. Compare the stated 1.5 L bowl capacity with your usual quantities, and check how much room the appliance and its accessories will need.
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Worth comparing if you want a food processor with a blender and meat grinder. Before choosing it for your meals, check the bowl’s usable capacity, the accessories included, any cooking functions and the cleaning instructions for the exact model.
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For a range of food preparation tasks, the product name mentions a blender, a meat grinder and slicing discs. Check the exact list of items supplied, the dimensions and the cleaning instructions before choosing.
Start by comparing food processors if you don’t want to cook in the appliance. Check which slicing discs, blade and dough hook are included with each model. UFC-Que Choisir tests these tasks separately and tests additional accessories when they’re supplied.
Consider a cooking food processor if you regularly make dishes that you’d like to cook in the appliance, such as soup, a slow-cooked dish or steamed food. If you mainly want to prepare ingredients and already have suitable cooking equipment, compare food processors with what you own first.
Compare the stated usable capacity with the quantities you usually prepare, especially for dough and family meals. A manufacturer’s serving-size estimate doesn’t guarantee that every recipe will suit the same volume.
No. Check the manual to find out exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe, and also consider how easy it is to clean the bowl, lid, seals and accessories. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests look at cleaning and the condition of parts after repeated washing.
Check the parts-availability commitment for the exact model, the terms that apply and how to access a repair service. The time periods stated by Magimix or Moulinex for specific models don’t automatically apply to all their ranges.