Choose a food processor if you regularly chop, blend, grate or knead, and have room at home for its bowl and accessories. For small quantities that mainly need blending or chopping, a hand blender with attachments may be enough; separate appliances make sense if you only need one or two functions. If you also want to automate cooking, compare appliances designed for cooking instead.
If you regularly grate, slice, chop and knead, a food processor lets you tackle all these tasks with one appliance. Check the bowl capacity and make sure it comes with the discs, dough tool or whisk you need for your recipes. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking the appliances you already own into account before choosing.
If you prepare modest portions and have limited storage space, compare a compact food processor with accessories that fit inside the bowl against a hand blender with a chopper and whisk. Check the dimensions and the tasks each one can handle rather than assuming the two formats are interchangeable.
If you want to cook or simmer ingredients, a food preparation appliance on its own won’t meet all your needs. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes a cooking food processor from a standard food processor by its cooking function; its guide to multi-cookers also covers cooking and simmering.
Start with the tasks you repeat each week, then compare them with the included accessories, the quantities you prepare and the space you have available.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks to combine | List the jobs you do often: chopping, blending, grating, slicing, whisking or kneading. Check which accessories come with the exact model you’re considering: UFC-Que Choisir specifies that additional accessories are only included in its tests if they are supplied with the appliance. | I grate vegetables and make dough too, so I’m looking for a food processor with the right discs and dough tool, rather than one that only blends. |
| Small quantities | For a hand blender with attachments, check that it comes with a chopper, whisk and container, and confirm their capacities. Don’t assume a set can grate or slice unless it includes the right accessories. | I mainly make soups and sauces, and do a little chopping; a hand blender with a whisk and chopper could cover the tasks I actually do. |
| Bowl and storage | Compare the stated capacity with the quantities in your recipes, then measure the space you have for the appliance and its accessories. Check which accessories can be stored in the bowl. | I want to prepare my usual portions without giving up an entire cupboard to discs and containers. |
| Separate appliances | Take stock of the appliances you already have, as UFC-Que Choisir recommends. Identify which tasks you still need to tackle before adding another appliance or set of accessories. | If I only chop or blend occasionally, I’d rather check whether my current appliances are enough before replacing them. |
| Cooking | Decide whether you only want to prepare ingredients or cook them too. According to UFC-Que Choisir, the cooking function distinguishes a cooking food processor from a standard food processor; a multi-cooker also offers cooking functions. | I want to programme meals or simmer dishes, so I need to compare cooking functions, not just blades or discs. |
| Replacement parts | Search for the bowl, lid, blades and discs using the exact model reference. Distinguish between a brand’s stated commitment and the availability of the specific part you may need. | I want to be able to identify a compatible part if an accessory wears out or needs replacing. |
Two versions of the same food processor may come with different accessories. A function that needs a disc, whisk or other accessory will only be useful if that item is compatible with the model you choose.
Compare the included accessories with the recipes you make: a blade, discs, dough tool, whisk or extra bowl, depending on how you plan to use it.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that a food processor can take up a lot of space. Conversely, with a compact model, check that its capacity is suitable for the largest quantities you prepare.
Measure your cupboard or worktop, then check how much room the bowl and accessories take up when not in use.
A food processor is used here to prepare ingredients; a cooking food processor also has a cooking function. UFC-Que Choisir also describes a multi-cooker as an appliance designed for cooking and simmering.
If you don’t need the appliance to cook, focus your comparisons on food preparation tasks and the accessories they require.
The stated power tells you neither which accessories are included nor how well the appliance will handle each task. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol distinguishes between tests carried out with the accessories actually supplied.
Check which functions are supported by the included accessories and, where possible, look for comparable tests covering the tasks that matter to you.
These features apply to the specific models mentioned, not every appliance from each brand. Check the version and accessories before choosing.
The CS 4200XL is worth considering if you use several food preparation functions and have room to store a range of accessories.
The range includes food processors and hand blenders with attachments. Start by choosing the format that suits the tasks you need to do.
The MultiTalent 3 MCM3531M is worth comparing if you’re looking for a mid-sized bowl and want to store several accessories inside it.
The MultiPro Go FDP22.140GY is a compact model worth considering for small quantities when storage space is limited.
This selection includes a food processor for several preparation tasks and hand blenders with attachments for blending and preparing small quantities. Compare the accessories for each model with the tasks you want to combine.
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Worth considering if you want to combine blending, chopping, slicing and grating: these functions and a 1.8 L bowl are listed in the product name. If you plan to whisk or knead, check which accessories are included. Also check the electrical compatibility of the version offered for France.
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For blending, whisking or light chopping, the product name lists a whisk, a 500 ml chopper and an 800 ml beaker. If you need to grate or slice, check which accessories are required. Also check the electrical compatibility of the version offered for France.
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For sauces and light chopping, the product name lists a 700 ml beaker, a 500 ml chopper and a whisk. The 1,200 W figure is the stated maximum power, not a measure of how well it performs in the kitchen. Check which accessories you need for grating or kneading, and make sure the version offered for France is electrically compatible.
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Worth considering for blending sauces with the hand blender. If you also want to whisk or chop, confirm which accessories are included and check the chopper capacity. The product description advises against blending liquids above 60 °C; check the instructions to make sure it suits your needs.
No. Check that the model you choose includes the accessories for each task, or that compatible accessories are available to buy separately. UFC-Que Choisir specifies that it only tests additional accessories when they are supplied with the appliance.
Start with the quantities in your recipes, then compare them with the capacity listed for the specific model and the space you have available. UFC-Que Choisir recommends choosing an appliance to suit your household’s habits and points out that a food processor can take up a lot of space.
It depends on the part and the exact model of food processor. Magimix and Moulinex offer accessory catalogues, while Bosch asks you to provide the E-number to identify parts compatible with its MCM3 models. Find the specific part you need before relying on being able to replace it.
Unplug the appliance and don’t immerse the motor unit in water, following UFC-Que Choisir’s advice. Follow the instructions for washing the bowl and accessories, and handle blades and discs with care.