If you regularly grate, slice, chop or knead ingredients before cooking them elsewhere, choose a food processor with a usable capacity and accessories suited to the dishes you make. A cooking food processor meets a different need: preparing and cooking food in the same appliance. If you only repeat one task, keeping a specialist appliance could save you having to store a processor and accessories you rarely use.
If you often grate, slice, chop or knead, a food processor can bring these tasks together. Focus on comparing the bowl’s usable capacity with the quantities you prepare, and check that it comes with the accessories your recipes require.
A compact model is worth considering if you prepare small quantities and want to put the appliance away after use. Measure the space needed for its accessories too: a small motor unit doesn’t necessarily mean it will be easy to store.
If you regularly make soups, slow-cooked dishes or steamed food in the bowl, compare cooking food processors. As UFC-Que Choisir points out, cooking is what sets them apart from food processors designed for preparation only.
Start with the tasks you do regularly, then compare the amount you prepare with the space the appliance and its accessories will take up.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Food preparation | List the tasks you do most often, then check which discs, blades and other accessories are included. UFC-Que Choisir explains that some functions, such as a blender or citrus press, depend on the accessories supplied. | I often grate and slice vegetables, so these accessories will be more useful to me than a long list of functions I won’t use. |
| Bowl capacity | Distinguish between total and usable capacity, then check the quantities allowed for your recipes. Darty suggests a 0.5 to 1 L bowl for one person and a 1.5 to 2 L bowl for two people. | When cooking in larger quantities, I want to know how much I can prepare at once, rather than relying only on the volume shown on the bowl. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the appliance and the space set aside for its accessories. Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and where you’ll store the accessories you use often. | My kitchen is small, so I’d prefer a set I can take out, clean and put away without leaving it on the worktop permanently. |
| Built-in cooking | According to UFC-Que Choisir, cooking is what distinguishes a cooking food processor from a standard food processor. If you want to slow-cook or steam food, check the model’s programmes and accessories, as well as whether guided recipes are available. | If I already prepare ingredients with a food processor and then cook them on the hob, I may not need a cooking food processor. But if I also want to cook regularly in the bowl, this feature becomes a deciding factor. |
| Specialist appliance | Take stock of the appliances you already own, as UFC-Que Choisir recommends. Compare the space they take up with that needed for a food processor and its accessories. | I mainly chop small quantities or blend sauces, so an appliance dedicated to that task may be enough. If I do lots of chopping and other food preparation, I’ll compare food processors instead. |
A listed function doesn’t guarantee that the corresponding accessory is included. UFC-Que Choisir notes, for example, that blender and citrus-press functions are only available on appliances supplied with the relevant accessories.
Make a note of the food you usually prepare, then check exactly what’s in the box and how you’ll store each useful accessory.
Magimix lists a total bowl capacity of 3.6 L for its CS 5200XL Premium, but a usable capacity of 1.8 L. These figures answer different questions when you’re preparing a large quantity.
Compare usable capacity and check the quantities listed in the manual for soups, doughs and small batches of sauce.
A cooking food processor combines food preparation and cooking, according to UFC-Que Choisir. This difference may not matter much if you’ll continue to cook almost all your meals with the appliances you already have.
Think about which meals you’d genuinely want to prepare and cook in the bowl, then compare the steps with the way you cook today.
The bowl, lid and accessories all affect how useful your food processor will be over time. Any promise about spare-part availability should be checked against the model and the parts you need.
Check the part numbers and repair terms before buying. For a second-hand appliance, ADEME also outlines repair, reuse and collection options.
These examples show different formats and features to compare. The details below apply to the models mentioned, not every product in each brand’s range.
The range includes the CS 3200 XL, 4200 XL and 5200 XL, with capacities and accessories that vary by version.
The Double Force is an example of a food processor without built-in cooking, while the Companion belongs to the cooking food processor category.
The MultiPro Go Blend FDP23.380GY is an example of a compact food processor to consider when small-batch preparation and easy storage are priorities.
The Thermomix TM7 is an example of a cooking food processor with a screen and guided recipes, rather than a food processor for preparation only.
These options include cooking food processors, food processors and a mini chopper. Compare them based on whether you also want to cook in the appliance, bring several food-preparation tasks together or stick to small quantities.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare and cook meals in the same appliance. The product title mentions an XL bowl and large touchscreen. Check the usable capacity, included accessories and number of recipes available with the version you receive.
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Worth a look for food-preparation tasks before cooking. The bowl is listed as 1.5 L. Check its usable capacity and whether it comes with the accessories you need for the chopping or mixing you do regularly.
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Compare it with food processors if you mainly chop or blend small quantities. Check the bowl capacity and what you can do with the supplied accessories if you also want to grate, slice or knead.
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Worth considering if you want to add cooking to your meal preparation. The product title mentions scales and a touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity and which accessories are actually included for your recipes.
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Worth considering if you want to combine several food-preparation tasks rather than cook in the appliance. The product name mentions a blender, meat mincer and slicing discs. Check which accessories are included, the bowl’s usable capacity and how much storage space you’ll need.
A standard food processor prepares ingredients but doesn’t cook them. According to UFC-Que Choisir, cooking is what sets a cooking food processor apart. If you want to slow-cook or steam food, check the model’s programmes and accessories.
Choose a bowl based on the quantities you actually prepare, and compare its usable capacity rather than just its total volume. Darty suggests 0.5 to 1 L for one person and 1.5 to 2 L for two people. For larger batches, check the quantities allowed in the model’s manual too.
If you want to grate or slice vegetables, check that the relevant discs are included. For soups and sauces, look at the blending attachments and the quantities they can handle. UFC-Que Choisir points out that additional functions, including blending, depend on the accessories supplied.
First, see if it can be repaired. If you no longer use it, ADEME also outlines options for donating or reselling it, or taking it to an appropriate collection point.