Choose a food processor if you mainly want to chop, grate or blend, and already have a cooking method that suits you. A cooking food processor is better suited to preparing and cooking food in the same appliance. Before deciding, though, compare its actual functions, usable capacity and cleaning requirements. If your current appliances already handle the jobs you do regularly, keeping them may also make sense.
You already use your hob, oven or casserole dish, but want to cut down on repetitive chopping, grating or blending. A food processor is worth considering if you’re unlikely to need built-in cooking functions. Check that it comes with the attachments for the tasks you have in mind.
You’d like to prepare and cook food with fewer transfers between utensils. A cooking food processor may suit you, provided its cooking modes, usable capacity and cleaning requirements work for the meals you usually make. Que Choisir points out that functions and capacities vary between models.
The space you have available matters just as much as the advertised functions. Measure the space you plan to use, including room for the attachments, then consider which appliances the new food processor would genuinely replace. Combining several tasks doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll save space.
Choose this if: you want to speed up ingredient preparation while keeping your current cooking routine.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to transfer ingredients to a frying pan, saucepan or another appliance to cook them.
Choose this if: combining some preparation and cooking steps in one appliance suits the meals you make regularly.
Bear in mind: not all models offer the same functions or capacities, as Que Choisir points out.
Keep these if: your appliances already cover the tasks you do most often.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to move food between appliances and clean several parts.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation without cooking | Identify the tasks you repeat and check which blades or discs are actually included. | If I already cook with my usual appliances, I mainly want to spend less time chopping, grating or slicing. Around 33% of consumers prioritise preparation without cooking. |
| Combining preparation and cooking | Check that the cooking modes suit your meals and that the relevant attachments are included. | When transferring food between utensils interrupts meal preparation, I want to combine more steps. For around 27% of consumers, preparing and cooking in the same appliance is the priority. |
| Quantity per batch | Compare the usable capacity and fill limits with the quantities you usually prepare. | When cooking for several people or preparing multiple meals, I’d rather not have to start again because the bowl is too small. Capacity is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the appliance and check where its attachments will be stored; check the cleaning instructions for each part. | With limited space and frequent meals to prepare, I don’t want storage and washing up to cancel out the time saved. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the appliance’s size and cleaning requirements. |
A function shown for a product range doesn’t guarantee that the disc or attachment you need comes with the model you choose. Que Choisir notes that its grating and slicing tests cover these attachments only when they’re included.
Compare the exact box contents with the tasks you care about most, and check that any additional attachments you’re interested in are compatible.
The bowl’s overall capacity and the amount you can use for a particular preparation aren’t always the same thing. A bowl that suits a large batch may be less convenient for smaller quantities.
Start with the quantities you usually make and check the fill limits in the manual, including those for steaming attachments if you plan to use them.
Food preparation may be quicker without making the whole meal easier to manage. In a survey of food processor owners, Que Choisir cites the amount of washing up and time-consuming use among the reasons people use their appliances less.
Check which parts are dishwasher-safe, how much space you’ll need to store the blades and whether the appliance will fit with the lid in place.
Guided cooking may influence your choice of a cooking food processor, but access to a platform may change once an introductory offer ends. For example, Vorwerk offers an introductory period for Cookidoo with the Thermomix TM7.
Check the access terms that apply to the model you’re considering, and think about whether you’ll use the content or prefer manual controls.
These products let you explore two ways of cooking: preparing and cooking with a cooking food processor, or preparing ingredients with a food processor while keeping cooking separate. For each one, compare the functions you’re interested in with the exact contents of the model.
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Worth considering if you want to combine preparation and cooking and use built-in scales. The product title mentions an XL bowl and large touchscreen; check the usable capacity and included attachments for the meals you usually prepare.
If built-in recipes matter to you, check exactly what’s included and the terms for accessing new recipes.
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Worth a look if you want to prepare and cook with the same food processor, weighing ingredients in the appliance. The product name also mentions a touchscreen; check the included attachments and cleaning instructions before choosing it.
If you plan to use the recipes or updates, check the access terms.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare ingredients before cooking them with your usual appliances. The title states 750 W and a 1.8 L bowl, but that figure alone doesn’t tell you the usable capacity for each task.
Check which blending, chopping and slicing attachments are included, along with their cleaning instructions.
Check the list of included parts and the manual for the exact model. A function shown for a product range doesn’t mean the relevant attachment comes in the box. In particular, check for grating or slicing discs if these are among the reasons you’re buying it.
No, guided recipes aren’t essential for using a cooking food processor, according to Que Choisir. If you’d like step-by-step cooking guidance, check which controls are available on the model you choose and the terms for accessing content after any introductory offer ends.
Follow the cleaning instructions for each part and unplug the appliance before cleaning the motor unit. Que Choisir reminds users not to immerse the motor unit in water. Handle blades and discs carefully, and check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe.