Choose a food processor if you want to prepare ingredients and cook them using the same appliance, provided its functions, accessories and capacity suit your recipes. A multi-cooker is better suited to guided cooking, but you’ll generally need to prepare ingredients separately. Keeping the appliances you already own is also an option if you’re happy with those extra steps.
If you want to chop or blend ingredients before cooking them without switching appliances, check that the food processor you’re considering has the functions and accessories your recipes need. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a food processor can bring these tasks together, although not all models offer the same set-up.
For soups, slow-cooked dishes or meals to share, compare the bowl’s usable capacity with the fill limits for your recipes. The total capacity alone won’t tell you how much you can make in one go.
If your main priority is following pre-set cooking steps, a multi-cooker could be a good fit. However, plan how you’ll chop or blend ingredients when a recipe calls for it: according to UFC-Que Choisir, these appliances generally don’t mix food.
Consider it if: your recipes involve preparing ingredients and then cooking them in the same appliance.
The trade-off: functions and accessories vary by model, and ease of cleaning matters just as much as the list of programmes.
Consider it if: guided cooking is your priority and you’re happy to prepare some ingredients separately.
The trade-off: you’ll need a second appliance and an extra step when a recipe calls for chopping or blending.
Keep them if: your current kitchen equipment works for your recipes and you prefer to choose an appliance for each step.
The trade-off: you’ll need to transfer ingredients between more appliances and wash more items.
To choose between these options, start with the tasks involved in your usual meals. Then consider how much you need to make and how much guidance you’d like.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking | The tasks your recipes require and the accessories actually included. | I want to chop or blend ingredients before cooking without moving them between appliances; around 42% of consumers prioritise doing this with one appliance. |
| Quantity per batch | Usable capacity, fill limits and the number of portions given for the recipes you plan to make. | When I’m cooking for several people or making meals for more than one day, a batch that’s too small makes planning harder; around 33% of consumers prioritise the amount they can make at once. |
| Guided cooking | Manual controls, available programmes and how you access recipes. | Once I’ve prepared the ingredients, I’d rather follow clear cooking instructions than monitor every setting; around 25% of consumers prioritise this guidance. |
A multi-cooker mainly takes care of cooking. UFC-Que Choisir says it generally doesn’t mix food, so your recipes may still involve chopping or blending ingredients separately.
Look at a few recipes you make regularly and note what needs to be chopped, blended, mixed or cooked before choosing an appliance.
If you don’t already own the equipment needed for these steps, you may need an additional appliance.
The amount you can use depends on the fill limits and the recipe. A bowl that seems large enough on paper may still mean making your dish in several batches.
Compare the usable capacity with the number of portions specified for the dishes you plan to make.
Making several batches also means spending more time in the kitchen.
A display or a long list of programmes doesn’t guarantee that the accessories you need for your recipes are included, or that access to guided recipes will meet your expectations.
Check which accessories are included, what manual controls are available and how you can access recipe content for the specific model.
Depending on the set-up, some accessories or associated services may require separate access.
An appliance with several parts to assemble, store and wash can make everyday meal preparation less convenient.
Check its dimensions, which parts need cleaning after a full recipe, and whether those parts are dishwasher-safe.
The Thermomix range brings together food preparation, cooking and guided recipes; features vary by model.
Companion combines food preparation and cooking, while Cookeo focuses on guided cooking.
Cook Expert combines cooking with food preparation tasks, depending on the configuration you choose.
These two food processors are for anyone looking for an appliance that combines food preparation and cooking. To compare them, look at each model’s features and consider what your recipes need. This selection isn’t a comparison of the three ways to equip your kitchen.
Image unavailable
For preparing ingredients and then cooking them in one appliance, this model features an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the usable capacity and included accessories for your recipes, as well as exactly what the advertised recipes include.
Image unavailable
If you want to combine food preparation and cooking, this model has built-in scales and a touchscreen; its title advertises 680 recipes. Before deciding how much you can make, check the bowl’s usable capacity, the included accessories and which parts are dishwasher-safe.
Not if your recipe also requires you to chop or blend ingredients and you don’t want to do this separately. A multi-cooker takes care of cooking, but according to UFC-Que Choisir, it generally doesn’t mix food. Check every step in your recipes before deciding.
Because the total volume doesn’t necessarily reflect how much you can cook for each recipe. Check the fill limits and the number of portions given for the dishes you plan to make, especially if you want to avoid cooking in several batches.
Look at all the parts you’ll need to wash after making a full recipe, not just the bowl. Check that the lid and accessories are easy to remove, and which parts of the model you’ve chosen are dishwasher-safe.
Yes. According to the Ministry of the Economy, when a business sells an appliance to an individual, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. If the appliance doesn’t conform, contact the seller and describe the fault clearly.