Choose a food processor with cooking functions if your meals often involve chopping, mixing and cooking in the same appliance. A multifunctional food processor is a good choice when cooking is already taken care of, while a multi-cooker is best suited to hands-off cooking. In every case, check the appliance’s footprint, capacity, included accessories and cleaning requirements.
You regularly make soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes, steamed recipes or complete meals, and want to combine preparation and cooking to reduce the need for transferring ingredients between containers. UFC-Que Choisir’s guides distinguish food processors with cooking functions by their ability to cook.
You already have a satisfactory cooking solution but want to save time when grating, slicing, chopping, blending or kneading. A multifunctional food processor can complement your kitchen without duplicating its cooking functions.
You mainly want to start pressure, steam or slow cooking, or use a keep-warm function, while accepting that ingredients may need to be prepared separately when necessary.
Start by identifying the step that takes up most of your time: mechanical preparation, cooking or both. Then compare the actual capacity, available space and accessories included with the exact model.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Steps actually covered | Look for chopping, grating, slicing, blending and kneading functions, followed by the integrated cooking modes. Check that the accessories you need are included in the chosen package. | I want to avoid an appliance that does not handle the step that genuinely slows down my meal preparation. If I prepare and cook during the same session, a food processor with cooking functions may be suitable; if I already cook elsewhere, a multifunctional food processor may be enough. |
| Capacity and footprint | Compare the usable capacity of the bowl or cooking pot with your usual portion sizes. Measure your worktop, the clearance beneath wall units and the storage space needed for discs, blades and whisks. | I want an appliance suited to the quantities I prepare without permanently taking over the kitchen. Accessories should be easy to store and take out so they remain useful every day. |
| Cleaning and associated services | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe, how many components need cleaning and how readily accessories are available. Also check whether guided recipes or connected services are optional or linked to a subscription. | I want to simplify meal preparation without creating more washing-up or relying on a service I will not use. A digital feature is only useful if its terms suit my habits. |
A multi-cooker’s modes mainly cover cooking. If you often chop, grate, slice or knead, these steps will still need to be done by hand or with another appliance.
List the steps involved in preparing three to five meals each week. Compare a food processor with cooking functions and a multifunctional food processor first if mechanical preparation comes up frequently; choose a multi-cooker if cooking is the main obstacle.
A high number of modes does not guarantee useful accessories or comparable capacity. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocols assess additional accessories only when they are supplied.
For the exact model, check the contents of the box, the usable capacity and whether the discs, steam basket, whisk, blade or optional accessories that matter for your recipes are included.
A food processor may see little use if it does not fit on the worktop or if its accessories are difficult to store. The footprint can vary considerably between models and their components.
Measure your worktop, the clearance beneath wall units, the cupboard and the space needed to handle the accessories before choosing a model.
Guided recipes are not essential for operating a food processor with cooking functions, but some ecosystems are linked to an app, service or subscription, depending on the brand and model.
Check whether the app is optional, what remains available without a subscription, and the current terms for recipes and connected features.
In France, Moulinex offers both Companion food processors with cooking functions and Cookeo multi-cookers, making it possible to compare a preparation-and-cooking solution with one focused on cooking.
Magimix offers Cook Expert food processors with cooking functions and CS multifunctional food processors, clearly distinguishing integrated cooking from preparation alone.
In France, Vorwerk sells the Thermomix TM7 as a connected food processor with cooking functions for households looking for preparation and on-screen guided cooking.
These Joybuy options include food processors with cooking functions for combining preparation and cooking, multi-cookers for hands-off cooking, and a multifunctional food processor for kitchens already equipped for cooking.
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An option for preparing and cooking in the same appliance, with advertised mixing, kneading, chopping, grating, slicing, steaming and cooking functions.
4.5 L bowl, with an advertised usable capacity of 3 L, built-in scales and a temperature range of 37 °C to 130 °C.
Check access, language and any costs for recipes or Wi-Fi updates. The title and description state different numbers of recipes; also check the space required for an appliance advertised as weighing 9.4 kg.
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This food processor with cooking functions combines advertised chopping, grating, kneading, mixing, steaming and slow-cooking functions to reduce the need for transferring ingredients between containers.
3.5 L stainless-steel main bowl, built-in scales, automatic programmes and an advertised manual mode.
Check the exact contents of the box, particularly the grating, slicing and steaming accessories. The description states that the accessories must be washed by hand; also check the terms for Wi-Fi services and recipes.
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An option focused on cooking larger quantities of food, with advertised pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, sautéing and keep-warm functions.
Advertised 7.6 L stainless-steel cooking pot compatible with the dishwasher, supplied with two lids and a temperature range of 21 °C to 232 °C.
It does not cover a frequent need for chopping, grating, slicing or kneading. Check the available space: the advertised dimensions are 37.55 × 36.16 × 39 cm and it weighs 11.88 kg.
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A suitable choice if your hob, oven, casserole dish or multi-cooker already handles cooking and you want to speed up ingredient preparation.
Advertised 1.8 L bowl and grating and slicing discs, with blending, chopping and grinding functions.
No cooking function is advertised. The capacity may require several batches for larger preparations; also check which parts are genuinely dishwasher-safe.
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This multi-cooker is suited to family-sized programmable cooking, with advertised pressure, steaming, slow-cooking, roasting, frying and keep-warm modes.
Advertised 6 L cooking pot, programming for up to 24 hours, five pressure levels up to 90 kPa and built-in scales.
Chopping, grating, slicing and kneading are not confirmed. Check the language of the manual, recipes and associated services, as well as the pressure-cooking instructions.
No. A food processor with cooking functions adds cooking to its preparation features, but functions and accessories vary between models. If grating or slicing is important to you, check that the relevant discs are included with the chosen model.
It makes sense when integrated cooking is not useful to you or you already have a hob, oven, casserole dish or multi-cooker. You can then focus on grating, slicing, blending, chopping or kneading, while cooking separately.
It can simplify cooking with modes such as pressure cooking, steaming, slow cooking, browning and keep-warm. However, check how chopping, grating, slicing, blending and kneading will be handled if these steps are part of your usual meals.
Examine the exact list of washable components, how many there are and how they can be stored: blades, whisks, baskets, lids and discs. UFC-Que Choisir recommends choosing appliances that are easy to maintain and specifically tests bowls, lids and accessories after repeated washing.
In France, these appliances fall under electrical and electronic equipment. The Ministry for Ecological Transition states that the “1-for-1” take-back scheme is linked to buying an appliance of the same type; the “1-for-0” scheme applies in participating shops, particularly those with at least 400 m² of sales area dedicated to this category.