A food processor with a cooking function is a good choice if you often make dishes that involve chopping or mixing ingredients before cooking, and want to do both in the same appliance. If hands-off cooking matters more than food preparation, consider a multi-cooker instead. And if you already have cooking covered and mainly want to grate, slice or knead, a food processor is better suited to the job. In every case, check which accessories are included, how much you can actually cook and how easy the appliance is to clean after making your usual recipes.
The key difference is the task you want the appliance to take on: preparing and cooking, mainly cooking, or mainly preparing.
If you regularly make soups, sauces, purées or slow-cooked dishes, a food processor with a cooking function lets you carry out several steps in the same bowl. How useful it is will depend on the model’s features, the space you have available and how much cleaning you’re happy to do after a meal.
If your priority is to cook rice, steam vegetables or prepare slow-cooked dishes while you get on with something else, a multi-cooker is worth considering. You’ll still need to chop the ingredients separately, though: Que Choisir explains that these appliances generally don’t mix food.
If you’re happy using your hob or oven, a food processor can take care of chopping, grating, slicing or kneading without adding a cooking function. Check that the model you choose comes with the accessories you need for these tasks.
Start with the steps that take up the most time when you cook your usual meals, then look at the capacity and cleaning requirements of an appliance that could handle them.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Doing several steps of a meal in one appliance | The model’s preparation and cooking functions ; the accessories actually included. | When a soup or slow-cooked dish involves several steps, I want to avoid transferring food between different utensils. Around 31 % of consumers prioritise having preparation and cooking in one appliance. |
| Cooking with minimal supervision | Programmes suited to your dishes ; the maximum permitted amount in the cooking pot. | For a family meal, I’m happy to chop the ingredients myself if the appliance can take care of the cooking afterwards. Hands-off cooking is the top priority for around 31 % of consumers. |
| Preparing food without a cooking function | Included discs, blades and other accessories ; the space needed to store them. | If I’m already happy with my hob or oven, I mainly want to grate, slice or knead. Preparing ingredients comes first for around 23 % of consumers. |
| Choosing an appliance that’s easy to use | Available space, parts to clean and access requirements for digital recipes. | If the appliance has to come out of a cupboard for every meal, storage and washing up may matter more than its programmes. Around 15 % of consumers prioritise these practical considerations above all. |
If you mainly make soups or smooth soups, you could also consider a heated blender. But think about what else you actually prepare: a specialist function won’t, on its own, replace grating, kneading or making a variety of dishes.
A food processor with a cooking function makes the biggest difference to meals where it can handle both some of the preparation and the cooking. If you mainly use an appliance to grate or chop, the extra cooking function may end up being an afterthought.
Make a note of a few meals you cook in a typical week, then work out which steps the model you’re considering would actually take care of.
The stated capacity of a bowl or cooking pot doesn’t necessarily match the amount you’re allowed to put in for every recipe, particularly when pressure cooking.
Compare the model’s stated limits with your usual portions and the ingredients you cook.
In a 2020 survey, Que Choisir listed having too much washing up as one of the reasons some owners use their food processor with a cooking function less often. Accessories you rarely use also take up space.
Check which parts you’ll need to wash after making your usual recipes, and where you’ll store the bowl, blades and accessories.
Access to recipes depends on the platform and model. For example, Vorwerk describes Cookidoo as a service linked to its Thermomix range, so seeing recipes on a screen doesn’t, by itself, tell you what’s required to access the full catalogue.
Check which recipes you can use on the specific model, whether any subscription is required and which functions remain available without the service.
These ranges take different approaches to food preparation and cooking. Compare the features of the specific model rather than assuming what it can do from the brand name alone.
The Thermomix range combines food processing and cooking with guided recipes. Vorwerk says the TM7 offers cooking modes and access to recipes through Cookidoo.
Moulinex describes Companion as a range of appliances that prepare and cook food, while Cookeo is a range of multi-cookers focused on cooking.
The Cook Expert range combines cooking with food processor functions. Magimix distinguishes between the standard Cook Expert and the XL Connect in particular by their stated capacities.
This Joybuy selection includes food processors with cooking functions for handling preparation and cooking in one appliance, followed by multi-cookers for meals where cooking is the main task. For each appliance, compare the listed features with your recipes and follow the filling instructions.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare and cook in one appliance while following recipes on a touchscreen. The model name indicates an XL bowl and built-in scales. Check that the included accessories can handle the tasks you need and that the usable capacity suits your portions.
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Worth a look if you want to follow step-by-step cooking instructions on a touchscreen while preparing and cooking in one appliance. The product name mentions built-in scales. Check the bowl’s usable capacity and how easy the accessories are to clean after making your usual meals.
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An option to consider if you prepare the ingredients separately and mainly want the appliance to cook family meals. The model name lists an 8 L capacity, 1 200 W and 12 pre-set programmes. For your portions, follow the filling limits for each recipe and for pressure cooking.
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Worth comparing if you need different cooking modes rather than automated chopping. This version is listed with an air fryer lid and built-in scales. Check the included accessories and the permitted quantities for the dishes you make.
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Worth considering if you mainly want a multi-cooker for family meals and prepare the ingredients separately. Its stated capacity is 7,1 L. Follow the filling markers and the steam-release instructions for the relevant cooking modes.
Not for every task: a food processor with a cooking function stands out for its built-in cooking, while food processor accessories are used for tasks such as grating, slicing and kneading. If you want one to handle these jobs too, check that the model and its included accessories can actually do them.
It may be, if your main challenge is cooking rice, steaming vegetables or making slow-cooked dishes. If you also want to chop or grate in the same appliance, check these features separately: according to Que Choisir, multi-cookers generally don’t mix food.
Compare the quantities you cook with the filling limits for the model and each cooking mode, rather than relying on the stated total capacity alone. This is particularly important for ingredients that expand and when pressure cooking.
No, access terms vary by model and platform. Vorwerk, for example, offers Cookidoo for the Thermomix range. Before choosing a connected appliance, check which recipes and functions are available without a subscription on the specific model.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual, as the French Ministry of the Economy explains. The DGCCRF states that claims must be made within two years of delivery. Check the terms of any commercial guarantee separately.