If you regularly chop, grate and slice ingredients but don’t want to cook in the appliance, start by comparing food processors. The bowl, included attachments and storage space should suit the way you cook. If kneading is your main priority, look at stand mixers and their compatible attachments instead. For one or two regular tasks, separate appliances may be enough. A cooking food processor meets a different need: cooking in the same appliance.
How often you use an appliance matters just as much as the variety of tasks it can handle. A versatile appliance is only worthwhile if you’ll actually use its functions.
You regularly chop, grate, slice or blend ingredients, but don’t need a cooking function. Compare the quantities you prepare with the bowl’s capacity, and check which discs are included. Que Choisir also recommends taking into account the appliances you already own.
If cupboard and worktop space is limited, check where the bowl and attachments can be stored. Some models let you grate or slice directly into another container, such as the MultiPro Go FDP22.140GY from Kenwood. However, check that its bowl is also suitable for your other preparations.
If bread, pizza and cakes make up most of your baking, a stand mixer may be better suited to your main task. For occasional grating or chopping, check which attachments are compatible and which ones are actually included with the model you choose.
Start with the tasks you do regularly, then check what’s included in the box, how much you usually prepare and how much space you have.
Worth considering if: you regularly move between chopping, grating, slicing and other food prep tasks, but don’t want to cook in the appliance.
Bear in mind: the bowl and attachments take up space, and the advertised functions don’t always correspond to the tools included.
Worth considering if: kneading and whisking are your main tasks, with only occasional grating or chopping.
Bear in mind: chopping and grating attachments vary by model and may be sold separately, as the Moulinex Masterchef product listings show.
Worth considering if: you mainly repeat one or two tasks and already have the other equipment you need.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to get out, clean and put away several appliances when you have multiple steps to tackle.
Worth considering if: you also want to cook in the appliance, a feature that sets cooking food processors apart according to Que Choisir.
Bear in mind: if you only want to prepare ingredients, consider whether you need this extra function before switching to a different appliance category.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Functions and attachments | Check the list of discs, blades and other tools included with the exact model. Make sure you can tell them apart from attachments that are only compatible or sold separately. | I grate and slice ingredients often, so I need the right tools for the cuts I make—not just a long list of advertised functions. |
| Bowl capacity | Check the difference between total capacity, usable capacity and any limits for dough or liquids. Compare these figures with the quantities you usually prepare. | For small portions, a large bowl isn’t my only consideration. If I regularly prepare food for the family, I check the quantities the appliance can actually handle. |
| Cleaning and storage | Measure the space available for the appliance and its attachments. Check whether each part is dishwasher-safe and whether the tools can be stored in the bowl. | If I have to get the appliance out and clean it after every use, those steps matter just as much as the food prep itself. |
| Spare parts | Look for the bowl, lid, discs and blades that match the exact model. Don’t confuse a manufacturer’s stated availability period with the availability of a specific part. | I want to be able to find a compatible replacement part if something needs replacing, without confusing this with the appliance’s functions. |
Que Choisir distinguishes between functions that use the standard attachments and those that need extras. Without the right disc or blade, a task you had in mind may require another attachment.
Make a note of the tasks you do most often, then check what’s included with the exact model on sale and what’s only compatible.
Depending on the model, you may need to buy discs or other additional attachments separately.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you how much dough or liquid the bowl can actually hold. For example, Magimix gives the CS 5200XL a total capacity of 3.6 L and a usable capacity of 1.8 L.
Compare the figures that matter for the food you usually prepare: usable capacity, dough quantity and liquid limits, where specified by the manufacturer.
You’ll need somewhere to keep the food processor, its bowl and its attachments between uses. How easy it is to clean also depends on which parts you use.
Measure your storage space and check the cleaning instructions for each part on the listing for the exact model.
A brand’s stated parts availability period doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the bowl or disc you need will fit your model.
Check the manufacturer’s parts catalogue using the exact model number, and keep the model reference and your proof of purchase.
These models showcase different formats and features. Always check the exact configuration of the model you’re considering.
The CS 5200XL is an example of a food processor range designed for a variety of preparations.
The MultiPro Go FDP22.140GY combines a 1.3 L bowl with a direct-feed attachment for grating or slicing into another container, according to Kenwood France.
Bosch lists the MultiTalent 3 MCM3501M with a 2.3 L bowl and several food preparation functions.
Moulinex offers spare parts for food processors, as well as attachments for some Masterchef stand mixers.
This selection includes food processors for a range of ingredient prep tasks, as well as stand mixers to consider if kneading matters more to you than grating or slicing.
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Worth considering if you regularly switch between different food prep tasks. Compare the stated 1.5 L bowl capacity with the quantities you use, and check which grating or slicing tools are included, as well as how much space you’ll need to store the appliance.
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The product title mentions a blender, chopper and slicing and grating discs. If you plan to use it for all these tasks, check which attachments are included in the box and what quantities are suitable for each function.
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Consider this if kneading is your priority and you’d also like to blend or mince meat. If grating or slicing matters to you, check that the relevant attachment is included. The product description recommends hand washing.
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Compare it with the quantities you usually prepare if you mainly make dough. The 5.5 L capacity is stated in the product title; check the limits for your recipes and what’s included in the box if you’d also like to grate or slice ingredients.
Not for every task. If you mainly knead and whisk, compare stand mixers first. A food processor may offer a kneading function, depending on its attachments. Conversely, grating or chopping with a stand mixer depends on which attachments are compatible and included.
Check the usable capacity where it’s stated, then look at any limits for the preparation you have in mind. Magimix gives the CS 5200XL a total bowl capacity of 3.6 L but a usable capacity of 1.8 L. These figures don’t refer to the same usable volume.
It depends on the model and the individual part. Kenwood France says that the bowl, lid, blade and some discs for the MultiPro Go Blend FDP23.380GY are dishwasher-safe. Check the cleaning instructions separately for the food processor you’re considering.