Choose a cooking food processor if your meals often involve preparing and then cooking ingredients in the same appliance: according to Que Choisir, its cooking function sets it apart from standard food processors and stand mixers. If you prefer to cook on your hob or in your oven, choose according to the tasks you do most: chopping and blending with a food processor, or kneading and whisking with a stand mixer. In every case, check the functions, usable capacity, footprint and cleaning requirements against the recipes you make regularly.
If soups, sauces, casseroles or steamed dishes are regulars on your table, a cooking food processor can combine preparation and cooking in one appliance. Check that its capacity and cleaning requirements suit how often you cook.
If you want to chop, grate, slice or blend ingredients before cooking them with your usual appliances, consider food processors without a cooking function. Que Choisir distinguishes these tasks from the heating function of a cooking food processor.
If you knead dough or whisk mixtures more often than you cook dishes slowly, start by looking at stand mixers. Whether cooking is built in depends on the exact model, so don’t assume it’s a feature of the whole category.
Consider it if: your recipes involve preparing and cooking ingredients in the same bowl.
Bear in mind: the bowl, accessories and space required all need to suit the way you cook.
Consider it if: chopping or blending is your main need and you already cook on your hob or in your oven.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to cook your food using another appliance.
Consider it if: kneading and whisking are the main tasks you need it for.
Bear in mind: don’t assume it can chop or cook; this depends on the model and its accessories.
Once you’ve chosen the type of appliance, use the recipes you make most often to check the features and practical requirements of the specific model.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking | Check which steps the appliance can handle for your recipes. Look at the cooking modes and the accessories actually included. | Do my dishes often go from chopping or mixing to slow cooking or steaming? |
| Accessories | Check separately for the grating, slicing, blending, whisking and kneading tools you need. | I’d rather have the tools for the dishes I usually make than choose based solely on the number of advertised functions. |
| Capacity | Compare the bowl’s usable capacity with your usual portions. If both are listed, distinguish this from the total capacity. | How much soup or dough do I actually make at a time? |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the available space and allow room to handle the lid. Check which parts need to be removed and which are dishwasher-safe. | I want to keep the appliance within easy reach and be able to clean it after a typical meal. |
| Guided recipes | Check how recipes are displayed on your chosen model and any conditions for accessing the associated service, if available. | Would on-screen instructions be useful for the dishes I’m actually planning to cook? |
The cooking function is what sets a cooking food processor apart, but grating, slicing and baking capabilities depend on the model and the tools supplied.
Make a note of the tasks you do most often, then check the function and accessory needed for each one. If you don’t need built-in cooking, consider appliances without a cooking function too.
Total capacity and usable capacity don’t necessarily refer to the same amount of food. The bowl’s volume also doesn’t tell you how much space the appliance will take up.
Compare the stated usable capacity with your usual portions and measure the space available before you choose.
An appliance that needs dismantling after every use may take more effort to maintain than its list of programmes suggests.
Check the instructions for the exact model: note which parts are dishwasher-safe, which accessories you’ll need for your recipes and where you’ll store them.
Remember to allow time to clean the bowl and accessories after the dishes you usually make.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory guarantee of conformity covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer. The DGCCRF distinguishes this guarantee from the terms of a commercial guarantee.
Keep your proof of purchase and the seller’s details. Read the terms of any commercial guarantee, but don’t treat it as a replacement for the statutory guarantee.
These options include cooking food processors for preparing and cooking, as well as stand mixers for kneading and whisking. Start by choosing according to the tasks you do most often; the two categories don’t automatically offer the same functions.
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Worth considering if you want an appliance that can prepare and cook food, with a large touchscreen. Before choosing, compare its usable capacity with your usual portions, check which parts are dishwasher-safe and look at the terms for accessing recipes.
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An option to consider if your recipes involve preparing and then cooking ingredients. Check the bowl’s usable capacity, how to clean the different parts and the terms for accessing recipes before choosing this model.
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The dough hook, whisk and beater are designed for different baking tasks. The product title states that it has a 6.5QT bowl; if you also want to cook in the same appliance, check that this exact model has that function.
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Consider the 5 L bowl and the listed accessories — dough hook, whisk and beater — in relation to the doughs and other mixtures you usually make. Check the cleaning instructions for the parts and whether it has any cooking function you might need.
Choose a cooking food processor if you regularly want to prepare and then cook food in the same appliance. According to Que Choisir, the cooking function is what sets it apart from a standard food processor. If chopping, grating or blending is all you need and you already use your hob for cooking, check the accessories on a model without a cooking function instead.
Start by comparing the usable capacity with the amount you usually make, and don’t confuse it with the total volume. Manufacturers’ specifications illustrate the difference: Magimix lists the Cook Expert as having a total capacity of 3.5 L and a usable capacity of 2.5 L.
Don’t assume they are. Check the instructions for the exact model to find out which parts are dishwasher-safe, including any accessories you plan to use regularly.
Check the access terms for the model and its recipe service. For the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk offers new subscribers three months’ access to Cookidoo, subject to conditions. The availability of guided recipes doesn’t tell you what the terms will be after that.
No. According to the Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer, and claims are made against the seller. The DGCCRF explains that a commercial guarantee is a separate contractual commitment.