Choose a food processor if you regularly grate, slice and chop, provided it comes with the accessories you need and they’re easy to clean. If you mainly work with large quantities of dough, consider a stand mixer instead. For one repeated task, a specialist appliance may be enough. A cooking food processor serves a different purpose: it lets you cook in the same appliance.
You grate or slice vegetables, chop ingredients, and also make dough or whisked mixtures. A food processor is worth considering if it comes with the right tools for these tasks. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these functions separately in its testing process.
If you often make bread, brioche or large batches of baked goods, focus on kneading, whisking and bowl capacity. UFC-Que Choisir notes that frequent or large-scale baking can be a good reason to choose a stand mixer.
If you mainly chop or blend small quantities, or already own other appliances, compare a specialist tool with the space a food processor and its accessories would take up. However, it may not cover grating, slicing or kneading.
Start with the tasks you do regularly, then compare the accessories included, the capacity to suit your usual quantities, and how easy the specific model is to clean. To compare preparation results or durability, look for tests that assess each function separately: UFC-Que Choisir does this in its testing.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Useful accessories | Check that it includes grating and slicing discs, a blade and the tools you need for your other preparations. | When I often prepare vegetables and chopped ingredients, I want the right tools without having to buy several appliances. Around 36% of consumers put accessories suited to their needs first. |
| Kneading and whisking | Compare the stated dough capacity for the exact model, as well as the bowl and included tools. | For regularly making bread or large batches of baked goods, I prioritise dough preparation and whisking over slicing discs. This is the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Space and cleaning | Check the dimensions, how the accessories are stored and the cleaning instructions for each part. | With limited space or frequent food preparation, I want to be able to put the appliance away and clean its parts easily. Space and cleaning come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Built-in cooking | Decide whether you really want to cook in the bowl, then consider the size and accessories of the cooking food processor you’re looking at. | If I also want to simmer or steam food in the appliance, simply preparing ingredients isn’t enough. Around 14% of consumers prioritise built-in cooking. |
An extra function is only useful if the matching accessory is included or available for the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir only tests these functions when the accessory is included.
Make a list of the dishes you regularly prepare and match each one to a specific tool before comparing what’s in the box.
You may need to buy a disc, blender or other essential tool separately, and find somewhere to store it.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the ability to cook is what sets a cooking food processor apart from other food preparation appliances. It won’t meet your needs if you only want to chop, grate or mix.
Consider a cooking food processor if you’ll actually use it to cook, simmer or steam in the same appliance.
A large bowl and several accessories take up space, even when you’re not using them. They also need to be easy to handle and clean if you use them regularly.
Compare the capacity with the quantities you usually prepare, and measure the space available for the appliance and its parts.
The wattage alone doesn’t tell you how well the appliance will handle each task or how durable it is. UFC-Que Choisir assesses functions and durability in its food processor tests.
If the result of a particular task is important to you, look for a test of that task using the model you’re considering.
Some Moulinex food processor models come with tools for a range of food preparation tasks.
The MultiTalent 8 MC812M844 is an option to consider if bowl capacity and dough capacity matter to you.
Some Kenwood stand mixers can be fitted with accessories for other food preparation tasks.
The Magimix catalogue can help you find accessories and parts for a specific food processor.
These appliances suit three ways of preparing food without built-in cooking: bringing several tasks together in a food processor, focusing on baking, or choosing a mini chopper for a specific job.
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Worth considering if you want one appliance to handle several food preparation tasks. Its product name specifies a 1.5 L capacity and a stated power of 600 W. Check that the included accessories suit your main tasks, and read the cleaning instructions for each one.
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Worth considering if chopping, grating and slicing are your main tasks. The product name specifies 750 W, a 1.8 L capacity, slicing discs, a blender and a chopper; check which accessories are actually included. If you also need to knead or whisk, confirm that the model can do these tasks before choosing it. Check the manual for cleaning instructions for the different parts.
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Worth considering if you mainly work with dough and also want to blend or chop. The product name specifies a 5 L bowl, a stated power of 1,000 W, a 1.5 L glass blender and a chopper. If grating or slicing matters to you, check that the relevant tools are included.
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Worth considering if you mainly want an appliance for chopping or blending, rather than one that handles all the food preparation tasks covered in this article. Don’t choose this mini chopper and blender for grating, slicing or kneading unless you’ve confirmed it has suitable accessories. Check the manual for care instructions for each part.
Not automatically. You’ll need the right accessories for your recipes, and results can vary depending on the model and task. UFC-Que Choisir assesses preparation functions separately and only tests additional functions when the relevant accessories are included.
Yes, especially if you regularly make large quantities: UFC-Que Choisir lists these uses among the reasons to consider a stand mixer. Then compare the stated dough capacity for the exact model, along with its bowl and included tools.
Check the manual for the exact model to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and which need to be washed by hand. Also check the appliance’s dimensions and the space you’ll need to store the discs, blades and other tools you plan to use.
Note the full model reference and ask which parts you may need for your intended use can be ordered, including the bowl, lid, blade or discs. A brand catalogue, such as Magimix’s, doesn’t confirm that a part is available for every model.