Choose a cooking food processor if you want to combine food preparation and cooking for meals you make regularly. Choose a multifunction food processor if you mainly need to chop and mix, and your current appliances already take care of the cooking. If your existing appliances cover the tasks you need, keeping them could save you from having another item to store and clean. In every case, check which accessories are included, how much space you’ll need and the care instructions for the model you’re considering.
If soups, sauces, stews or steamed dishes regularly feature in your meals, find out what a cooking food processor can prepare and cook using the accessories supplied. The bowl capacity should suit the quantities you usually make.
If you mainly want to chop, grate, slice or blend, while your current appliances take care of the cooking, a multifunction food processor without a cooking function is better suited to those tasks. Que Choisir points out that accessories also take up space.
If you’re short on worktop or cupboard space, measure how much room the appliance and its accessories will take up. Also check the cleaning instructions for each part: those for the bowl, accessories and base may differ.
Start with the meals you prepare each week, then rule out any functions already covered by an appliance you plan to keep.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Combining preparation and cooking | Identify dishes that need to be cooked in the appliance and check the bowl’s usable capacity. | If you often make soups or stews, combining preparation and cooking in one appliance is a priority; around 36% of consumers put this need first. |
| Preparation without cooking | Check that the blades and discs you need for your regular tasks are included. | If cooking is already taken care of, you mainly want to make chopping and mixing easier; around 29% of consumers prioritise food preparation without an integrated cooking function. |
| Specialist tasks | Make a list of the appliances you’re keeping and identify the function or functions you’re actually missing. | If you’re considering a change to handle just one task, adding to your existing appliances may be enough; around 21% of consumers prioritise meeting a specialist need. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space for the appliance and its accessories, then check the washing instructions for each part. | If storage and cleaning are already a challenge in your kitchen, it may be better not to add anything; around 14% of consumers prioritise avoiding an extra hassle. |
A function may depend on a disc, basket or another accessory specific to the variant you choose. Que Choisir distinguishes in its testing protocols between tests carried out only when the accessory is supplied.
For each task that matters to you, compare the exact contents of the box with the list of accessories you’ll need.
Extra accessories also need somewhere to be stored.
If your current appliances already cook the dishes you make, this function may not meet any additional need.
Make a note of the meals you prepare regularly, and choose a cooking food processor only if its cooking function suits tasks you want to combine.
The bowl, discs and baskets may need separate storage space in addition to the space taken up by the appliance. Que Choisir recommends taking the size of the food processor and its accessories into account.
Measure the space available on your worktop as well as the room in your cupboards.
Instructions vary depending on the model and the part. For the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk distinguishes between the removable parts and the base, which must be cleaned by hand.
Check the instructions for the exact variant and look separately at the guidance for the bowl, lid, accessories and base.
The Companion range is worth a look if you’re after a cooking food processor and want to compare the accessories and bowls available.
For the Cook Expert, check which parts and accessories are compatible with the specific model you’re considering.
The Thermomix TM7 care instructions show why it’s worth checking how to clean each component before you choose.
These Joybuy models cover two different needs: combining preparation and cooking in a cooking food processor, or handling food preparation tasks with a multifunction food processor that has no integrated cooking function.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking in one appliance. This variant’s name mentions an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check exactly what’s included in the box, as well as the number of recipes and how you can access them.
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Consider this model if you want to prepare and cook food using the same appliance. This variant is listed with built-in scales and a touchscreen. Before relying on a particular accessory or recipe, check what’s included and how you can access it.
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A food preparation option to consider if your other appliances already take care of the cooking. The bowl is listed as having a 1.1 L capacity: compare this with the quantities you usually prepare.
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Worth a look if you want a food processor for a range of preparation tasks, without an integrated cooking function. The name specifies 750 W and a 1.8 L bowl. Check which accessories are supplied for the tasks you have in mind, as well as how much storage space they’ll need.
Choose a cooking food processor if you regularly want to do some of the cooking in the appliance as well as prepare food. If your current appliances already take care of the cooking, a multifunction food processor without a cooking function may be enough for chopping, grating or mixing. Check the functions and accessories included with the variant you choose.
Compare the list of what’s in the box with the product details and instructions for the exact variant. Don’t assume a disc, blender or basket is included just because it’s listed among the accessories available for the range.
No. Check the instructions for each part of the model you’re considering. For the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk says the removable parts are dishwasher-safe, while the base must be cleaned by hand. The brand recommends hand-washing the removable parts where possible.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer, according to the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. Keep a copy of the product description and tell the seller about any differences you find, particularly if an advertised accessory is missing.
According to the French Ministry for Ecological Transition, you can take it to a collection point or recycling centre, or ask whether it can be taken back at a retailer. The ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme applies when you buy another product of the same type; check what arrangements are available for your old appliance.