Choose a heated food processor if you want to prepare and cook food in the same appliance, particularly soups, sauces and slow-cooked dishes. If you already have a hob, oven or multicooker, a food processor can take care of chopping, blending and kneading. In that case, compare the accessories included, usable capacity and storage space required.
If you want to chop, mix and cook a soup, sauce or slow-cooked dish in one go, the cooking function is what sets a heated food processor apart. Que Choisir distinguishes this from the preparation functions of a food processor.
If you already use a hob, oven or multicooker for cooking, a food processor is mainly for chopping, blending, grating, slicing or kneading. You’ll need to find room for its bowls and accessories, even if it has no built-in cooking function.
A screen or app can guide you through the steps of a recipe. Before choosing this type of appliance, check the terms for accessing recipes, then make sure the bowl’s usable capacity suits the dishes you usually make.
First, decide whether you want the appliance to cook as well. Capacity, accessories and guided recipes can then help you choose between models suited to your needs.
Choose this if: you want to prepare and cook food in the same appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need room on your worktop or in a cupboard for the bowl and accessories.
Choose this if: chopping, blending or kneading matters more to you than cooking in the appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need another appliance to cook the food.
Choose this if: you already own a multicooker and want to pair it with an appliance for food preparation.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to transfer ingredients between the appliances. According to Que Choisir, a multicooker generally doesn’t mix food.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in cooking | Check the model’s cooking modes and which accessories you’ll need for the recipes you have in mind. | If I often make soups or slow-cooked dishes, I want to move from preparation to cooking without changing appliances; around 36% of consumers prioritise built-in cooking. |
| Preparation without cooking | Check which discs and bowls are included for chopping, grating or kneading, depending on how you plan to use them. | If I already cook on a hob or use a multicooker, I mainly want to spend less time chopping and mixing; around 29% of consumers prioritise food preparation without cooking. |
| Capacity and storage | Compare the usable capacity with the quantities you prepare, and make sure you have room to store the accessories. | If I want to prepare several portions at once, I need to be able to use the bowl without exceeding its limits and put the parts away after use; around 21% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Recipes and cleaning | Check the terms for accessing recipes and the cleaning instructions for the parts of the model you’re considering. | If I plan to follow on-screen recipes and use the appliance often, I also want to know how to care for its parts; around 14% of consumers put these considerations first. |
The total volume isn’t always the amount you can prepare. For example, Magimix lists a total capacity of 3.5 L but a usable capacity of 2.5 L for the Cook Expert Connect.
For the portions you regularly cook, compare the stated usable capacity and any recipe-specific limits rather than looking at the bowl’s total volume alone.
A function advertised for a range may require a specific accessory. In its testing process, Que Choisir carries out some tests, including those for smoothies or juices, only when the relevant accessories are supplied.
Check what’s in the box for the exact model and bundle you’re considering.
If an essential preparation requires a part that isn’t included, you’ll need to buy that accessory separately or use another appliance.
Guided recipes may have different access terms from the appliance’s basic functions. For example, Vorwerk offers a Cookidoo subscription deal specifically for new subscribers.
Check what remains available after any introductory offer, and whether the recipes on offer suit the way you usually cook.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy distinguishes the legal guarantee of conformity, which applies to qualifying purchases from a professional seller, from any additional commercial promises made about a product.
Check who the seller is and keep a copy of the appliance description. For any commercial guarantee, read the terms for the specific model and seller, and don’t confuse them with your legal rights.
These examples show different ways of combining food preparation, cooking and guided recipes. The features and promises mentioned apply to the models listed, not every product from each brand.
Moulinex presents the I-Companion XL HF908120 as a connected heated food processor for preparing and cooking family meals.
According to Magimix, the Cook Expert Connect combines cooking functions with food preparation tasks such as chopping, kneading, grating and slicing.
The Thermomix TM7 is a connected heated food processor, particularly suited to people who want to follow guided recipes on screen.
These Joybuy models cover two different needs: preparing and cooking with a heated food processor, or preparing ingredients in a food processor before cooking them separately.
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Prepare and cook food in the same appliance. The product description lists functions including blending, kneading, chopping and steaming, as well as a usable capacity of 3 L and built-in scales.
If on-screen recipes are part of what appeals to you, check how many are included with the bundle and the terms for accessing new recipes.
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Prepare ingredients, then cook them with on-screen instructions. The product description lists functions including chopping, grating, slow cooking and steaming, along with a 3.5 L bowl and guided recipes.
Compare the usable capacity with the quantities you plan to make, and check which accessories are included and the terms for accessing recipes with your chosen bundle.
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Chop, grate, slice or knead ingredients when you’re cooking them separately. The product description lists a bowl and a 1.5 L glass blender jug.
Check that the capacity suits your portions. This food preparation appliance won’t replace the appliance you use for cooking.
It’s enough for preparing ingredients if you’re happy to cook them separately, on a hob, in an oven or in a multicooker. Check that the model’s accessories cover the tasks you do often, such as grating, slicing or kneading.
Not for every stage of food preparation. According to Que Choisir, a multicooker generally doesn’t mix food. Paired with a food processor, it lets you split preparation and cooking between two appliances, but you’ll need to transfer the ingredients from one to the other.
Start with the dishes you make regularly, then check exactly what’s included in the bundle. Grating vegetables, squeezing citrus fruit and steaming require different parts. A function advertised for a range won’t necessarily be included with every model.
It depends on the service and bundle you choose. Vorwerk says, for example, that some Cookidoo offers are reserved for new subscribers. Check the terms for accessing the recipes you’re interested in before choosing a food processor for this feature.
For qualifying purchases from a professional seller, the legal guarantee of conformity applies if the product doesn’t match its advertised description, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Keep the product listing and proof of purchase. Any commercial guarantee is a separate commitment.