If you often chop, grate or blend but already cook with other appliances, choose a food processor with attachments suited to the dishes you make. A cooking robot is a better fit if you want to bring preparation and cooking together in one appliance. To help you decide between the two, UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking at factors such as the space it takes up and which functions you’ll actually use. A multicooker paired with a food processor means keeping two appliances, and you may need to transfer or stir the ingredients yourself.
If you grate vegetables, chop herbs or blend sauces several times a week, and don’t expect the appliance to heat them, focus on the bowl and the attachments included. A food processor can handle these tasks in one appliance, as long as the package you choose includes the tools you need.
If your recipes also involve heating, consider a cooking robot. Functions vary from model to model, so check which ones you’ll use, how much room the appliance and its attachments will take up, and which parts need cleaning.
If you already own a multicooker, blender or several small appliances, start by identifying the tasks you still need to do. Adding a food processor may make more sense than replacing an appliance whose cooking functions already meet your needs.
Start by deciding which tasks you want the appliance to handle: preparing ingredients, cooking as well, or complementing the appliances you already own.
Consider it: for regular chopping, grating or blending when you already cook with another appliance.
Bear in mind: cooking remains a separate step, and you’ll still need to store any attachments you rarely use.
Consider it: if the dishes you make regularly involve cooking that you’d like to do in the robot.
Bear in mind: functions and attachments vary by model. Bringing the steps together doesn’t mean you can overlook cleaning.
Consider it: if you often use timed cooking and also need to prepare ingredients separately.
Bear in mind: you’ll need room for two appliances. UFC-Que Choisir says multicookers generally don’t stir food.
Consider them: if a few specific tasks cover the dishes you usually make.
Bear in mind: you’ll keep several appliances and have to handle the steps that go with them.
| Factor | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Regular tasks | List the dishes you make every week. Check the functions and attachments included in the exact package, rather than relying on the product category name. | I often chop, grate or blend. Do I also need the robot to handle a cooking step? |
| Cooking | Distinguish between built-in cooking and cooking in a separate appliance. With a multicooker, check whether you’ll need to stir by hand: UFC-Que Choisir says this is generally the case. | I’d like to delegate some of the cooking, or does my current equipment already do the job? |
| Capacity and space | Compare the usable capacity with the quantities you prepare. Measure the assembled appliance and allow room to store the bowl, lids and attachments too. | The bowl needs to hold enough for my household without the appliance taking up too much space in the kitchen. |
| Cleaning | Check the instructions to see which parts need to be taken apart and how they should be washed. Think about the attachments you use for your regular dishes. | After an everyday meal, I want to clean the parts I’ve used without having to go through too many steps. |
| Guided recipes | Check what’s available on the appliance or in the app, along with access requirements and any connectivity accessories. UFC-Que Choisir notes that recipes aren’t essential for using a cooking robot. | Would following on-screen steps help me regularly, or would I rather cook from my own recipes? |
| Existing appliances | Take stock of the appliances you own and the functions you’re missing. If you keep two appliances, allow for the space they’ll need and for transferring ingredients between them. | I already have equipment for cooking or blending; I’m mainly looking to fill a gap in a task I do often. |
Grating, slicing or steaming may require a specific attachment. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests assess additional functions when the corresponding attachments are supplied.
Write down the dishes you make most often, then check the contents of the exact package: bowl, blades, discs and steamer basket, depending on how you plan to use it.
A cooking robot could duplicate your existing equipment if your multicooker already meets your cooking needs. Conversely, UFC-Que Choisir says that multicookers generally don’t stir food.
Take stock of the appliances you use every week before deciding whether you’re missing ingredient preparation, cooking or just one specific function.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, recipes aren’t essential for using a cooking robot. An app is only useful if you’ll actually follow its instructions regularly.
Check which recipes and functions are available with the specific model, the service’s access requirements and whether a connectivity kit is included.
The stated capacity doesn’t, by itself, tell you what quantities are suitable for each of your recipes.
Check the usable capacity and filling limits in the instructions. For a heated bowl, also check the guidance on handling it when hot.
These examples can help you compare different approaches and recipe services. Always check the specifications for the version you’re considering.
The Companion range may appeal if you’re looking at a cooking robot with recipes available on the appliance or in an app.
Cook Expert may interest households comparing the functions of a cooking robot and access to recipes in an app.
Thermomix is worth considering if guided cooking on a connected appliance is important to you.
The brand may be worth considering for specific tasks such as chopping, or for baking-focused appliances, depending on the range.
These Joybuy options show three ways to equip your kitchen for regular meals: a robot that combines preparation and cooking, an appliance dedicated to food preparation, or a mini chopper for more specific tasks. Compare each package with the dishes you make and the space you have available.
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Worth considering if you’d like to combine preparation and cooking in a robot with a touchscreen. The number of recipes advertised differs between the title and product description, so confirm it against the exact package contents, along with the usable capacity and space required.
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Consider this if you’d like to follow on-screen steps while using a cooking robot. Before choosing, check the bowl’s usable capacity, the dimensions, the cleaning instructions and the terms of access to the recipes.
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A food-preparation option to consider if your regular tasks include kneading or whisking and you cook separately. The title mentions a 1.5 L glass blender and a meat grinder, but the attachment lists don’t fully match, so confirm what’s included in the package. The product description recommends hand-washing.
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Worth considering for preparing ingredients without built-in cooking. The title mentions chopping, cutting and grating functions, among others. Check which attachments and discs are actually included, then read the cleaning instructions.
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Consider this if chopping is your main task, rather than preparing meals in a large food processor. Check the bowl’s usable capacity against the quantities you usually prepare. You’ll need another solution for grating, slicing or cooking.
Not if you expect it to cook as well: that’s the distinction between the two categories described by UFC-Que Choisir. If your hob or multicooker already handles the cooking, a food processor may meet your preparation needs, provided it has the right attachments.
Measure the space for the assembled appliance, then allow for storing its bowl, lids and attachments. Also compare the stated usable capacity for your recipes with the quantities you usually cook.
Check the instructions to see which parts need to be taken apart after the dishes you usually make, and how each part should be washed. Don’t assume that all the bowls, lids or attachments for a particular robot have the same cleaning instructions.
No. UFC-Que Choisir says they aren’t essential for using a cooking robot. If they’re important to you, check which recipes are available with the model you’re considering, the terms of access to the app and whether any accessories are needed to connect.