Choose based on the tasks you repeat: an all-in-one cooking food processor if you regularly prepare and cook in one go, a blender if you mainly blend, or a stand mixer if you often knead and whisk. If cooking is your only priority, consider a multi-cooker instead. And if your current appliances already do the job, buying another one may simply mean more storage and cleaning.
If soups, sauces, vegetables or slow-cooked dishes are regulars on your menu, start with the tasks you’d like to avoid repeating. An extra function is only worthwhile if it’s useful for the dishes you usually make.
Chopping, grating, slicing, kneading and cooking all require different tools. Check that the included attachments and usable capacity cover the tasks you want to bring together.
The space required, the parts that need washing and the availability of spare parts matter just as much as the list of functions. If you already own an appliance, it’s also worth looking into a repair before replacing it.
Make a note of the tasks you actually do during the week, then compare appliances on those tasks before looking at capacity and maintenance.
| Priority | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare and cook | For an all-in-one cooking food processor, check which tasks it can handle, which attachments are included and which cooking methods the specific model offers. Que Choisir points out that functions and capacities vary between these appliances. | I often chop or mix ingredients before cooking them. Bringing these steps together in one appliance could be useful, as long as its functions suit the dishes I make. |
| Blend | For a blender, compare the usable capacity, guidance for hot ingredients and how easy the jug and blades are to clean. | The things I make most often are soups, sauces or blended drinks. I don’t need this appliance to grate or knead. |
| Knead and whisk | For a stand mixer, check the bowl and included attachments. Don’t assume it can chop ingredients or cook dishes. | If I regularly make dough or whisked mixtures, these tasks are a better reason to choose one than a long list of optional attachments. |
| Cook without preparing | For a multi-cooker, look at the cooking modes that suit your dishes and the capacity of the cooking pot. Consider chopping, grating and blending separately. | Cooking is my main priority; my current utensils already work well for preparing ingredients. |
| Capacity and space | Compare the usable capacity with your portion sizes, then measure the space needed for the appliance, bowl and attachments. The Cook Expert Connect, for example, has a total capacity of 3.5 L but a usable capacity of 2.5 L, according to Magimix. | I want to make my usual quantities without having to leave an appliance on the worktop when it would be difficult to store. |
| Maintenance and repair | Check which parts need washing, the reference numbers for available spare parts and, where applicable and displayed, the repairability index. A manufacturer’s commitment on spare parts doesn’t, by itself, explain the conditions for a repair. | I plan to use the appliance regularly and want to know how to maintain or repair it before replacing the one I already own. |
| Make use of what you already have | Identify infrequent tasks that your existing utensils can already handle. If an appliance isn’t working properly, look into repairing it before choosing a replacement. | A knife, saucepan or blender I already own does the job for my usual recipes. Avoiding another appliance also means fewer things to store. |
According to Que Choisir, having lots of functions doesn’t mean a food processor will do each one equally well. Attachments you rarely use also take up space and need looking after.
For a week or two, keep track of the tasks you repeat when cooking. Then check which of them the included attachments can handle.
The two figures can differ: Magimix lists the Cook Expert Connect’s total bowl capacity as 3.5 L and its usable capacity as 2.5 L.
Compare the usable capacity with your portion sizes and measure the space available for the appliance and its attachments.
A manufacturer’s stated period of spare-part availability doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the part needed for a particular fault will be easy to replace.
Keep a note of the exact model reference and find out which spare parts are available. In France, ecosystem says the Repair Bonus depends on factors including the appliance category and the fault. Ask a QualiRépar-approved repairer to confirm your eligibility before arranging a repair.
Kneading and whisking aren’t the same as chopping or grating. An appliance designed primarily for cooking won’t automatically handle mechanical food preparation.
Match each task you do regularly to a function on the model you’re considering, and check whether it needs a separate attachment.
These examples can help you compare the functions and capacities of specific models. A feature listed for one model doesn’t necessarily apply to the whole brand.
The brand offers Companion all-in-one cooking food processors and blenders for different preparation tasks.
The Cook Expert Connect is an example of a food processor that combines preparation and cooking.
According to Vorwerk, the Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation, weighing, cooking and guided Cookidoo recipes.
The range includes stand mixers and Cooking Chef models with cooking functions.
These Joybuy options cover versatile food preparation, blending, dough-making and cooking. Start by choosing the task you repeat most often when preparing meals. Keeping your current equipment is another option.
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Worth considering if you’d like to combine food preparation and cooking for the meals you usually make. Confirm the bowl material and included attachments, then compare the usable capacity with your portion sizes.
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Consider this if you regularly prepare ingredients but don’t need built-in cooking functions. The 1.1 L bowl should suit the quantities you make; check which attachments are included for the tasks you repeat.
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For blending rather than grating or kneading. The title lists a 1.5 L glass jug and an ice-crushing function. For soups, note that the product description advises against using liquids above 60 °C. Also check the model’s speed settings.
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Consider this if kneading, whisking and mixing are tasks you do often. The title lists a SUS304 stainless steel bowl, a dough hook, whisk, beater and splash guard. Don’t choose it as a replacement for a chopping or cooking appliance.
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Worth considering if you cook more often than you carry out mechanical food preparation tasks. Its stated capacity is 5.7 L; check that this suits your portion sizes and measure the space you have before choosing this appliance.
Not automatically: functions, capacities and attachments vary by model. In its testing of multi-function food processors, Que Choisir distinguishes between tasks such as chopping, grating, kneading and whisking. Compare each task you do regularly with the functions and attachments actually included.
Choose a blender if you mainly need to blend soups, sauces or drinks, and don’t regularly grate, slice or knead. Check the usable capacity, guidance for hot ingredients and how easy the jug and blades are to clean.
For the exact model, check which spare parts are available and how long the manufacturer says they’ll be available. Also look for the repairability index where it applies to the appliance category and is displayed. Information about spare parts alone doesn’t guarantee the terms of a repair.
No. According to ecosystem, the scheme covers equipment owned by households and bought in France that is no longer covered by a warranty or insurance. The appliance category and fault must also be eligible. Ask a QualiRépar-approved repairer to confirm whether your appliance qualifies before arranging a repair.
Before replacing it, see whether it could still be useful or repaired. ADEME lists donating, reusing, repairing and taking small appliances—including food processors and blenders—to an appropriate collection point as possible options.