To combine food preparation and cooking in one appliance, consider a cooking food processor. If you already cook on the hob or in the oven and mainly want to chop, grate or blend, a multifunction food processor is a better fit; if your main priority is programming the cooking, look at multicookers. In each case, compare the tasks the appliance can actually handle, how much space it takes up and how many accessories you’ll need to store.
The key difference is the task you want the appliance to take care of: preparing ingredients, cooking the meal, or doing both.
If your meals regularly involve blending or mixing before cooking, consider a cooking food processor. Que Choisir describes this category as combining several functions, but the accessories and features vary from model to model.
If you’re happy with your hob and oven, a multifunction food processor can handle preparation tasks such as grating, slicing or chopping. Check which tools are included and how much storage space you’ll need.
A multicooker is a good option if you want the appliance to take care of the cooking for you. It won’t replace chopping tools, though; Que Choisir also notes that food needs to be stirred by hand in the appliances covered by its guide.
Worth considering : if your recipes involve both mechanical preparation and cooking in the same appliance.
Bear in mind : available tasks depend on the model’s accessories, which will also need cleaning and storing.
Worth considering : if you’re keeping your current cooking setup but want one appliance to handle several preparation tasks.
Bear in mind : it won’t cook your food, and its discs and other tools will need storage space.
Worth considering : if your priority is programming the cooking rather than chopping or blending ingredients.
Bear in mind : you’ll still need to prepare the ingredients separately and, according to Que Choisir, stirring may still need to be done by hand.
Start with a few meals you make regularly, then check that the specific model’s functions and accessories cover the steps involved.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking tasks | Check separately whether it can chop, blend, mix and cook. Confirm which tasks are possible with the accessories actually included. | I want to avoid keeping a second appliance just for a task I do every week. |
| Space and storage | Measure the space you have in mind. Allow room for the bowl, discs and other accessories too; Que Choisir recommends checking that each one will be useful. | On my worktop or in my cupboards, a versatile appliance shouldn’t simply replace several items with just as many parts to store. |
| Cleaning | Check the instructions for removing the bowl and lid, and whether each relevant part is dishwasher-safe. | If I cook often, I want to be able to clean and put the appliance away without lots of extra steps after every meal. |
| Portions | Compare the stated capacity with the fill limits given for your recipes and programmes. Also check how many portions you usually make. | A large bowl is only useful to me if it suits the quantities I cook. |
| Programmes and recipes | Check for the modes you need for your dishes, access to guided recipes and any terms of use for the service. | I’d like guidance while cooking, or I’d prefer to stick with my usual way of preparing meals. |
A multifunction food processor prepares ingredients but doesn’t cook them; a multicooker focuses on cooking and generally won’t replace tools for grating or slicing.
Write down three to five dishes you make regularly and check which steps each appliance can handle with the accessories included.
The capacity stated for a multicooker doesn’t tell you how much you can use for every recipe or programme.
Check the fill limits in the instructions and compare them with the portions you usually make.
Accessories give you more ways to prepare food, but they also take up space. Que Choisir recommends considering whether you’ll use every accessory supplied with a multifunction food processor.
Allow space to store all the parts, then check how they need to be cleaned and whether a storage solution is included.
These examples show how product ranges can differ; the features of one model don’t automatically apply to other appliances from the same brand.
The Cookeo range is an example of a multicooker focused on programmed cooking, while Companion belongs to the cooking food processor category.
The Thermomix TM7 is a cooking food processor with guided recipes.
Its multifunction food processor range is for anyone looking to bring several preparation tasks together while keeping cooking separate.
These models cover the three options discussed: cooking food processors that combine preparation and cooking, multifunction food processors for preparation, and multicookers for cooking. Compare their features against the tasks that matter for your meals.
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Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking. The product title mentions an XL bowl, built-in scales, a large touchscreen and 750 recipes; check the terms for accessing the recipes, the usable capacity and how the parts need to be cleaned.
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Another model to compare if you want to prepare and cook with one appliance. The product title mentions 680 recipes: check the terms for accessing them, then check the bowl’s usable capacity and the cleaning instructions for its parts.
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For bringing several preparation tasks together while keeping your current cooking setup. The product title mentions slicing and grating discs; check which ones are included, where you’ll store them and whether the appliance’s dimensions suit your kitchen.
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Worth considering if cooking is your priority rather than chopping ingredients. For this 5.7 L multicooker, check the instructions for the fill limits that apply to the programmes and recipes you use.
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Worth comparing if you’re mainly looking for cooking programmes and a large stated bowl capacity. The product title lists 12 programmes; check what they’re designed for, the fill limits for your recipes and how much space you have for the appliance.
Not if you rely on your appliance to grate, slice or chop. A multicooker mainly handles cooking; according to Que Choisir’s guide, food also needs to be stirred by hand in the appliances it covers.
Not on its own. For a multicooker, check the fill limits in the instructions for each recipe or programme, then compare them with the portions you usually make.
Check the instructions to see which parts can be removed, and whether each one is dishwasher-safe, particularly the bowl, lid and accessories. Also make sure you have space to store the parts once they’re dry.
No : it depends on how you like to cook. If you want to follow on-screen steps, check which recipes are available on the model you’re considering and the terms for using the service; otherwise, focus on the preparation and cooking tasks you need the appliance to handle.