Choose a food processor if you mainly want to chop, grate, blend or knead, and your cooking needs are already well covered. A cooking robot is the better choice when preparing and cooking in the same bowl genuinely reduces transferring ingredients between containers for soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes or steaming. According to Que Choisir’s guides, cooking is the key functional difference.
You often chop, grate, slice, blend or knead, but are happy to cook with your existing equipment. According to Que Choisir, a food processor is worth considering when you are not looking for integrated cooking.
You want to reduce weighing, transferring ingredients and monitoring when making soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes or steamed food. The right choice then depends on capacity, the accessories included and how easy it is to clean after preparing your usual meals.
If kneading and whisking come before everything else, a cooking stand mixer may be suitable. However, check that the accessories you need are included in the chosen pack.
Start by identifying the steps that come up most often in your meals: mechanical preparation, cooking in the bowl, kneading, or simply the need to complement equipment you already own.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Steps to automate | Check whether you need to chop, blend, grate, slice, knead or whisk, or whether you also want to cook and simmer in the same bowl. According to Que Choisir, cooking is what distinguishes a cooking robot from a food processor. | I mainly want to reduce chopping and mixing, or also eliminate cooking and transferring ingredients between containers. |
| Capacity and space | Compare the usable capacity where stated, the bowl volume, the dimensions with accessories and the weight. Check the steaming capacity separately if you cook on several levels. | My usual portions need to fit without choosing a machine that is too heavy or takes up too much space on my worktop or in my cupboards. |
| Accessories and cleaning | Check the exact contents of the pack: blades, whisk, discs, steamer basket, blender or storage box. Also read the cleaning instructions for each individual component. | I want to prepare my usual recipes as soon as I buy it, without discovering afterwards that an essential accessory is sold separately. |
| Durability and second-hand buying | Check the reference, spare parts, warranty and any independent tests available for the specific model. For a second-hand appliance, inspect the bowl, lid, seals and locking mechanism. | I am looking for equipment I can maintain and repair, without confusing a brand promise with proof of reliability. |
A food processor can simplify many preparation tasks, but it does not replace cooking. Choosing the wrong type of appliance leaves the very steps you wanted to simplify in place.
Write down three meals you prepare each week, then identify whether the main obstacle is chopping and blending, or cooking in the same bowl.
Grating, slicing, blending, pressing or steaming functions may depend on accessories that are included or sold separately. A feature promoted for a range does not necessarily describe the contents of every pack.
Keep the details for the exact pack and tick off every essential accessory before ordering. Also compare the storage solution provided.
Additional accessories may be needed for certain preparations.
The stated volume does not always match the quantity you can actually use, or the space taken up by a steamer basket and additional accessories. An appliance that is difficult to move may end up staying in the cupboard.
Measure your worktop and storage space, then compare the usable capacity with your usual portions and the recipes you make most often.
Spare-parts availability commitments vary from one manufacturer to another. They do not replace independent results on the durability of the exact model; safety reports may also relate to a specific older reference.
Check the reference, warranty conditions and available parts. For second-hand purchases, look for relevant alerts and carefully inspect the lid, seals and locking system.
A repair or replacement part may take time and require accessories compatible with the exact reference.
The Companion range is aimed at high-capacity cooking robots that combine preparation, cooking and dedicated accessories.
The Thermomix TM7 is presented as a compact cooking robot with guided recipes and steam cooking.
The Cook Expert XL combines cooking and preparation for households looking for a versatile cooking robot.
The Cookit is presented as a connected cooking robot with integrated scales and preparation accessories.
The Cooking Chef range follows the cooking stand mixer route, for those who prioritise kneading and whisking.
These Joybuy options cover cooking robots for combining preparation and cooking, as well as preparation appliances without integrated cooking for chopping, grating, kneading or whisking.
Image unavailable
For preparing and cooking in the same appliance, with less transferring between containers.
Advertised 4.5 L bowl, including 3 L usable capacity, with integrated scales, blades, whisk, reversible disc and steaming accessories. Its stated dimensions are 40 × 26 × 36 cm and it weighs 9.4 kg: check the available space and the terms for accessing recipes and Wi-Fi updates.
Image unavailable
An option for combining mixing, kneading, chopping, grating, steaming and simmering in a single appliance.
Advertised 3.5 L stainless-steel bowl, 12 speeds, automatic programmes, manual mode and rinsing programme. Check the exact contents of the pack for steaming, chopping and grating, as well as the terms for accessing recipes and Wi-Fi updates.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if cooking is already covered elsewhere and you want to reduce preparation work.
Advertised 1.8 L bowl, with blender, chopper, meat mincer, slicing and grating functions. It does not cook in the bowl; check the usable capacity for your recipes and which components are dishwasher-safe.
Image unavailable
A solution focused on kneading, whisking and baking or bread-making preparations.
5 L stainless-steel bowl, advertised maximum dough load of 2 kg, dough hook, whisk and beater included. No cooking function is indicated; heavy doughs are limited to 5 to 10 minutes of continuous operation according to the description.
Image unavailable
Worth considering when kneading and whisking are frequent tasks and cooking is already covered.
Advertised 5 L stainless-steel bowl, 10 speeds with pulse function, dough hook, whisk and beater. No cooking or heating function is indicated; check the space required with the head raised and whether the accessories are dishwasher-safe.
Not if you need to cook, simmer or steam in the appliance. According to Que Choisir, a multifunction food processor mainly automates preparation, while a cooking robot is distinguished by its cooking function. However, if you already cook on the hob, in the oven or with a multi-cooker, a multifunction model may be sufficient.
No. According to Que Choisir, guided recipes are not essential for using a cooking robot. They can help you follow each step, but check for the model you are considering whether access is included, free, time-limited or paid.
Compare the contents of the exact pack, rather than the features advertised for an entire range. Check the blades, whisk, mixer, steamer baskets, discs, blender and storage solutions in particular. Que Choisir points out that some tests are only carried out when the accessory is supplied.
As of 8 July 2025, the list published by the Ministry for Ecological Transition covered laptops, lawnmowers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and high-pressure cleaners, without mentioning kitchen robots. Do not therefore infer that the model has no repairability index: check the availability of spare parts, the warranty and the repair terms instead.
Yes, but only after checking the exact reference, age and condition of the bowl, lid, seals and locking mechanism. 60 Millions de Consommateurs reported burns linked to the first 2015 Moulinex Cuisine Companion, which was no longer marketed. This report concerns that older reference and does not apply to all cooking robots.