A programmable multicooker is a good choice if you add ingredients that are already prepared and want the appliance to take care of the cooking without constant supervision. If you mainly cook rice or slow-cooked dishes, consider a specialist appliance instead; if your recipes regularly involve chopping, blending or kneading, compare cooking food processors. In every case, size the appliance according to the permitted fill level for your recipes, not just its stated capacity.
If your ingredients are ready, cooking programmes and a keep-warm function can save you from having to stand over the hob. However, check what each recipe requires you to do and follow the appliance instructions.
How much you can cook depends on the fill limit and the recipe, not just the capacity marked on the cooking pot. Also consider how much worktop space you need and how you’ll handle a full, hot pot.
A multicooker is designed to cook ingredients that have already been chopped. If chopping, blending or kneading is a regular part of your recipes, compare the functions and accessories of a cooking food processor separately.
Start with the steps involved in the recipes you make regularly, then check how much you need to cook and what you’ll need to do before and after cooking.
Consider one if: your ingredients are ready to cook and you want a programme to take care of the cooking.
Bear in mind: chopping and other preparation steps still need to be done separately.
Consider one if: you mainly make the same dishes, such as rice or slow-cooked meals.
Check: the model’s programmes cover any other recipes you might want to make.
Consider one if: your recipes often involve chopping, blending, kneading or whisking before cooking.
Bear in mind: the accessories and cleaning involved with these functions.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Programming | Look for programmes suited to your dishes, then check the difference between a delay-start function and keep-warm. Consult the manual for the conditions of use with the ingredients you plan to cook. | I want to start cooking, get on with something else and have the meal ready when it suits me, without having to adjust every step. |
| Quantity to cook | Compare the stated capacity with the model’s fill lines, particularly for pressure cooking and ingredients that expand. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo with a 4 L cooking limit; this limit does not apply to every appliance. | I need enough room for my usual portions without exceeding the limit for the recipe. |
| Preparing ingredients | Make a note of the steps needed before cooking: chopping, mincing, blending or kneading. Check for the relevant accessories if you’re considering a cooking food processor. | If I already prepare the ingredients, programmed cooking may be all I need. If I also want to chop or blend them in the appliance, I’ll look at cooking food processors. |
| Cleaning and handling | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe, how to remove the hot pot and how much space the appliance needs on a stable surface. Follow the manual’s instructions for positioning and cleaning. | I want to clear away and clean the appliance without making the end of the meal more complicated, while handling the hot pot carefully. |
The permitted fill level may be lower than the stated capacity and can vary depending on the recipe. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo with a 4 L cooking limit.
Compare the quantities in your usual dishes with the fill lines in the manual, especially for soups, ingredients that expand and pressure cooking.
A cooking programme won’t replace the chopping, blending or kneading that some recipes require.
Make a note of the steps involved in a few meals you cook regularly. Compare cooking food processors if these tasks come up often; otherwise, focus on the cooking functions you’ll use.
A full cooking pot can be heavy and hot when it’s time to serve. The Instant Pot Duo Plus manual recommends a stable, level, non-combustible surface, and that all parts are dry and free from residue before the appliance is set up.
Check the handles and the space around the appliance, then follow the handling instructions for your chosen model.
Cooking time depends on factors including the recipe, the quantity and the programme used. A general claim about speed may not reflect the meals you make.
First, choose the programmes, permitted capacity and cleaning requirements that suit the way you’ll use the appliance.
Moulinex separates its Cookeo range, designed for programmed cooking, from Companion, which adds food preparation functions.
The range featured here includes Easy Cook+, designed for rice and other simple dishes, and Fast & Delicious CY505E10, a pressure multicooker.
Instant Pot offers pressure multicookers in several sizes, including the Duo 5.7 L model featured on its French website.
The Cook Expert is a cooking food processor to consider if you need to prepare ingredients as well as cook them.
These models are designed for programmed cooking with prepared ingredients. To choose between them, compare the functions you need, then check the manual for fill limits, handling and installation requirements.
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For a range of programmed cooking options, this model is listed with 12 menus, an 8 L cooking pot and 1,200 W of power. Before choosing it for larger meals, check the fill limits for your recipes and make sure the voltage and plug are suitable for your set-up.
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If you want to prepare a meal without having to keep an eye on it, compare this model’s programmes and delay-start requirements. Its stated capacity is 5.7 L: check the fill limits, cleaning instructions and electrical specifications before deciding.
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This 5.7 L model is worth comparing if you need several cooking settings. If you need to programme the start time, check that it has a delay-start function; also check the fill limits for your recipes. The WiFi name alone doesn’t confirm what remote-control features are available.
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The product title lists a 24-hour timer, nine menus and two pressure settings for planning your meals. The cooking pot is listed as 6 L; before buying, check the permitted fill level for your recipes, how the timer works and the electrical specifications.
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If you want a choice of cooking settings, compare the programmes on this 5.7 L model with the dishes you actually make. Check the permitted quantity, whether it has a delay-start function if you need one, and that the voltage and plug are suitable.
No. The nominal capacity isn’t necessarily the same as the permitted cooking volume. Que Choisir says a 6 L Cookeo has a 4 L cooking limit, and notes that the limit varies depending on the recipe. Check the model’s fill lines before choosing a size.
Yes. Once started, a programme can take care of the cooking without constant supervision, as Que Choisir explains in its guidance on multicookers. You still need to follow the manual: in particular, place the appliance on the specified surface and follow the instructions for its parts, steam and hot cooking pot.
Compare a cooking food processor if your recipes regularly involve chopping, blending or kneading ingredients in the appliance before cooking. If your ingredients are already prepared, focus instead on multicooker programmes, permitted capacity and cleaning requirements.
Check the instructions for the cooking pot, lid, seal and each accessory separately, as their care requirements may differ. Also find out how to remove them once they’ve cooled and whether the parts you care about are listed as dishwasher-safe.
Search for the appliance’s brand and exact model on RappelConso, the French public website for alerts about dangerous products. Make sure any notice applies to your specific model, not just to an appliance from the same brand.