Choose a heated food processor if you regularly want to prepare, mix and cook recipes in one appliance. If programmed cooking in a bowl is all you need and you prepare ingredients separately, a multicooker may be a better fit. And if your current appliances already take care of cooking, a food processor could meet your chopping or blending needs. In each case, compare the recipes you have in mind with the usable capacity, accessories and space available.
If you often make soups, sauces, slow-cooked dishes or steamed recipes, a heated food processor is worth considering if you want to handle both preparation and cooking in one appliance. Que Choisir specifically distinguishes a heated food processor by its cooking function.
For family meals or batch cooking, compare the usable capacity rather than just the bowl’s stated volume. The total and usable capacities published by Magimix and Lidl for their respective models show why this distinction matters.
If your pans or multicooker meet your cooking needs, consider whether the task you want to simplify is mainly chopping, grating or blending. A food processor may be all you need, without a cooking function.
Consider it: for recipes where preparation, mixing and cooking regularly take place one after another in the appliance.
Bear in mind: check that the space it takes up and the quantity you can actually cook suit the way you plan to use it.
Consider it: if your priority is cooking rice, slow-cooked dishes or steamed food in the bowl.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, these appliances generally do not mix food, so you’ll still need to prepare ingredients and carry out some tasks yourself.
Consider it: if you mainly want to chop, grate or blend, and already have a way to cook your meals.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to transfer the ingredients to your cooking appliance.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in cooking | Look for the settings your recipes need and check whether the appliance mixes food while cooking. | When soups or slow-cooked dishes involve several steps, I want to avoid switching between appliances; around 33% of consumers rank built-in cooking as their top priority. |
| Portions you can make | Compare usable capacity, the maximum fill level and the portions specified for the recipes you usually make. | To cook several portions at once, I need a bowl that holds the amount I’ll serve, not just a large stated capacity; this is the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Guidance and cleaning | Check the recipes available, the accessories included and which parts are dishwasher-safe according to the instructions. | If I use the appliance often, guided steps and cleaning need to stay simple day to day; around 20% of consumers prioritise ease of use and cleaning. |
| Space and existing equipment | Measure the space available and consider which functions your current appliances already cover. | If I already have a cooking solution that works for me, I’d rather avoid an appliance that duplicates what I have on the worktop; around 20% of consumers put avoiding duplication first. |
The maximum fill level may be lower than the bowl’s total volume. For example, Lidl states that the Monsieur Cuisine Smart has a 4.5 L bowl but a maximum fill level of 3 L.
Before choosing a capacity, check the stated limits for soups, sauces and slow-cooked dishes.
A multicooker is mainly designed for cooking in the bowl. Que Choisir notes that food generally needs to be mixed by hand.
List the steps you want the appliance to handle, then check the functions and accessories included with the exact model.
Recipes may depend on a service linked to the appliance. For example, Vorwerk offers Cookidoo with the Thermomix TM7.
Check which recipes are available on the appliance and what conditions apply to the service you plan to use.
The advertised settings alone don’t tell you how well a dish will turn out or how easy the appliance is to clean. Que Choisir’s testing protocol looks at cooking performance and cleaning, among other things.
For the recipes that matter most to you, compare the instructions for the exact model with independent tests covering cooking and accessories.
The Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation and cooking settings with guided recipes through Cookidoo.
The Companion XL HF80DB10 is designed for households looking for a large bowl and a range of food preparation or cooking settings.
The Cook Expert XL Connect is particularly suited to households preparing several portions.
Lidl’s Monsieur Cuisine Smart combines programmes and guided recipes in a heated food processor.
These Joybuy models include heated food processors for preparing and cooking in one appliance, as well as multicookers designed primarily for cooking in the bowl. Compare how each one fits into your recipes before looking at capacity.
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Consider it if you’d like to combine preparation and cooking, and follow recipes on screen. The product title mentions built-in scales and a large touchscreen; check the manual for the usable capacity for your dishes and which parts can be washed.
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Worth considering if on-screen guidance is important to you when choosing a heated food processor. The title states that it includes 680 recipes and built-in scales; check the manual for suitable quantities for your recipes and instructions on cleaning the parts.
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Consider it if you prefer cooking in the bowl and are happy to prepare ingredients separately. The stated capacity is 5.7 L; check the fill limits for the recipes you have in mind.
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Compare it if you need a larger stated capacity for cooking in the bowl. The 7.1 L shown in the title doesn’t tell you how much you can use for each dish, so check the fill limits and the space available.
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Consider it if you’re looking for an appliance that cooks in the bowl and are happy to prepare ingredients separately. The title states 8 L, 1200 W and 12 preset programmes; check the manual for fill limits and cleaning instructions, and make sure it’s electrically compatible with your setup.
Start with the usable capacity and the fill limit for the recipes you plan to make. For example, Lidl states that the Monsieur Cuisine Smart has a maximum fill level of 3 L, despite its 4.5 L bowl.
Yes, if the meal mainly involves cooking in the bowl and you’re happy to prepare the ingredients separately. Que Choisir notes that multicookers generally don’t mix food, so check this if your recipe requires stirring during cooking.
Check the manual for the exact model to see which parts are dishwasher-safe. To compare models beyond manufacturers’ claims, Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes repeated washing of accessories, bowls and lids.
For a new, second-hand or refurbished item bought from a professional seller, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity may apply if the appliance doesn’t match the description given at the point of sale, according to the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. Keep the documents describing the product and your proof of purchase so you can report the issue to the seller.