Choose according to the tasks you repeat most often. A cooking food processor is designed to prepare and cook in the same appliance, while a food processor is mainly for preparing ingredients to be cooked elsewhere. If kneading and whisking are your priorities, look at stand mixers instead. If you only need one or two functions, compare them with the small appliances you already own. In every case, check the usable capacity, space required, included accessories and cleaning instructions before relying on one appliance to handle several tasks.
If soups, sauces, casseroles or steaming regularly feature on your menu, a cooking food processor is worth comparing. Its defining feature is that it cooks in the appliance, with food preparation options that vary by model.
If you already use a hob or oven, a food processor can handle the chopping, grating, blending and mixing you do regularly. Check the accessories supplied with the specific model rather than assuming every product in the range offers the same functions.
If kneading, whisking and bowl capacity matter more to you than cooking meals, focus your comparison on stand mixers. Heating functions and accessories that extend their use vary by model.
Worth considering: if making and cooking soups, sauces or casseroles in the same appliance fits your routine.
Bear in mind: built-in cooking does not guarantee that all the accessories you want are included, or that guided recipes will remain accessible on the same terms.
Worth considering: if you regularly chop and mix ingredients but already cook with other appliances.
Bear in mind: food preparation is not a substitute for cooking, and the tasks it can handle depend on the accessories supplied with the model.
Worth considering: if kneading and whisking, particularly in larger quantities, are your main tasks.
Bear in mind: any chopping or heating functions require a suitable model or accessories; they are not standard across the category.
Worth comparing: if you only repeat one or two tasks, or your current appliances already cover them.
Bear in mind: several appliances can take up more storage space and mean more parts to clean.
For regular home cooking, start with the need that matters most to you, then check the specifications of the exact model. A feature advertised for a range is not necessarily included with every product in it.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in cooking | The model’s cooking functions and the bowl’s usable capacity; access terms for recipes if you want guided cooking. | I often make hot meals and want to combine preparation and cooking rather than move between appliances. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Food preparation without cooking | The discs and tools actually supplied for chopping, grating or blending; the space needed to store the accessories. | I regularly chop and mix ingredients, but prefer to keep cooking on my hob or in my oven. This would be the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Kneading and whisking | The quantities of dough specified for the model and the baking accessories included, as well as the stated bowl capacity. | I regularly make dough or whisked mixtures and want a bowl suited to the quantities I make. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this type of use. |
| Minimal equipment | The tasks you actually repeat, the dimensions of each appliance and the parts that need washing or storage. | If my current appliances already cover the essentials, I don’t want to add functions I’ll never use. Around 14% of consumers would put keeping only what they need first. |
A chopping or blending function mentioned in the description of a range may require an accessory that is not included with the model you choose. Que Choisir explains that it only carries out additional tests on food processors when the relevant accessories are supplied.
Check exactly what comes in the box and which accessory models are compatible with your appliance.
Some uses may require extra accessories that you’ll need to buy and store.
Guided recipes may influence your choice of cooking food processor, but a temporary offer and ongoing access to the service are two separate things. Vorwerk offers new Thermomix TM7 subscribers three months’ access to Cookidoo; the TM7 is compatible with Cookidoo 3.0.
Check which controls can be used without guided recipes, how long offers last and what the ongoing access terms are for the model you’re considering.
A subscription may be needed if you want to continue using recipes linked to the service.
The stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll be able to prepare. A large bowl, its lid and the space needed to open the appliance must all fit in your kitchen.
Compare the usable capacity or the dough quantities specified for the model, then measure the space available, including room to open the appliance and remove the bowl.
Cleaning instructions, spare part availability and repair options vary by manufacturer and model. Information that applies to a whole range may not describe every model.
Check the manual to see which parts are washable, then look for accessories and spare parts that match the exact model.
These examples give you an idea of the different types of kitchen machines available. Check the features and commitments advertised for the specific model you’re considering.
The Companion range includes cooking food processors designed to combine food preparation and cooking.
Its food processors are designed for chopping, mixing and preparing ingredients to be cooked separately.
The MultiTalent range lets you compare food processors designed for preparation without built-in cooking.
The Chef and Titanium Chef ranges are primarily aimed at people who regularly knead and whisk.
The Thermomix TM7 combines built-in cooking with guided recipes through the Cookidoo service.
The cooking food processors below are suited to preparing and cooking food in the appliance. Stand mixers are better for kneading and whisking. Decide which type of use matters most to you before comparing bowls and accessories.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare and cook hot meals in the same appliance.
The product name mentions an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity, recipe access terms and which parts are dishwasher-safe.
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Worth comparing if cooking in the appliance and following recipes are part of your regular routine.
The product name lists built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes. Check the terms for accessing recipes and updates, as well as the accessories supplied and their cleaning instructions.
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For use focused on kneading, whisking and mixing rather than cooking meals.
The product name lists six speeds, a SUS304 stainless steel bowl, a dough hook, a whisk, a beater and a splash guard. Check the cleaning instructions for each part.
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Worth comparing if you regularly knead or whisk and want a 5 L bowl.
The product name mentions a tilt-head design, a dough hook, a whisk and a beater. Check how much room you’ll need to lift the head and the cleaning instructions for the bowl and accessories.
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Worth considering if your regular recipes mainly involve kneading, whisking or mixing.
The product name lists a tilt-head design, a dough hook, a whisk and a beater. Compare the quantities suited to your recipes, and check the dimensions and cleaning instructions.
No. A cooking food processor is most useful if you want to cook in the appliance, for example when regularly making soups or casseroles. If you prepare ingredients and then cook them on the hob or in the oven, compare a food processor’s functions and accessories with the tasks you usually do.
No. Que Choisir treats the cooking function separately from the use of recipes. If guided recipes are one of the reasons you’re buying, check what’s available for the model you choose. Vorwerk, for example, offers new Thermomix TM7 subscribers three months of Cookidoo, and the TM7 is compatible with Cookidoo 3.0.
Check the manual or product page for cleaning instructions for each part. The bowl, lid, blades, discs and accessories may all have different washing instructions. Also consider how many parts you’ll actually use for your usual recipes.
If it can still be used, consider having it repaired or donating it to a reuse organisation. If you need to dispose of it, the French Ministry for Ecological Transition lists collection points and household waste recycling centres among the options for electrical equipment.