To choose an appliance for working-from-home lunches, start with what you need it to do: a microwave reheats a prepared meal, a multicooker cooks a dish, a cooking food processor combines preparation and cooking, an air fryer roasts or grills, and a soup maker is mainly for blended dishes. These appliances aren’t all interchangeable : also compare the portions you can realistically make, the space you have available and how much cleaning each meal involves.
If your meal is already prepared, a microwave is a quick way to heat it during a short break. If you want to cook a dish, a multicooker could let you get it started earlier ; check the functions of the model you’re considering.
A multicooker or cooking food processor can help you prepare several portions. Check the usable cooking capacity and fill limits in the instructions : the capacity shown on the appliance doesn’t necessarily match the amount you can cook.
A cooking food processor can combine chopping, mixing and cooking ; a soup maker is better suited to soups and other blended dishes. If you’ll use it regularly, check which parts need washing after each recipe, too.
First, decide what you’ll do at lunchtime : reheat a ready meal, start cooking or prepare fresh ingredients. Then compare the capacity and cleaning requirements of appliances that can do the job.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Time available | Is your meal already prepared, or do you need to start cooking ? Check the microwave’s reheating settings, or the programmes and keep-warm function of the multicooker you’re considering. | Between meetings, I want to reheat a prepared portion. If I’m cooking, I can get the dish started before my break. |
| Type of food preparation | For chopping, mixing and cooking, consider a cooking food processor ; for roasting or grilling, an air fryer ; for cooking and blending soup, a soup maker. Check the functions of the specific model. | Are my lunches mostly leftovers to reheat, cooked dishes, roasted food or soups ? I’ll choose based on the recipes I actually make. |
| Portions and space | Compare the usable capacity, fill limits and recommended portions for your recipes. Also measure the space on your worktop and in your storage cupboards. | If I’m cooking several lunches at once, I need enough room in the cooking pot without permanently cluttering up the kitchen. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts can be removed, which are dishwasher-safe and whether there’s a cleaning programme. Confirm these details for the exact model. | I’d rather know what needs washing before getting back to work, especially if I use the appliance nearly every lunchtime. |
| Reheating packaged food | Check that the packaging or container is microwave-safe, then follow the recommended power and heating time. Anses advises following the instructions on food packaging. | If I’m reheating a packaged meal, I want to be able to follow its instructions without assuming every container is suitable. |
Fill limits can reduce the amount you can make, depending on the recipe and cooking mode. So the figure shown on the product isn’t enough to tell you how many portions you’ll get.
Check the usable capacity and the limits for each mode in the instructions, then compare them with the recipes you usually make.
A microwave designed for reheating or an air fryer designed for roasting won’t necessarily chop and mix ingredients like some cooking food processors can.
Make a note of three lunches you often prepare and the steps involved in each. Then choose the functions that suit those tasks.
The bowl, accessories and removable parts can all need different care depending on the model. This matters if your break ends soon after you’ve eaten.
Check which parts are dishwasher-safe, which accessories are included and what the instructions say about cleaning.
Instructions about power, heating time and containers are part of the guidance for using a packaged meal. Anses advises following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Use a microwave-safe container and follow the instructions for both the meal and the appliance ; don’t extend the heating time arbitrarily.
Moulinex’s range includes Cookeo multicookers, Companion cooking food processors and Easy Soup soup makers : different types of appliance to compare based on what you need them to do.
Philips’ Airfryer range is mainly designed for hot-air cooking, roasting and grilling, and, depending on the model, reheating.
Vorwerk’s Thermomix TM7 is an example of a cooking food processor that comes with guided recipes via Cookidoo.
These options cover microwave reheating, food preparation with a cooking food processor, multicooker cooking and air frying. First choose the task that best matches your lunches, then compare models in that category.
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Worth considering if your lunches are mostly portions to reheat or defrost. The product name lists a power rating of 700 W, six power levels, a 30-minute timer and a turntable. For packaged food, follow the power and heating time instructions on the packaging.
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Consider this if you prepare lunches from fresh ingredients and want an appliance that combines food preparation and cooking. The product name mentions a touchscreen and 750 recipes. Before planning to make several portions, check the usable capacity for your recipes and how much worktop space you’ll need.
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An option for cooking a dish rather than simply reheating a portion. Its stated capacity is 7.1 L : check the fill limits for the selected mode in the instructions before estimating how many lunches you can make. For pressure cooking, also follow the instructions on filling and releasing steam.
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Compare it with the Rio XL if you’re looking for a multicooker for weekday meals : this model has a stated capacity of 5.7 L. Usable capacity depends on the fill limits and cooking mode ; check the instructions before planning your portions, especially when pressure cooking.
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Worth considering for food you want to roast, rather than soups or dishes that need blending. The product name lists a 2 L basket, a 60-minute timer and dishwasher-safe parts. Check that the basket size and temperature settings suit the recipes and portions you have in mind.
Yes, if you mainly need to reheat prepared portions in a suitable container. For chopping and mixing ingredients, simmering a dish or roasting food, check the functions of a cooking food processor, multicooker or air fryer, depending on the recipe.
Follow the power, heating time and container instructions supplied with the meal. Anses advises following the manufacturers’ instructions on food packaging ; don’t assume packaging is microwave-safe unless it says so.
Compare the usable cooking capacity and fill limits in the instructions with the quantities in your recipes, rather than relying on the stated capacity alone. The number of portions also depends on the dish and cooking mode.
Yes, when a business sells goods to an individual in France : in September 2026, the Ministry of the Economy stated that this mandatory guarantee covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods. It covers whether the goods conform to the contract ; don’t confuse it with a retailer’s returns policy for change of mind.
No. The list of product categories subject to this index, published by the Ministry of the Economy in August 2026, doesn’t generally include multicookers, cooking food processors, microwaves, air fryers and soup makers. To compare specific models, check which spare parts are available and what repair options there are, rather than assuming an index will be displayed.