To enjoy a variety of weekday meals with minimal supervision, choose a multi-cooker with programmes suited to your recipes. If you want to leave dishes to cook slowly for several hours, consider a slow cooker instead; for rice-focused cooking, a rice cooker may be a better fit. A cooking food processor meets a different need if you also want to weigh and mix ingredients or follow guided recipes. Whatever you choose, check the quantity you plan to cook against the model’s fill limit. Don’t assume that the stated capacity is all available for cooking.
If you switch between rice, dishes with sauces and steamed food, compare the programmes with the recipes you usually make, then check the portion sizes and fill limit. Que Choisir notes, using a Cookeo as an example, that the bowl’s stated capacity does not always match the amount you can cook in it.
A timer or delayed start can help you plan your cooking; keep warm takes over once cooking has finished. Check that each function is available on the model and programme you’re considering.
If you’re cooking for one or two, compare the appliance’s footprint and the quantities you’ll actually prepare before choosing a large bowl. For example, Crock-Pot lists its 2.4 L CSC061X slow cooker for one to two people. It’s suited to slow cooking, but may not suit every multi-cooker recipe.
Start with the dishes you cook most often, then check how each appliance’s functions, capacity and cleaning requirements fit into a typical week.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Portions | Compare the bowl’s capacity with the portions listed for your recipes and the fill levels in the manual. Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo with a 6 L bowl that has a 4 L cooking limit. | I want to be able to prepare a family meal or several portions without assuming I can use the bowl’s full stated capacity. |
| Recipes | Look for modes to suit your dishes, such as slow cooking, rice, steam or pressure cooking. If you also want to weigh and blend ingredients or follow guided steps, consider the functions of a cooking food processor instead. | Do I cook a variety of meals, mainly slow-cooked dishes or mostly rice-based meals? I’d rather choose an appliance for the jobs I do regularly than be swayed by the number of programmes alone. |
| Planning | Check the difference between a timer, delayed start and keep warm, and make sure they’re available on the programmes you’ll use. Depending on the recipe, a scheduled cooking cycle may still require you to do things along the way. | If dinner time varies, I want to know when to start cooking and whether the dish can stay ready once the cycle has finished. |
| Cleaning | Check exactly which parts, such as the bowl, lid and accessories, the manufacturer says are dishwasher-safe. Also read the care instructions for the model. | After a weekday meal, I want to know which parts need washing by hand before I choose an appliance. |
| Size | Compare the appliance’s dimensions with the space available on your worktop and in your cupboards. Take into account any appliances you already own. | Do I have room for a large bowl or an extra appliance if its functions are already covered by something in my kitchen? |
A dish can exceed the permitted fill level even if it looks as though it will fit in the bowl. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo with a 4 L cooking limit.
Check the fill levels in the manual for your recipes, particularly if the model uses pressure cooking, and compare the stated portion sizes.
A slow cooker is suited to slow-cooked dishes, while a rice cooker may be a good choice if rice is a regular feature on your menu. Extra programmes are no substitute for checking that the appliance suits the recipes you’ll actually make.
Make a note of a few weekday meals you cook regularly and check their cooking modes before choosing a versatile appliance.
A manufacturer’s dishwasher-safe claim may apply only to certain removable parts, not the electrical base.
Check the manual for the model you’re considering to see which parts can go in the dishwasher.
Food preparation functions don’t guarantee that the bowl will hold enough for a large dish with sauce. For example, Vorwerk lists a 2.2 L bowl and a 6.8 L Varoma steaming accessory for the Thermomix TM7. These capacities are for different uses.
Compare the quantities in your recipes with the capacity of the bowl used for each one. Choose food preparation functions only if you’ll use them regularly.
These examples represent different types of appliance. The functions and capacities listed depend on the model and don’t indicate whether it’s available on Joybuy.
Programmable multi-cookers and Cookeo models for everyday meals, with a range of cooking modes.
Slow cookers for meals you can prepare in advance and cook slowly.
Rice cookers to consider if rice and a few simple dishes make up most of your meals.
The Thermomix TM7 combines cooking, ingredient preparation and guided cooking.
This Joybuy selection includes multi-cookers, a rice cooker and cooking food processors. Compare them based on your recipes and the quantities you need to prepare. If slow cooking is your main priority, a slow cooker is another option to consider.
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If you want to switch between rice, slow cooking and steaming, this model lists 12 preset menus. Before choosing it for several portions, check the manual for fill limits for different recipes and pressure cooking, as well as the voltage and plug required for your home.
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This multi-cooker may suit a variety of meals if its modes match the dishes you usually make. Its 5.7 L capacity is the stated volume of the bowl. Check the manual for fill limits, depressurising instructions and the plug required for your home.
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Worth considering if rice is a regular feature on your menu. The product name also mentions a timer, delayed start and keep warm. Check the permitted quantities for your dishes and find out how to clean the basket and bowl before relying on these functions day to day.
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The built-in scales and touchscreen are useful if you want guided food preparation as well as cooking. If you’re looking to leave a dish to cook without supervision, check which steps require you to intervene. Before buying, also check the recipes included, the voltage and the plug.
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This food processor is suited to meals that also involve preparation steps and on-screen guidance. The model’s instructions say not to leave it running unattended, so bear this in mind if that’s your main requirement. Check the usable capacity for your recipes, as well as the voltage and plug.
Not necessarily. Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo with a 6 L bowl but a 4 L cooking limit. Check the fill levels and manual for your model and the recipe you plan to make.
No. Keep warm comes on after cooking, while delayed start lets you set when cooking begins. Check for each function separately and make sure it’s available on the programme you’ll use.
No. Dishwasher-safe claims apply to the parts specified by the manufacturer, such as certain bowls or lids, not the electrical base. Check the manual for your model before cleaning it.
Follow the manual for your appliance when it comes to liquid, fill levels, locking the lid and opening the cooker once it has depressurised. Don’t apply the limits for a different pressure cooker to your model.