A programmable multi-cooker is most worthwhile if you regularly make a variety of dishes in one pot and want to keep a closer eye on the cooking. Before choosing one, compare the amount you can actually cook for each recipe, the useful settings, how easy it is to clean and how much space you have. If you mainly eat rice or steamed food, a specialist appliance or the equipment you already own may be enough.
If you cook stews, rice or steamed dishes, look for settings suited to those recipes. Keep-warm or delayed-start functions may also be useful, provided they’re available on your chosen model and suitable for what you’re cooking.
A pot that suits your usual portions may be more useful than a large capacity you rarely need. Also measure how much space the appliance will take up in your kitchen.
If you already own a hob, oven, rice cooker or steamer, compare the recipes you usually make with the extra functions a multi-cooker offers. Whether a new appliance is worthwhile also depends on how much space it will take up.
Start with what you actually cook. An appliance designed for rice or steaming may suit a more specialised need, while a multi-cooker brings several settings together if you’ll use them. For either type, usable capacity and how much attention it needs matter just as much as the list of programmes.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking with less supervision | Look for the settings your recipes need and check whether the appliance has keep-warm or delayed-start functions. | When weekday meals vary, I want to start cooking without staying beside the appliance the whole time, while still being happy to follow any steps the recipe requires. Around 36% of consumers put this need first. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the stated capacity with the filling limits in the instructions and the quantities you cook. | If I’m serving several portions or want leftovers, I need to know how much food will actually fit in the pot, not just its stated capacity. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and storage space | Check the dimensions, included accessories and cleaning instructions for each part. | In a small kitchen, I want an appliance I can put away and clean without making the next meal more complicated. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this kind of practicality. |
| How useful it is alongside appliances you own | List the recipes you usually make and the functions already covered by your hob, oven or specialist appliances. | If my rice cooker or hob already meets my main needs, I want a concrete reason to add another appliance. Avoiding this kind of duplication is the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The amount of food you’re allowed to cook may be less than the pot’s capacity, and can vary by recipe. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo with a 4 L limit for food preparation.
Compare the filling guidelines in the instructions with the quantities of soup, rice or stew you usually make.
A programme doesn’t mean the appliance stirs the food or necessarily includes browning and pressure-cooking settings. These features depend on the model.
Make a note of a few meals you cook often, then check the instructions for the settings and steps each one requires.
A steam basket, an easy-to-handle pot or dishwasher-safe parts can make a difference to everyday use. What’s included and how each part should be cleaned varies by model.
Check what’s in the box, the dimensions and the cleaning instructions for each part.
Some uses require a separate accessory. For example, Moulinex says the Extra Crisp is sold separately for the Cookeo+ mentioned here.
If you already make your usual recipes with a rice cooker, steamer, slow cooker or hob, shared functions alone may not justify the space a multi-cooker takes up.
Before choosing a new appliance, identify the feature you’re actually missing, such as a particular cooking mode or a keep-warm function.
The Cookeo range includes multi-cookers with guided pressure cooking. Depending on the version, Moulinex offers 6 L models designed to prepare up to six portions.
Tefal offers both rice and grain cookers and multi-cookers with pressure cooking. The right choice depends on the type of meals you make most often.
Instant Pot offers multi-cookers in a range of capacities, as well as multi-function rice cookers. The right size depends on your portions and the settings you’re looking for.
This selection includes multi-cookers for a variety of cooking methods and cookers designed for rice. Start by choosing according to the recipes you make, then compare the stated capacity with the filling limits for the specific model.
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Worth considering if rice and grains are the foundation of your meals and you’d also like to explore steaming and slow cooking. The stated capacity is 5 L; check the instructions for the quantities allowed in your recipes.
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Worth a look if you want to bring several cooking methods together in one pot, including pressure cooking and steaming. The title states a capacity of 5.7 L and four customisable presets. Check the filling limits and whether it has delayed start if you plan to use that function.
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Compare this model if you’re looking for a pressure multi-cooker with app control. The title also mentions a sous vide function and a 5.7 L capacity. Check app compatibility, filling limits and the programmable functions you need.
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Worth considering if you want to plan meals with a programmable appliance and explore several cooking methods. The title lists a 6 L pot, an air fryer lid and built-in scales. Check the filling limits, suitable portion sizes and how to care for the parts.
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Worth a look if you mainly cook rice, porridge or soup. The title lists delayed start, keep-warm, a steam basket and a 4 L pot. Check the permitted fill level, dimensions and cleaning instructions before choosing.
No. The stated capacity doesn’t always match the permitted fill level. Que Choisir says that a 6 L Cookeo pot may be limited to 4 L of food; check the filling guidelines in the instructions, as these may also vary by recipe.
Not necessarily. If you mainly cook rice, grains or steamed food, first check whether an appliance designed for those uses will be enough. Pressure cooking matters if it suits the dishes you want to make; check that the specific model you choose includes this function.
No, it depends on the model and the individual parts. Moulinex says that the pot and steam basket of the Cookeo+ mentioned here are dishwasher-safe, while Tefal lists dishwasher compatibility for the removable parts and accessories of the SpheriCook mentioned here. Check the pot, lid, sealing ring and accessories separately in your appliance’s instructions.