Choose a multi-cooker based on the portions you usually make and the settings your recipes need. A programme can manage the cooking once you’ve started it, but it won’t prepare the ingredients, and some steps still require your input. Pressure cooking and guided recipes meet different needs from simply keeping food warm. If chopping, grating or kneading also takes up your time, consider a food processor with a cooking function instead, checking its usable capacity and how much space it will take up.
If you’re cooking for several people or saving portions for another meal, compare the pot’s volume with the portions stated for the specific model. Moulinex offers a 5 L multi-cooker for 4 to 5 people and a 6 L Cookeo+ for up to 6 people; Instant Pot says its 3.8 L Classic Mini makes up to 4 portions. These figures apply to the individual appliances and shouldn’t be treated as a universal conversion.
A suitable programme can manage the heat and cooking time once you’ve prepared the ingredients and started the appliance. If you want to serve later, also check for a delayed start, when keep-warm mode kicks in and the conditions listed in the manual. These features vary by model and programme.
If chopping, grating, mixing or kneading takes up as much of your routine as cooking, it’s worth comparing a food processor with a cooking function against a multi-cooker. The functions and accessories described by Moulinex and Magimix can help with these tasks, but you’ll also need to consider setup, cleaning and storage.
Start with the quantities and recipes you actually make, then decide whether your priority is spending less time monitoring the cooking, serving later or getting help with some of the preparation too.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and portions | Compare the capacity in litres, the portions stated for the model and, where available, the bowl’s usable capacity. | If I make several portions or leftovers, I want to avoid having to start another cooking cycle because there isn’t enough room. Around 34% of consumers would prioritise a capacity suited to the quantities they make. |
| Programming and serving | Check the settings that suit your recipes, the manual controls and the conditions for delayed start or keep-warm mode. | When a meal needs to keep cooking while I do something else, I mainly want to limit the steps I need to take after starting the appliance, then be able to serve at the right time. This level of autonomy would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Pressure cooking | Check that your recipes are suitable for this mode and read the model’s instructions for use and pressure release. | For certain dishes I want to make more quickly, I’m happy to choose a specific cooking mode and follow its steps. Faster pressure cooking would come first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Built-in food preparation | Look at the functions and accessories included, the usable capacity and the space needed for the appliance and its attachments. | If chopping, mixing or kneading takes up more of my time than monitoring the cooking, I want an appliance that can handle those tasks too. Around 13% of consumers would make built-in food preparation their top priority. |
A long list of programmes won’t help if your usual dishes need a mode or setting the appliance doesn’t have.
Make a note of a few recipes you cook regularly, then check the product details and manual for the settings they need, such as browning, slow cooking, steaming or manual controls, depending on the dish.
Portion guidance depends on the model and recipe. Some food processors with cooking functions have a usable capacity below their total volume: Magimix, for example, lists the Cook Expert Connect as 3.5 L in total, with 2.5 L usable.
Compare your largest recipes with the stated portion guidance and the usable capacity, where published, especially if you want to save leftovers.
The programme takes over after you’ve prepared the ingredients and started the appliance. You still need to follow the recipe steps and the appliance instructions; a Moulinex manual, for example, says not to move the multi-cooker while it’s running or just after cooking.
Allow time to chop and add the ingredients, then read the model’s instructions on steam, opening the lid and moving the appliance.
A feature you want may require a separate attachment. Moulinex, for example, says the Extra Crisp accessory for certain Cookeo models is sold separately.
Check which accessories are included and whether any optional attachments are compatible with the exact appliance model.
Moulinex offers classic multi-cookers, Cookeo models designed for guided and pressure cooking, and Companion food processors with cooking functions that also handle food preparation.
The range includes 3.8 L and 5.7 L models, among others, with cooking modes that vary by appliance.
According to Magimix, the Cook Expert combines cooking with food-preparation functions such as chopping, grating, slicing, kneading and mixing.
These models cover programmable cooking and delayed serving, while the food processor with a cooking function can also help prepare ingredients. Compare each one with your recipes, portion sizes and how much input you’re happy to give.
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Worth considering if you make several portions and want to serve once cooking has finished: the product details list an automatic keep-warm function and say it makes up to six portions. The pot has a stated capacity of 5.7 L. If app control is important to you, check its compatibility and terms of use. For pressure cooking, follow the instructions for opening the lid.
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Worth a look if you want to programme cooking in advance and use several modes in one appliance. The product details list a 6 L pot, 24-hour programming, built-in scales and an air-frying lid. Before choosing this size for your meals, check how many portions your recipes make and how much worktop space you’ll need.
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This model may suit households that want to programme a meal and keep it warm before serving. The product details list a delayed timer and automatic keep-warm mode, but give the pot capacity as both 8 L and 8 quarts. Confirm its exact capacity, usable portions and dimensions before choosing. Then follow the fill limits and pressure-release instructions.
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Worth comparing if you want to start cooking and keep food warm until you’re ready to serve. The product details list a 5.7 L pot and a delayed start. Check that the portion sizes suit your recipes and that you have enough room to set it up. When pressure cooking, follow the fill limit and don’t open the lid while the appliance is under pressure.
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Worth considering if preparing ingredients, as well as monitoring the cooking, takes up time when you’re making your usual recipes. The product details list chopping, grating, mixing and kneading functions, plus a 4.5 L bowl with 3 L of usable capacity. They also suggest following progress on the screen, so check that this level of input suits you. If you often serve later, confirm whether it has a keep-warm function.
Check the portion guidance for the specific model and compare it with the quantities in your recipes, rather than automatically converting litres into servings. Instant Pot says its 3.8 L Classic Mini makes up to 4 portions; Moulinex offers a 5 L multi-cooker for 4 to 5 people and a 6 L Cookeo+ for up to 6 people. For a food processor with a cooking function, also check the bowl’s usable capacity.
No. A programme can manage the heat and cooking time once you’ve started the appliance, but you still need to prepare the ingredients and choose the right setting. Some recipes involve additional steps, so always follow the model’s instructions, particularly for steam, pressure and opening the lid.
When it starts and how long it lasts depend on the model and sometimes the programme. Instant Pot says some appliances can switch on automatically for up to 10 hours. A Moulinex manual states that its 25-programme multi-cooker has an automatic keep-warm function that can last up to 24 hours, depending on the programme. Check the product details and manual for the model you’re considering before relying on this feature to have your meal ready at serving time.
In France, the Consumer Code published by Légifrance states that you can ask the seller to bring the goods into conformity, choosing between repair and replacement under the terms of the legal guarantee of conformity. This guarantee lasts for a minimum of two years from the date the goods are delivered to the consumer. Contact the seller and describe the fault.