Choose according to the steps you want the appliance to handle. A multi-cooker is ideal for starting a cooking programme with less supervision, while a cooking food processor can prepare ingredients and cook them in the same appliance. If your existing appliances already take care of cooking, a food processor without a cooking function is also worth considering. In every case, check the usable capacity, accessories, space required and how easy it is to clean.
For rice, slow-cooked dishes or steaming, your main aim is to reduce the amount of supervision needed once the ingredients are prepared. A multi-cooker could suit you if its programmes match the recipes you make. Check separately whether it offers a delayed start and keep-warm function. Que Choisir distinguishes these features from tasks involved in preparing ingredients.
Chopping, mixing or kneading before cooking is part of your regular meal routine. A cooking food processor is worth considering if you’ll genuinely use these functions and its bowl, accessories and cleaning requirements suit your kitchen, as Que Choisir points out in its buying guide.
If you’re happy with your hob or oven and preparing ingredients takes up most of your time, a food processor without a cooking function can help with grating, slicing, blending or kneading. It won’t cook the food for you, however, as Que Choisir reminds us.
Start with the task that slows down your everyday cooking the most. Then consider how the appliance you’re looking at fits the quantities you prepare, the space you have available and the parts you’ll need to wash after each use.
| Priority | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Less hands-on cooking | Programmes suited to your dishes, delayed start and keep-warm function, depending on the model; always follow the instructions for each recipe. | I want to prepare the ingredients, start cooking and get on with something else rather than wait by the hob. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this hands-off approach to cooking. |
| Preparation and cooking in one appliance | Functions and accessories included, usable bowl capacity and how easy it is to take apart. | When a recipe calls for chopping or mixing before cooking, I’d rather do it all with one appliance. This ability to carry out each step in sequence would be the main requirement for around 33% of consumers. |
| Food preparation without a cooking function | Bowl size, accessories you’ll actually use and storage, while keeping your existing cooking appliances. | I’m happy with my hob or oven; it’s mainly chopping and other preparation that hold up dinner. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this help with food preparation. |
The stated capacity doesn’t always match the amount you can cook: fill limits vary by appliance and recipe. Que Choisir highlights this difference in particular when it comes to multi-cookers.
Compare the usable capacity and the limits in the instruction manual with the portions you usually make, especially for recipes that expand or may boil over.
A cooking food processor combines food preparation and cooking, but the cooking function may be less useful if your existing appliances already cook food just the way you like.
Notice which tasks slow you down over the course of a typical week. If it’s mainly chopping, grating, blending or kneading, compare food processors without a cooking function too.
The bowl, lid, blade and accessories may each need different care. Que Choisir recommends factoring this in when choosing a cooking food processor for frequent use.
Check the instruction manual to see which parts can be removed and put in the dishwasher. Also measure the space you’ll need for the appliance and its accessories.
A recipe collection on its own won’t tell you whether the bowl is the right size for your portions or whether the functions and accessories cover the dishes you usually make.
Check which recipes are available on the appliance, whether there are any conditions for accessing additional content, and whether you can adjust the cooking settings manually if that matters to you.
The Cookeo range is a good example of a multi-cooker designed for everyday meals.
The Cook Expert XL Connect combines food preparation and cooking functions.
The Thermomix TM7 is a connected cooking food processor designed around guided recipes.
Lidl’s Monsieur Cuisine Smart combines food preparation, cooking and guided recipes.
These appliances are either designed for preparing and cooking food in a cooking food processor, or for cooking in a multi-cooker. First, choose the function that best suits the meals you usually make: the models below don’t all do the same things.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare ingredients and cook them in one cooking food processor. This model is described as having built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity against your portion sizes and confirm which recipes are actually available.
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Worth a look if your priority is setting a cooking programme rather than chopping or blending ingredients. The title lists an 8 L capacity, 1 200 W power and 12 preset programmes. Check the instruction manual for fill limits for each type of food and guidance on pressure cooking.
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For meals where you want to prepare and cook food in the same appliance. The title mentions built-in scales, a touchscreen and 680 recipes. However, the product description says not to leave the appliance unattended while it’s running. Also check how much space you’ll need to set it up.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a range of programmable cooking settings. The title lists nine menus, two pressure levels and a 24-hour timer. Before choosing this model, check the language of the instructions and recipes, as well as the fill limits and safety guidance in the instruction manual.
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For meals where you’d rather have a cooking appliance than chopping or blending functions. The title lists a 7-in-1 multi-cooker with slow cooking, steaming and four customisable presets. If delayed start matters to you, check that this function is available. Follow the instruction manual’s fill limits and steam-release guidance.
Choose based on the quantities you actually cook, not just the total capacity shown for the bowl. Que Choisir points out that a multi-cooker bowl may not be filled to its stated capacity. For example, Magimix lists 3.8 L of usable capacity for the 4.8 L bowl of the Cook Expert XL Connect. Also check the limits for the recipes you prepare.
Think about the parts you’ll need to wash after making a typical recipe, particularly the bowl, lid, blade and any accessories you use. Check the instruction manual to see what can be taken apart and put in the dishwasher. Que Choisir highlights the importance of cleaning when choosing a cooking food processor for frequent use.
No. They can guide you through preparing a dish, but they don’t replace the functions, capacity and accessories your meals need. Que Choisir notes that you can also use a cooking food processor without guided recipes. Check what content is available and whether you can adjust the settings manually if you plan to use it this way.