Households cooking several portions in one pot
If you prepare stews, vegetables or grains for several meals, start by working out how much you need to cook at once. The capacity shown on the pot doesn’t tell you how much you can actually put in it.
Who is this option for?
People who want to spend less time keeping an eye on their cooking
If you want to start cooking while you get on with another task, check that the programmes suit the dishes you make and find out what you’ll still need to do, particularly between successive batches.
People who also prepare their ingredients
If your regular cooking sessions involve chopping, mixing or kneading, compare a multifunction food processor with cooking functions to an appliance designed mainly for cooking. Also check how much space it will take up and which functions your existing appliances already offer.
What should you look for?
When planning your weekly meals, first separate the tasks you’ll need to do to prepare the ingredients from the cooking you’d like the appliance to handle. Then compare your planned quantities with the filling limits and the space you have available.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the quantities you usually cook with the filling limit specified for each recipe and setting, rather than relying on the nominal capacity alone. | When I’m cooking several portions of the same dish, I want to avoid making multiple batches; around 29% of consumers would prioritise usable capacity. |
| Cooking supervision | Look for programmes suited to your dishes and check which steps still require your attention, particularly between cooking sessions. | If I’m cooking while getting on with other things, I want to minimise adjustments and supervision; around 36% of consumers would prioritise spending less time actively cooking. |
| Ingredient preparation | Check whether you need to chop, blend or knead ingredients, and whether the appliance you’re considering can actually do those jobs. | For my soups, sauces or doughs, I’d also like to prepare the ingredients without using lots of appliances; around 21% of consumers would prioritise these preparation functions. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space needed with the accessories in place, and check exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe. | In a kitchen where every appliance needs to be brought out and cleaned regularly, I want to avoid adding another chore; this would be the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the pot’s capacity is the same as the amount you can cook
A family-sized recipe may need to be cooked in several batches, even if the pot looks large enough. Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo advertised as having a 6 L capacity, but with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L.
Check the manual for the filling limits that apply to the settings and recipes you’re most likely to use.
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Expecting a multi-cooker to chop and mix everything
Que Choisir says that multi-cookers generally don’t mix food automatically. If your weekly meal prep also involves chopping, grating or kneading, you may still need to do these jobs with other utensils.
Make a list of the tasks you repeat regularly before comparing a multi-cooker, a food processor with cooking functions and the appliances you already own.
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Overlooking how to clean pressure-cooking parts
Not all parts are necessarily dishwasher-safe. For its ClipsoMinut' Easy Evidence, Tefal specifically says that the seal and valve are not dishwasher-safe.
Check the manual to find out how to clean and inspect the pot, lid, seal and valve on the model you’re considering.
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Choosing extra functions without checking the appliance’s size
A food processor with cooking functions can handle both ingredient preparation and cooking, but its weight and size matter if you’ll need to get it out every week. Magimix lists its Cook Expert XL Connect Premium as weighing 11.9 kg.
Measure the available space, including room for the bowl, lid and accessories, then compare its functions with those of your existing appliances.
Brands to consider
These examples show the differences between guided cooking, a pressure cooker used on a hob and a multifunction food processor. The features mentioned relate to the specific models named.
Moulinex
The Cookeo range is an example of a guided electric multi-cooker, particularly for pressure cooking and preparing successive dishes in one pot.
- Moulinex lists a 6 L pot with handles, a steam basket and dishwasher-safe parts for the Cookeo+ CE851HF0.
- The nominal capacity isn’t always the same as the cooking capacity: Que Choisir cites a maximum limit of 4 L for a Cookeo pot advertised as 6 L.
Tefal
The ClipsoMinut' Easy Evidence P4904817 is a non-electric pressure cooker that you can use on a hob you already own.
- Tefal lists a 7.5 L capacity, folding handles and compatibility with induction hobs.
- This model doesn’t offer automatic programming; Tefal says its seal and valve aren’t dishwasher-safe.
Magimix
The Cook Expert XL Connect Premium offers a different approach if your cooking sessions also involve tasks such as chopping, mixing or kneading.
- Magimix lists a 4.8 L bowl, with a usable capacity of 3.8 L, as well as food preparation and cooking functions.
- At a stated weight of 11.9 kg, this model needs a suitable space and a little planning if you intend to use it regularly.
Electric pressure cookers on Joybuy
These electric appliances let you cook successive batches for several portions. Compare their advertised functions with the dishes you usually make, and check the manual for the quantities allowed for each cooking setting.
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Cecotec Programmable Cooker Model D, 6 L, air fryer and voice function
If you want to cook successive batches in a programmable pot, compare your planned quantities with the filling limits in the manual.
Advertised 6 L capacity, nine menus and two pressure settings; the model name also mentions air frying and a voice function.
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Instant Pot Classic 5.7 L, Daydream Blue
If you’re preparing several portions using different cooking settings, check the quantity allowed for your chosen recipe.
Advertised 5.7 L capacity; 7-in-1 model with slow cooking, steaming and four customisable presets.
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Instant Pot Rio XL 7.1 L, stainless steel pot
If you’re planning to cook larger quantities, compare the advertised capacity with the filling limits for the dishes you’ll be making.
Advertised 7.1 L capacity, 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker with a stainless steel inner pot.
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Midea 9-in-1, 8 L, 1 200 W
If you’re cooking larger quantities, first check that your recipes stay within the filling limits for the setting you’re using.
Advertised 8 L capacity, 1 200 W power and twelve preset programmes; the product name mentions slow cooking and steaming, among other functions.
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Cecotec Olla Programable Eléctrica 6L GM H Deluxe Fry
If you want to combine several functions in one programmable appliance, check which accessories you’ll need and how much space each use requires.
Advertised 6 L capacity; the model name mentions an air fryer lid and built-in scales. Check the filling limit for the dishes you plan to cook.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cook 6 L of food in a 6 L pot?
Not necessarily: the permitted cooking capacity may be lower than the advertised capacity. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo pot with a maximum cooking limit of 4 L. Check the manual for the model and setting you plan to use.
Which parts should I check if easy cleaning is important to me?
Check the pot, steam basket, lid, seal and valve individually. Moulinex says the pot and steam basket are dishwasher-safe on its Cookeo+ CE851HF0, while Tefal says the seal and valve on its ClipsoMinut' Easy Evidence are not.
How can I tell if a food processor with cooking functions will fit in my kitchen?
Measure the space you have in mind, allowing for the bowl, lid and accessories, and check the weight if you’ll need to move the appliance. Magimix lists dimensions of up to 405 × 335 × 390 mm with the bowl and a weight of 11.9 kg for its Cook Expert XL Connect Premium.
What should I do if my appliance is recalled in France?
Follow the instructions in the recall notice for your specific model. The French Ministry of the Economy says that measures for a product already sold may include returning it to a shop or destroying it, depending on the recall campaign.