Choose a programmable multi-cooker if you rotate between different types of meals and want to set some cooking programmes without having to keep an eye on them. If you mainly make rice, slow-cooked dishes or steamed food, a specialist appliance may fit your routine better. Either way, compare the permitted cooking capacity, programmes, dishwasher-safe parts and overall size of the model you’re considering.
If keeping an eye on the cooking makes your evenings harder, compare the programmes, delayed start and keep-warm function on the model you’re considering. Moulinex lists the latter two features for the Cookeo Touch Wifi CE902800, for example.
A bowl with several cooking modes may suit this variety of meals. Do check the permitted cooking capacity, though: Que Choisir notes that a 6 L Cookeo bowl has a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L.
Compare the list of washable parts and check that replacement parts match the exact model. Moulinex and SEB’s guidance relates to specific components and models, not the whole appliance or every product in their ranges.
Consider it if: you switch between cooking modes and want to programme some of them in a single bowl.
Bear in mind: features vary by model, and the usable capacity may be less than the stated capacity, as shown by the Cookeo example cited by Que Choisir.
Consider it if: your meals mainly rely on slow cooking that you can start in advance.
Bear in mind: according to Instant Pot France, low-temperature cooking takes several hours, so you’ll need to plan ahead.
Consider it if: rice and grains feature more often in your meals than dishes that need other cooking modes.
Bear in mind: programmes vary. The rice and grain cooker featured by Instant Pot France can also prepare other dishes, but that doesn’t mean all specialist models offer the same features.
Consider it if: you want to steam several ingredients in separate bowls, as the brand says you can with the SEB VC204800.
Bear in mind: its bowls aren’t a substitute for a cooking bowl designed for sauces, searing or pressure cooking.
Consider it if: chopping, grating or blending takes you longer than cooking the food.
Bear in mind: as Que Choisir points out, a conventional food processor without a cooking function needs to be paired with another appliance for cooking.
| Factor | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | The modes you need for your dishes, plus any model-specific programming or keep-warm functions. | When dinner changes from one evening to the next, I want to be able to start different cooking programmes without staying beside the appliance; around 36% of consumers would make this automation a priority. |
| Usable capacity | The fill limit in the instructions and the size of the bowl or bowls, rather than just the stated capacity. | To prepare my usual portions in one go, I need to know how much the appliance can actually cook; around 29% of consumers would make capacity their priority. |
| Cleaning and care | The parts explicitly listed as dishwasher-safe and replacement parts that match the model number. | If cleaning up after every meal and replacing worn parts matter most to me, I compare each component individually; around 21% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Main use | The dishes you make most often, the features you can’t do without and the space available for the appliance and its accessories. | If I nearly always cook rice, steam food or slow-cook, I’d look at an appliance designed for that use first; this would be the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
The bowl’s total volume may be greater than the amount you’re allowed to cook in it. Que Choisir, for example, cites a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L.
Check the fill-level guidance in the instructions for the dishes you make, particularly liquid or pressure-cooked meals.
Manufacturers specify which parts can be washed. For example, Moulinex lists the bowl, steam basket and lid as dishwasher-safe for the white Cookeo CE701100; this doesn’t apply to its electrical base.
Check the instructions separately for the lid, seal, accessories and condensation collector on your model.
A versatile appliance won’t necessarily automate the task that takes you the most time. A food processor without a cooking function, for instance, helps with preparation rather than cooking.
Start with the meals you make most often during the week, then compare only the features you need to prepare them.
Information about a range doesn’t guarantee that a bowl, seal or valve will fit every model variant. Moulinex lists Cookeo parts that you can search for by model number.
Make a note of your appliance’s full model number and check which parts you might need to replace during its lifetime.
The Cookeo range is aimed at households interested in a multi-cooker with pressure cooking and programmable features, depending on the model.
Instant Pot offers both pressure multi-cookers and a rice and grain cooker, giving you two options for different cooking routines.
The Ultracompact VC204800 food steamer is an example of an appliance designed to steam separate ingredients at the same time.
These appliances offer two ways to organise weekday meals: bring several cooking methods together in a multi-cooker or opt for a rice cooker. The Robby Smart combines food preparation and cooking, so don’t confuse it with a food processor that has no cooking function.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare ingredients and cook in the same appliance, rather than choosing a food processor without a cooking function.
This model has an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the dimensions, whether the capacity suits your portions and the cleaning instructions for each part.
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Worth a look if you want to bring several weekday cooking tasks together in one large bowl.
The stated capacity is 7.1 L and the inner bowl is made from stainless steel. When pressure cooking, follow the fill limits and the instructions for closing the lid and releasing steam in the manual.
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Compare this model if you’re looking for pressure cooking, slow cooking and steaming in a multi-cooker.
This 5.7 L variant has four customisable presets. The permitted fill level depends on what you’re cooking, so check the instructions before choosing a capacity or using the pressure-cooking mode.
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Worth a look if you want a programmable cooking pot paired with the air-frying accessory included with this variant.
The stated capacity is 6 L; the product name specifies an air fryer lid and built-in scales. Check the manual for fill limits and instructions for each accessory.
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An option to consider if rice is your main cooking staple and you’re interested in delayed start or a keep-warm function.
The product has a stated capacity of 4 L, a power rating of 860 W, a non-stick bowl and a steam basket. Check the manual for suitable quantities and cleaning instructions for removable parts.
Not necessarily: the bowl’s capacity and its maximum cooking limit may differ. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl that can cook a maximum of 4 L. Check the fill markings and instructions for the model you choose, particularly for liquid or pressure-cooked dishes.
Only treat parts specifically listed for the model in question as dishwasher-safe. Moulinex lists the bowl, steam basket and lid for the white Cookeo CE701100; SEB lists the bowls, rice bowl and lid for the VC204800. Check the instructions before washing a seal, another accessory or the electrical base.
Follow the instructions for your model on filling, closing the lid and releasing steam, then check any parts the manual says to inspect before use. Instant Pot describes the Classic 5.7 L as having a locking lid and a steam-release control; Moulinex lists automatic steam release for the Cookeo Touch Wifi. These features aren’t interchangeable between models.
No, not for cooking meals: a food processor without a cooking function prepares ingredients, but you’ll need another appliance to cook them. It’s a better fit if chopping, grating or blending is the task you want to make easier and you’re already happy with your cooking appliance.