Choose a multi-cooker if you mainly want to set slow-cooked dishes, rice or steamed vegetables to cook, then get on with something else. If your meals also involve chopping, blending, kneading or mixing, consider a cooking food processor with the right attachments for these tasks. Its accessories, usable capacity, size and recipe access will matter just as much as its cooking functions.
If your meals mainly consist of rice, steamed vegetables or slow-cooked dishes, start by looking at multi-cookers. You’ll still need to prepare the ingredients and, depending on the recipe, stir the food.
If you often make soups, sauces or chopped and blended dishes, a cooking food processor could save you from transferring ingredients between appliances. Check that it comes with the accessories your recipes need, and consider how much cleaning they’ll involve.
Compare the usable capacity with the quantities you actually cook, then measure the space available for the appliance and its accessories. The bowl’s total volume alone won’t tell you how much you can cook.
Worth considering: if you mainly want to automate the cooking for your meals.
Bear in mind: peeling, chopping and often stirring will still be up to you.
Worth considering: if your usual recipes also involve chopping, blending, kneading or mixing, depending on the model’s attachments.
Bear in mind: there may be more parts to store and clean, and functions vary by model.
A multi-function food processor that cooks could suit the second scenario, provided its accessories can handle the dishes you usually make.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking with less supervision | Look for programmes suited to your recipes and check the time and temperature settings, as well as keep-warm or delayed-start functions if you’ll use them. Pressure cooking depends on the model. | I want to be able to start cooking an everyday meal and get on with something else, without assuming the appliance will prepare the ingredients too. |
| Built-in food preparation | Check the chopping, blending, mixing, grating and kneading functions separately, along with the accessories included. Not every cooking food processor offers all of these. | My soups or doughs involve several preparation steps, so I want to know which ones the appliance can take care of. |
| Capacity and space | Compare the usable capacity and recipe-specific fill limits with the appliance’s dimensions, including the bowl and accessories. Que Choisir notes that the 6 L Cookeo bowl has a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L. | I need enough capacity for my usual portions, as well as somewhere to use and store the appliance. |
| Cleaning | Check the cooking pot or bowl, lid, blades and each accessory. Check dishwasher compatibility for every part individually. | I’m interested in combining several steps in one appliance, as long as it’s practical to take apart and clean every day. |
| Guided recipes | Check which recipes are available directly on the appliance, which require an app or account, and whether any need a subscription. Conditions vary by ecosystem. | I’m happy to follow on-screen instructions, but I want to know the access requirements for the recipes I’ll use. |
A cooking programme won’t wash or chop your ingredients. With many multi-cookers, you’ll also need to stir by hand.
Think of three meals you make often and note which steps you’d like the appliance to handle: cooking, chopping, blending or mixing.
The usable capacity may be lower than the stated volume, and can vary by recipe. For example, Magimix lists a total capacity of 4.8 L and a usable capacity of 3.8 L for the Cook Expert XL Connect.
Compare the usable capacity and the fill limits in the instructions with the dishes you usually prepare.
Access depends on the manufacturer and service: Vorwerk offers Cookidoo recipes by subscription, while Moulinex advertises a free app for the Companion XL.
Check which recipes are available on the model you’re considering and the terms of use for its app.
A food processor that chops, grates and cooks may come with several parts to store and wash, even if some are dishwasher-safe.
Measure your worktop and storage space, then check what’s included in the box and the cleaning instructions for each part.
These ranges illustrate some of the features worth comparing; specifications depend on the model you choose.
Moulinex’s range includes Cookeo multi-cookers and Companion cooking food processors.
The Thermomix TM7 combines food-preparation and cooking functions with guided recipes from Cookidoo.
The Cookit is a cooking food processor that brings together food preparation, cooking and guided recipes.
The Cook Expert range includes cooking food processors, with equipment and connectivity varying by version.
This selection includes cooking food processors for preparing and cooking meals, as well as multi-cookers focused on cooking. Compare their functions with the steps involved in your usual meals.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare and cook meals using recipes displayed on a large touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity, the space needed for the accessories and the terms for accessing new recipes.
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A multi-cooker to consider if cooking matters more to you than chopping or blending. The cooking pot is listed as 7.1 L; check the fill limits for your recipes and follow the instructions for pressure cooking.
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For meals where preparation and cooking go hand in hand, this food processor combines scales and a touchscreen with recipes listed in its name. Check the usable quantities, how easy the accessories are to clean and how to access new recipes.
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This cooker is worth a closer look if you want to combine pressure cooking with air frying. Its stated capacity is 6 L; check the usable capacity, the space needed for the lid and the cleaning instructions.
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Worth considering for programmed cooking in a pot listed as 8 L. Before choosing this size, check the quantities allowed for your dishes, the appliance’s dimensions, and the instructions for filling and releasing steam.
Not if you also expect the appliance to chop, blend or knead: a multi-cooker is mainly designed for cooking. Que Choisir notes that stirring is generally done by hand; check the functions and accessories of any cooking food processor you’re considering for the other steps.
No. The usable capacity may be lower and can depend on the recipe. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo pot with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L; Magimix lists a total capacity of 4.8 L and a usable capacity of 3.8 L for the Cook Expert XL Connect. Check the fill limits for the model you choose.
It depends on the service and model. Vorwerk offers access to Cookidoo by subscription, while Moulinex advertises a free app for the Companion XL and Bosch offers free downloadable recipes for the Cookit. Check which recipes are available with the set-up you’re considering.
Check the bowl, lid, blades and accessories individually: dishwasher compatibility doesn’t automatically apply to every part. Bosch lists the bowl, lid and accessories of the Cookit MCC9555FWC as dishwasher-safe; also follow the instructions for handling sharp parts safely.