Choose a programmable multi-cooker if you switch between rice, slow-cooked dishes and steaming in the same pot, provided its programmes, cooking capacity and care requirements suit your routine. A slow cooker is better suited to long, slow cooking, while a rice cooker is ideal if rice is at the heart of your meals. If you also need to chop, blend or knead, compare food cookers.
If you regularly make rice, slow-cooked dishes or steamed recipes, a multi-cooker can let you get dinner cooking without staying by the hob. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this use, while noting that you still need to follow the instructions for each recipe.
If you’re cooking for several people or want leftovers, compare the amount the appliance can actually cook with the quantities in your usual recipes. The capacity printed on the pot alone won’t tell you how much you can make.
If you want the appliance to chop, blend, weigh or knead ingredients, consider a food cooker instead. Vorwerk highlights these functions on its Thermomix TM7, for example; you shouldn’t assume they’re available on a multi-cooker.
Start with the dishes you make most often: this is what sets a multi-cooker apart from a more specialised appliance. Then check the quantities you need to prepare, how easy it is to clean and how much space it will take up in your kitchen.
Consider it: if you want to switch between different cooking methods in one pot and use programmes suited to your recipes.
Bear in mind: the appliance may not prepare the ingredients, and some recipes still need you to get involved during cooking.
Consider it: if slow-cooked dishes make up most of the meals you prepare in advance.
Bear in mind: cooking takes a long time, and it’s more specialised than a multi-cooker.
Consider it: if your meals are mostly based around rice, grains or steamed sides.
Bear in mind: a variety of slow-cooked recipes isn’t what this appliance is designed for; check the functions of the model you choose.
Consider it: if you want one appliance to prepare ingredients and cook them.
Bear in mind: its food preparation functions won’t be an added benefit if you only want to hand over the cooking.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking a variety of dishes | Look for programmes that suit your recipes and check whether you’ll need to get involved during cooking. | I want to cook rice one day and a slow-cooked dish the next, without staying by the appliance for the whole cooking time. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this variety with less supervision. |
| Cooking capacity | Compare the maximum fill levels and portion guidance for your recipes, rather than looking only at the pot’s capacity in litres. | To feed my household or keep portions for another meal, I need to be able to fit the quantities I cook in the pot. The usable capacity would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and space | Check which parts are removable and dishwasher-safe, then measure the space available for the appliance. | After cooking a daily meal, I want to keep washing-up to a minimum without taking up more space in the kitchen. This would come ahead of other needs for around 21% of consumers. |
| Preparing ingredients | List the tasks you want the appliance to handle, including chopping, blending, weighing or kneading, before comparing food cookers. | My recipes often involve preparing ingredients before cooking them, and I’d like one appliance to handle both steps. Around 14% of consumers would put built-in food preparation first. |
The pot’s capacity isn’t always the amount you can cook. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo pot with a cooking limit of 4 L for some recipes.
Check the fill levels and portion guidance for the model, based on the dishes you cook most often.
Managing the cooking doesn’t mean it can chop, blend or knead. If these steps feature regularly in your recipes, they could affect which type of appliance you choose.
Make a note of the steps involved in a few of your usual meals, then compare food cookers if built-in food preparation is genuinely important to you.
Otherwise, you’ll still need to do these tasks by hand or use the kitchen utensils you already have.
An easy-to-clean pot doesn’t tell you how to care for the lid or accessories. Dishwasher compatibility depends on the parts and the model.
Before buying, check the cleaning instructions for the pot, lid and steam basket separately.
The DGCCRF explains that the CE marking indicates the manufacturer’s commitment to meeting the applicable requirements, but it is not a certification mark.
Identify the seller and the appliance’s exact model number, then check its user manual and safety instructions.
These brands illustrate different types of appliance. The features mentioned apply to the specific models named, not to each brand’s entire range.
The brand offers programmable multi-cookers for preparing meals in one pot.
Its digital slow cookers are designed in particular for people who favour slow cooking.
The Classic 2 RK102811 is an example of a cooker designed primarily for rice.
The Thermomix TM7 is an example of a food cooker for people who want to prepare ingredients as well.
This selection includes multi-cookers for making a variety of dishes and a cooker that’s more focused on rice. Compare their functions with the meals you usually cook, then check the fill limits and care instructions for the model you choose.
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Worth considering if you want to programme different dishes in one pot. The model name indicates a 6 L capacity, 9 menus, two pressure settings and a 24-hour timer. Check the cooking capacity allowed for your recipes, along with the cleaning instructions for each part.
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Worth comparing for a variety of recipes and larger portions. The product name indicates an 8 L capacity, 1 200 W, 12 pre-set menus and a non-stick pot. Check the maximum fill level for your dishes and how to care for each part.
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Worth considering if you switch between pressure cooking, slow cooking and steaming, for example. The product name indicates a 5.7 L capacity and four customisable pre-sets. If you want to set the cooking to start later, check that this function is available on the model being sold.
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Worth comparing if rice and grains are at the heart of your meals, and you’re also interested in steaming or slow cooking. The product name indicates a 5 L capacity and eight functions. Check that the available settings suit your recipes and, if needed, that you can set a delayed start.
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Worth considering if you want to compare several cooking modes in one appliance. Before choosing it for everyday meals, check that its capacity suits your portions, as well as its programming options and which parts need cleaning.
Use the maximum fill level for your recipes and the stated number of portions as a guide, rather than relying only on the pot’s capacity in litres. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo pot with a cooking limit of 4 L for some recipes.
A multi-cooker may be suitable if the model you choose can cook rice and you’ll also use its other settings for slow-cooked or steamed dishes. If rice is the mainstay of your routine, compare it with a dedicated rice cooker. Tefal, for example, says its Classic 2 combines rice cooking with a keep-warm function and a steam basket.
Check whether the pot, lid and accessories are removable and dishwasher-safe for the model you’re considering. Also read the care instructions for the pot’s coating and find out how to handle it when it’s hot.
Identify the professional seller, read the instructions in French and follow the model’s safety guidance. The DGCCRF explains that the CE marking is not an independent certification. It also states that the statutory guarantee of conformity covers new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual when there is a lack of conformity.