If your main aim is to programme a simple meal and have it kept warm until you get home, start by looking at programmable multi-cookers. A cooking food processor is worth considering if your recipes regularly involve chopping, blending or kneading as well as cooking. In either case, check which steps the recipe requires, how much space you have and the amount you can actually put in the bowl.
If you want to prepare a simple meal with minimal supervision, look for a programme suited to your recipe and a keep-warm function that starts once cooking is finished. Also check what you need to do before you leave or while the meal is cooking.
A compact appliance may suit one to three portions, but the capacity shown on the bowl doesn’t tell you how much you can actually cook. Compare your recipes’ fill limits and the space you’ll need to set up the appliance.
If chopping, blending or kneading is a regular part of your recipes, look at the functions and accessories offered by a cooking food processor. These extra features may be less useful if you’re programming it to cook ingredients that are already prepared.
Start with the meals you make during the week, then compare their steps with the appliance’s functions, usable capacity and the space it will take up.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Meal ready when I get home | Check the delay-start function, which recipes it works with and whether the appliance switches to keep-warm mode afterwards. Read the manual before programming it to cook while you’re out. | I’d like to come home to a hot meal without having to keep an eye on it throughout cooking, even if some steps need to be done before I leave. |
| Portions | Compare the usable capacity, fill markings and portion guidance for your recipes. Que Choisir points out that a Cookeo bowl advertised as 6 L may have a cooking limit of 4 L. | We sometimes cook several portions, so I need to know how much the recipe actually allows, not just the bowl’s capacity. |
| Preparation built in | For a cooking food processor, check which chopping, blending and kneading functions and accessories suit your recipes. With a multi-cooker, look for any chopping or stirring you’ll need to do by hand. | If my ingredients are usually already prepared, cooking matters more to me than chopping functions. Otherwise, I want to know which steps the food processor can handle. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space with the lid open and allow for the clearances specified by the manufacturer. Check which parts need cleaning, as well as the guidance on steam and hot surfaces. | An appliance used several evenings a week needs to fit in my kitchen and be easy to clean after a meal. |
The permitted fill level may be lower than the stated capacity and can vary by recipe. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a cooking limit of 4 L.
Check the markings in the manual and compare the portions for the dishes you usually make. Don’t exceed the limits specified for your model.
Built-in preparation functions won’t make much difference to your routine if your meals mainly involve cooking ingredients that are already prepared.
Think about a few meals you make regularly: if you often need to chop, blend or knead, consider a cooking food processor and its accessories. If not, start by comparing multi-cooker programmes.
A recipe may ask you to prepare ingredients, stir or add something partway through cooking. Steam and hot surfaces also mean you’ll need to follow the appliance’s safety guidance.
Choose recipes with steps that fit your schedule, and read the manual before using the delay-start function or handling the lid.
A lid that needs to be opened and several accessories to wash can make everyday use more complicated in a small kitchen. Que Choisir recommends checking the size and cleaning requirements of a cooking food processor.
Measure the space you have and check which parts are included and how they should be cleaned before choosing.
The Cookeo range includes multi-cookers designed for everyday meals. The Cookeo Touch Mini is worth considering if you’re looking for a compact model.
The Thermomix TM7 is a cooking food processor to consider if preparing ingredients is a regular part of your meals, as well as cooking them.
The Cook Expert range lets you compare two cooking food processor sizes, depending on the quantities you usually prepare.
These options include multi-cookers and a rice cooker for simple meals. Compare their programming and keep-warm features with your recipes: this selection doesn’t replace the choice between cooking alone and built-in food preparation.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare a simple meal before heading out: the delay-start and keep-warm functions are designed for this kind of use. The stated capacity is 2 L; check the portions and fill limits for your recipes. The instructions say to leave at least 40 cm above the appliance and 10 cm at the sides, and not to block the steam outlet.
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This is worth comparing if your meals mainly feature rice or steamed food: the product title mentions a steam basket, delay start and keep-warm function. The stated capacity is 4 L; check the fill markings for your recipes. Also make sure you have enough space, and keep your hands and face away from the steam outlet.
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The advertised delay-start and keep-warm functions are suited to preparing a meal before you get home. The product description gives two different capacity figures, 8 L and 8 quarts. Check the exact capacity, portion sizes and fill markings in the manual for the model being sold. When pressure cooking, follow the fill limits and never force the lid open.
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Its cooking functions and keep-warm feature may suit soups, rice and slow-cooked dishes. If you want to start cooking before you get home, check the manual to see whether delay start is available. The stated capacity is 5,7 L; check the fill limits for each recipe and don’t open the lid while pressure cooking.
The stated capacity may be greater than the amount you’re allowed to cook. Que Choisir cites a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a cooking limit of 4 L. Check the fill markings and the guidance for your recipes before estimating portion sizes.
Not for every recipe. Even if a programme controls the cooking and the appliance keeps the dish warm afterwards, you may still need to chop ingredients, stir or add something partway through. Check the recipe steps before relying on it to cook while you’re out.
Consider a cooking food processor if your meals regularly involve chopping, blending or kneading as well as cooking. If you mainly use ingredients that are already prepared, start by comparing multi-cooker cooking programmes and keep-warm functions, then consider the space and cleaning requirements of each appliance.
Follow the instructions for your model, particularly when opening it and handling hot parts. The Magimix Cook Expert manual warns of the risks from steam, hot condensation and hot surfaces. Also check the fill limits before each recipe.