If you mainly want to hand over the cooking of a meal in one pot, start by comparing multi-cookers. If you’d also like to chop, mix or whisk with the same appliance, look at cooking food processors. Either way, check the usable capacity, the parts you’ll need to clean and the tasks your recipes still require you to do yourself: programmes don’t eliminate every manual step.
If you want to spend less time keeping an eye on the hob, a multi-cooker’s cooking programmes are designed to help. However, UFC-Que Choisir points out that some recipes still need stirring or ingredients added along the way. Check the keep-warm settings on the model you’re considering, too.
A cooking food processor is worth considering if chopping, mixing, whisking or kneading is a regular part of your meal prep. According to UFC-Que Choisir, its cooking function sets it apart from a standard food processor. Whether it’s right for you depends on the accessories included and the tasks you plan to use it for.
If you’re cooking extra for leftovers or several meals, compare the usable capacity with your usual portion sizes rather than relying on the capacity printed on the bowl. Also check the maximum fill level in the instructions and which parts need washing after each use.
The right choice depends first on which tasks you want the appliance to handle. A cooking programme, food-preparation accessories and a large-capacity bowl all meet different needs, so compare them against the meals you usually make.
Consider this if: your priority is to get a dish cooking in one pot, with a keep-warm or delayed-start function where the model and programme allow.
Bear in mind: some recipes still need stirring or other input while they’re being prepared.
Consider this if: you often use food-preparation functions as well as cooking, and want to cut down on transferring ingredients between appliances.
Bear in mind: the bowl and accessories may take up more space and require more storage and cleaning.
Consider this if: your hob, oven or casserole dish already covers the cooking, and you mainly want help preparing ingredients.
Bear in mind: a standard food processor won’t cook the meal for you; transferring ingredients and keeping an eye on things will still depend on your cooking appliances.
Consider this if: you often need one specific function, such as cooking rice or slow cooking, and your other appliances cover the rest.
Bear in mind: available functions vary by appliance. Check what you need for your other meals before deciding against a multi-cooker.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who it may suit |
|---|---|---|
| Less hands-on cooking | Check that the programmes suit your dishes, and read the instructions for details of the keep-warm or delayed-start functions. | When a meal needs to cook while I do something else, I mainly want to avoid following every step at the hob, without assuming the dish will stir itself. Around 36% of consumers might put this hands-off cooking first. |
| Food preparation and cooking in one appliance | Identify the tasks you do regularly, then check which accessories are included and how much space you’ll need to store them. | If I regularly chop or mix ingredients before cooking, I want to cut down on switching between appliances. This all-in-one preparation could be the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Portions and cleaning | Compare the usable capacity and maximum fill level for your recipes, and check which parts are dishwasher-safe. | To cook several portions without making multiple batches, I need enough usable capacity, but I don’t want to spend too long washing the parts. Around 21% of consumers might make this balance their priority. |
| A specific use | Check which cooking tasks your existing appliances already cover and which task you repeat most often. | If my kitchen is already well equipped, I’d rather add one specific function than extra accessories I’ll rarely use. For around 14% of consumers, this specific use could be the main consideration. |
A large-capacity bowl can’t necessarily be filled to the brim. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo with a 6 L bowl that has a 4 L cooking limit; this doesn’t automatically apply to other models or recipes.
For the dishes you make regularly, check the maximum fill level and cooking capacity stated in the instructions for the exact model.
Programming can manage some of the cooking without mixing the ingredients. If a dish needs stirring or ingredients added along the way, you may still need to be there.
Check the steps involved in your usual recipes and look for an explicit stirring function if you need one.
A cooking food processor can combine food preparation and cooking, but its accessories need space and care. If you only want to cook a dish in one pot, these extra functions may not meet your main need.
Make a list of the tasks you repeat during the week, then compare the included accessories with those on your current appliances.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer, according to the Ministry of the Economy. It is separate from any commercial guarantee.
Keep your proof of purchase and the product description. If the appliance doesn’t conform to the contract, contact the business that sold it to claim under the applicable statutory guarantee.
These ranges show different ways of combining cooking and food preparation. The features mentioned apply to the specific models listed, not to every appliance from each brand.
The Cookeo range is designed for cooking in one pot, while Companion combines food preparation and cooking.
The Cook Expert Connect is aimed at people who want to combine several food-preparation tasks with cooking.
The Thermomix TM7 focuses on food-preparation modes and guided recipes.
The Monsieur Cuisine Smart is an option for bringing together guided recipes, food preparation and cooking.
The Cooking Chef Experience KCL96.004DG is mainly for people who want to cook with a stand mixer that has a cooking function.
These appliances cover two of the uses discussed here: cooking a meal in one pot with a multi-cooker, or combining food preparation and cooking with a cooking food processor. Compare their stated features with your recipes and the limitations set out in the instructions for the model you choose.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re looking for programmable cooking in one pot and would also like the air-fryer lid listed in the name of this variant.
The bowl is listed as 6 L. Check the instructions for the maximum fill level for your recipes, and confirm which accessories are included with the variant on offer.
Image unavailable
Compare this if you want to prepare ingredients and cook with the same appliance, rather than using a bowl solely for cooking.
The title mentions built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity for your portion sizes, the accessories included and the delayed-start or keep-warm settings if you rely on them to plan your meals.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for cooking in one pot if you prepare several portions and want to compare different programmes.
The stated capacity is 8 L, but the permitted amount may be lower for some recipes. Check the fill limits and instructions for pressure and steam in the manual.
Image unavailable
Worth comparing if you want to bring several everyday cooking functions together in one pot, rather than preparing ingredients with a cooking food processor.
This 5.7 L variant lists four customisable presets. Check that its cooking capacity suits your recipes, and whether it has a delayed-start function if you want to set it going later.
Not necessarily: the bowl’s capacity may be greater than the amount you’re allowed to cook in it. UFC-Que Choisir cites a 6 L Cookeo with a 4 L limit in the example given. For another appliance, check the maximum fill level in its instructions for the type of recipe you’re making.
No. Having this function doesn’t mean you can leave food in the appliance for as long as you like. Moulinex lists an automatic keep-warm function on some Cookeo models. Check the settings for the model you’re using and follow the appropriate storage advice for the dish you’ve made.
Handle the blades and discs according to the instructions for your appliance, particularly when removing and cleaning them. The Magimix Cook Expert manual warns that these parts are very sharp. Read the instructions for your chosen model before using it for the first time, too.
No. In France, the Ministry of the Economy distinguishes the statutory guarantee of conformity, which applies to new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer, from any commercial guarantee. If the appliance doesn’t conform to the contract, keep the product details and contact the business that sold it.