For everyday meals, start with a programmable multi-cooker if you already prepare the ingredients and mainly want to spend less time monitoring the cooking. A cooking food processor is a better fit if chopping or mixing is also important, as Que Choisir’s guides explain. In either case, check the usable capacity, manual steps, cleaning requirements and space available: a programme doesn’t guarantee that you can leave a dish completely unattended.
If you prepare the ingredients in advance, a programme can manage some of the cooking time and heat while you get on with something else. Que Choisir’s guides and testing protocol describe this kind of use, but that doesn’t mean every recipe can be made without any intervention.
If you often chop or mix ingredients before cooking, compare appliances that combine these tasks and check which accessories are included and how to care for them. Que Choisir highlights the importance of easy cleaning and the accessories supplied with each model.
If your usual quantities or available worktop space limit your options, check the capacity you can actually use, the filling instructions and the space needed for the appliance and its accessories. These are important factors for multi-cookers, cooking food processors and food processors alike.
Start by deciding which task you want the appliance to take off your hands. Then compare the cooking limitations, cleaning requirements and space needed for the options that could do the job.
Choose this if: you prepare the ingredients and mainly want to programme the cooking, for example for rice, slow-cooked dishes or steaming.
Bear in mind: some recipes still require manual steps, and the appliance generally won’t stir the food.
Choose this if: you also want to chop, blend or mix using the right tools, then cook everything in the same appliance.
Bear in mind: functions, usable capacity and accessories vary by model. There may also be more parts to clean and store.
Choose this if: you’re happy with your current cooking appliance and mainly want to speed up chopping, grating or blending.
Bear in mind: a food processor doesn’t cook food itself, so how much you need to monitor the cooking depends on your separate appliance.
Choose this if: you don’t want to programme every dish or already have suitable cookware for certain recipes.
Bear in mind: a traditional appliance won’t provide the same programmed control of heat and cooking time as a multi-cooker.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who prioritises it most? |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving the cooking to the appliance | Compare the programmes on the exact model, the manual steps involved in your usual dishes and the end-of-cooking options. | I want to start a dish and focus on something else; around 36 % of consumers put programmable cooking first. |
| Reducing prep time too | Check which tools are actually included and whether they suit the tasks you do regularly. | I want to chop or mix before cooking without needing several appliances; around 29 % of consumers prioritise preparing and cooking with the same appliance. |
| Making the portions you need | Compare the stated capacity with the filling limits in the instructions for the specific model and ingredients. | I want to cook the amount I need in one go without exceeding the limits; around 21 % of consumers prioritise the capacity they can actually use. |
| Managing space and cleaning | Measure the space needed to use and store the appliance, and check the washing instructions for its parts. | I want to be able to set up, store and clean the appliance as part of my routine; around 14 % of consumers prioritise space and cleaning. |
The stated capacity isn’t always the maximum amount you can cook. In its guide to a Cookeo, Que Choisir distinguishes between a 6 L capacity and a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L. Magimix also differentiates between the total capacity and usable capacity of the Cook Expert XL.
Before choosing a size, check the filling limit for the exact model and the guidance for your recipes.
If the amount you want to cook exceeds the applicable limit, you may need to prepare it in several batches.
A standard food processor can help you prepare ingredients, but it may not cook them. In that case, you’ll still need another appliance for cooking and monitoring your food.
Make separate lists of the preparation tasks and cooking programmes you need, then check which ones are included in the specific model.
Be prepared to keep a separate cooking appliance if the food processor you choose doesn’t heat food.
Accessories and cleaning instructions vary between appliances, and food processor attachments can also take up space.
Check what’s included, which parts can be removed, how to wash them, and how much space you’ll need for the appliance and its accessories.
Depending on what’s included, you may need to buy some parts or accessories separately. Accessories also mean more items to wash and store.
For the TM7, Vorwerk describes a Cookidoo trial period for new subscribers. Don’t assume that all users have the same access to guided recipes.
Before making guided recipes a deciding factor, check which recipes remain available without a subscription.
Ongoing access to guided recipes may depend on a subscription, according to the service and applicable terms.
Cookeo is an example of programmable cooking, while Companion represents the cooking food processor option. These ranges aren’t interchangeable.
The Duo Plus range is an example of the multi-cooker option. Check the programmes and accessories included with the exact version.
The Cook Expert XL is an example of a cooking food processor for anyone looking to combine food preparation and cooking.
The Thermomix TM7 is an example of an appliance that combines food preparation and cooking with recipes available on screen.
The MultiPro OneTouch FDM73.850SS is an example of a food processor for mechanised preparation used alongside a separate cooking appliance.
These appliances are mainly designed for programmable cooking or for combining different cooking methods in one appliance. Check that the model suits your recipes and follow the instructions for the exact version. In France, CE marking is required for appliances covered by the relevant European legislation.
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Worth considering if you want to programme different cooking methods, including pressure cooking, without assuming every recipe can be made unattended.
The title lists a 6 L capacity, nine cooking menus, two pressure settings and a 24-hour timer.
When pressure cooking, follow the maximum fill line and the filling limit for foods that expand.
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Consider this if you’re looking for a compact multi-cooker advertised as serving up to four portions.
The title lists a capacity of 3,8 L and a 7-in-1 appliance.
Follow the filling limits, especially for foods that expand, and wait for the pressure to drop before opening the lid.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a rice cooker with a delayed start for a small household.
The title lists a capacity of 3 L, 220 V, 1 500 W and a 12-hour preset timer. It’s advertised for one to three people.
Before buying, check that the voltage is compatible with your electrical supply and review the terms of use.
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Worth considering if you want to combine several cooking methods in one appliance.
Check which cooking modes are available on the P30 model and whether they suit the recipes you usually make.
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Worth considering if you want to combine different cooking methods in a pot with a steamer basket.
The title lists a capacity of 5 L and a power rating of 1 200 W.
The product description says not to fill the pot more than two-thirds full and to let the appliance cool before cleaning.
No. Programmes manage the cooking, but they don’t guarantee that a recipe will need no manual steps. Check the steps involved in your dishes and read the instructions for the model. Multi-cookers generally don’t stir food, and you still need to follow the set-up and operating instructions.
Follow the filling limit in the instructions for the specific model and ingredients rather than relying on the advertised capacity alone. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo with a 4 L cooking limit. This doesn’t set a universal limit for other models.
Check the instructions to see which parts can be removed and put in the dishwasher, then look for information that applies to the exact model. In France, a repairability index is displayed for certain defined categories. The DGCCRF explains that it doesn’t apply to all small electrical appliances.
CE marking is required for appliances covered by the relevant European legislation. The DGCCRF explains that it shows the manufacturer’s commitment to compliance and isn’t an independent certification. Check the marking and information for the specific model.
Using the keep-warm function as described in the instructions doesn’t replace safe food storage after cooking. Anses says that the risk of micro-organisms multiplying increases if food is left at room temperature for more than two hours after cooking.