If you mainly want to cook with less supervision, start with a programmable multi-cooker. Consider an electric pressure cooker if your recipes are suited to pressure cooking; a cooking food processor serves a different purpose, as it can also prepare ingredients. In every case, check the usable capacity for your recipes, the settings and the cleaning requirements of the specific model.
For rice, grains, steamed vegetables and slow-cooked dishes, a programmable multi-cooker can mean less time keeping an eye on the cooking. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the benefits of automatic programmes and keep-warm functions when the appliance is programmed correctly. Check that these features suit the recipes you make.
If your usual recipes are suited to pressure cooking, an electric pressure cooker adds this option to other cooking methods. Check the recommended portions, lid instructions and cooking modes for the model: pressure cooking isn’t needed for every meal.
A cooking food processor is worth considering if chopping, mixing or whisking is part of your meal preparation. These functions come with accessories to store and clean; also check the usable capacity, which may differ from the bowl’s total volume.
Worth considering: for starting everyday recipes without having to keep an eye on the cooking.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to prepare the ingredients, and the bowl’s capacity alone won’t tell you how many portions you can make.
Worth considering: if you regularly use recipes suited to pressure cooking.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to follow the model-specific instructions for the lid and releasing pressure.
Worth considering: if you’d also like the appliance to handle some of the ingredient preparation.
Bear in mind: extra accessories can take up space and need cleaning.
| Feature | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Supervision | Look for programmes to suit your recipes, a delay-start function and a keep-warm setting on the specific model. Check whether you can adjust the cooking time. | I’d like to start a meal and get on with something else while it cooks, without having to stay nearby. |
| Capacity | Check the difference between the bowl’s total volume, its usable capacity and the fill limits in the manual. Take your recipes and any accessories placed in the bowl into account. | If I’m cooking several portions or preparing meals in advance, I want to know how much I can actually make with my recipes. |
| Cooking modes | Compare the modes that are useful for your meals, then look at the manual settings. For pressure cooking, also check the instructions for the lid and steam. | My usual meals matter more than the total number of programmes; I’m only interested in pressure cooking if I plan to use it. |
| Cleaning and care | Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and how to clean the rest. Look up the model’s accessory and spare-part references. | If I use the appliance often, I don’t want to replace time spent watching the cooking with a complicated clean-up. |
| Preparation | Decide whether you need to chop, mix or whisk ingredients before cooking. For a cooking food processor, check the accessories you’ll need and its usable capacity. | I can stick to a cooking appliance if my ingredients are already prepared; otherwise, a food processor’s functions may influence my choice. |
Total volume, usable capacity and a manufacturer’s recommended number of servings don’t mean the same thing. The amount you can cook also varies by recipe.
Check the fill limits in the manual and compare them with the dishes you make most often.
A long list doesn’t guarantee that the appliance has the modes you need for your meals or lets you adjust the cooking time.
Start with a few weekday recipes, then check their cooking modes and the settings available on the specific model.
A manufacturer’s stated cooking-time comparison depends on the recipes and won’t apply to every use. Pressure cooking also means following the instructions for the lid.
Choose this option for recipes you genuinely want to cook under pressure, and read the manual before use.
A general commitment to repairability doesn’t tell you whether a particular accessory or spare part is available for a specific model.
Look up the references for the parts and accessories you’ll need, as well as the model’s after-sales service information.
Moulinex’s ranges let you compare a programmable multi-cooker, a pressure-cooking Cookeo and a Companion food processor separately.
Tefal offers both programmable multi-cookers and electric pressure cookers.
Philips France’s catalogue features multi-cookers and rice cookers in different capacities, as well as a Viva model with several cooking modes.
The Cook Expert is for people who want to prepare ingredients before or during cooking, rather than simply programme a cooking bowl.
These models include programmable multi-cookers, appliances with pressure-cooking functions and a cooking food processor for meals that also involve preparing ingredients. Before choosing, compare their features with your recipes and check the requirements of the specific model.
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Worth considering if you’d like to combine pressure cooking with modes for rice, steaming or slow-cooked dishes. The stated 8 L capacity doesn’t replace checking the fill limits for your recipes; also check the plug type and cleaning instructions before buying.
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For planned meals that use pressure cooking, compare its nine menus and two pressure settings with your usual recipes. Check the fill limits, whether a clear French-language manual is available, the cleaning requirements and the plug type for this model.
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Worth considering if preparing ingredients matters as much as cooking them. This food processor is listed with a touchscreen and 750 recipes; check the usable capacity for your dishes, the space needed for its accessories and the plug type.
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Compare this multi-cooker with the meals you’re considering pressure cooking. Check the stated 5,7 L capacity against the fill limits for your recipes, and read the instructions for pressure cooking and steam.
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Worth considering for simple meals, particularly rice dishes. Before settling on the stated 2 L capacity, check the portion sizes and the limits for other recipes; also allow for the clearance space specified when setting up the appliance.
No. The stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how many portions you can make for every recipe. Tefal describes its 5 L Easy Cook+ as suitable for four to five people, or for preparing meals in advance for one or two people. Check the fill levels for the model you’re interested in.
Start by choosing the modes that suit the meals you make regularly, rather than focusing on the total number of programmes. Then check whether you can adjust the cooking time or use a manual mode for recipes that don’t match a preset.
An electric pressure cooker makes sense if you plan to cook under pressure regularly and are happy to follow the instructions for this mode. If you mainly want to programme simple meals without pressure cooking, first check whether a multi-cooker’s programmes suit your recipes.
Not if you mainly need to cook ingredients that are already prepared. A cooking food processor is useful when you also want to chop, mix or handle other preparation steps; if so, factor in its accessories, cleaning requirements and usable capacity.
Check the manual for the specific model to see which parts are dishwasher-safe, then look up the references for its accessories and spare parts. A general commitment to repairability doesn’t confirm that a particular part is available.