A programmable multi-cooker is a good choice if you prepare a variety of dishes and want the appliance to manage the heat and cooking time once you’ve done the prep. If you mainly cook rice, steam food or make slow-cooked dishes in advance, a specialist appliance may be all you need. Either way, check how much you can actually cook, which steps still need to be done by hand and how much space the appliance requires.
If you switch between rice, slow-cooked dishes, steaming and browning, a multi-cooker can reduce the need to keep an eye on things once you’ve prepared the ingredients and started the programme. Check that the model actually includes the settings you use.
If you’re cooking for several people or want leftovers, the fill limit matters more than the capacity shown on the pot alone. Also think about handling the pot when it’s full and how easy it is to clean.
If your meals mainly consist of rice, steamed food or slow-cooked dishes, a dedicated appliance may offer the hands-off cooking you need without adding programmes you’ll never use.
Start with the dishes you actually make, then consider the time you’ll spend monitoring the cooking separately from the total time before your meal is ready. A timed slow-cook programme and pressure cooking don’t suit the same schedules.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recipe variety | Compare the available settings with the dishes you usually make, and check which steps still require you to get involved. | I switch between rice and dishes with sauce, and want to spend less time monitoring things once the ingredients are prepared. Around 31% of consumers in this group would prioritise versatility. |
| Portions and handling | Check the fill limits for different recipes and how to remove the hot pot. | I cook in larger quantities or keep leftovers, so a pot that looks big enough on the label also needs to suit my recipes. This would be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Mealtime | If you’re starting a meal late, look at the full pressure-cooking cycle; if you’re preparing a dish in advance, check the timer options. | I need to choose between preparing the ingredients shortly before eating and starting a long cooking cycle earlier in the day. Around 25% of consumers would put timing first. |
| Specific needs and storage | Check that it has the features you need for your go-to recipes, and consider what needs cleaning and how much storage space it takes up. | I mainly cook rice, steam food or make slow-cooked dishes, and don’t want to make room for unnecessary settings. Around 19% of consumers would prioritise this simplicity. |
The maximum fill level may be lower than the stated capacity. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo pot with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L.
Check the manual for the limits that apply to your recipes and the recommended portions, particularly for liquids or ingredients that expand.
A programmable slow cooker lets you start a long cooking cycle in advance; it doesn’t meet the same need as a pressure-cooking setting used shortly before mealtime.
Work out when you can prepare the ingredients, then compare how the appliances operate around your schedule.
Setting the heat and cooking time won’t necessarily take care of browning, adding ingredients or stirring. Que Choisir notes that multi-cookers generally don’t stir food.
Read a recipe that matches the way you plan to use the appliance, as well as the manual, to see what you’ll need to do and how to handle it safely.
A rice cooker, slow cooker or steamer can give you hands-off cooking for a specific purpose without offering all the settings of a multi-cooker.
Make a list of the dishes you cook most often before choosing between versatility and a specialist appliance.
The Cookeo range featured here combines pressure cooking with guided recipes, and features vary by model.
The models reviewed are designed for different uses: cooking rice with the New Classic RK100601 and steaming with the Simply Invent VC111600.
The programmable slow cookers featured here are suited to meals started in advance rather than quick cooking.
These models cover programmable cooking for a variety of meals and, in the case of the rice cooker, a more focused use for rice and a few simple dishes. Choose based on your recipes and portion sizes, rather than the stated capacity alone.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to try different cooking methods in a size stated to serve up to four portions.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for a variety of recipes and several people, but compare the stated portion sizes with the quantities you usually cook.
Image unavailable
Worth a look if you want to programme different dishes and choose from several pressure settings.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you cook a variety of meals in several portions, once you’ve checked you have enough space and the quantities allowed for each recipe.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if rice and a few simple dishes make up most of the meals you want to cook with minimal supervision.
No, the stated capacity doesn’t always match the maximum cooking level. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo pot with a 4 L cooking limit. Check your model’s manual, especially for liquids and ingredients that expand.
Start by choosing a programme that suits the recipes you make regularly. Then check what you’ll still need to do: pressure cooking is designed for speed, while a timed slow-cook cycle means preparing the dish in advance.
It may be enough if you mainly cook rice and want it to switch off automatically when it’s ready, with a steam basket on some models. If your meals also call for browning or pressure cooking, check that the multi-cooker you choose has those settings.
Check how to remove the hot pot and whether it has handles. Look at the cleaning instructions for the pot, lid and accessories separately: whether they’re dishwasher-safe depends on the model.