A programmable multi-cooker is a good fit if you switch between rice, slow-cooked dishes and steaming, and don’t mind preparing the ingredients and keeping track of steps that need your attention. If you mainly cook rice or slow-cooked dishes, a dedicated appliance may suit you better; consider a cooking food processor if you also want to chop, whisk or mix. Whichever you choose, compare the usable capacity, accessories, space required and cleaning needs.
If you take turns making saucy dishes, rice and steamed vegetables, compare the settings you’ll actually use. Also check the quantities the appliance can handle for your recipes and which steps still need to be done by hand.
For stews or slowly cooked sauces, it’s worth comparing a dedicated slow cooker with a multi-cooker. Just don’t assume a slow cooker also offers pressure cooking or other settings you want.
If rice and side dishes are what you’ll use it for most, look at compact rice cookers. Compare the stated rice capacity with your usual portions, and check the keep-warm and cleaning features of the specific model.
Start with the dishes you make most often, then see how each appliance’s settings and capacity match your recipes and kitchen.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking method | Check which settings are useful for your dishes on the exact model you’re considering. A multi-cooker can combine several cooking methods, while a slow cooker or rice cooker is designed for a more specific use. If you want to chop or whisk, look at the accessories and functions of a cooking food processor instead. | I cook a variety of dishes using different methods, or I almost always make the same type of side dish. |
| Hands-on steps | Read through a typical recipe: preparation, browning, adding ingredients and stirring may all need your attention. Que Choisir notes that multi-cookers generally don’t stir food. | I want to be able to leave the food to cook once it’s started, without assuming the appliance will prepare all the ingredients for me. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the bowl’s volume with the filling limits for different recipes and the stated serving sizes. For example, the Moulinex Cookeo instructions distinguish between a 6 L product capacity and a 4 L usable capacity; this doesn’t apply to every model. | For the meals I usually make, the amount I can actually cook matters more than the volume shown on the box. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space you have, including the clearance needed around the appliance. Check separately which accessories are included, how to handle the hot bowl and which parts the instructions say are dishwasher-safe. | I’d rather have an appliance that’s easy to set up, empty and clean in my kitchen. |
| Set-up and heat | Check the voltage, connection and clearances specified in the instructions for the model. If you’re using a pressure cooker, also follow its instructions for locking the lid and releasing steam. | Before setting a cooking programme, I need to be able to use the appliance in the space I have and follow its safety instructions. |
Filling limits can vary by recipe, so a bowl advertised as 6 L won’t necessarily let you cook 6 L of food.
Check the usable capacity and fill marks in the instructions, then compare them with the quantities you usually cook.
You may still need to brown ingredients, add things or stir during a programmed cooking cycle.
Read through a representative recipe before deciding which programmes will be useful to you.
Taking out a hot bowl and washing the different parts are part of everyday use. Whether something is dishwasher-safe depends on the individual part and model.
Check the handles, removable accessories and care instructions for the model you’re considering.
Chopping, whisking and mixing accessories meet a different need from starting a cooking programme after you’ve prepared the ingredients.
Think about whether you’ll use those food-preparation functions. If not, compare cooking appliances suited to your dishes first.
The Cookeo range is worth considering if you’re looking for several cooking methods in one appliance.
The Mijot'Cook SD500000 is a dedicated slow cooker option for dishes that need a long cooking time.
Philips rice cookers are worth comparing if rice is what you’ll use the appliance for most.
These options include multi-cookers for a variety of cooking methods and a more compact model geared towards rice and side dishes. Compare their functions with your main needs rather than choosing based on the stated capacity alone.
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Worth a look if you want pressure cooking, an air fryer lid and weighing functions in one appliance. The title lists a 6 L bowl and built-in scales; check the instructions for the filling limits for your recipes and the space needed for the accessories.
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This 5.7 L multi-cooker is worth comparing if you want to start different cooking programmes once you’ve prepared the ingredients. Check the settings on the exact model and the filling limits for the dishes you plan to make.
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Its stated 7.1 L bowl capacity makes it worth checking whether the size suits the quantities you cook and the space you have. For every recipe, follow the filling limits and, when pressure cooking, the model’s instructions for locking the lid and releasing steam.
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The product title lists a frying function, 9 menus and 2 pressure settings for this programmable model. If you plan to use the voice instructions, check their language and the language of the manual. Also check the filling limits before planning your portions.
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This 2 L multi-cooker is worth comparing if you mainly cook rice and side dishes. Check what its capacity means for your recipes, and allow enough space around it to follow the manual’s clearance and steam guidance.
Not necessarily. Moulinex’s instructions list a 6 L bowl and a 4 L usable capacity for one Cookeo model. Check the fill marks for your model and any limits for the recipe you’re making.
Yes. Some recipes involve preparing, browning or stirring ingredients, or adding them partway through. Que Choisir says multi-cookers generally don’t stir food, so read through your usual recipes before choosing a programme.
It depends on the model and the part. Moulinex says the bowl, steam basket and lid of the Cookeo CE701100 are dishwasher-safe. Check the cleaning instructions for each part of your appliance, and don’t immerse the electrical unit.
Check that the voltage shown on the appliance matches your power supply, and follow the instructions for connection and set-up. SEB’s Mijot'Cook manual specifies an earthed socket and advises against using an extension lead; always follow the instructions for the model you buy.
Consider a cooking food processor if you also want to hand over tasks such as chopping, whisking or mixing. Que Choisir lists these among the accessories that cooking food processors may include. If you already prepare the ingredients and mainly want to programme the cooking, compare appliances suited to the dishes you make first.