If you alternate between rice, slow-cooked dishes and other recipes in a single pot, choose a multi-cooker with settings to suit your recipes. If you mainly make slow-cooked dishes, a slow cooker is better suited to your needs. In either case, check the permitted fill level, how easy the pot is to handle and the instructions in the manual before relying on it to cook unattended.
You make rice one day, slow-cooked dishes the next, or steam vegetables and prepare meals with sauces, while looking to spend less time keeping an eye on the cooking and washing up. Compare the settings on the model you’re considering, its cooking capacity and whether it can brown ingredients. These features aren’t the same on every appliance.
If you usually cook for one or two people and have limited space, an easy-to-handle pot may matter more than a long list of programmes. Also check which parts of your chosen model are dishwasher-safe.
You prefer long cooking times, perhaps to prepare several meals or feed a group. The number of portions, cooking time settings, keep-warm function and how easy the pot is to serve from and clean may matter more than a pressure-cooking function.
For dinners that need little supervision, start with the recipes you make most often: a multi-cooker offers several settings, a slow cooker focuses on slow cooking, and a rice cooker is designed for a more specific use. If your recipes mostly involve stirring or following several steps, sticking with your saucepans may make more sense. Connected guidance is only useful if you’re going to use it.
| What matters to you | What to check | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Varied meals | Settings to suit your recipes, such as rice, steaming, slow cooking or browning; timer settings and keep-warm function on the model you’re considering. | If I change recipes often, I want to use one pot without having to follow every cooking step. Around 36% of consumers put this versatility at the top of their list. |
| Smaller portions | Number of portions, permitted fill level and how easy it is to remove and wash the pot. | In a small kitchen, I want an appliance that suits the portions I usually make, rather than a large, bulky pot. This is reportedly a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Slow-cooked dishes in larger quantities | Number of portions, slow-cooking settings and how the keep-warm function works. | When I’m making a dish for several people or for more than one meal, I want to be able to start a long cook in a suitably sized pot. Around 29% of consumers would make this their main consideration. |
| Guided recipes | On-screen guidance and built-in recipes; connectivity if you’ll actually use its features. | If choosing a setting and cooking time feels like a hurdle in the evening, I’d prefer the appliance to show me what to do. Guidance would be the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The pot’s capacity isn’t always the same as the amount you can cook in it. Que Choisir gives the example of a Moulinex Cookeo with a 6 L pot, but a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L.
For the recipes you make, compare the number of portions you can prepare and the fill-level markers in the manual for the exact model.
Setting a cooking time for later doesn’t guarantee that perishable food will be stored safely. Anses warns that poor storage or a break in the cold chain can encourage bacteria to grow.
Follow the manual and don’t leave food that needs to be kept chilled in the pot at room temperature for several hours.
According to Que Choisir, multi-cookers generally don’t stir food. So a recipe that needs stirring may still require you to be there.
Check which steps in your usual recipes need your attention, and don’t assume that a stirring function is included.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to a private individual. Any additional commercial warranty is separate from this right.
Before taking out an extended warranty, check what it adds, how long it lasts, what it excludes, which parts are covered and who to contact.
The Cookeo range may suit you if you’re looking for pressure cooking and guided recipes, with capacity varying by model.
The CSC061X and CSC052X slow cookers are designed for people who prefer slow-cooked dishes, with different sizes to suit the number of portions you need.
Worth considering if stirring during cooking is essential for your recipes.
These appliances offer two ways to prepare dinner in one pot: switch between settings with a programmable multi-cooker, or focus on longer cooking with a slow cooker. Choose according to the recipes you make, then check the manual for fill limits and instructions for use.
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Worth considering if you want to switch between cooking rice, slow cooking and steaming in one pot.
The product name lists 12 preset menus, an 8 L capacity and 1,200 W of power. Check the manual for the permitted fill level for your recipes and the conditions for using the delay start function.
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An option if your meals involve a mix of pressure cooking, slow cooking and steaming.
This model is described as a 7-in-1 multi-cooker with four customisable programmes. To see whether the 5.7 L pot suits your portions, check the fill-level markers and the instructions for pressure cooking.
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Worth a look if you want to prepare several types of dishes using cooking programmes and pressure settings.
The product name lists nine programmes, two pressure levels and a 6 L pot. Before choosing, check the fill limits for your recipes and the language of the instructions you need.
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Worth considering if you’ll also use the air fryer lid and built-in scales, as well as the multi-purpose pot.
The product name lists a 6 L capacity. Check the pot’s fill limits and the instructions for each accessory before deciding whether these extra features are right for you.
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Worth considering if slow-cooked dishes matter more to you than the variety of settings offered by a multi-cooker.
The product name lists a 5.6 L pot and three settings. Check the manual for the permitted fill level and precautions for cooking over long periods.
Not necessarily: the stated capacity may be greater than the permitted cooking capacity. Que Choisir gives the example of a Moulinex Cookeo with a 6 L pot and a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L. For another model or recipe, check the relevant fill-level markers and manual.
Only if the model has a delay start function and the ingredients can be stored safely while they wait. Anses warns that poor storage can encourage bacteria to grow. Don’t leave food that needs to be kept chilled at room temperature for several hours.
No, it depends on the model and the individual part. Moulinex lists the pot and steam basket as dishwasher-safe on the Cookeo Mini CE880410 and Touch Wifi CE902800. Crock-Pot lists the pot and lid as dishwasher-safe on the CSC061X and CSC052X. Check the cleaning instructions for every part of the model you choose.
For goods bought in France by a private individual from a professional seller, the statutory guarantee of conformity may apply if the appliance doesn’t match the seller’s description. The Ministry of the Economy explains that this guarantee covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods. Keep your proof of purchase and the advertised product details so you can describe the issue clearly to the seller.