A multi-cooker is a good choice if you switch between several programmable cooking modes. If you mainly cook rice, slow-cooked dishes or steamed food, a specialist appliance may better suit your recipes. If you also need to stir or blend ingredients, consider a food processor with a cooking function. Whichever you choose, check which steps still need to be done by hand, the usable capacity, how much space you’ll need and which parts require cleaning.
Prepare the ingredients, start a suitable programme and move on to another task at home. Check what you’ll still need to do while the food is cooking. Que Choisir and Les Numériques outline the functions and steps to consider for different appliances.
You’re cooking for several people or preparing portions in advance. Your priority is to know how much food the bowl can actually hold for the recipes you have in mind. Que Choisir distinguishes between the stated volume and cooking capacity in the example it discusses.
You have limited space or want to keep the washing-up to a minimum. Compare the space taken up by the appliance and its accessories with the functions you’ll actually use. Que Choisir also considers available space when choosing a food processor with a cooking function.
Start with the recipes you make most often and the steps they involve, then compare capacity, cleaning requirements and the space you have available.
Worth considering : if you switch between rice, slow-cooked dishes, steaming or pressure cooking, and want to start a programme once the ingredients are prepared.
Bear in mind : programmes generally won’t chop or blend ingredients. Check which steps still need to be done by hand and how easy the model is to clean.
Worth considering : if rice or slow-cooked dishes make up most of what you cook and you don’t need several cooking modes.
Bear in mind : the functions are focused on their main use. A long timer doesn’t mean the same cooking time will suit every recipe.
Worth considering : if you mainly steam food and a manual timer meets your needs.
Bear in mind : a steaming timer doesn’t replace browning, slow-cooking or pressure-cooking modes. You’ll also need space to store the baskets and time to wash them.
Worth considering : if you also want to stir or blend ingredients before or during cooking.
Bear in mind : check whether the tools supplied will be useful, how much space they’ll take up and which steps you’ll still need to do yourself.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-off cooking | Modes suited to your recipes; steps and interventions still required. | If I want to start a suitable cooking programme and move on to another task without assuming everything happens by itself, this is the top priority for around 31 % of consumers. |
| Recipes you make | Modes or tools needed for your usual dishes; preparation still required before starting. | If I mainly make rice, steamed food or slow-cooked dishes, I’d rather choose an appliance suited to those uses. Around 25 % of consumers prioritise how well an appliance matches their recipes. |
| Usable capacity | Stated volume and filling limits for the recipes you plan to make. | When I’m preparing several portions, I want to know how much I can actually cook at once. This is the top priority for around 19 % of consumers. |
| Cleaning | Which parts are dishwasher-safe according to the instructions; access to the bowl, lid and edges. | If I want to avoid a long session of washing up after a meal, I check each part that needs cleaning. Around 13 % of consumers put ease of cleaning first. |
| Available space | Appliance dimensions, room to open the lid and space to store accessories. | When worktop space is limited, I need to be able to set up and store the appliance without getting in the way in the kitchen. This is the top priority for around 12 % of consumers. |
The maximum quantity you can cook may be lower than the volume stated for the bowl, and can vary depending on what you’re making. Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo advertised as 6 L, with a stated cooking limit of 4 L. This example doesn’t automatically apply to other models.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering and compare its filling limits with the recipes and portion sizes you have in mind.
A multi-cooker generally won’t chop or blend ingredients, and some recipes still need you to step in. The advertised functions alone don’t tell you everything a recipe involves.
Check which steps you’ll need to do before starting and whether you’ll need to return to the appliance while it’s cooking. If you need chopping or blending tools, compare them with those supplied with a food processor that has a cooking function.
The bowl, lid, accessories and electrical housing may all have different care instructions. An extra accessory can also mean another part to clean.
Check the exact instructions to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and whether you can reach areas where food might get trapped.
Cookeo is an example of a multi-cooker with guided recipes, while Companion XL also caters for ingredient preparation.
The Duo Plus WhisperQuiet 5,7 L is an example of a multi-cooker with pressure cooking and several modes.
The CSC052X is an example of a programmable slow cooker for dishes that are mainly slow-cooked.
The Classic 2 RK102811 is an example of a rice cooker with a steaming basket, designed for a more specific use than a multi-cooker.
The HD9125/00R1 is an example of a food steamer with a manual timer and baskets.
This selection includes a programmable multi-cooker, food steamers and a rice-focused model, so you can compare cooking functions, capacity and space requirements for the recipes you have in mind.
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Start a cooking programme before moving on to another activity, while checking which steps your recipes still require.
The product information distinguishes between a 6 L bowl and a usable capacity of 5 L. It lists nine menus, two pressure levels and a 24 h timer.
English instructions are not guaranteed. Follow the filling limits and pressure-release instructions for this pressure cooker.
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Steam food with a timer, after checking that this cooking method suits the recipes you plan to make.
The product information lists three 3 L tiers, a 2 L water tank, a timer of up to 100 minutes and an automatic keep-warm function. The baskets and lid are listed as dishwasher-safe.
The appliance produces hot steam. Fill the water tank before use.
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For rice-focused cooking, particularly if a delayed start fits your routine.
The product information lists programmes for rice, porridge, soup, steaming and cakes, as well as a 24 h delayed start and a keep-warm function. It gives a capacity of 2 L of uncooked rice and dimensions of 220 × 245 × 215 mm.
Allow at least 40 cm of space above the appliance and 10 cm at the sides. Hot steam escapes when you open it; do not immerse the appliance body in water.
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Time your steaming and use several tiers, if this cooking method suits the food you’re preparing.
The product information lists three tiers, a total capacity of 10 L and a 60 minute timer. The product title gives a power rating of 650–775 W.
Hot steam escapes from the lid. When opening it, tilt the lid away from you.
No. Choose the mode and cooking time to suit the recipe and the model’s instructions. Check the ingredient preparation, any steps needed during cooking and the preheating separately. ‘Programmable’ doesn’t mean every recipe follows the same process.
Not necessarily. Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo with a stated bowl capacity of 6 L that can cook a maximum of just 4 L. The limit can vary depending on the recipe and model. Check the filling guides and the instructions for the appliance you’re considering.
Check its dimensions, the space needed to open the lid and the cleaning instructions for each part. Consult the manual to see which removable parts are dishwasher-safe. The housing containing the electrical components needs different care from the cooking bowl.
Not if you only need programmable cooking. Consider a food processor with a cooking function if you also want to stir or blend ingredients. Check which tools are actually included and which steps you’ll still need to do yourself.