For weeknight meals, choose a multi-cooker if your ingredients are already prepared and your main aim is to spend less time actively monitoring the cooking. A cooking food processor is better suited to you if you also want to prepare ingredients in the same appliance; a food processor without a cooking function is a good choice if you want to stick with your usual way of cooking. In each case, compare usable capacity, cleaning and storage space with your routine.
Once you’ve added the ingredients, the programmes can manage the heat and cooking time. Check whether the model you’re considering has a keep-warm function or delay-start option, but don’t assume that cooking with less supervision means you can use it without taking precautions.
Your usual portions, meal prep and the space you have available matter just as much as the capacity stated on the product page. Usable capacity and fill limits can affect what you can actually cook.
If chopping, grating, kneading or blending takes up a large part of your evening, compare the accessories that come with a cooking food processor or food processor with the cooking functions of a multi-cooker.
For a weeknight dinner, first consider the time you spend preparing ingredients and how much attention the cooking needs: different appliances help reduce these two tasks.
Worth considering: if you prepare the ingredients separately and then want the appliance to manage the cooking settings.
Bear in mind: on its own, it won’t replace chopping, grating or kneading.
Worth considering: if you want to prepare and cook with the same appliance, provided it includes the tools you need.
Bear in mind: the accessories mean more parts to clean and store.
Worth considering: if chopping, grating or mixing slows you down more than the cooking itself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to keep another appliance for cooking your meal.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this suits |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring and timings | Programmes suited to your recipes and any steps you’ll still need to take; keep-warm or delay-start function, depending on the model. | After work, I want to start dinner and then get on with something else, without constantly adjusting the heat. Around 33% of consumers prioritise cooking that requires little active monitoring. |
| Portions and space | Usable capacity, fill markings and the appliance’s dimensions, including its accessories. | To cook my usual portions or prepare several meals in advance, I also need to be able to set up and store the appliance. Around 27% of consumers put finding the right balance between capacity and space first. |
| Preparing ingredients | Steps needed before cooking and the preparation accessories included with the version you choose. | If chopping, grating or mixing takes me the longest, I want to combine these steps with cooking. Around 20% of consumers put having preparation functions built in at the top of their list. |
| Cleaning and precautions | Which parts are actually dishwasher-safe and the model’s instructions for filling and steam release. | I want to be able to clean the appliance after dinner and use pressure cooking in line with the instructions. Around 20% of consumers prioritise cleaning and safe use. |
The total volume doesn’t always reflect how much you can use. For example, Magimix gives the 3.5 L bowl of its Cook Expert a usable capacity of 2.5 L; when pressure cooking, fill markings also limit some preparations.
Compare usable capacity, the portions stated for the exact model and the limits given in its instructions.
Managing the cooking doesn’t mean the appliance can chop, grate or knead. If these steps take up your evening, you’ll still need to do them separately with a multi-cooker.
Make a note of the steps you repeat each week, then check which functions and accessories are actually included if you’re considering a cooking food processor.
You may need to keep another appliance for preparing the ingredients.
Dishwasher compatibility varies from part to part. For the Cookeo Touch, Moulinex specifically asks you to clean the bowl and water collector after use.
Check the instructions separately for the bowl, lid, seal, collector and accessories of the model you choose.
A claim based on a particular recipe or cooking method isn’t enough to rank all multi-cookers against one another. UFC-Que Choisir includes electricity consumption in its testing protocol; manufacturers may use different methods for their comparisons.
To compare two results, check the recipe, quantity prepared, comparison baseline and measurement method.
The range includes Cookeo multi-cookers and Companion cooking food processors. Which one you choose depends on whether you want to prepare ingredients in the appliance.
The brand offers pressure multi-cookers in a range of capacities to suit different portion sizes and storage spaces.
The Cook Expert combines ingredient preparation and cooking functions in one cooking food processor.
These Joybuy models are for multi-cooker cooking when you prepare the ingredients separately. Compare their stated capacity with your portions and check each model’s instructions for set-up, cleaning and, where applicable, pressure cooking.
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Worth considering if you cook several portions at once and have room for a bowl of this size.
Electric pressure cooker with a stainless steel inner pot. Check this model’s usable capacity, dimensions and steam-release instructions.
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Worth a look if you’re after a large bowl and pre-set programmes for evening meals.
The product name states 1,200 W, 12 programmes and a non-stick bowl. Check the usable capacity, space needed for set-up and cleaning instructions for each part.
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App control may appeal if you’d like to manage your cooking through a connected interface.
Check the usable capacity and portion sizes for your recipes. The instructions for this model say not to leave it unattended while in use; Wi-Fi control doesn’t replace this precaution.
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Worth considering if you switch between pressure cooking, slow cooking and steaming for everyday meals.
This version lists four customisable pre-sets. Check the usable capacity, dimensions and fill markings before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want pressure cooking and air frying in one appliance, and have space for both lids.
Compare the usable capacity with your portion sizes and check the care instructions for each part.
Not necessarily. Its programmes can manage the heat and cooking time once you’ve added the ingredients, but they won’t automatically chop or grate them. If these steps take up most of your time, look at the functions and accessories available with a cooking food processor or food processor.
Start with your usual portion sizes, then check the usable capacity and fill limits for the exact model. Instant Pot describes its 3.8 L Classic Mini as suitable for up to four portions and its 5.7 L Duo Plus WhisperQuiet as suitable for up to six people; these manufacturer guidelines don’t replace checking what works for your recipes.
No. Check the instructions for each part. For the Cookeo Touch, Moulinex specifically asks you to clean the bowl and water collector after use; check the instructions for the lid and other parts separately.
Follow your model’s instructions for setting it up, fill limits and steam release. The Instant Pot manual consulted recommends placing it on a flat, stable, non-combustible surface; for certain ingredients that expand, the relevant Duo Plus manual specifies a fill line halfway up the bowl.