If you mainly make rice, slow-cooked dishes or steamed vegetables, a programmable multi-cooker lets you start cooking without having to keep an eye on it. Choose a cooking food processor if you also want to chop, mix or knead in the appliance. If you already have a way to cook, a separate food-preparation appliance may be all you need. In every case, compare the usable capacity, programmes and accessories with the recipes you usually make.
For rice, slow-cooked dishes, soups or steaming, look for programmes that suit your recipes and a bowl that’s easy to remove. According to UFC-Que Choisir, once you’ve added the ingredients and started the programme, a multi-cooker can take care of the cooking without you having to keep an eye on the hob. You’ll still need to prepare the ingredients beforehand.
If the quantities you cook change from one meal to the next, compare each model’s fill limit and stated cooking capacity, rather than relying on the volume in its name. Also check how much space the appliance will take up in your kitchen.
If chopping, blending, grating or kneading takes you as long as the cooking, look at the accessories supplied with a cooking food processor. If you don’t need to cook in your new appliance, a separate multi-function food processor is another option, as UFC-Que Choisir explains.
Choose this if: you mainly use ingredients that are already chopped, then want to let the appliance take care of cooking them. Check that it comes with a basket if steaming is important for your meals.
Bear in mind: according to UFC-Que Choisir, you’ll usually need to stir by hand. Programming doesn’t replace chopping or slicing.
Choose this if: you want to prepare ingredients and cook them in the same appliance, provided its accessories cover the tasks you usually do.
Bear in mind: bowls and accessories take up space and need cleaning. Check what’s included and the usable capacity of each model.
Choose this if: your existing equipment already covers cooking and you only need an appliance for food preparation, or vice versa.
Bear in mind: you may need to use several containers. UFC-Que Choisir says a multi-function food processor can take up less space than a cooking food processor if you don’t need an appliance with an integrated cooking function.
| Feature | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Programmable cooking | Look for programmes that suit your recipes, cooking-time settings and a keep-warm function. Check separately whether it has a delayed-start function. | I want to start cooking a slow-cooked dish or rice, then get on with something else without having to keep checking on it. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the fill limit and the quantities allowed for your recipes. The bowl’s stated capacity isn’t necessarily the same as the amount you can cook in it. | Our usual portions should fit in one cooking cycle, without choosing an appliance that’s bigger than we need. |
| Steaming | Check for steam programmes, whether a basket is included and its size, as well as any instructions for the recipes you plan to make. | I often make steamed vegetables or side dishes and want to know whether the same appliance can cook them. |
| Food preparation | If you’re considering a cooking food processor, check which accessories are actually included for chopping, mixing, grating or kneading, then check the bowl’s usable capacity. | It’s the chopping and mixing that take up my time too, not just the cooking. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable, their cleaning instructions and how many accessories you’ll need to clean and store. | I want to cut down on washing up after meals without adding lots of parts to clean and maintain. |
The fill limit may be lower than the stated capacity, depending on the type of food you’re preparing. This affects how many portions you can make in one go.
Start with the quantities you usually cook and check the limit in the model’s instruction manual.
A cooking programme won’t chop or grate food for you. A cooking food processor can handle other tasks, but it comes with accessories to use and clean.
Make a list of the tasks that take up your time. If chopping is the real challenge, compare food-preparation features rather than just cooking programmes.
Delayed start doesn’t keep food chilled. Anses recommends refrigerating a prepared dish within two hours and warns that bacteria can grow if it’s left at room temperature for more than two hours.
Keep food chilled and follow the instructions in the manual for the ingredients and recipe in question. Don’t treat the timer as a food-preservation function.
The name of a product range doesn’t tell you exactly what’s in the box for every model.
Check the exact model and the list of included accessories, especially if your choice depends on a steam basket or another function that needs an accessory.
These ranges are designed for different uses. Compare the features of the specific model rather than assuming they apply across the whole brand.
The Cookeo range focuses on cooking, while Companion cooking food processors also handle ingredient preparation.
The Cook Expert Connect is a cooking food processor designed to combine food preparation and cooking.
If preparing ingredients is part of what you’re looking for, the Monsieur Cuisine range is worth considering among cooking food processors.
These options include multi-cookers to help you prepare everyday meals, plus a cooking food processor to consider if you also want to prepare ingredients in the appliance.
Image unavailableFor cooking a range of dishes in one bowl, the product name lists steaming among its features, along with 12 preset menus. Check the fill limit for your portions and read the manual before using delayed start with perishable ingredients.
Image unavailableWorth considering if your recipes need different cooking settings: the product name lists 9 menus and 2 pressure levels. Check the usable capacity for your dishes, as well as the language used for the interface, instructions and voice function, before choosing.
Image unavailableIf you want to cook meals in one bowl, compare its modes with the recipes you actually make. Follow the fill limits for each type of food, and check that this specific model has a delayed-start function if you need one.
Image unavailableWorth considering for meals based around rice or soup, as long as you check the quantities allowed for each recipe. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you how much food you can cook. Also check the clearance requirements in the manual for the space where you plan to use it.
Image unavailableCompare it with a multi-cooker if preparing ingredients matters as much to you as cooking them. The product name lists a built-in scale, a large touchscreen and 750 recipes. Check the bowl’s usable capacity, the accessories included and the recipe-following instructions before relying on it to work unattended.
Not necessarily: the bowl’s capacity and the amount you’re allowed to cook are two different things. Check the fill limit and portion guidance in the model’s manual, taking your recipes into account.
Don’t treat delayed start as a way to store them. Anses recommends refrigerating a prepared dish within two hours and says that bacteria can grow if it’s left at room temperature for longer than two hours. Keep food chilled and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the ingredients in question.
Don’t assume it does just from the name of the range. Check the list of accessories included with the exact model, then check the basket’s size and the uses described in its manual.
If you already have an appliance for cooking and mainly want to chop, grate or blend, a multi-function food processor is worth comparing with a cooking food processor. UFC-Que Choisir describes it as a less bulky option if you don’t need an integrated cooking function. However, check the accessories and space requirements for the model you’re considering.