A programmable multi-cooker could be a good fit if you alternate between rice, steamed dishes and slow-cooked meals for dinner, as long as its programmes cover the recipes you usually make. If you mainly cook rice or dishes that need a long, slow simmer, compare dedicated appliances instead. A cooking food processor meets a different need: it can prepare ingredients as well as cook them. Whatever you choose, check the usable capacity, how easy it is to clean and how much space it needs.
If you take turns making rice, steamed vegetables and dishes with a sauce, it’s worth comparing a multi-cooker with dedicated appliances. Look at the programmes suited to these dishes and consider which steps you’ll still need to do by hand.
If your meals mainly revolve around rice or slow-cooked dishes prepared in advance, a rice cooker or slow cooker may be all you need. Check the portion sizes and the space it takes up rather than choosing an appliance for programmes you’re unlikely to use.
If chopping, grating, kneading or mixing is a regular part of making your meals, compare cooking food processors. Their usable capacity, weight and dimensions matter just as much as their cooking functions.
Choose this if : you use several different cooking methods throughout the week.
Bear in mind : programming doesn’t necessarily mean you can skip preparing the ingredients or checking on the recipe as it cooks.
Choose this if : your meals mainly consist of rice or slow-cooked dishes prepared in advance.
Bear in mind : a slow cooker is less suited to last-minute dinners, while a rice cooker is designed for a more specific use.
Choose this if : you want one appliance to prepare ingredients and cook them.
Bear in mind : check it will fit before you buy; for example, Magimix France lists the Cook Expert XL Connect as weighing 11,9 kg.
Start with a few dinners you actually cook, then check each appliance’s functions and practical requirements for those meals.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Programming | Look for programmes that suit your recipes, adjustable cooking times and, if you need them, a delay-start or keep-warm function. Check which steps will still need your input. | I want to be able to start cooking without staying by the appliance, or have dinner ready at a time that varies. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the maximum fill level and the portions each recipe makes, not just the bowl’s capacity. Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo with a 6 L bowl that can hold a maximum of 4 L for cooking. | The quantities I prepare need to fit in the bowl, including for soup or a dish with a sauce. |
| Cleaning and storage | Check the cleaning instructions for the bowl, lid and accessories separately. Measure the space available and the clearance needed to use the appliance. | After a meal, I prefer parts that are easy to clean and an appliance I can leave out or put away without difficulty. |
| Ingredient preparation | Make a list of the tasks you want the appliance to handle: chopping, grating, kneading or mixing. For a cooking food processor, distinguish between the bowl’s total capacity and its usable capacity. | If I’m happy to chop and mix the ingredients myself, I can opt for an appliance designed just for cooking. |
The bowl’s capacity doesn’t always match the amount you can cook in it. Que Choisir cites a Cookeo bowl with a 6 L capacity and a 4 L cooking limit.
Before choosing a size, check the maximum fill level and the portion sizes listed for the recipes you usually make.
A programme may control the cooking without handling every preparation step or adding all the ingredients for you.
For three to five dinners you make regularly, note what you’ll still need to chop, mix, add and wash up.
Slow cooking means planning your meal in advance. For its CSC060X slow cooker, Crock-Pot France lists an adjustable timer ranging from 30 minutes to 20 hours. That range doesn’t mean every recipe will be ready quickly.
If you often decide what to have for dinner at the last minute, compare the cooking programmes available on multi-cookers rather than relying on a slow cooker’s timer alone.
Its preparation functions are only useful if you use them regularly. For example, Magimix France lists the Cook Expert XL Connect as weighing 11,9 kg, with a usable capacity of 3,8 L.
Measure your worktop and storage space, then compare these practical considerations with the preparation tasks you do each week.
These examples suit different needs. The right choice depends on the model and the recipes you have in mind, not just the brand name.
The Cookeo range is designed for guided cooking and offers several cooking programmes.
The Classic 2 is designed primarily for cooking rice, rather than offering a wide range of cooking programmes.
Its slow cookers are designed for households that plan meals requiring a long, slow cook.
The Cook Expert XL Connect is a cooking food processor that combines food preparation and cooking.
This selection includes programmable multi-cookers for trying different cooking methods, as well as an appliance focused more on rice. Compare their functions with the meals you usually make; this list doesn’t replace the choice between a multi-cooker, slow cooker and cooking food processor.
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Worth a look if your weeknight meals call for several different cooking methods. Its stated capacity is 5.7L; check the maximum fill level for your recipes and make sure it has the programmes you need.
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Its stated capacity of 7,1L could appeal if you cook several portions at once. However, compare the maximum fill level with your recipes and measure the space you have before choosing this XL model.
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This model combines a 6L bowl, built-in scales and an air fryer lid. Check that you’ll use these functions for your usual meals, then look at the maximum fill levels and cleaning instructions.
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Worth comparing if your meals mainly centre on rice and a few other specific dishes. Its stated capacity is 2L; check that its programmes suit your recipes and allow for the recommended clearance of 40 cm above and 10 cm at the sides.
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This programmable cooker comes with a 24-hour timer, 9 menus and 2 pressure settings. Before choosing it for your dinners, check what each menu does, how much your recipes can hold and how much space the appliance needs.
Compare the quantities in your recipes with the maximum fill level and recommended portions, rather than looking at the bowl’s capacity alone. For example, Que Choisir cites a Cookeo with a 6 L bowl that can hold a maximum of just 4 L for cooking.
Not necessarily. Having several cooking programmes doesn’t mean the appliance will prepare the ingredients or handle every step without you. Think about the meals you usually make and check which tasks you’ll still need to do yourself.
Check the cleaning instructions separately for the bowl, lid and accessories of the model you’re considering. Don’t assume every part is dishwasher-safe just because one of them is.
In France, old multi-cookers and cooking food processors are covered by the waste electrical and electronic equipment scheme, as described by the ministry responsible for ecological transition. Contact the retailer, your local authority or a collection point to find out where to take your appliance.