Choose one that suits the dishes you make most often. A programmable multicooker can take care of cooking rice, slow-cooked dishes or steamed food once you’ve prepared everything, while an electric pressure cooker adds pressure cooking if that’s a feature you need. In either case, check how much you can actually cook, which steps you’ll still need to do and how the parts should be cleaned. Less active supervision doesn’t mean you can ignore the instructions.
If you regularly cook rice, steamed vegetables or slow-cooked dishes, the right programme can manage the heat and cooking time once you’ve prepared the ingredients and set the controls. Que Choisir’s guide distinguishes cooking time from the time you need to spend preparing the meal.
If you’re cooking for several people or preparing portions in advance, compare the permitted fill levels for your recipes rather than relying on the capacity printed on the bowl. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a usable cooking capacity of just 4 L for some preparations.
If you plan to use the appliance often, check which parts can be removed and which are actually dishwasher-safe. The bowl may be dishwasher-safe, but that doesn’t necessarily apply to the lid, seal or accessories.
Start with a few meals you make regularly, then compare their preparation steps with the programmes, usable capacity and instructions for the model you’re considering.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Programmes | Look for settings that suit your recipes and check what you need to do before starting a programme. If mealtimes vary, check separately whether the model has a delayed start and keep-warm function. | I want to start cooking once everything’s prepared, then get on with other things without constantly watching a pan. |
| Usable capacity | Check the maximum fill level given in the instructions for the dishes you make. For pressure cooking, also check the limit for ingredients that expand, such as rice or dried beans. | For family meals or several portions, I need enough room for my recipe—not just a bowl with a large capacity in litres. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and whether the parts that need regular cleaning are easy to reach. Que Choisir’s testing protocol also looks at how easy the bowl is to clean and how resistant it is to scratches. | If the bowl and accessories are a hassle to clean, I may use the appliance less often day to day. |
| Pressure cooking | Check the fill limits, which lid to use and how to release pressure for the exact model variant. Instant Pot’s instructions specify, for example, that the appliance should be placed on a stable, level, non-combustible surface. | I’m interested in pressure cooking for some dishes, provided I can follow the precautions for setting up the appliance and handling it while hot. |
| Ingredient preparation | Check whether your dishes need ingredients chopping, mixing or kneading before cooking. If you’re considering a food processor with cooking functions, distinguish its total capacity from its usable capacity. | My main need is for cooking to continue with minimal intervention. Extra preparation functions are only useful if I’ll actually use them. |
The stated capacity doesn’t necessarily match the amount you can cook in a liquid dish, a bulky recipe or one containing ingredients that expand. Que Choisir cites a 6 L Cookeo bowl where the usable cooking capacity may be limited to 4 L.
Compare the quantities you usually cook with the maximum levels in the instructions for the recipes you actually make.
A programme can reduce the amount of attention needed during cooking. But with pressure cooking, filling the bowl incorrectly, using the wrong lid or mishandling steam can still cause burns or damage.
Before choosing a pressure cooker, read the instructions for the specific model variant and make sure you can follow its guidance on setup, filling and releasing pressure.
A food processor with cooking functions can handle preparation tasks such as chopping or kneading, but it also comes with accessories and takes up space. These extra features may not meet your main need if all you want is to keep an eye on the cooking less often.
Make a list of a few dishes you cook regularly, then separate the preparation steps from the ones you’d like the appliance to handle while the food is cooking.
This may only apply to certain parts. The lid, seal, valve and other components need to be cared for as instructed for that model.
Check the cleaning instructions for each removable part and the guidance on maintaining safety components.
These product ranges and models are examples to help you compare features; they don’t represent every appliance from each brand.
The Cookeo+ CE85B510 is an example of an electric pressure cooker with guided recipes, pressure cooking and a keep-warm function.
The Duo Plus WhisperQuiet 5,7 L is an example of an electric multicooker with several cooking modes, including pressure cooking.
The SpheriCook RK745800 is an example of a programmable multicooker without pressure cooking.
The Cook Expert XL is a food processor with cooking functions to consider if preparing ingredients is just as important as cooking them.
These options include multifunction electric pressure cookers and a programmable multicooker. First, compare their cooking modes with your recipes, then check the usable capacity and instructions for each variant.
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Worth considering if you’d like a multifunction electric pressure cooker to handle some of the cooking. Before choosing this bowl for your portions, check the fill levels for your recipes and the instructions for handling steam.
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This size may suit a household that cooks larger quantities with an electric pressure cooker. However, check the permitted capacity for your dishes, the pressure-cooking fill limits and whether the plug supplied is suitable for your setup.
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Consider this for programmed cooking of dishes such as rice, soup or steamed food, rather than as an automatic replacement for a pressure cooker. Check what the 2 L capacity means for your portions, how to clean the bowl and how much space you’ll need around the appliance.
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This programmable pressure cooker is listed with nine menus, two pressure settings and a 24-hour timer. If these settings suit your dishes, check whether the instructions and controls are available in French, how to care for the parts and the fill limits for this variant.
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This pressure cooker is worth considering if its menus suit the meals you have planned. Capacity is given differently across product descriptions—as 8 L or 8 quarts—so confirm the capacity of the variant on offer before comparing portion sizes. Also check the voltage, plug and pressure-cooking instructions.
Once set correctly, a programme can manage the heat and cooking time, so you don’t need to supervise it as closely. However, you still need to follow the instructions. For a pressure cooker, pay particular attention to setup, filling and handling hot parts. Don’t take this hands-off cooking as a reason to ignore the appliance or leave home.
Because the stated capacity may be greater than the amount you’re allowed to cook for a particular recipe. Que Choisir notes, for example, that a 6 L Cookeo bowl may have a usable cooking capacity of just 4 L. Check the model’s maximum fill levels, particularly for foods that expand under pressure.
Check the cleaning instructions for the bowl, lid, basket and accessories separately. Even if some parts are listed as dishwasher-safe, the seal and safety components may need different care depending on the model.
A food processor with cooking functions is worth considering if you’d also like it to handle tasks such as chopping, mixing or kneading. If your main aim is to start cooking and then reduce the amount of attention needed, first compare a multicooker’s programmes with your recipes. If you’re considering a food processor, also check its usable capacity and how much space its accessories take up.