A programmable multicooker is a good choice if you want to put a meal in one pot and let the appliance manage the heat and cooking time while you get on with something else. Choose an electric pressure cooker instead if pressure cooking is your priority, or stick with your usual equipment if you need to keep an eye on things, make adjustments or cook several dishes separately. Either way, check which programmes you can use, the usable capacity, cleaning requirements and the instructions in the manual. Automated cooking doesn’t mean you can skip these precautions.
You prepare the ingredients, start a programme and then get on with something else. Que Choisir explains that automatic programmes manage the heat and cooking time. Check whether the keep-warm function on your chosen model also suits your routine.
You want to prepare your meal in one pot that suits the quantities you usually cook. The stated capacity alone isn’t enough to make a decision: filling guides and the programme you use determine how much you can prepare.
You want to make sure cleaning doesn’t undo the time you save while your food cooks. Check the pot, accessories and lid separately: Moulinex says some parts are dishwasher-safe on certain models, but not across the whole range.
First, choose the cooking method that suits your dishes and mealtime. Then compare the programming functions, pot size and cleaning requirements with the way you plan to use it.
Worth considering: for rice, slow-cooked dishes or steaming when you want a programme to manage the cooking while you get on with something else.
Bear in mind: cooking times depend on the dish and programme; programming won’t make it as quick as pressure cooking.
Worth considering: if you want to combine automatic programmes with pressure cooking for suitable dishes.
Bear in mind: the cycle doesn’t end until the pressure has been released. Crock-Pot says the CSC051X lid can only be removed once all the pressure has been released.
Stick with it: if your meal requires several separate cooking processes or frequent adjustments as you go.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage more of the heat and cooking time yourself. According to Que Choisir, multicooker programmes take care of these functions.
| Factor | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Programming and end of cycle | Check the manual to see which programmes allow a delayed start and how the keep-warm function works. | If I prepare a meal before getting on with something else, I want to know what the appliance will do until it’s time to serve. Around 36% of consumers would put this level of cooking autonomy first. |
| Cooking time | Compare the available settings for your dishes and allow time for pressure release if you choose a pressure cooker. | If I start cooking shortly before a meal, I prioritise a cooking method that fits the time I have. Speed would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Usable capacity | Compare your portion sizes with the filling guides, particularly when using a steam basket or pressure-cooking mode. | If I’m feeding several people or planning for leftovers, I need to be able to prepare my usual quantities in the pot. This capacity would come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Cleaning | Find out which parts are dishwasher-safe and how to clean the lid. | If I cook in the appliance often, I want the pot and accessories to be easy to clean after a meal. Around 14% of consumers would make cleaning their main consideration. |
Waiting for a programme to start doesn’t guarantee suitable conditions for perishable ingredients. Anses warns that poor storage and breaks in the cold chain increase the risk of microbiological hazards.
Before setting a delayed start, follow the manual and the storage instructions for the ingredients you’re using. For a dish that has already been cooked, Anses recommends not leaving it at room temperature for more than two hours before eating or refrigerating it.
The capacity shown on the appliance isn’t necessarily the amount you can use for every recipe: filling levels and the steam basket can affect how much you can prepare.
Compare your usual portion sizes with the filling guides in the manual for the settings you plan to use.
With a pressure cooker, the end of a programme doesn’t necessarily mean you can open the lid. Crock-Pot says the CSC051X lid stays closed until all the pressure has been released.
If you need your meal to be ready at a set time, allow for this step and check the pressure-release instructions for your chosen model.
A long list of programmes doesn’t tell you whether the controls will be easy to use or hard-to-reach areas will be easy to clean. Que Choisir noted that an older Multicook Pro had unintuitive programming and a rim that was awkward to clean; this finding doesn’t apply to other models.
Look at the controls for the functions you’re interested in and check the cleaning instructions for the exact model.
Moulinex offers multicookers and Cookeo models, among other appliances, with features that vary by model.
The brand offers slow cookers as well as multifunction pressure cookers, including the Crock-Pot Express CSC051X.
Russell Hobbs offers rice cookers and slow cookers, including models designed for preparing dishes in one pot.
These appliances are mainly for multifunction electric cooking, including pressure cooking. A rice cooker is designed for a more specific use: compare each model with the dishes you make, your portion sizes and what you’ll need to do at the end of the cycle.
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Worth considering if you cook several portions and want to start a programme before getting on with something else.
The model name indicates a power rating of 1,200 W and 12 preset menus. For pressure cooking, check the filling limits and allow time for pressure release before opening the lid.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for several cooking modes in one pot and want to compare connected controls with the controls on the appliance.
The model name mentions app control and sous vide cooking. If a delayed start is important for your routine, check how it works in the manual. Don’t open the lid while the appliance is under pressure.
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Worth considering if you want to combine programmable cooking with extra cooking functions in one appliance.
The model name mentions built-in scales and an air fryer lid. Check which accessories are included, whether it keeps food warm after cooking and what the pressure-release instructions say before choosing this set-up.
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Worth considering if you want programmable pressure cooking and preset menus for different dishes.
The model name lists 24-hour programming, nine menus and two pressure levels. Before planning your portions, check the usable capacity and filling guides. Also check what happens at the end of the cycle in the manual.
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Worth considering if the meals you want to automate are mainly rice or simple dishes, rather than the range of cooking modes offered by a multifunction pressure cooker.
The model name indicates 500 W, seven functions, a timer and a keep-warm function. Check whether the timer lets you delay the start, and read the cleaning instructions for the pot and accessories.
Yes, if the dish and programme you choose are suitable for an automatic cycle. Que Choisir explains that these programmes manage the heating power and cooking time. Prepare the ingredients according to the manual and, if you’re using a pressure cooker, allow time for pressure release before serving.
Don’t assume that a delayed start means you can leave perishable ingredients out of the storage conditions they need. Anses highlights the risks of poor food storage. Follow the appropriate guidance for the ingredients you’re using as well as the appliance manual.
Start with the portions you actually cook, then check the filling guides for your chosen model and cooking mode. The capacities listed in the Moulinex and Crock-Pot product information are a useful starting point, but they don’t mean you can use the whole pot for every recipe.
It depends on the model and the part. Moulinex says some pots and steam baskets are dishwasher-safe. Check the manual for your chosen model for guidance on the lid, other accessories and cleaning.
Not if the appliance is still under pressure. For the Crock-Pot Express CSC051X, Crock-Pot says the safety lid can only be removed once all the pressure has been released. Follow the instructions for your particular model.