A programmable multicooker is worth considering if you often cook meals in a pot and want to get dinner started without staying by the hob. First, choose a capacity that suits your portions, then check the settings, delayed start and keep-warm function on the specific model. If you mainly cook rice or slow-cooked dishes, or your current appliances already cover those jobs, a multicooker may not provide the feature you’re missing.
You want to start cooking in a pot, then get on with something else until dinner. Being able to set the cooking time and keep food warm may matter more to you than having a long list of recipes. In an OpinionWay survey for Lustucru of 1,020 French adults, conducted from 31 July to 1 August 2024, 61% of respondents said they spent no more than 30 minutes preparing dinner on a weekday evening. This figure relates to preparation time, not multicooker purchases.
You cook for several people or plan to have leftovers. Compare the stated number of portions and the fill-level markings in the instructions rather than looking only at the pot’s capacity: Moulinex lists its 5 L MK708810 for 4 to 5 people, while Crock-Pot says its 4.7 L SCCPRC507B slow cooker makes up to 5 portions.
You need to decide whether automated cooking is enough, or whether you also need to chop, mix or knead. Magimix lists these among the functions of the Cook Expert; don’t assume that a multicooker designed for cooking in a pot can do them too.
Worth considering: your dinners involve different types of cooking in a pot, and you want to set the cycle before stepping away.
Bear in mind: programmes and maximum quantities vary by model and recipe; programmed cooking doesn’t eliminate every need for supervision.
Worth considering: you mainly make dishes that need long, slow cooking, and a timer followed by a keep-warm function suits your routine.
Bear in mind: the Crock-Pot SCCPRC507B, as described by the brand, has two heat settings rather than a wide choice of modes.
Worth considering: rice and side dishes are your priority; some models also offer steaming, slow cooking or sautéing.
Bear in mind: these modes depend on the model. Instant Pot lists them for its 2.8 L rice cooker, but that doesn’t automatically make it a pressure cooker.
Worth considering: you’d also like the appliance to prepare ingredients mechanically, for example by chopping or kneading them.
Bear in mind: for the Cook Expert, Magimix lists a 3.5 L bowl with a usable capacity of 2.5 L; compare the latter with the portions you make.
Keep them if: they cover the recipes you usually make, and cooking with them doesn’t involve the level of supervision you’re looking to reduce.
Bear in mind: you won’t gain the programming or keep-warm functions that your current appliances lack.
If you want to get dinner started before moving on to another activity, first consider what you actually cook, then think about portions and cleaning. The table groups consumers by their main purchasing need.
| Criteria | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Programming | Cooking-time settings and delayed start on the model you’re considering; conditions for keeping food warm in the instructions. | I want to get dinner started, then do something else without keeping track of every stage of cooking; around 33% of consumers would prioritise this level of hands-off cooking. |
| Useful functions | Modes that suit your meals; ingredient preparation if you’re considering a cooking food processor. | My appliances overlap, and I want to bring together the tasks I do often. Versatility would be the main need for around 27% of consumers. |
| Portions and space | Usable capacity, fill-level markings and the dimensions of the appliance when stored. | I prepare several portions, but the appliance also needs to fit in my kitchen; around 20% of consumers would prioritise this balance. |
| Cleaning and use | Removable parts and washing instructions; guidance specific to programming and, where applicable, pressure cooking. | A simpler dinner doesn’t help much if cleaning is a chore or the controls require precautions I can’t follow; this would be the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
A stated capacity of 5 L or 6 L doesn’t mean you can fill the pot to the brim for every recipe. Foods that expand or boil, for example, require you to observe the model’s fill limits.
Check the maximum fill markings and portion guidance in the instructions, then compare them with the dinners you usually make.
Having lots of modes won’t help if you only use the slow-cook or rice setting. A cooking food processor, on the other hand, meets chopping and mixing needs that a multicooker designed for cooking in a pot may not cover.
Think of a few dinners you make often, then decide which tasks you actually need the appliance to handle.
Programming helps you plan cooking, but it doesn’t remove the need to follow food-safety guidance. The Anses recommends refrigerating cooked food within two hours of it reaching room temperature.
Follow the instructions for delayed start and keeping food warm, and adapt your preparation and storage of leftovers to the ingredients you’re using.
A pot and accessories that are awkward to clean can make everyday use less appealing. For a pressure cooker, setup instructions and the condition of its parts also matter.
Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and read the instructions for your specific model before using it for the first time. The Instant Pot Pro WiFi manual, for example, calls for a flat, stable, non-combustible surface.
The range includes multicookers designed for cooking in a pot, with features and capacities that vary by model.
The brand offers pressure multicookers as well as rice cookers with additional cooking modes.
The brand’s slow cookers are designed for dishes you plan to leave cooking for a long time.
Consider the Cook Expert if preparing ingredients matters as much as cooking them.
These appliances suit two of the needs covered here: cooking different types of dishes in a pot, and preparing rice or side dishes. Compare their specific features with what you need for dinner rather than assuming they all offer the same programming options.
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Worth considering if rice and side dishes are at the heart of your dinners and you’d like to schedule when cooking starts.
The product title lists delayed start, a keep-warm function, a non-stick pot and a steaming basket; the appliance is presented as suitable for 3 to 4 people. Compare the fill markings with your portion sizes and check the cleaning instructions.
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Worth comparing if you’d like to switch between different types of cooking in a pot for family meals.
The model is listed with a capacity of 5.7 L and nine functions. If start time or app control matters to you, check exactly what’s possible and under what conditions in the instructions. Also follow the guidance specific to pressure cooking.
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Worth considering if you cook several portions and want preset cooking programmes.
The product title lists an 8 L pot and 12 preset menus. For your recipes, check the fill limit, delayed-start conditions and cleaning instructions in the manual.
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Worth considering for one-pot meals if you’d like options such as slow cooking and steaming.
The product title lists a capacity of 5.7 L and four customisable presets. Check the fill markings and, if you need to delay the start, what the instructions allow.
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Worth comparing if cooking rice or grains is your main priority, with other modes for adding variety to your side dishes.
The product title lists a 5 L capacity as well as steaming and slow-cooking functions. If you plan to cook other dishes or schedule the start time, check the fill limits and relevant settings in the instructions.
Choose based on the portions you actually cook, then check the fill limit for the recipes you have in mind. As examples for their specific models, Moulinex lists the 5 L MK708810 for 4 to 5 people, while Crock-Pot says its 4.7 L SCCPRC507B slow cooker makes up to 5 portions. These figures don’t mean the entire pot can be used for every dish.
No. An appliance having this function doesn’t mean every ingredient can be left waiting before cooking begins. Follow the instructions for your recipe, and don’t confuse delayed start with food storage: the Anses recommends refrigerating cooked food before it has spent more than two hours at room temperature.
Set it up according to the instructions for the model you’ve bought, making sure there’s enough room to use it safely. For the Pro WiFi, the Instant Pot manual specifies a flat, stable, non-combustible surface; the instructions for this model don’t replace those for any other appliance.
For the specific model, check which parts can be removed, how they should be cleaned, which accessories are included and what repair options are available. This will help you decide whether the appliance will be practical for regular dinners, without assuming that features listed for one model apply to the whole brand.