If you prepare the ingredients yourself and mainly want to hand over the cooking, start by comparing multicookers. If you’d also like to cut down on chopping, mixing or kneading, look at cooking food processors and their accessories. Either way, check what hands-on steps your recipes require, each model’s usable capacity and how easy it is to clean.
For slow-cooked dishes, rice or meals with a sauce, a multicooker is a good choice if you don’t want to stand over the hob while your food cooks. You’ll still need to prepare the ingredients and stir when the recipe calls for it, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If getting out several utensils to chop, mix or knead makes weeknight dinners more complicated, a cooking food processor is worth comparing. Check that the accessories supplied can handle your recipes, then consider where you’ll store them and how you’ll clean them.
For family meals or batch cooking, focus on the usable capacity for your recipes rather than just the stated total capacity. Also measure the appliance with its bowls and accessories: a large model needs to be easy to reach or store.
The main difference is which tasks you want to hand over: cooking alone, or some of the preparation as well.
Worth considering: if you prepare the ingredients yourself and mainly want the appliance to handle cooking using its available programmes.
Bear in mind: according to UFC-Que Choisir, multicookers generally don’t stir food, so some steps still need to be done by hand.
Worth considering: if your recipes also involve chopping, blending, mixing or kneading, using the accessories suited to the model.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for the appliance and its accessories, and should check how to care for them and access guided recipes.
| Feature | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Programmable cooking | Look for programmes suited to your dishes, settings for time and temperature, and any steps that still need your attention. Check the instructions for the conditions that apply to delayed start. | I want to get on with other things while a familiar meal cooks, without assuming that every recipe will run entirely unattended. |
| Ingredient preparation | Compare the functions and accessories actually supplied for chopping, mixing, whisking or kneading. A multifunction food processor with cooking only saves you getting out other tools for tasks it can genuinely handle. | The steps before or during cooking are what take up time in my evening; I’d like to reduce the number of times I need to change utensils. |
| Portions and space | Check the usable capacity and recipe-specific fill limits, as well as the dimensions with accessories fitted. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the stated capacity of a multicooker may not always be fully usable. | I need enough usable capacity for several portions, without choosing an appliance that’s difficult to fit in my kitchen. |
| Cleaning | Check the bowl, lid, basket and accessories individually: which parts are dishwasher-safe, and which need to be taken apart or washed by hand? | A meal that’s easier to cook doesn’t help much if cleaning all the parts afterwards takes too long. |
| Guided recipes | Check whether recipes are built in or accessed through an app or service. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking whether access to recipes is free or paid. | I’d use on-screen instructions to plan some meals. Before choosing a connected model, I want to know the access terms for the recipes I’m interested in. |
A multicooker can manage the cooking without chopping or stirring the ingredients. According to UFC-Que Choisir, stirring generally remains a manual task with this type of appliance.
Think through your usual recipes and note when you need to chop, sear, add or stir ingredients. If these are the steps you most want to avoid, compare the functions and accessories of cooking food processors.
Fill limits and the recipe itself can reduce the amount you can cook. On the other hand, a larger appliance takes up more space, accessories included.
Compare your usual portions with the usable capacity and the limits in the instructions, then measure the space available for the complete appliance.
Built-in recipes, connected services and trial offers don’t necessarily give you the same access. For some Thermomix TM7 offers, Vorwerk mentions three months of Cookidoo for new subscribers.
Before choosing an appliance for its guided recipes, check what remains available without a subscription, how long any trial offer lasts and the renewal terms.
A recipe service tied to a subscription can mean ongoing costs once a trial offer ends.
Information about parts or after-sales service can help you make an informed purchase, but it doesn’t tell you on its own how long a model will work.
Make a note of the exact model reference and check the stated availability of parts, repair options and warranty terms for that model.
These ranges illustrate different ways of combining cooking, preparation and guided recipes. Always compare the specifications of the exact model you’re considering.
The Cookeo and Companion ranges let you compare a multicooker focused on cooking with a food processor that also handles preparation tasks.
The Thermomix TM7 is aimed at people who want help with both preparation and cooking, along with guided recipes.
The Cook Expert XL Connect combines cooking with a wide range of preparation functions, making it worth considering for households that regularly need both.
UFC-Que Choisir includes Monsieur Cuisine among the cooking food processor ranges to consider when comparing appliances.
This selection includes a cooking food processor for anyone who also wants help preparing ingredients, plus several multicookers for one-pot meals. Compare their stated capacity with the fill limits and portion sizes in your own recipes.
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Worth considering if you want to combine preparation and cooking in an appliance with a touchscreen. The information provided lists a usable capacity of 3 l and guided recipes, but recommends following their progress on screen. Check what hands-on steps your dishes require, and make sure the voltage and frequency are suitable for your home.
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A multicooker worth comparing for one-pot meals and smaller quantities. Its stated capacity is 3.8 l; check the usable volume for your recipes and make sure the voltage and frequency are suitable for your home.
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Worth comparing if you cook several portions in one pot. Its stated capacity is 5.7 l; check the fill limits for your recipes and follow the appliance instructions for pressure cooking and steam release.
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This multicooker is worth comparing for family meals or batch cooking. Its stated capacity is 7.1 l; check the permitted volume for each recipe and follow the fill and steam-release instructions when pressure cooking.
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Worth comparing if you want to cook several portions in a programmable multicooker: the model name indicates an 8 l capacity and 12 preset programmes. Check the usable volume, dimensions, how to clean the parts and electrical compatibility with your home. When pressure cooking, follow the fill and steam-release instructions.
Yes, provided the recipe is compatible with its programmes and you start it correctly: the multicooker can manage the cooking stage. However, UFC-Que Choisir points out that these appliances generally don’t stir food. Depending on the dish, preparation, browning or stirring may still be up to you.
Compare the usable volume and the fill limits for your recipes, not just the bowl’s total capacity. UFC-Que Choisir highlights a 6 l Cookeo bowl, for example, where the usable cooking volume may be limited to 4 l depending on the recipe.
Check each part to see what’s dishwasher-safe and what needs to be taken apart. For the Cookeo Touch, Moulinex says to clean the bowl and water collector after every use, and to remove the lid according to its instructions.
No. It depends on the model and service. Check whether recipes are built in or provided by a platform. For some Thermomix TM7 offers, Vorwerk mentions three months of Cookidoo for new subscribers. Check what remains available afterwards and the renewal terms.