If you mainly want to start cooking a variety of dishes and then step away from the hob, choose a programmable multicooker. For dishes that need to simmer for several hours, a slow cooker is a better fit. A rice cooker with a wider range of programmes suits meals based around the dishes it’s designed to make, while a cooking food processor is worth considering if you also want to chop, mix or weigh ingredients as well as cook. In every case, check the usable capacity for each recipe, how easy the appliance is to clean and how much space it needs. A programme won’t prepare your ingredients for you, and you’ll still need to follow the instructions.
If you make rice, one-pot dishes or steamed food but don’t want to stay by the hob, look for programmes suited to your recipes. Then check whether you’ll need to intervene during cooking and how the keep-warm function works.
For family meals or batch cooking, compare the quantities allowed for each recipe rather than relying on the bowl’s stated capacity alone. Easy cleaning matters too if you use the appliance often.
If you want to chop, mix or weigh ingredients in the same appliance, a cooking food processor is worth considering. Just check that you’ll use its accessories and that you have enough room for it in your kitchen.
Consider it: if you want to switch between different cooking methods and let the appliance run the programme once you’ve started it.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to prepare the ingredients, and you must follow the model’s instructions when pressure cooking.
Consider it: for dishes in sauce that you can prepare in advance and leave to cook slowly for several hours.
Bear in mind: this suits different needs from quick pressure cooking or a food processor that prepares the ingredients for you.
Consider it: if your meals are mostly based around rice and the other dishes listed in the model’s programmes.
Bear in mind: extra programmes don’t mean the appliance can sear, pressure cook or prepare ingredients.
Consider it: if you also want to leave tasks such as mixing, chopping or weighing to the appliance before and during cooking.
Bear in mind: check how much space it takes up, and whether you’ll actually use the bowl and accessories.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Programmed cooking | Look for programmes that suit your dishes, check which settings you’ll need to adjust and find out when the keep-warm function starts. Check whether the recipe requires you to intervene during the cycle. | I want to start cooking and get on with something else, without having to keep an eye on the hob. |
| Portions | Compare the stated capacity, fill lines and maximum quantities listed for each recipe. Que Choisir notes that a 6 L Cookeo bowl can cook a maximum of 4 L. | I need enough usable capacity to prepare several meals without exceeding the limits for the ingredients I’m cooking. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts can be removed and which the manufacturer says are dishwasher-safe. Also look at the handles and how easy it is to handle the bowl when it’s hot or full. | If I often cook dishes in sauce or starchy foods, I’d like to know what cleaning involves after each use. |
| Preparation and space | Separate the cooking functions from the chopping, mixing and weighing tools. Measure the space available and check which accessories are included. | Do I only need help with cooking, or will I really use a food processor to prepare the ingredients too? |
Fill limits can vary depending on the recipe. Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo with a 6 L bowl that can cook a maximum of 4 L.
Check the instructions for portion sizes and the fill lines for soups, rice and ingredients that expand or foam.
A multicooker mainly takes care of cooking; that doesn’t mean it will chop or mix your ingredients. These tasks require the right functions and accessories.
Make a note of the tasks you want the appliance to handle before choosing between a cooking appliance and a cooking food processor.
Cleaning also depends on which parts can be removed and whether they’re dishwasher-safe. Que Choisir points out that some bowls without handles need oven gloves when hot.
Check the cleaning instructions, the handles and how easy it is to handle the bowl when full.
Fill levels, liquid quantities and pressure release are appliance-specific safety instructions. SEB’s safety instructions warn in particular about the risk of burns from misuse.
Follow your model’s fill lines and pressure-release procedure. Don’t try to open it while it’s under pressure.
These examples help show how the four types of appliance differ. Always check the specifications of the model you’re considering.
The Cookeo+ CE851A10 is an example of a guided multicooker. Moulinex lists 150 built-in recipes, six cooking modes and a 6 L bowl.
The SCCPRC507B slow cooker is listed with a 4,7 L capacity, a countdown timer and automatic switching to keep-warm mode.
The Easy Cook+ RK732100 is a 5 L rice cooker that Tefal lists with eight programmes, including settings for soups, stews and slow cooking.
The Cookit MCC9555FWC combines cooking, guided recipes and food-preparation accessories, with a bowl listed at 3 L.
This selection includes multicookers, a cooking food processor and a rice cooker with extra functions. First choose the type of appliance that suits the dishes you make, then compare the model’s features.
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Worth considering if you want a multicooker to handle a variety of dishes. The stated capacity is 5,7 L; check the instructions for the fill limits that apply to the recipes you have in mind.
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An option for meals prepared in a multicooker, with a stated capacity of 5,7 L. If Wi-Fi control is important to you, ask for details of how it works and its limitations before buying. Also check the quantities allowed for each recipe.
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Worth considering if you’d also like to weigh ingredients as you prepare them: the model name indicates built-in scales, and it lists 750 recipes. Check the bowl’s usable capacity, which accessories you’ll need for your dishes and how much worktop space you have.
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Compare it if you cook several portions in a multicooker: its stated capacity is 7,1 L. Check the permitted capacity for your recipes, as well as whether it has the scheduling and keep-warm functions you need.
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For meals based around rice and the dishes listed in its name, this model has a delayed start, a keep-warm function and settings for porridge, soup and cake. Its non-stick bowl is listed at 4 L; check the fill lines and cleaning instructions before choosing.
No. The bowl’s capacity isn’t necessarily the same as the amount you can cook in a recipe. Que Choisir says a 6 L Cookeo bowl can cook a maximum of 4 L; check the fill lines and instructions for the appliance you’re considering.
It keeps food warm after cooking so you can serve it later, depending on the model. It won’t prepare the ingredients for you. Crock-Pot says its SCCPRC507B switches to keep-warm mode automatically when the countdown ends. Check how the function works on any other appliance.
Follow the fill limits, liquid levels and pressure-release procedure in your appliance’s instructions. Don’t try to open the lid while the appliance is under pressure; the fill lines for another model aren’t a substitute for your own.
No. If you mainly want help with cooking, look at the programmes on a multicooker, slow cooker or rice cooker that suits your dishes. A cooking food processor makes sense if you’ll also use its food-preparation functions regularly and have enough room for it in your kitchen.
Yes, when a business sells the appliance to a private individual. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. If there’s a conformity issue, contact the business that sold it to you and provide proof of purchase.