Choose a programmable multicooker if you switch between rice, one-pot dishes and steaming in the same pot. Check the model’s programmes and its usable capacity. A slow cooker is better suited to dishes you can start several hours before mealtime. If you mainly cook rice or grains, a rice cooker may do the job without adding extra functions. None of these appliances removes the need to prepare ingredients or follow safety and food-storage guidance.
Your choice depends as much on when you prepare the ingredients as on the recipes you want to leave cooking with minimal input.
If you have little time to prepare, look for a programme that takes care of the cooking once you’ve started it. Don’t assume this will necessarily reduce the total time involved. In a 2024 OpinionWay survey for Lustucru of 1,020 adults in France, 61% said they spent 30 minutes or less preparing dinner on a weeknight. This figure reflects reported preparation time, not a preference for a particular appliance.
If you want to switch between rice, slow-cooked dishes and steaming, it’s worth looking at a multicooker’s functions one by one. The programmes, usable capacity, handling of the inner pot and ease of cleaning matter more than a simple list of features, as UFC-Que Choisir explains in its guide to multicookers.
If you mainly cook slow-cooked dishes or rice, start by looking at a specialist appliance. For example, Crock-Pot describes its 2.4 L CSC061X slow cooker as suitable for one or two people. The number of portions will still depend on your recipes.
Start with the kind of meals you make and how far ahead you can prepare, then compare the programming, usable capacity and instructions for the model you’re considering.
Consider it if: you want to make different recipes in one pot and regularly use several cooking modes.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to prepare the ingredients, and pressure cooking means following the appliance’s specific instructions.
Consider it if: you can start a slow-cooked dish several hours before serving.
Bear in mind: its slow cooking may not suit a dinner planned shortly before mealtime.
Consider it if: rice and grains make up most of your meals and you mainly want to set them cooking.
Bear in mind: other menus vary by model, and you shouldn’t assume it includes pressure cooking.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking time and programming | Check which recipes work with the programmes, how to set the time and temperature, and which steps require you to get involved. UFC-Que Choisir explains that a multicooker takes care of the cooking once it has been programmed correctly. | I want to be able to get on with other things while the food cooks, without assuming dinner preparation will take less time. In a 2024 OpinionWay survey for Lustucru of 1,020 adults in France, 61% said they spent 30 minutes or less preparing dinner on a weeknight; this doesn’t measure interest in programmable appliances. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the portions listed for the model, its usable capacity and the filling guides in the instructions. For pressure cooking, also check the limits for foods that expand or froth. | When cooking for several people, the capacity printed on the pot isn’t enough for me. I need to be able to make my usual portions without exceeding the recommended fill levels. |
| Cooking modes | Look for the modes you’ll actually use: rice, steaming, slow cooking, browning or pressure cooking, depending on the model. Check each listed menu rather than assuming features based on the appliance category alone. | If my meals vary often, several modes could be useful. If I mainly cook rice or slow-cooked dishes, I’d rather compare the features for those recipes first. |
| Serving and cleaning | Check whether the keep-warm function starts automatically, which parts are removable and which are dishwasher-safe. Follow the appliance’s instructions for serving the food, too. | We don’t always serve a meal as soon as it has finished cooking. I want to understand how the keep-warm function works, without relying on it to store leftovers. |
| Inner pot and safety | Check the model’s instructions for filling and handling the inner pot and, where relevant, releasing pressure and steam. Make sure you can position and use the appliance in line with its warnings. | I want to handle the pot and serve the meal by following instructions specific to the appliance, especially if I choose pressure cooking. |
The nominal capacity alone doesn’t tell you how many portions you can make. Exceeding the fill guides is particularly problematic when pressure cooking.
Check the usable capacity and instructions for the model you’re considering, especially for rice, pulses and mixtures that expand or froth.
A long list of programmes won’t help if you make much the same recipe most of the time. What matters is whether the modes are useful for the meals you actually cook.
Start with the meals you usually make. Consider a slow cooker for planned, slow-cooked dishes, a rice cooker for rice and grains, or a multicooker if you expect to use several modes.
Keep warm can delay serving, but it isn’t a substitute for storing leftovers safely. Anses points out that improper storage or a break in the cold chain can encourage bacteria to grow.
After your meal, follow the appropriate cooling and refrigeration guidance for the dish. Don’t leave perishable food at room temperature.
Incorrect handling can expose you to steam, burns or other electrical risks. The DGCCRF stresses the importance of warnings and instructions for these appliances.
Check the instructions and applicable markings for the model you buy, then follow its guidance on filling, closing and releasing pressure.
These examples showcase different features and formats. The details apply to the specific models mentioned, not every appliance from that brand.
The Cookeo range is an example of a programmable multicooker with pressure cooking. Available recipes and modes depend on the model.
Its electric slow cookers are designed for meals prepared in advance and cooked slowly, with capacities and controls varying by model.
The models featured here range from a rice cooker with a keep-warm function to one that also offers menus for other dishes.
This selection mainly features multicookers for making different meals in one pot, as well as a KitchenCook model geared towards rice. Compare their features and each model’s instructions with the meals you usually make. This selection doesn’t include the slow cookers mentioned above.
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Worth considering if you want pressure cooking, rice cooking, slow cooking and steaming in one appliance. The title lists 1,200 W, 12 preset menus and a non-stick inner pot. Before choosing this capacity, check the usable volume, power supply and fill limits in the instructions.
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This multicooker model is worth comparing if you’re planning to make a range of meals in one pot. Its nominal capacity is 5.7 L. Check which modes suit your recipes, the actual usable capacity and the instructions for pressure and steam.
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Consider this model if the accessories suit the dishes you actually make, rather than being swayed by the number of advertised features alone. The title lists a 6 L pot and pressure cooking. Check the usable capacity, instructions and how the keep-warm function works for your needs.
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This programmable cooker may suit households looking for several menus and pressure cooking. The title lists nine menus, two pressure settings and 24-hour programming. Check the usable capacity, keep-warm function and whether instructions in French are available for this model.
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This rice-focused model is worth a look if rice dishes make up most of your meals. The title lists a 2 L capacity, but that alone doesn’t tell you how many portions will suit your recipes. Check how capacity is measured, which programmes are available and how much space you’ll need to release steam.
A multicooker can take care of the cooking once it has been programmed correctly, provided the recipe is compatible with its modes. UFC-Que Choisir describes this use of automatic programmes. You’ll still need to prepare the ingredients beforehand and check whether the recipe calls for any steps part-way through.
Use the portions listed for the model as a starting point, then check its usable capacity and fill limits. Crock-Pot describes its 2.4 L CSC061X slow cooker as suitable for one or two people, but this model-specific guide can’t automatically be applied to a multicooker or every recipe.
No. Treat keep warm as a serving function, not a way to store leftovers. Anses recommends limiting the time perishable food is left at room temperature and storing relevant cooked dishes in the coldest part of the fridge, at 4 °C.
Read the instructions for your model and follow its guidance on liquid, filling and pressure release. As an example specific to a Tefal pressure cooker, its instructions say not to use it without liquid and set a lower fill limit for certain foods that expand or froth. Don’t apply these limits to another appliance without checking its instructions.
Check the warnings, make sure the instructions are usable and look for the markings applicable to the appliance you’re considering. The DGCCRF explains that CE marking indicates the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets applicable regulatory requirements. It isn’t a certification mark or a reason to ignore the instructions.