A programmable multicooker makes sense if you regularly cook rice, slow-cooked dishes and other recipes in the same pot. If rice or slow cooking is at the heart of your meals, a specialist appliance may be all you need; a cooking food processor is better suited to chopping, blending or stirring ingredients. Whichever you choose, compare the usable cooking capacity, the settings you’ll actually use, and how easy the appliance is to clean and handle.
If you also steam food or regularly reheat meals, a pot with several cooking settings can save you from switching appliances for every recipe. It won’t eliminate the need to prepare or stir ingredients. Que Choisir distinguishes between cooking-mode programmes and programmes designed for specific recipes.
A pressure-cooking setting may appeal for certain dishes, provided you’re happy to follow the model’s instructions on filling, the valve and opening the lid. It isn’t essential if you mainly cook rice or use slow-cooking settings.
Before adding another appliance, compare the functions you already use, the portions you need to prepare and the worktop space it will take up. If you cook often, it’s also worth considering how easy the pot is to remove and clean.
Start with the dishes you make regularly, then check that the model’s capacity and cleaning requirements suit your kitchen.
Consider it if: rice, slow cooking, steaming or browning feature regularly in your meals.
Bear in mind: having several settings in one pot doesn’t remove the need to follow fill levels or prepare ingredients.
Consider it if: rice or slow-cooked dishes make up most of what you cook.
Bear in mind: the other settings available depend on the model you choose.
Consider it if: you also want to chop, blend or stir ingredients in the appliance.
Bear in mind: check that these tasks won’t duplicate what your other appliances already do. Que Choisir says the multicookers it reviews generally don’t stir food, except for some models supplied with an accessory.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Settings you’ll use | Look for rice, slow-cooking, steaming and browning settings that suit your recipes, as well as a manual setting if you adjust cooking times. | I cook a range of dishes and want to use the same pot without relying on programmes I’ll never use; around 36% of consumers would prioritise this versatility. |
| Intervention and pressure | Check the programming options you want and, if you’re interested in pressure cooking, the model’s instructions on filling, the valve and opening the lid. | When I start a slow-cooked dish, I want to keep hands-on time to a minimum, and I’m interested in pressure cooking for certain recipes; nearly 29% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Capacity and space | Compare the maximum fill level for your recipes with your usual portion sizes, then measure the space the appliance will need. | I need to serve the right portions without cluttering a small kitchen; for around 21% of consumers, getting the balance between portions and space would be the top priority. |
| Cleaning and handling | Check which removable parts are dishwasher-safe and read the instructions for handling hot components and steam. | If I cook often, I want to be able to clean the pot and handle the appliance in line with its instructions; around 14% of consumers would prioritise this aspect. |
You may need to leave room, particularly for liquid or pressure-cooked dishes. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo pot with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L.
Check the guidelines and limits in the instructions for the recipes you make most often.
If you mainly cook rice or use slow-cooking settings, pressure-cooking functions add handling instructions without necessarily meeting your main needs.
Make a list of the dishes you usually cook and check which settings they need before choosing between a pressure multicooker and a specialist appliance.
Dishwasher compatibility may apply to certain removable parts, rather than the electrical housing.
Check exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe and follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
Product recalls apply to specific model numbers. In December 2024, for example, RappelConso published a recall for a HOMDAY rice cooker due to a risk of electric shock.
If you’re buying an appliance from old stock, second-hand or refurbished, check its brand, model number and product code against the notices published on RappelConso.
In the Cookeo range, the Cookeo+ CE851HF0 is an example of a pressure multicooker with guided recipes. Moulinex lists a 6 L pot, 150 built-in recipes and six cooking modes.
The SpheriCook RK745800 and Fast & Delicious CY505E10 offer two different set-ups to compare, depending on whether or not you want pressure cooking.
Russell Hobbs describes the Good To Go 28270-56 as a pressure-free multicooker with settings including searing, slow cooking, steaming and rice cooking.
These appliances cover two different needs: programmable multicookers for a range of cooking methods, and a rice cooker for a routine focused more on rice. Compare their features with the recipes you usually make; the stated capacity doesn’t replace the fill limit in the instructions.
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Worth considering if you want one pressure multicooker for a range of everyday meals.
The model name indicates a 5.7 L pot and nine functions, with app control and a sous vide setting. Check the fill levels and steam-release instructions before use.
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Compare this model if you batch-cook and are considering a pressure appliance with a large stated pot capacity.
This model is described as a 7-in-1, 7.1 L multicooker with a stainless steel inner pot. Check the permitted quantity for each recipe, the space it needs and the steam-release instructions.
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Worth a look if you’re after a programmable pressure cooker for a variety of meals.
The model name indicates a 6 L pot and mentions an air fryer lid and integrated scales. Check the configuration and included accessories, then consult the instructions before pressure cooking.
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Worth considering if you want to switch between slow cooking and steaming in an appliance that also offers pressure cooking.
This Daydream Blue version is listed with a 5.7 L pot and four customisable presets. Follow the fill level guidelines for different ingredients and the instructions for opening the lid after cooking.
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Worth considering if rice is the main thing you cook and you’d prefer a specialist appliance.
The product name indicates a non-stick pot, delayed start, keep-warm function and steaming basket. For a wider range of slow-cooked dishes, check that the settings suit your recipes. Also check the usable capacity and how the delayed start works.
Start with the rice and slow-cooking settings. Browning is useful if you want to fry ingredients in the pot; steaming, reheating, keeping food warm and manual settings are only worth considering if you need them for your meals.
Not necessarily: the cooking limit depends on the model and the recipe. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo pot with a 4 L cooking limit. Check the fill level markings on the appliance you’re considering.
No. Follow the instructions on filling the pot, checking the valve and opening the lid away from your face. Programming doesn’t replace these precautions.
In France, you can contact the professional seller under the statutory guarantee of conformity. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control explains that this mandatory guarantee covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual.