To prepare and cook in one appliance, choose a multifunction cooking food processor if you regularly chop, mix or knead as well as cook. If you mainly make one-pot meals, compare multicookers instead; a cooking stand mixer is better suited to you if dough and baking matter as much as savoury meals. Separate appliances can still be useful if you cook several things at once. In every case, check the usable capacity, accessories, cleaning requirements and how you can access recipes.
If you want to spend less time keeping an eye on your food as it cooks, a programmable multicooker is worth considering. If you also want to chop, blend or knead in the appliance, look at the features of a multifunction cooking food processor instead.
Compare the bowl’s usable capacity with the recipes you usually make, then check the fill limits and the capacity of the steaming accessories. The advertised total capacity won’t necessarily match the amount you can actually cook.
Check where the steps are displayed, which recipes are available on the appliance, and whether you need an app or subscription to use the features you’re interested in.
Start with the tasks you want the appliance to handle, then see how its capacity and day-to-day requirements fit with the meals you usually make.
| Feature | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking | Check chopping, mixing, kneading, slow cooking and steaming separately. For a multicooker, also look at the programming and keep-warm functions on the specific model. | I want to prepare ingredients and cook in the same appliance, or simply set a one-pot meal going without constantly watching the hob. |
| Capacity and steaming | Compare the usable capacity, fill limits and size of the steaming basket. According to Magimix France, the Cook Expert XL has a total bowl capacity of 4.8 L, of which 3.8 L is usable. | When making several portions, I need to know how much will really fit in the bowl and steaming accessories. |
| Guided recipes | Check which steps appear on the screen, whether the app is compatible, and how you can access recipes. Moulinex France describes the Companion app as free, while Vorwerk France requires a subscription for Cookidoo. | On-screen instructions would be useful, but I want to know which recipes I’ll be able to access with the appliance I choose. |
| Cleaning and parts | Read the cleaning instructions for the bowl, lid, seals and accessories. Check that parts are available for the model you’re considering. | If I cook several evenings a week, cleaning needs to fit into my routine. |
| Space and organisation | Measure the space needed on your worktop and to store the accessories. Consider whether cooking in a single bowl will suit you when you need to prepare several things at once. | I may prefer to keep using my saucepans, oven and blender if I need them at the same time to put a meal together. |
A multicooker can guide you through cooking a dish, but it won’t necessarily chop, blend or knead in the way you’d expect from a cooking food processor.
Make a note of the tasks you do every week, then check the features and accessories of the model you’re considering before deciding between pressure cooking and all-in-one preparation.
The bowl’s total capacity doesn’t tell you how much you can use for every recipe. The capacity and contents of the steaming accessories matter too.
Compare the model’s stated usable capacity and the fill limits in the manual with your usual portions, and check exactly what’s included in the pack.
An experience built around on-screen recipes may depend on an app or subscription. Vorwerk France, for example, requires a subscription for access to Cookidoo.
Check which recipes work directly on the appliance and what’s required to use the connected features you’re interested in.
The bowl, lid and accessories need cleaning after use, and their care instructions can affect your choice if you’ll use the appliance often.
Check the manual for cleaning instructions for each part, and make sure seals and accessories are available for the model you choose.
These ranges show different approaches to preparation, cooking and recipe access. Always compare the specific model and accessories.
The Companion range combines preparation and cooking, while Cookeo focuses on guided cooking with a multicooker.
The Thermomix TM7 combines a connected cooking food processor, a screen and guided recipes through Cookidoo.
The Cook Expert XL combines cooking and food preparation functions in a cooking food processor with a high stated capacity.
The Cooking Chef Experience combines the design of a stand mixer with cooking in the bowl.
This selection includes food processors that combine preparation and cooking, followed by multicookers designed mainly for cooking meals. Decide which of these two uses suits you best before comparing the capacity and features of each model.
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Designed to bring preparation and cooking together, its product details list chopping, mixing, kneading and steaming, with a usable bowl capacity of 3 L. Check that this capacity suits your portions, and find out how you can access the recipes you’re interested in.
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This food processor is for anyone who wants to prepare and then cook, with steps displayed on screen. Its product details list chopping, kneading, steaming and slow cooking, as well as a 3.5 L bowl. Check its usable capacity, how to care for the parts and how to access connected recipes.
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If you mainly want an appliance with a range of cooking modes, its product details list pressure cooking, steaming, voice guidance and a stated capacity of 6 L. Check the usable capacity and cleaning instructions. If you also want to chop or knead, check that it has these functions separately.
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This multicooker is a good fit if you’re mainly looking for cooking functions: its product details list pressure cooking, steaming, slow cooking, keep-warm and a stated capacity of 5.7 L. The listing says some parts are dishwasher-safe. Follow the fill and steam-release instructions, and check what recipe guidance is available if you want step-by-step recipes.
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For meals that call for a range of cooking methods, its product details list pressure cooking, steaming, slow cooking, 12 programmes, a delay timer and keep-warm. The 8 L is the stated capacity: check the usable capacity and cleaning instructions, and follow the fill limits and steam-release precautions.
No. Features, accessories and capacity vary by model. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the different uses of cooking food processors, multifunction food processors and stand mixers. Start with the things you make regularly, then check that the model you choose can really handle them.
Start by comparing the usable capacity and fill limits for your recipes, rather than looking at the total capacity alone. For example, Magimix France gives the Cook Expert XL a usable capacity of 3.8 L, although its bowl has a total capacity of 4.8 L. If you plan to steam several portions, check the basket’s capacity too.
It depends on the service and features you want. Vorwerk France requires a subscription for Cookidoo, while Moulinex France describes the Companion app as free. Before choosing, check which recipes are available directly on the specific model and what’s required to use its connected features.
Check the model number, the accessories included and the condition of the bowl, lid and seals, then identify the seller. In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that the legal guarantee of conformity also applies to second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer; you must claim it from the seller.