Choose a programmable multicooker if you prepare the ingredients yourself and mainly want to spend less time keeping an eye on the cooking. A cooking food processor is better suited to a wider range of tasks, including chopping, blending and mixing. If preparation is the only thing slowing you down, a food processor used alongside your existing cooking equipment may be enough. And if your current routine works for you, there’s no need to buy a new appliance. In every case, compare the usable capacity, accessories, space required, cleaning and access to recipes.
They’re happy to prepare the ingredients by hand, but want a programme to take care of the cooking. Que Choisir describes this use of multicookers: add the ingredients, start the programme and let the appliance get on with it.
Chopping, blending, mixing or weighing takes up a significant part of their weekday meal prep. In that case, it’s worth comparing a cooking food processor feature by feature, rather than judging it solely by the number of modes advertised.
Usable capacity and fill limits matter more than the size stated on the product page. You’ll also need to allow space on the worktop for the bowl and accessories.
Start with the part of meal prep you find most difficult: a multicooker mainly takes care of cooking, while a cooking food processor combines preparation and cooking. If you’re happy with the cooking equipment you already have, focus instead on which preparation tasks a food processor and its accessories could take off your hands.
| What matters | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping an eye on the cooking | Check the programmes available on the model, their settings and which steps still need your attention. | Once the ingredients are ready, I want to get dinner started without staying by the appliance for the whole cooking time; around 33% of consumers would make hands-off cooking their priority. |
| Preparing the ingredients | Check for the chopping, mixing or kneading functions you need for your recipes, as well as the accessories included in the exact bundle. | If chopping and mixing take up most of my time, delegating the cooking alone isn’t enough; around 27% of consumers would prioritise multifunctional food preparation. |
| Portions and usable capacity | Compare the fill markings and usable capacity for your recipes, not just the total capacity advertised. | If I’m cooking several portions at once, I need to know how much the bowl can actually hold; around 20% of consumers would put usable capacity first. |
| Everyday practicalities | Measure the space available and check which parts need cleaning, which accessories you’ll need and what access to recipes involves. | An appliance used during the week needs to be easy to store, clean and use with the content you want; around 20% of consumers would put these practicalities ahead of other considerations. |
Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo with a 6 l bowl, but a maximum cooking capacity of 4 l. So the headline figure alone won’t tell you how many portions you can make.
Check the fill limit and compare it with the quantities in your usual recipes, especially for liquid mixtures or ingredients that expand.
Que Choisir distinguishes between these appliances based on whether they can cook. What a food processor can do also depends on the accessories actually included.
Break your meals down into preparation tasks and cooking steps, then check what the specific model can do with the exact bundle on offer.
Recipe services work in different ways: Moulinex and Magimix offer apps with free recipes, while Vorwerk requires a subscription for unlimited access to Cookidoo.
Check which features are available without a subscription and what applies after any trial period, especially if guided cooking is a key reason for your choice.
Dishwasher-safe parts don’t necessarily mean the whole appliance can go in the dishwasher: Vorwerk specifies that the Thermomix TM7 base must be cleaned by hand.
Measure the space you have in mind and check the model’s instructions to see which parts need to be removed and which must be cleaned by hand.
The Cookeo range featured here represents multicookers that take care of the cooking, with built-in recipes available on selected models.
The Thermomix TM7 featured here combines preparation and cooking functions with guided recipes through Cookidoo.
The Cook Expert XL Connect featured here is a cooking food processor to consider if the quantities you prepare and the space available are important factors in your choice.
These models cover programmable cooking and, in the first cooking food processor featured, preparation as well as cooking. Choose based on the tasks you want the appliance to handle, then check the usable capacity against your own recipes.
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Worth considering if you want one appliance to handle both preparation and cooking, with on-screen instructions to follow.
The title lists an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the usable capacity for your portions and how much input is needed while following guided recipes.
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Consider this if you prepare the ingredients yourself and want to programme the cooking afterwards.
The title lists a 6 l capacity, nine menus and two pressure settings. Compare the usable capacity with your recipes, and check the dimensions and cleaning instructions.
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This option is suited to meals where you mainly want to programme the cooking after preparing the ingredients.
The stated capacity is 5.7 l. Check the fill limit for your recipes, the space it will take up and whether it has a delayed start if you need that feature.
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Compare it with your usual portions if you’re looking for a multicooker advertised with a larger bowl.
The title lists a 7.1 l capacity, but that figure alone doesn’t tell you how much each recipe can hold. Check the fill markings and the space you’ll need before choosing.
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Worth considering if you prepare your ingredients in advance and want a choice of cooking programmes.
The title lists 12 programmes and a power rating of 1200 W. Capacity details vary between litres and quarts, so confirm the unit, usable capacity and dimensions before deciding how many portions it can make.
Not always: check the usable capacity and the fill markings for your recipe. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 l Cookeo with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 l. For the Cook Expert XL Connect, Magimix distinguishes between a total capacity of 4.8 l and a usable capacity of 3.8 l.
It depends on the app and the level of access you want. Moulinex and Magimix offer free recipes in their apps, while Vorwerk requires a subscription for unlimited access to Cookidoo. Check what remains available without one.
No, you’ll need to check each part individually. For the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk says the removable parts are dishwasher-safe, but the base must be cleaned by hand. Check the instructions for the appliance you’re considering.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer, as explained by the Ministry of the Economy. It covers cases including goods that do not match the seller’s description; any commercial warranty is in addition to, and does not replace, this guarantee.