Choose a multicooker if you mainly want to start slow-cooked, steamed or pressure-cooked dishes with less supervision, without expecting it to chop or blend ingredients. A cooking food processor is a better choice when preparation and cooking need to happen in the same bowl; a multifunction food processor without cooking functions may be enough if your existing cooking equipment already meets your needs.
You mainly prepare casseroles, starchy foods, steamed vegetables or pressure-cooked dishes, and want to start cooking while getting on with another task. Useful capacity, the programmes you will actually use and an easy-to-handle cooking pot become the key considerations.
You often make blended soups, sauces, purées, chopped preparations or guided recipes and want to minimise transfers between a food processor, saucepan and blender. Compare useful capacity, footprint, accessories and how easy they are to clean.
You already have a hob, oven or effective slow cooker, but chopping, grating and blending slow down preparation. A multifunction food processor without cooking functions may make more sense if cooking automation is not your priority.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking with less supervision | Check the modes that will genuinely be useful: pressure cooking, steaming, slow cooking, keep-warm and scheduling. Also check which preparation steps are needed before starting the programme. | I want to be able to start an evening meal and then get on with something else. If I often chop, grate or blend ingredients, a multicooker on its own will not cover these steps. |
| Suitable capacity | Compare useful capacity, filling limits and the portions stated for the specific model. Also measure the space on your worktop and beneath wall units. | I want to cook the right quantity for the household, including leftovers, without buying a pot that is too large or too small. Total volume does not always match usable volume. |
| Everyday cleaning | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe, along with the lid, seals, blades and the number of accessories you will need to store. Consult the manual for washing instructions. | After dinner, I want cleaning to be realistic to repeat several evenings a week. A simple set-up that is easy to take out, wash and put away is more likely to stay in regular use. |
| Accessories and recipes | Check the exact reference, pack contents, optional accessories, app and access conditions for guided recipes. Also check compatibility with any accessories you already own. | I want to know exactly what is included before choosing a function such as air frying or guided cooking. A subscription or separate accessory may change how the appliance is intended to be used. |
Nominal capacity is not always fully usable, depending on the cooking mode and recipe. Que Choisir, for example, states that a 6 L Cookeo pot can cook up to 4 L.
Look for useful capacity, filling limits and the portions stated in the model manual. Compare them with the quantities you usually prepare for soups, saucy dishes and meals you plan to store.
A multicooker mainly automates cooking: it does not chop, slice, grate or blend ingredients. These steps may therefore still need to be completed before starting the programme.
Make a list of a few meals you actually prepare during the week. If chopping or blending comes up often, also compare a cooking food processor or multifunction food processor.
The configuration varies depending on the variant and ecosystem you choose. Guided recipes, specialist accessories and their access conditions should be checked for each reference.
Before buying, check the exact pack contents, the recipes available in English, any subscription requirements and compatibility with accessories you already own.
A heavy, bulky appliance with numerous parts can become less convenient if you have to take it out and wash it after every meal. Les Numériques specifically highlights the footprint of the Cookeo Infinity and the cleaning of the Thermomix TM7 lid.
Measure the available space with the lid open, check the weight and see how the main components are removed. Choose a configuration whose accessories you will genuinely use.
Moulinex offers the Cookeo range for guided and pressure cooking, as well as Companion models for preparation and cooking with accessories.
Vorwerk focuses its cooking food processor range on the Thermomix TM7 and the Cookidoo guided-recipe ecosystem.
The Cook Expert range combines preparation and cooking in a multifunction food processor, with models designed for larger quantities.
These Joybuy options include cooking food processors and programmable multicookers for preparing weeknight meals with less transferring and supervision.
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For combining preparation and cooking in one appliance when making family meals.
Advertised 4.5 L bowl, including 3 L of useful capacity, touchscreen, built-in scales, steaming and grating and slicing accessories.
With an advertised weight of 9.4 kg, it is best to allow for a stable place on the worktop. Also check access to recipes and the terms governing updates.
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For starting pressure-cooked, steamed or slow-cooked dishes, with programming advertised for up to 24 hours.
6 L pot, 19 functions, 11 temperature settings, built-in scales and advertised keep-warm modes.
Check useful capacity for each cooking mode, filling limits and the exact contents of the air-frying pack.
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For chopping, grating, mixing and cooking without filling the worktop with multiple appliances.
3.5 L stainless steel bowl, eight programmes, manual mode, built-in scales, Wi-Fi, steaming and slow-cooking functions advertised.
Its advertised weight of 8.3 kg means you should plan an accessible location. Check the terms for Wi-Fi recipes and which parts are dishwasher-safe.
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For households looking for a multicooker for pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming and keeping food warm.
Nominal capacity of 5.7 L, 7-in-1 functions, four one-touch programmes and components advertised as dishwasher-safe.
It does not chop, grate or blend ingredients. Check filling limits and the portions suited to your recipes.
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For preparing large quantities with advertised pressure-cooking, slow-cooking, steaming and air-frying modes.
7.6 L stainless steel pot, two lids, sous vide, grilling and dehydrating functions, with removable parts advertised as washable.
With an advertised weight of 11.88 kg and two lids, this appliance needs plenty of space. Check the model’s temperature specifications before buying.
Yes, if your main need is automated cooking, such as slow cooking, steaming, keeping food warm or pressure cooking. However, Les Numériques and Que Choisir distinguish between a multicooker and a cooking food processor: it does not chop, grate, slice or blend ingredients in the same appliance.
Start with the quantities you genuinely prepare, including leftovers, then compare useful capacity rather than the stated volume alone. Que Choisir says that a 6 L Cookeo pot can cook up to 4 L; Magimix, meanwhile, states 3.8 L of useful capacity for the Cook Expert XL.
No, the terms depend on the model and its ecosystem. Vorwerk presents the Thermomix TM7 with Cookidoo and an offer of three initial months for new subscribers; check the price, offer duration and functions available without a subscription before buying.
Check which parts are genuinely dishwasher-safe, including the pot, lid, seals, blades and the number of accessories. Que Choisir’s cooking food processor test protocol includes, in particular, 50 dishwasher cycles for accessories, bowls and lids.
A used electrical appliance comes under the waste electrical and electronic equipment stream. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition states that a collection and recycling system for household WEEE operates in France; prioritise repair where practical, then use a suitable collection point or take-back service.