Choose a multicooker if you mainly want to start cooking rice, stews, steamed dishes or reheated meals, and are happy to prepare the ingredients by hand. A cooking robot is better suited to anyone who also wants to chop, blend, knead or emulsify in the same appliance, provided you are prepared for more accessories, a larger footprint and more cleaning.
For rice, stews, soups or meals that need reheating, a programmable multicooker is a straightforward option if you do not mind preparing the ingredients by hand. According to OpinionWay for Lustucru, 61% of French adults surveyed online on 31 July and 1 August 2024 usually spent 30 minutes or less preparing dinner on weekdays.
A cooking robot is worth considering if you want to cut down on chopping, mixing, blending or weighing before cooking. However, make sure the bowl and accessories genuinely suit your recipes and the number of portions you prepare.
If menus and step-by-step instructions matter to you, compare exactly what recipe access is provided. Some apps are advertised as free, while Vorwerk states that a Cookidoo 3.0 subscription applies to the Thermomix TM7 after the advertised promotional period.
Choose this if: you want to start cooking rice, steaming, stewing or reheating without having to keep an eye on the hob.
Bear in mind: preparing and mixing the ingredients will generally still need to be done by hand.
Choose this if: you want to prepare and cook in the same appliance using chopping, mixing or kneading tools.
Bear in mind: the accessories, storage, cleaning and recipe-access conditions require more careful comparison.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking with minimal supervision | Programmes suitable for rice, saucy dishes or steaming; time and temperature settings; keep-warm and delayed-start functions where available. | I want to be able to get on with something else once the programme has started. According to OpinionWay for Lustucru, 61% of French adults surveyed spent 30 minutes or less on dinner on a weekday evening. |
| Usable capacity | Usable capacity or fill limit; portions intended for your recipes; the impact of the steaming basket and ingredients that expand. | I want to prepare the quantity I need without having to cook several batches. The litres shown are not enough to predict the actual number of portions. |
| Integrated preparation | Actual cooking function; included blade, whisk, mixer, scales or steaming basket; manual settings useful for your recipes. | I want to chop, blend or knead before cooking without filling the worktop with several appliances. |
| Guided recipes | Available integrated recipes, app and languages; access after a trial period; any subscription and accessories required. | I prefer to follow steps on the screen or in an app, but I want to know the access conditions before choosing. |
| Cleaning and storage | Dimensions, weight and accessory storage; dishwasher-safe parts; information available on spare parts and repairs. | I am looking for an appliance I can leave accessible or store easily, then clean after an ordinary dinner. |
The nominal capacity may exceed the amount you can actually cook, depending on the recipe, safety allowances, pressure or steaming accessories. An appliance that is too small may mean cooking several batches.
Compare the total capacity, usable or fill capacity, the limits stated in the instructions and the portions specified for your main dishes.
An appliance that chops, blends or kneads will not necessarily meet your need for programmable cooking. Integrated cooking is what distinguishes a cooking robot from a standard multifunction food processor.
Check the cooking modes, temperature settings and stewing, steaming or keep-warm functions rather than relying solely on the number of accessories.
Apps, integrated recipes, paid services and accessories are governed by different rules depending on the brand and model.
Before buying, check which recipes are available without a subscription, the conditions after any trial period and the accessories required for the functions you are interested in.
For the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk states that new customers pay a Cookidoo 3.0 subscription of 60 €/year after the advertised three-month free period.
A cooking robot can replace several steps, but its bowl, blades, whisks, mixers and steaming baskets all need to be stored and maintained. Que Choisir recommends assessing the appliance’s footprint and cleaning options.
Measure the available space, make a list of the accessories you will genuinely use and check which parts of the chosen model are dishwasher-safe.
Moulinex offers Cookeo multicookers geared towards guided and pressure cooking, as well as Companion cooking robots designed for both preparation and cooking.
The Thermomix combines preparation and cooking around Cookidoo guided recipes, with functions such as chopping, blending, weighing, kneading and steaming, according to Vorwerk.
The Cook Expert range is aimed at people looking for a robot that combines cooking with several food-preparation functions.
This Lidl range of cooking robots combines a screen, guided recipes and integrated preparation, depending on the model available.
These Joybuy options cover both approaches: multicookers that mainly automate cooking, and cooking robots that combine preparation and cooking.
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For starting weekday dishes with programmable cooking, pressure cooking, stewing, steaming and keep-warm functions.
Advertised with 19 functions, programming for up to 24 hours, five pressure levels, integrated scales and steaming/frying accessories.
Check the fill limits suited to your recipes, as well as the language and access conditions for the recipes you are looking for.
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For reducing preparation and cooking steps with the advertised mixing, whisking, kneading, chopping and steaming functions.
4.5 L bowl with 3 L usable capacity, integrated scales, touchscreen, preloaded recipes and components advertised as dishwasher-safe.
At the advertised 40 × 26 × 36 cm and 9.4 kg, allow space for a dedicated position; also check the conditions for accessing new recipes via Wi-Fi.
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For preparing and cooking in one appliance with the advertised chopping, grating, mixing, kneading, steaming and stewing functions.
3.5 L bowl, integrated scales, touchscreen, eight automatic programmes, rinsing programme and more than 680 advertised guided recipes.
Check the fill markers, particularly when using the steaming accessories, as well as the conditions for accessing recipes and Wi-Fi updates.
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For cooking rice, stews or steamed dishes with minimal intervention, in a format advertised as suitable for up to six portions.
7-in-1 multicooker with pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, sautéing, yoghurt and keep-warm functions; stainless-steel pot, lid and accessories advertised as dishwasher-safe.
When pressure cooking, the instructions limit filling to around two-thirds, or half full for foods that expand.
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For small to medium-sized households looking for a compact multicooker for pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice, steaming and reheating.
3.8 L capacity, 12 advertised programmes, stainless-steel pot and components advertised as dishwasher-safe.
Check the fill markers for recipes containing expanding ingredients, the model’s final power rating and whether delayed start is available on the item sold.
No, not if you also expect chopping, blending, whisking or kneading. A multicooker may be enough when you prepare the ingredients by hand and mainly want to automate the cooking process.
Look up the usable capacity or fill limit, then compare it with the portions specified for your usual recipes. Que Choisir states, for example, that a 6 L Cookeo bowl can cook a maximum of 4 L depending on the recipe; do not automatically convert litres into portions.
No, the terms vary depending on the ecosystem. Some Moulinex product pages state that a free app and integrated recipes are available on certain Cookeo models, while Vorwerk states that new Thermomix TM7 customers need a Cookidoo 3.0 subscription costing 60 €/year after the advertised three-month offer.
They should not be taken for granted. Some Cookeo models include a steaming basket and automatic keep-warm function, while cooking robots may offer an internal basket, steamer or Varoma depending on the brand and model; always check which accessories are included.