For everyday meals that need little attention while they cook, start by considering a multicooker if you mainly make rice, slow-cooked dishes or steamed recipes. A cooking food processor meets a different need if you regularly use its food-preparation functions; if your meals are mostly rice-based, a dedicated rice cooker may be all you need. In every case, compare the programmes with your recipes, and make sure the usable capacity suits the number of portions you want to prepare.
If you regularly make rice, slow-cooked dishes or steamed recipes, a programme can manage the heat and cooking time once you start it. You’ll still need to carry out any steps required by the recipe: a multicooker generally won’t stir the ingredients for you.
If you’re serving several people or keeping leftovers, check the maximum fill level rather than relying on the bowl’s stated capacity alone. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo with a 6 L bowl that can hold a maximum of 4 L for cooking.
A cooking food processor is worth considering if you often chop, whisk or mix ingredients before or during cooking and want to use the same appliance for these steps. If you already prepare ingredients another way, compare the cooking modes you’ll actually use instead.
Start with the recipes you make regularly, then check what you need the appliance to do: cook food, prepare ingredients or simply cook rice.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Programmed cooking | Compare the modes with the recipes you plan to make, and identify any steps that still need your attention. Check separately for keep-warm and delay-start functions if you plan to use them. | I want to start a slow-cooked dish or steam food without standing by the cooker. If I prefer to set and monitor every step myself using my usual utensils, a programmable appliance may not be the right choice for me. |
| Food preparation functions | For a cooking food processor, check which tools are actually included and what functions the model offers: a blade, whisk, mixer or other accessories, depending on the model. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes these food-preparation functions from cooking alone. | Chopping or mixing is often part of my recipes, so I want to know whether the same appliance can cook the food too. If I rarely need these steps, I’ll prioritise the cooking functions I’ll use. |
| Rice-based recipes | Check the stated rice capacity, available modes and whether a steaming basket is included. Don’t assume it can brown, pressure-cook or slow-cook food just because of the bowl’s capacity. | Rice is the main part of my meals, sometimes with steamed food on the side. A dedicated rice cooker may suit this use without me needing every mode offered by a multicooker. |
| Usable capacity | Check the maximum fill level and compare it with the quantities in your recipes, especially for liquids. UFC-Que Choisir cites a 6 L Cookeo with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L; this doesn’t automatically apply to other models. | I make several portions or leftovers, and want to be sure my recipe will fit in the bowl rather than relying on the stated capacity in litres alone. |
| Handling and cleaning | Check the bowl handles, removable parts and which parts the instructions say are dishwasher-safe. Make sure you also have enough space for the appliance and its accessories. | I want to be able to remove hot food and clean the appliance without making mealtime more complicated. |
| Instructions and safety | Check the model reference and the instructions in French. For an appliance intended for use in France, also check the stated voltage and plug. For pressure cooking, follow the model’s instructions on filling and steam release. | Before using a heating appliance, I want to understand its controls and warnings. The DGCCRF highlights the risks of burns, fire and electric shock associated with electrical equipment. |
A dish can reach its maximum fill level before the bowl is full. UFC-Que Choisir cites a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L for a Cookeo bowl advertised as 6 L.
Compare the maximum fill level in the instructions with your largest recipes, then check that the stated portion count matches the amount you usually serve.
A cooking programme won’t necessarily chop or mix ingredients for you. A cooking food processor can handle some of these steps, but the tools vary from model to model.
Make a note of the steps you often take before cooking, then check the functions and accessories included. Also consider how much space the parts you’ll use will take up and how easy they are to clean.
Using an appliance incorrectly can lead to burns; the DGCCRF also lists electric shocks and fires among the risks associated with electrical equipment.
Check the exact model reference, identify the seller and read the instructions in French before use, paying particular attention to guidance on steam and opening the lid.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that the statutory legal guarantee of conformity is mandatory for new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer. An additional commercial warranty does not replace it.
Before taking out an extended warranty, read its terms, exclusions and details of the parts covered separately from your rights under the statutory legal guarantee of conformity.
These ranges illustrate different ways to use these appliances. Check the specifications for the exact model you’re considering; their inclusion here doesn’t imply that they’re available on Joybuy.
The Cookeo range focuses on programmed cooking, while the Companion range combines food preparation and cooking, depending on the model.
The Classic 2 is an example of a dedicated rice cooker for when rice is your main dish.
The Thermomix TM7 is an example of a cooking food processor for anyone looking to combine food preparation and cooking.
This selection includes multicookers for a range of everyday cooking tasks, as well as an appliance to consider if rice is at the heart of most of your meals. The stated capacity is just a starting point: check each model against the quantities and cooking modes your recipes need.
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If you’re looking for a multicooker for a variety of everyday recipes, compare its modes with the dishes you cook most often.
The stated 5.7 L bowl capacity doesn’t tell you how much of every dish you can cook. Check the maximum fill levels in the instructions, especially for pressure cooking.
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If you regularly cook several portions, consider whether this 7.1 L bowl suits the quantities in your recipes.
The stated capacity doesn’t replace the maximum fill level: check it for the food you’re cooking, and follow the instructions for releasing steam.
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If you want a choice of cooking programmes, compare the 12 listed programmes with the dishes you actually make.
This electric pressure cooker is listed as 1,200 W and 8 L. Before buying, check the maximum fill level for the food you’ll be cooking, along with the plug, voltage and availability of instructions in French. When opening the cooker after pressure cooking, follow the instructions.
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If your recipes call for different pressure settings, check what the two stated pressure levels mean for this model.
The product name lists a 6 L bowl and 24-hour programming. Compare these features with your meals, without assuming the stated capacity is the amount you can cook. Also check the plug, voltage and availability of instructions in French.
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If your meals are mostly rice-based, check that this model’s programmes also cover the other dishes you make regularly.
The stated capacity is 2 L; compare the quantities in each recipe with the guidance in the instructions. If you need to brown food or pressure-cook, check explicitly that these functions are included.
No. The bowl’s capacity isn’t necessarily the amount you’re allowed to cook. UFC-Que Choisir cites a 6 L Cookeo with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L. For other appliances, check the maximum fill level in the instructions and compare it with your recipes.
Consider a cooking food processor if you want to prepare ingredients in the same appliance too, for example by chopping, whisking or mixing them with the tools supplied with the model. If you already handle these steps another way and mainly want programmed cooking, focus your comparison on the multicooker’s modes.
Check whether the exact model has handles, which parts are removable and whether they’re dishwasher-safe. UFC-Que Choisir points out that without handles, removing a hot bowl means gripping its edges with oven gloves, which carries a risk of burns.
No. According to the Ministry of the Economy, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity is mandatory in France for new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer. Read the terms of any commercial warranty separately, and keep your proof of purchase and a description of the product sold.
Take this electrical appliance to a collection or recycling scheme for electrical and electronic equipment. The Ministry for Ecological Transition says that such a scheme is operating in France; find out where your nearest collection points are.