Choose a programmable multicooker if your meals mainly involve cooking rice, soups, stews, steamed dishes or pressure-cooked recipes, and you want to start the programme before getting on with something else. A cooking food processor is a better fit when chopping, blending, kneading or mixing also needs to be automated ; keep your current appliances if this automation would rarely be useful.
You mainly prepare rice, stews, steamed recipes or dishes with a sauce, and want to start cooking without staying by the hob. Que Choisir describes programmes that manage heating and cooking time : focus on checking that they match the recipes you usually make.
You want to prepare a family dinner or several portions in a single pot. Compare the stated volume with the fill-level markers and the portions specified for the exact model : a pot’s total capacity cannot always be used in full.
If chopping, blending, mixing or kneading is regularly part of your recipes, a cooking food processor is a separate option to consider. Que Choisir distinguishes these appliances from multicookers because they add preparation functions to the cooking process.
Choose this if : your ingredients are already prepared and your meals mainly involve cooking, slow cooking, rice, steaming or, depending on the model, pressure cooking.
Keep in mind : chopping and stirring generally remain manual, and the usable capacity depends on the recipe.
Choose this if : you also want to automate chopping, blending, kneading, whisking or mixing before and during cooking.
Keep in mind : the bowl, blades and accessories require more storage space and cleaning.
Choose this if : your pressure cooker, rice cooker, sauté pan or oven already cover your main recipes.
Keep in mind : you retain more direct control, but without bringing programmes and keep-warm functions together in one pot.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Less supervision | Automatic programmes, time and temperature settings, keep-warm function and delayed start where the recipe allows. | I want to be able to start a weekday meal without constantly adjusting the power or cooking time. |
| Usable capacity | Pot volume, maximum fill level and the portions specified for the relevant programme. | I need to prepare enough portions without confusing the pot’s total volume with the amount that can actually be cooked. |
| Cooking and cleaning | Sauté or browning function in the pot, removable dishwasher-safe parts and accessories that need cleaning separately. | For my recipes, browning and cooking in the same pot can reduce the number of dishes used, but it does not eliminate the need to clean the lid or accessories. |
| Automated preparation | Chopping, blending, kneading, whisking and mixing functions, along with the accessories included. | If my recipes often require these steps, I’m looking for a cooking food processor rather than an appliance designed solely for cooking. |
A large pot should not be filled to the brim. Que Choisir points out that a safety margin is necessary and that the permitted capacity varies according to the recipe.
Compare the usable capacity stated in the instructions, the Max markers and the portions suited to your usual dishes, rather than looking only at the number of litres.
A multicooker does not generally replace the automated chopping, blending or mixing functions of a cooking food processor. Some preparation tasks will therefore remain manual.
List the recipes you make over a week : if several require chopping, blending, kneading or whisking, compare a cooking food processor ; otherwise, a simpler multicooker may be enough.
Programmes vary between models : some focus on pressure cooking, while others prioritise rice, steaming, slow cooking or desserts. A high number does not guarantee the mode you need.
Check the exact modes, available settings, any delayed-start function and how well they suit the dishes you regularly prepare.
Results claimed by brands depend on the programme, volume, recipe and comparison used. They do not predict the same savings for every household.
Start by choosing a capacity, programmes and safety instructions suited to your everyday use.
The Cookeo ranges bring together high-pressure multicookers focused on guided recipes and automatic cooking, while Companion is designed for those who need chopping, mixing and cooking functions.
The brand offers pressure multicookers in different capacities, with versions that may include slow-cooking, sauté, steaming, rice, yoghurt and keep-warm modes.
Tefal offers rice cookers and programmable multicookers for everyday recipes, with dedicated programmes depending on the model.
These Joybuy options include programmable multicookers for weekday meals and cooking food processors for recipes that also require automated preparation steps.
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For meals that can be started and then checked less frequently, with pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, steaming and keep-warm functions listed.
Stated capacity : 5.7 l and up to six portions, with four programmable settings.
When pressure cooking, follow the stated fill limits and minimum 250 ml of liquid ; the amount that can be cooked depends on the recipe.
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A compact option for planned meals, with rice, porridge, soup, steaming and cake programmes, delayed start and keep-warm functions listed.
The product information mentions a removable non-stick pot and a 2 l capacity for uncooked rice.
Check which portions are suitable for your recipes and place the appliance on a dry, heat-resistant surface, leaving the specified clearance around it.
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Worth considering for preparing larger quantities, with 12 one-touch programmes, a 24 h delayed timer and an automatic keep-warm function listed.
The product information states an 8 l capacity, with pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice, steaming, sautéing and yoghurt functions.
When pressure cooking, follow the Max and half-fill lines for foods that expand ; the actual usable volume varies according to the recipe.
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This option suits weekday recipes that also require chopping, mixing or kneading, as well as steaming and slow cooking.
A touchscreen, integrated recipes, scales and automatic programmes are listed, with 3 l of usable capacity.
The accessories, blades and lids require storage space and cleaning, and the instructions require the appliance to be monitored while operating.
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For recipes that require chopping, blending or kneading before cooking, with steaming and slow cooking listed in the product information.
The product offers guided recipes on screen, eight automatic programmes, built-in scales and a 3.5 l bowl for up to six people.
With a stated weight of 8.3 kg, its accessories and blades add storage, handling and cleaning considerations.
No. The displayed volume generally refers to the pot’s total capacity ; the recipe, cooking mode and safety margin determine the amount that can actually be used. Que Choisir notes, for example, that a 6 l Cookeo pot can only cook 4 l in the case cited : check the internal markers and the instructions for the exact model.
Automatic programmes manage power and cooking time once the ingredients and programme have been selected correctly, but fill levels, liquid requirements and safety instructions remain essential. For the 5.7 l Instant Pot RIO, for example, the Joybuy product information specifies a minimum of 250 ml of liquid for pressure cooking and states that the Max line must not be exceeded ; always consult your model’s instructions.
It becomes worthwhile when your recipes regularly require chopping, blending, kneading, whisking or mixing as well as cooking. Que Choisir distinguishes cooking food processors from multicookers for these preparation functions ; if your ingredients are already chopped and you mainly cook dishes that need cooking, a multicooker is generally the more straightforward option.
Multicookers are not among the five categories listed by the French ministry responsible for ecological transition in its presentation of the repairability index, published on 8 July 2025. To compare models, look instead at the availability of spare parts, the stated repairability period and the warranty terms.