Choose a multicooker if your main priority is programming rice, slow-cooked dishes, meals with sauce or steamed food, then stepping away from the hob. A cooking food processor is a better choice when chopping, blending, whisking and cooking in the same appliance genuinely saves you several steps. A multifunction food processor makes sense if you already have a separate cooking appliance.
You often prepare rice, slow-cooked dishes or meals with sauce and mainly want programmed cooking with a keep-warm function, without constant supervision. Que Choisir describes this type of use for multicookers.
You want to chop, blend, whisk, mix and cook in one appliance, particularly for soups, sauces, risottos or complete dishes. Que Choisir lists these among the functions of a cooking food processor, depending on the model and the accessories supplied.
You already own a slow cooker, multicooker or another cooking solution and mainly want to speed up chopping, grating, mincing or blending. A multifunction food processor can complement your existing equipment.
Choose this if: you mainly want to start cooking rice, slow-cooked dishes, steamed food or meals with sauce, then let the appliance manage cooking and keeping the food warm.
Bear in mind: the bowl’s stated capacity does not always match the volume you can actually cook, and food is not generally stirred automatically.
Choose this if: your meals often require chopping, blending, whisking or mixing before or during cooking.
Bear in mind: check how much space it takes up, which accessories are actually included, which parts are dishwasher-safe and how recipes can be accessed.
Choose this if: you already have a cooking appliance and mainly want to prepare ingredients more quickly.
Bear in mind: cooking remains a separate step, requiring another appliance and more transfers between preparations.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs and concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-off cooking | Check for programmes suited to the dishes you make regularly, time and temperature controls, delayed start and keep-warm functions. Also confirm the bowl’s filling limits. | I want to be able to start a routine cooking programme without standing over the hob. In the Que Choisir survey published in 2020 among 1,695 subscribers who owned food processors, 52% said their cooking food processor saved them time in the kitchen. |
| Preparation and cooking in one | Check the chopping, blending, whisking and mixing functions, as well as the knives, whisks, baskets and discs included. Do not assume that an accessory is available if it is not supplied. | For soups, sauces and complete dishes, I prefer to minimise transfers between appliances. In the same 2020 Que Choisir survey, 49% of respondents said they had expanded their recipe repertoire and 59% consumed fewer ready meals thanks to their cooking food processor. |
| Everyday use and cleaning | Measure the available space, compare the maximum recipe capacity with your portion sizes and identify removable parts. Check exactly which components are advertised as dishwasher-safe. | My appliance needs to remain accessible, be easy to store with its accessories and not create a disproportionate amount of washing-up after a meal. |
A multicooker mainly automates the cooking process; food is not generally stirred automatically. If your meals involve several preparation steps, you may still be left with plenty of manual work.
Make a list of three to five meals you cook regularly. If hands-off cooking is enough, a multicooker could suit you. If you frequently chop, blend or whisk, compare cooking food processors and the accessories included with them.
A bowl needs a safety margin to prevent spills and overflows. The usable volume may therefore be lower than the figure shown in the appliance’s name or product details.
Compare the model’s stated maximum recipe capacity with your usual portion sizes and the dishes you prepare most often.
An appliance that takes up a lot of room or comes with numerous accessories may be used less often if storing and cleaning it does not fit into your routine. Que Choisir specifically cites a large amount of washing-up and a time-consuming experience among the reasons people use food processors less frequently.
Measure the space available, check how the accessories can be stored and identify which parts are genuinely dishwasher-safe before choosing.
Features, accessories and recipe access arrangements can vary considerably from one cooking food processor to another. A limited-time offer does not tell you whether the appliance is suitable for the meals you usually make.
Compare the accessories you need, the recipes available, the warranty terms and the repair options before buying.
Recipe access may work differently depending on the cooking food processor, so check the arrangements before choosing.
Moulinex operates in both of the category’s main areas: Cookeo is cited as a multicooker, while Companion is described as a cooking food processor in the French sources consulted.
The Cook Expert range is cited among the cooking food processors competing with Thermomix, while Magimix multifunction food processors also feature in Que Choisir tests.
Vorwerk’s Thermomix is identified as a long-established benchmark among cooking food processors in French product-testing sources.
Lidl’s Monsieur Cuisine appliances are cited as own-brand cooking food processors, including among the products mentioned by Que Choisir in its March 2026 update.
These Joybuy options cover the two approaches featured here: cooking food processors that combine preparation and cooking, and multicookers for programming everyday cooking with less supervision.
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For meals where chopping, mixing and cooking take place in the same appliance.
4.5 L bowl, with 3 L stated usable capacity, integrated scales, touchscreen, blades, whisk, reversible disc and steaming baskets.
Check the 40 × 26 × 36 cm dimensions, how the accessories can be stored and the recipes available.
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An option for preparing and cooking in one appliance when recipes involve several steps.
3.5 L stainless steel bowl, integrated scales, automatic and manual programmes, with stated chopping, mixing, kneading, grating, steaming and slow-cooking functions.
Allow space to store and clean the blades and accessories, and check that the keep-warm function suits your routine.
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Suitable for hands-off cooking of rice, soups, pulses and slow-cooked dishes for several people.
Stated 8 L capacity, 12 preset menus, delayed start of up to 24 h and keep-warm function of up to 12 h.
Check the usable volume and how easy the components are to clean; this appliance does not replace chopping, blending or grating.
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Worth considering for programming rice, slow cooking, steaming or making yoghurt, then keeping the food warm after cooking.
Stated 5.7 L capacity, ten cooking functions, 28 customisable programmes, stainless steel bowl and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Follow the MAX line rather than assuming the full 5.7 L is available, and leave 15 cm of clearance around the appliance.
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For family meals requiring rice, meals with sauce or slow-cooked dishes with less active supervision.
5.7 L 9-in-1 multicooker, with stainless steel bowl, steaming insert, Wi-Fi connectivity and stated keep-warm function.
Check the filling limits, app compatibility with your network and whether it suits your preferences and routine.
Yes, if you mainly cook rice, slow-cooked dishes, meals with sauce, steamed food or certain desserts using automatic programmes and a keep-warm function. However, it does not usually replace chopping, blending or stirring during cooking; Que Choisir explains that multicookers generally do not stir food.
It becomes useful when your meals regularly require chopping, blending, whisking or mixing as well as cooking, for example for soups, sauces or creamy preparations. Check the accessories supplied with the exact model, as some functions depend on these components.
Compare the model’s stated maximum recipe capacity with your usual portion sizes, rather than relying solely on the bowl’s nominal volume. Que Choisir points out that a safety margin is needed to prevent spills and overflows.
For the exact model, check the removable parts, components advertised as dishwasher-safe, seals, lid and the number of accessories. Que Choisir recommends considering ease of cleaning when choosing a cooking food processor.