If your ingredients are already prepared and you mainly want to programme the cooking and keep your meal warm, start by comparing multicookers. A cooking food processor meets a different need: if chopping, mixing or kneading is also part of your recipes, you’ll need to consider the accessories, available space and cleaning. A more specialised programmable appliance, such as a steam cooker, is a good choice if its cooking modes are suited to the meals you actually make.
For rice, vegetables or slow-cooked dishes, the priority is to set the cooking programme without having to stay by the hob, then keep the meal warm if the model allows it. UFC-Que Choisir describes multicookers as programmable appliances with removable bowls.
If chopping, mixing, whisking or kneading is a regular part of your weekday cooking, look at the functions and accessories available with a cooking food processor. An appliance that only cooks won’t take care of these preparation steps.
If you want to serve several people without cooking in multiple batches, compare the usable capacity and any recipe-specific limits, not just the bowl’s stated volume. Also check which parts of your chosen model are dishwasher-safe.
For weekday meals, start with the steps you want the appliance to handle: cooking, preparing ingredients or a specific cooking method. Then check the usable capacity and how easy it is to clean.
Worth considering : if you prepare the ingredients yourself and mainly want to set the cooking programme for dishes with sauce, rice or vegetables, depending on the model’s modes.
Bear in mind : you’ll generally still need to do the chopping and mixing yourself; the volume shown on the bowl doesn’t necessarily reflect how much you can cook.
Worth considering : if your recipes regularly involve chopping, mixing, whisking or kneading as well as cooking.
Bear in mind : the accessories take up space and need cleaning; what’s included and which functions are available vary by model.
Worth considering : if your meals are mainly steamed and you want to cook several components in separate bowls.
Bear in mind : check that this more specialised cooking method suits your recipes; a timer doesn’t replace food-preparation functions or other cooking modes.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Programmed cooking and keep-warm function | Modes suited to your recipes; how the keep-warm and delay-start functions work on the specific model. | When I get home late, I want to start cooking without staying by the appliance and come back to a warm meal. Around 44% of consumers prioritise this cooking need. |
| Food preparation functions | The tasks the appliance can actually handle and the accessories included, such as a blade, mixer or whisk, depending on your recipes. | If chopping and mixing take me as long as cooking, I’m looking for an appliance that can handle those steps too. This is a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Capacity and cleaning | Usable capacity for your dishes; which specific parts are dishwasher-safe. | To serve my household without cooking another batch, I look at the amount I can actually cook and how much cleaning is involved afterwards. This is the main need for around 23% of consumers. |
You may need to leave space in the bowl, which can limit how much you can cook, depending on the recipe. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a cooking limit of 4 L.
Compare the usable capacity and any limits for the dishes you prepare, especially liquid recipes.
Cooking programmes don’t mean the appliance can chop or knead. If these tasks take up most of your time, a programmable cooker on its own won’t meet your needs.
Identify the steps you regularly repeat in your recipes, then check that the cooking food processors you’re considering have the corresponding functions and accessories.
The bowl, lid, blades and accessories may all have different care instructions. This matters if you use the appliance several evenings a week.
Check the instructions for the exact model and look up the guidance for each part.
An extra programme is only useful if it suits the tasks involved in your recipes; it doesn’t tell you how much you can cook or how much space the appliance takes up.
First compare the functions you need, then check the bowl’s capacity and how much room you’ll need on your worktop.
The Cookeo and Companion ranges let you compare programmable cooking with a food processor that prepares ingredients and cooks them.
The Cook Expert Original is worth considering if preparing ingredients is just as important as cooking them in your recipes.
The Simply Invent VC111600 is an example of a programmable steam cooker for meals made up of steamed ingredients.
These appliances offer either several cooking modes in a multicooker or ingredient preparation in a cooking food processor. To choose between them, start with your recipes and check the programming functions, usable capacity and instructions for the specific model.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook several portions in a multicooker. The product name lists 12 preset menus, 1200 W of power and a non-stick bowl. The 8 L refers to the stated capacity, so check the fill limits for your recipes. When pressure cooking, follow the model’s instructions for releasing the pressure.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your meals call for slow cooking or steaming, among other methods. The product is described as a 7-in-1 multicooker with four customisable presets. Check how much you can cook for your recipes and whether it has a delay-start function if that’s important to you. When pressure cooking, follow the fill limits and instructions for releasing steam.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want the appliance to take care of some of the ingredient preparation. The product name mentions built-in scales, a large touchscreen and 750 recipes. However, the product details say you need to supervise the appliance while it’s running, so don’t choose it if you want to leave your food cooking entirely unattended. Also check for a keep-warm and delay-start function if you need one.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for meals that need several cooking modes. The product name lists nine menus, two pressure settings, a frying function and a 24-hour timer. A timer on its own doesn’t confirm that the appliance has a delay-start function, so check how it works, whether there’s a keep-warm function and how much you can cook. When pressure cooking, follow the model’s fill limits and safety instructions.
No, not if your ingredients are already prepared and you mainly need programmable cooking. A multicooker may be suitable, depending on its modes and instructions. A cooking food processor is worth considering if chopping, mixing, whisking or kneading is a regular part of your recipes.
Not necessarily: the permitted fill level depends on the appliance and the recipe. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a cooking limit of 4 L. Check the usable capacity and the limits stated for the model you’re considering.
No, check each function separately for your chosen model. Moulinex lists both for the Cookeo Touch Wifi CE902800, while SEB describes the Simply Invent VC111600 steam cooker as having a keep-warm function and an automatic timer. A timer on its own doesn’t mean the appliance has a delay-start function.
Check the instructions for the exact model, including those for the bowl, lid and each accessory. A statement that a part is dishwasher-safe doesn’t necessarily apply to every component. Also consider how many parts you’ll use and need to clean after each meal.