If you want to add prepared ingredients and then get on with something else, choose a programmable multicooker if its settings, delay start and keep-warm function suit your recipes and schedule. An electric pressure cooker is a good fit for dishes suited to pressure cooking, while a dedicated cooker may be enough if you mainly make rice or slow-cooked dishes; a cooking food processor is more suitable if you also want to chop or mix ingredients. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 l Cookeo bowl with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 l. Check the permitted quantity for your recipe, and don’t confuse keeping food warm with storing it safely.
You prepare the ingredients and then want to get on with other things while your food cooks. Check the delay start and keep-warm functions separately: the UFC-Que Choisir guide and Moulinex information describe these features for specific models.
You make several portions or plan to have leftovers. The maximum fill level for your recipe matters more than the bowl’s stated capacity. UFC-Que Choisir illustrates the difference with a specific Cookeo model.
You mainly cook rice or slow-cooked dishes and may prefer a dedicated appliance, provided its settings suit your needs. Philips and Russell Hobbs describe models designed for these uses.
Start by choosing the tasks you actually want your appliance to handle: cooking alone, pressure cooking, or preparing ingredients as well. Programming options, cooking capacity and cleaning requirements will help you narrow down the models.
Choose this if you prepare the ingredients yourself and switch between cooking methods such as rice, steaming and slow cooking.
Bear in mind the stated capacity may not match the permitted cooking quantity, and delay start may only be available for certain programmes.
Choose this if your recipes are suited to pressure cooking and you’re happy to follow the instructions for your particular model.
Bear in mind the time shown may not include preheating. A Les Numériques test of the Cookeo CE854B10 notes that this can take a while.
Choose this if you mainly make rice or slow-cooked dishes and want features suited to the way you cook.
Bear in mind features vary: the Philips HD4814/31 is described as a rice cooker, while the Russell Hobbs Good To Go 28270-56 offers slow cooking and rice cooking, among other functions.
Choose this if you want your appliance to handle tasks such as chopping, mixing or preparing ingredients.
Bear in mind this goes beyond cooking ingredients that are already prepared. Compare the tools and preparation steps included with each model.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Mealtime | Check whether delay start works with your chosen programme and how the keep-warm function operates. | I want cooking to fit around my other activities, without confusing delay start with keeping food warm. Around 36% of consumers prioritise mealtimes. |
| Number of portions | Check the maximum fill level for your recipes and work out how much space you have for the appliance. | If I’m cooking for several people or planning leftovers, I want to stay within the bowl’s limit without running short on portions. Around 29% of consumers prioritise quantity. |
| Recipes and total cooking time | Check which settings you’ll actually use, and distinguish cooking time from preheating and other steps. | I want the settings to suit my usual dishes and to know when the meal will be ready. Around 21% of consumers put recipe suitability first. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts can be removed and what cleaning instructions apply to the bowl and its coating. | When I use the appliance regularly, I want cleaning to involve as little effort as possible. Around 14% of consumers prioritise ease of cleaning. |
You can’t always use the bowl’s full stated capacity. For one specific Cookeo model, UFC-Que Choisir lists a 6 l bowl with a 4 l cooking limit.
Compare the number of portions you want to make with the fill levels specified for your recipes.
If the permitted quantity isn’t enough, you may need to cook in batches or choose a different size.
A Les Numériques test of the Cookeo CE854B10 notes that preheating, which can take a while, isn’t included in the stated cooking time.
Estimate the full time your recipe will take, including preheating, cooking and keeping warm.
Preheating and some of the steps before or after cooking can add to the preparation time.
A multicooker doesn’t necessarily replace the chopping or mixing tools of a cooking food processor, so you may still need to prepare ingredients by hand.
If chopping and mixing are essential, compare cooking food processors rather than choosing a model based only on its cooking programmes.
Allow time for chopping or mixing by hand if the appliance doesn’t handle these tasks.
The features below relate to specific ranges or models. Check the exact model number and its manual before comparing functions.
Worth comparing if you’re looking at non-pressure multicookers and Cookeo appliances, depending on your recipes, whether you need pressure cooking and the interface you prefer.
Worth considering if pressure cooking and a choice of settings suit your recipes.
Worth a look if you mainly cook rice.
Worth considering for cooking methods such as slow cooking and rice cooking if you don’t need a pressure cooker.
Worth considering if combining functions, including air cooking and pressure cooking, would be genuinely useful for your recipes.
This selection includes programmable multifunction electric pressure cookers and a dedicated rice cooker. Compare the listed features with your recipes: a timer or keep-warm function doesn’t mean every dish can be left unattended without taking precautions.
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Worth a look if you want to programme several types of pressure cooking in one bowl.
Stated capacity: 6 l. Nine menus, two pressure settings up to 60 kPa and a 24-hour timer.
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Worth a look if you want one appliance that combines several cooking methods in a 6 l bowl.
The description lists pressure cooking, slow cooking, an air fryer lid, built-in scales and programming for up to 24 hours.
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Worth considering if you want to switch between different settings and use the app control listed for this model.
5,7 l bowl, 10 functions and 28 programmes. The description lists pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking and automatic keep-warm. Follow the model’s instructions and don’t open the lid while it’s still under pressure.
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Worth a look if you mainly cook rice or porridge for a small household.
2 l capacity, 500 W power and stated suitability for 2 to 3 people. The product title lists seven functions, a timer, keep-warm and a steaming basket.
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Worth a look if you want to programme several types of cooking in a bowl with a stated large capacity.
Listed features include an 8 l capacity, 1 200 W power, 12 preset menus and a 24-hour delay start. The product details say to observe the MAX line, or the 1/2 line for foods that expand, and not to open the appliance while it’s under pressure.
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 l Cookeo bowl with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 l; the permitted quantity may also depend on the recipe. Check the fill markings and the manual for the model you’re considering.
Read your model’s manual before using it for the first time. The manual for the Instant Duo Plus WhisperQuiet, for example, calls for a stable surface and warns that the bowl can be hot and heavy. Don’t assume that another appliance has the same instructions for closing, filling or releasing steam.
No. Keeping food warm doesn’t mean it can be stored indefinitely. According to Anses, leaving cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours after cooking increases the risk of micro-organisms multiplying. Follow its advice on cooling and refrigerating leftovers, as well as your appliance’s instructions.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies, subject to its conditions, to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a private individual. The DGCCRF states that you have two years from delivery of the goods to take action. Any commercial guarantee is separate and optional.