Households looking to combine food preparation and cooking
You regularly prepare full meals and want one appliance for chopping, mixing, slow cooking or steaming, without assuming all your other appliances will become redundant.
Who is this option for?
People who enjoy cooking with guided recipes
You’re looking for step-by-step instructions and meal ideas. In that case, how you access recipes matters just as much as whether they’re available on the screen or in an app.
Families who cook in larger quantities
You cook for several people or prepare meals in advance. The bowl’s usable capacity needs to suit your portions, while the appliance and its accessories need to fit in your kitchen.
What sets the options apart?
If you’re looking to replace some of your appliances, start with the dishes you make most often rather than the number of programmes on offer. Que Choisir distinguishes between food preparation and cooking functions in multicookers, and points out that capacity and accessories vary between models.
Multifunction multicooker
Worth considering: if you want to prepare and cook a range of dishes with one appliance.
Bear in mind: which utensils you can replace depends on the accessories included, the bowl’s capacity and the recipes you usually make.
Cooking stand mixer
Worth considering: if kneading and whisking are your main uses, but you’d also like a cooking function.
Bear in mind: other tasks depend on the model’s features; don’t assume it can handle your slow-cooked or steamed dishes.
Food processor with separate cooking appliances
Worth considering: if you often chop, grate or slice and want to carry on cooking with your existing appliances.
Bear in mind: food preparation and cooking remain split between several bowls and appliances.
Manual preparation and separate appliances
Worth keeping: if your current equipment suits your recipes and guided programmes don’t appeal to you.
Bear in mind: food preparation and cleaning aren’t handled by a single appliance.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Useful functions | Match the dishes you usually make to the model’s food preparation and cooking functions, and check which accessories are actually included. | If I want to make soups, sauces or slow-cooked dishes without using lots of appliances, I need to be able to carry out the steps I really use. Around 33% of consumers would make this versatility their priority. |
| Capacity and space | Compare the bowl’s usable capacity and measure the space required with the bowl and accessories in place. | When I’m cooking for several people, I want portions that are big enough without having to cook multiple batches. Around 27% of consumers would put capacity first. |
| Access to recipes | Check which recipes are available without a subscription, whether there are any temporary offers and whether you can cook in manual mode. | If choosing meals and following the steps takes me time, guided recipes may matter more than extra programmes. This would be the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Everyday cleaning | Check the manual to see which parts are dishwasher-safe, and count the items you’ll need to clean and store. | After a meal, I want to clean the bowl and put the accessories away without making my routine more complicated. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this. |
Mistakes to avoid before buying
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Assuming lots of functions will replace every appliance
The number of modes doesn’t tell you how well the multicooker handles each of your usual tasks. Que Choisir assesses cooking, blending, whisking and chopping separately, among other functions.
Make a note of the tasks you do most often, then check the function, included accessory and quantity the model can handle for each one.
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Comparing only the bowl’s total volume
The usable capacity may differ from the total volume. On some models, the space required also changes depending on which bowl is fitted.
Compare usable capacities and measure the space available on your worktop with the appliance set up as you’ll use it.
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Assuming every accessory shown is included
Equipment varies by model, and some accessories are sold separately. A task you have in mind, such as grating or steaming, may require a specific attachment.
Check what’s in the box and which accessories are compatible with the exact model before deciding which appliances you could do without.
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Assuming ‘dishwasher-safe’ means no special care is needed
This label doesn’t necessarily apply to every part. For the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk says the base should be cleaned by hand and recommends hand-washing certain parts where possible to protect materials and seals.
Check the manual for your model to find out how to clean the bowl, blades, seals and accessories, and plan to clean the electrical base by hand.
Brands to know
These ranges take different approaches to recipes, capacity and accessories. Always compare the specific model and configuration on offer rather than assuming a feature applies to an entire brand.
Vorwerk Thermomix
The TM7 focuses on guided cooking on screen, for households that want to follow the steps for their meals.
- Vorwerk says the TM7 provides access to more than 10 000 recipes on screen, as well as 12 functions and 25 modes.
- Vorwerk says new Cookidoo subscribers get three months free, so check the terms for accessing recipes after that. The brand also recommends hand-washing certain parts where possible, even though they’re dishwasher-safe.
Moulinex Companion
According to Moulinex, the HF80DB10 comes with a 4,5 L bowl, automatic programmes and an app advertised as offering free recipes.
- For this model, Moulinex lists 14 modes, five accessories and a storage box.
- Check the capacity, accessories and cleaning instructions for the Companion model you choose; the HF80DB10’s specifications don’t apply to the whole range.
Magimix Cook Expert
Depending on the model’s equipment, the range combines cooking with food processor tasks, including grating, slicing, kneading and whisking.
- Magimix lists a 3,5 L bowl for the standard Cook Expert and a usable capacity of 3,8 L for the Cook Expert XL Connect.
- With the XL Connect, dimensions depend on which bowl is fitted. Check which accessories are included and which are optional before choosing a configuration.
Multicookers available on Joybuy
These two multifunctional multicookers are aimed at households looking to combine food preparation, cooking and on-screen recipes. To decide whether they could replace your separate appliances, compare their features with the dishes you usually make.
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Robby Smart multifunctional multicooker with XL bowl
Worth considering if you want to prepare and cook a range of meals in one appliance, with recipes displayed on a touchscreen.
The product name mentions an XL bowl and built-in scales. Check how many recipes are available, as the title and description differ, and find out which parts of the model are dishwasher-safe.
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Robby multifunctional multicooker with 680 recipes
Worth considering if you want to move between food preparation and cooking tasks while following recipes on screen.
The product name mentions built-in scales and a touchscreen. Before choosing it for larger meals, check the bowl’s usable capacity and the cleaning instructions for each part.
Frequently asked questions
Will a multicooker always replace all your kitchen appliances?
No. It can take on some food preparation and cooking tasks, but not necessarily everything you use your appliances for. Que Choisir highlights differences in functions, capacities and accessories between models, so compare them with the recipes you currently use your other appliances to make.
Do you need guided recipes to use a multicooker?
No, guided recipes aren’t essential for using one, as Que Choisir points out. If they matter to you, check how long you’ll have access to them: Vorwerk offers new Cookidoo subscribers three months free for the TM7, while Moulinex describes the app for the Companion HF80DB10 as free.
Can you put a multicooker in the dishwasher?
It depends on the parts and the model; the electrical base needs to be cleaned by hand. For the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk says several removable parts are dishwasher-safe, but recommends hand-washing them where possible to protect certain materials and seals. Check the manual for the model you choose.