If you already prepare the ingredients and mainly want to hand over the cooking, compare a multicooker and a slow cooker based on the dishes you make and how much time you have. Choose a cooking food processor if you also want to chop, blend or mix. In every case, check how much you can actually cook, how much space the appliance takes up, how easy it is to clean and the instructions for the programmes you plan to use.
If you chop your ingredients before adding them to the bowl, a multicooker or slow cooker can handle the cooking without the need for chopping or kneading tools. Your choice then depends on the dishes you make and the programmes you want.
If you want one appliance to chop, blend, knead or mix as well as cook, take a look at cooking food processors and the accessories supplied with them. Que Choisir also recommends considering how easy they are to use and clean.
Compare your usual portions with the filling limit for the recipe, not just the stated capacity. For example, Que Choisir notes that a 6 L Cookeo bowl can hold a maximum of 4 L for cooking.
If an appliance you already own prepares the ingredients, consider whether adding a cooking appliance is enough before replacing it. For all three types, start with the tasks you want to hand over, then check that the programmes suit your recipes and kitchen.
Worth considering: if you want to set prepared ingredients to cook, using the modes and keep-warm function offered by your chosen model.
Bear in mind: preparation is generally still done by hand, as is stirring when a recipe calls for it.
Worth considering: if you also want to chop, blend or mix before or during cooking.
Bear in mind: check how much room you’ll need for the bowl and accessories, and which parts need cleaning after each use.
Worth considering: for soups, stews and other recipes designed for slow cooking.
Bear in mind: it won’t chop or blend ingredients. Check that the timer suits the time you plan to eat.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Programmable cooking | Check that the programmes suit the recipes you plan to make, and compare the time and temperature settings. See whether the keep-warm function would be useful. A delayed start doesn’t remove the need to follow food storage guidelines. | I’d like to start a dish and then get on with something else. In a 2020 survey of 1,695 subscribers who owned cooking food processors, Que Choisir found that 52% felt their appliance saved them time in the kitchen. This finding relates to those respondents and their appliances. |
| Ingredient preparation | Decide whether you need to chop, whisk, knead or mix, then check which accessories are actually included. A cooking bowl doesn’t necessarily do all these jobs. | Sometimes my ingredients are already prepared; otherwise, I want to know which steps the appliance can genuinely handle. |
| Capacity and space | Check the usable capacity and any recipe-specific filling limits. Measure the appliance, the space needed to open the lid and room for the accessories. | I want to make my usual portions without choosing an appliance that won’t fit in my kitchen. |
| Cleaning and ease of use | Check whether each part is dishwasher-safe and read the instructions for cleaning the seals and lid. Consult the manual for filling and handling the appliance when hot. | Easy cleaning that fits my routine matters just as much as being able to start cooking easily. |
The bowl’s volume and its filling limit aren’t always the same. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L.
Check the manual for the exact model and compare its filling limit with the quantities you usually make, whether that’s soup, rice or stew.
If your ingredients are already chopped before they go into the bowl, a cooking food processor’s accessories may add extra handling and storage without meeting your main need.
List the tasks you want to hand over: cooking only, or chopping, blending, whisking, kneading and mixing too?
You’ll need room to store the bowl, lid, seals and accessories, and to clean them properly. Que Choisir includes cleaning and storage among the criteria it uses to assess appliances.
Measure the space with the lid open and check which parts of your chosen model are actually dishwasher-safe.
A timer won’t keep perishable ingredients safe if they’re left out of the fridge. Anses recommends keeping these foods refrigerated and not leaving cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours before chilling it.
Follow the instructions for your chosen programme, keep perishable ingredients chilled until the appropriate time and refrigerate leftovers within the timeframe advised by Anses.
These examples highlight features and capacities to compare on specific models; they aren’t a ranking of brands.
The Cookeo+ CE851A10 is an example of a multicooker focused on cooking. Moulinex lists a 6 L bowl, built-in recipes and modes including steaming, slow cooking and pressure cooking.
Vorwerk says the Thermomix TM7 combines preparation and cooking functions with guided cooking through Cookidoo.
The Cook Expert range combines preparation and cooking functions. Magimix lists a total bowl capacity of 4.8 L and a usable capacity of 3.8 L for the Cook Expert XL.
The 5.6 L TimeSelect CSC066X is a programmable slow cooker designed for slow-cooked recipes.
This selection includes a cooking food processor and multicookers, so you can compare built-in preparation with programmable cooking. For each model, check the product details against your recipes, the space available and the instructions in its manual.
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Worth considering if you want one appliance to handle preparation and cooking, rather than leaving it to do the cooking alone. The product name lists an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the manual to see what input is needed while your recipes are cooking, and make sure it’s electrically compatible with your home.
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Worth comparing if you prepare the ingredients yourself and want to choose from several cooking modes. The product name lists 1,200 W and 12 preset menus. Check the manual for the usable capacity for your recipes, the dimensions, and the voltage and plug type.
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Worth considering for cooking dishes where you’ve already prepared the ingredients. The stated capacity is 5.7 L. Check the filling limit for your recipes, the dimensions and the pressure release instructions before pressure cooking. If a delayed start matters to you, confirm that this model has the feature.
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Worth comparing if you want to programme cooking and have a choice of menus. The product name lists a 24-hour timer, 9 menus, 2 pressure settings, plus frying and voice-control functions. Check the filling limit, space needed, dishwasher-safe parts and electrical compatibility.
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Worth considering if your usual portions mean you’re comparing large-capacity bowls. The product name gives a capacity of 7.1 L, so check the filling limit for the dishes you make. Also confirm the dimensions, delayed-start function and keep-warm function if these features are important to you.
Not necessarily. Check the filling limit for the model and recipe. For example, Que Choisir notes that a 6 L Cookeo bowl can hold a maximum of 4 L for cooking.
Not if you also expect it to chop or mix ingredients. Que Choisir describes a multicooker as a programmable cooking appliance, while a cooking food processor generally comes with tools such as a blade, whisk and mixer. Check which accessories are included with the model you’re considering.
Compare the usable capacity and recipe limits with the quantities you make, and don’t assume bowl capacity is the same as steaming capacity. For example, Magimix lists a total capacity of 4.8 L and a usable capacity of 3.8 L for the Cook Expert XL; Vorwerk lists a 2.2 L bowl and a 6.8 L Varoma for the Thermomix TM7.
Don’t treat a delayed start as a way to keep food safe. Anses recommends keeping perishable foods chilled and not leaving cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours before refrigerating it. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the programme you’re using too.
Keep the exact model reference and manual, and follow the model’s filling and cleaning instructions. You can also check RappelConso, the official website for alerts about dangerous products, including its category for electrical appliances and household equipment.