If you want to get a variety of recipes cooking and then leave them to it, choose a programmable multicooker, checking the functions on the specific model and the usable capacity of its cooking pot. A slow cooker is better suited to dishes that need a long cooking time, while a rice cooker may be all you need if rice and steaming are your main uses. In every case, automated cooking doesn’t mean automated ingredient preparation.
You’re looking for a programme that fits your mealtime, plus a keep-warm function once cooking is finished. Check that the model you’re considering has both: simply setting a cooking time may not meet the same need.
Whether you’re cooking for one or two people or a larger group, compare the recommended portion sizes and maximum cooking volume, not just the capacity stated on the pot.
If chopping, mincing or mixing takes longer than keeping an eye on the cooking, make sure you know the difference between a multicooker and a food processor with cooking functions. According to Que Choisir, multicookers generally don’t stir food.
Your choice depends first on the recipes you make and the preparation steps you want to hand over to an appliance. Then check the programming options and capacity of each model.
Choose this if : you make a variety of recipes and want one appliance to handle the cooking.
Bear in mind : according to Que Choisir, you’ll generally still need to chop and mix the ingredients by hand.
Choose this if : you mainly make slow-cooked dishes and want them ready for a set mealtime.
Bear in mind : some recipes require you to brown the ingredients separately before slow cooking.
Choose this if : rice and, depending on the model, steaming cover most of your meals.
Bear in mind : its functions won’t necessarily replace the settings on a pressure multicooker.
Choose this if : you also want to chop, blend or grate, as the functions available on Magimix’s Cook Expert allow you to do.
Bear in mind : bowls, blades and accessories mean more parts to handle and clean.
| Feature | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Programming | Check whether the appliance offers a cooking timer, a delayed start or the option to set the mealtime. Also check whether it switches automatically to keep-warm mode. | If I need to get on with something else after starting dinner, I want to know what the appliance will do until it’s time to eat. Around 36% of consumers might make this level of hands-off cooking their priority. |
| Portions | Compare the recommended portions for your recipes and the maximum cooking volume with the pot’s stated capacity. | When I cook for two one day and more people the next, the amount I can actually prepare matters most. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Recipes and preparation | Look for the settings you need for the dishes you usually make, and check separately whether the appliance chops or stirs ingredients. | If my meals need several cooking methods or a lot of preparation, I want to choose functions that match those tasks. Around 21% of consumers might prioritise this. |
| Cooking pot and cleaning | Check the handles, cleaning instructions and dishwasher compatibility of each relevant part. | If I cook often, I want to be able to handle and clean the pot without adding extra chores to mealtime. Cleaning would be the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The stated capacity isn’t necessarily the amount you can cook. Que Choisir says that a Cookeo pot advertised as 6 L can hold a maximum cooking volume of 4 L.
Compare the maximum cooking volume and the recommended portions with the recipes you actually make.
A cooking programme won’t necessarily chop or stir the ingredients. According to Que Choisir, food generally has to be stirred by hand in a multicooker.
Make a note of the tasks you want to avoid, then check which functions and accessories are designed to help with each one.
A slow cooker is suited to long-cooking dishes; a rice cooker focuses on rice and, depending on the model, steaming. These uses don’t guarantee the same settings as a pressure multicooker.
Make a list of the recipes you cook most often and look for their cooking settings in the product details or manual.
Handling and cleaning matter too if you’ll use the appliance regularly. Que Choisir’s assessment process looks at features including programming, cleaning and the durability of the cooking pot.
Check the handles, dishwasher-safe parts, cleaning instructions and availability of replacement parts.
The Cookeo range includes multicookers with guided cooking programmes, including the Cookeo Mini, which Moulinex presents as suitable for two people.
Its slow cookers are designed for dishes that need a long cooking time, with sizes available for one or two people as well as larger meals.
The Classic 2 RK103811 is designed mainly for cooking rice and comes with a steaming basket.
The Cook Expert is for people who want to bring cooking and ingredient preparation together in one food processor with cooking functions.
These appliances cover two of the uses discussed here: rice cookers for meals centred on rice, and multicookers for a wider range of cooking methods. For each one, check that it has the programming and keep-warm functions you need.
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Worth considering if you cook rice for three to four people and would like to set it to start cooking later.
The title lists a non-stick pot, delayed start, keep-warm function and settings for porridge, soup and cake. Check that the permitted cooking volume suits your portions.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a large pot and several cooking methods for preparing meals in larger quantities.
The title lists 12 pre-set menus, including settings for rice, steaming and slow cooking. Check the maximum usable volume for your recipes, as well as the type of programming and keep-warm function available.
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Worth considering if you want to switch between pressure cooking, slow cooking and steaming in a 5.7 L pot.
The title mentions four customisable pre-set programmes. If you want cooking to start later or the food to stay warm afterwards, check these functions in the model’s manual.
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Worth considering if you need a large pot and several cooking settings.
The title lists nine menus, two pressure levels, a frying function, voice control and a 24-hour timer. Check whether the timer sets a delayed start or cooking time, whether there’s a keep-warm function, and what fill level is suitable for your recipes.
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Worth considering for portions listed as suitable for one to three people, if you want to programme rice cooking.
The title lists a 220 V power supply, 1500 W power and a 12-hour delay timer. Check the keep-warm function, available programmes and the amount of rice it can cook before choosing this model.
Start with the portions listed for the model and the recipes you usually make, rather than looking only at the number of litres. Moulinex describes its 3 L Cookeo Mini as suitable for two people, while Crock-Pot France lists its 2.4 L CSC061X for one to two people. If you choose a larger pot, check its maximum cooking volume separately.
No. It handles the cooking according to its programmes, but you’ll generally need to prepare and add the ingredients yourself. Que Choisir notes that multicookers don’t usually stir food. If you need to chop or blend ingredients, look at the functions offered by a food processor with cooking functions.
Check the cleaning instructions for each part, along with the handles and how easy the pot is to handle. Moulinex’s Cookeo+ product information and Crock-Pot France’s TimeSelect product information list some dishwasher-safe parts; you should still check the instructions for the specific model you choose.
You can ask the seller for a repair or replacement under the legal guarantee of conformity, subject to the applicable conditions. The Ministry of the Economy distinguishes this guarantee from the seller’s commercial commitments. Keep your proof of purchase and the product description so you can explain the problem.