To enjoy a wider variety of meals while letting an appliance handle some of the cooking, start by comparing programmable multicookers. For meals prepared in advance and left to cook slowly for several hours, consider a slow cooker instead. A food processor cooker meets a different need if you also want it to prepare ingredients, while a standard food processor doesn’t cook. Whatever you choose, check the usable capacity for your recipes and make sure you have enough space in your kitchen.
Your choice mainly depends on how much time you can spend preparing ingredients before cooking, and the meals you usually make.
If you want to set the cooking going and get on with something else, compare the programmes on a multicooker with the long, slow cooking of a slow cooker. The latter requires you to prepare the meal well in advance.
Programmes or guided recipes can help you set the cooking time and temperature. If you also want to chop or mix ingredients in the appliance, look at the functions of a food processor cooker rather than a standard multicooker.
A pot that suits everyday meals may be too small for cooking several portions to keep for later. Compare the quantities in your recipes, the usable capacity and the fill limits, rather than looking at the stated capacity alone.
Start with the meals you usually make, then check what the appliance actually does: prepare ingredients, cook, or both.
| What to consider | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Dinner planning | Look for settings suited to your meals and check which steps you need to do before setting off. If you plan to use the delay-start or keep-warm function, check the instructions for how each one works. | I want to be able to get on with something else while some of the cooking is underway. For meals that need several hours to cook slowly, I can prepare the ingredients in advance; if I want a choice of cooking methods, I’ll look at multicookers. |
| Portions and space | Compare the usable capacity, recipe-specific fill limits and the appliance’s dimensions. For example, UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the 6 L capacity of a Cookeo’s pot and its 4 L cooking limit. | I need to fit my usual quantities in the pot without choosing an appliance that takes up too much space for everyday meals. |
| Preparing ingredients | Distinguish chopping, blending and kneading functions from cooking. The Magimix Cook Expert Connect combines food preparation and cooking; the CS 4200XL prepares ingredients, but you’ll need another appliance to cook them. | If chopping and mixing take up most of my time, a food processor could work alongside my current cooking appliances. If I want to programme the cooking, it won’t be enough on its own. |
| Cleaning and useful functions | Check which parts need washing and follow the care instructions for the model you’re considering. Compare the programmes with the meals you make, rather than focusing on the number of programmes alone. | I want to cut down on the number of dishes after a meal without paying for functions I won’t use. |
The pot’s capacity doesn’t always match the amount you can cook. UFC-Que Choisir notes, for example, that a 6 L Cookeo pot has a 4 L cooking limit.
Check the fill limits for the recipes you plan to make and compare them with the number of portions you usually cook.
A food processor such as the Magimix CS 4200XL can chop, grate or blend, but it won’t cook the meal for you.
If your priority is to spend less time keeping an eye on the cooking, consider a slow cooker, multicooker or food processor cooker instead. Choose a standard food processor if you need help preparing ingredients.
To programme the cooking as well, you’ll need a suitable cooking appliance in addition to your food processor.
How long food can be kept warm depends on the appliance’s instructions and the recipe. Anses recommends not leaving cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours before refrigerating it.
Follow the instructions for keeping food warm, then refrigerate leftovers appropriately rather than leaving them at room temperature.
A food processor cooker offers food preparation functions as well as cooking; these may not be useful to you if you mainly make meals with ingredients that are already prepared.
Think of a few meals you make regularly. If they mainly need cooking or slow cooking, start by comparing the settings on a multicooker and a slow cooker. If they often involve chopping or kneading, consider food processor cookers too.
These ranges show how features can differ. Check the specifications of the individual model rather than assuming they apply across the whole brand.
The range includes Cookeo appliances and programmable multicookers for different cooking methods.
The brand offers slow cookers for meals that can be planned to cook over several hours.
Its models show the difference between a food processor cooker that prepares ingredients and cooks, and one designed for food preparation only.
These Joybuy models are all multicookers. Compare their stated capacity with the portions you usually make, then check the fill limits and functions you need for your meals.
Image unavailable
If you want to prepare meals in a single pot, compare its 5.7 L capacity with the quantities in your recipes. Check the instructions for fill limits and, if it matters to your routine, the delay-start function and dimensions.
Image unavailable
If Wi-Fi connectivity matters to you, check the instructions to see which functions you can actually control through the app. Also check the fill limits for this pot, which has a stated capacity of 5.7 L, against the meals you plan to make.
Image unavailable
Compare the stated 7.1 L capacity with your larger recipes and the space available on your worktop. Check the instructions for the usable capacity, and look for a delay-start or keep-warm function if you need one.
Image unavailable
This model is listed with a 24-hour timer, 9 menus and 2 pressure settings for planning meals in advance. Before choosing it for use in the UK, check the plug, voltage, language of the instructions and the fill limits for your recipes.
Image unavailable
If you’re preparing several portions, compare the stated 8 L capacity with the quantities each recipe actually allows. The product name lists 12 pre-set menus; also check the fill limits and make sure the plug and voltage are compatible with your home.
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir says that a 6 L Cookeo pot has a 4 L cooking limit. Check the fill limits in the instructions for the recipes you plan to make.
No. You’ll need to prepare the ingredients and set the appliance, and some recipes also require a step before or during cooking. Check how the meals you often make work rather than relying on the number of programmes alone.
Use the model’s guidance as a starting point, then compare it with your recipes. Crock-Pot describes its 2.4 L CSC061X slow cooker as suitable for small quantities and says the 4.7 L SCCPRC507B can make up to 5 portions. Also check the fill instructions and how much storage space you’ll need.
Follow the appliance’s keep-warm instructions, then refrigerate leftovers appropriately. Keeping food warm doesn’t replace safe storage practices: Anses recommends not leaving cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours before refrigerating it.