For weekday meals, start by considering how much you can actually cook and which settings you’ll use, rather than focusing only on the capacity printed on the bowl. A guided model is a good choice if you want to follow recipes step by step; a multifunction pressure cooker suits you better if you prefer to choose the cooking settings yourself. Check the specific model for a delayed start, keep-warm function and the parts you’ll need to clean.
The right level of automation depends as much on your cooking habits as on how many portions you need to prepare.
If you often make rice or slow-cooked dishes during the week, check which programmes control the cooking and whether the model has a keep-warm function. These features won’t prepare the ingredients for you or replace the need to follow the instructions.
A screen and step-by-step recipes can help if you’d rather not work out the order of the steps and settings yourself. Check the recipes and guidance available on the specific model: programmable multicookers don’t all work in the same way.
If you want to make leftovers or cook for everyone at home, compare your usual quantities with the filling limits. Que Choisir points out that you can’t use the full stated capacity of a bowl for cooking.
Start with the dishes you cook most often, then check the quantities, settings and parts to clean for the model you’re considering.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Check the filling markers and the limit for your recipes, not just the bowl’s capacity. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L. | I cook several portions or make leftovers: my usual dish needs to fit in the bowl without exceeding the permitted limit. |
| Programming | Distinguish between automatic programmes, manual settings, delayed start and keep-warm functions. Check how each feature is set and when it comes into operation. | In the evening, I want to start cooking and then get on with something else, without assuming every model lets me set a start time. |
| Cooking modes | Look for the modes that suit the dishes you make regularly: rice, slow cooking, steaming, searing or pressure cooking. If you want recipes on the screen or an app, check that these features are available on the specific version. | If I mainly cook rice and slow-cooked dishes, I’ll prioritise those modes; if I vary my meals, a wider range of modes could be useful. |
| Cleaning | Check the instructions for the bowl, basket, lid and accessories separately. Just because one part is dishwasher-safe doesn’t mean they all are. | After a weekday dinner, I’d rather know which parts need to be washed by hand before choosing an appliance. |
| Pressure cooking | Check the filling limits, pressure-release instructions and the safety features documented for the model, including the lid lock. | If I choose pressure cooking, I want to understand the steps set out in the instructions and make sure they fit into my routine. |
You can’t necessarily fill a bowl to its stated capacity. Que Choisir cites a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L; the permitted amount also depends on the recipe instructions.
Compare the markers in the instructions with the quantities you use for soups, stews, pulses and rice dishes.
A wide range of modes won’t be much help if you usually cook the same kinds of meals. An app or extra accessory won’t make up for settings you actually need but the appliance doesn’t have.
Make a note of the dishes you cook most often, then check the programmes and accessories included with the exact model.
A product description may mention the bowl and some accessories without including the whole lid. This matters if you use the appliance several evenings a week.
Check the instructions for each part to see what can go in the dishwasher and what needs to be washed by hand.
As Les Numériques explains, a multicooker cooks food but doesn’t chop, crush or blend it. It isn’t designed for the same kind of ingredient preparation.
If you also want to chop or blend, look at cooking food processors separately; if your ingredients are already prepared, focus on the cooking functions.
Features vary across a brand’s range, so always compare the exact model rather than relying on the range name alone.
The Cookeo range includes pressure multicookers, some of which guide you through recipes on screen.
The Duo range brings together several cooking modes and is available in sizes that the brand lists as 3 L, 5.7 L and 7.6 L.
Its rice cookers and slow cookers make it worth distinguishing between specialist cooking functions and programming a meal to start at a particular time.
These models include connected and electric multifunction multicookers for weekday meals. Compare their settings and usable capacity with your recipes: being featured here doesn’t mean every model has a delayed-start function.
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Worth considering if you plan to use the app while preparing meals. Instant Pot says the Plus WiFi 5.7 L has a stainless steel bowl and dishwasher-safe accessories; check the cleaning instructions for the lid, the permitted cooking capacity and how the programming feature you want works.
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This size could suit a household that alternates between different weekday meals and wants to compare the modes on a multifunction pressure cooker. Check the filling limits for your portions, which parts are dishwasher-safe and whether this version has a delayed-start function.
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If you cook large quantities, compare the 8 L bowl with the filling markers for your recipes: this capacity doesn’t guarantee a particular amount of cooked food. The product description lists 1200 W and 12 preset programmes; also check the supply voltage for the version on sale, its programming settings and how to clean the parts.
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The 7.1 L size is worth comparing with the quantities you cook when making several portions, but don’t assume the bowl’s full capacity is usable. If you plan to start cooking before you get home, confirm that this model has a delayed start and keep-warm function; also check that the version on offer is electrically compatible.
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This 6 L appliance combines several functions. Before making the air fryer lid and built-in scales a key part of your decision, make sure you’ll use them. Check the amount you can cook for your dishes, the programming settings, the supply voltage and the cleaning instructions.
No. The number of portions depends on the recipe, portion size and filling limit. Que Choisir, for example, says that a 6 L Cookeo bowl has a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L. Compare your usual quantities with the model’s instructions rather than relying on the stated capacity alone.
No. An app may be useful for finding or following recipes, but cooking programmes and a keep-warm function may meet your needs without a connection. If the start time matters to you, check separately whether the model you choose has a delayed-start function.
Check the washing instructions for every part before you buy. A dishwasher-safe bowl or basket doesn’t mean the lid and all the accessories are safe to put in the dishwasher too; the model’s instructions will tell you which parts need to be cleaned by hand.
Read the instructions for the exact model and follow its filling limits and pressure-release procedure. Also check the safety features described by the manufacturer, especially the lid lock: using a pressure cooker isn’t the same as using a basic slow cooker.