Start by choosing an appliance that suits the quantities you actually cook: according to Que Choisir, a Cookeo bowl advertised as 6 L can hold a maximum of just 4 L of food. For stews and other saucy dishes, compare the cooking modes and programming options for each model. If you mainly cook small portions of rice, a compact multi-function rice cooker may be a better fit. Also check how the parts are cleaned and follow the filling instructions, particularly when pressure cooking.
If you want to set a stew, rice or steamed vegetables cooking and then get on with something else, check the programmes and keep-warm function for the model you’re considering. Preparing the ingredients is still a separate step from cooking.
For soups and stews, compare the stated capacity with the permitted filling level. Que Choisir distinguishes between these two volumes in its multicooker buying guide.
If these dishes make up most of your meals, it’s worth comparing a compact appliance with a few suitable programmes against a large multicooker. For example, Tefal describes its 2 L Pop RK5352E0 as suitable for 1 to 4 people. However, this size won’t replace a large bowl for cooking bigger dishes.
Start with the recipes and portion sizes you usually make, then check the functions and parts for the exact model. The number of programmes alone doesn’t tell you how much you can cook or how easy it is to clean.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking with minimal supervision | Look for the modes you need for your dishes, and check the keep-warm function and delayed start separately. | When I’m preparing a meal while doing something else, I want to limit how often I need to check on it. Around 36 % of consumers make this their top priority. |
| How much you can actually cook | Check the filling limits for each recipe and mode, then compare them with your usual portion sizes. | For soup or a family meal, I need enough room in the bowl without exceeding the permitted level. This is the top priority for around 29 % of consumers. |
| Bowl and cleaning | Check the bowl material and cleaning instructions for each part, particularly the lid and steam accessories. | If I use the appliance often, I want to know what I’ll need to wash after each meal and how to handle the bowl. Around 21 % of consumers prioritise the bowl and cleaning above all else. |
| Preparing ingredients | Work out whether your recipes also require chopping, blending or automatic stirring. If they do, compare the features of a cooking food processor. | For my recipes, cooking isn’t enough if I also need to delegate blending or mixing. Integrated preparation comes first for around 14 % of consumers. |
The volume stated on the appliance isn’t always the amount you’re allowed to cook. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a maximum cooking fill of 4 L.
Before choosing a size, check the fill markings in the instructions for your recipes, particularly for liquid dishes and pressure cooking.
A multicooker is mainly designed to cook food in a bowl. For chopping, whisking or mixing, Que Choisir describes features more commonly found on cooking food processors.
Make a list of the steps you want to delegate. If integrated food preparation is essential, compare cooking food processors too.
If you choose this other type of appliance, factor in the accessories you’ll need to store and clean.
Two models may offer plenty of modes but still have different capacities, bowls and dishwasher-safe parts.
Match each mode to a dish you actually cook, then check the accessories included and the cleaning instructions for the model.
In France, the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control points out that the statutory guarantee of conformity is compulsory for eligible goods sold by a business. A commercial or manufacturer’s guarantee is separate.
Keep your proof of purchase and the product description, and contact the business that sold it to you about any claim under the statutory guarantee of conformity.
The Cookeo range includes models designed to guide you through everyday meals, with features that vary by model.
Instant Pot offers its Duo range in several sizes, including 3 L, 5.7 L and 7.6 L.
In France, Crock-Pot presents the 5.6 L Turbo Express CSC062X as offering pressure cooking and slow cooking.
The Pop RK5352E0 is a 2 L multi-function rice cooker that Tefal recommends for 1 to 4 people.
These models suit different needs: small rice-based dishes, programmed meals and a variety of cooking methods in a larger bowl. Choose according to your recipes, and check the filling limits and cleaning instructions for each model.
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Worth considering if you want to programme meals in a pressure-cooking bowl and switch to slow cooking or steaming. The variant name indicates a nominal capacity of 5.7 L, seven functions and four customisable presets. Check the fill markings before planning your portions, particularly for rice.
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Consider this if rice and smaller dishes are your main uses, rather than large slow-cooked meals. The variant is labelled “2L”: check the instructions to see what this measurement means for your recipes and how to care for the bowl.
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Compare this model if you want to cook meals in a large bowl, with modes listed for rice, slow cooking and steaming. The product name indicates an 8 L capacity, 1 200 W, 12 preset menus and a non-stick bowl. Before choosing this size, check the permitted fill level for your dishes and the bowl’s cleaning instructions.
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Worth considering if you want programmed menus and two pressure settings for your meals. The model name indicates a 6 L bowl, nine menus and a 24-hour timer. Check the permitted volume for your recipes, how to care for the bowl and the language of the supplied instructions.
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Consider this if you want pressure cooking and air frying in one appliance. Its name indicates a nominal capacity of 7.6 L and 11 functions. You’ll need space to store both lids, so check the usable capacity and cleaning instructions before buying too.
Not necessarily. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl limited to 4 L of food. Check the fill levels specified for the recipe and programme you plan to use.
Programming can reduce the need to check on your food, but you still need to follow the instructions. The Instant Pot manual we consulted specifies, among other things, that the appliance should be placed on a flat, stable surface. For a pressure cooker, also follow its filling and steam-release instructions.
It depends on the model and the individual parts. Moulinex says the bowl and steam basket for the Cookeo+ CE85B510 are dishwasher-safe. Check the instructions for the lid, seal and other parts separately on the appliance you’re considering.
If a business sold the product to you as a private individual, the statutory guarantee of conformity may apply if the legal conditions are met. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control explains that it also covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods. Contact the seller with your proof of purchase and the product description.