If you want to get a meal started and then leave the kitchen, begin by considering the dishes you usually cook and how much attention they need. A programmable multicooker or electric pressure cooker can handle cooking in the pot once you’ve added the ingredients, while a slow cooker is suited to longer meals planned in advance. A cooking food processor is worth considering if you also want to weigh, chop or blend ingredients. Whichever appliance you choose, check how much you can actually cook, which programmes are available and which steps you’ll still need to do by hand.
If you want to leave the kitchen while your food cooks, check what the programme takes care of once you’ve added the ingredients. Make sure the model and the recipes you have in mind support delayed start, automatic shut-off and keep-warm functions if you need them.
Compare the amount you’re actually allowed to cook for your chosen dishes with the portions you usually make. The stated pot capacity alone isn’t enough to work out how much you can serve.
If weighing, chopping or blending is regularly part of the work you’d like to simplify, a cooking food processor is worth considering. However, its food preparation features go beyond what you need if you’re mainly looking to cook ingredients that are already prepared.
For weeknight meals, start with the dishes you actually cook and how long you need to be able to leave the appliance unattended.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-off cooking once started | Check whether you need to brown food, stir or add ingredients during cooking. See if delayed start and keep-warm functions are available if you need them. | If I start dinner before doing something else, I want to know when I’ll need to come back to the pot. Around 36% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Amount you can cook | Compare the fill limits for the dishes you make with your usual portions, especially for foods that expand as they cook. | Cooking several portions at once means you won’t have to start another batch when your dish exceeds the permitted capacity. This is said to be the top consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Cooking modes to suit your dishes | Check that it has the modes you’ll use, such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing or steaming, and find out which steps require your attention. | My dinners don’t all take the same amount of time, so I’m looking for modes to suit the recipes I make regularly. Around 21% of consumers would put this first. |
| Built-in food preparation | Look at the food preparation features and guided recipes you’d actually use, rather than focusing only on the number of functions listed. | If weighing or blending ingredients matters as much as cooking them, I might consider a cooking food processor. This would be the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Fill limits affect how much you can cook. UFC-Que Choisir states that a Cookeo with a 6 l pot has a maximum cooking capacity of 4 l.
Check the instructions and fill markings for your recipes before choosing a capacity.
Programmed cooking doesn’t necessarily mean you can skip chopping ingredients, browning them or stirring the dish. UFC-Que Choisir notes that multicookers generally don’t stir food.
Go through the steps for the meals you make most often and note which ones still need you to be there.
Slow cooking is suited to dishes that can cook for a long time; it’s no substitute for a pressure-cooking programme. Instant Pot states that its Superior 4-en-1 has a slow-cooking time range of 30 minutes to 24 hours.
If your schedule often changes, check that the appliance’s modes also suit meals decided on at the last minute.
A convenience feature doesn’t, by itself, determine how long each dish can be kept safely. Anses warns that the risk of micro-organisms multiplying in food increases if it’s left for more than two hours after cooking.
Follow food hygiene guidance and the appliance instructions, especially if the meal won’t be eaten soon.
The Cookeo range includes guided electric pressure cookers for everyday meals.
The brand offers the Duo range of multifunction pressure cookers, as well as appliances designed for slow cooking, such as the Superior 4-en-1.
The Thermomix TM7 is a cooking food processor with guided recipes, combining food preparation and cooking.
These Joybuy appliances include programmable multicookers and multifunction electric pressure cookers for meals cooked in the pot. Compare their features with your recipes and the steps you’re able to take care of.
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Worth considering if you want to programme a range of dishes in the pot before getting on with something else. The product title lists 1 200 W and 12 preset menus; the description also mentions delayed start and keep-warm.
The stated capacity varies between 8 L and 8 quarts. Check the unit and the model’s fill limits before working out your portions.
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Consider it for rice-based meals and simple dishes, if its programmes suit the way you cook. The description mentions delayed programming and a keep-warm function after cooking.
Don’t use the stated capacity to estimate how many portions of a finished meal you can make. Also check which programmes support delayed start and whether your ingredients are suitable.
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If you’re cooking dishes in the pot, check that the Classic’s programmes suit your recipes and how long you plan to leave the kitchen.
The instructions describe manual steam release after cooking. Check the fill limit and whether delayed start is available if this feature is essential to your routine.
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Worth considering for cooking several portions in the pot if its menus suit the dishes you make. The product title lists nine menus and two pressure levels.
The stated 24-hour timer doesn’t confirm that delayed start is available. Check for this feature, keep-warm and the fill limits for your recipes.
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Worth considering for cooking in the pot if its modes suit the dishes you make regularly.
The 7,1 L capacity is nominal, so check the fill limits before planning your portions. If your meal needs to wait after cooking, also check for delayed start and keep-warm functions.
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir states that a 6 l Cookeo pot can cook a maximum of 4 l. Check the fill limits for your model and recipe when planning portions.
No. A cooking programme doesn’t necessarily remove the need to chop or brown ingredients, or add them during cooking. UFC-Que Choisir notes that multicookers generally don’t stir food, so check the steps in your usual recipes before choosing.
Don’t treat keep-warm as a way to store food for an unlimited time. Anses warns that the risk of micro-organisms multiplying increases more than two hours after cooking. Follow the food hygiene guidance for your dish and the appliance instructions.