Choose a multicooker if your priority is to get dinner cooking without having to stay by the hob, and you’re happy to prepare the ingredients separately. A food processor with a cooking function is worth considering if you regularly chop, mix or knead before cooking in the same appliance. Check the usable capacity, accessories, space required and access conditions for guided recipes. If these features wouldn’t make much difference to your routine, sticking with the appliances you already own is also an option.
The key difference comes down to which tasks you want the appliance to handle: cooking alone, or preparing the ingredients too.
For a dinner of rice, steamed food or a slow-cooked dish, a programmable multicooker means you don’t have to keep such a close eye on the cooking. You’ll still need to prepare the ingredients before filling the bowl.
If chopping, mixing, kneading or blending is a regular part of making your meals, consider a food processor with a cooking function and the accessories suited to those tasks. Its versatility is most valuable if you’ll actually use these features.
For family meals or batch cooking, compare the usable capacity for your recipes with the number of portions you want to make. Also measure the space where the appliance will be kept so it’s easy to reach.
Start with the steps involved in your usual evening meals, then check the genuinely usable capacity and any practical constraints. A multifunction appliance with a cooking function is most worth considering if you’ll use its food-preparation features regularly. Otherwise, your existing pans and appliances may be all you need.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-off cooking | Programmes suited to your dishes; time and temperature settings; a delayed start or keep-warm function, if you’ll use them. | I want to be able to get dinner started, then do something else while it cooks. I’ll check which steps still need my attention. |
| Food preparation in the same appliance | Tasks the exact model can handle, such as chopping, mixing or kneading; included accessories; and whether you can cook without following a guided recipe. | Preparing ingredients in the same appliance appeals to me if I regularly repeat these tasks. Otherwise, a programmable cooker or my existing utensils may be enough. |
| Capacity and space | Usable capacity for your recipes, rather than just the stated volume; number of portions; dimensions with the lid on and the space needed around the appliance. | For several portions, I need a bowl that suits my dishes without taking over the worktop. I won’t judge how much I can cook by the litre figure alone. |
| Cleaning | Number of parts used for a typical meal; how they come apart; and cleaning instructions for the bowl, lid and accessories. | If I also want to cut down on the washing-up after dinner, I’ll consider which parts need cleaning after cooking. |
| Guided recipes | Recipes available without a subscription; any trial period and renewal terms; and whether the app is compatible with the model you choose. | An app could help me plan meals, but I want to understand the access terms before choosing an appliance. Que Choisir recommends checking which recipes are free to access and which services are paid. |
A multicooker handles the cooking, but it doesn’t necessarily prepare the ingredients. Conversely, the extra features of a food processor with a cooking function are of little value if you hardly ever use them.
Think about the tasks you repeat when making dinner, then check which ones the model you’re considering can actually handle with its included accessories.
The stated capacity doesn’t always match the amount you can cook for every recipe. If the bowl is too small for your portions, you may have to use another container.
Check the fill limits and portion guidance for the dishes you plan to make, especially when pressure cooking.
If guided recipes are a key reason for buying, any subscription is one of the conditions of use to consider. Vorwerk says that access to Cookidoo requires an annual subscription.
Check which recipes are available without a subscription, whether there’s a trial period and the renewal terms for the service linked to the model.
An appliance you have to move or take apart for every meal could make the routine you wanted to simplify more complicated.
Measure the space with the lid in place, and check the cleaning instructions for each part you’ll use regularly.
These ranges show different ways of combining cooking, food preparation and recipes. Features vary by model, and their inclusion here doesn’t mean they’re available in the Joybuy selection.
The Cookeo range focuses on cooking, while Companion combines food preparation and cooking in one bowl.
The TM7 combines food-preparation and cooking functions with the Cookidoo recipe platform.
The Cook Expert range combines food-preparation functions with cooking, including in an XL Connect version.
These options include a food processor with a cooking function for preparing and cooking in the same appliance, as well as multicookers for those who want to focus on cooking. Compare their features with the tasks and portions involved in your evening meals.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare ingredients and cook in the same appliance. The product name mentions an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the usable capacity and whether the accessories suit your recipes. Also confirm how many recipes are available before relying on this as a deciding factor.
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An option to consider if your evening meals mainly involve straightforward cooking. Compare the 2 L capacity with the dishes and portions you have in mind. Also check the clearance needed around the appliance before deciding where to put it.
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Compare its cooking options without adding the food-preparation functions of a food processor with a cooking function. The model name lists 9 menus, two pressure settings, a frying function and voice control. Check the usable capacity for your recipes, its footprint, cleaning requirements and whether instructions are available in French.
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The 7.1 L size is worth comparing with your family meals, but don’t assume that’s the usable capacity for every recipe. Check the fill limits and follow the steam-release instructions. Never open the lid while the appliance is under pressure.
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Another capacity to consider for everyday meals if you’d rather have a multicooker than built-in food-preparation functions. For this 5.7 L model, check the permitted fill level for each recipe, along with its dimensions and the space needed around the appliance.
Yes, if your main need is to cook everyday dishes with less supervision. If you also want to chop, knead or blend in the same appliance, compare the functions and accessories of a food processor with a cooking function, or keep using separate utensils.
Not necessarily: permitted fill levels vary by appliance and recipe. Que Choisir gives the example of a Cookeo with a stated 6 l bowl that is limited to 4 l for cooking some recipes. Check the limits for your chosen model before working out your portions.
It depends on the recipe service, not just the type of appliance. Vorwerk says Cookidoo requires an annual subscription, while Magimix describes its app as free. Check what remains available without a subscription for the model you’re interested in.
No. They can help you follow each step, but they aren’t the only reason to choose a food processor with a cooking function. Que Choisir recommends checking whether recipes are free or paid. Also look at the available settings if you prefer to use your own recipes.