If your ingredients are already prepared and you mainly want to start cooking with less supervision, begin by comparing multicookers. They handle the cooking, but generally don’t stir the food. A cooking food processor meets a different need by combining preparation and cooking. If your current appliances already cover these tasks in a way that suits you, consider what a new appliance would really change about your weeknight meals.
Your choice depends first on which tasks you want the appliance to handle: cooking, preparing ingredients, or both.
If your ingredients are already chopped, a multicooker is worth considering for starting the cooking without having to stay by the hob. However, UFC-Que Choisir notes that these appliances generally don’t stir food, so compare their usable capacity with the portions you need to make.
A cooking food processor can combine tasks such as chopping or mixing with cooking. According to UFC-Que Choisir’s guide, its preparation functions depend in part on the accessories. Check what’s included with your chosen model before relying on a single appliance for your usual recipes.
If step-by-step instructions help you organise dinner, distinguish between recipes built into the appliance and those available through an app or subscription. Check the access and renewal terms for the specific model, rather than assuming all brands work in the same way.
First decide which tasks you’ll still do by hand, then compare the capacity and cleaning requirements of appliances that meet your needs.
Consider this if: you prepare the ingredients separately and mainly want programmed cooking.
Bear in mind: according to UFC-Que Choisir, a multicooker generally doesn’t stir food or replace chopping and blending functions.
Consider this if: you want to handle some food preparation tasks and cook in the same appliance.
Check: the tasks it can handle depend on the accessories included, while the bowl and accessories take up space.
Stick with what you have if: your food processor and cooking appliance already cover the tasks involved in your usual meals.
The trade-off: you’ll still need to transfer ingredients between appliances and manage the cooking according to the equipment you have.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking supervision | Look for programmes that control the heat and cooking time, then check which steps still need your attention. Refer to the manual for the model’s supervision instructions. | I’d like to start cooking a hot meal and get on with something else, without assuming the appliance will prepare the ingredients for me. |
| Ingredient preparation | Compare the chopping, blending and mixing functions actually included. Check which accessories are supplied for steaming or slicing, depending on the recipes you have in mind. | When I cook, chopping or mixing takes as long as starting the cooking. Combining these tasks matters more to me than having a bowl that cooks on its own. |
| Guided recipes | Distinguish between built-in recipes, an app and a connected service. Check what content you can access, whether a connection is needed and the renewal terms for any subscription. | Having the steps displayed on screen would help on some evenings, but I want to know which recipes I’ll be able to access later on. |
| Capacity and cleaning | Compare usable capacity and filling limits for different recipes, rather than looking only at the bowl’s total size. Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and how much space you’ll need to store the accessories. | I cook several portions at once and would rather not end a quick dinner with lots of parts to wash. |
UFC-Que Choisir says a multicooker can manage the heat and cooking time once a programme has started, but generally doesn’t stir the food. Chopping, blending or stirring may still be up to you.
Think about a few of your usual weeknight meals and note what needs doing before and during cooking. This will help you decide whether a cooking bowl is enough or whether preparation functions matter too.
The filling limit may be lower than the bowl’s total capacity. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl that can hold a maximum of 4 L for cooking.
Check the usable capacity and any limits for pressure-cooked recipes, liquids or ingredients that expand, then compare these with your portion sizes.
Built-in recipes, an app and a subscription don’t offer the same kind of access. Vorwerk, for example, says that the annual Cookidoo subscription renews automatically after 12 months.
Check which recipes are available without a subscription and the renewal terms for the service linked to the model you’re interested in.
The contents of a pack determine what you can prepare straight out of the box. Magimix, for example, lists some Cook Expert range accessories as optional, depending on the configuration.
Compare the full model reference and the list of included accessories with the tasks you want to do, particularly steaming or slicing.
These brand examples show different ways to combine cooking, preparation and recipes. Features vary by model and pack.
Moulinex positions its Cookeo multicookers around cooking, while its Companion cooking food processors add food preparation functions.
According to Vorwerk, the Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation and cooking with guided recipes from Cookidoo.
The Cook Expert range combines cooking with food processor functions, with different configurations to choose from.
Lidl France presents the Monsieur Cuisine Smart as a food processor that combines preparation, cooking and guided recipes.
These options include cooking food processors that combine preparation and cooking, followed by multicookers designed mainly for cooking. Start by deciding which tasks you want the appliance to handle, then compare the individual models.
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Worth considering if you want to prepare ingredients and then cook with a cooking food processor. The product name mentions built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the bowl’s usable capacity, the functions included and the terms for accessing recipes. Also make sure the voltage and plug are suitable for your home.
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This cooking food processor is for anyone looking to reduce the number of transfers between food preparation and cooking. The product name lists 680 recipes; check how you access them and which functions are included in the pack. The instructions for this model say not to leave the appliance unattended while it’s operating. Bear this in mind if you want to step away while food is cooking.
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Worth comparing if your priority is starting the cooking rather than preparing ingredients in the same appliance. The product name mentions 12 preset menus. Capacity details differ across the product information, so confirm the unit and usable volume, as well as the voltage and plug, before choosing.
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This multicooker is worth considering if you want to cook several portions at once. The 7.1 L capacity is listed in the product name, but compare the usable volume with your recipes too. If delayed start, keep warm or automatic stirring matters to you, check that these functions are available on the exact model.
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Worth considering for hot meals if you’re mainly looking for a cooking appliance. The product name lists nine menus, two pressure settings and a 24-hour timer. Check whether the timer allows a delayed start or only sets the cooking time. Also check the language of the instructions and electrical compatibility.
It can for some cooking tasks, but not necessarily for preparing ingredients. UFC-Que Choisir describes multicookers that can brown and slow-cook, for example, but they don’t automatically chop, blend or knead. If you already have the food preparation tools you need, focus on comparing the cooking modes you’ll actually use.
Generally, no. UFC-Que Choisir says multicookers don’t usually stir food, though some exceptions come with an accessory. For recipes that need stirring, look for a mixing function specifically listed for the model and pack you’re considering.
Compare the usable volume with your portion sizes, rather than looking only at the bowl’s total capacity. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl with a 4 L cooking limit. Check the filling limits for the types of recipes you make.
Check which recipes are built into the appliance and which require an app or subscription, along with the access and renewal terms. Vorwerk says its annual Cookidoo subscription renews automatically after 12 months. Check the terms for other services separately.
Think about which parts need to be removed after making your usual recipes, then check which are dishwasher-safe for the exact model. A statement about certain accessories doesn’t mean the bowl, lid and all the other parts are dishwasher-safe too.