A programmable multicooker is a good choice if you switch between rice, slow-cooked dishes, steaming and other recipes in the same bowl. Just check the programmes available on the model and its actual usable capacity. If you mainly plan long cooking times in advance, consider a slow cooker instead; if you mostly cook rice and grains, a dedicated rice cooker may be all you need. A food processor with a cooking function is designed for a different need: automating ingredient preparation as well as cooking. Traditional cookware still has its place if you prefer to adjust the cooking yourself.
If you want to keep an eye on the cooking less, compare the programming and keep-warm features of the model you’re considering. A slow cooker requires you to plan for a long cooking cycle; a pressure multicooker suits a different way of organising mealtimes.
The variety of recipes you make matters just as much as the bowl size. To work out how many portions you can prepare, check the permitted fill level rather than relying on the capacity printed on the appliance. Que Choisir distinguishes between these two figures in its multicooker guide.
If chopping, grating, mixing or kneading makes up a significant part of your cooking, it’s worth comparing a food processor with a cooking function against appliances focused on cooking. Magimix describes these functions for the Cook Expert, for example.
If you want to prepare a hot meal without spending as much time in the kitchen, start with the dishes you usually make. Planned slow cooking, pressure cooking and ingredient preparation each call for a different appliance.
Consider it if: you want to switch between different cooking methods in one bowl, depending on the programmes available on the model.
Bear in mind: programmes don’t remove the need to check which steps in your recipes need to be done by hand.
Consider it if: you can leave soups and stews to cook for a long time before mealtime.
Bear in mind: planned slow cooking doesn’t meet the same need as pressure cooking.
Consider it if: rice and grains make up most of the dishes you want to automate.
Bear in mind: extra features vary by model and may not replace those of a pressure multicooker.
Consider it if: you also want to chop, mix or knead ingredients before cooking.
Bear in mind: its food preparation features don’t, in themselves, increase its cooking capacity.
Consider it if: you prefer to sear, stir and keep an eye on your dishes as they cook.
Bear in mind: it’s less suited to starting a programmed cooking cycle and then leaving the kitchen.
| What matters to you | What to check before you buy | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| How much attention cooking needs | Programmes suited to your dishes; the instructions for delayed start and keep warm. | I want to start cooking, then get on with something else without having to intervene at every stage. Around 37% of consumers would put this hands-off cooking feature at the top of their list. |
| Portions and usable capacity | Maximum fill level and the number of portions shown for the recipes you plan to make. | To cook several portions at once, I need a bowl that suits the quantities I actually prepare; around 27% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Rice and grains | Dedicated programmes for the grains you cook and a capacity that suits your portions. | If rice is often on the menu, I’d rather have an appliance focused on cooking it than programmes I’ll rarely use. Around 18% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Washing up and care | The exact list of removable parts that are dishwasher-safe and the care instructions in the manual. | After a meal, I mainly want to avoid using lots of dishes and spending ages cleaning up; around 18% of consumers would make this their main priority. |
You can’t always fill a bowl to its stated capacity, especially when cooking liquids or ingredients that expand. Que Choisir, for example, gives the example of a 6 l Cookeo bowl with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 l.
Before choosing a size, compare the fill-level markings in the manual with the quantities in the recipes you usually make.
A slow cooker is designed for a long cooking cycle; it doesn’t serve the same purpose as an appliance with a pressure cooking mode.
If the time it takes to get dinner on the table is important, check the programmes on the multicooker you’re considering. If you can prepare meals in advance, compare the slow cooker’s programming features instead.
Manufacturers’ dishwasher-safe claims apply to specific parts, such as a bowl or lid, not the electrical base.
Check which parts of the model you’ve chosen can go in the dishwasher, and read the care instructions for its other components.
The chopping, mixing and kneading features on the Cook Expert featured by Magimix are designed for more than just programmed cooking.
If you won’t use these food preparation features, first compare the programmes and capacity of a multicooker or slow cooker with the dishes you usually make.
The Cookeo range may appeal to households looking for a pressure multicooker with guided cooking steps.
Its slow cookers are suited to meals that can be left to cook slowly according to a plan.
The brand offers multicookers with several cooking modes, as well as appliances designed for rice and grains.
The Cook Expert is designed for people who want to combine cooking with ingredient preparation.
These models fit the programmable multicooker category, with capacities and features listed in their names. Compare them with your portions and recipes; the other types of appliance mentioned above are designed for different needs.
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Worth considering if you want pressure cooking, slow cooking and steaming in one appliance.
The product name lists four customisable presets. Check the permitted fill level for your recipes before choosing this capacity.
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Compare its stated 8 L capacity with the quantities you plan to cook for your meals.
The product name lists 12 preset menus, a non-stick bowl, and rice cooking, slow cooking and steaming functions. Check the manual for fill limits and care instructions for the parts.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a programmable cooker with the air-frying accessory listed in its name.
The model also has built-in scales. Before buying, check the fill limits, which parts are dishwasher-safe, and whether the plug is compatible with your household sockets.
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Worth a look if you’re after a stated capacity of 3.8 L rather than a larger model.
The product name describes a 7-in-1 pressure multicooker. Check that it suits the portions in your recipes, as well as the permitted fill level and care instructions for this version.
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Compare it with your needs if you cook several portions in one bowl.
The stated capacity is 7.1 L. Check the maximum fill level and, if you plan to organise meals in advance, whether this model has delayed start and keep-warm functions.
Not necessarily: the stated capacity may be greater than the maximum permitted fill level for cooking. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 l Cookeo bowl with a 4 l limit for food. Check the markings and instructions for the model you’re interested in, especially when cooking liquids or ingredients that expand.
Generally, no. Que Choisir says that stirring is usually a manual task with multicookers, unless they have a specific feature for it. If a recipe needs stirring, check the steps required by the programme and the accessories supplied with the model.
Check exactly which parts can go in the dishwasher rather than relying on a general claim. The bowl, lid and accessories may all have different care instructions; follow the manual to clean the electrical base.
If a trader sold you an appliance that doesn’t match its description, the statutory guarantee of conformity may apply. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that it covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a private individual. This right is separate from a retailer’s returns policy for change of mind. Keep a copy of the product description and contact the seller about the problem you’ve found.