If your ingredients are already prepared and you want to get a dish cooking before doing something else, start by thinking about the recipes you make. A programmable multicooker is suited to a range of one-pot dishes, while a slow cooker is best for slow-cooked meals and a rice cooker may be all you need if rice features in most of your dinners. A cooking food processor is worth considering if you also want to chop, blend or knead. Before buying, check the usable capacity, programming options and instructions for the exact model you’re considering.
If your ingredients are ready, a one-pot cooking programme can reduce the adjustments you need to make while preparing the meal. Check separately whether the appliance has a delayed start and keep-warm function, and how they work: availability and conditions vary by model.
The capacity stated for the pot doesn’t tell you how much you can actually cook. Compare your usual portions with the filling limits in the manual, particularly for liquid dishes.
If chopping, blending or kneading takes up a significant part of making dinner, look at the functions offered by a cooking food processor. If your ingredients are usually ready to go, these extra functions may not meet your main need.
Start with the dishes you cook and the steps you’d like to avoid. A rice cooker is suited to a more specific need. Keeping your oven or hob may also be enough if your meals mainly involve cooking over a large surface, browning under the grill or making frequent adjustments.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Starting the cooking | Programmes suited to your dishes; whether delayed start and keep-warm functions are available, and how they work. | I want to start a prepared one-pot dish and get on with something else at home without constantly returning to adjust the settings; around 42% of consumers rank this hands-off cooking as their top priority. |
| Planning portions | Usable capacity and maximum fill level for each type of preparation. | To feed everyone at home, I need to cook my usual portions without exceeding the pot’s fill limits; this capacity is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Reducing prep | Chopping, blending or kneading functions you’d genuinely use; the bowl’s usable capacity. | When chopping or mixing takes me longer than cooking, I’m looking for an appliance that can help with those steps too; around 17% of consumers prioritise hands-on food preparation. |
| Making cleaning easier | Which individual parts are dishwasher-safe; access to the pot, lid and seals. | If I use the appliance often in the evening, I don’t want to replace time spent keeping an eye on dinner with a long clean-up; easy cleaning comes first for around 16% of consumers. |
Pay particular attention to capacity. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 l Cookeo pot where cooking is limited to a maximum of 4 l. This figure applies to that example, not to every multicooker. Check the fill limits for the model and programme you’re considering.
The stated capacity isn’t necessarily the amount you’re allowed to cook, especially when food may expand or boil over.
Think about your usual portions and check the manual for the maximum fill levels for your recipes.
Programming and keep-warm functions don’t necessarily work in the same way across different models. A feature listed for one model won’t automatically be available across the whole range.
Check the product details and manual for the exact model to find out how the settings work and what their limits are before relying on a delayed start.
Chopping, blending and kneading functions are only useful to your choice if these tasks are a regular part of preparing dinner.
Make a note of the steps you take before starting to cook. If you rarely do them, compare the cooking functions of a multicooker or slow cooker first.
Steam, a hot pot and the power connection all require appliance-specific precautions. Instant Pot and SEB manuals, for example, include instructions on positioning and connecting the appliance.
Choose a stable surface and follow your model’s manual for filling, pressure release, handling and cleaning.
These ranges give you examples of features to compare. Don’t assume that every model has the same programmes or usable capacity.
The Cookeo range includes pressure multicookers designed for one-pot meals.
The Duo range comes in several sizes, so you can compare pot capacity with the portions you plan to make.
The Fast & Delicious CY505E10 is an example of a pressure multicooker with pre-set programmes.
The Cook Expert Original is aimed at households that want to prepare ingredients and cook with a cooking food processor.
The Thermomix TM7 is a cooking food processor that combines food preparation with cooking.
These appliances are designed for one-pot cooking, from compact models to pots with a larger stated capacity. To find the right one for your dinner, compare the features listed for each model with your recipes and portion sizes, and check its manual. This selection doesn’t replace comparing them with a slow cooker, a dedicated rice cooker or a cooking food processor.
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Worth a look if you make one-pot dishes and want a choice of pre-set menus. The product title lists an 8 l capacity, 1 200 W and 12 menus. Check the manual for the amount you can actually cook, along with the instructions for pressure and steam.
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Worth comparing if you want to combine pressure cooking with the accessories listed in the product name. The pot is stated to have a 6 l capacity. Check its filling limits, how the keep-warm function works and the documentation supplied with the model you receive.
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Consider it if you’re looking for a programmable pressure cooker with a frying function. The product title lists a 24-hour timer, nine menus and two pressure settings. Check whether it has a keep-warm function, and consult the permitted fill levels before choosing a capacity.
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Worth a look if you’d prefer a 2 l model for one-pot cooking. Before choosing it for dinner, check the portions permitted for different ingredients, along with the positioning and cleaning instructions in the manual for the model supplied.
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Worth comparing for one-pot dishes if the stated 5.7 l capacity suits your needs. Check the filling limits and pressure-cooking precautions. If you need to start cooking at a later time, make sure this specific model has a delayed-start function.
Not necessarily: the stated capacity may be greater than the permitted fill level. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 l Cookeo pot with a maximum cooking fill level of 4 l. Check your model’s manual for the limits that apply to the food you’re cooking.
No. Don’t assume they’re included just because an appliance is called a “multicooker”. Moulinex lists them for some Cookeo+ models, and Tefal for the Fast & Delicious CY505E10, but check the settings and limits for the specific model you’re considering.
No. If your ingredients are already prepared and you mainly need one-pot cooking, compare a multicooker or slow cooker first. A cooking food processor is more worth considering if chopping, blending, kneading or mixing is a regular part of making your meal.
Check dishwasher compatibility separately for the pot, basket, lid and any other relevant parts. Before cleaning the appliance, also follow the manual’s instructions on cooling it down and unplugging it.
No. Choose a location that follows your appliance’s instructions, particularly for stability, plugging it in and leaving enough space for steam. Instructions vary by model, so check them before first use and before moving a hot pot.