Start by identifying the step that’s holding you back: choose a food processor to cut down on repetitive chopping and mixing, a blender if you mainly make soups or sauces, or a multicooker if cooking needs the most attention. When it comes to freezing portions, compare freezer capacity, available space and how easy it is to reach your containers separately. A drawer-style freezer and a chest freezer suit different storage needs.
If chopping, grating, slicing, kneading or blending is part of every meal prep session, check which accessories are actually included with a food processor. UFC-Que Choisir covers these tasks in its food processor guides.
You already prepare the ingredients, but would like to sort out portions while rice or a slow-cooked dish is cooking. A multicooker could suit your needs; check that its programmes match the recipes you make.
If meals are already prepared but difficult to fit in or find, start by looking at the freezer compartment, the interior layout and the space the appliance needs. Beko, for example, describes the drawer storage in its upright freezers and the chest format for storing larger quantities.
Identify the task or constraint that’s currently making meal planning difficult, then compare appliances that could help. A food preparation appliance won’t replace freezer space, and a freezer won’t reduce the work involved in cooking.
| Need | What to check before buying | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Cut down on repetitive prep | Discs, blades and other included accessories; bowl capacity to suit your batch sizes. | If I chop and mix several ingredients before every meal, I want an appliance that can handle these regular tasks. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this versatility for food preparation. |
| Spend less time watching the cooker | Programmes that are useful for your recipes and the maximum quantity you can cook, rather than the bowl’s capacity alone. | When I’m portioning up cooked meals, I’d rather be able to get on with something else for part of the cooking time. Around 25% of consumers prioritise cooking that needs less supervision. |
| Blend larger batches | Bowl capacity and the types of food you’re allowed to blend. | If the foods I make regularly are mostly soups, sauces or purées, I’m looking for an appliance focused on blending. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Find each portion easily | Drawer or compartment layout, the size of your containers and how easy the appliance is to access. | If my portions already fit in the freezer but are hard to find, I want to be able to organise them by batch. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this kind of storage. |
| Increase your frozen food storage | Freezer capacity, dimensions, interior layout and the model’s stated annual energy consumption. | If my current space can no longer accommodate the meals I’ve prepared, my main concern is finding room for extra containers. Around 16% of consumers prioritise this storage capacity. |
The permitted fill level can vary depending on the recipe. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 l Cookeo bowl with a maximum cooking capacity of 4 l.
Check the model’s fill limits for the recipes you usually make before working out how many portions you can prepare.
A feature listed for a range doesn’t necessarily mean that every model includes the required disc, bowl or accessory. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests distinguish between functions according to the accessories supplied.
Compare the list of included parts with the tasks you actually want the appliance to handle.
If a part you need isn’t included, you’ll need to keep using a separate utensil or look for a compatible accessory.
Storing larger quantities doesn’t guarantee easy access to a container at the bottom. The drawers in an upright freezer offer another way to separate batches.
Measure the space available and plan how you’ll group and label your containers in the chest freezer you’re considering.
When choosing between models that suit your portions, you’ll also need to consider their capacity and annual energy consumption. The EU energy label provides information for each appliance.
Compare labels for models whose format and capacity suit your set-up.
The Cook Expert range combines food preparation and cooking for people who want to bring several tasks together in one appliance.
The Cookeo range is aimed at people who prioritise guided cooking for meals they can portion up afterwards.
The brand’s upright and chest freezers let you compare two different ways of organising frozen food storage.
The range includes different freezer formats, including built-in models.
Some of the brand’s chest and upright freezers have features relating to frost or installation conditions.
These appliances support different stages of the same process: preparing ingredients, cooking meals to portion up or storing frozen food. Start by choosing which stage you want to improve, then check the capacity and installation requirements of the model you’re considering.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to combine food preparation and cooking in one appliance, while making separate plans for freezing portions.
Image unavailable
An upright freezer with drawers can make it easier to separate portions and find them when you need them.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if cooking meals to portion up is a bigger part of your routine than chopping or blending.
Image unavailable
This format suits households that want to store more containers and have floor space to spare.
Image unavailable
A fridge-freezer could be a good fit if you want to include frozen meal storage in your refrigeration set-up.
Compare the permitted quantity for your recipes, not just the bowl’s capacity. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 l Cookeo bowl that can cook up to 4 l; check the limits of the model you’re considering before deciding on batch sizes.
An upright freezer with drawers makes it easier to separate and access portions. A chest freezer can work well if your priority is storing lots of containers and you can organise the interior. In either case, compare freezer capacity with the size of your containers and the space available.
As well as the energy rating, look at annual energy consumption, freezer compartment capacity and noise level. The EU energy label lets you compare these details across models in a format that suits your needs.
Not necessarily: what it can do depends on the model and the accessories included. To grate or slice, check that the relevant discs are supplied; for blending, check the bowl and the uses recommended by the manufacturer.