A programmable multicooker is particularly useful for meals cooked in a single pot, such as stews, rice, steamed dishes or pressure-cooked recipes, when you want to start cooking and then get on with other things. A standard multifunction food processor is better suited to preparing ingredients, while a small specialised appliance may be enough if there is only one function missing from your kitchen.
You often prepare dinner in 30 minutes or less and want cooking to continue after starting the programme, without having to stand over the hob. In a 2024 OpinionWay survey for Lustucru of 1,020 French people aged 18 and over, 61% said they spend 30 minutes or less preparing dinner on a weekday evening.
You regularly prepare rice, steamed vegetables, dishes with sauces or stews, and prefer to bring these cooking methods together in one pot. The programmes and keep-warm function may suit the way you cook.
You already have a hob, an oven or a food-preparation appliance and want to avoid adding more equipment. The benefits then depend on the cooking functions the new appliance genuinely adds, as well as the space available for the pot and accessories.
Choose this if: you often cook one-pot dishes and want to start cooking before getting on with something else.
Bear in mind: ingredients still need to be prepared, and the pot, lid and accessories take up space.
Choose this if: your main challenge is chopping, grating, blending or kneading, while your cooking equipment already does the job well.
Bear in mind: it does not replace autonomous cooking for stews, steamed dishes or pressure-cooked recipes.
Choose this if: your current equipment already covers the essentials and you regularly need just one function, such as cooking rice or steaming.
Bear in mind: the different modes and programming are not brought together in one appliance.
Start with the recipes you usually make, then check the genuinely usable capacity, cleaning requirements and storage space before comparing programmes.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs and share of respondents |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal supervision | Programmes suited to your recipes; time and temperature settings; keep-warm function if mealtimes vary. | I want to be able to start a cooking programme that suits my usual dishes while remaining free to do other things. In the 2024 OpinionWay survey for Lustucru, 61% of the French respondents aged 18 and over said they spend 30 minutes or less on dinner on a weekday evening. |
| Usable capacity | Maximum fill line; portions actually prepared; specific limits for pressure-cooked or expanding recipes. | My quantities need to fit without requiring several batches, while still being suitable for the space available in my kitchen. |
| Everyday cleaning | Parts that can be washed separately; stated dishwasher compatibility for each component; number of accessories to clean. | I would rather the time saved during cooking did not turn into a lengthy washing-up session after the meal. |
| Size and uses | Dimensions and lid storage; appliances already owned; food-preparation functions that are genuinely needed. | I am looking for automated cooking if I do not already have it, rather than an appliance that duplicates functions I already have covered. |
A pot cannot always be filled to the advertised volume: a safety margin is essential, and a poorly sized model may mean cooking several batches.
Check the maximum capacity allowed in the instructions for your usual recipes, then compare it with your actual quantities rather than relying solely on the “6 L” or “6 servings” label.
A multicooker mainly reduces the need to supervise cooking. It does not usually replace chopping, grating or automatic mixing.
List the three preparations you make most often and distinguish preparation tasks from cooking tasks before comparing appliances.
The contents of the box can affect the available modes, storage requirements and expected use. For the Cookeo+ CE851HF0, Moulinex states that the Extra Crisp accessory is sold separately.
Check the exact contents of the box, the accessories needed for each mode and their compatibility with the precise reference.
An additional accessory may also require separate storage.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a professional to a private individual. A commercial offer should therefore provide clearly identifiable additional cover.
Before signing up, compare the extension’s duration, exclusions, procedures and services in writing with the applicable legal guarantee.
The Cookeo range focuses on guided, low-supervision cooking in one pot, with 6 L pressure-cooking models and integrated recipes.
Instant Pot offers pressure multicookers that combine functions including sautéing, slow cooking, steaming, yoghurt making and keeping food warm, including 5.7 L models.
Ninja is aimed at households that want to combine pressure cooking with crispy finishing, including air frying and grilling.
The Cook Expert is more of a multifunction cooking food processor: it combines ingredient preparation with cooking.
SEB represents a more traditional cooking solution: its pressure cookers speed up pressure cooking without offering the autonomous electrical programming of a multicooker.
These Joybuy options cover programmable multicookers for preparing homemade one-pot meals with less supervision during cooking.
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For one-pot meals, with pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, sautéing and a keep-warm function.
Stated capacity: 5.7 L; stainless-steel pot. Follow the maximum fill line, as usable capacity depends on the recipe.
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Worth considering for larger quantities and dishes that also need an air-fried, roasted or grilled finish.
Stated 7.6 L stainless-steel pot, two lids and stated weight of 11.88 kg. Check the instructions for temperatures and finishing modes.
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A format designed for smaller households and meals advertised as serving up to four people.
Pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, steaming, egg, yoghurt and keep-warm modes. When pressure cooking, do not exceed the stated fill limits.
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For family meals programmed in advance, with several modes combined in one electric cooking pot.
Stated 6 L capacity, programming for up to 24 hours, keep-warm function and pressure cooking, steaming, slow cooking, rice and pasta modes. Allow storage space for the accessories.
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For preparing one-pot dishes in advance, with a delayed timer and stated keep-warm function.
Twelve preset menus and pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice, steaming, sautéing and yoghurt modes. Confirm the exact capacity and fill limits before buying.
For compatible recipes and programmes, it can manage the time and temperature once started. Que Choisir states that multicookers do not generally stir food by themselves, so preparing the ingredients and completing certain steps is still necessary.
Compare your usual portions and plans for cooking ahead with the usable capacity permitted in the instructions, rather than just the stated volume. Que Choisir points out that a margin is needed to prevent spills, depending on the recipe.
Check the pot, basket, lid, sealing ring and accessories separately. A pot advertised as dishwasher-safe does not automatically mean that every part is; consult the instructions for the model you choose.
Not if your main need is cooking with minimal supervision. A multifunction food processor is mainly useful for slicing, grating, blending, chopping, kneading or emulsifying; according to Que Choisir, it is better suited to situations where cooking is already handled by another appliance.
For an appliance bought from a professional seller, the legal guarantee of conformity is compulsory for new, second-hand or refurbished goods. The French Ministry for the Economy states that the seller must provide goods that conform to the contract; a commercial extension does not replace this legal guarantee.