If you mainly want to start a variety of dishes and let the appliance handle the cooking, consider a programmable multi-cooker. For meals centred around rice and slow cooking, a rice cooker with the right programmes may be all you need. A cooking food processor is a different choice if you also want to chop or mix ingredients. In every case, check which recipes it can handle, how much you can actually cook in it, and which steps you’ll still need to do yourself.
If you want to get a dish with sauce or a steamed meal underway, look for a programme that suits your recipes and check what you’ll still need to do yourself. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide considers programming alongside other practical aspects of a multi-cooker.
If you’re cooking several portions or preparing meals in advance, check the permitted fill level for your recipes, then consider how much space you’ll need to use and store the appliance. The stated bowl capacity alone won’t tell you how much you can cook.
If you already have an oven, rice cooker or food processor, work out which step a new appliance would genuinely take off your hands: pressure cooking, slow cooking, recipe guidance or food preparation. This can help you avoid doubling up on functions you already use.
Start with the dishes you cook most often, then compare the usable capacity and the tasks you’ll still need to do yourself.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Versatile cooking | Modes to suit your dishes, including pressure cooking, steaming or slow cooking; available settings. | If you want to cook a range of hot meals without keeping an eye on every setting, you’ll need programmes suited to the recipes you make most often. Around 36% of consumers would make this versatility their priority. |
| Usable capacity | Fill limits for different recipes; portion sizes and available kitchen space. | When you’re preparing several portions at once, the amount the bowl can actually hold matters more than its stated capacity. Around 29% of consumers would put this first. |
| Rice and slow cooking | Rice, grain and slow-cook programmes; functions your existing appliances already cover. | If your meals mainly feature rice, grains or slow-cooked dishes, dedicated programmes may do the job without adding other cooking methods. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this simplicity. |
| Ingredient preparation | Whether it has the chopping or mixing tools you need; accessories to handle and clean. | If you also want to cut down on prep before cooking, look at what the food processor can prepare, not just its heating programmes. This would be the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The permitted fill level depends on what you’re cooking. UFC-Que Choisir notes, for example, that a 6 L Cookeo bowl can hold a maximum of 4 L for cooking.
Check the limits for the recipes you make most often, especially for liquid mixtures or ingredients that expand.
Chopping, mixing and whisking are separate from the need to start a dish and let the appliance manage the cooking. They also mean extra accessories to store and clean.
List the steps you want to hand over to the appliance. If food preparation isn’t one of them, compare the programmes on a multi-cooker or rice cooker/slow cooker first.
Dishwasher compatibility may apply to some parts only, while the lid, seals and edges may need particular care.
Check the instructions for the model to find out how to clean each removable part.
Total cooking time varies depending on the recipe and its steps, including preparing the ingredients and, depending on the setting, bringing the appliance up to temperature.
Compare the settings that suit your dishes and the steps involved, rather than choosing based on a single time-saving claim.
The Cookeo range includes pressure multi-cookers with on-screen guidance on some models, for anyone who’d like help choosing the right programme.
The Classic and Pro models cater to people looking for a range of cooking modes and user-selected settings; features vary by version.
The Easy Rice combines rice cooking with additional programmes for meals based around grains, soups and slow-cooked dishes.
These appliances are suited to choosing a programmable multi-cooker for hot meals. Compare the different versions and fill limits before choosing a model for the portions you usually prepare.
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Worth a look if you want to bring several cooking methods together in one bowl. The product name lists 1 200 W and 12 pre-set menus. Check the permitted fill level for your recipes, as well as the dimensions and how to care for the parts.
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Consider this if you’ll genuinely use the air fryer lid and built-in scales. The product name lists a 6 L capacity. Check the fill limits, how to clean each part and whether instructions are available in English.
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Worth a look if you want a programmable cooker with a choice of two pressure settings. Its name lists a 24-hour timer and a 6 L capacity. Check the instructions for fill limits and how to clean the parts.
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Compare this if you want a larger stated bowl capacity for preparing several portions. The 7,1 L in the name doesn’t tell you how much each recipe can hold. Also check for a delay-start function if you want to schedule when cooking begins.
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Compare this for meals cooked in a bowl with a stated capacity of 5,7 L. Check the model’s fill limits and confirm it has a delay-start function if that would help with your routine.
Not always. UFC-Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl, which is limited to a maximum cooking capacity of 4 L. Check the fill markings for the model you’re considering, especially for liquid mixtures or ingredients that expand.
No. Once started, a programme can manage its cooking time and heat, but it won’t take care of every step in the recipe. Check the instructions for ingredients you need to prepare, any steps you’ll need to do during cooking and the guidance on steam.
Check the bowl, lid, seal and accessories separately: a ‘dishwasher-safe’ claim may not apply to every part. UFC-Que Choisir includes cleaning among the aspects assessed in its multi-cooker testing protocol.
No. For products covered by the rules and sold on the European market, the DGCCRF explains that CE marking shows the manufacturer’s commitment to meeting the applicable requirements, but it isn’t a quality certification. When choosing a model, also check the instructions and whether it has the features your recipes need.