Moulinex Cookeo+ Smart CE851500 Review: the multicooker that actually makes weeknights easier

I’ve been using the Moulinex Cookeo+ Smart (the red 6L CE851500 model) for a few weeks, and I’ll be honest: I didn’t expect to use it this much. I bought it mainly for lazy weeknights, thinking it would end up in a cupboard like half my kitchen gadgets. In practice, it’s been on my counter almost all the time. It’s not magic, but it really cuts down on the “standing in front of the stove” part.

The main idea is simple: you throw in your stuff, pick a program, close the lid, and it handles pressure, time and temperature. Compared to my classic pressure cooker and a basic slow cooker I used before, this one is way more guided. The screen walks you through the steps, and for someone who doesn’t enjoy reading recipe books, that’s pretty handy. I still had to get used to the preheating and pressure build-up times, but once you know them, it’s easy to plan.

What surprised me most is how often I’ve used the quick pressure cooking and the keep-warm mode. For lunch breaks and evenings where I get home late, having a meal hot and ready without stirring every five minutes is honestly the main strength of the Cookeo. It doesn’t make you a chef, but it helps you not eat sandwiches every day. I’ve done pasta, stews, rice dishes, steamed veggies, even reheated leftovers, and results were mostly very decent.

It’s not perfect though. The interface feels a bit dated, the recipes built in are hit or miss, and you have to think about the preheating time or you can easily overcook things. But overall, for everyday cooking, it gets the job done and has made my kitchen life simpler. If you’re expecting a miracle machine that does everything on its own, calm down. If you want something that cooks fast and without fuss, it’s pretty solid.

In terms of value for money, the Cookeo+ Smart sits in a middle zone: not cheap, not ultra-high-end either. Compared to a basic stovetop pressure cooker, yes, it’s clearly more expensive. But you’re paying for the electronics, the presets, and the fact that it manages the pressure and cooking times for you. If you already cook a lot and are comfortable with timing and heat control, you might not need it. If you often end up with overcooked pasta, burnt rice or you simply don’t like watching the stove, then the extra cost starts to make sense.

Against other multicookers and electric pressure cookers (like Instant Pot, etc.), it holds up well. The big plus here is the guided interface in French (and local languages), the large community, and the amount of recipes available online and in the app. If you like being guided step by step, it’s more user-friendly than some models with just a manual mode and a timer. On the flip side, if you’re more of a “I know what I’m doing, just give me heat and pressure”, some of the Cookeo’s menus might feel a bit overkill.

Where it really scores for me is the time saved and reduced mental load. Being able to throw ingredients in, press a few buttons and do something else while it cooks properly has value, especially if you work a lot or have kids. Also, the fact that you can cook for 4–6 people or batch cook for the week in one go makes it more interesting financially: fewer takeaways, fewer frozen meals. Over several months, that can offset the price if you actually use it.

So, is it good value? I’d say yes, if you use it at least a few times a week and you like the idea of one-pot meals and guided recipes. If it’s just going to sit in a cupboard and come out once a month, clearly it’s not worth it. There are cheaper options if you only need a simple electric pressure cooker. But as a daily tool that simplifies cooking and cleaning, the price seems fair to me.

Design-wise, you have to accept that the Cookeo is bulky and not discreet. It’s a round red ball with a chrome finish, about 35 x 35 x 37 cm. On a small countertop, it clearly takes up space. If you live in a tiny studio and your kitchen is already packed, you’ll feel it. In my kitchen, it basically claimed a permanent corner, and once it’s there, you don’t move it every day. The good side is the 6L capacity: you pay in space, but you can cook for a family or for batch cooking.

The control panel is old-school but clear: a central button and a small screen, plus some touch controls. No giant colour touchscreen, but it’s readable and does the job. Menus are logical once you’ve used it two or three times. The lid opening system is pretty straightforward: you turn the handle, it locks well, and there’s no feeling of unsafe pressure like some cheap pressure cookers. The handle has been improved compared to older models, and it does feel more solid when closing.

I liked that there’s only one inner pot and one removable lid valve to clean. Nothing too complex, you quickly get used to where everything goes. The outer shell gets a bit warm but not burning hot, so you’re not scared to touch it while it’s working. The steam release is quite noisy though, and if your Cookeo is under a cupboard, the steam will rise directly under the wood. Personally, I ended up turning the machine a bit or moving it forward when using pressure cooking.

Overall, the design is more practical than stylish. It’s a big red appliance that clearly says “I’m here to work, not decorate”. If you like minimalist kitchens with nothing on the counter, this won’t make you happy. But in terms of daily use — easy-to-grab handles, clear screen, simple buttons — it’s straightforward and functional. I prefer that to a fancy design that’s annoying to clean or understand.

The materials feel decent for the price range, without being high-end. The outer body is plastic with some chrome-effect parts, which look okay but clearly not premium metal. It’s light enough to move if you really need to, but once again, you won’t want to drag it out every day from a cupboard. The inner bowl is ceramic-coated, which is a good point: food sticks less than in a basic stainless-steel pot, and cleaning is way easier. I’ve browned meat, made tomato sauce, cooked rice: as long as you don’t burn everything, a sponge and a bit of washing-up liquid are enough.

A big plus for me: the bowl and the lid are dishwasher-safe. I tested both several times in the dishwasher, and so far no peeling or warping. That said, like all non-stick coatings, I’d avoid metal utensils and brutal scrubbing. If you’re the type who attacks everything with a fork or a knife in the pot, expect the coating to suffer. The brand advertises 10-year repairability, which is reassuring on paper, but obviously I haven’t tested that over a decade. Still, knowing that parts can be replaced is better than a random no-name cooker that you throw away when a valve breaks.

The lid mechanism feels sturdy, and the gasket sits properly. You do have to clean the gasket regularly, especially if you cook a lot of curry, onion or garlic-based dishes, otherwise it can keep smells. The plastic steam collector on the back is a bit cheap-looking but does its job: it collects condensation and prevents water from dripping everywhere. Just remember to empty and rinse it from time to time, or it can get a bit gross.

In short, the materials are good enough for everyday use: it doesn’t feel flimsy, but it’s not a tank either. For the price and considering it’s a known brand (Moulinex / Groupe SEB), it’s acceptable. If you take basic care of the bowl and gasket, I don’t see why it wouldn’t last several years. Just don’t expect cast-iron-level lifespan or super thick steel — it’s a modern appliance, not grandma’s pot.

I haven’t had it for years, so I can’t pretend to know how it will age over a decade, but after several weeks of regular use (almost daily), there’s nothing alarming. The 10-year repairability claim is reassuring: it means Moulinex plans to keep parts available, which is not the case with every random brand. The closing mechanism still feels firm, the gasket hasn’t deformed, and the coating of the bowl shows no scratches — but I’ve been careful with wooden or silicone utensils only.

Maintenance is quite simple. The bowl goes in the dishwasher or can be washed by hand in 2 minutes. The lid needs a bit more attention: you have to remove the inner metal part and the gasket from time to time to clean properly, especially if you cook dishes with strong smells. The small plastic condensation collector at the back also needs regular emptying and rinsing, otherwise you’ll end up with stale water sitting there. Once you integrate that into your routine, it’s not a big deal, but if you hate cleaning, don’t forget it exists.

As for the electronics and screen, no issues so far: no bugs, no random shutdowns. The interface is basic, so there’s not much that can go wrong visually. The plastic body hasn’t yellowed or warped, but obviously that’s something you see over years, not weeks. The only thing I can see aging faster is the gasket, which is the case on all pressure cookers. Luckily, it’s a standard consumable part that you can replace easily.

In terms of perceived durability, I’d say it feels more solid than cheap no-name multicookers, but obviously less indestructible than a simple stainless-steel pot with no electronics. If you treat it decently — no violent shocks, no metal in the bowl, regular cleaning of the lid — it should last. The fact that many people on Amazon use it daily and still rate it 4.7/5 is a good sign. Just don’t expect it to survive total neglect or being slammed around; it’s still a modern appliance with electronics inside.

With its 1600W of power, this version of the Cookeo+ heats up fast. Compared to older 1200W models, you really feel the difference in preheating and browning. Water comes to pressure quickly, which is nice when you’re hungry and in a hurry. For example, from cold to full pressure for a stew, I was usually around 10 minutes, sometimes less depending on the volume of liquid. Then the actual cooking time starts. So when you see “10 minutes” in a recipe, think more like 20 minutes total including preheating and pressure release.

The 6 cooking modes cover pretty much everything you need: quick pressure and steam, browning, simmering, gentle cooking, reheating, and keep warm. In practice, I used pressure, steam, brown and keep warm 90% of the time. The reheating mode is handy for leftovers, especially rice or pasta dishes that you want to bring back to life without drying them out. The keep-warm mode up to 1.5 hours is genuinely useful: I’ve often launched a dish, gone to do something else, and came back later to find it still hot and ready to eat.

Noise-wise, it’s okay. During cooking, it hums like a normal appliance. The only really noisy part is when it releases steam at the end of pressure cooking. If you’re in a small open-plan flat, you’ll hear it, but it’s not unbearable. Heat diffusion is good: I didn’t notice any burnt spots at the bottom when I respected the recommended minimum liquid levels. For thick dishes or ones with a lot of starch, I just made sure to stir a bit during the browning phase before closing and starting pressure.

In daily life, the biggest performance gain is the time saved and the lack of supervision needed. Once the lid is closed and the program launched, you can do something else, take a shower, help kids with homework, whatever. No need to stir every 5 minutes or watch the boil. For me, that’s the main interest of this machine. If you like to “play” in the kitchen, you might find it a bit boring. If you just want something that cooks properly while you do something else, it’s very effective.

On paper, the Cookeo+ Smart CE851500 is a 6-litre multicooker with 6 cooking modes and 150 pre-programmed recipes. In reality, what you use most is: pressure cooking, browning, simmering and steaming. The rest (gentle cooking, reheating, keep warm) are more like bonus features. The capacity is fine for 4 people, even 5–6 if you’re doing something with sauce or rice. For one or two people, it’s clearly oversized, but you can just cook more and keep leftovers.

The machine offers 4 main menus: ingredients, recipes step by step, manual mode, and your favourites library. The ingredient mode is pretty handy when you’re lazy: you choose “chicken”, “rice”, “vegetables”, and it suggests time and type of cooking. For a beginner or someone who doesn’t want to think too much, this is probably the most useful part. The 150 built-in recipes are OK, but honestly, after a few days I was mostly using manual mode or recipes found on the “My Cookeo” app or the web.

The app is a nice add-on but not essential. There are tons of user recipes, some good, some less good. You still need a bit of common sense for quantities and cooking times. I liked that I could browse on my phone while on the couch, pick something simple like “pasta carbonara Cookeo” and then follow the steps on the machine with the basic settings. It’s not real smart connectivity like a high-end connected oven, but as a recipe bank, it’s fine.

In practice, the Cookeo is more of a turbo pressure cooker with presets than a true all-in-one robot. It doesn’t cut, doesn’t mix, doesn’t grill like an oven. If you expect it to replace your oven, pans and mixer, you’ll be disappointed. If you see it as a fast cooker that can handle one-pot meals, rice, stews and steam, then it makes sense. That’s how I ended up using it, and for that role, it’s reliable.

On the cooking side, the Cookeo+ does what it’s supposed to do: it cooks fast and mostly evenly. Pressure cooking is clearly the star here. For example, a beef stew that would take 2–3 hours on the stove was done in about 40 minutes of pressure time, plus preheating. Pasta with sauce in one pot took around 10–15 minutes total. Steamed vegetables came out well cooked without turning into mush, as long as you respect the indicated times. For everyday recipes like rice, lentils, chicken in sauce, it’s reliable once you’ve done each recipe once or twice.

The pre-programmed recipes are convenient for getting started, but they’re not perfect. Sometimes the times are a bit generous, especially for pasta or rice, and you end up with a softer texture than you might like. I quickly got into the habit of reducing the suggested time by 1–2 minutes when I wasn’t sure, especially because you have to factor in the preheating and pressure build-up that already start cooking the food. One Amazon user mentioned that, and I fully agree: if you follow the time blindly without thinking about preheating, you can easily overcook.

The browning mode works, but it’s not as strong as a hot pan on gas. You can sear meat and sauté onions, but don’t expect a deep crust like in a cast-iron pan. For me, it was good enough for one-pot dishes, but if I really want a strong sear, I still use a pan separately. Simmering and gentle cooking are decent for dishes that need a bit of time, but to be honest, if I’m not in a rush, I often prefer a classic pot on low heat where I can see what’s going on.

Overall, in terms of effectiveness, I’d say it’s very good for quick, family-style dishes, less impressive for “fancy” cooking. It’s clearly built for people who want to eat hot, homemade food with minimum effort, not for those who want ultra-precise textures or restaurant-style dishes. For that use case, it works well, and the 4.7/5 average rating on Amazon doesn’t surprise me. It’s not magic, you still need to season properly and adjust a bit, but it really reduces the time and attention you need to spend in front of the stove.