Why you may belief TechSwitch
We spend hours testing each services or products we evaluate, so that you may be certain you are shopping for the most effective. Find out more about how we test.
Thermomix TM7: one-minute review
There are few times I’ve been so excited about a home appliance in my career as a lifestyle gadget reviewer as this; I’ve just finished testing the Thermomix TM7, an incredible, almost all-in-one device that can do everything from kneading bread all the way to sous vide. If you’ve ever lamented about your countertop space, this might just be the appliance for you. Still, there’s an interesting journey to perfection – or even just maximizing this device – that might color your choice to join the hype train.
I’ve tested almost all of the key functions available, and I must say I’m very impressed with the range on offer. Do I think it’s the best possible solution for each and every one? No, but I will say it makes tremendous efforts to cover all bases. I’ve made everything from bread to curry and smoothies using the Thermomix almost exclusively for every step, and I’ve never seen an appliance quite like it.
There are, of course, some trade-offs here. It’s bulky, and having a dishwasher is practically a must if you intend to use it regularly. Owing to its very powerful motor, it can also be pretty loud in use; we shudder to use it past 8pm in case our neighbors think we’re testing jet engines. It’ll also be a massive pain to stash away, so prepare for the Thermomix TM7 to be a mainstay on your countertops. If you can handle these setbacks, you’ll be more than happy to introduce it into regular meal prep and cooking rotation, though.
I’m also divided on the included subscription plan; you have three months of access to Cookidoo, wherein you’ll find ample recipes specifically tailored to the appliance, but after that, you face a $89 / £50 annual subscription fee. Of course, the machine is far from redundant after that period if you choose not to join up, but it will require a lot more manual input. In that sense, I don’t love the long-term landscape for Thermomix fans; especially given its lofty list price. I feel they could offer a little more as part of the base offering to help users, but if you’re willing to dole out further, it’s worth the investment.
All that being said, there’s a lot to love here, and a thriving community of users to support your Thermomix journey. New customers are encouraged to join up for one of the in-person training sessions; personally, I didn’t, and I found it pretty easy to learn the ropes and make best use of the machine, so don’t view that as a compulsory step if the effort to make it to a class is too great. Either way, you end up with a powerful, capable and relatively low-effort kitchen powerhouse.
Thermomix TM7: price and availability
- Available for $1,699.00 / £1,349 / AU$2,649 direct from Thermomix
- Encouraged to buy through a Thermomix ‘Consultant’
Unlike a majority of the appliances we test and review here at TechSwitch, the Thermomix can’t be easily purchased through standard avenues. You won’t find it on the shelves of a department store or lurking on Amazon throughout Prime Day; as an alternative, you may solely purchase this equipment from Thermomix itself, both on-line or by means of a Consultant, for $1,699.00 / £1,349 / AU$2,649.
What’s a Consultant? Basically, a model consultant who makes a fee from promoting and delivering coaching to new Thermomix prospects. Now, I’m not one among these, however you’ll discover a truthful quantity of content material on-line from people who find themselves affiliated with the model as such.
In addition to the equipment itself, there’s an array of additional instruments and equipment that you may buy to unlock additional recipes and cooking strategies. The normal package deal comes with the TM7 base unit, mixing bowl and lid, a Varoma steaming tray, the facility wire and three instruments: a spatula, butterfly whisk, and simmering basket. You additionally get three months’ entry to the Cookidoo platform, which prices $66/£50/AU$89
Thermomix TM7: specs
|
Motor |
500W energy, pace adjustable from 40 to 10,700 rpm |
|
Materials |
High-grade plastic, meals suitable housing, stainless-steel mixing bowl |
|
Dimensions (base + mixing bowl) |
253 mm x 405 mm x 336 mm (WxDxH) |
|
Weight (base + mixing bowl) |
6.5kg + 2.1kg (8.6kg whole) |
Thermomix TM7: design
It’s exhausting to make a ‘fairly’ kitchen equipment, however the Thermomix TM7 is much from ugly. Large and in cost, the TM7 is a hefty piece of kit to your counter tops; and given its 8.5kg wight, you’ll most likely need to preserve it there moderately than stash it within the cabinet when you’re wanting to make use of it often. It takes up a number of room, too; it stands at 33.6 x 25.3 x 40.5cm (H x W x D), however you’ll additionally want to seek out house for the 13.1 x 38.3 x 27.5 cm Varoma basket and different instruments.
While I’ve not examined earlier units, the TM7 is a notable departure from older Thermomix designs. Since 1971, the equipment has seen a good few design adjustments, however within the newer years, it’s stayed pretty constant till now. A brand new 10-inch multi-touch show is the headliner right here, seated upon the primary base and providing a vibrant floor from which to comply with together with recipes. It’s fairly responsive and performs persistently, barring the occasional spot of lag when you’re dashing across the display screen too shortly.
Above the display screen sits the two.2L stainless-steel mixing bowl, clad in a black insulated cowl with a big, forward-facing deal with. This cowl locks in place utilizing a lever mechanism on the right-hand aspect of the bowl, which retains the bowl and blade inside safe; I discovered this may very well be slightly stiff at occasions, and is likely to be difficult for weaker arms to function.
At the highest of the machine sits the lid, which has a detachable steam cap so you may mount the Varoma steaming tray on prime when wanted. The steaming tray is 45% bigger than the earlier technology, and I discovered it was ample house to cook dinner sufficient hen for a six, perhaps even eight-person meal.
One factor I’ll be aware in regards to the steaming tray, lid, and outer cowl is that the black plastic is an absolute grease-magnet. After cooking, it’s coated in oily marks and smears, and that’s the place the dishwasher turns into a significant a part of this package deal. I don’t have one in my residence, so all cleansing was performed manually, and after I let you know I felt cursed by the TM7, I imply it. The lid, specifically, is an actual ache to wash by hand, and I needed to re-clean it three or 4 occasions earlier than I used to be glad the grub was gone.
I’m additionally not overly eager on the lid design, because it lets out a number of cooking smells. Having researched older fashions, that’s a giant change that has negatively affected the reception of the machine, and whereas it’s certainly not worse than utilizing a saucepan on the range, it’s undoubtedly value noting when you’ve bought a TM6 or older machine you’re not 100% offered on buying and selling in.
Thermomix TM7: efficiency
The actual cause you’ll need a Thermomix TM7 is all within the efficiency. My favourite native chef makes use of his Thermomix to make a variety of soups and sauces in addition to doughs and batters, and that’s just the start of what this software can do in each private {and professional} environments.
This stand mixer-cum-blender-cum-steamer-cum-food processor may even sautee your veggies, which means there’s means much less washing up on the finish – as long as, in fact, you may have a dishwasher.
The display screen and Cookidoo app will stroll you thru every step of cooking, beginning with measuring out your components with the built-in scales. These are fairly correct, offering you’ve bought a strong flat floor to position the Thermomix TM7 upon.
Most of the recipes I examined had been from Cookidoo, however I’ve bought actually blended emotions about it. On the one hand, it’s extremely helpful for studying the machine; there’s an important number of recipes, and I really like that you may customise these to your preferences. The customizable house display screen and meal planning are genuinely helpful, particularly for homemakers or energy customers, and the consumer expertise for following the step-by-step steerage is fairly good.
That being mentioned, I believe there’s a number of room for enchancment. Almost each recipe I’ve tried has been means under-seasoned, and there are moments the place the directions aren’t clear sufficient; pre-heat the oven, certain, however is the urged temperature for a traditional or fan oven?! Right now, I’m unsure it’s definitely worth the month-to-month subscription after the preliminary trial interval, although I’ve not really seen how helpful the machine is with out it; I’m actually hoping it doesn’t render it ineffective.
An enormous miss for me is that you may’t remotely management the Thermomix TM7, regardless of the Cookidoo platform being accessible on different units. Thermomix has hinted at this future utility, however I’d ask why they rushed to launch the product with out it; it feels fairly important to me within the age of sensible units.
Image 1 of 3
I began my Thermomix journey by making among the really useful starter recipes; Thai peanut hen with coconut rice, which makes use of solely the Thermomix to cook dinner at every stage (although you’ll need vessels to place some components apart in at varied levels). You start with the Peanut sauce, placing in sliced garlic, roughly minimize ginger and olive oil into the blending bowl. After a three-second whizz, scrape down the edges and whizz once more, earlier than sauteeing the contents.
At this stage, I used to be already fairly impressed; the blades are extremely highly effective and sharp, capable of shortly mince my components to an acceptable dimension, and the machine has saved me from having to activate the range and seize a frying pan. You can use this setting manually, too, searing and browning components as much as 160°C while not having a recipe from Cookidoo chosen.
After including some liquid components to the combination for the sauce and switching on the machine to cook dinner and slowly stir the contents for 5 minutes, the sauce is completed and may be put to 1 aspect when you make the remainder. Now, given there’s one other 20 minutes earlier than it’s time to reintroduce the sauce, this is likely one of the early pitfalls for the Thermomix; concurrent cooking for extra advanced meals isn’t at all times a alternative.
That being mentioned, I liked that within the subsequent stage, the rice is cooked in the primary mixing bowl whereas the hen and greens cook dinner within the Varoma on prime utilizing the steam from under. The con? Well, you must wash the sticky sauce out of the blending bowl first, and it’s not as simple because the “quick rinse” suggestion the Cookidoo app makes. It was value it in the long run, although; the outcomes had been tender hen, completely cooked rice and scrumptious (albeit very heavy and unhealthy) peanut sauce. It’s a reasonably bitty option to cook dinner the meal; I’d sooner cook dinner the sauce individually in a saucepan whereas the rice and hen cook dinner to halve the general cooking time, but it surely’s neat to see a meal like this made doable utilizing principally simply the machine itself.
Next up, I attempted making one other urged starter recipe: Pão de água, or Portuguese water bread. Using simply bread flour, water, yeast and salt, the Thermomix TM7 was capable of deal with all the things from mixing to kneading and even proving the dough. However, the method was slightly extra blended, right here, in my expertise.
Primarily, that’s due to the kneading; no one desires to observe as an costly equipment visibly teeters whereas in use. I don’t suppose it strikes sufficient right here to launch itself in any sort of harmful means, however it could possibly’t be good for the display screen, internals or motor to be jostled a lot. If I had been often making massive batches of dough, I’d be critically contemplating wedging the machine in someplace it could possibly’t scuttle out from.
However, I’ve to say, I used to be actually impressed with the outcomes. The dough proved splendidly throughout the mixing bowl, and after a slight mishap (learn: consumer error) that noticed me unlock the blending bowl and pour the blade out with the dough, the bread got here out of the oven well-risen, scrumptious and with wonderful texture.
Image 1 of 4
Undeterred, I moved on to my subsequent check: mushroom and cannellini bean soup. Here, I needed to see if the meals processing and mixing had been as much as scratch, they usually most definitely had been. After cooking down the components, the machine blitzed by means of the contents and left me with splendidly clean, tasty soup. The solely situation? It was painfully loud whereas doing so.
Thermomix claims the TM7 has a quieter motor with “noticeably less noise, especially at low speeds”, however that definitely doesn’t lengthen to tougher duties. I used to be genuinely fearful about damaging my ears when standing near the machine, and no marvel; after I crushed frozen berries within the machine to make sorbet, my sound meter measured 99db (equal to a subway practice) at solely the fifth of 9 pace settings. With extra crumbly contents, that dropped to 87db, and with sugar alone, it was 73db.
Some of that is to do with the highly effective blades, however I’ve to marvel if the vented lid design and mixing bowl form imply there’s garbage sound isolation. I haven’t tried earlier fashions to see if the problem is new, however the TM7’s redesign does have much less cladding across the aspect to assist forestall sound spillage, which undoubtedly means mixing previous 8 PM is a non-starter in my residence constructing. I’ll say, although, the sorbet was scrumptious, and the butterfly whisk attachment to whip it right into a clean texture is superb.
Overall, it’s a blended bag for me, and a number of this comes down to private desire; when you’re an achieved cook dinner who simply desires a brilliant highly effective mix and mixer for dealing with a few of these dishes that want fixed stirring and a skinny consistency, you’ll love the Thermomix TM7. Similarly, when you’re a homemaker and not using a nice love for cooking (or washing up!) it’s a good way to make a low-effort meal for an entire household. I’d argue it may very well be actually helpful for these with accessibility wants, too, however sadly, the cumbersome design and dimension of the machine make it exhausting to elevate and function.
However, when you stay in shut proximity to neighbors, have youngsters with early bedtimes, don’t personal a dishwasher or simply actually benefit from the artwork of house cooking, you most likely can (and will!) stay with out the Thermomix TM7.
Should you purchase the Thermomix TM7?
Buy it if
Don’t purchase it if
How I examined the Thermomix TM7
I used the Thermomix as many occasions as doable to cook dinner for myself over a 3 week interval, attempting each the in-app recipes in addition to guide mode. To check the options as marketed, I opted to attempt many of the recipes from Cookidoo’s 7-day crash course, which helped to grasp the machine’s skills.
I made bread, baked items, full meals, sauces, soups, stews and desserts within the Thermomix TM7, evaluating the expertise of every in opposition to my cooking expertise. I’m a assured house cook dinner with expertise in cooking virtually all the meals I attempted by hand, evaluating my expertise to conventional strategies in addition to strategies that use a variety of the most effective kitchen home equipment.
I’ve been testing house home equipment for years now, and in that point I’ve tried an enormous vary of the most effective blenders, finest air fryers, finest meals processors and past. I’ve developed a eager sense for worth, efficiency and good design by means of my testing expertise.