Thermomix is a kitchen gadget, though that term over-simplifies a kitchen machine that is not only a food-processor, but one that also, weighs, cooks, chops, crushes, emulsifies, whips, mixes, steams, blends, kneads, grinds simmers, grates and mills.
The Thermomix is designed and manufactured by Vorwerk with the ultimate in German engineering producing a machine that is solid, sturdy and built to last. Despite its extensive repertoire for the kitchen, it is actually quite neat and will sit comfortably on any counter top without demanding too much space.
The Thermomix is designed and manufactured by Vorwerk with the ultimate in German engineering producing a machine that is solid, sturdy and built to last. Despite its extensive repertoire for the kitchen, it is actually quite neat and will sit comfortably on any counter top without demanding too much space.
Why Would I Want One?
Throw Out Your Old Appliances
The Thermomix is used and loved by the professional chef and the home cook equally because it is a work horse. It replaces virtually every other gadget in the kitchen so you can throw out the food processor, the bread machine, the coffee grinder, graters, electric whisks, the steamer, the juicer, slow cooker, et al.
Save Time
The Thermomix saves an inordinate amount of time in both preparation and cooking foods. A carrot cake mixture takes 30 seconds, a lemon curd 6 minutes, a Creme Brulée which would normally take 1 hour 20 mins to prepare and cook takes 15 minutes start to finish and that trickiest of sauces, Hollandaise 4 minutes.
Save Money
The serious home-cook will benefit most from Thermomix's claim of saving over £1000 ($1600) a year on food costs (based on UK food prices January 2009). Occasional use wouldn't achieve the same level of savings, but there would be some impact. The time saving benefits of the machine also vastly reduce energy costs.
The Thermomix is used and loved by the professional chef and the home cook equally because it is a work horse. It replaces virtually every other gadget in the kitchen so you can throw out the food processor, the bread machine, the coffee grinder, graters, electric whisks, the steamer, the juicer, slow cooker, et al.
Save Time
The Thermomix saves an inordinate amount of time in both preparation and cooking foods. A carrot cake mixture takes 30 seconds, a lemon curd 6 minutes, a Creme Brulée which would normally take 1 hour 20 mins to prepare and cook takes 15 minutes start to finish and that trickiest of sauces, Hollandaise 4 minutes.
Save Money
The serious home-cook will benefit most from Thermomix's claim of saving over £1000 ($1600) a year on food costs (based on UK food prices January 2009). Occasional use wouldn't achieve the same level of savings, but there would be some impact. The time saving benefits of the machine also vastly reduce energy costs.
How Does it Work?
Easy Hollandiase Sauce
Photo © istockThe Thermomix looks not unlike a kitchen blender with a sturdy stainless steel jug. Within the jug sits a sword-sharp two pronged blade which can be set to gently stir a mixture (it has an automatic reverse setting for kneading and stirring) to terrifyingly high speeds that chop through ice or rock-hard Parmesan cheese in seconds.
Set in the base on the machine are various touch controls which turns the Thermomix into weighing scales, so ingredients can be weighed as they are added. There are heat settings from 0° - 100°C and coupled with a timer, the food can be cooked while you busy yourself elsewhere.
The Thermomix comes with a steaming basket, which sits atop the machine, so while one food cooks (a soup or sauce) another food can be gently steamed above it.
Set in the base on the machine are various touch controls which turns the Thermomix into weighing scales, so ingredients can be weighed as they are added. There are heat settings from 0° - 100°C and coupled with a timer, the food can be cooked while you busy yourself elsewhere.
The Thermomix comes with a steaming basket, which sits atop the machine, so while one food cooks (a soup or sauce) another food can be gently steamed above it.
And the Downside?
The downside for many would be price. A machine of this quality does not come cheap - £799/$1300. For the professional chef this money is quickly recouped but for the serious home-cook it may take longer. Savings made in time, food costs and energy however do need to be balanced against the initial cost of the machine to see if it is worth it.
The Thermomix comes with only one jug so needs to be washed frequently. Extra jugs are available approx £225/$360 or a chefs package which includes 2 jugs at £988/$1600.
For US residents - the Thermomix is currently not available in the US but can be ordered from Thermomix Canada.
The Thermomix comes with only one jug so needs to be washed frequently. Extra jugs are available approx £225/$360 or a chefs package which includes 2 jugs at £988/$1600.
For US residents - the Thermomix is currently not available in the US but can be ordered from Thermomix Canada.
My Experience Using a Thermomix
Fast Bread Dough
Photo © istockI spent a mere 3 hours using the Thermomix and despite never having used it before (under supervision) made homemade lemonade, a tray of multi-grain bread rolls, a pineapple sorbet, red pepper soup, steamed vegetables, a vegetable gratin with a cheese sauce and grated Parmesan, chopped nuts, milled lentil flour and crumbed fresh breadcrumbs from fresh bread for the gratin.
Though the machine at first seemed daunting with buttons, timers, speed settings it took very little time to become familiar and I was soon whizzing through the instructions.
For me, most daunting was the turbo speed needed for chopping ice, it is extremely noisy and the machine does need to be held firmly to prevent it skipping across the counter - however as it takes only 10 seconds was thankfully, quickly over. I am sure with more practice I would get used to the terrifying noise.
As a chef and someone who cooks every day I fell in love with the Thermomix, the saving on my time and energy was apparent to me in almost instantly. I would question its relevance to the casual cook unless having the coolest piece of kit is a must-have in the kitchen.
Though the machine at first seemed daunting with buttons, timers, speed settings it took very little time to become familiar and I was soon whizzing through the instructions.
For me, most daunting was the turbo speed needed for chopping ice, it is extremely noisy and the machine does need to be held firmly to prevent it skipping across the counter - however as it takes only 10 seconds was thankfully, quickly over. I am sure with more practice I would get used to the terrifying noise.
As a chef and someone who cooks every day I fell in love with the Thermomix, the saving on my time and energy was apparent to me in almost instantly. I would question its relevance to the casual cook unless having the coolest piece of kit is a must-have in the kitchen.
