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Is it a steamer? Is it a blender? Is it a glorified microwave? No. It’s the ultimate multi-function, kitchen-top cooker from German appliance manufacturer, Vorwerk.
A game-changer for serious cooks and those looking to experiment in the kitchen, the Thermomix claims it can make everything from sorbet to soup. Supposedly, it can also chop, steam and sous vide like a chef, and can even take the monotony of peeling veggies off your hands. Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, we decided to find out if it really does live up to its expansive multi-cooker claims.
Can one machine really replace your bread machine, your blender and plan your weekly shop? Let’s find out.
What does a Thermomix actually do?
Short of pouring your dinner party drinks or doing the dishes afterwards, there isn’t a whole lot the Thermomix can’t do. It can chop, blend, peel, steam, cook, stir, whisk, mill, weigh, ferment, mince, sauté and more. In fact, it has 24 settings in total.
It also features a 6.8 inch full-colour touchscreen display that can help you meal plan like a pro, wash and peel potatoes at the push of a button and advise on how to perfect a fluffy-meets-crunchy sourdough.
For serious bakers and cooking enthusiasts, it’s also worth noting that the Thermomix claims to offer absolute accuracy. You can control the temperature in 1C increments and the built-in scales are highly sensitive for exact measurements. No wonder it has made several appearances on Masterchef and Great British Menu.
How much does the Thermomix cost?
Deep breath. The Thermomix TM6 will set you back an eye-watering £1,189. It’s undeniably an expensive piece of kit, but it’s also important to keep in mind that it's designed to serve the purpose of several (potentially pricey) individual appliances, all rolled into one.
The cost does also include plenty of accessories, including a simmering basket, butterfly whisk, measuring cup and more.
What is the Thermomix Cookidoo app?
Cookidoo may sound like a distant relative of Peppa Pig, but it is in fact, Thermomix’s best-in-class integrated recipe platform. Think of it as your touchscreen’s tips and tricks sidekick, which can tell you how to make everything from fresh vanilla custard and simple pesto sauces to char siu bao buns and sous-vide fillet, complete with peppercorn sauce and dauphinoise potatoes.
The app is home to over 80,000 recipes and you can tailor your meals to your personal preferences, with gluten-free options, baby food recipes, plant-based picks and 30-minute favourites for when you’re in a rush. There’s a huge selection of free-from choices, and while there isn’t a halal or kosher tag, you can programme the app to exclude recipes that contain certain ingredients.
Much like an Alexa, the Cookidoo app can also be used to plan a full calendar of meals, and you can even sync your recipes with your shopping list at the touch of a button.
Take note: the Cookidoo app isn’t included in the cost of the Thermomix. Although you can check out a free trial of the app for a month, you’ll need to sign up to a £40 per year subscription to enjoy its perks permanently.
How to buy the Thermomix in the UK
Although you may spot the Thermomix on Amazon or eBay, you should only purchase this one-machine-wonder directly from Vorwerk. Given its price, it’s important to ensure you’re not investing in a fake or faulty model.
Purchasing directly from Vorwerk also means you can enjoy the peace-of-mind of its guaranteed two-year warranty.
To purchase the Thermomix TM6, you’ll need to book an online demo via Vorwerk’s website. While this may seem like a bit of a fuss, it’s actually a great way to see everything the Thermomix is capable of before clicking buy. Think of it as a multi-cooker speed date. You can ask all the important questions that you’d ask on a real date like “how good are you at making flourless chocolate cake?” and then decide whether they’re the one for you.
How we tested the Thermomix
Our testers certainly weren’t hungry once they’d put the Thermomix TM6 through its paces. They blended chickpeas and batter, made mayonnaise and breadcrumbs, chopped nuts, crushed ice, kneaded dough and whisked double cream. They noted how long it took the Thermomix to complete each task and whether the results were up to scratch (read: delicious). They also assessed its set-up, design and ease of use.
Our GHI review of the Thermomix TM6
Our expert awarded this master multi-cooker a winning score of 94/100. Let’s find out why...
The pros
It’s the ultimate easy-breezy sous chef
The Thermomix scored an impressive 10/10 for almost every cooking, baking and chopping challenge it encountered. And trust us, scoring full marks in one of our tests is no easy feat.
It blitzed breadcrumbs with finesse in seven seconds. It turned nuts into a uniform, coarse powder in under ten seconds. It created the kind of mayonnaise that will give Hellman’s a run for its money. Time and time again, it provided quick, expert results with minimal fuss.
Cookidoo is a meal planning pro
Our expert loved Cookidoo. They found it oh-so easy to use and it encouraged them to schedule every single meal – breakfast to dessert – throughout the week. When there are so many delicious options, who wouldn’t want to take advantage?
It can save you space
At 34cm tall and 32cm wide, the Thermomix is by no means small. But – and it’s a rather large but –its multi-tasking capabilities mean you can say goodbye to your scales, rice cooker, bread maker, blender, slow cooker, steamer and even your microwave. That’s a whole lot of kitchen-top real estate that just became available.
Most of the Thermomix’s accessories also fit and fold into each other to allow for compact storage.
The cons
It’s expensive
There’s no getting around the fact this multi-cooker will set you back £1,189.
The Cookidoo app requires a subscription
In our humble opinion, it would be very lovely if the Cookidoo app was included in the significant cost of the Thermomix. Still, at £40 a year, the subscription will only set you back around £3.30 a month.
It can be very loud
If you’re looking to blend nuts or crush ice (margaritas, anyone?) be warned that the Thermomix can be very loud. It should be noted though, that blenders and smoothie makers do tend to be rather loud anyway.
Our verdict: is it worth investing in the Thermomix TM6?
From the intuitive colour touchscreen to the exceptional accuracy of the built-in scales, the Thermomix is a truly formidable full-time kitchen assistant. Apart from the top-tier price and added Cookidoo subscription cost, it’s very hard to fault it.
It will also suit a variety of homes. For passionate home cooks and avid bakers, the exceptional functionality and powerful programmes will take on some of the more repetitive and time-consuming kitchen tasks (think peeling, slicing and chopping), so you can focus on creating delicious meals and bakes.
And for those looking to up their cooking game or introduce more fresh food meals into hectic lifestyles, our expert noted that the Thermomix’s on-screen help was both in-depth and delightfully easy to follow. The Cookidoo app also inspires cooking confidence, not to mention trying exciting new culinary challenges.
All in all, the Thermomix could be the sous chef you’ve been waiting for.
The Thermomix TM6 is available to buy from Vorwerk. Book a demo now.
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
