The £1,350 German-made Thermomix TM7 is billed as “the most advanced all-in-one kitchen system”, combining chopping, blending, steaming and kneading in one machine. For the price, buyers get the machine, a stainless-steel mixing bowl with cover, knife, lid and cap, a steaming dish and tray, a simmering basket, butterfly whisk and spatula.
It promises cheffy food, healthy cooking and less waste, potentially replacing a blender, food processor, steamer and slow cooker. It weighs ingredients and heats up to 160°C. The 10-inch touchscreen works like a tablet and integrates with the Cookidoo app, which offers more than 100,000 guided recipes, with a three-month free subscription included.
How the Thermomix TM7 was tested
The appliance is marketed as a personal sous chef. To assess whether it justifies the price tag, the tester made lemonade, a week’s worth of work-from-home lunches, boiled an egg and followed countless recipes. The review considered ease of use, versatility, style, efficiency and value for money.
The Thermomix is not sold in-store or online. Instead, buyers book a live demo through the website and are connected with a local Thermomix Advisor via video call. The tester’s advisor, Benji Nathan, a chef ambassador, was friendly and helpful. After purchase, onboarding support is provided, with advisors available long after delivery.
Cooking tests and results
The first test was a quick lemonade. Water, sugar and lemons, thrown straight into the bowl with the skin on, were transformed in under 60 seconds into a bittersweet concoction. The machine can also be used as a kettle, though it takes a while to heat up.
The second test was boiling a soft-to-medium egg. The egg boiler function suggested 11 minutes for the desired result. After an initial spillage caused by struggling to connect two pieces of hardware, the result was near-perfect. The tester questioned whether such a simple task needed so much hardware and technology.
The third test was a complete recipe: creamy tomato soup. The recipe instructed the machine at every step, from chopping and sautéing to cooking and blending. Taking half an hour and using ingredients already in the fridge and store cupboard, the tester loaded the mixing bowl in the order given, with the base weighing everything as it went, producing a smooth, tasty soup.
Is the Thermomix TM7 worth it?
The Thermomix TM7 is clever and compact, given how many appliances it replaces, and has a cult following. The expert demo and onboarding process felt personal and genuinely helpful. The interface is made from hardwearing ceramic, which is crack-resistant and easy to wipe down. For baking, where the tester admits to falling short, the machine could provide confidence in accurate and consistent results.
The tester struggled a little with the hardware, attributing this to not being practical, despite the clever design. They also noted a preference for getting away from screens at the end of the day and cooking by gut instinct rather than precise measurements, at least for savoury food. This led to the conclusion that the machine may suit someone who loves meal-planning but dislikes manually preparing and cooking ingredients. Whether the Thermomix TM7 is worth the money depends on what kind of cook you are and what you get out of it.
