When it comes to the ultimate kitchen appliance, you can’t go wrong with the new Thermomix TM6.

Whilst the Thermomix is common in European countries and over the ditch in Australia, they are very new to New Zealanders. To find out more, I gave one a whirl for a month, cooking meals for our family.

I have to admit, before I began my trial of the new Thermomix TM6, I had to Google what a Thermomix was! I had heard the term mentioned in Australian mums’ networks but really had no idea beyond it being used to cook. After the trial, I can attest that it is so much more than just a kitchen appliance.

What does the Thermomix TM6 do?

Everything! OK, maybe not everything, but it does do a lot. In fact, it has 20 functions in one machine.

The sharp, angled blade inside the main bowl is used for chopping and mixing but also has other uses. It makes short work of parmesan cheese, grating it in seconds and saving my knuckles from the grater. Garlic cloves and onions are cut in the blink of an eye (just be ready for the noise the first time you do that!). The Thermomix can make emulsion sauces with ease. It can also grind raw sugar, mix batter, blend frozen fruits, and even knead dough (which is almost enough on its own to make me buy one!).

It cooks too!

The Thermomix isn’t just a big food processor though. It also has the ability to cook. The adjustable temperature allows you to sear, saute, boil, slow cook, sous-vide, and ferment. The Varoma accessory extends the Thermomix capabilities even further, acting as the perfect place to steam veggies, dumplings, fish, etc. There’s also a basket insert which makes cooking perfect rice a doddle.

To keep you safe from the moving blade and heating, the Thermomix has a dual clamp that automatically holds the lid in place when you begin a process like chopping, cooking, etc.

The cooking bowl was sufficiently big enough to make a meal for a family of four (including two hungry teenagers). It is also quick to clean and simple to set up again for the next recipe, making it easy to prepare several courses.

The technology bit

My favourite feature of the Thermomix TM6 was the large onboard touch-screen that connects to your WiFi and can guide you step by step through a recipe. There’s no referring back to a recipe book covered in sticky fingerprints, losing your place or reading the wrong measurement for the ingredient, nor, well, stuffing up the recipe and taking ages to prepare a disaster! Each step gives you the ingredient, the measurement, and the settings that you need to initiate on your Thermomix – simple.

For instance, it will tell you that you need 100g of onions. Here is another favourite feature – inbuilt scales! The Thermomix TM6 will measure exactly how much you have put into the machine. For the next ingredient, just press a button and it will reset to allow you to weigh the next ingredient. It will then tell you that you need to use the chopping feature for say 3 seconds (it is THAT quick!) on speed 6. When using an online recipe, the Thermomix will preset the function so all you have to do is turn the dial to start. When required, it will also include the temperature that is needed. It quickly becomes second nature to follow the step by step processes.

What can you make?

The Thermomix TM6 comes with a hefty cookbook which explains all the basics too. All of the recipes in the book are preloaded into the machine. By using Thermomix’s Cookidoo account you can also add thousands more recipes with guided cooking. Not that you have to use a recipe – you can also use the Thermomix’s functions independently and choose your own functions, speeds, and temperatures. The recipes also allow you to adjust timings, etc, if necessary, giving you great flexibility.

Recipes include cakes, breads, baking, soups, sauces, curries, rice, main meals, desserts – pretty much everything. The huge Thermomix online fraternity also means that you have access to a lot of tried and tested recipes through a simple internet search.

A demonstration

When you’re considering purchasing a Thermomix TM6 a Consultant will come to your home (or wherever you may be if you have a group of friends together) and give you a demonstration of all the functions, and even cook some recipes with you. This is a fantastic way to get the most out of the machine, as well as to see what it can really do. It gets you creating recipes straight away once you have purchased and the consultant’s tips are invaluable!

Let’s get cooking

At my demonstration we made a beautiful focaccia bread. I have never attempted making any sort of bread because I am just not that capable with proving and dough and all that jazz! However, with the Thermomix this was so easy as most of the hard work was done by the machine, including the perfect temperature setting for the yeast activation and the kneading of the dough. I subsequently made cheese and spinach scrolls and my own foccacia bread which all turned out beautifully.

The next thing we made was a dessert with frozen berries, an egg, and a touch of sugar. It was blended and whisked to a fluffly and light consistency using the butterfly whisk accessory. This went down a treat with the whole family. So quick, simple, and yum!

Finally, we made a risotto. I love risotto but my previous attempts have been a dire failure. With the Thermomix all the guess work is gone – the perfect temperature, adding ingredients at the right time – everything was as simple as a few button presses through the guided recipe. The risotto was stunning (it didn’t all make it to dinner!) and I made my own later on, easily adapting the recipe to suit the family’s tastebuds.

• Check out My Super Smart Kitchen, a Facebook page full of Thermomix recipes and inspiration from my consultant, Julia Rose.

Cooking on my own

During the trial I made a lot of things that I had never attempted before – the Thermomix gave me great confidence. I made a tasty minestrone soup with fresh vegetables – knowing exactly what was going in gave me peace of mind. We had beef ghoulash and served it over shredded savoy cabbage that was steamed in the Varoma above the bubbling ghoulash. I made an apple sponge, again using the Varoma to steam the apple pieces which retained so much more flavour than stewing them. There were also superb scones, perfectly cooked rice dishes, pasta with stunning sauces, moreish meatballs, and so much more.

The cost

All of the technology and engineered perfection that is the Thermomix does not come cheap. In fact, the new Thermomix TM6 will set you back $2,469 NZD. Oh – I can see those eyes widening! Yes, it is a big investment, but that’s really what it is – an investment. Considering how many appliances the Thermomix replaces in your kitchen, how much you will use it each and every day, and how much time and money you can save by using it, it is a worthy investment.

The Cookidoo recipe app allows you to plan your meals and your shopping list. This makes it a simple alternative to meal planning delivery options. You can choose the recipes that YOU want, use your own produce or shop locally, and experience even easier preparation and cooking.

Interest-free payment plans up to 24 months are available for those that are interested in spreading the cost. Or, if you’re keen, you can always earn a Thermomix by becoming a consultant.

Would I buy one?

If I had the right finances, yes I would. Getting the kids and even my husband easily involved in preparing meals was a highlight. However, it is a large investment and requires careful consideration of your budget. For someone setting up a new home, this would be an ideal investment as it cuts down on the amount of other appliances that you may need. Whether you’re a casual cook or a budding Masterchef, the Thermomix TM6 is a wonderful kitchen essential.

For more information, visit Thermomix NZ

For the purposes of this review, our Editor was provided with complimentary use of a Thermomix TM6 for one month.

Thermomix recipes on Kidspot:

• Pavlova towers recipe
• Chicken Waldorf salad
• Mango, coconut and lychee icy poles

Written by Julie Scanlon

Julie is Editor for Kidspot NZ and our MVP. Her hobbies include laughing uncontrollably at her own jokes, annoying her family by asking questions about movie plots, and never taking anything too seriously. She speaks a little Spanish and a lot of Yorkshire. 

Favourite motto to live by: “It ain’t nothing but a thing”