Thermomix Versus Thermochef- a Price Versus Quality Discussion

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  [Deactivated] on 08/01/2016 - 12:54

  +1

  If I was making such life-changing decisions, I'd need a thermometer.

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  loulou1 on 08/01/2016 - 13:19

  +2

  I bought a Bellini intelli, like a thermomix but waaaaaay cheaper. Under $200 for mine at target, they are hard to track down due to them now being a discontinued item but a new model will be for sale later in the year.
  Of course there are differences in the machines with such a price difference. The motor on the therrmomix is more powerful, it has a reverse function, it steams stuff better. Both machines have same warranty period. For my machine there is a Facebook page and the warranty people are super helpful even outside of warranty period and offer advice on fixing the machine yourself if can't be covered under warranty and spare parts are cheap.
  A replacement thermomix bowl costs more than my entire machine, I could completely destroy mine ten times outside of the warranty period and still have money leftover from the original purchase price of a thermomix.
  I love my machine, I know people who started with my machine and letter upgraded to a thermomix and wee sorry that they did. They felt like they had wasted their money,
  Starting with a cheaper machine is good too, in case it turns into one of those appliances (like popcorn makers etc) that you buy and think you will use, but never do.
  Also, there have been a lot of issues with the newer thermomix machines, which then have to be sent away to be repaired.

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  matthew8 on 08/01/2016 - 15:55

  +1

  My wife was after one for few years before I yeilded.
  As an bargain hunter, I refused to pay retail for a Thermomix, I bought one (hardly used) from a gumtree add and saved over $600. example http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/crafers/cooking-accessories/t…
  As she has food allergies (onion) and makes most meals from scratch /raw ingredients, it makes sense and is quite useful. I've even got my "L's" on it!

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  stargalaxy on 08/01/2016 - 17:08

  A wife than can cook is better than a Thermomix.

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    bargain_knight on 08/01/2016 - 17:42

    I know the comment is meant as a joke, but the Thermomix is really just a tool. It doesn't mean you can't cook. Its function is to stir / mix at the same time as heating. For example many top chefs (including Heston, Gordon and Tetsuya) have them in their commercial kitchens. The machine serves a purpose in that you can do things that can't be done on a stove. In addition, it is time saving as you don't have to have someone watching a stove when they can do something else.

    If you have a commercial kitchen I can understand getting the best machine. However, in a residential kitchen is the Thermomix significantly better than its competitors?

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    spersephone on 09/01/2016 - 16:57

    I am a wife that can cook, but we finally got a Thermomix and it has made my life much happier. It does tasks that I found annoying and time consuming. While it's stirring away, I can tidy up the kitchen.

    The other thing is that I can be a lazy cook. I know we should eat more vegetables, but having a pan on the stovetop cooking up some meat for example, another pot cooking the potatoes, and another pot cooking the vegetables, then another one making the gravy is just annoying. I'm sick of the amount of pots and pans requiring washing up after one of those dinners. I must admit that I love the minimal tidying up required after making an all in one dinner in the Thermomix.

    It's quick to clean up when wanting to use it to make something else (such as a dessert afterwards). It's certainly not able to do everything, but it simplifies some things for me. I make something in it pretty much every day, and often multiple times a day.

    It doesn't tend to save a huge amount of time, but it makes it easier to plan good wholesome meals, and it does save me money. It makes things possible that before wouldn't have been, or would have been simply too much trouble to bother. I can prepare things like spice mixes and granola instead of buying them at inflated prices. Making a curry in these is a joy, you can taste the subtle flavours of the real spices and herbs used.

    I'm a very happy customer.

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  PVA on 08/01/2016 - 20:02

  this can end a bit like "whats better iphone X or Android X" a big fan war.
  Any forum that are asking about Thermomix get die hard fans saying always that it is worth the money.
  I have never used one but I think it's best getting a $200 unit like mentioned above, if after a year or two you use it a lot then spend the thousands - you see second hand ones around, betting people forked out the money then it ended up like most kitchen gadgets and not used.

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  kati on 08/01/2016 - 21:39

  I'm very happy with my bellini intelli kitchen master from Target. Think I paid around $280…

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  GourmetFoodie on 09/01/2016 - 17:23

  The thing to remember with a thermomix is that it doesn't do large portions so if you are planning to cook an entire meal in it for a dinner party it really does max 4 serves which is find ridiculous.

  If you already have a blender a food processor it kind of makes those tools pointless - though the annoying thing is it only cuts things super finely so don't even try making coleslaw in it.

  Generally people I know who have one make it worth the expense but I mainly see them use it for making sauces or side dishes rather than replacing whole meals. And you still have to wash the veggies and chop the bad bits off prior….so I'm not sure it's too time saving.

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    spersephone on 09/01/2016 - 17:29

    I had a blender, but I got rid of it in favour of my Vitamix. The Vitamix is amazing for smoothies, and I would choose it over the Thermomix, but it's overkill to use it to chop up something to use in dinner, as it's a pain to dig out small amounts. I have a small food processor which isn't big enough to make larger meal ingredients in.

    I have considered getting a larger food processor, but then I would have had to keep all the attachments somewhere. I also prefer to purchase very high quality where possible, so I would have ended up spending several hundred dollars at least on the food processor, and I don't think I would have used it often enough to justify that.

    I have made amazing coleslaw in it, so I'm not sure what you're referring to. I agree that it's best for around 4 serves, but in actual fact it's not that difficult to organise yourself to make larger amounts, depending on the recipe. Of course it can't steam enough chicken to serve a large number of people, but it can make plenty of other recipes on a large enough scale for entertaining.

    This is actually a thing I prefer about it, as I used to cook up large amounts on the stovetop, then freeze them. Then I forgot what I had in the freezer, and it was less appetising to reheat. I love the fact that I can prepare the right amount of food fresh, with little fuss and mess. But this is what I find useful in my particular situation, and it might not be the same for others.

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  spersephone on 06/03/2016 - 19:37

  Just to add to this discussion, I see them on a Facebook buy/sell site (Thermomix related items only) regularly for a good price. The TM31 can be found from around $1200, and the TM5 I'm seeing semi-regularly from around $1500. Usually the TM31 is being sold because they are upgrading, and the TM5 is sometimes sold because 1) they thought they'd get more use from it and don't 2) they are strapped for cash and it's a valuable item they can sell or 3) they have two - believe it or not this is actually pretty common - and have decided that maybe they don't really need two.

  Just something to think about. If the device is in warranty, it can be transferred across to a new owner. But the new recipe platform restrictions mean that if they have registered their chip, it cannot be registered again to someone else, which may or may not matter to you.