Friday, November 19, 2010

THERMOMIX vs VITAMIX vs KENWOOD COOKING CHEF

Hey everyone, I haven't written in a while. Life has been a bit crazy and I have had so much to do, blogging just had to take a back seat for a while.

I have been wanting to write this post for a while now. Earlier this year I attended a Thermomix demonstration. It was not my first introduction. Checking out blogs one day I came across a fellow blogger who wrote of how much she loved her German made Thermomixer and how it made her life easier. My first thoughts were, wow! This thing sounds awesome. So, you can imagine my delight when a friend became a demonstrator and invited me to her first demonstration. It is really best to take a look at the website to get a real idea of what it does. You should also go to Youtube and check out some of the demonstrations that people have put together. Its a very impressive cooking appliance. It weighs your food, it cooks, it steams, it chops, dices, kneads dough, and mills. You can make sorbet in seconds, ice slushes, hot chocolate, mousse, custard, rice puddings, effortless risottos, and so much more. I was sold and it was all that I wanted. It was, until I found out it costs $2000AUD. I thought maybe I could make this work, but when my husband asked what the warranty was, I was somewhat embarrassed to tell him it was only for 2 years.  One would think, if you were going to spend a lot of money you would want to know you had a longer warranty than this.

Anyway, I wanted to sit on this for a little while. I had kinda made up my mind that this would be the appliance for me and I just had to have one. My tax return was going to pay for it, until I attended the Sydney Good Food and Wine Show and discovered the American Vitamix. The Vitamix does everything a Thermoix can do except for cook foods and make hot meals. It can however, make hot soups. Again, its best to check out the website to get a better understanding of how it works and what it does.  So, now I was thinking maybe I should consider one of these. The price tag for one of these was $1000AUD and you get a 7 year warranty, which I thought was impressive. It does quite a lot of things, the kind of things a blender can do, but this was like a super blender! I just want to talk about the hot soup for a moment. Basically, you are getting a hot soup but is not thick and chuncky, its pureed soup, which is nice sometimes, but not all the time. It is a good appliance, but still it did not cook.


So here was my dilema, should I get the Thermomix which is more expensive, but can cook, or the Vitamix that can't cook like a Thermoix can. I then did what most people do, check out Ebay and see if any Thermoixers were being sold and what price they were going for.  I really shouldn't have been as suprised as I was to find that if people were selling they were going for anywhere between $1600-$1800 second hand. Why is it like that? That some items that sell on Ebay go for almost what you can pay brand new? Anyway, I realised that if I want to get one, I may as well pay full price and get the warranty.

A couple of months ago I happened to be having a chat with a friend about the Thermomixer. She had used her mother-in-law's and while she was impressed with what it can do, she wasn't impressed with the 4L capacity bowl. She said for a small family, it can work but for a bigger family, you would need to make 2 batches of most meals and desserts. We have 6 people in our family, 2 adults and 4 kids and as the boys get older and bigger, so do their appetites. So this conversation put another strike against Thermomix. I started thinking back on the Vitamix as my best option.

Then, today, my sister-in-law told me about the new Kenwood Cooking Chef appliance, which is like the Thermomix, but.....wait for it.....it has a 6.7L capacity bowl! Wow! What a machine. It had my name all over it. So I researched a little by going to the KENWOOD website. I do have to say, there are a lot of attachments involved, but it still looks impressive, and with a bowl size like that, its very attractive for a family like mine. I suppose I should tell you at this stage the price. The RRP is $1999AUD, but I have come across cheaper prices around $1678 through a google search. One thing the Kenwood can do that I know for sure the Thermomix can't do, is make pasta! It is an attachment that costs extra, but its pretty amazing to be able to make your ravioli filling in the bowl and also rolling out the pasta using the same machine.

So now my dilema deepens! I open the door to anyone who has any of these appliances and can tell me what they think of it, even if you don't own any of these, if you know of someone who has, or if you have done as much research as me and would like to share their thoughts please do.

53 comments:

Design It Chic said...

Hi there! I am now following you thanks to Follow Me Friday, and it would be so nice if you could share the love back on my blog;)
Also today we have the coolest blog hop there is... no rules just fun and would love you to join in with us at Boost My Blog Friday :) Happy Friday!

Unknown said...

I'm your newest follower from the Friday Blog Hops! Come check out my blog at: http://adventuresofathriftymommy.blogspot.com/
While you are there check out my low entry giveaways!

Have a great day!

Dawn Lopez said...

I am totally in the dark, I have never heard of any of those products! Hope you find your answer!

I am a new follower hopping by! Hope you will come return the visit to: Just Married with Coupons

TGIF! =)

EatDrinkBeRunning said...

Following from the blog hop. Have a great weekend! http://hungrigyrl.blogspot.com

ThermomixBlogger Helene said...

Well, unlike some of these people, I am so sedentary, I don't even know how to hop on a blog. I am here because you are discussing one of my favorite topics.

What makes the Thermomix so worthy of being fussed over? Unlike the Vitamix, it cooks by integrated heating elements and not by friction. The temperature is highly controllable. Everything is pretty much done in one bowl with extremely well-designed precision blade. Reversible. Can chop or mix with the same blade. Has scales built in so you don't need measuring cups etc. Cleans itself.

Is that enough? Don't know how it compares to the Kenwood, but I do know the Thermomix is specifically designed to have a small footprint that makes it super adaptable in smaller European kitchens. (I'm willing to bet that something with a bowl twice as large is heavier and bulkier, harder to clean up, and less likely to be used. Most Thermomix cooks use their machine on average, three times per day. Even when full, you can lift that bowl with one hand. Think about it. Or maybe don't think about it. Just try it. Try lifting both bowls when full (with one hand) and let me know how often you want repeat that experiment on a daily basis ;-)

There is a fun gathering place for Thermomix users at forumthermomix.com and there is another fun blog full of videos etc at: http://SuperKitchenMachine.com

Keep asking about this and you will get an earfull, we Thermomix users are quite passionate about this super kitchen machine!

Unknown said...

I am in the dark as well...never even HEARD of a Thermomix...sorry! :(

I am your newest follower from the Follow Me Friday Blog Hop and would love a follow back on my review and giveaway blog, "In My Opinion...". Here is the link:

http://couponsandfreebiesforyou.blogspot.com

I do have several blogs, but this one is where I am looking to get followers. Thanks so much!! :)

Glow said...

I only recently heard about the Thermomix and I really love the idea but the price tag and such a short warranty put me off - If it had the 7 year warranty like the other one the I'd be more likely to get it. Good luck with the decision!

Kristin said...

Hi! Following from FFF!

Kristin :)
Keenly Kristin

FOR HEART AND SOUL said...

Hi - We bought a Thermomix last year (even though we did blanche at the price when we first heard it) and have to say that it's the most used appliance in our house! Even more than the washing machine, and that certainly gets a work out. We use it several times a day, and have found it easy to adapt our regular recipes to.

Although the 2 year warranty was less than we'd hoped for, we're familiar with the qaulity of german manufacturers, so have gone with it anyway.

We were looking for a healthier and cheaper way to eat, and although one may think that spending $2,000 or so to save money a little crazy, we are able to make so many things that were store bought before - either out of convenience or sheer laziness, I haven't quite figured out yet! :D

With regards to the jug size, we have 3 adults + 1 almost adult in our household and we eat generous portions. It's more than big enough for us, usually with leftovers for a lunch the next day. I can always make an extra lot very quickly should the need arise. I love being able to do other things while the dinner (or whatever) is cooking - without having to stir and adjust temps etc.

One of my friends is a dedicated Choice Magazine follower, and recently bought a thermomix and LOVES it! Choice gave it a really good wrap.

Another friend is so taken with it, she's asked if my above mentioned friend and I can bring them to the Christmas lunch she's hosting.

Having blethered on about it though, you have to choose what you're comfortable with. I still lust after a KitchenAid - there just something about watching a huge batch of cake mix swirl around in that bowl .....

SousVideMagic said...

Are you sure the bowl size is 6.7L?
If so, it may be useful for sous vide cooking.
Breat blog.

Morag said...

I've heard of both the Thermomix and the Vitamix. I don't even cook much, but I lust after the Thermomix. There's no point me getting one, though, because I don't have the money for it and it might end up unused like so many other things have before it.

However, I do have a friend who previously recommended her Vitamix but has now switched allegiance to the Thermomix (she has one of those swanky jobs where she gets given all sorts of health products to try for free. I hate her!). Apart from ease of use and versatility, the Thermomix is so easy to clean.

I wouldn't worry about the relatively short warranty on a Thermomix, because it is German, and their stuff just doesn't normally break down. Your main problem is the size of your family, it seems to me.

Linda T said...

I'm curious whether you made a decision and if you did what the outcome was. I'm just starting to investigate the Thermomix now.

Megan Zavieh said...

I'm in this same dilemma! I am from the US, where I've lusted after a Vitamix for a year. With a $400 pricetag, I've had great trouble convincing my hubby. We moved to Australia a month ago, and before we left the US I called Vitamix. A 220/240 version, they told me, would be $750. I thought "no way!" Well then I got here and see prices of $1000...

Then introduce...the Thermomix. You can see that if I thought $400 was nuts, I must really think $2000 is completely and totally insane! And I do! However....

I am a big whole food enthusiast, and I have been working for the past few years to remove chemicals from my family's diet. We have gotten so much healthier, and it absolutely pays. Now that we're in Oz, I'm learning that I can't trust food pabels even as much as I do in the US (which isn't 100%), and my desire to make just about everything from scratch just increases. Given these new factors, and the likelihood of being able to sell an Aussie Thermomix for nearly full price when we go back to the US in three years, I'm beginning to convince myself that I will get a Thermomix after all.

I'm really curious where you've come out on this!

Megan Zavieh, blogging at http://boldliving.wordpress.com

Bec said...

I own a Thermomix and its the best thing I have bought in my kitchen. All my other gadgets just get put in the cupboard but my TM is firmly planted on the bench. How much did you pay for your TV? What warrenty has it got? What about your oven? cost Warrenty. Just because one manufacturer offers 7 years doesnt mean that 2 years isnt long enough. Check out what other kitchen gadgets have as warrenties. Anyway enough about that. I use my TM minimum twice and max 10 times a day. The bowl is 2litres but you have a steamer on the top as well. YOu can cook a whole chicken on the top and your veg, rice all together. You just have to look at how it works. I cook for 4 to 6 adults everyday and dont have any problem with quanitites.

Just get your head around the price tag you cant compair it to other machines because it does so much more. The cost is due to the motor design, blades, houseing etc. These are all quality parts. Find out about the machine itself and then you will understand.

Boschetti said...

I think the Thermomix is fantastic from friends' recommendations and demos. I tried the Kenwood food processor(since I have the Kenwood Chef which is brilliant) and ended up taking it back to get a refund. You need a Kenwood degree to make it work and a whole kitchen cupboard to store all the parts. I have always used a Breville Whiz but was impressed with all the other features of the TM and really wanted one.

HOWEVER, I really dislike the fact that the distributors have not reduced the price when the exchange rate changed, so we are paying WAY too much for this machine in Australia. In Europe you can buy the TM for $900 which is about $1200! Why so much here??!! I was seriously considering buying it in Europe when I was there recently and bringing back with me as I would love to have one. For various reasons I didn't do it and am now reluctant to waste the money that it costs in Australia. On some level I think it should be boycotted in Australia until the price is brought down to the real cost. The distributers are making so much extra profit on it at our cost! Electrical goods such as TVs have all come down in price as a result of the strong Aussie Dollar. Why not the Thermomix???!!!

FoodMuster said...

Boschetti, I so agree with the price!! Someone is getting richer that's for sure! It really is a shame that the price is so high, but people are still paying it, so they'd see no reason for them to change it:(

Anonymous said...

hi has anyone tried a thermochef? 800 australian i think, swedish made but assembled in china. looks very similar to a thermomix.

Anonymous said...

Nice blog that useful for us....
HOTMIXPRO

Anonymous said...

price here in europe is about 1200 EUR, which is about 1650 AUD, counting in transport and import I think 2.000 AUD is about explicable.

FoodMuster said...

I was under the impression that the thermomix is much less expensive than here in Australia. Thanks for leaving your comment, it makes me look at the price a little bit differently.
Daniel: I took a peak at the HotMix Pro, it looks awesome and comparable with the Thermomixer for sure. Still it comes down to whether adverage person can afford one and if it comes to Australia what kind of warranty will it hold?Also the capacity is important for me too. PS. I don't mind you adverstising on my blog!!!

Anonymous said...

Hello, I have been trying to decide which gadget to get too. A friend first introduced me to the Thermomix TM31 a couple of years ago and I have lusted after it ever since, but I couldn't handle the price tag. I bought a Vitamix in the U.S. this past summer for $900. The Vitamix is great, but it doesn't satisfy my desire for the Thermomix. It doesn't cook and you can't set it and go like you can with the Thermomix. But, the real downer was the limited recipes. Thermomix seems to have so many recipes out there, whereas the Vitamix did not. It came with a recipe book and I was able to find a few more things on their website, but I didn't see anything like the seemingly limitless choices Thermomix offers. So I got online and found an EBay seller who's sold tons of Thermoxes to Australia for around $1500 including certified, insured postage. Well, I was all set to finally buy it... and then I came across the Thermo Chef. Thermo Chef is just like the old Thermomix TM21. It does everything that the Thermomix does except the reverse cyle (good for when you want to mix but not slice or to peel an onion or garlic, etc. as it turns but does not cut.) The best part is that it goes for $800! Half what the Thermomix sells for. But, can you use the Thermomix recipes? I'm going for a demo this Friday at the DFO in Homebush. I can't wait to see the Thermo Chef in action!

If you are interested here's the link for Thermo Chef: http://www.newwavekitchenappliances.com.au/catalogue/products/thermochef-natura/thermochef-natura

Good luck!
Krysty

Anonymous said...

I'd be interested to see what comes of this thermo thingie comparison...I was set to buy a TM but couldn't convince anyone to just take my $1939 without a party...then along comes the Thermo chef...and now I'm thinking, at almost three times the cost, is a TM really worth it?

Waiting with bated breath...

Anonymous said...

Hi Courtney, I have the Kenwood Chef Kitchen Machine (with only a few of the attachments) and last weekend got to experience my cousin's Thermomix in action. I am now contemplating which way to go too. By the time you add up all your attachments for the Kenwood, you would definitely be looking at close to $3000. If you have four kids, like me, you are probably very time poor. The Thermomix seems to allow you to set it and go off. For example my cousin made custard for 4 kids and 6 adults (plus leftovers) - it took her about a minute or two to put everything in the bowl and set it and forget it. Twelve minutes later she had perfect custard. Cleaning it probably took another 15 seconds (if that). For me, there are only two drawbacks - it is quite noisy, and while the bowl is stainless steel, I believe the steamer is plastic - as an industrial chemist, I'm a little concerned about having plastic in contact with food and heating it to high temperatures -but I do need to do a bit more homework in this area. The Thermomix also takes up a fraction of the room the Kenwood does. One thing I haven't quite worked out is, can the Thermomix slice vegetables as well as chop them into tiny pieces like the accessories enable the Kenwood to do? My husband has told me I can have three Kenwood Chef accessories for my birthday - but I'm not yet convinced that this is the way to go. Look forward to hearing what you decide on.Good Luck!

FoodMuster said...

Thanks for the last comment whoever you are!!! Interesting to know how much one can be out of pocket for the attachments. I do have to consider this Thermochef machine. It really is just a TM21 so those who bag it out are really bagging out the designers of their beloved TM31. We never got the TM21 here in Australia, so we are none the wiser! You can make custard in the Thermo Chef and do a lot of the things that the TM31 can. Don't be too fooled by the sell of the 'easy cleaning' the demonstrators do for the TM 31. Most of my friends have to purchase the cleaning brush to properly clean it, and from the forums I hear a lot of users put theirs in the dishwasher. If its so easy to clean, why bother with the dishwasher?? Research it all before you purchase my friends!!!

susana said...

I was offered a Kenwood Cooking Chef last week, and the basic package has all the accessories you need to put it equal to thermomix (here in Portugal we call it Bimby).
Besides the evolution possibilities Kenwood has (unlike Thermomix), it cooks with induction heating: it's more electricity saver than Thermomix. But if you have a pacemaker or so, you should not you induction appliances.
Nevertheless, for a big family and with a working mum (or the cooker in the house also working), you do not have time to cook 2 bowls of food (like the Thermomix). I’m a working mum, with 2 kids, and I really don’t have much time: at weekends, I usually cook large amount of food (stews, beans, etc…) and I need that large pan to do it (I freeze that food and in a busy day I just defrost it and cook a fresh pan of rice, or potatoes, etc…). So thermomix is not for me. And till now, I baked all my cookies and cakes with my hand (except cream and eggwhites). But with more parties and so, I really needed a good blender, and when I saw Kenwood… UAU! Besides a blender, it can cook, with induction energy, has a big bowl for my weekend cookings (stews) and for now, I’m not worried about accessories, because I have the food processor for chopping vegetables for salads or soups, the “milk shaker” that also makes pure (the bowl also has an accessories to make mashpotato pure), a basket” for steamer cooking , etc…. Now I can make my soup (which is a part of our daliy menu) quicker with Kenwood, without having to remove the vegetables (because I make soup with vegetables pieces – not shredded).
In Portugal Kenwoood is more expensive than Thermomix (200 EUR – about 166 AUD), but has more advantages for my particular case. And Like I said, it can evolve. For now, with small children I really don’t see myself making fresh pasta, byt in the future, who knows? Then, I can buy the pasta gadget.
Hope I helped.

Smintha said...

Hi there,

interesting! i have been looking at the TM for 5 years now. and finally a few weeks ago I saw it in action. I was very impressed.
5 years ago I really wanted one and I have been told that I needed to have a demo, which I agree to but my only acquaintances were mums with little ones, and all together we had all food allergies, except gluten. Although I agreed to buy all the items, the demonstrator said she couldn't do it, that it was too hard.
since then I got a bit frustrated with the way it had been handled and left it at that still checking the website.
and then at the start of the week, fed up to kneel my bread dough by hand I checked out the sales... and saw the Kenwood. Same price as TM. Yet reliable brand, usually reliable products and everyone I ever spoken to has been raving about their Kenwood, especially since the chef.
for what i understand, TM demonstrators claim that you dont need to peel your vegetables, just shred everything. and it weighs, and cooks and grinds ...
5 years ago the TM was AUD 500 cheaper and the warranty has always been my issue. (why such a limited warranty if you are so certain your product never fails? Who has never experienced the failure of the washing machine just when the warranty is over? I can only say that I did that one no so long ago...it hurts the wallet)
I am too concerned by the size of the bowl. and I have heard a lot of complaints about that, in particular a family of 5 (2 adults and 3 kids) who just bought the TM. to be honest I can't be bothered and often have no time to prepare something and have to redo another batch form scratch. an it usually never tastes the same. besides with TM you're supposed to be able to serve it directly. so that defies the purpose.
for the same amount of money I would rather go for a better warranty.
an other downpoint of TM is that in order to have some extra attachments, you either need to pay or host a demo and get it for a cheaper price. You cannot get it directly, unlike Kenwood.
and let's be realistic if you don't want an attachement you don't need to buy it, or I'm sure somewhere you already have something that does what the Kenwood wouldn't do.
Now I have to admit that if the $$$ was to come down for TM I would go for it. But I doubt this will ever happen, unless it is at the end of its production.
besides none of these machines are designed to be put away and I would rather cook with induction and stainless steel than in plastic.
all that said I first need to save, so maybe when the time will come something else will be available :)

FoodMuster said...

Susana and Smintha, thanks for your comments. Interesting points for the Kenwood. I persoanlly have steered away from the Kenwood, as its not quite the machine I am after. There are som good points for it, but I have a HotMix Pro and I will be blogging about it very soon. Runs circles around the TM 31 and its not sold through party plan. Price is also comparable, but you get a better machine. Anyway, I will be blogging in more detail soon.

Anonymous said...

Many thanks for all your comments... Found them very very useful. I haven't seen any of them in action but heard of the TM before through a friend who uses it everyday... and swears by it! I have seen the Kenwood induction chef today... I am very close to press the trigger on one of them... Just which one?? Apart from the pasta that TM doesn't do and on the other hand, TM allows for 2 functions to run at the same time ie cooking a chicken and doing something else at the same time... Is there anything else that I should know (price not an issue as I want one and committed to pay the price and lack of time is generally my biggest issue... So priceless in my case). Thanks G.

FoodMuster said...

Hi G, I will be writing up my more detailed post on the HotMix Pro vs TM31 next week. If you haven't purchased anything yet, wait and see the comparisons. It depends on how seriously you take your cooking and how much you want to get from your machine. HotMix is a better machine in my opinion and comparable on price, but more cooking options available as it can go up to 130C and can do almost everything a TM can do. Hope to be posting on Monday or Tuesday, otherwise e-mail me:)

Anonymous said...

I don't understand the thermomix, if it does everything like everyone is saying then dies that mean we stop using the stove and oven??! I'm not sure I like that idea so much. Pay $2000 and waste a am oven and cooktop that's worth more than that? I just bought a Vitamix as I'm happy that it juices and makes soups and is so powerful. I am happy to cook in my pots and pans and we do a lot if roasting and baking in the oven.

FoodMuster said...

To address the last comment, a cooking machine replaces many of your cooking appliances in your kitchen, but it can't replace what an oven can do. I still use my oven and stove because you can't fry an egg in a thermal cooking machine. However there are heaps of things that you can do with your TMX or HMP. A Vitamix is good for juices, sorbets, and soups, but thats about it. If you are cool with that then good for you. If you want more, then check out my recipes for the HMP, its an amzing machine that can do so much more! Thanks for your comment:)

Anonymous said...

Vitamix grinds grain as well

Anonymous said...

Just to clarify...I am a Thermomix consultant and you do not need to host a demo to purchase a machine - the demo is very useful in learning how to use your machine and it is strongly encouraged however it is not compulsory.

Unknown said...

Hi there! Thanks for the discussion. I found this review which might be helpful to everyone. Ihttp://ironchefshellie.com/2011/12/07/thermochef-vs-thermomix/ It compares thermomix to thermochef and the thermomix comes out much better! This is interesting because even though it is half the price, forking out $1000 for a thermochef only to be disappointed by what it can do is still problematic. In the end it might be better to spend more but be delighted, and you have to admit that most thermomix users are devotees- very delighted with what it can do.

Thanks again for posting, I found this really valuable!

JD said...

I used the Vitamix 5200 back in Canada and I love it, why do people have to be lazy and get everything in one machine.. I personally am not impressed with anything that costs that much and only provides you with a 2 year warranty, I could care less what it does. I use my vitamix for making smoothies and making pastes for cooking like curry or chilli etc..I'm a guy I like that it is simple, reliable, easy to use. If you want something hot, cook it, on a stove LOL... I do like the fact that if you use frozen strawberries and cream you can make ice cream in a vitamix.. I've never liked something more than the vitamix other than my car...you will be increasing your fruit(vitamin,fiber etc etc) intake by leaps and bounds, you will want to have a HUGE smoothie everyday at the very least, i usually have a few, seeing how I dont eat vegetables this machine greatly improved my over all wellbeing..

FoodMuster said...

HI JD, thanks for your comments. I was very impressed with the Vitamix when I saw it in action and its a very powerful blender. The HMP is my preferred machine because it does cook, and the reason why I prefer a cooking machine is because it means I still get dinner on the table but not have to stand over a stove or keep checking things, for most recipes, once the ingredients are in the machine you can walk away and tend to other things, it is really awesome. The other thing I like amongst many things is cooking caramel, which you get to perfection without watching the machine or standing nearby or checking temperatures. It is convenience at its best which I prefer being a mother to 4 kids. Each to their own, but everything a Vitamix can do, a HMP can do, and then some!! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

Anonymous said...

Like JD, I love my Vitamix. I really, really love it. I rarely cook, but I frequently use the Vitamix to make smoothies, and occasionally make sorbets, sauces, nut butters, etc, etc with it. Smoothies are so much better with it than with any other blender I've used. It's fantastic.

If you don't want to stand over a stove, you could always get a pressure cooker... that plus a Vitamix might do everything you actually want (and that any of the machines you've mentioned can do - none of them replace an oven).

I spend a lot of time in Germany, and had not heard of the Thermomix before tonight.

Anonymous said...

Hello there,
I have looked to the different machines en at last I bougth me a Kenwood Cooking Chef KM080. The latest new thing.
I have done democooking with the thermomix as well.
With the thermomix it is a small batch instead of kenwood. Also the equiment is mostly in plastic, not by kenwood. There is it in steal.
With the thermoix you have more things to wash, not with kenwood.
Just to say that you have more possibility with kenwood. Maybe it is a little bit expensive, OK, but you have more things you can do.

Anonymous said...

I have been to a Thermomix demo (which was probably the worst example of a direct selling demo ever. .disorganized, blades failed, food didn't come out that well) and I cannot believe the price here in Australia. .about $800 overpriced. It is not worth this price and a two year warranty is not great. It should at least have an annual service offer. So, whilst it's a clever machine. . its overpriced in Australia. . .

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone
I owned thermomix tm21 here in Sydney about 4-5 years ago but sold it so could upgrade to tm31 .... I did love it for the following ... Sorbet, sugar to icing sugar when needed, smoothies, soups, and definitely cleaning up and scales were a blessing ... However just bought the kenwood cooking chef at Xmas for the price of $1695 with $350 or something redemption pack which includes continuous juice extractor, mini chopper/mill (4 glass jars) and glass blender woo hoo !!
6 months of research allowed me to make an easy decision at end of day especially with induction cooking, bowl is big but not heavy at all, attachments are very easy to use, and can't wait to get the pasta maker and mincer next ... Which are 10% off at moment so I'm paying about $90 each ... Only thing I do miss is the scales ... By the way it is still just as easy to clean even though attachments are bulky ... Gr8 thing is you don't have to pull the blades out to clean out underneath which I did cut myself a couple of times ;((. Hope that helps ... I'm off to cook my lasagne for lunch

FoodMuster said...

thanks for the last comment. It seems the Kenwood Cooking Chef is becoming more popular! I would like to know what the warranty is like, so if anyone knows please share.

Anonymous said...

Hi there

I bought a Thermomix attend of last year. I wish I had saved my money, my food processor and juicer do everything the Thermomix does except cooks the food. Did you know that around 80% of sales are because of the sorbet that is made at demos. I also hate the way the claim that it juices it doesn't it just chops the fruit and veggies to a watery mush. One group leader I know was telling her consultants to gloss over the juicing side of things if they were asked about it at demos, and they are told how to make the other machines sound like rubbish. Oh and food processors and blenders also clean themselves, just put some water into the bown and whizz it for a few seconds and it's done. For sticky food you will have to take them apart as you do for the Thermomix which is a pain to clean, and I hate that you can't see what is happening in thethermomix bowl without taking off the lid. It doesn't grate, slice or dice it only chops and it's difficult to get that right I have had so many salads turn to mush. My advice is research all the Thermomix type machines that are on the market and work out what you really want to use it for. Before you decide don't get sucked in by the misleading hype that the demonstrators tell you about Thermomix. oh and watch Jamie Oliver he knows how together most from a food processor.

FoodMuster said...

Thanks for your last comment. I totally agree with the whole sorbet comment. I also agree with the cleaning part too. If you do cook with meet or mince for example, you really do need to pull the machine part and make sure you get all the meat out of the blades. A toothbrush can do that for you - well that is what I use for the HMP. I am not a big fan of juicing either. I haven't got the technique down, if there is one. I have been straining the pulp and this can be time consuming. I think at the end of the day the thermal cooking machines are best for cooking things that you would normally spend time standing at a stove top for. The HMP for example, also grinds things that some processors can't really cope with. Your food processor has its place but like you said, it can't cook, but it can grate and dice things very well and very fast. It comes down to personal preference and research which I urge all my readers to do. Thank you for you comment.

Unknown said...

Hi FoodMuster,

Haven't seen you for a while. Anyway, you probably already know, but in case you don't, there a few other cheaper machines out in the market - The Bellini Kitchen Master, Kogan's Thermoblend and Maxi's SuperChef - if you ever get a chance to see or use these machines in action, please give me your two-pence worth about them too. Would love to hear.

Thanks!

xx
Emmeline.

FoodMuster said...

Hi Emmeline,
I am aware of these cheaper machines. However, the old saying "you get what you pay for" is really applicable here. They are able to be cheaper because they don't work quite as well as the pricier machines. It is a shame in some ways that we need to spend so much more for the better machines, but if you do invest the extra dollars for an HMP, for example, you will be so much happier for it and you can cook and prepare a lot more dishes.

Still in saying that the cheaper machines do have a place in the market for those who want to prepare basic dishes, but please do not push these machines because they will not be able to perform the same way as a HMP or a TMX 31.

Anonymous said...

About the warranty of the kenwood cooking chef, It comes with only one year warranty but because you buy it in a normal shop to can opt to buy extended warranty. I bought mine almost two years ago and I love it (also have a thermomix and use both daily), but I was glad I did get the extended warranty as it broke down last week and is now being repaired under extended warranty.

Anonymous said...

Hello, I am new here. We just bought Kennwood Cooking Chef KM080. We also wanted to buy attachment for ice- cream AT957A, but in shop they told us, that Kenwood doesn't have this attachment for this product..
In the instuctions book it is written that it is available????
Can anyone tell me pls if it exists or not?
Thank you in advance.

Catharine said...

You must check out the heating capacity of the Kenwood, the bowl is huge but it will not heat that amount of food. I stand to be corrected but think you may only heat about 2 litres of food. The attachments are a hassle to store and attach and mostly cost extra. The TM is lighter and smaller and everything is done in one bowl. The Kenwood you need to chop in a separate attachment and then place in the bowl. More washing up. Not for me

Unknown said...

The biggest difference and the reason Thermomix will always come out on top is the fact it has a switched reluctance motor. Most of these other appliances run on outdated, problematic brushed motors which have very limited life spans and high break down rates.
The in built scales and the milling function without the need for a change of blade also sets Tm31 above the others.
Each to their own, but in the end, after 10 years it will be the Thermomix that offers the best value for money.

Unknown said...

Kenwood Cooking Chef is fantastic .... I had the Thermomix and sold it for the Kenwood Cooking Chef its fantastic and so versatile. I can make anything with it and it is done perfectly as I can change the tool that I am using so that it is specific for the job rather than just using blades all the time and the only thing that changes is whether they are fast or slow or on reverse. KCC all the way it is astounding !! Let me also answer a couple of comments above ... the standard warranty is 12months on the machines external parts but has a 5 year warranty on the motor .. the cooking capacity is 3L while for cold food it is 6.7L

Anonymous said...

I brought a Kenwood Cooking Chef over thermomix mainly for the large bowl quantity (6.7l) compared to thermomix , I prefer it not just for cooking but when i want to make large bread dough, cookies and cake batter. just something about large quantities getting folder together. also the warranty is 5 years manufacturing not 1 year as someone mentioned.

Unknown said...

Your service is great on home appliances i like your local service special thanks for your shearing.
Buy Kenwood products in UAE

Family Personal Blender said...

Wow! Really Nice Post.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...