It seems from the response on my posts and the talk else where that the above three cooking machines are the ones that most people are talking about. Naturally, for those that care to know, TM 31 gets a lot of recognition and discussion because it targets the mum-chef market via party plan. The demonstration party shows you how to make an entree, main, salad, bread rolls, and dessert all in the one machine within the hour. Its rather impressive and most women are in awe of the machine by the end of the demonstration and impulsively begin thinking or rationalising how and why they need the machine day/night or when they will hold their own party to take advantage of the gifts they supply if you do so. However, one should be conscious of whether this truly is the only machine like this available in the market. Once upon a time Thermomix was loving the attention and sales because there was nothing else really like it on the market, either in party plan or commercially. However I am please to inform you all, that Thermomix needs to worry because they are no longer lone rangers on the market. There are more machines popping up that compare and even are better than the TM 31. I have written a few blog posts already about thermal cooking machines so please feel free to take a look at those. Once you have done that sit down with your cuppa and read on to see what else is available.
I have had the pleasure of using the HotMix Pro and I love it!! HotMix Pro is fairly new to the Australian market. The Hotmix Pro machines are designed and made in Italy, so you can be assured of quality. The TM 31, is German designed, but made in France. Since using this machine I have discovered there are many great features that make HotMix Pro better than the TM 31 and the Kenwood Cooking Chef.
I won't harp on too much about the fact that you don't have to have a party to purchase a HotMix Pro machine. Just contact them(in your own country) and they will get you in contact with your local state rep. The NSW rep is Ralph Goodwin, who is lovely and will help you out with no worries at all. Stewart Fruhwald is the Natioanl/Victoria contact and you can also purchase HotMix pro in New Zealand. All other countries can make enquiries via the worldwide page at www.hotmixpro.com.
HotMix Pro provide two different machines depending on your needs. The two models are HotMix Pro Easy, and HotMix Pro Gastro. To get an idea of the difference between the two Hotmix models you need to work what you need it for. If you are a home chef and are considering a Kenwood Cooking Chef or a Thermomixer TM 31, then the HotMix Easy model is for you. However, if you own a restaurant, catering business etc then the Gastro model is more on your end of the market. That being said, there is nothing stopping the home chef purchasing the Gastro. If cooking is your passion, there are some great features on the Gastro that would benefit you, however it is a little more expensive. I have done a basic comparison checklist to give you an idea on what each machine offers and for what price.
| Hotmix Pro Easy
Max Temp: 25-130C
Motor: 1200W
RPM: 10000
Bowl Capacity: 2 Litres
Price : $1895 + GST
| TM 31
Max Temp: 37-100C
Motor: 500W
RPM: 10200
Price: $1939
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| HotMix Pro Gastro
Max Temp: 25-190C
Motor: 1500W
RPM: 12500
Bowl Capacity: 2 Litres
Price: $2395 + GST
| Kenwood Cooking Chef
Max Temp: 20 - 140C
Motor: 1500W (1100W induction cooking system)
Bowl Capacity: 6.7 Litres (3 L for cooking)
Price: $1999
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From first glance, they all seem fairly comparable except for the fact that the HotMix Pro machines and the Kenwood Cooking Chef have a more powerful motor in comparison to the TM31. To truly compare the HotMix Pro machine with the TM 31 I used a TM 31 recipe book and I discovered I was using lower speeds on the HotMix pro and getting the same results and in some cases mixing or grinding in shorter time and cooking on lower temperatures because I can change the temperatures by 1C. You will also notice that the maximum temperatures are much higher in the HotMix Pro machines compared to the TM 31. I feel it very important to emphasize that the increments of temperature on the HotMix Pro machines go up by 1C which is important in achieving results for some recipes such as caramelising sugars. Textures and tastes of meals can be enhanced if you have control over how your food is cooked and this is something that the TM 31 can not do.
For me the major draw card for the Kenwood Cooking Chef was the capacity bowl and the fact that you can cook a larger sized meal in the one bowl and make 6L of ice cream in the one bowl at the one time. However the main draw back for the Kenwood is that you are limited to what you can achieve with the machine by what attachments you do or don't have. If you want to juice your fruit, you have to buy an attachment. If you want to grind, that's another attachment, if you want to make a smoothie or milkshake, again its another attachment. The point of the other machines is that you have it all in the one machine. I am not sure that the Kenwood's blender attachment could achieve grinding ice , wheat or, sugar in the same speed and fineness like the other machines could either. So this is where I must say adieu to the Kenwood Cooking Chef! I am sure you are a great and fascinating machine, but you can't compare in as many ways as the others do.
So now I am down to the Thermomixer TM 31 and the HotMix Pro machines. This is where it gets intense and specific. My next installment will have photos and because I have used both machines, I can tell you what the pros and cons are for each.
