This $1,700 Multicooker Is Wildly Popular In Europe. I Tested It to See What We’re Missing

If you live in the US, you may not be familiar with the Thermomix, but this multipurpose kitchen appliance has gained significant traction among home cooks in other parts of the world, particularly in parts of Europe and Asia. 

As a culinary school grad and food writer with thousands of hours of home cooking under my belt, I set out to see what all the fuss is about and decide if North America is missing out on a critical kitchen tool that belongs beside my air fryer, coffee maker and other essentials. 

The Thermomix TM7 is Vorwerk’s latest evolution of its all-in-one kitchen technology, promising to be not just a blender or food processor, but a complete cooking companion. The kitchen robot has a price tag that rivals a small renovation, but this German-engineered appliance makes bold claims about revolutionizing home cooking. 

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So, can a single countertop appliance really replace as many as a dozen kitchen tools, as the brand purports? After weeks of putting the TM7 through real-world tests — from weeknight dinners to a few more ambitious baking projects — I’ve found the answer is nuanced. 

Ultimately, your budget will play a big factor in whether this machine makes sense for your kitchen. Before you add the smart culinary gadget to your cart, read my thoughts on the Thermomix TM7.

Thermomix TM7 at a glance

• Style: Multicooker countertop appliance with a built-in digital tablet control panel that can perform a number of kitchen appliance functions, and also includes guided recipes along with a Cookidoo subscription.
• Functions/features: Mixing/cooking bowl with built-in mixing knife, detachable simmering basket, butterfly whisk, Varoma steam tray and spatula/hook.
• Dimensions: 13.23″ (H) x 9.96″ (W) x 15.94″ (D)
• Watts: Heating power: 1000W, Motor power: 500W, Maximum power consumption: 2000W
• Weight: 18.96 lbs
• Price: $1699

Thermomix TM7 Operation

It would be tempting to approach the Thermomix TM7 as if it were a Swiss Army knife, given the multitude of functions it can execute. Testing each function one at a time, however, would miss its point. Yes, it can function as a blender, food processor, timer, cooking surface, slow cooker, kitchen scale, sous vide machine, egg cooker, stand mixer, dough kneader, rice cooker and steamer, all in one. 

You wouldn’t be faulted for getting rid of a cabinet full of those individual appliances and devices in favor of the TM7, and using it to perform any of those functions as needed. Its large and intuitive display panel, which is essentially a tablet built into a heavy-duty, motorized base, easily allows you to set it manually to perform any desired function.

The unique aspect of the Thermomox TM7, however, is that it is a multicooker in the truest sense of the word. It can perform a number of these functions simultaneously, or at least in sequence, and the device is Wi-Fi-enabled to connect to over 100,000 guided recipes on its related Cookidoo subscription platform. 

It’s almost like a meal kit in reverse: You have to collect all of the ingredients yourself, but then the Thermomix executes all of the steps of prepping and cooking for you. You need merely follow along on the large display screen, adding ingredients, or pressing “play” to initiate the next programmed phase of chopping, sautéing, simmering or steaming. You can make something as simple as homemade lemonade (which will never be the same for me again) or as complex as a multicomponent dish or even an entire steamed chicken. I did all three, and then some.

Basically, the Thermomix TM7 is not a toaster, pressure cooker, deep fryer, air fryer, or oven, but it’s just about everything else rolled into one, plus a benevolent kitchen assistant that actually does a lot of the thinking and cooking for you.

What I liked about the Thermomix TM7

As someone who is culinary school-trained and has tested a fair number of both kitchen appliances and meal kit delivery services, what I liked most about the Thermomix TM7 was how fascinating and fun it is to use. I really enjoy cooking, but I also appreciate it when a device or service streamlines some of the process for me while still producing high-quality results. This device delivered on that promise in a major way. That it is really, really fun to use may or may not justify its price for you, but it is its major selling point. It was recently released for the US market and currently has a perfect 5-star rating from those who have rated.

A multicooker of this kind was never on my radar before, and I fully expected to test it as described above — by testing each of its individual functions and comparing them to those of other devices of the same nature. But that’s not a fair fight, and not the point. It’s a powerful, very good, but probably not the best, food processor. 

I am not aware of another food processor that allows you to sauté the mirepoix directly in the same chamber after it has been chopped. As a slow cooker, it seems counterintuitive to have blades from a food processor built into the cooking chamber, but no other slow cooker can also chop up all the requisite vegetables to begin a chili or soup. Such is the nature of the Thermomix TM7 as a one-stop appliance shop for many recipes.

Technically and logistically speaking, it also has a lot of positives. Given its price and its heft, it was surprisingly simple to assemble, and I also appreciated that its packaging was minimal. The large, tablet-sized display is incredibly intuitive for anyone who has owned a smartphone in the last decade. The interior of the insulated bowl is made from stainless steel, not nonstick coating, and therefore PFAS-free. 

The Varoma steamer tray is made of food-grade plastic and isn’t intended for high-heat cooking, as it is labeled as being BPA- and BPS-free. Everything except the weighted base is dishwasher-safe, including the blender/food processor blades, which are removable. (Handwashing is recommended, however, and the materials include a handy chart for quick reference.) The spatula tool included is also multipurpose: long and heavy-duty enough to reach the full capacity of the bowl without getting nicked by the blades, and it also features a hook that can lift the simmering basket out when it’s hot.

In terms of safety, no part of the insulated mechanism becomes hot to the touch while in operation. However, I appreciated details like the red illumination that emits from the base while it’s in the process of cooking, which lets you know it’s in a heated phase. The bowl also automatically locks onto the base during certain functions so that it’s not possible to knock it off.

Purchasing a Thermomix through a consultant is recommended, though not required, and includes free shipping and a demo; however, I found it intuitive to operate on my own.

What I didn’t like about the Thermomix TM7

Unfortunately, the price is the biggest barrier to owning one. At $1699, even if you’re using it to replace a multitude of individual countertop appliances, it doesn’t entirely add up to a better value. Its value lies in its ability to fully execute recipes, rather than in performing individual functions. Even as a skilled cook, I found it fascinating to use and had a sense I would employ it regularly, but would that giddiness and novelty fade over time? Possibly. (I also concede that it’s equally possible it would become something I couldn’t imagine living without, and at that price, I’d hope so.)

Its space requirement is not insignificant for something you’d really want to keep on the countertop at all times. The Varoma steamer tray, while generous in size, also requires storage when not in use.

While a Cookidoo subscription is not required to use the Thermomix for its multitude of functions, or to execute step-by-step recipes of your own, it is required to use the guided recipes. A three-month subscription is included with your purchase, but then it’s $65 annually to continue using the platform. 

Final verdict on the Thermomix TM7

The Thermomix TM7 feels like stepping into the future, and not in a scary way. While it may be cost-prohibitive for some, it is a well-designed, intuitive device with extremely high functionality that performs at a much higher level, along with the Cookidoo subscription, than any single multicooker or other countertop appliance could. It’s the additional value of its prepping and cooking functions combined that makes it something strongly worth considering, especially for those strapped for time and inspiration who still crave a home-cooked meal.