The pros and cons of the super kitchen machine
TO SEE OUR NIFTY 2015 GUIDE TO AWESOME KITCHEN GADGETS IN SINGAPORE, HEAD HERE.
If you spend quite a lot of time in the kitchen, chances are, you’ve heard about the German super kitchen machine that is the Thermomix. Dubbed the “all-in-one kitchen appliance”, this nifty-looking equipment is said to do it all; it cooks, steams, mixes, chops, blends, stirs, beats, emulsifies and kneads. It stops short of putting on an apron, pouring you a glass of wine and rubbing your feet (it is German after all). But it does wash itself up with somewhat questionable thoroughness. But hey, who’s complaining!
So, knowing all of that, is there any reason not to get a Thermomix? Well, cost for one. It goes without saying that a multifunctional machine like the Thermomix comes with a hefty price tag (one online portal is selling it at SGD$2538), so before you whip out your credit card and charge away, let us give you the lowdown on the pros and cons of this precision, European gastro-producing dream.
Image courtesy of Thermomix Australia FB
The Pros
- Hands down, the Thermomix saves you an incredible amount of time. That’s its purpose. Because it works as a sort of “one-pot-wonder”, all you have to do is throw in the ingredients for a given recipe and program it’s function. Cake, soup, salad, rice – you name it, it prepares it.
- It has a built-in digital electronic scale so your ingredients are measured as they go into the bowl. No more washing up additional measuring tools!
- For a machine that does it all, it’s pretty compact and you can afford to make space for it by banishing other items to the appliance graveyard (bye bye Kitchen Aid, blender, Jamie Oliver gadgets, Magimix and juicer). Stats-wise: it stands at 30 centimetres, has a width and depth of 28.5 centimetres and weighs 6.3 kilograms.
- There’s a good number of safety features to give you peace of mind if your little ones are using the Thermomix with you in the kitchen. Just to name a few: The blades of the machine will not operate until the lid is locked in position, the lid cannot be opened until the blades have completely stopped turning, and, it comes with an electronic motor protection to prevent overload.
The Cons
- The maximum capacity of the mixing bowl is only two litres. This is fine if you’re making something like soup for a family of four to five, but if you’re cooking for more than that, you’ll have to roll your sleeves up.
- It’s not something that’s easily found in department stores – even TANGS doesn’t carry the Thermomix. You must purchase it online via selected representatives (more on this later).
- Definitely not the right machine if you’re looking to be more hands-on with things, like blending spices the traditional way with a pestle and mortar (common practice for many Asian recipes). And, if you like baking and getting messy with the kids in the kitchen, there’s not a lot to see when our German friend is operating. It’s more of a set and forget experience.
- If you need to make multiple dishes at once, say for a dinner party, you will need to dismantle the mixing bowl and wash up between courses. It could be faster on these occassions to go the traditional route and use the stovetop with three pots at once.
Image courtesy of Thermoix Germany FB
Where to get a Thermomix in Singapore
If you’re ready to clear some space on your kitchen benchtop and make a shrine out of this machine, you can visit wheretobuythermomix.com, which is based in Malaysia but also brings the Thermomix in to Singapore. They’re selling the kitchen appliance (Model TM31) at SGD2538. They also hold cooking classes and live demonstration sessions so you can get the full experience before making a purchase.
New vs. Old: TM5 vs. TM31
You might have heard the outrage in Australia recently from Thermomix owners after a new model was (very quietly) released, the TM5. Apparently, peeps who had just invested in the TM31 might have preferred to know that a newer flashier version was about to become available. So, what’s the difference between the two? The TM5 comes fitted with touch-screen features, and has a slightly larger capacity. Other than that, they have very similar functionality. The latest model available in Asia is still the TM31 and it is not yet confirmed when the TM5 might be available here.
Official Thermomix site: thermomix.com
Recipes: easilycookyourown.blogspot.sg, ilovethermomix.com/Recipes.html, recipecommunity.com.au
Lead image courtesy of Thermomix Australia FB