Product Review Thermomix Bellini Thermochef
Product Review Thermomix Bellini Thermochef
Have you been caught up in all the Thermomix, Thermochef, Bellini hype going on? It seems everywhere I look lately someone is wishing they had one, is getting one, or is cooking up a storm with one. If you have not heard about them they’re an electrical kitchen appliance that can cook, blend, chop, cut, steam, mix and kneed all in one. They’re the ultimate one pot cooking machine. They claim that you can rid your cupboards of all your other similar appliances for just this one machine.
One of the most raved about characteristics of theses appliances is the ability to place all your ingredients into the machine and walk away. The appliance will stir your pot while it cooks. If you are someone who cooks from scratch and is interested in clean eating then one of these appliances can do many things for you. You can make your own flour from whole wheat, nuts, seeds or coconut. Make your own icing sugar , coconut, almond or rice milk all from whole ingredients. They also make sorbets and great pumpkin soup. I have to say I love these machines and if you don’t have one or are thinking of getting one then sit back because I’ve used all three of them and I’m going to tell you what I think of each of them.
Product Review Thermomix Bellini Thermochef
The Bellini
I have owned two types of these machines over the past 3 years and have certainly not regretted my purchases. I started off with the Bellini. It is available Australia wide from Target for around $270-$400 depending on specials. It is the least expensive of the three. I originally chose it because we did not have a Thermomix consultant where I lived and I was really not sure I would use it enough to warrant paying the price the other two were asking. The Bellini worked well for me and came with the same accessories that the other two come with. The two main negatives I have about the Bellini are that I found that I could not cook things using the 100 degree temperature setting as the base would burn, and the blade shaft did start to corrode from being washed in the dishwasher. Both of these negatives are easily overcome. The Bellini has a blunt and a sharp blade attachment so you need to insert the correct blade type before use. The Thermomix and Thermochef only have the one blade set.
Overall the Bellini was a fantastic introduction to this thermo way of cooking. I found a great facebook page called Bellini Addicts with tonnes of recipes and support for using the Bellini and converting over recipes. I would definitely recommend the Bellini to anyone who would like to try out the thermo way of cooking but who are hesitant to spend more than $400 on a kitchen appliance. I know many who love the Bellini and have had no problems. I also know plenty who have had breakdowns, but have only heard good reports of Bellini being very helpful with repairs and replacements.
The Thermomix
My experience with a Thermomix came when I had a flood forced stay with a friend who owned a Thermomix. Together for 3 and a bit weeks we whipped up a storm with it. The Thermomix is the deluxe model of these three machines. Thermomix has recently released a new model the TM5, I have not had any experience with this model but have had plenty with its predecessor the TM31. The price of a Thermomix is just under $2,000 and is the most expensive of the three. It is only available through a Thermomix consultant, who will bring the machine to your house once you purchase it and show you how to use it. I have found the TM31 to be a dream to use and I have heard only good things about the TM5 as well.
I love the dial operation on the front of the machine over the dial on the Bellini and touch screen on the Thermochef. All removable parts can be washed in the dishwasher and I love the inbuilt scales that work in the jugs resting place. The seal in the lid is easily removed and cleaned….something that is really lacking in the Bellini. The Bellini has a very thick seal and lid with many indents……..making it hard to scrape food from. The Thermomix only has one blade, however the unit has a reverse action which is used when a blunt blade is needed. I would have no hesitation in recommending the purchase a Thermomix if you can afford one, the only draw back is the price. In my opinion it is the best of the three.
The Thermochef
Finally the Thermochef, this is what I presently own. Due to a silly move on my part I broke my Bellini and with still no Thermomix consultant in my area I chose to buy a Thermochef. They are available through various kitchen retailers and online and range from $525 to $750 depending on where you purchase from. I purchased mine online from TVSN so that I could take advantage of the 30 day money back guarantee if I did not like it. The thing that I love the most about the Thermochef is the basket and steamer are stainless steel and not plastic like the other two machines. This is the main reason beside price and availability as to why I chose it over the Thermomix.
The jug and blades cannot be washed in the dishwasher like the other two. I thought this would really annoy me, but I have found that it forces me to wash it immediately after each use. I’m not then hunting for it in the dishwasher, something I used to do regularly with the Bellini. The lid is much easier to scrape out than the Bellini but it does take some getting used to. It can be quite difficult to click into place until you master it. I am not a real fan of the touch button screen as I think this will break over time and the binging noise it makes each time you touch a button gets a bit annoying. I also do not like that the scales for the unit are not situated where the jug rests. This means having to remove the jug from its resting place to add more ingredients that need to be weighted. Having said that these negatives do not annoy me to the value of $1,400. If my Thermochef broke down tomorrow and I could afford a Thermomix I would definitely buy one……….but if I couldn’t I would replace it with another Thermochef. I have found Thermomix and Thermochef recipes to be interchangeable whereas Bellini recipes require converting to that particular machine, but once you have the hang of this it is easy to do.
My Recommendations
If you are new to this way of cooking and would love to give it ago but are hesitant at spending more than $400 on a kitchen appliance then I recommend that you try the Bellini. I know many who have started off with this machine to see if they actually will use it everyday and have upgraded to a Thermochef or Thermomix. If you value cooking with stainless steel over plastic then I would recommend the Thermochef. If budget is of no concern to you then I would recommend that you go with the Thermomix.
If you enjoyed reading this Product Review Thermomix Bellini Thermochef you may also be like our Clean Eating Guide.
Thank you so much for a frank “in-site” into the differences between these machines. I’m not sure if I want to spend this kind of money on a product that will not suit lots of cooking styles?
I do like gadgets but they can disappoint! My sister has the Bellini and she likes it but does not use it all that often.
Thanks again
Hi Lorraine,
I’m glad you enjoyed my review. For me as time has passed I have found that I use my Thermochef more and more. I think this is because I’ve made a conscious effort to analyse how I cook and see if there is a way I could do it in my Thermochef any quicker and with less washing up!…….at any rate as long as we are all cooking fresh wholesome foods what does it matter how we do it.
Hi. Thanks for your reviews. After wanting a thermomix for a long time I decided on getting a thermochef mainly because of the cost. I’m glad you day the receipts are pretty much interchangeable because it’s a lot easier to find thermomix recipes than thermochef. Just a quick question – can you make icing sugar and mill flour in the thermochef like you can in the thermomix?
Hi Katrina,
You sure can mill flour and make icing sugar in a Thermochef. To start with I would do smaller quantities than are suggested in the Thermomix untill you get the hang of it. Have fun!
Thanks for your review. I have a question re. the Bellini – are the blades set fairly low? One of the frustrations I have using my food processor/ blender is that ingredients often get stuck underneath and around the blades, leaving them whirring around doing nothing, and I spend too much time stopping the machine to scrape it out. Also have you heard anything about Bellini’s latest model? Many thanks.
Hi Emma,
I did not experience this with my Bellini and have never had it happen using a thermomix or a thermochef. Target usually have a bellini on display so you should be able to have a good look at one before you buy. I have not tried, seen or used the new Bellini Super Cook Kitchen Master.
I have to admit, I’m scared of the Thermomix. Such an awful lot of money …. I expect it to really deliver. What tempts me to buy one is not the all-in-one-replaces-all-your-other-machines-hype. It can’t slow cook, can’t pressure cook, can’t bake, can’t juice and can’t slice. For my family of 6 (5 males) I can’t imagine the bowl will be large enough to cook in. Certainly not enough to do a double meal in. So I would keep my crockpot, my pressure cooker, my juicer, my food processor, my juicer and still use my stovetop and my oven. I guess I wouldn’t use my blender anymore, but as its an interchangeable part of my food processor I’m not saving anything here.
What I do like it’s the ability to cook clean, the inbuilt scales and the onboard recipes (TM5) that MAY make me think about letting my boys prepare meals. And that it encourages trying of new recipes like hollandaise sauce and lemon curd etc. I like the idea of risotto but like the sauces, don’t make it now so would I after a TM purchase?
I can imagine using it to prepare curry pastes, which I do now but maybe the TM could spend that up for me? I just can’t justify the expense for what I see as my limited use. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe havoc one would open my eyes? Would I be just as happy with a Thermochef, especially since it’s less than half the price?