Is it worth upgrading from Lidl Monsieur Cuisine Smart to Thermomix TM7?

Upgrading from Lidl Monsieur Cuisine Smart to Thermomix TM7 is worth considering if you cook several times a week and want a larger recipe ecosystem, more precise cooking and long-term support. The TM7 offers tens of thousands of Cookidoo recipes, Ingredient Presets, remote monitoring via the Cookidoo app and advisor-backed service, whereas Monsieur Cuisine focuses on a smaller built-in library and budget pricing.

What does Thermomix TM7 offer that Lidl Monsieur Cuisine does not?

Thermomix TM7 offers a 10-inch touchscreen, over 20 cooking modes, a much larger Cookidoo recipe library, Ingredient Presets for chopping and steaming, remote monitoring and regular firmware updates. It is sold with advisor support and service centres in the UK and Ireland, making it a long-term cooking system rather than just a budget multi-cooker.

I already own a budget 'Thermomix dupe'. When should I consider TM7?

You should consider upgrading to Thermomix TM7 when you are using your current device three or more times per week, feel limited by its recipe library, want more precise control over texture and cooking results, and are ready to invest in a long-term appliance with ongoing software updates and support.

Does Thermomix TM7 still make sense if I am on a budget?

Thermomix TM7 is a premium appliance, but for households that cook frequently it can replace many other gadgets, reduce takeaway spend and support healthier eating. If your budget is tight, you can start with a lower-cost device; once you know that a cooking robot fits your lifestyle, upgrading to TM7 becomes a more confident investment.

Already Own a Lidl Monsieur Cuisine or ‘Thermomix Dupe’? When It’s Worth Upgrading to Thermomix TM7 in the UK & Ireland

Beatriz
4 hours ago
4 min read

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Introduction:

In 2025, Lidl’s Monsieur Cuisine Smart and other “Thermomix-style” machines exploded across the UK & Ireland. Monsieur Cuisine Smart landed at around £299 for Lidl Plus members in GB and €499.99 in Ireland, versus £1,349 / €1,599 for Thermomix TM7.

It’s no surprise many people chose the cheaper option first.

Now, a growing number of owners are asking themselves:

“Is Lidl Monsieur Cuisine enough or should I upgrade to Thermomix?”
“Thermomix vs Monsieur Cuisine; is the premium really worth it?”

This guide is for you if you already own a budget ‘Thermomix dupe’ and want to know whether moving to Thermomix TM7 will genuinely change how you cook in the UK or Ireland.

1. Lidl Monsieur Cuisine Smart vs Thermomix TM7 – the reality

Let’s anchor on real current UK & Ireland data.

Price & recipes

Monsieur Cuisine Smart (Lidl)
- £299 (Lidl Plus reservation) / £399 GB; ~€499.99 IE
- ≈600+ pre-installed guided recipes, with Wi-Fi recipe updates and Google Assistant voice control
Thermomix TM7 (Vorwerk)
- £1,349 UK / €1,599 IE
- Access to 100,000+ tested Cookidoo® recipes worldwide, with new UK & IE content weekly v

Hardware & experience

TM7 has a 10" multi-touch display, redesigned Varoma with ≈45% more steaming capacity vs TM6, upgraded insulation and a quieter motor.
Lidl’s Monsieur Cuisine Smart uses an 8" screen, bigger bowl, and delivers excellent value for the price; but reviewers consistently note that Thermomix offers more precise cooking, faster motor speeds and a more polished ecosystem.

So from a “spec sheet” perspective, TM7 clearly sits in the premium, long-term system category; not just “another multi-cooker”.

2. When a Lidl-style cooker is enough (and when it isn’t)

A budget ‘dupe’ is enough if you:

Only cook 1–2 nights a week
Mainly want soups, basic stews, steamed veg
Are happy to manually adapt recipes from blogs and YouTube
Don’t need much advisor support or future-proof updates

It becomes limiting when you:

Start cooking 4–5 nights a week and crave more variety
Want more reliable results (especially for sauces, doughs, desserts)
Feel stuck with 600–700 recipes and basic updates
Want a device that will be supported and repairable for 10+ years

That’s when TM7 moves from “nice upgrade” to “this actually changes my cooking life”.

3. What you gain by upgrading to Thermomix TM7

3.1 A deeper recipe ecosystem (Cookidoo®)

Cookidoo now not only gives you tens of thousands of recipes, it also adds:

Ingredient Presets for TM7; pre-configured chopping and steaming profiles for specific ingredients and textures.
Recipe Handover from your phone to TM7 and Remote Monitoring for long steps via Cookidoo Release 1.2.
“Your Cookidoo 2025: Your Year in Recipes”: personalised insights on what you cooked and inspiration for the year ahead.

Budget devices typically offer a static library (hundreds of recipes, not tens of thousands) and lighter updates.

3.2 A smarter, evolving cooking platform

TM7’s new platform means:

Guided cooking is more immersive on the 10" display.
Ingredient presets auto-set time and speed based on your chosen ingredient and outcome – especially powerful for chopping and steaming.
Firmware + Cookidoo app updates continue to add new features available only on TM7 (e.g. remote viewing for steps longer than three minutes).

A Lidl-style cooker usually does not change that much once you’ve unpacked it.

3.3 Advisor support & service network

Vorwerk sells Thermomix in UK & IE through a direct advisor model, backed by service centres and spare parts.

Budget robots are typically:

One-off purchases from supermarket middle aisles,
With limited long-term service options once warranty ends.

If you plan to own a cooking robot for 10–15 years, that difference matters.

4. When is the right time to upgrade?

Strong signals you’re ready for TM7:

You use your Lidl / budget robot 3+ times per week
You find yourself constantly searching for more recipes than the built-in library offers
You want better texture control for veg, grains, meats and sauces
You’re starting to think about long-term reliability, not just initial price

If that sounds like you, booking a Thermomix TM7 demo through LifeWithThermomix.co.uk is the logical next step; you’ll see side-by-side how TM7 and your current machine compare in real recipes.

5. Quick Q&A for “dupe” owners

“Will TM7 really cook better than my Monsieur Cuisine?”

In independent reviews and media tests, Thermomix is consistently rated as more precise, faster and more polished than Lidl’s Monsieur Cuisine, especially in guided cooking and steaming consistency.

“I’ve just bought my Lidl cooker – should I feel bad?”

Not at all. For many UK & IE households, Monsieur Cuisine is a great way to discover whether you enjoy cooking with a “robot”. Once you know you’ll actually use it several times a week, upgrading to TM7 becomes a more confident decision.

6. How to start your Thermomix Journey:

The best way to see if this system can work in your home is to watch it live.

👉 Book a friendly Thermomix TM7 demo and experience the difference live: textures, features, speed and results are easiest to feel, not just read about.

Book Your TM7 Demo:

Book Online Demo

Start your journey now:

TM7 Contact Form

Email: beatriz@lifewiththermomix.co.uk Mobile: 07561429691

Life With Thermomix