What Can a Thermomix Actually Do? 12 Key Functions Explained
- Beatriz
- 4 hours ago
- 9 min read
Life With Thermomix: Your dedicated Independent Thermomix Advisors serving the UK & Ireland.
Last Updated: March 2026
Introduction:
The Thermomix TM7 is a single kitchen appliance that weighs, chops, blends, mixes, steams, cooks, kneads, emulsifies, stirs, sous vides, slow cooks, and sears. It replaces up to 12 separate appliances and connects to Cookidoo for 100,000+ guided recipes. Here's exactly what each one of the key 12 function does, and what it can't do.
"What does a Thermomix actually do?" is the question we hear most often from people who've seen the price tag but aren't sure what they're paying for.
The short answer: it does almost everything in the kitchen except bake in an oven and air fry. The longer answer takes a bit more explaining.
As Thermomix Advisors and daily TM7 users for nearly a year, we'll walk you through the top 12 functions out of 20+; what it does, what we use it for, and how well it actually performs. No marketing fluff, just honest experience.
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How does the Thermomix TM7 work?
The Thermomix TM7 is a countertop kitchen machine with a 2.2-litre stainless steel bowl, a motorised blade system, a built-in heating element, integrated scales, and a 7-inch Wi-Fi touchscreen.
You can operate it in two ways:
Guided mode: Select a recipe on Cookidoo, and the TM7 walks you through every step; telling you what to add, when to add it, what speed, temperature, and time to use. The scales weigh ingredients directly into the bowl.
Manual mode: Set your own speed (1–10 plus Turbo), temperature (37°C–160°C), and time. Full control for experienced cooks who want to freestyle.
The combination of precision motor, heating, and scales in a single bowl is what makes the Thermomix genuinely different from a standard food processor or multicooker.
The key 12 core functions
1. Weighing
The TM7 has integrated scales accurate to 1 gram, built into the base. You place the bowl on the unit and weigh ingredients directly into it, no separate scales needed.
What we use it for: Every recipe. The scales tare automatically between ingredients, so you can weigh flour, then sugar, then butter directly into the bowl without removing anything.
Why it matters: Eliminates a separate appliance and removes measuring errors. Particularly valuable for baking, where precision matters.
2. Chopping
Variable speed control from gentle pulse to 10,700 RPM lets you chop anything from a rough dice to a fine mince. Speed 5 gives a medium chop; Turbo mode pulverises in seconds.
What we use it for: Onions, carrots, garlic, nuts, herbs, Parmesan cheese, chocolate, and breadcrumbs. A 3-second Turbo pulse chops an onion more finely and evenly than most knife skills achieve.
Why it matters: Replaces your food processor for prep work. Saves 10–15 minutes of chopping on a typical weeknight recipe.
3. Blending
The same blade system that chops also blends at high speed. Speed 8–10 creates silky-smooth soups, smoothies, sauces, and purees directly in the heated bowl.
What we use it for: Morning smoothies, baby food, soups (blend after cooking in the same bowl), nut butters, hummus, and salad dressings.
Why it matters: Replaces your blender, NutriBullet, and hand blender. Because the bowl is heated, you can cook a soup and blend it without transferring to a separate appliance.
4. Cooking
The TM7 heats from 37°C to 160°C with precision control to 1°C. The heating element is in the bowl base, and the blade stirs simultaneously to prevent burning.
What we use it for: Risottos, curries, pasta sauces, custards, caramel, chocolate tempering, jam, and porridge. Set the temperature and time, and the TM7 stirs and cooks without supervision.
Why it matters: Replaces hob cooking for many recipes. The precision temperature control means custards don't curdle, chocolate doesn't seize, and sauces don't burn.
5. Steaming
The Varoma steamer attachment sits on top of the bowl, using steam generated from liquid below. It has two tiers for steaming multiple items simultaneously.
What we use it for: Vegetables, fish, dumplings, and complete meals. You can cook rice in the bowl while steaming vegetables and fish in the Varoma above, a complete meal in one go.
Why it matters: Replaces your standalone steamer. The multi-level design means you can cook an entire meal simultaneously: sauce in the bowl, rice in the internal basket, vegetables and protein in the Varoma.
6. Kneading
Speed 4 with the kneading function activates a specific blade movement designed for dough development. The TM7 kneads bread dough, pasta dough, pizza dough, and pastry.
What we use it for: Weekly bread (the TM7 makes excellent bread dough in 2 minutes), fresh pasta, pizza bases, and scone dough. We bake homemade bread 2–3 times per week.
Why it matters: Replaces a stand mixer for kneading tasks. A 2-minute knead in the TM7 achieves what takes 10 minutes by hand. The result is consistently well-developed dough.
7. Mixing and stirring
Lower speeds (1–4) gently mix and stir without chopping. The reverse blade function stirs delicate ingredients without breaking them apart.
What we use it for: Folding ingredients into cake batters, stirring risotto, combining salad ingredients, and mixing dough. The reverse function is essential for dishes like risotto where you want to stir without crushing the rice.
Why it matters: The reverse stirring function is unique to Thermomix. It lets you cook complete dishes, like risotto or stew, where the blade stirs gently without pulverising the ingredients.
8. Emulsifying
High-speed blending combined with the butterfly whisk attachment creates stable emulsions; mayonnaise, aioli, vinaigrettes, and whipped cream.
What we use it for: Homemade mayonnaise (ready in 30 seconds), whipped cream, meringue, and salad dressings. The butterfly whisk also whips egg whites to stiff peaks.
Why it matters: Emulsifying by hand is slow and often fails. The TM7 creates perfect mayonnaise every time in under a minute. The butterfly whisk attachment adds a whipping function without an extra appliance.
9. Sous vide
The precise temperature control (down to 1°C accuracy) allows sous vide cooking directly in the bowl. Set to 55°C–70°C for extended low-temperature cooking.
What we use it for: Occasionally for egg preparations, infused oils, and delicate proteins. It's not a replacement for a dedicated sous vide circulator with vacuum bags, but it handles simple sous vide tasks well.
Honest caveat: The 2.2-litre bowl limits sous vide to smaller items. For serious sous vide cooking, a dedicated immersion circulator is more practical.
10. Slow cooking
The TM7 can maintain low temperatures (80°C–100°C) for extended periods, functioning as a slow cooker. The stirring function prevents sticking.
What we use it for: Stews, curries, bolognese, and pulled pork. Set the temperature and timer, and the TM7 handles the rest; including stirring.
Why it matters: Replaces a standalone slow cooker with the added benefit of automatic stirring. You can also chop and sear the ingredients in the same bowl before slow cooking, eliminating extra pans.
11. Searing
At 160°C with Varoma temperature, the TM7 can sear and brown ingredients. While it's not a replacement for a cast iron pan, it handles initial browning for recipes that require it.
What we use it for: Browning onions and garlic at the start of curries and stews, toasting spices, and caramelising sugar.
Honest caveat: The TM7 sears adequately but doesn't achieve the same Maillard reaction as a hot pan. For recipes where deep browning is critical, we still use a frying pan for the initial sear.
12. Fermenting
The low-temperature precision (37°C–40°C) enables fermentation. The TM7 can maintain the exact temperature needed for yoghurt, dough proofing, and other fermented foods.
What we use it for: Homemade yoghurt, bread dough proofing, and tempeh. Yoghurt is particularly easy, heat the milk, add culture, maintain at 37°C for 8 hours.
Why it matters: Replaces a yoghurt maker and provides a controlled environment for dough proofing that most UK kitchens lack, especially in colder months.
What the Thermomix can't do
Being honest about limitations matters. The TM7 does not:
· Air fry: no hot air circulation or crisping function
· Pressure cook: no sealed pressure system
· Bake or roast: no oven function; you'll still need your oven
· Grill or toast: no radiant heat element
· Cook more than 2.2 litres in the main bowl (though the Varoma adds steaming capacity)
· Deep fry: maximum temperature of 160°C and no oil immersion design
If air frying, pressure cooking, or large-capacity cooking are priorities, you'll need those functions from other appliances.
How many appliances does it actually replace?
Based on LifeWithThermomix's hands-on testing and owner feedback, the TM7 typically replaces:
Appliance | Replaced? | Notes |
Food processor | Yes | Fully, all chopping and prep functions |
Blender / smoothie maker | Yes | Fully, blends at equivalent power |
Stand mixer (kneading) | Mostly | Kneading is excellent; less suited to cake creaming |
Kitchen scales | Yes | Fully, integrated 1g precision |
Steamer | Yes | Fully, Varoma is a capable multi-tier steamer |
Slow cooker | Yes | Fully, with auto-stirring advantage |
Soup maker | Yes | Fully, cooks and blends in one bowl |
Ice cream maker | Partially | Can make sorbet; ice cream needs freezing |
Baby food maker | Yes | Fully, steam, blend, and portion |
Hand blender | Yes | Fully, all blending in the bowl |
Yoghurt maker | Yes | Fully, precise fermentation temperature |
Spice grinder | Yes | Fully, Turbo mode grinds spices in seconds |
That's 10–12 appliances in a single machine. Even if you only count the six most common ones, the consolidation is significant.
The Cookidoo recipe platform
The TM7 connects to Cookidoo via Wi-Fi, giving you access to over 100,000 guided recipes. Each recipe appears on the touchscreen with step-by-step instructions, automatically setting the correct speed, temperature, and time.
Key features:
· Step-by-step guidance: the screen tells you exactly what to do
· Automatic settings: speed, temperature, and time are pre-set for each step
· Built-in scales: the recipe tells you how much to add, and the scales confirm when you've added enough
· Meal planning: organise weekly meals and generate shopping lists
· Weekly updates: new recipes added regularly
Cookidoo costs £50 per year after the included trial period. You can use the TM7 without it in manual mode, but the guided cooking experience is what makes the TM7 uniquely accessible.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Thermomix actually do?
The Thermomix TM7 is an all-in-one kitchen appliance that weighs, chops, blends, cooks, steams, kneads, stirs, emulsifies, sous vides, slow cooks, sears, and ferments. It connects to Cookidoo for 100,000+ guided recipes with step-by-step instructions on a built-in touchscreen. It replaces up to 12 separate kitchen appliances.
Can a Thermomix replace a food processor?
Yes. The Thermomix TM7 chops, dices, grates, and purees using variable speed control from gentle pulse to 10,700 RPM. It handles everything a standard food processor does, plus it weighs, cooks, and blends in the same bowl. The main limitation is the 2.2-litre bowl capacity, which is smaller than some large food processors.
Is Thermomix hard to use?
No. The Cookidoo guided recipes make Thermomix one of the easiest kitchen appliances to use. The touchscreen shows each step with clear instructions, and the machine automatically sets the correct speed, temperature, and time. Manual mode requires more knowledge but offers full control. Most new owners feel confident within a week.
Does Thermomix use a lot of electricity?
The TM7 uses 1,500W at maximum power. A typical 30-minute cooking session uses approximately 0.75 kWh, costing about £0.19 at current UK electricity rates (25p/kWh). This is comparable to using a standard electric hob for the same duration. Many owners find they use the oven less, which can reduce overall energy consumption.
Can Thermomix make bread?
Yes. The Thermomix TM7 is excellent at making bread. It kneads dough in approximately 2 minutes, producing consistently well-developed dough for sandwich loaves, sourdough, focaccia, pizza bases, and rolls. It can also proof dough using the fermentation function at 37°C. You'll still need an oven for baking; the TM7 handles everything up to that point.
See all 12 functions in action
Reading about functions is one thing. Seeing the Thermomix chop, cook, and blend a complete meal in 30 minutes is another.
Book a free demo and LifeWithThermomix as your localThermomix Advisor will prepare a full meal in the TM7, so you can taste the results and decide for yourself. No obligation, no pressure. Book your free demo.
Still researching? Read our Is Thermomix worth £1,349? cost breakdown for the full financial picture, or our Thermomix vs Ninja Foodi comparison if you're weighing alternatives.
LifeWithThermomix is your local independent Thermomix Advisor in the UK & Ireland. Our content aims to be honest and balanced, we'll always tell you what Thermomix does well and where other options might suit you better.
How to start your Thermomix Journey (UK & Ireland)
Book a free Thermomix TM7 demo to experience guided cooking, automatic weighing, and the 10-inch touchscreen in action. Our independent LifeWithThermomix advisors show you real recipes, answer questions, and help you decide if Thermomix fits your kitchen.
LifeWithThermomix Advisors will:
Confirm the official TM7 price
Explain what’s included
Guide you through onboarding
Help you prepare for your first week with TM7
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