Thermomix TM6

By Marilyn Kitzes
If you’re familiar with the TM5, the most recent model of the Thermomix, you understand how it’s the definition of a multi-tasking smart-kitchen appliance. Never heard of it? Simply put, the Thermomix is a powerful blender that also cooks, stirs, whisks, chops, steams, kneads, emulsifies, and more. More? Yes, the new TM6 does even more.

With a die-hard following in Europe, this new and improved Thermomix, which comes to the U.S. at the end of 2019—and owes its German engineering to its parent company, Vorwerk—has gone from 12 to 20 culinary functions.

New bells and whistles include slow cooking, high temperature, fermentation, and our favorite, sous vide. While it was possible to sous vide with the TM5, the new version allows users to set temperatures in one-degree increments (instead of five-degree increments), which, as any sous vide aficionado knows, can make a big difference. The TM6 also allows you to set the time for 12 hours (instead of the previous model’s 99 minutes), for those recipes that require a super-slow cook.

Other new cooking features include a caramelization mode, an improved purée mode, and a new weighing mode, which will be a real gift to bakers who need to measure down to the gram.

In the era of Marie Kondo and the art of tidying up and saving time, the TM6 is designed to replace many of your other cooking tools. Arguably, all you need is your Thermomix and a knife and cutting board. Notably, every part, except the motor, can safely be put into the dishwasher.

The TM6 also includes integrated WiFi, Bluetooth and the Cookidoo recipe library, a subscription service (the first six months are free) that offers access to more than 40,000 recipes specifically designed for the Thermomix. Unlike its predecesor’s small display, the TM6 features a 6.8” touchscreen display to view recipes and video. The platform also contains a meal-planning feature that allows you to drop your favorite recipes into a calendar, and it will automatically create, organize, and email shopping lists. Brilliant.

New accessories include a handy and more flexible spatula that makes it easier to scrape ingredients from the bowl, a new measuring cup that fits into the machine’s lid, a new simmering basket (which has a guard to help you from overfilling) and a splash guard.

As of this writing, TM6 can be pre-ordered directly online for $1,499. Yes, it’s pricey, but if you’re a professional chef, a tech lover, or some of your other kitchen gadgets are nearing the end of their lives, it can be a worthwhile investment.