The Thermomix Vorwerk and Lidl's Monsieur Cuisine are waging a merciless war in the land of food processors: exorbitant price for the Thermomix and permanent out of stock for the Monsieur Cuisine. Which robot cooker to buy without putting an arm in it, or more? We tell you everything!
Since its launch, the Monsieur Cuisine food processor from the German brand Lidl has sparked crowd movements in stores. The now very famous robot cooker sold at only 249 euros for the “Monsieur Cuisine Edition plus” model and 399 for the “Monsieur Cuisine Connect” has deserted the shelves in a few hours and will not be back for several months.
Ô French frustration: impossible to buy it online, even on Lidl's Belgian or German site, in the absence of international delivery. The only option? Go to Monsieur Cuisine's country, or find a very good quality robot, at a low price.
The competitor of Thermomix and Monsieur Cuisine? Mixeo!
Our partner Digital Having tested them all, the e.zichef Mixeo robot cooker turns out to be a very good competitor, at an unbeatable price, less than 300 €! Enough to cook with confidence, and without destroying your P.E.L.
Mixeo de e.Zicom e.zichef: quality and low price
The e.Zicom brand is rarely featured, yet it has two food processors in its range of household appliances.
The “Mixeo” model is on sale at an ultra competitive price and is proving to be very versatile, and surprisingly efficient.
>> Features:
– Main tank capacity: 2 liters
– Minimum / maximum temperature: 30 ° to 120 ° C
– Timer: from 5 to 90 minutes
– Classic non-touch screen
– Levels of temperature rise: 5
– Motor power: 1300 watts
– Integrated scale (precision 5g)
– Device weight: 5.8 kg
– Sound volume: 56 dB (against 65dB at Moulinex!)
– Dimensions: L 40 x H 45 x l 25
– Guarantee: 3 years
– Price: from 260 €
>> Presentation of the robot cooker
The Mixeo multifunctional food processor from the e.Zicom e.zichef brand looks like all other appliances in the same category. It can also blend, mix, emulsify, chop, knead, mash and steam.
Sold at less than 300 euros, it approaches the Thermomix TM6 on several characteristics (sold at a price of 1299 €)
– Strength: It is stable and robust thanks to its 4 feet with suction cup. No risk of it moving even when operating at maximum speed.
– Capacity: the 2-liter tank allows you to cook for 4 to 5 people daily (which is similar to the 2.2 liters of the Thermomix)
– Getting started: the two handles on the sides allow the pan to be easily lifted at the end of the preparation, the graduated cap comes in handy for measuring the ingredients added during the recipe.
– Integrated scale: e.zicom e.zichef Mixeo is designed with an integrated scale in the bowl, a feature still rare for a robot cooker. Less precise than that of the Thermomix, it allows however to dose and weigh very correctly the food poured into the tank.
– Screen: although non-touch, it is quite readable, and people uncomfortable with sensitive screens will be won over.
– Selection dial: it allows you to adjust the cooking time, temperature and rotation speed.
– Accessories and options: this robot cooker is supplied with a small steam basket, a rice basket, a spatula, the removable knife blades, a whisk, and a book with 150 recipes included.
– Recipes : unlike the majority of models, it is not connected, the recipes are not integrated into the device. At this price, it is absolutely not a problem to keep your culinary freedom!
– Interview : all the robot's parts and accessories are dishwasher safe. Like any culinary appliance, it is best to wash with warm water and soap.
Test result and our final opinion
During the comparison carried out at the Digital Lab, this robot cooker was a real surprise: excellent quality mixing (and a result equal to the Thermomix) and cooking performance similar to Monsieur Cuisine Connect (Silvercrest range from Lidl) . Multifunctional, they make the same dishes as a Thermomix, from starter to dessert.
The temperatures displayed on the screen correspond to those measured at the time of the laboratory test. The temperature rises faster than that of Monsieur Cuisine: a product's trend is therefore not everything!
Our opinion ?
– Compact model
– Large screen very easy to use
– High performance mixing
– Integrated scale function
– Homogeneous cooking and precise temperatures
– Silent device
– Various accessories
Only weak points : a bowl that is not so easy to remove and the absence of integrated recipes like another connected food processor.
In practice: make a dish with a food processor + recipe
Recipe: rice and creamy chicken fricassee
For 4 people, preparation 15 minutes, cooking 40 minutes
- 250 g long rice (basmati or thai, cooking 20 min)
- 1 bouquet garni
- 1 liter of broth (chicken or vegetable cube)
- 4 chicken fillets (about 180 g)
- 3 turns of pepper mill
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 nice onion
- 200g fresh mushrooms
- 40 g butter or margarine
- 40 g flour
- 230 ml liquid cream or soy cream
- The juice of one lemon
> Pour the rice and the bouquet garni into the cooking basket, and place it in the bowl. Pour in the hot broth.
> Cut the chicken fillets into 2.5 cm cubes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place the cubes in the bottom basket. Start cooking by choosing a 15-minute steam cooking program.
> Remove the steamer assembly and set it aside, leaving it closed. Reserve 250 ml of the cooking broth and discard the rest. Remove the bouquet garni. Peel the onion, cut it in 2, put it in the blender jug for 10 seconds at medium speed.
> Slice the mushrooms, and add them to the bowl with the butter cut into pieces: brown them with the "sear" program. Add the flour and the cooking liquid, mix for 20 seconds at medium speed.
> Add the cream and lemon juice. Close and cook for 5 minutes at 100 ° C on speed 2 or 3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
> Arrange the chicken in a dish, cover it with sauce and serve with the rice!
An easy and delicious recipe, and almost no dishes …
Choosing a robot cooker: all our advice
The robot cooker is a multifunction household appliance that allows effortless recipes to be made, from the raw ingredients to the dishes on the plate.
Suitable for novice cooks as well as for kitchen professionals, robot cookers have all the functions necessary to prepare a complete meal, effortlessly.
Functions of a food processor:
– Cooking for 4 to 8 people depending on the model
– Make recipes in full with a single device
– Simmer, steam, knead, mix, mix, puree, emulsify, grate, beat
– Integrated recipes on some models (up to 5000 on Thermomix)
– "Connect" function via smartphone (Monsieur Cuisine Connect, Cookeo Connect from Moulinex, etc.)
– Touch screen or not
– Integrated tank scale for several models
– Additional functions (ice cream maker, blender, spatula, slicer like the models from Magimix or Kenwood).
Choosing a robot cooker requires careful consideration of the important criteria for the intended use:
> Capacity: depending on the number of people or the dishes you plan to prepare, the capacity of the bowl is decisive. Count 2 liters for 4 people, at least 4 liters for 5 to 8 people.
> Functions and accessories: multifunction, food processors are all-in-one products. Some offer additional functions (spatula, blender, ice cream maker, etc.)
> Power : the power of a device is a good indicator of performance for mixing, but in this respect, most products are equivalent.
> Size and weight: a large-capacity food processor will also take up more space, which may not be taken lightly. The weight is a good indicator of the stability of the device.
> Guarantees and after-sales service: at Thermomix, customers are at the heart of the community, and can, once owner of the robot, organize workshops for potential customers. It is not available in stores, this is the specificity of Thermomix. Moulinex, Magimix, and Kenwood offer guarantees on the availability of parts.
> Price: from the cheapest (260 euros with the z.zichef e.zicom Mixeo) to the most expensive (1299 € for the TM6 Vorwerk) many cooking robots are around 500 to 1000 euros. A long-term investment!
> Thermomix is a renowned French brand, sold only on the brand's website and at a high price (1299 euros). The brand is renowned for the high quality of its devices, and remains one of the most professional in the sector.
> Lidl, a large retailer in Belgium, is one of the few to have designed a food processor from its distributor brand (such as Intermarché with the Digicook model). As soon as it was officially released, the Monsieur Connect food processor was a victim of its success in Belgium, Germany and France, where it is no longer possible to find it.
Its asset: be among the cheapest on the market. It obtained much better marks than the Thermomix, Magimix and Companion Moulinex cooking robots during tests carried out by several reference sites (Les Numériques, the Huffpost, etc.)
>> Features – Vorwerk Thermomix TM6
– Tank capacity: 2.2 liters
– Integrated scale (precision 0.5g)
– Functions: searing, slicing, blending, simmering, mixing, grinding, blending, emulsifying, steaming, vacuuming, boiling, (steam basket included)
– 6.8 inch touch screen
– 5000 integrated recipes
– Cookidoo online platform (36 € / year)
– Temperature: 37 ° to 120 ° (5 stages of temperature rise)
– Number of speeds: 10
– 10,700 revolutions / minute
– Power: 1500 watts
– Possibility to try the device at home before purchase (impressive customer service)
– Price: 1299 €
>> Characteristics of Monsieur Cuisine Connect
– Tank capacity: 3 liters
– Integrated scale (precision 1g)
– Features: searing, slicing, blending, simmering, mixing, grinding, blending, emulsifying, steaming (steam basket included)
– Number of speeds: 10 (+ turbo function)
– 5200 revolutions / minute
– 7 inch touch screen + 400 integrated and classified recipes
– Temperatures: 37 ° to 130 °
– Timer: 1 to 99 minutes
– Knob to choose settings and recipes.
– WIFI connection
– Power: 800 watts
– Size: 28cm x 25cm x 49cm
– Weight of the device
– Automatic cleaning function (+ rinsing after)
– Price: 399 € in France
Review:
A slightly limited capacity for the TM6, which will be suitable for a maximum of 4 people, while the Monsieur Cuisine Connect can serve 6 people without problem. At a lower price, more bulky: the Monsieur Cuisine food processor is impressive, it must be taken into account. The tank is also a painful step out of the base!
Food processors are becoming more democratic, the proof with the Monsieur Cuisine Lidl model, sold for less than 400 €, or the models Simeo or Mixeo by e.Zichef.
On the internet, prices range from the most competitive with the Mixeo that we have presented, through the medium-mid-range (around 500/600 €), even € 1,299 for the Thermomix TM6.
Why such discrepancies?
> The best-known brands have advanced functions, additional accessories or greater speed of execution. Few of the models are both complete and efficient. Or at an exorbitant price.
What drives up prices?
> Ultra-complete models:
Models offering ultra-comprehensive functions (steamer + blender + slice slices + ice cream maker + pastry robot): Cook Expert from Magimix / Companion XL by Moulinex / CookEasy + and Kenwood kCook Multi Smart
> Very large capacity models
> The rapidity of temperature rise
> The integrated scale
> Connected models
> Models with large touchscreen
> The number of integrated recipes
> French manufacturing
> The length of time the parts are available
So who gets started?