Forum Thermomix

Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: vivacity on June 10, 2010, 05:40:47 pm

Title: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: vivacity on June 10, 2010, 05:40:47 pm
I found this just now and I'd like to know what you think of it: http://www.johnlewis.com/230875564/Product.aspx?SearchTerm=kenwood+cooking+chef.

Here it is in action: http://thecollectivereview.com/kenwood-cooking-chef/the-worlds-easiest-chicken-bhuna-recipe.html

Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Cornish Cream on June 10, 2010, 08:53:51 pm
I believe this weighs about 25kg. I would have trouble lifting it.It's not compact and you would need a lot of kitchen worktop to use it and storage for the attachments.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Cornish Cream on June 10, 2010, 10:40:46 pm
Sorry got the weight wrong - it's 13.6kg.That's still bloody heavy!!
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: achookwoman on June 11, 2010, 01:29:49 am
Had a good look at the kenwood,  thanks.   A few points,
     Difficult to put ingredients into bowl
     While it is cooking the chicken in the oil,  the steamy oil is going to stick to the upper part of the machine and will need cleaning
      The onions were chopped in a separate container on the top of machine,  another appliance to clean
      Weight?
      Why is it sitting on a chopping board?
      Cost?

Think i will stick with the TMX
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: earth mumma on June 11, 2010, 01:56:41 am
Hi Vivacity.  Please don't qoute me here as this is only heresay.  I have heard that this machine will cost over $2000, that it takes a long time to cook, has no varoma and once again loads of attchments to have to store and look after.  It must be huge to have a 6lt capacity, I wonder how it would go doing small amounts of food?  It does look impressive though - all that lovely shiny metal.   
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: maddy on June 11, 2010, 02:16:20 am
Hmmm.....it's very large and clumsy looking IMO.
Like chookie said, it's a small space to add in extra ingredients, and the plastic steam guard looks rather flimsy.
It couldn't make sorbets like the TMX.
I think TMX is more compact with sturdier accessories.
Good attempt to try and replicate, but no where near  ;)
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: obbie on June 11, 2010, 02:18:26 am
with over 20 attachments to buy, and a blender as another attachment. I think the thermomix is better.

Sound like alot of cleaning too.

Robyn
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: judydawn on June 11, 2010, 02:31:56 am
Great looking machine, nice demo, just shows you how much easier the TMX is to use though. Notice how slowly he added the food to the bowl, no room to move there.  I think I would at least lift the mixer and pop everything into the bowl that way. Look how much preparation he had done before the demo started, obviously all by hand. Only plus would be that it wouldn't turn the food to mush as easily as ours but once we get to know our machine, we don't end up with mush anyway.  Apart from now being able to cook in the bowl, it is just like all the other mixmasters which have all the attachments which need washing and the very reason I didn't use them. How did he cook the rice?  It will obviously appeal to those who have not seen the TMX in action.  Thanks vivacity, would never have know it existed if you hadn't posted it.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: cookie1 on June 11, 2010, 07:30:38 am
I found this very interesting. It is the sort of thing I would have bought if I wasn't aware of the Thermomimx.  It looks lovely.  But as said earlier there would be lots of washing up. I have a kenwood that hasn't been out of the cupboard since I've had the TMX. It's hiding in there with all it's attachements. I can't really bear to say goodbye to it. Perhaps DD will take it.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: vivacity on June 11, 2010, 03:15:04 pm
It costs just under 1000 GBP and about 1100 Euros in Germany. Yes, it is lovely and shiny and I like the way you can see the food as it's cooking. I miss that with the TMX. I don't know if I'm correct but I think with the Kenwood it takes less work to "convert" recipes. But I agree with some of the other forum members, it seems to be more difficult to add food while the machine is stirring and the TMX doesn't need as many attachments. Some of you mentioned the weight and I suppose it's a personal decision but I quite like the look of the machine. Apart from that, if you already have a Kenwood chef then you can use the attachments you already have on the new machine.

Anyway, I'm just going to wait and see which teething problems arise with the machine. It's going to be interesting in future, there is definitely going to be more competition on the market for TMX and I think this is excellent.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: baf65 on June 11, 2010, 03:44:38 pm
an interesting competitor to the TM
I think if you didnt have a TM you might consider the Kenwood as your alternative, you probably wouldnt take into account having to use all the different bits to do the same job in 1 or 2 steps in the TM....but you might prefer to have a proper 'mixer' which I think is one advantage of the Kenwood over the TM
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Thermomixer on June 12, 2010, 06:33:15 am
 :-\ :-\ :-\ ??? Different & larger capacity appeals for many things, but you need all those other bits to blend and probably not as well as the TMX.

I had seen them before and thought that they looked interesting, but at that price?
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: meganjane on June 12, 2010, 06:48:59 am
It looks lovely, but cumbersome. Doesn't weigh either... I just prefer the compact design of the TMX. I used to have a Kenwood, but prefer the KitchenAid I have now.

Title: TMX vs Kenwood Cooking Chef
Post by: salval on October 05, 2010, 04:35:58 am
Has anyone else heard much about the new Kenwood Cooking Chef?

Apparently it does "everything" the TMX does, for less $$.

The reason I'm askng is only because with making the decision to become a TMX consultant ('cause I'm so in love) I'd just like to have some info up my sleeve if anyone at my demos wants to good-naturedly "argue" the pros & cons of the two :)

Thanks
Title: Re: TMX vs Kenwood Cooking Chef
Post by: achookwoman on October 05, 2010, 05:13:38 am
salval,  don't know anything about it ,  but would ask,   does it heat at a range of settings?
                                                                               does it reverse?
                                                                                does it provide for a steamer?
Title: Re: TMX vs Kenwood Cooking Chef
Post by: quirkycooking on October 05, 2010, 05:27:23 am
From what I understand, the Kenwood is:
- adapted to cook, not designed to cook, and takes longer to cook;
- it is hard to clean, has 8 different attachments (so you process, change attachment, then cook, change attachment, etc; and different stirrers need to be attached to stir different things - one for soups, a different one for chunkier things, etc) - sounds quite fiddly to use;
- only has 8 mixing speeds;
- is lots heavier (13kg as opposed to 6.3kg for the tmx);
- I don't think the temperature is stable once it reaches the set temp - the manual says to check it once it reaches the temp set, as you may need to turn it down after a bit. 
- and on page 13 of the manual it lists all the optional EXTRA attachments you have to buy if you want it to process, slice & grate, grind, juice, weigh, etc!!!  once you bought all those it wouldn't be cheaper than the Thermomix, I don't think!

If you want to see the manual, it's here (http://www.kenwoodcookingchef.com.au/). 
Title: Re: TMX vs Kenwood Cooking Chef
Post by: cookie1 on October 05, 2010, 05:35:13 am
Sounds like TMX wins again. ;D ;D
Title: Re: TMX vs Kenwood Cooking Chef
Post by: quirkycooking on October 05, 2010, 05:38:59 am
Yahoo!!!  ;D
Title: Re: TMX vs Kenwood Cooking Chef
Post by: Nay-nay on October 05, 2010, 08:21:11 am
There has been a thread on this:
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=3761.0
 ;)
Title: Re: TMX vs Kenwood Cooking Chef
Post by: quirkycooking on October 05, 2010, 09:14:57 am
Hey!  I hadn't seen that thread - thanks  :D
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: zebraa on October 05, 2010, 01:11:26 pm
Can't juice or grind by the looks of things. Mind you, if  I didn't have a TMX I'd have looked at it. I don't find the TMX does the egg/cream whipping and cake mixing as well as a basic benchtop electric mixer does . This machine would manage that.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: cookie1 on October 06, 2010, 02:43:07 am
I've put these two topics together for future reference.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: salval on October 06, 2010, 05:05:59 am
Thanks for combining the 2 threads Cookie.. I should have done a search prior to posting my new message.

IMHO, it appears the TMX beats the Kenwood hands down.

One of the biggest things I absolutely love about the TMX is the built-in scales. Fantastic!! ...

I did read on another forum someone complain about the scales being "notoriously inaccurate"!? But that's the first complaint I've heard.. And so far, mine have been very fine.

Thanks for everyone's replies.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: stacelee on December 04, 2010, 12:22:10 pm
I actually bought one of these today....courtesy of an indulgent husband, an amazing deal at Clive Peters including two years interest free. I justified it as I was going to get a second jug and I still have my commercial kitchen aid which I am now going to sell to help pay for it. I am definitely keeping my thermomix which I love but with the amount of cooking I do the second machine will be great.

My initial impression of the machine is very positive, it is very solid and all the parts seem very well made. Unlike my kitchen aid, the beaters etc are all stainless steel and can therefore go through the dishwasher.  The machine is not light but my current kitchen aid weighs a ton so has always lived out on the bench. I made a batch of biscuits tonight, while the thermomix was making chocolate slice.  It did a great job and was very easy to clean.  It came with the food processor, blender and steamer basket...I may end up with the pasta roller attachment and freezer bowl eventually.  I will try cooking with it tomorrow.

It definately is not a machine for anyone lacking in kitchen space. It is about twice the size of the Tm31 and the bits need bit of storage space.  The bowl is a lot bigger than the thermomix, 6.7 liters, but is only 3 liters for hot food.  It didn't come with a cookbook which surprised me a little, there are just a couple of recipes at the back of the manual.  Their website is very good but I wouldn't like to be someone without Internet access trying to work out recipes....the thermomix wins hands down there. 

I'm going to try scrambled eggs in it tomorrow, while Tom (tm31) is making bread....it will be interesting to see how it goes.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Meagan on December 04, 2010, 12:34:30 pm
Wow stacelee, I will be really interested in seeing how you find it. I watched a utube video of it  yesterday
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: judydawn on December 04, 2010, 10:40:50 pm
The machine is bound to have some positive and some negative points as all machines do but to not come with a cookbook, I find that unbelievable.  Good luck with the machine stacelee - it will be interesting to hear more comments from you in regard to this machine's performance.  Personally, the TMX will do me as it is such a compact little machine and does everything I want and what would we do without this forum for support, guidance and inspiration.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: JulieO on December 04, 2010, 11:42:44 pm
Me too, I'm happy with the TM but will be interested to hear of what you think of the Kenwood as you go along.  I too think it's very strange not having many recipes as it is a different way to cook and people would need guidance especially at first.  ???
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: stacelee on December 04, 2010, 11:54:56 pm
We had a very indulgent breakfast today, made batter for waffles(using the wonderful recipe from here) in Tom and made scrambled eggs in Ken.  Was nice having the two machines to use but probably didn't make it a lot faster as I had to keep flipping from one recipe to another....but time will fix that.  Cleaning up from the eggs in Ken was probably a little easier to do then when Ive used Tom, no sharp blades to get cooked egg off of, but I had to wash the stirrer and  bowl by hand.  Tom had a quick wash by himself and was ready to go again with my bread.  My son wants a smoothie soon and Tom is busy making bread (okay....actually sitting with the dough in it cos I'm to lazy to do the second knead by hand) so I will be able to give a report on the blender attachment.  At the moment if I had to choose between the two machines, I would probably still choose Tom as it feels more straight forward to use....but I was scared of it at first too.  I will try making a stew or curry in it tonight to see how it goes...Tom will make the rice or pasta.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Meagan on December 05, 2010, 12:59:14 am
I love that they are Tom and Ken  ;D I have Elisabeth and George but they are both TMs lol I wonder if they will ever make babies  :D
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: cookie1 on December 05, 2010, 06:29:17 am
You will  make lots of money if they do Meagan.

Stacelee you are a lucky girl. Keep us informed of the exploits of Tom and Ken.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Nik2WIN on December 05, 2010, 09:32:53 am
I'm watching this thread with a great deal of interest.

I have had a Kenwood (not cooking) chef for several years and love it especially for its mixing functions with large quantities.  From what I know of the Kenwood chef and the TMX (and I've only had that for a few weeks!) they're really two different machines.

The TMX is often a "one-pot" cooking machine - soups, chicken and vegetables etc and I can't see how the Kenwood could do that.  It utterly excels as a mixer, in my opinion, nothing beats it but its adapted to do everything else, and it doesn't do them as well, eg food processing functions

I've never managed successful bread in my Kenwood but managed it in the TMX within a week (thanks to this forum  ;D )

At the moment my Kenwood is in the loft, along with my breadmaker and my food processor as we are marketing the house but the TMX has taken the place of all three of those appliances and often the stove top too :)  Whereas the Kenwood chef sits alongside them all and the cooking chef would only replace the stove top sometimes :)

Nik
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Renlor on December 05, 2010, 12:21:28 pm
It is great to see other peoples opinions on this topic.  I begged my husband for a kenwood chef (not cooking one) for ages.  Well I finally got one and then went along to a mates thermomix party.  I went there with a very firm opinion that this so called magic machine couldn't come close to my dreamy kenwood.  Then of course I went home from that demo flabbergasted and harped at my hubby for over a year before I was able to get one.  Since having Thermie sitting on the counter the kenwood hardly comes out to play.....but I do agree that these machines are totally different.  When it comes to whipping up a pav I prefer to whip it up the old school way in the kenwood.  The bowl is much bigger than the thermomix and I think does a better job at mixing...but the need for all the attachments is what lets it down.  I spent the extra hundred odd dollars to get the glass blender attachment, and it also came with the mincer...which I have used once.  I used to sit there drifting about all the extra attachments that I wanted to get...now I don't need to worry about it  ;)
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Nik2WIN on December 05, 2010, 01:05:58 pm
I didn't even ask my dh for the Thermie - I just ordered it - if he ever finds out how much it cost I am one dead woman!!!  ;)

To be fair, to myself, generally all my kitchen machines get very good use!

Nik
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: andiesenji on December 05, 2010, 03:34:13 pm
In my opinion, the TM31 excels at some tasks that simply can't be easily prepared in another single machine.

I've been doing a lot of holiday baking and I have prepared five batches of marzipan with little attention while the machine was processing the almonds and sugar. 
At the same time I was using two stand mixers, a KA 600 Pro and my trusty old  Electrolux DLX 2000 as well as three bread machines - one with two pans, all just mixing and kneading dough.  I rarely bake in the bread machines, I use the dough settings and let them handle the process up to the shaping and baking.

I also roasted and skinned some cocoa beans, then ground them in the TM31, although the end product was still grainy, that was the texture for which I was aiming and what I have is a sort of cocoa paste which is going to be incorporated into some cookies.

I also used the Varoma basket to steam dried fruits and I had another electric steamer going at the same time plus my extra-large couscousiere on the stovetop.   (I had a lot of dried fruit to steam for stollen, panettone, steamed puddings and mini fruitcakes, as well as cookies. 

There are some things the TM31 can't do, mainly handle larger amounts.  Many of my recipes are scaled down from either commercial recipes from my days of catering, or very old recipes when people had larger families and things were prepared in larger batches and I scaled them down to fit bakeware that I have been using for many years. 

The TM31 can't handle enough batter to fill a half-size sheet pan.  I don't like the way it beats egg whites, the volume is much less than when I use my KAs - especially the old 5-qt with the copper liner.   I've tried it several times, same size eggs, same amount, in a side-by-side test and the result I got was about a fifth less volume in the TM. 

That being said (or written) I wouldn't part with the TM because it is perfect for some tasks.  I just wish it had more capacity. 

Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Renlor on December 06, 2010, 12:41:52 am
It would be so much better with a bigger capacity....I have five in my family and find that it's easier to cook most of my mains on the stove.  I love that I can steam heaps of vegies though or whip up a yummy bechamel for lasagne or corned beef  :)
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: stacelee on December 06, 2010, 01:19:27 am
I made a large Chicken Biryani dish for dinner last night in Ken.  It handled it well although not having a recipe book I had to guess on the conversion.  It took longer than I would have liked because I didn't have the temperature set high enough....and then I got impatient and set the temperature too high and scorched the rice on the bottom.  Trial and error :(. It was great having the large capacity....we had enough for three for dinner and I have another four servings for lunches this week.

I don't like the fact it didn't come with a recipe book....the website is good...but I have been spoilt by being able to look up a similar recipe in the thermomix books and then use it to convert a normal recipe.  My other "dislike" of it is the design of the base of the bowl, it tends to get food caught in the ridge where it locks into the mixer when you put it through the dishwasher...I had to rinse rice out of it this morning because someone didn't bother rinsing their plate before putting it in the dishwasher (gotta love teenagers)

I'm going to make chilli con carne for dinner tonight so will probably try using ken for the main dish and tom for the rice (can't go past tom for cooking rice).  I'm going to use ken so I can make a large batch and freeze some of it for lunches....I'm being eaten out of house and home as my son has been on school holidays for a week now.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Chelsea (Thermie Groupie) on December 06, 2010, 05:58:07 am
It would be so much better with a bigger capacity....I have five in my family and find that it's easier to cook most of my mains on the stove.  I love that I can steam heaps of vegies though or whip up a yummy bechamel for lasagne or corned beef  :)

I can see that capacity would be an issue for larger families.  I would be really annoyed if I had to make two batches of dinner each night to feed the family with the TM.  At the moment our boys are little so most mains feed the four of us with lots of leftovers.  I am hoping we can still manage when they are older.  :)
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Meagan on December 06, 2010, 11:04:24 am
It would be so much better with a bigger capacity....I have five in my family and find that it's easier to cook most of my mains on the stove.  I love that I can steam heaps of vegies though or whip up a yummy bechamel for lasagne or corned beef  :)

I can see that capacity would be an issue for larger families.  I would be really annoyed if I had to make two batches of dinner each night to feed the family with the TM.  At the moment our boys are little so most mains feed the four of us with lots of leftovers.  I am hoping we can still manage when they are older.  :)
I am hoping the same Chelsea  ;) I figure they can always have more rice and sides of veg or bread etc
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Nik2WIN on December 06, 2010, 11:51:45 am
I'm going to stop reading this thread - I can see me needing a TMX and a Kenwood Cooking Chef!

I can picture my kitchen now - Thelma and Ken ....  ;D

Nik
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: stacelee on December 08, 2010, 08:24:22 am
Maybe I should take a photo of the two of them, Ken and Tom together for you.  They are developing quite a friendship.   Ken made the Chilli Con Carne last night while Tom very helpfully cooked the rice to go with it....it was supposed to be dinner the night before but the teenager who I stupidly didnt send away for the week with his grandmother (the other female one is currently hanging out with MaMa at Hastings Point) decided to make Nachos for dinner.  I'm still trying to work out why his father made them instead of him and I go stuck with the cleaning up.  I've discovered that the TMX recipes work very nicely in Ken, so long as you remember not to turn the speed up on the food processor attachment when you have a stirring paddle sitting in cooked mince and tomatoes in the bowl.....and you are too lazy to put on the splatter guard...just a few tomato droplets to clean up.
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: NICKY 74 on December 16, 2010, 03:39:34 pm
stacelee that would be great to see them side by side, i havnt checked out the link yet so dont even know what it looks like.i am also a bit concerned that tmx will be a bit small once the kids get bigger, however i made gnocchi a couple of days ago and froze too much so there wasnt really enough for dinner (especially as my 2 year old kept asking for more, so was giving him some of mine) and my dh asked was i still hungry? i said its ok i will just have some chocolate later! nicky
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: faffa_70 on December 16, 2010, 10:51:53 pm
Nicky, you shouldn't have any problems feeding them when they are older from your TM. I feed 7 and 3 of them are teenage boys!  :-)) :-))
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: earth mumma on December 19, 2010, 09:40:50 pm
Me too.  We are a family of 5 BIG eaters.  One teenager, one 11 and one 7.  The 7yr often eats as much as his dad :o :o.  I haven't had a problem with the capacity, except I would like it if it did more rice as sometimes 400gm is not quite enough.  If kids are still hungry aftrer dinner I usually make up some custard and bananas and that does the trick.  I sometimes use my Thermomix to help create a bigger meal on the stove top if capacity is an issue ie: chicken curry (tm makes paste and rice but I cook the curryit on the stove top).  The other night I made chicken pie so the Tm make the pastry, chopped carrot, celery, herbs and garlic/onion and then cooked the chicken along with the vege.  I did make the white sauce on the stove top as the chicken was cooking just to save a bit of time, but could have made the white sauce in the Tm too.   
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Nik2WIN on December 19, 2010, 10:01:01 pm
I was looking at the cooking chef online the other day and it just doesn't seem to have the versatility that the TMX has.  I adore my Kenwood mixer and DH really took the mickey out of me when the cooking one was introduced, expecting me to beg and nag for it but I've always been underwhelmed.

If I had £1000 to spend I'd probably buy another TMX  ;D ;D  Now THAT I could use, imagine two of them working away in your kitchen at the same time .... bliss!!

Nik
Title: Re: Kenwood cooking chef - alternative to Thermomix?
Post by: Miranda on December 20, 2010, 05:13:39 am
To me, the best features of the TMX are its really strong motor and superior cutting blade.

I've had the old Ken repaired more than once for burn-out and the repair man said someone who used them for small scale retail baking of cakes was regularly getting hers repaired.

the TM is just a brilliant machine in terms of design and quality. 

I'd buy another TM before a Kenwood.