Lidl's "Monsieur Cuisine" compared to the original Thermomix

Germany is talking about this food processor: the Thermomix from Vorwerk. Be it because you love him, or because you do not understand all the hype.

The German discounters also want to profit from the success - for example, there have been Thermomix clones by Lidl and Aldi for some time now, which the fans in the market have even been beating about.

Now the Lidl version, the food processor "Monsieur Cuisine", is available again. For 199 euros, the device seems like a bargain - the big model costs a whopping 1109 euros. But what can the cheap version do? We have tested the device!

"Thermomix" vs. "Monsieur Cuisine"

Men in the kitchen: The ChroniquesDuVasteMonde.com editors Henning Hönicke and Florian Meyer have tested the Lidl Thermomix.

The Lidl food processor is a replica of the Thermomix - and you can tell almost everywhere: The pot has the same shape, the functions are almost the same, even the accessories (cooking insert and Rührspatel) is at first glance hardly from the original differ.

And yet there are already some serious differences between the original and the clone in the functions: So the "Monsieur Cuisine" in contrast to the original has no built-in scales and the knives can only rotate in one direction, while they only stir with the Thermomix in reverse, without crushing. In addition, the Lidl device lacks the dough-kneading function and the mixing pot and steam cooking attachment are ten percent smaller than the Thermomix.

What the Monsieur Cuisine completely lacks is the digital component: while the Thermomix now has a touch display and a function that shows the individual steps of a recipe, the Lidl device completely lacks this kind of "digital cooking".

The test: "Monsieur Cuisine" in action

These ingredients should be once a hollandaise sauce.

Enough of the theory, let's just try the Lidl machine. For our test, we decided to try two recipes from the enclosed cookbook: lemon hollandaise and a mushroom risotto with Parmesan cheese.

First, I'll take care of the hollandaise: The ingredients (butter, egg yolk, lemon juice, water, spices) are added to the mixing pot and mixed for seven minutes at 70 degrees.

What does the result look like?

The finished lemon hollandaise: Fairly liquid, but good in taste!

After seven minutes it is clear: The hollandaise literally falls into the water! The sauce is so thin that it would flow from any plate - here was probably really too much water in it. You can not accuse the "Monsieur Cuisine" certainly, but the quantities in the recipe obviously do not hit right here.

In terms of taste, the hollandaise is in perfect order: behind the layer of water you can imagine a delicious sauce that you would not have been able to achieve on the saucepan in time.

How does it cook with "Monsieur Cuisine"?

The plastic of the lid takes damage after just a few uses.

Let's put it this way: Anyone who knows the real Thermomix, after the test of the Lidl clone will know what he has on the original. Not only that the whole machine looks rather cheap and the plastic parts also smell strange - you also have a lot of trouble cooking.

So it is a fight for a minute, the lid of the food processor ever set up. He always gets stuck, sits crookedly, can not be hooked - that's easier with the original Thermomix from Vorwerk: here, the lid is simply placed on top and the machine locks automatically and securely.

The Lidl clone lacks the built-in scales - again and again we have to reach for bowls and a separate kitchen scale.

Practical, however, are the suction feet on the Lidl device: Small cups on the underside prevent slipping on the worktop. With the Vorwerk original, the feet are "only" non-slip rubberized - but that's not the way it is, because the Thermomix has a built-in kitchen scale that measures over the feet.

This lack of basic function is annoying when cooking, if you are used to it: With the Thermomix you can comfortably "weigh in" its ingredients: rip open the rice pack, pour it directly into the mixing pot until the display shows 250 grams, done!

For the Lidl counterpart we have to get a bowl for each ingredient and consult the kitchen scale. This is not only time consuming, but also increases the Spülberg artificially.

Next test: The mushroom risotto with Parmesan

These ingredients should be a risotto.

Now we go one step further: In the "Monsieur Cuisine" cookbook we find a recipe for a mushroom risotto with Parmesan - sounds delicious! And is exactly the right recipe to test the performance of the Lidl machine.

In the first step, Parmesan is first ground: At full power (level 10), the knives chop the block of cheese that we previously placed in the mixing pot. That sounds louder (and a bit more tortured) than the real Thermomix, it takes a little longer - but in the end the result looks good!

The "Monsieur Cuisine" is not stupid when it comes to chopping onions, simmering and sizzling risotto: the risotto cooks comfortably for 22 minutes, at the end we add the Parmesan which has been ground at the end - ready!

A matter of taste: the risotto from the Lidl food processor

The finished risotto from the "Monsieur Cuisine"

In the end we have a ready-made risotto with little effort. But does it taste good? Clear answer: Yes!

Our testers thought the risotto was too salty, but the colleagues from the editorial department did enjoy it in part. Result: a matter of taste! Of course, if you like it less salty, then next time you can just add less broth - because, in combination with Parmesan, it will make for a very salty note.

CONCLUSION: "Monsieur Cuisine" vs. "Thermomix" in the test

At the end of our big test it is clear: No, the "Monsieur Cuisine" certainly will not work for the Thermomix. Too big are the drawbacks in the range of functions and too large are the differences in quality.

However, one must also keep in mind that the Lidl copy costs less than one-fifth (!) Of the Thermomixes: Here are 199 euros against 1109 euros on paper. And then you have to swallow and say: For how much cheaper the Lidl version is, it is not even so bad.

It is unclear how long you can enjoy the cheap machine - but the price / performance ratio seems to be about the same for both devices: The "Monsieur Cuisine" is processed less and can be less - but also costs less. What do you want to expect more for the money?