John Hornick — Chef’s Apprentice
All-in-one automatic cooking machines are revolutionizing home cooking, making meal preparation faster and easier. With their multi-functionality, these devices can chop, steam, blend, and even cook food. If you’re considering investing in one of these kitchen wonders, you’ve come to the right place. This guide compares and contrasts four popular models: Tokit Omnicook, ChefRobot Ultracook, Zippi Multi Cooker, and Thermomix TM7. We’ll delve into their features, functions, capacity, pricing, and user reviews to help you make an informed decision.
Introduction to All-in-One Automatic Cooking Machines
All-in-one cooking machines combine various cooking methods into a single device, saving both space and time in the kitchen. They serve as food processors, steamers, blenders, and sometimes even sous-vide machines (see my post on Mastering Sous Vide Cooking), providing versatility that can benefit novice and experienced cooks alike. But with several options available in a broad price range, you may have difficulty choosing the one that’s right for you. This guide aims to simplify your selection process.
I provide links to recommended products throughout this article, just in case you want an all-in-one cooker and every other kitchen appliance. And my Chef’s Apprentice YouTube channel has hundreds of recipes that can be cooked in an all-in-one cooker. They weren’t written specifically for an all-in-one, but any steps using a different kitchen appliance can be done in an all-in-one cooker.
Can They Really Replace Many Kitchen Appliances?
All-in-one cooking machine manufacturers claim that these machines can unclutter your kitchen counter by replacing your blender, food processor, steamer, rice cooker, slow cooker, sous vide device, and bread machine with just one machine (see my Expert Guide to Equipping Your Kitchen to Cook Almost Anything). The also say that an all-in-one cooker can eliminate your pots and pans because it does everything these machines can do, while heating at the same time. Are such claims true? Yes and No.
Think of an all-in-one cooker as a food processor that heats or cooks food while it processes it. In my view, this is their real strength. So in theory you only need one machine to do everything that multiple other machines do separately.
For cooks who prepare one-pot meals, the manufacturers’ claims may be true. But for cooks who prepare multiple dishes at the same time, you may need the functionality of other machines while your all-in-one cooker is working its magic. For example, it can make a soup (like my super delicious Roasted Butternut Squash and Pear Soup) or a sauce (like Sarah’s Avo Basil Crema, which I put on everything) while you are prepping or making other dishes.
But if you are using it for sous vide (like my Sous Vide & Pan-seared Chilean Sea Bass with Nobu-ish Red & White Aji Amarillo Sauce or my Pork Chop Sous Vide with Sweet Potato Mashers), it will not be available for other uses during sous vide cooking times, which can be hours long.
You may also have several ingredients cooking in different ways at the same time, so don’t trash your pots and pans. Also, you may only cook proteins in a cast iron pan, for which an all-in-one cooker is not a substitute.
But cooks who make the most of an all-in-one cooker will find that many of their cooking tasks are simplified, and that they use other machines less often or not at all. So before you donate your other kitchen appliances, figure out how you use your all-in-one cooker.
Do you Really Need One?
Let’s say you have all of the kitchen appliances that an all-in-one cooker can replace. And let’s say you have plenty of space for all of them. And let’s say you like kitchen appliances and they give you the satisfying feeling of having a well-equipped kitchen. Let’s even say you used my Expert Guide to Equipping Your Kitchen to Cook Almost Anything and you don’t want to let anything go. So do you need an all-in-one cooker?
The answer yes. Even if you don’t donate any of your beloved kitchen machines, an all-in-one cooker is still a great kitchen weapon to add to your arsenal. Why? Because it’s great for making any dish that needs to be stirred while cooking, like risotto (see my Risotto Master Recipe and my Ultimate Risotto Master Recipe: Expert Guide to Making Risotto Like a Pro blog post), which needs to be tended and stirred constantly.
The ability to mix or blend and cook at the same time may seem simple, but it can be liberating and powerful. For example, you can make dishes like risotto while making other things at the same time, without burning the risotto. This single benefit alone is worth investing in an all-in-one cooker. And it may even lead to new dishes that are only possible by combining all-in-one functions, like blending while cooking. Let your imagination run wild.
Comparative Chart
You will see a lot of overlap between the cooking functions of these machines. I have identified the functions listed by the manufacturer. However, each of these machines performs basically the same functions. For example, all but one of the machines lists chopping as a function. But because these machines are all food processors at heart, they all chop ingredients. Three of the machines also list whisking and one lists whipping. These functions are essentially the same. Because these machines are multi-functional, they do anything that a food processor or blender can do.
Note: this guide only covers machines made for use with 110-120V. Machines made for 220-240V require a transformer. At least three machines are available on Amazon with similar features but are wired for 220-240V.
| Model | Tokit Omnicook | ChefRobot Ultracook | Zippi Multi Cooker | Thermomix TM7 |
| Price | $999 | $699 | $143 | $1,699 |
| Cooking functions | Blending, boiling, cleaning, cooking/slow cooking, grinding, juicing, mincing, mixing, shredding, sous vide, steaming, stir frying, stirring, weighing, whisking | Blending, cooking/slow cooking, chopping, cleaning, frying, kneading, mixing, pureeing, steaming, stirring, sous-vide, whisking, weighing | Blending, chopping, cleaning, cooking/slow cooking, emulsifying, grating, grinding, kneading, mixing, sautéing, searing, slicing, steaming, stirring, whipping | Blending, browning, chopping, cooking, grinding, kneading, mixing, sautéing, steaming, weighing, whisking |
| Capacity | 2.2 liters | 3.5 liters | ? | 2.2 liters |
| Temp range | 95-356°F | 98-320°F | ? | ? |
| Watts/Motor Speed | 1500/12,000 rpm | 1500/6000 rpm | ? | 2000/10,700 rpm |
| Materials | Stainless bowl & blade | Stainless Steel & blade | Stainless steel bowl & blade | Stainless steel bowl & blade |
| Smart Features | Yes, step-by-step | Yes, step-by-step | Yes | Yes, step-by-step |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| User Reviews (Overall Rating) | 4.2/5 (108) | 3.8/5 (72) | 3.9/5 (39) | 4.8/5 |
Device Breakdown
1. Tokit Omnicook Smart Cooking Robot
Pros:
- Extensive functionality
- Highest cooking heat
- Intuitive touchscreen
- Variable speed 12,000 rpm motor
Cons:
- Pricier than some alternatives
- Smaller capacity than some alternatives
The Tokit Omnicook impresses with its advanced features and functionalities, including app connectivity for free online recipes, which offer recipe guidance and step-by-step cooking instructions. Though it comes at a higher price, its extensive capabilities make it a solid investment for serious home cooks.
2. ChefRobot Smart Food Processor Ultracook
Pros:
- Extensive functionality
- Large capacity
- Balanced price-to-performance ratio
- Self-cleaning mode
Cons:
- Less powerful motor than some alternatives
- Less cooking heat than some alternatives
ChefRobot provides a good balance of functionality and affordability. The app offers hundreds of free recipes. This is my choice for balancing functionality, capacity, and price.
3. Zippi Multi Cooker
Pros:
- Very affordable price
Cons:
- Limited functionality compared to premium models
- No built-in scale
- Fewer smart features
- Unknown capacity, wattage, speed, and temperature range
The Zippi Multi Cooker is the hands-down budget-friendly option, but I am suspicious of the low price and its reviews are mixed. Still, for its comparatively low cost, it may be worth a try as an introduction to all-in-one cookers.
4. Thermomix TM7
Pros:
- Extensive functionality
- Exceptional build quality
- Highest power capacity
- High-speed motor
Cons:
- Significantly higher price point
- Smaller capacity than ChefRobot
- Recipes require a subscription after trial
- Can only be purchased through a company consultant
The Thermomix TM7 is without a doubt a top-of-the-line model, perfect for those who are serious about cooking and are willing to invest in a high-end machine. This brand, which I first experienced at a cooking school in France, was my introduction to these machines and it was impressive.
However, its high price, availability only through company consultants, and recipe subscription might deter casual users.
Conclusion
Choosing the right all-in-one automatic cooking machine ultimately depends mostly on your budget.
- The Zippi Multi Cooker is a good, inexpensive introduction to these machines and may serve you well. But its low price point compared to the competition makes me wary, and it may not stand up to heavy use.
- If you don’t mind investing a bit more, the Tokit Omnicook and ChefRobot are good choices. If you need more capacity, go for the ChefRobot. If you need more speed and temperature, choose the Tokit. On balance, I like the ChefRobot for capacity, power, and price.
- For heavy use, such as in a restaurant, cooking school, or professional-level home kitchen, the Thermomix TM7 provides unmatched performance. But you will pay up for it. For cooks like me who only cook their own recipes, the recipe subscription should not be a deterrent.
By comparing these models, we hope to have helped you clarify your options and make an informed decision. Happy cooking!
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy from a link on this site, I may earn a small commission from the vendor without any additional cost to you. No company pays me to say anything in particular, or to say nice things. I only stand behind products I believe in.
The smoker is one cooking appliance that is not replaced by an all-in-one cooker. I have been using a Masterbuilt smoker for many years, and love it.
