ALDI Thermo Cookers
Verified41 reviews
Low quality product – Lid cracked soon, scale stopped.working after 1.5 years approx and jist with occasional use. It doesn't perform so well, the handle came off after 2 years. Wouldn't buy again Show details
Reviews with attachments
Excellent build quality and a solid reliable performer – First thing I noticed is build quality is excellent I've worked in and around commercial kitchens all my life and as a point of comparison, build quality is excellent. Dont expect to get marvelous results straight away unless you're an old hand at using thermo mixers, some tweaking and refinements are required,.and there's online discussion forums… Read more
which are excellent for tips and tricks. Made my first risotto in it tonight and it was cooked to perfection in little to no time! Next time I'll use the blade cover and reverse speed (negative speed) though so as to retain greater consistency. Highly recommended can only imagine that the knockers either don't know what they're doing or didn't use it for long enough to figure it all out!
Failed after 25 minutes – We have had an Optimum Thermocook for many years, and we’re keen to see how the new Aldi Thermo Cooker compared. We use our Optimum most nights to steam vegetables, so this was to be our first test of the Aldi machine. Unpacking the unit we were quite pleased with the look of the machine and the functionality. The settings for the steam function… Read more
were relatively simple to set, but were only programmed for 10 minutes, unlike the 20 on the Optimum. Also instead of the steamer unit sitting in the jug, the lid needs to be on the jug and the steam comes up through the small hole in the lid. This is required because the machine will not operate without the lids lock being engaged. The steam preset also had the units blades rotating on speed 3. We did experiment, and it is possible to manually set the unit to a lower speed. We were not sure if the rotation of the blades improved the unit’s steam function. We were a bit sceptical about how the steamer unit would go sitting on top of the lid, but were pleased to see our vegetables steamed in the normal time. We set the timer for a second steamer setting of 10 minutes, to allow 20 minutes steaming altogether. Unfortunately when we went to remove the bowl lid to clean it, the handle of the bowl broke away. We will be returning the unit to Aldi for a full refund tomorrow. We were unable to test any other functions of this unit.
Good but recipes need fine tuning – Used recipe from mistral book for sticky date creamed rice. No taste. Instructions say put steamer baskets ON LID but you actually have to take lid off and secure steamer on bowl. Recipes such as curries etc good. Show details
In-depth reviews
First time goes into error mode and stays there – I was really looking forward to my poor man's Thermomix. I was prepared to make some allowances as it is less than one seventh of the price of a real Thermomix. But not working from day one is a bit much. On its first outing, I can't get the E03 (Lid not on properly) to go off even though I know that the lid is on properly in accordance with the… Read more
manual. After about 20 attempts, I've given up and now it is a battle with Aldi returns department. I am sorely tempted to make a video of me putting a sledgehammer through it, however, that seems a bit extreme, but you can see how disappointed I am.
Two days later I ring the customer support centre and after 45 minutes on hold, I am told that my model does not exist in their system so have a nice day. Moral of the story? Don't wast an hour with Aldi support.
So I took it back to Aldi who offered a refund or exchange without any problem.
So with Thermie Mk 2 I trot off home. I unpack it and the weighing scales falls apart. But I persist and fired it up and this one goes. I couldn't bare to accept defeat, so I will fix the scales and carry on.
Moral of this story? The Stirling Quality control is...? Well let's face it...there is none!
LOVE IT! – I've been planning on getting a machine like that for some time now and Thermomix was my dream machine, but the price has put me off buying it. I wasn't sure I was going to use it as much to make worth the money! So, upon researching other brands I noticed that Aldi had one with rather good reviews. But the thing with Aldi is you need to wait for… Read more
the sales and you need to be lucky to get hold of some items. Well, I was double lucky as I found one just seating there waiting for me, and there wasn't any special sales that day :') I absolutely love this machine!! It's perfect for breads, pastries, soups etc.. It has a 3L steel bow, the machine itself is high quality and well made. The screen size is amazing and following the instructions is so easy. I was so bored with my weekly cooking and this has given me the pleasure to cook again. Yes, there is only 100 recipes and there's absolutely no use for the wifi until they add more recipes or an option to download some yourself. BUT! you can just follow the recipes from the Thermomix or cookidoo. Also, I needed a new blender, and any slightly good blender would cost me $100 puls. Buying this machine for $499 was def really worth it.
Great alternative to thermomix...worth the $$ – purchased this for literally a quarter of the price of the thermomix. I love this machine. I was not sure how much use I would get out of it, but like the concept of the machine being a "one stop shop" for recipes from start to finish. The easy clean up is a huge bonus too. As per the other review I have read on this machine I also noticed the… Read more
high quality feel and fit of the components and I too observed my temperature climbs when cooking, however it does not seem to be as extreme. It climbs to 105 or 110 when on 100, but it slowly dials itself back down, overall I have not yet felt the need to dial back the temperature myself. In difference to the other review I've read on this machine, mine does get the shakes when using the blades at high speed...just something to be aware of. However, I will say that my favourite thing about this machine so far is the fact that I have tested it out with several thermomix recipes from the net and the speeds/times/settings etc all seem to be completely interchangeable making this a BARGAIN at a quarter of the price.
I haven't washed any of the components in the dishwasher, I simply put soap and hot water in the machine after quick rinse out and turn it on for a few minutes to clean the bowl and then give it a super quick and easy wipe over with the sponge in the sink to wash, then rinse dry and clip back in- EASY clean up.
This machine is definitely worth its price, especially given the 3 YEAR WARRANTY in comparison to thermomix's 2 year warranty.
Positive reviews
Love it but the blades broke – Got this as a present and love it. Anyway while doing a simple smoothie the blades broke! Luckily Ambiano sent us a full replacement but it’s disappointing it happened. Weird thing to happen Show details
good but not great – Very user friendly. Great value for money compared to the thermomix. there is not alot of recipes but you can customise and use thermomix recipes online. I find the measurements and heat are a bit finicky and not precise and the machine is very noisy. Apart from the cons it is great value for money for people wanting to test a thermo without… Read more
spending big on price tag. Good way to trail a thermo machine before biting the bullet and committing to purchasing the real deal at $2000+
Thermocook – It’s so good for the price. I found hard to clean until I filling of water and speed for 5 second and it clean by itself It is easy to take off form the base as the handles are big enough Easy to Follow the recipes and very satisfied with the taste Show details
Negative reviews
Can't ever get lid on without brute strength – Thought those on lk d be gr8 addition. Have used it about 5 times and each time an exhausted after fighting to get lid on. Waste of money.
Was great until the error codes – My Stirling Thermo Cooker was working great until it has now decided to continuously show the E03 (lid not on correctly) error code. Have tried everything but cannot get past this code. Thinking the sensor or clip inside it is broken and not picking up that the lid is on correctly, seal in place correctly etc. this is a bit disappointing because I… Read more
only purchased the Thermo cooker in March of this year so I havnt even had it for a year yet. I have the warranty form but didn’t keep my original receipt so I don’t think it will even be covered under warranty. It was good while it lasted.
E3 error – Hard to contact customer support Excuse was sorry we were all out to lunch I have had to wait weeks for a replacement bowl that was not the issue then send the whole unit back for diagnostic testing Nil apology or compensation for the wasted food trying to get it to work or the month or more without the thermocooker Show details
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Recent reviews
Loved it but alarmed – Loved it but alarmed at the quality of build and then it literally blew up. Went bang with an intense internal white flash that blew the fuse box Show details
Hi Rob, We're sorry to hear about your experience. May we… Read more
Butterfly attachment broken – Dear Aldi Team I hope this message finds you well. My name is Heather and i purchased the Stirling Smart Thermo Cooker approximately 12 months ago. I am reaching out to you today to address an issue with the butterfly arm. While the Stirling Smart Thermo Cooker is still working perfectly and has greatly enhanced my cooking experience, I… Read more · 1
encountered a problem with the butterfly arm of the cooker about six months ago. I regret not seeking assistance earlier, but I am now reaching out to you in the hopes that you can provide support in obtaining a replacement arm.
I truly appreciate the quality and functionality of the Stirling Smart Thermo Cooker, which is why I am contacting you directly. The broken butterfly arm has been a hindrance, and I believe that reaching out to you will facilitate a resolution to this matter.
I would be grateful for any guidance or instructions you can provide to facilitate this process. Your prompt response and attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Kind Regards Heather
Unclear how to increase setting to heat – I have been able to pulse the food. I cannot get the temperature to move from 0.00 up to a setting where it will heat and cook the food. The highest setting I can get is 20.0. I have searched the instruction book but cannot cook with the TC936 Thermocooker. Show details
Hi Lynda, To select the cooking temperature, you should be… Read more
Good if release button worked to be able to empty and clean – Worked well until release button made it extremely hard to get jug off stand to empty and clean. Used it daily for a month before this happened. Cuts well, purifies well, didn't use it a lot for heating so not sure of that side of things. Company were good to deal with for return as machine couldn't be repaired. Show details
Aldi thermo cooker – I have had it for about 4 weeks now and it keeps making the electricity trip! Sometimes it will work, sometimes it won’t! There is no apparent reason for this! Extremely frustrating! Show details
Don't buy a Nag and expect it to perform like a thoroughbred – A friend bought this unit, against my advice and on first impression, it I looked well constructed but the flaws in initial industrial design and build quality were soon apparent. Spend the money and buy the real thing from Vorverx. You won't see an ALDI product like this one in any commercial kitchen around the world. Show details
Almost killed me – I was grating some parmesan and the blades broke, piercing the sides of the bowl (I stopped it as soon as I heard the sound of metal clanging around the bowl). So lucky nothing actually got through the bowl as I would have been seriously injured. I contacted the manufacturer who offered to send me a replacement bowl and blade. I declined and asked for a refund as there was no way I was going to use it ever again. Show details
Perfect for some cuisines but not stir fry – My husband bought it for me as I have to cook in a temporary kitchen for a while during house renovation. I have tried many different functions before writing the review. The best results include the pasta source, any soupy food and dip. It’s less messy than using conventional cookware. Very impressed with the scale. I also like the steam function… Read more
although it doesn’t use its strength. The worst result is vegetable stir fry which requires turning food fast in high heat. The heat is not high enough and the blade would shred your food if you turn the speed more than 2. I also don’t like: -having to open the lid and scoop the food stick to the wall before continuing to the next step. - not knowing if I have reversed blade as nothing shows after you pressed the button. - very large and heavy bowl. Washing it is not easy. It has all the functions required for baby food but no point of making a small amount in it.
Great product and Balco Brands customer service is excellent – Great easy to use machine that can do what it is advertised to do easily I had an issue with my bowl and contacted Balco Brands who make them. Fantastic quick friendly and super helpful customer service. Could not be happier with the product and the after sales service Well worth the purchase Show details
Find out how ALDI Thermo Cookers compares to other All-In-One Kitchen Appliances
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Its v.good – That item Mistral Thermo Cooker which I'd buy from Aldi is one of the best thing I ever bought to use in my kitchen since then I'd have great dinner Show details
Love it – I am loving my thermo. I had the pleasure of using my friends Thermomix before purchasing my cheaper version, but I have to say it is everything I hoped it would be Show details
Great for soups, Rice meals, cakes/ bread – Great for soups, Rice meals, cakes/ bread. I have made a Chorizo and chicken Paella, wow cooked perfect! Just had to add another 5- 10 seconds if using Thermomix recipes, I also use Cookidoo app. I got a good buy on this item as it was reduced to $150, so I snapped it up quick! Show details
Steaming rice – Anyone tried steaming rice. After weighing the rice separately I tipped the rice in the basket and a lot of the rice fell through. Could not stop laughing ! Also can anyone talk me through using the scales. My thermo cooker does not seem to work. It could be me . Show details
Very disappointed – On first use the error code E03 (lid not fitted) came up. Regardless of following the instructions and no other options for putting it on the error remains. I have restarted the machine and unplugged many times to no avail. Hopefully Aldi stands by their warranty. Show details
I can’t get help from Tempo – I have no control with the thermostat. I’m continually told my problem has escalated. Never hear from Tempo . Not impressed with Tempo and after sales service. Stirling quality control is pretty useless Show details
steamer – I bought my stirling cooker last saturday. I unpacked it and thought oh nice for the price. When I went to use the steamer I thought gee this lid doesn't fit very well. When steaming the steam escaped out of the side of the lid and veggies were not steamed. Took it back this morning and received a full refund. Show details
An appliance not for everyone – I am 154cm in height and I have to stand on a step to use this product, including pulling the bowl out of the machine or seeing what is happening in the bowl. The bowl does not fit in our dishwasher, Miele, which is a pain and takes up most of the sink so washing it up is a trial. As for cooking, I am a cook and make everything from scratch, but… Read more
some things just do not end up the same. I find the recipes you end up completing in the over are better but many of the recipes I have used provide a lot of running/soup style foods which are what I want. The stacking capabilities to get several types of foods cooked is great but just not what I want on a day to day basis. I have had some great success but the size of the machine on a kitchen bench along with height issues is a real negative. Other house occupants who are much taller also think this is a great disadvantage. My rating is focused on the ergonomic aspect first before the cooking aspects.
A really solid machine at a great price – It is an awesome cooker. A lot of useful I build recipes and can be used manually for any recipe. Big colour screen. Easy to follow recipes. Is noisy but I’m told so is the thermomix. If you want something that’ll do lots of things for you, but don’t want to pay $2400 with delivery then it’s a really good cheaper option. Show details
Thought it was great til it shorted out my house – Was convinced by others that I would never regret buying a Thermo machine so i got one. Very excited, it was going to change my life. However I have had nothing but trouble since purchasing. Every time it gets towards 100 degrees it shorts out my house. I sent it back under warranty. They tested it and told me there was nothing wrong with it. I… Read more
used it again today - 9 times in 4 minutes it shorted my house. Have been told i can try and get a refund but without original packaging likely to be hard. And manufacturer said they have done all they can now so ‘get in an electrician to look at your wiring’. Seriously? Not sure if others have had challenges but beware....
Alright but – It does the basic things like the more expensive Thermomix except there isn't alot of recipe options and you need to read the ingredients/method carefully to make it a success. Don't like the WiFi option it's pretty useless and no option to download more recipes. The 'make' option is the best as it tells you what to add and sets the speed/temp automatically. Not worth $499 though. Show details
Very impressive. Happy overall ....but potential issues? – Compared to my original Thermomix TM31, this unit, out of the box, is very similiar. The quality of the bowl, the lid, the blade, the way it all clicks together is very impressive. The base unit itself also feels like amazing quality, you could be forgiven for thinking it is also a $2000 machine. Solid, heavy, has the suction cup feet, and the fit… Read more
and finish is perfect. Seems to be made of really good materials which have gone through hot cycles in the dishwasher (top tray) and no probs at all - note the blade which is NOT dishwasher safe. Screen and controls are again *amazing* - screams quality in terms of size of the screen, clarity, and function of the dials via the touchscreen. So far I have used it a few times for smaller recipes ie. low amounts of ingredients which will be important to you in a moment.. The motor and therefore all functions seem spot on just like a Thermomix - powerful, the unit does not strain, or get the shakes, just does the job allbeit with a bit of noise - just like the TM. One MAJOR issue with my machine though: the temperature is not accurate. I set it at 70c and it climbs to 100c. So WHILE COOKING I have to constantly dial back the temp, had to go to 30c JUST to maintain it at 70c, then up again when it drops below 70c. I'm hoping its a one-off issue with my machine eg sensor? Otherwise... it really takes the gloss off this machine. Will see how I go with warranty..
A worthy kitchen companion – My ex-wife has a Thermomix and loves it. I was a bit sceptical of these types of devices and the reports of burns and scalds from faulty seals on some of the premium Thermomix machines a while ago was off-putting. With winter coming though and a love for soups I caught sight of the Aldi Mistral machine at $299. Having just received a $300 gift… Read more
card as a Covid crisis thank-you from work I invested my windfall in the device.
As someone who enjoys the process of cooking (not the clearing-up so much ;-P) I wasn't sure I would use it enough to justify spending my hard earned (Ok, not really hard) and I suffered a bit of buyers remorse! Well! that is all past now and I love the machine!
The simplicity of use, cleaning and range of functionality has me hooked. After running through a couple of the supplied recipes to familiarise myself with the concepts, I've been adapting other recipes on-the-fly with great results.
The Mistral cooker has gained a regular place in my cooking, and as an accolade indeed it has won a permanent position on my kitchen bench against an otherwise "clear-surface" policy.
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Update. Thermie Mk 2 - I fixed the scales but the lid broke after 18 months of little use so I took… Read more