Do You Need Cookidoo to Use the Thermomix® TM7?

One of the questions I hear from people considering a Thermomix® TM7 is:

“Do I have to keep paying for Cookidoo after buying the Thermomix?”

The short answer is:

No. You can use the Thermomix TM7 without a Cookidoo subscription.

But Cookidoo changes how you use it, so I think it is worth understanding what you get with and without the subscription before you decide whether a TM7 makes sense for you.

I have cooked with Thermomix for more than 10 years, from my TM5 to TM6 and now TM7. I personally use Cookidoo, but I also think you should know what is actually optional rather than assuming you need a subscription simply because you own the device.

Can you use the TM7 without Cookidoo?

Yes. According to Thermomix USA, you can use your TM7 without connecting it to a Cookidoo account.

You can still:

• cook manually
  
• use the TM7’s built-in cooking modes
  
• receive software updates
• access the built-in recipes included with the TM7

The TM7 includes 200 built-in recipes, which Thermomix calls the Manifesto Recipes. Once they have downloaded to the device, they can also be available offline.

So your Thermomix does not become unusable if you decide not to subscribe to Cookidoo.

Then what does Cookidoo actually add?

This is where the experience becomes quite different. Cookidoo is Thermomix’s recipe platform. With an active subscription, you get access to more than 100,000 Guided Cooking recipes from around the world.

Instead of reading a recipe beside your Thermomix and manually setting every temperature, time, and speed, the recipe appears directly on the TM7 screen and guides you through the process step by step.

For example, it may tell you: Add 200 g of onion. Then the integrated scale shows you when you've reached the right amount. Tap Next. The TM7 sets the chopping speed and time. Then you add the next ingredient and continue.

This is one of the things that makes Thermomix different from simply owning a powerful food processor or blender.

Is Cookidoo useful if you already know how to cook?

For me, yes. For others (like my parents), no.

I know how to cook, and I still use Guided Cooking regularly.
Sometimes I want to create my own recipe or cook manually.
Other times I don't want to think.

I want to choose a recipe, put the ingredients into the bowl, and follow the steps.I like having tested recipes guide me through the timing, temperatures, and speeds, so there’s less guesswork.

I also like Cookidoo for inspiration. If I have an ingredient I want to use, I can search for recipes rather than trying to invent dinner from scratch.
And because the recipe library is international, I can explore dishes from many different cuisines rather than cooking the same handful of meals every week.

What if I prefer my own recipes?

You can always use the TM7 manually. So if you already know how to make your favorite soup, curry, bread or sauce, you don't need Cookidoo to tell you how to cook it.

Cookidoo also offers tools for creating and adapting recipes, which can make it easier to bring your own recipes into the Thermomix workflow. This is one area where I would think about how you personally cook.

If you love following your own recipes and rarely want Guided Cooking, the subscription may be less important to you. If you enjoy having the TM7 walk you through recipes step by step, Cookidoo becomes a much bigger part of the experience.

How much does Cookidoo cost in the USA?

Cookidoo currently costs $65 per year in the United States. A new Thermomix TM7 currently includes a 3-month free Cookidoo trial, so you can experience the full platform before deciding whether you want to continue.

I like that approach because this is something you can actually test rather than deciding in theory whether you'll use it.

What happens if I don't renew?

You can continue using the TM7 manually and use its built-in recipes and modes. You aren't paying an annual fee simply to turn on your Thermomix. What you are paying for with Cookidoo is primarily the expanded connected recipe ecosystem and Guided Cooking experience. For some people, that becomes one of their favorite parts of owning a Thermomix. For others, manual cooking may be enough.

Both are perfectly valid ways to use the TM7.

Is Cookidoo worth $65 a year?

I look at this differently than I would a normal recipe subscription. For me, the value isn't simply having access to recipes. There are plenty of recipes on the internet. The difference is that Cookidoo recipes integrate directly with the Thermomix. The scale, time, temperature, and speed become part of the recipe process. That's the part I would evaluate during your free trial. 

Ask yourself: Am I actually using Guided Cooking?

Is it helping me cook meals I wouldn't otherwise make? Does it save me mental energy deciding what to cook and how to make it? If yes, $65 a year may be very easy to justify.

If you find yourself cooking manually most of the time, you can decide differently.

Can I see Cookidoo before buying a Thermomix?

Yes, and I actually think this is a smart thing to explore if the recipe platform is important to your buying decision. You can subscribe for a monthly free trial and see all the recipes and try out the weekly planner and shopping list, even before your Thermomix arrives.

During a personalized Thermomix Cooking Experience, I can show you how Cookidoo works directly on the TM7 rather than simply describing it. You can see how a recipe moves from choosing what to cook to weighing ingredients and then through each cooking step.

That makes it much easier to decide whether Guided Cooking is something you would genuinely use. Book a personalized Thermomix Cooking Experience.

Considering a TM7?

If you're already exploring purchasing a Thermomix, I keep the current U.S. offers, financing options and purchase paths updated separately so this article can remain useful even when promotions change.

See Current Thermomix® USA Offers & Promotions

The simple answer

You do not need a Cookidoo subscription to use the Thermomix TM7. You can cook manually and use the device's built-in recipes and modes without subscribing. Cookidoo is what adds the much larger Guided Cooking library and connected recipe experience.

For me, that experience is worth having. But the best way to decide whether it is worth it for you is to use the included trial and see how Cookidoo fits the way you actually cook.