Know Your Thermomix: Lid and Measuring Cup
The lid of the Thermomix TM31 not only forms an integral part of the built-in safety measures, it also has some clever uses.
To correctly, safely and cleanly use your Thermomix, insert the sealing ring into the underside of the lid by clicking it in at the three clip points. The sealing ring prevents liquids splashing between the lid and the machine – a great safety feature.
Use the small triangle on the lid itself as a guide by lining it up with the bowl handle and pushing the hook to the left until it clicks into place with an audible beep. Your Thermomix will not operate unless the lid has been correctly positioned – another great safety feature.
Place the Varoma Steamer into the recess on top of the lid to steam vegetables, meats, sausages, cakes and more.
Set a glass, a bowl, a jug or virtually any other recipient on top of the lid, set the weighing scales to zero, and weigh your chosen ingredient. Or simply place your ingredients on the lid (chunks of cheese, etc.) to see how much they weigh.
Pour ingredients into the running Thermomix through the hole in the lid. A jam funnel fits right into the hole and makes it easy to pour in flour and other ingredients.
The measuring cup is another clever Vorwerk design for the TM 31.
The measuring cup holds 100 ml of liquid when full and 50 ml when filled halfway.
It has three balls and a tapered flange which enable it to sit just above the Thermomix lid. This means both that steam can escape and liquids can enter through the gap.
In normal use, the measuring cup sits on the lid with its open end UP LIKE A CUP. This means that less food splashes up onto the base during blending and it’s easier to clean it off. When correctly positioned this way, the base directs hot steam through the gap and out of the bowl.
When cooking, the measuring cup ensures that heat does not escape from the bowl. If set at an angle during certain cooking processes like reducing liquids or cooking risotto, more steam can escape.
A really clever use is for squeezing lemon juice into your Thermomix: Invert the measuring cup so the closed end is facing upwards and squeeze your lemon juice onto the lid. The juice will run into the bowl through the gap but the lemon pips won’t!
Weigh small amounts of ingredients into the measuring cup set on top of the lid, open end up.
When making emulsified sauces such as mayonnaise, set a jug or pitcher on top of the lid, set the weighing scales to zero and weigh in your oil or melted butter. Invert the measuring cup on the lid, pour all of your oil onto it and let it collect in the recess of the lid. It will then trickle through the gap into the bowl at the perfect speed for emulsifying.
And here’s one I only just figured out: as usual, place the lid upside down on your worktop so the dirty side faces up, but you can place the dirty measuring cup into the hole and it won’t touch the worktop. Such a clever Thermomix!
Do you know any other clever uses for the Thermomix lid and measuring cup? Leave a comment here and share them with other Thermomix lovers around the world!
What a great tip, Penelope, I’ll use it myself next time I make mayo. Thanks so much!
Happy Thermomix cooking, my dear!
Pop the basket into the TM bowl when making mayonnaise, the oil will drip through slowly – never fails!
Hi Peter, and welcome to the wonderful world of Thermomix!
As a general rule, you ALWAYS use the MC when your Thermomix is in operation, with the exception of when you are steaming with the Varoma sitting on top of the lid. The Measuring Cup is an integral part of the Thermomix lid for blending, mixing and chopping functions. Its tapered flange (that ring around the middle) creates a gap through which steam can escape while you’re cooking and through which you can pour liquids like when you’re making a mayonnaise or just need to add a bit more liquid to something. The MC also enables you to measure liquids (50 ml to the middle flange; 100 ml to the very top) and small amounts of solids like nuts and seeds.
If a recipe doesn’t mention the MC, use it. Recipes generally will mention the MC if you need to do something different with it, like place it at an angle to allow more steam to escape during cooking, or replacing it with the internal steaming basket when reducing a liquid (to let even more steam escape while stopping spatters).
Your Measuring Cup is your friend and I know there are lots more tips readers will have so please let Peter know some of them by leaving a comment here or on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Why-is-There-Air/137609556277263
how do i know when or when not to use the MC.
Thermomix recipes say but other recipes often do not even mention the MC
Hi Jodie, all you need to do is turn the MC “bottom up” on the lid and pour your oil on top of it. It collects in the lid itself and trickles through the gap into the bowl as you whisk. I’ll do a post with photos on mayonnaise soon. Thanks for reading!
Thanks for this… I just have a new thermomix and I love it but… can you please explain how to use the MC again to make mayonaise… I just can’t get it right! Thanks
That’s a brilliant trick, Bernie, many thanks! Let’s have some more like it!
If you need an egg white for a recipe, e.g. TM ice cream, crack the egg into the lid, the white will slide into the bowl and you lift the yolk and use it in another recipe.