Kitchen robot speeds and functions explained
If recipe jargon confuses you, here's the complete dictionary. The good news: on Cookabot the steps already adapt to your robot, but understanding it gives you full control and lets you improvise or fix things on the fly.
Speeds
- Spoon speed: the lowest setting, for mixing without breaking food apart (equivalent to speed 1 or "stir").
- Speed 1–4: gentle mixing, incorporating liquid ingredients, cooking with chunks.
- Speed 5–7: medium blending, purées, textured sautés, coarsely chopping vegetables.
- Speed 8–10: fine blending, smooth soups and creams, smoothies, flours.
- Turbo: maximum-power pulses in short bursts, for dry chopping (ice, nuts, stale bread).
Temperature and steam
- Varoma: maximum temperature (~120°C) and also the name of the steaming attachment placed above the bowl.
- 37°C: body temperature, ideal for proofing dough or tempering chocolate without it seizing.
- 50–90°C: range for melting, setting custards, making sauces without boiling.
- 100°C: water's boiling point at sea level; sautéing, stews, boiling.
- 100–120°C (Varoma): steaming, quick blanching, reducing sauces.
Attachments and turns
- Butterfly whisk: whips cream/egg whites and mixes gently without chopping the ingredients.
- Reverse turn (↺): stirs without chopping, ideal for chunky stews or rice dishes.
- Kneading spike: function for bread and pizza dough, simulates hand-kneading.
- Built-in scale: weighs directly in the bowl, avoids needing a separate scale.
- Steaming basket: perforated attachment for steaming inside the bowl itself or draining food.
Typical speeds by what you're cooking
| Smooth soups and purées | 30-60 sec | speed 5 → speed 10 gradually |
| Sautéing vegetables | 5-7 min | 100°C / speed 1 |
| Stew with meat chunks | 20-40 min | 100°C / reverse or spoon speed |
| Bread or pizza dough | 3 min | kneading function / kneading speed |
| Whipped cream or stiff egg whites | 3-4 min | speed 3-3.5 with butterfly whisk |
| Crushing ice or nuts | 5-10 sec in pulses | turbo |
| Emulsified sauces (mayonnaise) | 30-40 sec | speed 3-4, oil added in a thin stream |
| Rice or risotto | 15-18 min | 100°C / reverse / spoon speed |
Safety mistakes to avoid
- Blending hot liquids with the lid fully sealed: Steam needs an escape route; keep the measuring cup in place without forcing it shut, never fully sealed.
- Exceeding the bowl's maximum level: Hot liquids expand in volume when blended. Always respect the maximum-level marks.
- Inserting your hand or utensils while the blades are moving: Always use the spatula through the cap opening, never inside while the motor is running.
- Jumping straight to turbo speed with hot liquid: This can splash hot contents out through the opening. Increase speed gradually.
- Ignoring the stirring direction in chunky recipes: Using normal speed instead of reverse breaks apart stews and rice dishes; always check what the recipe specifies.
Basic care and maintenance
- Blades: Wash them right after use so residue doesn't dry and harden. Never touch them directly with your hand — use a brush or rinse with your hand outside the bowl.
- Lid rubber seal: Remove it now and then to clean underneath; if it starts smelling or losing elasticity, it's time to replace it — that's normal wear, not a defect.
- Lingering smells in the bowl: Blend water with a splash of vinegar or a few lemon peels at high speed for 20-30 seconds, then wash as usual.
- Turmeric or carrot stains: Rub with a bit of oil before washing with soap; oil dissolves the pigment better than water alone.
- Bowl smells burnt after a stew: Fill with hot water and let it sit for 15-20 min before scrubbing, instead of scrubbing dry right after cooking.
Want to see it in action? Open any recipe and switch robots to see how each step translates to your specific model.
Frequently asked questions
What is spoon speed?
It's the lowest speed, meant to mix without breaking up food. On other robots it's equivalent to speed 1 or a "stir/mix" function.
What does Varoma mean?
It's the highest temperature (~120°C) and also the steaming attachment. On other robots it translates to 120°C or their steaming tray.
What is the butterfly whisk for?
It's an attachment that whips cream, egg whites, or mixes gently without chopping. Other robots have an equivalent part (whisk/butterfly).
What speed should I use for a creamy soup?
Gradually raise from speed 5 to speed 10 over 30-60 seconds. Jumping straight to top speed makes it splatter.
Why does my stew end up mushy?
You probably used normal speed instead of reverse (↺). Reverse turn stirs without chopping chunks, ideal for stews and rice dishes.
Is it safe to blend very hot liquids?
Yes, as long as you don't exceed the bowl's maximum level and leave an escape route for steam (measuring cup in place, not fully sealed). Increase speed gradually, never all at once.