Gadgets: Kalorik 4-in-1 Combi Mixer
Gadgets that perform multiple functions can be really hit or miss: Either they do a great job of saving space and consolidating expenses, or they under-perform and disappoint. Oddly enough, the Kalorik 4-in-1 Combi Mixer falls somewhere in between. Its four functions—electric whisk, frother, chopper, and immersion blender—all work well enough, but having independent appliances would probably be a better bet for most cooks.
The Kalorik Combi Mixer's spine, so to speak, is the stick that plugs into the wall and connects to the various tools. Though all the attachments have a clear spot on the nicely designed carry-all tray, the stick itself doesn't, which seems like a strange oversight. It takes away from the sleek look and creates clutter, which are two significant cons. My other main gripe is how awkward it was to connect it to the chopper—the parts don't all click into place, so it's almost a balancing act to get everything to line up properly. With that in mind, loading the chopper cup for several consecutive uses gets to be a bit of a chore.
But here's the good news: For each of the functions, when you get them to work, they do their job pretty well. Well enough that once you own the multi-chopper, you won't feel the need to replace any one function with its own individual tool.
The general efficiency of the gadget makes it worthwhile for certain people, but most likely not for all. The low price tag ($32.61 from Amazon.com) means you get a lot of bang for your buck, and it's perfect for young cooks just developing their first collection of kitchen tools, or college students with highly limited space. The design may not be perfect, but without the stick it's fairly compact and attractive—just be sure that the short cord won't be problematic in your kitchen. In mine, it was nearly impossible to use the immersion blender without an extension cord. It's tough love, but it all works well enough in the end.
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9 Comments:
I'm curious why this review suddenly appeared. Doesn't everybody already have one of these (or an equivalent by a different manufacturer) already?
Very handy, I must say, but sometimes you do need another device with more grunt. My Braun is a good companion to my Kenwood Chef though, because sometimes you don't need its giant capacity for whisking things, or its full size blender jug attachment, and the Braun's little chopper attachment is extremely convenient for turning onions and garlic and herbs into delicious flavour goo.
Mawich at 8:51AM on 11/05/09
Actually, everybody doesn't have these types of tools already. I can think of a few people it would make a good gift for, that won't use these types of tools daily but are enjoying cooking more and more. At this price and size, it definitely sounds like a good investment until they know what they will use often and can choose something a little more powerful.
Cary at 9:24AM on 11/05/09
Good Christmas Present. I wonder if I could find this a the Bay?
hungrychristel at 11:08AM on 11/05/09
I'm forwarding this to my husband to see if he wants to get one. We want to get rid of clutter and we've been looking for a lazy :) alternative to my husband manually mixing/blending/whipping everything several times a week. And we won't feel so bad throwing out the 3 blenders we've bought and received as gifts. Guess we still have to keep the food processor...
A tres leche cake would take less than 2-3 hours to make w/o him hand whipping and beating everything.
Cassaendra at 1:03PM on 11/05/09
I don't know about this one, but the electric whisk attachment of my whisk/mini-fp/immersion blender (Philips?) worn out after beating thick batter.. many times. I think a part of the attachment melted from heat. It worked great for whipping egg whites and heavy cream, but just not meant for heavy-duty jobs that a regular hand-held mixer can do.
hmw0029 at 1:39PM on 11/05/09
I wouldn't say this review appeared suddenly. Nikki has been writing these gadget reviews for a while. Does it have to be a new style of gadget or one that is unlikely to be owned to be reviewed?
I've been thinking about getting something like this (stick blender with attachments). I'm just not sure if the stick blender can replace having a regular blender. Then again, my regular blender burned out it's engine a while back, so something would be better than nothing. Just not sure if I should get something like this and/or a regular blender.
wunami at 1:40PM on 11/05/09
@wunami - the gadget reviews aren't strictly for new gadgets on the market (though we love those!); I really like reviewing the kinds of things that people think about buying but don't know whether they're worth the money (like the mandoline I reviewed, or this one). There's definitely a sense of practicality in the choices, so if there are requests out there, feel free to shoot them my way in the comments!
@hmw0029 - you're totally right. that's just what I meant when I said these are good for new-to-the-kitchen types or those looking to simply consolidate. Definitely not for everyone. Gadgets that do so many things rarely do them as well as gadgets that focus on one purpose, but uni-taskers are often frowned upon for cost/space issues. This is a good grey area example--powerful enough for most functions that it's worth buying should you be the type to hate on the uni-taskers!
Nikki Goldstein at 2:29PM on 11/05/09
I loved my immersion blender, but the motor burnt out after a few years (can't complain, it was a gift). Does this one have a metal shaft that can be used in soups? The price point is good.
chanterelle at 7:43AM on 11/06/09
@chanterelle - yes it does! I used mine to make a really nice tomato soup the other day, actually.
Nikki Goldstein at 9:36AM on 11/06/09