PrintImmersion blender
Does anyone have advice on what kind of immersion blender to buy or what features / specifications to look for?
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11 Comments:
i have the silver chrome one from cuisinart (from crate and barrel i think); it's pretty good but can't really handles chopping the heavy duty stuff like nuts and carrots (though it has the attachment)
Lexie at 12:27PM on 03/27/07
I have a Kitchenaid. It does all the things I would expect an immersion blender to do, but I don't try to substitute it's functionality for that of a food processor.
savvy at 1:06PM on 03/27/07
I have the Braun hand blender and LOVE it. It comes with extra attachments like a whisk, mixing cup and small chopper (like a mini mini food processor, though I'd never put anything as beefy as nuts in there).
As for features - for me, I look for something that comes apart that I can clean easily. And the wall mount bracket was handy as my kitchen is teeny and lacks storage space.
Beth M. at 1:32PM on 03/27/07
I have a Braun as well....it used to have a small food processor part but I wore that out years ago! The immersion blender works great though. I think the important thing is to look for one that not only feels comfortable in your hand, but also has enough heft that it is going to do a good job for you. As my hubby always says...you get what you pay for! Don't skimp, and it should last you awhile...I've had mine for over 15 years.
mepolo at 1:56PM on 03/27/07
I have the Cuisinart one with metal blades and casing, and I love it. I heard from someone with a plastic casing they had melting issues in hot liquids and near the bottom of the pot under flame. Any experienced this with the plastic ones?
megnut at 2:42PM on 03/27/07
My grandpa bought me a "Thunderstick" from one of those tv commercials. I can't say I would recommend it, although mentioning your "thunderstick" sure raises eyebrows, especially when you mention a grandparent in the same sentence. Anyway, the problem is that it overheats easily and gives off an odor.
July at 3:32PM on 03/27/07
I have never liked single use gadgets, so rather than suggesting a stick blender, I'd urge anyone to get the Braun Multi-Mix. In addition to being a great immersion blender, it is also a traditional hand mixer & mini chopper:
http://www.braun.com/na/products/fooddrink/foodpreparation/multimix/models.html
Because it has a traditional handmixer base, you can set it down without dripping soup or sauce all over the place. It just sits there nicely and behaves itself until you need to use it again!
For comparable functionality, you'd spend 39.99 on the kitchen aid hand mixer, 39.99 for the Cuisinart immersion blender, and another 29.99 for the cheapest Cuisinart mini chopper. They take up more space, offer no more functionality & the braun can be gotten for 39.99!
The best part is that your kitchen clutter & work space is simplified by having all that functionality in one drawer.
2 related comments:
1. Plastic housings on all immersion blenders are made to withstand heat. If you are melting the housing it is because you have the heat too high or you have left it to simmer in the pot with your food.
2. If you want to seriously tackle the art of the bouillabaisse and need a blender that will grind up bones &/or shellfish....you'll need to get one that will hold up & have the power for the abuse it will take. Consult your local restaurant supply for this. Otherwise, for even the above average kitchen, this caliber of immersion blender is overkill and money that you don't need to spend.
2qrs at 4:12PM on 03/27/07
Braun. All the way. Though I'd not seen the model 2qra mentions, and I'm now tempted to nab one...
nicksweeney at 1:27AM on 03/28/07
I have the cheapest immersion blender available, and I have to say it works just fine. It has no attachments at all, just two speeds, one of which is nigh on useless. I don't have a food processer (although of course I wish I did) and I have found that with a little acquired technique I can do lots of things with it. For me, the hardest thing to master was breadcrumbs, which you need to keep as aerated as possible. Otherwise, I grind things like nuts with it all the time, and have never had a problem.
caley at 7:07AM on 03/28/07
I inherited mine from my grandmother, actually. She got it from my grandfather as soon as they came out and it cost over $100! It is a Braun Minipimer2. It has been in continuous use since sometime in the late 70s. Just in the last month the poor thing has finally had a bit of a problem. The housing has cracked around the screw that attaches it to the motor. I am definitely in the market for a new one. This thread was helpful, I now know I'll stick with the Braun.
Calichef at 8:14AM on 03/28/07
I have no electrical outlets right near my stove, so I am happy to have Cuisinart's cordless model.
floretbroc at 4:46PM on 03/28/07