PrintImmersion blender recommendations
I've decided it's time to get serious about an immersion blender. All winter I've been making pureed soups by transferring the soup to the regular blender and pureeing it in messy batches, which requires two pots and too much time.
These things aren't cheap, so I want to be careful about what I buy. If you have one and love it, can you share the details? (one caveat - I am terribly non-mechanical and don't want to fool around with anything too complicated.)
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21 Comments:
I'm interested in getting one too, so I'll be watching this thread...
seyo at 10:19PM on 02/27/08
i have a braun that i got a few years ago for less than 50 bucks and it works great.
cybercita at 10:24PM on 02/27/08
Cooks Illustrated recommends the KitchenAid hand blender, and so do I. You will LOVE making soups with one, makes life so much easier, and a lot less messy! Good for hollandaise and some salad dressings too!
bobcatsteph3 at 11:02PM on 02/27/08
Not only is it easier and less messy, but I use it because it's safer. No pouring hot foods into the blender, then holding a towel over top hoping to not spray the kitchen and burn yourself. I honestly can't remember when I last took out my blender.
They are extremely simple to use. The only caveat I can think of is to not lift it out of the food while still running, but that is pretty basic and not something you'd need to think about. I always trust equipment recommendations from Cooks Illustrated.
PerkyMac at 11:31PM on 02/27/08
I also have a Braun that I got a few years ago at Bed Bath & Beyond, I think I paid 39 bucks. Came with a whisk attachment and a nifty measuring container with a lid that is handy for making salad dressings. Works great and is very durable.
ride&cook at 6:09AM on 02/28/08
Mine is a cheap Hamilton Beach ($20?) and it works fine.
Speaking of safety - be very careful about unplugging it when not in use. I have a friend - a very experienced cook - who was injured pretty badly when her immersion blender jammed and she tried to free the blades.
It's a great tool - just be careful.
SSMom at 7:36AM on 02/28/08
I have the Cuisinart Smart Stick - I use it a lot with soups and it doesn't choke on frozen strawberries (which led to the demise of my last immersion blender). It also has a small food processor attachment that I use when the quatities are too small for the full-blown FP (like a single onion).
bitchincamero at 10:09AM on 02/28/08
Honestly? I bought my first one for $9.98 at Superstore (a Canadian grocery chain) and it worked just fine. I used it for 3 years before passing it on to a friend to upgrade to one that also had a chopper attachment. It cost all of $30, also from Superstore, but was from an actual company I recognized. I like it because the immersion part is metal, so it cleans easier, and doesn't take on a tumeric colour like the white plastic one did.
I don't think that you need to spend much for one of these. I use mine all the time, and have never had a problem. Totally one of my kitchen essential tools!
Peasantwench at 10:23AM on 02/28/08
Washington Post just did a review of immersion blenders - Toward Greater Whirled Peas. The best of the bunch was one of the least expensive - Hamilton Beach model.
cleanerplateclub at 10:31AM on 02/28/08
I have two. One is a really nice, *not cheap* Cuisinart cordless. The charger has worn down, and I don't know how to fix it. This is a huge bummer.
The other is a plug-in model picked up at a garage sale for $1.00. I use it all the time. I have a hard time parting with the higher-end model even though it doesn't work well.
My advice is to stay away from cordless models.
Kerosena at 12:46PM on 02/28/08
Hasn't been updated in over a year, but Consumer Search has a compilation of reviews that might be helpful
@Kerosena... rechargeable batteries have a limited life, eventually will not hold a charge. The battery pack should be replaceable. Caveat: Oftentimes those rechargeable batteries cost nearly as much as replacing the whole device, so may not work out. But certainly worth looking into, anyway!
LoCo at 12:58PM on 02/28/08
I love my cuisinart blender. It's the corded version but the cord is really long and it works beautifully so far for everything I have used it for.
midgepingleton at 6:16PM on 02/28/08
I have a Braun "professional" blender that I bought from Sam's Club for $50. I've had it for about three years now and use it fairly frequently, and I've always been very happy with it.
A few things I considered when purchasing my blender:
jenilowrance at 6:48PM on 02/28/08
Immersion blender is one of my favorite kitchen tools. I use it to whip cream, make sauces, dressings, soups and smoothies. I have a corded Williams-Sonoma one from a few years ago that has a stainless steel shaft and it's great. When you get, you'll be using it for all kinds of things and wonder why you waited so long.
FigswithBri at 7:24PM on 02/28/08
I have a cheap Braun. Works just great. Yeah, sure it's stained ... but it's kept in a drawer in my kitchen and I only take it out when I use it and then wash it and put it away. No need for the expensive - stainless models unless you have gobs of money to throw away. It's just a wonderful kitchen gadget which I've had for 10+ years. The little food processor accessory is wonderful as well for salad dressing and grinding small amounts of herbs or nuts.
Jane M at 11:29AM on 02/29/08
I have the cuisinart model - it came with all these cute attachments and a mini food processor too - $50. totally worth it.
unarata at 12:18PM on 02/29/08
re: rechargeable vs. corded
In addition to wearing out and being very expensive to replace, when you do throw out those batteries, realize that they are HORRIBLE for the environment.
I will definitely go with a plug in model. Probably the one jenilowrance endorsed.
seyo at 1:47PM on 02/29/08
@cleanplateclub, i'm not surprised that the ham beach model came in first. a few years ago i bought a very expensive kitchenaid hand mixer for the city, and then a ham beach for the country. it was 20 bucks and completely outperforms the kitchenaid in every way.
cybercita at 12:11AM on 03/01/08
I have both the Cuisinart with the mini Food Processor bowl (so great, I actually ordered extra bowls and blades), and the KitchenAid. I love all my other KA appliances, but the Cuisinart Stick Blender is the best.
superdlux at 4:46PM on 03/01/08
My Braun has served me well for over 10 years, too. Take to heart, though, the advice to always have it fully immersed before engaging. Never lift it out in use, or it will spray your liquid everywhere. Hot liquid, usually, in my case. Be sure to have adequate depth of food in your pan or bowl before you start, too.
pamelamarie44 at 1:29PM on 03/03/08
Cuisinart! I have the cordless one and it has changed my life. I mean, it's so easy to puree things that I find myself constantly making smoothies, soup and such..
Alynn27 at 5:08AM on 03/04/08