444531 Mon Sep 24 23:09:12 -0700 2007 24 41 Cookware 0 2973098 I am ready to buy an imersion hand blender. I would appreciate your recs, as I have never owned one. Thanks! Mon Sep 24 23:09:12 -0700 2007 47097 southerngal 1 2973545 I recently purchased the Cuisinart SmartStick Hand Blender and I love it: http://www.cuisinart.com/catalog/product.php?product_id=317&item_id=426&cat_id=8 (hope that link works, otherwise just go to the Cuisinart website and go to "hand blenders") I bought it at Linens N' Things, marked less than the MSRP, and with a 20% off coupon, so it was a pretty good deal- I think it was between $35-$40 total if I remember correctly. I like it because I can use it as a hand mixer (whisk attachment), chopper (chopping container attachment), and also small-to-medium-volume blending, especially for hot items (which I think you can't do in a regular blender, or so I've heard). I live in a small apartment with a tiny kitchen, so every little space-saver helps. For me personally, this means I don't need a separate blender and/or mixer taking up counter/storage space. Hope this helps! Tue Sep 25 07:05:38 -0700 2007 2973098 105444 gyozagirl 1 2973639 Hi, here's the Cook's Illustrated ratings: http://www.cooksillustrated.com/testing.asp?testingid=480&bdc=5760 So I bought the Kitchenaid (from Target) and I'm quite happy with it. It's not suitable for small amounts, and some foods aren't as smooth as from a "real" blender. But it's worth it's price just to be able to puree soups and sauces in the cooking pot. Tue Sep 25 07:40:46 -0700 2007 2973098 14803 bakergal 2 3022063 thanks for that link - i'm looking for an immersion blender as well. do you know which kitchenaid blender they're referring to? or is it just kitchenaid in general? Wed Oct 10 11:34:22 -0700 2007 2973639 33727 patz 3 3022138 At that price it would have to be the KHB100 model. From what I have heard, the KBH300 is the exact same hand blender packaged along with the whisk and food processor accessories (which cost $22.99 and $29.99 if purchased separately from KA). Wed Oct 10 11:50:18 -0700 2007 3022063 73013 LabRat 4 3024612 thanks! Thu Oct 11 07:47:10 -0700 2007 3022138 33727 patz 4 3245470 I just purchased the KBH300 from Amazon and it was only $89.99 including tax and shipping. Sat Dec 29 14:15:23 -0800 2007 3022138 153290 bethgoldfarb 1 2973725 Don't know if it is even still made, but I have a Braun MultiPractic at least a decade old. Works like a charm, came with a mini-chopper, whisk, and blender attachments. The minichopper is okay for a handful of nuts, the whisk is great for small amounts of cream, and the blender will rip thru a pot of broccoli in 10 seconds flat. Also good for salad dressings, marinades, hummus, etc. Tue Sep 25 08:00:58 -0700 2007 2973098 12023 Hungry Celeste 2 2973955 I also have the Braun that I received as a gift. I love it for pureeing soups and sauces. Tue Sep 25 09:01:05 -0700 2007 2973725 22220 Kelli2006 1 2977019 I have had the Cuisinart SmartStick for over a year & love it. Very easy to use, easy to clean. Came with a whisk & mini processor attachment. I tend not to use the extras much I was wavering about purchasing one & several pros said once I had it I'd never know how I lived without it. They were right! I purchased mine at Sams club, seemed to be a seasonal item for holidays. Price was best I had seen at that point. Tue Sep 25 23:50:13 -0700 2007 2973098 111267 meatn3 1 2980790 Thanks for your input. I hope to go shopping this weekend. Wed Sep 26 22:30:19 -0700 2007 2973098 47097 southerngal 1 2981065 I have a WIlliams Sonoma ( which I believe is a Swiss made product) as well as Braun 400 watt which has several attachments including a mini-processor which is very useful. I wanted to purchase another so Googled Braun and wound up at Walmart and paid about $45 for the stainless steel version with multiple useful gadgets. Ordered online and delivered in a few days. The brand label is Walmarts but it is clearly the 400 watt Braun which I love. Thu Sep 27 05:50:36 -0700 2007 2973098 68319 Sinicle 1 2982073 Bamix http://www.bamix-usa.com/ makes a very good immersion blender. Thu Sep 27 10:00:08 -0700 2007 2973098 89493 scubadoo97 2 2984463 Bamix makes not just a very good the best immersion blender it makes the best immersion blender. Thu Sep 27 21:34:26 -0700 2007 2982073 10195 KTinNYC 1 2982978 From your comments and my online research, I was leaning toward the Kitchenaide mentioned in the Cooks Illustrated article....no attachments. I'm wondering if I should pay more for a model with attachments. What do you think? Do you use the chopper and whisk? Thu Sep 27 12:57:38 -0700 2007 2973098 47097 southerngal 2 2983093 I have the Braun. I have never used any of the attachments. Ever. Thu Sep 27 13:22:31 -0700 2007 2982978 120466 slofood 3 2984480 Likewise on the Braun attachments. Actually got rid of them, since I have to watch how I use kitchen space. Thu Sep 27 21:50:27 -0700 2007 2983093 64823 OldDog 2 2983723 The beater blade on the Bamix will turn skim milk into a thick whipped cream consistency. If you have ever wanted to do foams, I know they are so yesterday, this would be the perfect blade to do it with. 90% of the time I use the standard mincing blade but when you want to do something else you can. Thu Sep 27 16:25:11 -0700 2007 2982978 89493 scubadoo97 2 2985198 My 11 year old Braun just died. I loved it--including attachments. The whisk made salad dressing a breeze (not to mentioned whipped cream) and the plastic cup was ideal for making smoothies w/ the immersion blender. The chopper bowl was okay for some things, but doesn't do the kind of job a mini-chop would. When I get another it will definitely be w/ attachments (whisk is essential). Fri Sep 28 08:01:21 -0700 2007 2982978 20522 gourmanda 2 3248242 I just bought the Kitchenaid from Amazon for $59, without the attachments. Since I have a FP, a mixer, a blender,etc., I decided I really didn't need to spend any more money. I am quite happy with it. Sun Dec 30 18:55:21 -0800 2007 2982978 115579 Mother of four 1 2984536 My old one-piece Braun. Thu Sep 27 22:29:27 -0700 2007 2973098 36661 Sam Fujisaka 1 2985129 I have a Braun Impressions with attachments. I love it. I use the attachments fairly often, for mixing sauces, mincing veggies, etc. I think they are worth the extra money. The Braun model doesn't seem to be available any more, but the KitchenAid seems to be comparable. Fri Sep 28 07:44:16 -0700 2007 2973098 77061 bear 1 2985201 by far the best hand blender available to the home cook is the kitchenaid. i have been using one for years (after having gone through 3 other cheaper models) and it has twice the oomph and durability. no comparison. it's like 70 bucks, but well worth it. Fri Sep 28 08:01:35 -0700 2007 2973098 100704 ChefMoly 1 3017639 I bought the KitchenAid model KHB300 after someone in another thread mentioned that Amazon had them on sale (which they still are $59.99). This thing is SO much better than the cheap one I had through school. I made a pot of butternut squash soup last night and was able to puree the whole batch in under a minute! Didn't even have to stir it around like I did with the old one, just put the business end in the pot and it pulled the ingredients in to the blades. I doubt I'll ever use the whisk, but the small food processor bowl is useful for making small batches of pesto and things like that. Tue Oct 09 08:19:00 -0700 2007 2973098 73013 LabRat 2 3248299 I have a Braun, which has served me well for over a decade. I find that I use it with the small chopping blade and container more than I do the immersion for pureeing -- I chop a whole head or two of garlic at a time, and that which is left over I cover with a bit of oil and save in the fridge. Sun Dec 30 19:14:24 -0800 2007 3017639 10855 nosh