photos and pricing courtesy Amazon.com
Few electric kitchen gizmos are as essential to me as the immersion blender (also known as a stick blender). It's a great tool for creating soups and sauces, as well as the occasional smoothie-by-the-glass.
There are a few key benefits to the immersion blender opposed to a regular blender:
For one, you can stick it right into the pot to puree hot foods without waiting for them to cool, or worrying about steam and puréeing in batches. For anyone who has tried to purée a hot soup in a regular blender, you know what a challenge it can be as the steam builds up and threatens to pop the lid right off.
Two, they are generally small, and can easily be stored in a cupboard or drawer rather than taking up valuable counter space.
And lastly, they are generally quieter and easier to clean than their bigger cousins.
Of the four shown, here's the skinny:
Proctor Silex 59735 Imersion Blender - $16
This is the immersion blender I currently own. I picked it up at the local drugstore when my more expensive cuisinart broke. It is plenty powerful, and the design of the blade guard allows good flow for a faster, more even purée.
I was very dubious about a plastic shaft, as I felt it would be difficult to clean and would easily stain. My concern was unfounded however as everything (including tomato sauce) rinses right off. The shaft is not removable, which means it can't go in the dishwasher, and the lock that holds the button in the on position is difficult to engage meaning you have to hold the button down continuously. These are minor inconveniences however considering the low price and great quality.
Cuisinart CSB-77 Smart Stick Hand Blender - $50
This was my first stick blender, and a generous gift from my favorite Aunt. Unfortunately however, even though it is more than double the price of my current immersion blender, it has some serious disadvantages.
The removeable, stainless steel blade shaft is easy to clean, though it seized up and was unusable after less than a year of use. It comes with a whisk attachment and mini food processor attachment. The mini food processor works very well, just don't put it in the dishwasher or it will fill with water that you will NEVER get out. The whisk is mediocre at best.
KitchenAid KHB100ER Hand Blender - $50
This Kitchen Aid blender looks great, but has some challenges. It's grip is the most comfortable of those I have used, however it has a gimmicky speed dial on the top that is difficult to adjust while operating and requires two hands to use. It is fairly quiet (though not more so than my $16 Proctor Silex). The blade guard is much better designed than the cuisinart, though the large openings allow food to easily get caught in the guard, limiting its effectiveness.
Hamilton Beach HMI200 Commercial Immersion Blender $150
I have not used this blender, however I singled it out for a few reasons - the wide open blade guard will likely produce a great result with little resistance. I grew up with the Hamilton Beach brand and it's synonymous with quality in my household. Lastly, the no-fuss, no frill design appeals to me.
To recap:
You are probably best to go with either the very low end, or the very high end when shopping for an immersion blender, I jhave not been happy with anything in the $20 - $60 range.
A removeable shaft may be convenient, but it may also fail if improperly cleaned/handled
More power doesn't mean a better product. The design of the blade guard is probably the most important feature to consider, followed by ease of use and lastly, power. An ergonomic grip is nice, but really - you'll most likely only be using it for a few minutes at a time so you can probably tough it out.
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