[French Fries]

My wife wants to buy an immersion blender "Right away". I told her to wait a sec, I'll ask the good people on Chef Talk which one I should be getting. Any recommendations? She wants to make soups, I want to use it to mix sauces.

[DuckFat]

For home I have had two. One that was a gift from WS in the $200 range that I didn't keep very long. The other is a Braun that I paid $20 for at Costco with a coupon. The Braun runs circles around the WS unit and has served me well for about three years.

[KYHeirloomer]

A lot really depends on how often you'll be using it, and how thick the medium.

You can spend $2-300 on a boat motor, and it will last two days longer than forever. Or you can spend a tenth of that on consumer models. Problem is, there doesn't seem to be a middle ground.

I've tried all sorts of makes and models at the consumer level, including GE, Braun, another European make whose name escapes me, even a Food Network brand, and several others. Every one of them goes down relatively quickly, or has operating quirks. And they all come with accessories that, IMO, are unnecessary, such as "mixing bowls", and clips for hanging the thing on a wall, etc. At least one of them even has an extra head that supposedly let's you use it as an upside-down operating mini-food processor. What a joke that is!

In my experience, most of them bog down if a thick puree is the goal. You're better off, in those cases, using a stand blender or food processor.

So, my first recommendation is that you and your bride actually handle the various choices in the store before buying. Make sure it's relatively comfortable in your hand, that the operating switches are conveniently located (note the plural use of switch---with modern consumer models you cannot just turn it on. You have to hold both the on/off switch and the speed controller simultaneously). Check the clearance between the blade housing and the height of the blade---most of them actually don't have enough room.

Even after all that, resign yourself to the fact that you'll be replacing it every year or two. But, even so, it's less expensive than an industrial unit.

On the other hand, if you're going to use it quite often, that it might pay to invest in a professional grade unit.

[KYHeirloomer]

Duckfat, do you have the model of the Braun unit? The Braun I had was the next best thing to useless, and actually broke apart in less than six months.

[DuckFat]

No model #. It just says "300 watts". It has worked well for me so far. If you are looking for the middle ground KYH you might want to look at the Dynamic mini blender. JB Prince carries them. I have been ordering from Prince for a good 15 years so they are a very reliable company.
Any of the consumer stick blenders are weak compared to the commercial units.

Dynamic Mini Blender

[French Fries]

Thanks guys. OK so I'm not ready to fork out $200+ or even $100+ on something I'll barely be using. Mainly soups (so almost overcooked potatoes, leeks, carrots...) or sauces (for example after braising a pork shoulder in half and half, to emulsify the cream sauce).

I'll take the risk and get one of the cheap $30-$50 units since I'm not going to use this so often.

Anything wrong with Cuisinart or Kitchen Aid?

PS: unfortunately, having a small toddler and two jobs means the luxury of actually going to a store to handle the different models is out of the question: we'll have to make an online "blind" purchase. Using Cheftalk's Amazon link OF COURSE!

[DuckFat]

I'm not a big fan of America's Test Kitchen but I just picked up one of their cook books with the past several seasons in it. In the back they have their equipment picks and they suggest the KA stick blender. Take it FWIW as I have zero experience with that product.

[French Fries]

Alright, good to hear, that's a nudge toward that model. Thanks!

[boar_d_laze]

Like a lot of "Made in China or Somewhere Else Even Cheaper," the lower priced stick blenders are all pretty much of a piece. Name brands don't mean as much as they used to in a world of off-shore sub-contracting and off-shore assembly. However, the phrase "you get what you pay for," still has some validity.

So, for under $50 it's kind of a crap-shoot. But considering how often most of us (don't) use a stick blender, the two or three years you get out of it, may be just what the doctor ordered.

At around $100 things open up a little. There are a few domestic style blenders which come with attachments, mini-preps and so on; and a few pro/home machines that are better made but have virtually no features. In the second group the Waring Commercial Quik Stik (under $100, $65 on ebay) and 10" (under $200, $150 on ebay) are stand outs; as is the Bamix.

BDL

[French Fries]

Great! Thanks a lot BDL. That one on eBay is refurbished, but I found a new one for $70 including shipping so I may go for that.

[chongski]

have you bought an immersion blender yet? i would suggest that you look at Rainbow Appliance Coupons. you can find every kitchen supply that you need here. plus, you can avail for their coupons and discounts... absolutely cheap!

[French Fries]

I ordered the Waring! Thanks again BDL.

[boar_d_laze]

Yo, dude!

BDL

[deltadoc]

Several years ago I bought the Bamix commercial wand blender. 2 speeds and it is awesome. Wouldn't have any other.

doc