I'm thinking of getting an immersion blender

[joneschick]

been hearing good things especially for soup making which I will be be doing more of as the Winter sets in. I understand I need some decent power to do the job, but do I really have to spend $160+ to do the job? Some blenders will do a variety of jobs & I don't have a food processer right now. Any advice, as always, welcome.

:hi:

edited for add'l info: some blenders look rather clumsy to use...again advice?

[noamnety]

1. I have the cheapest hamilton beach one ($12)

After a couple of years. I have zero complaints about the power. Maybe that's an issue if you are using it for ice or milkshakes. I've used mine for tons of soup, raw liver smoothies when my cat was sick, and mayo (don't even need to drizzle the oil in slowly - use a tall narrow container and let gravity separate the ingedients so can incorporate it slowly as you raise the stick).

My biggest complaint - and maybe this is true for all of them - is that the stick part is a hollow tube with a very narrow opening at the top. The tube here:

lets dirty dish water in from the top when you soak it and there's no way to properly clean inside there. Just be aware that you can't let it soak, not ever. Wash it right away though and you should be fine.

[hippywife]

16. I have the same one but it's white.

It works really great, plenty of power. I still wouldn't give up my food processor though, as the OP is suggesting, as it does so many things that wouldn't be suitable to this tool.

:hi:

[Callalily]

2. I totally love mine for many of

the reasons stated above. I've had it for many years, and it still works great.

Mine is a cuisinart quick prep - looks like this. I'm thinkint it cost around $25.00

[Denninmi]

3. Someone sells a $160 immersion blender???

Seriously, is it gold plated or something? Ouch!

I've had various models/brands over the past 10-15 years, and I never paid over $20 for one, and most were more like $10-$12. They're wonderful devices. I think I've bought 3 of them. None of them literally wore out, but what would happen is that eventually, the blades would dull, and I'm not good at sharpening them, so I'd just get a new one.

The nicest one I've had came with various attachments -- a small enclosed chopper like a mini food processor that was great for doing small amounts of things like onions, pickles, white meat chicken for quick chicken salad; a cream whipping attachment which was awesome. I can't remember what brand it was for sure, but I think it was Black and Decker.

All of them will crush ice in a smoothie or shake, blend soups and other liquids, etc.

And no, you can't immerse them in water to clean past the neck, but that's typical of all electrical small appliances, so no big deal, just rinse it off right away so nothing sticks.

Just get a decent, inexpensive $20 model, it will do all anyone would ever need it to do.

Some are larger in diameter than other in the chopping head. I don't know if the larger ones are necessarily any more powerful, and personally, I found the smaller sized ones better, because they fit down into a narrow glass or cup better.

[Warpy]

7. You can pay six hundred bucks for a commercial model

that does huge vats of soups in a restaurant kitchen.

[Phentex]

4. I love mine and it's why I make a lot of soups!

Well, I mean I WILL when the weather changes. :) Now I use it for whipping cream, dips, sauces, salad dressings, etc.

I had a Thunderstick but certain people in my household, who shall remain nameless, stripped a little part and rendered it useless AND they don't make them anymore.

Now I have a Bamix and I love it. It's one part and the blades are easy to swap out. When *I* use it, I give it a quick rinse when I'm done and that's it. When the nameless people above use it, I end up having to wash it in really hot water to clean it properly. If I know they are using it, I will nag on the front end. :D

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

[japple]

5. I've been using the same one for about 20 years. It's a Braun

and I think it cost about $30.00 when we bought it. I don't think Braun makes them anymore. I use it alot to puree soups and sauces. The best thing about it is the design. It's beautifully molded and has no place for gunk to hide. If I were buying another, I'd look for one that is easy to clean and has adequate protection from the blades.

[Warpy]

6. I have an ultra cheapo Thunderstick

that I bought at auction for fifteen bucks ten years ago and it's held up reasonably well since all I ask it to do are smoothies and soups.

Basically, what I'd look for are a metal shaft and housing (I never trust plastic in hot soup, especially any soup with a fat content) and how easy it is to change blades and clean. Some of them out there have a rubber gasket that tends to collect scuzz. Reviews at Amazon can be your guide there.

Mine is underpowered for things like crushing ice, grinding beans and grains, and other really heavy tasks, but it's been a real honey for the money. It's especially nice to puree soups in the pot, smoothies in the glass, and small amounts of stuff like salad dressings in a baggie--no washup.

Since they have a heavy motor at one end and the business end at the other, they're all going to feel a little unwieldy at first. You should get used to the feel of it pretty quickly, though. Rechargeable units will generally have less power than corded units and be more expensive.

But do read those Amazon reviews. They're a treasure trove of advantages and disadvantages for each of them.

[Tesha]

8. I was given this one

...several years ago
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CSB-77-Blender-Chopper-Attachments/dp/B0006G3JRO

I love it much :) and use it often - and you're right, they made cream soups a snap.

[joneschick]

9. C&B comes thru!

you've all given great advice & encouragement! So I ordered a Cuisinart from Amazon for about $45 free shipping. Farmers Market on the Square on Saturday & soup to follow! Thanks so much. You guys never fail. I've hated getting out the monster food processor to make a mess...I may take it to the Lut'ran Ladies resale shop & be done with it. I will of course, be delighted with any recipes to use my new blender:hi:

[The empressof all]

10. I have a Cuisinart stick too and love it

The stick itself is really only good for blending liquids like soup....I don't know if yours comes with the chopping attachment or not but you'll love it for making soups and gravies.

My favorite quick soup is to just throw what ever veggies are in the fridge into the pressure cooker with some veggie broth and then when they're all cooked....Blend em to death.

Cauliflower is always a great addition to the veggie soup as it adds a creamy texture with out the startch of potato or the fat of dairy. It also is a great vehicle for flavor so you can make use of your spices here. I love curry powder in the cauliflower soup

And don't forget the magic of a can of pumpkins. Veg Broth, Pumpkin, Peanut Butter and red pepper flakes are fabulous.

[Tesha]

12. and leftover veggies!

So you find some broccoli, a potato, a hunk of cheese - add a little chicken broth..

heat, blend - gourmet in minutes! and folks think you're a wonder!

making bean soup? blend just until some of the beans puree - you get great texture and creaminess

but Empress! what's this about pumpkin and pb?

[The empressof all]

13. Peanut Butter Pumpkin Soup

Here's the basics. I do without the Sweet Potatoes most of the time but it adds a bit to the texture if you add them

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1648,154166-231198,00.html

My riff off this recipe includes sweating some onions and chili's before dumping the rest of the ingredients in. I also add red pepper as I like it with a bit of a burn. I usually use a jalapeno just because I usually have a can of them in the pantry...I use fresh if I remember to get it at the store.... I've also made this with Thai red chili's which is also nice. I use peanut oil (or EVOO) to get the onions soft and I use veggie stock rather than chicken but YMMV. I also use Adams crunchy peanut butter. I haven't found that it made any difference with using the smooth....I blend it all at the end anyway.

You also can go in an Asian Direction with this soup and add Ginger with the onions, a hit of Sri Racha and a finish of Coconut Milk

[Tesha]

14. ohhhh mmmm

Thank you - that recipe is sooooo going into rotation!

[Warpy]

20. Don't lose the Cuisinart!

There is nothing better for cutting fat into flour for pastry, nothing better for grating half a pound of cheese for that wonderful homemade cheese sauce for mac & cheese, nothing better for grating those 4 potatoes for potato pancakes or hash browns, and certainly nothing better for turning that slightly stale sandwich bread into bread crumbs. Oh, and don't get me started on grinding meat and fish for meat or fish balls or fillings for ravioli/kreplach/pierogi/jiao tze.

However, the immersion blender really is the superior tool for soups and smoothies, even if you've got the big old food mill that I've got and used for years.

The food mill is still great for separating tomatoes from their skins and seeds, but that's about all it gets to do these days.

[The empressof all]

21. I would only quibble about one thing here...

The food mill (or ricer) makes a far superior mashed potato than a hand masher or a Kitchen aide. It gives you some texture, no lumps and a smooth and creamy consistency.

I also think potatoes shredded on a food processor for latkes will not produce as crispy an end product as those grated by hand. (Honestly though---I am a latkes fanatic and very very hyper critical about the perfect recipe)...Other than that...

I would never give up my big food processor though I do use the little four cup Cuisinart electric chopper on daily basis.

[Warpy]

22. I use the hand masher for potatoes

because it's superior to the food mill, which can overwork the last bits through. If there's a stray lump or two, it's not going to kill anyone and is proof that I took the time and trouble to use real potatoes instead of those dried things.

I have to admit that for latkes, I do use http://cgi.ebay.com/MOULI-FOOD-SHREDDER-SLICER-DICER-PROCESSOR-KITCHEN-/350391840184?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5194fb2db8 because it'll do a finer grate on the potatoes. However, the food processor is fine for hash browns.

I use the big Cuisinart and the tiny Cuisinart spice grinder a lot. What I don't use is the mini chopper. Funny how that works out.

[The empressof all]

23. It comes down to the eternal question of lumpies or smoothies

I actually prefer whipped mashed potatoes. DH prefers them lumpy. After many many years the ricer has become our Switzerland and we have declared it perfect for us. Truth be told when I do bother to make mashed potatoes for just the two of us....I throw him a bone and use the hand masher. It's just easier than dragging out and cleaning up the food mill. But for holidays and events....:wow: The food mill is my friend.

I agree for hash browns and over all shredding the Food Processor is probably one of the top 10 must have kitchen toys. But for my special latkes I like the rough un-even textures that only my old box grater can provide. It also might be the bit of blood from the scraped fingers that gives them that extra ...zing...:rofl:

[Paper Roses]

11. I bought a good one several years ago but used it so infrequently

that I gave it to my daughter. It was a Braun, and is still going strong. I don't care for creamed soups so it was of little use to me. She uses it frequently. My late husband used to make cream soups often but since he died, I never touched it. I like chunky soups.

Great for creative cooks. Those days for me are long gone. I do tend the use the blender and the mini-food processor a lot. Both of mine cost in the range of $40-50 dollars.

I see food processors and blenders frequently at yard sales.

[Tesha]

15. Our Cuisinart also came with a whisk.

It uses a little gearbox in place of the stick blender attachment
that runs the whisk very fast so it can turn 16 ounces of cream
into superb whipped cream in less than a minute. It's pretty
much replaced "RediWhip" at our house. ;)

Tesha

[Paper Roses]

17. That I would have used! n/t

[Lugnut]

18. I have one that was very inexpensive.

If my memory serves me correctly, I think it cost around $25.

Using a food processor for pureeing is a very sloppy process. The "boat motor" does a much better job and there's no slop.

[MajorChode]

19. You don't need to spend a lot on one

Soup making is pretty light duty. You should be able to find one in the $25-40 range that will last you pretty much indefinitely and even cheaper ones should last a long time. If you are trying to blend harder things like frozen foods you might want to go with a more expensive model if you are doing this often, but otherwise the Cuisinart CSB-76 is the one I'd recommend.