Immersion Blenders?

[omega lambda]

I haven't made much soup over the years and the kind I have made typically doesn't require any blending.  But I made a butternut squash soup the other day and had to use my regular blender, in batches, to process it.  I am turning into a soup lover and so many of the recipes that I want to try require some sort of blending, so now I'm thinking about whether an immersion blender is worth having. 

Does anyone here have one?  Any recommendations or things to look for?

[Magic Microbe]

I have one...I don't use it often but I love it fir when I really do need it.

[merigayle]

if you make a lot of pureed soups it is worth it. I think mine is a kitchenaid? otherwise, we do not use it more than a few times a year.

[witchypoo]

try to find one that is not made of plastic.  i've broken three of those.  even when they seemed sturdy.

[omega lambda]

if you make a lot of pureed soups it is worth it. I think mine is a kitchenaid? otherwise, we do not use it more than a few times a year.

I've been looking at them online, and another use for them is smoothies.  We drink a lot of those, so I think between soups and smoothies it would get used enough to warrant the purchase.  They're also not that expensive.

try to find one that is not made of plastic.  i've broken three of those.  even when they seemed sturdy.

Do you mean the blender part?  Or the whole stick?

[Run Amok]

This is the home version of what you'll find in most professional kitchens: http://www.amazon.com/Dynamic--Mini-Pro-Commercial-Immersion/dp/B0047DE0GG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352741682&sr=8-1&keywords=burr+mixer

I think kitchen aid, warring, etc all make something similar. The only thing about it is that it's not safe to use in a non-stick pot. I use ss to cook soup in though, so not a problem for me.

[witchypoo]

I've been looking at them online, and another use for them is smoothies.  We drink a lot of those, so I think between soups and smoothies it would get used enough to warrant the purchase.  They're also not that expensive.

Do you mean the blender part?  Or the whole stick?

specifically, the fitting where the blender fits into the handle - all of those i've owned have had metal blenders, but the fittings always have a plastic bit.  and they all totally shit the bed at some point.

[Run Amok]

I've been looking at them online, and another use for them is smoothies.

I don't love immersion blenders for smoothies. A regular blender is faster and does a better job, ime. But, of course, ymmv.

[omega lambda]

This is the home version of what you'll find in most professional kitchens: http://www.amazon.com/Dynamic--Mini-Pro-Commercial-Immersion/dp/B0047DE0GG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352741682&sr=8-1&keywords=burr+mixer

I think kitchen aid, warring, etc all make something similar. The only thing about it is that it's not safe to use in a non-stick pot. I use ss to cook soup in though, so not a problem for me.

Is this the one you have?  Thanks for the link.  It looks like it is metal where the blender fits to the handle - so perhaps more sturdy than the ones witchy is talking about. 

Are there other uses that I haven't considered? 

The ones I started looking at range from $50-ish to $100-ish so this one is a bit more.  But I'll pay more if I only have to buy one instead of 3 or so, like witchy said.

[omega lambda]

I have one...I don't use it often but I love it fir when I really do need it.

What kind do you have?

[cgraz]

I have one and haven't used it a ton but I like it. Mine is a Cuisinart, this model: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/cuisinart-smartstick-immersion-hand-blender/s458317

It seems pretty well-constructed although I haven't put it through its paces, for sure. And I haven't used the attachments at all. It was given to me as a gift, so I didn't pick the specific model - I knew I wouldn't need those, but since I have them, I'll probably try them at some point. I just haven't been doing much of that kind of cooking lately.

[Magic Microbe]

What kind do you have?

I just looked...its a hamilton beach.

it is safe for nonstick pots because the blades are protected but I would never assume it could crush ice even though it says it can. It also has a handy egg beater attachment which I used to make merangue once. It does have the pesky plastic parts that Witchy breaks though.

[merigayle]

Mine may be cuisinart

[Run Amok]

Are there other uses that I haven't considered? 

Not really. I have an immersion blender and I pull it out from time to time. But, I don't get a lot of use from it, and, in general, I'm not a huge fan.

I don't eat a lot of pureed foods though and am not a huge fan of pureed soups. If I do them at all, I prefer to puree a portion of the soup and leave the rest whole, and a blender does a better job of that. Even so, I'm lazy, so I usually skip this step all together.

I like a regular blender for smoothies and pureed soups.

I like a foodmill, ricer, or potato masher for things like mashed potatoes.

I like a hand whip for sauces.

It's just one of those things that is nice to have very occassionally, but I could totaly live without it.

Some people really seem to love thiers though!!

[merigayle]

Mine is Kitchenaid. Personally, i would not buy an expensive one unless you wanted to or thought you would get a ton of use out of it.

[onawhim]

Mine is Kitchenaid. Personally, i would not buy an expensive one unless you wanted to or thought you would get a ton of use out of it.

1.  And I am with RA on the whole smoothie issue as well. 

[omega lambda]

Maybe I should get an inexpensive one to start and if I'm using it enough to break it, then I'll upgrade.

[OldBaldHippie]

Mine is Kitchenaid. Personally, i would not buy an expensive one unless you wanted to or thought you would get a ton of use out of it.

mine is a cheap one and I've had it for several years now...I mainly use it for making salsa...I have a lot of gadgets that I should just give to Goodwill, but this is not one of them...I do find it useful, even though I don't use it that often...

[nadra24]

My hand mixer has an immersion blender attachment.  I've never used it since I just opened my hand mixer yesterday, but I wonder how well that would work.  I also wondered if just a hand mixer would work for blending up soup, since I used it yesterday to mash bananas for the banana bread I was making.  I suppose it would depend on what kind of soup it was.  I would think it would work for butternut squash, but probably not for tomato or lentil or something like that. 

[omega lambda]

My hand mixer has an immersion blender attachment.  I've never used it since I just opened my hand mixer yesterday, but I wonder how well that would work.  I also wondered if just a hand mixer would work for blending up soup, since I used it yesterday to mash bananas for the banana bread I was making.  I suppose it would depend on what kind of soup it was.  I would think it would work for butternut squash, but probably not for tomato or lentil or something like that. 

I was wondering the same thing, but I think the difference is the resulting texture.  My regular blender resulted in something less than smooth.  It was perfectly edible and I didn't mind little bits of squash in my soup, but typically these soups are very smooth.  So I suppose if you're not picky about the texture, anything that blends it all together into a soupy mix is fine.  It's my birthday though, and Mr. OL wants to get me something, so I thought this would be cool! 

[cgraz]

I think the really smooth soups are also put through a chinoise after they are blended.

[Run Amok]

I think the really smooth soups are also put through a chinoise after they are blended.

Yes, if you want it really smooth, you're going to have to strain it regardless. You definitely do not get a smoother texture with an immersion blender than a regular blender.

[ecodork]

I'm not sure what brand we have, but it's name is Phyllis the Phallus!

[merigayle]

I'm not sure what brand we have, but it's name is Phyllis the Phallus!

[omega lambda]

Yesterday, I picked up a pretty inexpensive immersion blender at an outlet store.  It's all metal up to the (purple!) handle and has two speeds and it was $20.00.  I'm going to give it whirl!  heh

[Magic Microbe]

Yesterday, I picked up a pretty inexpensive immersion blender at an outlet store.  It's all metal up to the (purple!) handle and has two speeds and it was $20.00.  I'm going to give it whirl!  heh

I want a purple one!

[merigayle]

me too! i will trade you red for purple 

[marjolaine]

We have Braun. I think we paid $50 for it 25 years or so ago. It's old, made of plastic, but works like new. We use it to make salad dressings, aioli, dips, and now I use it to blend fillings for my macarons that have fruit jam in it. I recently used it to make harissa sauce without dirtying up our processor. It's so much easier to clean than the blender or the food processor. <I didn't know how to clean it until last summer when we used it in the pastry class and chef O showed us how. It was like being shown magic. I've not used our blender since for this reason!>

[diablita]

what is the cleaning secret?

[marjolaine]

It's not a secret. But to me it felt like it was. You know the cup the blender came with? Fill it with hot water and some dish soap, and whirl the blades, repeating as necessary. Change the water to rinse whirling the blade until there are no bubbles in the water. I was so dumb for trying to clean it by running the faucet over it using a dish brush to clean out the stuck food particles after each use. I hated using it for this reason. I guess I should have read the operating instruction booklet. 

Also whirling the blades in a bowl of warm water keeps the food stuff from drying out in the crevices under the blades in between uses during food prep.

[diablita]

good tip!  I never read the instructions either

[Magic Microbe]

I put mine in the dishwasher...it says not to but I only rarely use it and it seems fine.

[omega lambda]

I put mine in the dishwasher...it says not to but I only rarely use it and it seems fine.

You put the whole thing in the dishwasher?  Or does it come apart?  I haven't used mine yet, nor have I read the instructions.

[Run Amok]

Whatever you do, make sure you clean immediately. As soon as those food particles dry on the blades and shaft, you're screwed.

[Magic Microbe]

You put the whole thing in the dishwasher?  Or does it come apart?  I haven't used mine yet, nor have I read the instructions.

It comes apart. I always soak it immediately also.

[marjolaine]

Whatever you do, make sure you clean immediately. As soon as those food particles dry on the blades and shaft, you're screwed.

That's what the bowl of water nearby is for. Whirl it in after each use. It's such a pleasure to use that thing once I got the hang of rinsing it immediately.

[Ice Cream]

It's not a secret. But to me it felt like it was. You know the cup the blender came with? Fill it with hot water and some dish soap, and whirl the blades, repeating as necessary. Change the water to rinse whirling the blade until there are no bubbles in the water. I was so dumb for trying to clean it by running the faucet over it using a dish brush to clean out the stuck food particles after each use. I hated using it for this reason. I guess I should have read the operating instruction booklet. 

Also whirling the blades in a bowl of warm water keeps the food stuff from drying out in the crevices under the blades in between uses during food prep.

Thanks for this, it makes sense, but I never thought of this.

[omega lambda]

I used it for the first time and like it.  It made quick work of my pumpkin soup.  I really liked the immersion blender, the pumpkin soup not so much.

[marjolaine]

I used it for the first time and like it.  It made quick work of my pumpkin soup.  I really liked the immersion blender, the pumpkin soup not so much.

Someone here posted a recipe for curried butternut soup. I heard it was delicious.

[MiniDriver]

I just burned out the motor in mine. Off to Bed, Bath & Beyond first thing tomorrow.