Hand held blenders - advice?

[Seahorse]

I've had one of these for years but unfortunately dropped it on my tiled kitchen floor today and smashed it to bits! I've just been looking online for a new one but there's such a variation in price (from as little as a fiver to over �100!). Obviously I'd like to spend as little as possible but don't want to waste my money on a dud either.

Any recommendations?

[smallblueplanet]

We've had one of the Kenwood ones for quite a few years, but then we don't use it lots mainly for whizzing soups. The bits that came with it are replicated with other gadgets we already have, although the whisk was handy but it soon broke.

So how much use will it get, do you need the extra bits and if its gonna get heavy use check the motor wattage.

This looks like our old one, but someone says it actually has a less powerful motor.

Amazon.co.uk: Kenwood HB655 3 in 1 Wizzard System 400W Hand Blender, 2 speed, whisk, chopping bowl: Amazon.co.uk:

[pigletwillie]

We have a bamix blender

www.bamix-blender.co.uk

and with a top speed of 18000 rpm, it really is the mutts nuts and leaves all competition in the shade. Ours is in use almost daily and lives on the worktop. From making icecream to blending soup to mixing a smoothie complete with ice it is cracking. It makes mayonaise in about 20 seconds with no fear of it spitting and it also whips cream or mashes potato.

Yes its just under a �100 but you will only buy one once.

[shirlthegirl43]

I have spent a half hour looking for the thread where Pigletwillie said what blender thingy he had that he wouldn't be without!!! Just as well I checked back to this thread

[Seahorse]

I've heard that Bamix are the db's before (probably from you PW!)... not sure I can bring myself to part with �100 for one but as you say, it'd likely be only the once...

The Kenwood one looks handy too and for a much less 'sweaty hands at the till' price!

[shirlthegirl43]

I was given a Moulinex one as a wedding prezzie. I can't say it gets regular use as it is just something I don't use much. It had all sorts of bits and pieces with it but over the years most of them have been mislaid.

[Pumpkin Becki]

I must be a real cheapskate!! When my hubby had an operation that meant going on a liquid diet (and not in a good way!!) for two weeks, I went to Sainsburys and bought a 'Basics' one for less than a fiver. It makes wicked swede mash, pulverises roast butternut squash into yummy soup, the list goes on. For so little money, I couldn't have asked for more, it's the business!!

[valmarg]

I'm with piglet, the Bamix is the best stick blender.

Whereas most stick blenders only have the chopper blade, the Bamix has three blades. The aerator, the blender and the chopper blades.

We went to the NEC Good Food Exhibition several years ago, and stopped at the Bamix stall and watched the demonstration. We bought.

We also have the grinder/chopper for herbs, spices, etc. And it also grinds granulated sugar down to icing sugar.

Was it cheap - Not particularly, although it was on 'special offer' for the show.

Was it worth every penny we spent buying it -most definitely yes.

As piglet says, its a 'wouldn't be without gadget'.

valmarg

[Chiana]

BAMIX! Yes, yes, yes! Finally got my one after years of waiting. Bought a cheaper one, but it wasn't anywhere near as good. When it finally fell apart last year, I managed to persuade OH to buy it for my birthday. Amazon had a deal on kitchen equipment, spend over �150 get �50 off, so threw in a couple of other gadgets too (Thanks Mum & Dad) This one has a 10 year guarantee with it, is just fab.
You can blend soup hot off the hob, straight in the pan. Makes a fantastic batter for Yorkshire Puds, etc. It's also sooo easy to clean
I know it's alot of money, but sometimes you see an old one appear on Ebay, normally being upgraded, and they still go for �30-�40+ (when I say old, I'm talking 10 years or more) so I really think that this is one "gadget" that has stood the test of time.
(Just to "do the housekeeping", I can confirm that I am not employed by, or related to anyone employed by, Bamix of Switzerland)

[SarzWix]

Unfortunately, �100 for a blender is pie-in-the-sky for me... That's shoes for all 3 kids I have a Kenwood one which I've had since I was 18, gets used regularly & still works fine. I also bought a Kenwood food processor at the same time, that's still going strong too

[Nicos]

I'm on my 3rd hand blender in 23 yrs- Braun with 3 heads- not expensive.

What I would look out for however is that it's going to be easy to clean INSIDE the head ( where the blades are)
I bought one recently in France ( see...can't cope without one there either!!)
and I didn't check inside the 'cup' bit first.
It's a right bu@@er to clean- just can't get the washing up brush inside to get the liquid/paste out...and that must be a salmonella attack waiting to happen
Almost feel like giving it to charity, (but they won't take electrical goods!)..but I'm not quite that spoilt (yet!)!

Ps- I use mine mainly for soups and pastes and taking the lumps out of my custard and gravy!!

[lainey lou]

I have my magimix - a wedding pressie nearly 12 years ago which I wouldn't be without but for small job I have a cheepoid hand blender bought in tescos for less than a fiver, just the job!

[scarey55]

Yup, I'm in the Bamix camp.

We've had ours for as long as I can remember (probably 15 years) and it is still going strong if only on one speed. When we moved here, we lost a couple of the attachments and sent off to the supplier for replacements and they arrived within a couple of days. Expensive, I know but well worth it.

The best part of all... dead easy to clean.

[Seahorse]

It's interesting that the best options seem to be really cheap or really pricey! I've looked at Bamix again and much as I'd love one, I think I have to go with Sarah's 'kids shoes' argument! (Maybe one day though). I'm going to look for a budget but easy to clean one.

Thanks everyone

[dan1979]

I have a Braun one that costs about �25-30, comes with a whisk attachment and a little herb chopper/blender thing it clips on the top of.

Has two speeds and does everything I need it to very well (everything mentioned in the thread), can't see why I'd need one that costs four times the price...