The Cuisinart hand blender :
a review of the
ideal immersion blender.

Many Italian food recipes require a small blender.

We review one of the best - the Cuisinart hand blender.

Cuisinart have had the reputation of developing revolutionary professional kitchen equipment since they first introduced the food processor in the early 1970s.


Their products tend to be at the more expensive end of the market, but this reflects the fact that they’re built to last - they will withstand the demands of even the busiest professional kitchens.


This model - the HB154PCJU - is not the most expensive of the Cuisinart hand blender range but we’ve found it to have the best consumer ratings.


Like all Cuisinart products, it comes with a five year guarantee - a definite bonus.




Design.

With a brushed chrome handle and stainless steel stick and blade, this hand held blender has a specially designed grip which makes it very easy to use and much more comfortable to hold than other blenders we’ve looked at.


The single on / off button also controls the speed and is well-placed, making the blender easy to control with one hand - an advantage if you want to add ingredients slowly with the other hand.


The bottom half of the blender is removed by means of a simple button, and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe which is a real benefit when you’re trying to get bits off the whisk attachment.




Functions.

The Cuisinart hand blender has a 200-watt motor which is powerful enough to cope with any blending or whisking job. It has two speeds which have been described as “on, and about to launch into space”!


This is a ‘stick’ or ‘immersion’ blender : it can be used directly in pans, bowls, large cups, or the stainless steel jug it comes with.



Blending : The motor is so powerful and the blades are razor sharp, which means it can handle any blending job. Preparing a homemade Italian salad dressing, for example, is done in seconds.


Chopping : Whilst obviously not as powerful as a food processor, this immersion blender is has a pulse function which makes it ideal for chopping garlic and soft fruit. It can deal with softened vegetables so is therefore easily able to make soups.


Whisking : The whisk attachment is exceptionally effective and will whisk egg whites into stiff peaks within two minutes - much quicker than other hand held blenders. Making easy Italian dessert recipes is a snip with this blender!




Professional reviews.