Stick blender uses?

[breadmama]

I finally bought a Braun Multiquick handblender today so I could puree soup in the crock pot. (Love those BBB 20% off coupons!) It worked like a dream, and was much easier than getting out the blender. The set came with a whisk and a chopper bowl.

Any particularly cool uses out there beyond pureeing soups and whipping cream? I knew this was the place to ask that question! :D

Thanks!

[blazedog]

It makes super Smoothies. Mine came with a beaker but I would imagine any tall plastic tumbler would work well. I love the ease of clean up -- rinse the blades and put the tumbler in the DW after finishing.

One guy at work keeps one in the office and makes his protein shakes in the morning.

I have used the whisk attachment for beating egg whites - it was always a problem because I would have to figure out a way to wash the bowl and blades of the KA when a recipe called for egg whites.

Since I have a mini Cuisie, I don't use the little chopper but I assume it would work like my mini Cuisie which I love for chopping larger quantities of herbs, ginger, garlic -- for a marinade I will often just do everything in the little bowl.

But Smoothies and pureed soups -- if it did nothing else, it would merit a place in my kitche, I tossed the blender -- took up to much space and I never used. The stick blender fits in a drawer.

[dorothyntototoo]

Stick blenders get the lumps out of gravies & sauces. I use mine to make mock sour cream from cottage cheese too.

[schuh]

My husband loves making milk shakes with the stick blender.

I use it mostly to puree soups.

I haven't even tried the attachments. I tend to use the Cuisinart instead.

[catbatty]

I made a coupla dozen eggs into deviled eggs for a party yesterday. I put the cooked yokes into a bowl, did a bit of breaking up of the cooked yolks with a large fork, added a good bit of mayo and let the hand blender have at it. I added more mayo and mustard as I went along, whizzing away, adding salt and pepper, until I was certain it was all smooth enough, had the right consistency and tasted good. The wand made it all easy.

I have had this Braun wand for 10 years at least. I really like it. For soups, it's so nice. (No more hot liquid raised over the food processor, splashing all over the place...and all that back and forth pouring.) Have fun.

[breadmama]

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this appliance that I didn't need...just wanted! :D

My DD can't wait to make "real whipped cream!" :)

[Chefzhat]

You'll love it Laurie - I use mine all the time. For all the things already mentioned. I especially use it to puree soups.

Are you enjoying your time off???

Debie

[breadmama]

Debie, I'm not off yet! :( Weds. is our last day. But it will be a quick week.

BTW, I ate five of the six biscotti that you made! They were wonderful. My DH agreed, and thought we should make some, since he only had one! :)

Hope you're enjoying your time off.

I'm planning to make more soup today in the crock pot, for stocking-up purposes as well as to have a chance to use my new toy! :D

[sarah2397]

Many summers ago I remember when a friend used one to make a lovely blueberry sauce topping for (IIRC) a creme brulee.

[Chefzhat]

Debie, I'm not off yet! :( Weds. is our last day. But it will be a quick week.

BTW, I ate five of the six biscotti that you made! They were wonderful. My DH agreed, and thought we should make some, since he only had one! :)

Hope you're enjoying your time off.

I'm planning to make more soup today in the crock pot, for stocking-up purposes as well as to have a chance to use my new toy! :D

That's too bad, but I bet this week WILL go fast. I sort of wish my boys were still in school for a couple more days - I need to do a bit of wrapping!

The biscotti was a hit, apparently. I'm glad you liked them too. I am making more today, along with chocolate chunk/cherry merangues and chocolate dipped pretzels.

Or maybe I'll go skiing instead - I'd rather be outside than in!

xo
Debie

[SAM S]

I use the hand blender to make fresh salad dressings-it makes a great Ceasar and balsalmic vinegarette. It's also good for making creamed cauliflower a great fake mashed potato!! Just steam the caulflower in chicken broth, drain, and add what ever you want before pureeing!

[Meganator]

Every time this topic comes up, I wonder about the smoothies. On my immersion blender the blade only sticks out about .5 inch from the body of the blender, and there is a protective thingie that extends down around the blade - leaving about an inch, horizontally, between the blade and the protective thingie. It is great for things like soup or anything else that is soft, but I don't think it would work for smoothies. I assume that this model of blender is different than what some others have that you can puree frozen fruit with?

[blazedog]

Every time this topic comes up, I wonder about the smoothies. On my immersion blender the blade only sticks out about .5 inch from the body of the blender, and there is a protective thingie that extends down around the blade - leaving about an inch, horizontally, between the blade and the protective thingie. It is great for things like soup or anything else that is soft, but I don't think it would work for smoothies. I assume that this model of blender is different than what some others have that you can puree frozen fruit with?

I think all of them are designed pretty much the same way. The stick creates ventrifugal force so the fruit is sucked up -- I also go up and down a few times. It actually works much better than a blender or the Smoothie maker I bought and tossed after a few weeks. All of the frozen fruit is really well incorporated into the rest - I only use frozen fruit because I like the milk shake consistency you get with frozen fruit.

[ChocolatePam]

Not to digress, but I have also wondered about immersion blenders and smoothies. My husband loves smoothies, but our smoothie maker broke after several months. I am set against buying another one b'c I am sure it will do the same thing again; plus I have only read bad reviews of every brand I can find. Do immersion blenders work with smoothies that use ice? Is ice too hard on the blade?

[blazedog]

Not to digress, but I have also wondered about immersion blenders and smoothies. My husband loves smoothies, but our smoothie maker broke after several months. I am set against buying another one b'c I am sure it will do the same thing again; plus I have only read bad reviews of every brand I can find. Do immersion blenders work with smoothies that use ice? Is ice too hard on the blade?

Mine came with an ice crusher so they are pretty rugged. I throw in frozen fruit which is pretty solid and no problems. The Smoothie Maker I had was wretched and I find that blenders didn't do as good a job of really making it smooth.

[colleency]

I bought my Braun immersion blender in 1986! It doesn't have any attachments. My main uses are whipped cream, soups, gravies, and oddly enough, making finely ground cornmeal out of coarse grain. I have a cornmeal piecrust recipe that calls for finely ground cornmeal. I don't like to make a special trip to the store, so I just whirl it up with my stick blender.

[Tiger]

The thing I use mine the most for is Spag. sauce. I buy the big can of plum tomatoes from BJ's because I heard that's the way to go.
I've also used it for smoothies and soups.

[badunnin]

Ok, DON'T use it to make mashed potatoes. When I first moved into the house, I boiled the potatoes, added the butter, etc, then looked for my masher. Crap, didn't have one. Missing the paddle for my KA. Umm, stick blender? Sure, why not! Yeah. Gluey, gluey mess.

Just an fyi. ;)

[ADM]

This probably sounds REALLY dumb! :confused:

Is a "stick blender" the retro name for the hand-held mixers, available in the 1950's, or is it a completely different appliance? :o

[blazedog]

This probably sounds REALLY dumb! :confused:

Is a "stick blender" the retro name for the hand-held mixers, available in the 1950's, or is it a completely different appliance? :o

Not dumb -- They are "officially" called immersion blenders because you immerse them in the substance you are blending/pureeing. The blade is at the bottom of a "stick" made of plastic or stainless steel -- hence -- stick blender.

The aren't a hand mixed which typically has two beaters.

[Apricot]

I use mine to make homemade baby food for my 11 mth old. I usually just take what we're having for dinner, add a little extra liquid (usually water or homemade stock) and puree it so there are no large lumps. When he was younger, I'd cook the food a little longer and blend until it was smooth. So much easier than using a food processor or blender.

I also use it for smoothies, and have no problem when I take frozen solid fruit and some sort of liquid (usually milk or yogurt). It makes a really smooth and thick shake. I've even added ice cubes and it crushes it w/ no problems.

[ChocolatePam]

Blazedog, what brand do you have? Any recommendations?

[blazedog]

I bought a Braun with a stainless steel "wand". It came with an ice crusher attachment, whisk, small container for chopping, large container for blending and a large beaker for Smoothies and I would guess other stuff. I bought it because it was stainless steel and it also had more watt power than the less expensive model. I also thought the ice crushing thing might be useful when I make margaritas. :D

I am not sure all of that stuff is necessary at all and I think people with less expensive models also handle frozen smoothies well. However, as purchases go, I am very satisfied with it although I probably could have been just as happy with a cheaper model. I had a certificate from Bloomingdales and I wanted to leave the store with an immersion blender that day. :)

[cangoss]

Bethany, I have done the exact same thing with mashed potatoes. My husband still says they're the worst thing I ever cooked and will not let me forget about them. It seemed like such an easy solution at the time!

I have a Braun and a Kitchen Aid. I have had the Braun for about ten years and it never gave me any problems. I got the Kitchen Aid only because it was on sale for $20 and it matches my mixer and food processor :rolleyes: I make my protein shake with it every morning, and it takes care of three ice cubes without a problem - no ice crusher necessary. If you get the Braun, I would recommend the fancier version with the stainless steel shaft. My mom has one with a plastic shaft and it just doesn't seem as versatile to me - plus, when she uses it on tomato-based sauces it discolors and she has to use that plastic booster stuff on it.

[merley]

Stupid question, but when you make smoothies are you mixing right in the glass?

[cocoa'smom]

Ok - I've decided I want/need one of these. I need to tell my DH which one to get. What brand/model do you all recommend? If I want to whip cream with it, does it have to have a whisk attachment or can you whip with just the regular blender? What features should we look for? Don't want to spend too much - maybe $50 or so. Suggestions/Advice? TIA!

[blazedog]

Mine was the Braun SS model with all the attachments including the whisk. With a 20% off coupon, it's reasonable as I believe it retails for about $80.

Whipping stuff depends on the incorporation of air so I am not sure that the regular blade would be as effective as using the whisk attachment which also is great for making merengues from egg whites.

[ChocolatePam]

Thanks so much for the recommendations! Guess what I'll be buying with Christmas $ :)