BLENDER,IMMERSION,ONYX BLACK,3-SPEED, 8″ BLENDING ROD, 3 CUP, BPA FREE BLEDING JAR,WIRE WHISK, 2-1/2 CUP CHOPPHER ATTACHMENT, STORAGE BAG 6012788
| Asin | B005MMNB6G |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5"D x 5"W x 15.8"H |
| Weight | 2 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Kitchenaid |
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Vicki –
I bought this to replace an Oster 2-speed immersion blender. The Oster worked well, but didn’t have a whisk attachment and I was tired of lifting my full size Kitchen Aid stand mixer onto the counter every time I wanted to whip a small amount of cream. This KitchenAid 3-speed blender meets my needs very well, and I use it nearly every day.
The whisk does a good job of whipping cream, beating eggs, and mixing things, but it definitely takes a lot longer to whip cream than a dedicated mixer takes. The immersion blender does a great job blending soups and such, and the attachment is long enough to work in a deep soup pot. The food chopper does a good job, but be aware that it is a chopper and not a food processor. It can be used to chop or mince vegetables, but it won’t make a super smooth hummus; for that you need a food processor. And if you just want to mince a few cloves of garlic, you may need to open the container and push the larger bits down the sides a few times. My 12 cup Cuisinart food processor stopped working, and I’ve used this KitchenAid chopper to make several batches of very good basil pesto. It just takes a few seconds longer than with a food processor, but it gets the job done.
This product is heavier than some hand blenders, but it’s so efficient that I don’t get tired of holding it like others have reported. My only criticism is that it is rather industrial looking, and not in a good way, but I’m not deducting stars for style. This review is about function.
jake-a-zon –
This review doesn’t attempt to recreate online side by side tests of other blenders such as the Al Clad, Breville, Braun, Cusinart or Hamilton Beach – all of which were on my radar. Online comparison tests all put those blenders more or less on par with each other in regard to performance with the exception of the Al Clad, which a few sites rated as the best along side the Bamix pro model. The differences seem to be minimal for the average or serious amateur cook. Check out performance reviews that are all over the internet.
Update 2021. The rubber housing that covers the on off button has split along the seam.
It appears to be a well made immersion blender, with a few of exceptions. The speed dial is at the top, well placed, but the action is loose and feels cheap. Not a solid clicking dial. There are no ribs or texture, so turning the dial might be problematic with wet hands. On the other hand, you shouldn’t be using this with wet hands just like you don’t use a sharp knife with a wet or slippery handle. I also didn’t have a problem twisting and installing the blender shaft onto the motor like other reviewers elsewhere noted. Not to hard and not too flimsy; feels solid with no movement or wiggle. The motor is quiet and powerful. The three speeds are distinct and different. It has an overall solid feel – not too heavy, not too light – and the center of gravity is lower making it easier to swirl in a pot.
The blade, blade hood, and shaft, are made of steel, but the coupling device is made of plastic. The shaft assembly twists on and appears solid, but I have my doubts about it’s longevity. Although one could get replacement couplers, it’s not something that falls in line with the Kitchen Aid brand. I can see the friction threads wear out over time when removing and attaching the shaft assembly. On the other hand, the stick blender I had previously didn’t have a removable shaft, so I cleaned it while on the motor. Not a big deal so far. I’ll update the review after using it for a few months and report back on the coupler fit. I’d also find another blending jar, as some reviews suggest it cracks. I use my old s.s.
Speaking of plastic components, I only got the KHB2351CU version as opposed to the KHB1231WH for the whisk attachment as a curiosity. The coupling device is also made of plastic, as is the gear box that gears down the motor’s rpms. This unit doesn’t inspire confidence, as it wobbles and doesn’t have a clear snap fit, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt since I haven’t used it yet. Also, a wall hanging attachment would have been better than the storage bag and the chopper attachment.
Chopping onions etc. is second nature to me with a knife, so the chopper attachment is superfluous, imo, as is the third additional speed(shrug). I already have a mini food prep machine so the chopper is unnecessary. Everything else (like smoothies, ice, nuts, super smooth soups, etc) that needs more power goes into the countertop workhorse blender. But if you use a stick blender daily, I might suggest another more expensive model with metal as opposed to plastic parts and interchangeable blades, although so far this model measures up to more expensive models handily.
Other than a few gripes from a product design and material selection standpoint, it appears to be a perfectly fine immersion blender for $40 – less than half the price of the top rated Al Clad and does equally as well. It seems the complaints about broken parts and warpage are limited to the accessories and plastic parts, not the blender itself. So if all you want is an occasional stick blender for sauces/ purees, mayonnaise, and small amounts not big enough for a countertop blender, this model works great and has a simple, ergonomic design.
R. Morris –
After owning several Cusinart SmartStick blenders (all of which inevitably broke due to a gear-stripping problem that you can read about in several reviews of its various models), I decided to look for something else. I can’t believe I didn’t find this KitchenAid hand blender before: it’s reasonably priced (in the same range as the SmartStick when I bought it, plus as I found out later they have other models of the KitchenAid that cost less and don’t include some of the "extras" but presumably share the KitchenAid’s better design) and works quite well. If you’re familiar with the SmartStick, it has everything I like about that. Most importantly, it blends well. Additionally, the blade shaft comes off for easy cleaning. It also includes a mixing/blending cup that is sized well to fit the blade shaft, though I happen to like the design of Cuisinart’s better (which, given the "lip," also works well for serving or pouring, unlike this one, plus it’s wider and a bit less tall which I think works better for blending larger chunks of food). Finally, it has adjustable speed (three in this case, though I got by with even a 1-speed Cuisinart–who also makes at least a 2-speed model I’ve used as well–just fine).
The KitchenAid blender also includes some "extras" besides just the stick blender. Besides the blade shaft (which you’ll use for regular stick blending, likely with the included cup), they include a small chopper as well as a whisk attachment. I’ve never used the whisk but assume it would work well; I have tried to use the chopper but don’t recommend buying it just for that purpose. In my case, the lid is very hard to remove afterwards because it seems to create a vacuum inside (or at least a pressure difference) that makes the lid very difficult to remove, a problem that is exaggerated if you have liquid ingredients that might get stuck in the seal. I ended up having to throw mine out after the lid got stuck on so tight I couldn’t get it off and accidentally broke it trying. It also includes a carrying bag for some of these accessories, which may be nice if you move yours around a lot (but mine just stays in the kitchen).
My favorite thing about this blender is that the place where the blade attaches appears to be metal, which I assume will last much longer than the plastic on the Cuisinarts that kept getting destroyed on me after a few months to a couple years (quite variable) of daily use. The KitchenAid is holding up well for me so far after almost a year, still with nearly daily use, and I hope it continues to do the same.
If you use your stick blender frequently like I do, I’d highly recommend this one (or a similar KitchenAid) over the Cuisinart SmartStick. If you use yours infrequently, either one should work well, so you may want to factor in other criteria like purchase price (though they weren’t that different when I wrote this) or aesthetics (the Cusinart is mostly plastic, but the KitchenAid only has plastic on the motor section; the Cuisinart is available in more colors, but it appears this one is only silver/gray).
rusick –
Immersion blender works well. I’ve used it in pots of soup to thicken the soup by creating a thick liquid instead of having to add thickener.
Emmagemma –
I used to buy Kitchenaid “for the way it’s made”. It used to be a high quality product, but times have changed. I bought a Kitchenaid mixer in the late 80’s and it’s been great. I’ve had Kitchenaid blenders that have worked well. I bought this hand blender reluctantly to replace an older Kitchenaid model with a variable speed motor I bought in 2006 that was terrific. I used it daily, replaced the shaft several years ago and continued to use it. But the shaft was having problems again and the rubber cover over the motor button was deteriorating, so I bought this one.
All I really wanted was a quality variable speed blender with a container to blend in. BUT – to get a blender and container, I had to settle for 3 set speeds and a chopper which I didn’t want. The more pieces you get for $50 or so, the less money goes into each one which is likely to affect the quality of each piece.
This blender is nowhere near the quality of the former model. It looks nice and contemporary. I bought the one that looks like stainless steel, but it isn’t – it’s a gray plastic. The shaft weighs a lot less than the old one because the plastic at the top of the stainless steel part of the shaft is nowhere near as thick as the older model.
The other reviewers who said the shaft separates from the blender are correct. I had this less than a week when it happened to me. I use it mostly for making rice protein powder shakes, and I do defrost my frozen fruit so it’s not as hard as ice cubes. I don’t think I’m asking too much of the blender to stay together while I’m blending something that’s not rock hard. I found that the problem was you have to turn the shaft hard until you hear a small click to make it stay attached to the motor. BUT – once it’s on, I couldn’t twist it off because I have arthritis in my thumb joint, and the motion needed to do that was too painful. This blender NEEDS a release button like the older model had.
I found that the blender did not handle my small shake well on the 1st setting, so I have to use the 2nd. I am not sure how much the 3rd one would do. I saved the old one in case I am trying to blend something that this new one doesn’t handle well. While I have doubts about the older model’s longevity, I’m sure it will work well for years to come with limited use.
One thing I find annoying is cleaning the blade. As you are washing it (and I do it by hand), the blade turns, which turns the motor just a tad, which makes the same sound the blender makes when it is in use, although of course on a much lower level. But I don’t like that bit of grinding sound which never happened on the older model because of the way the shaft attached to it.
Another issue with the way the re-designed model is that the blender motor can no longer be stood on the counter. The new model has a small opening instead of the opening as wide as the top of the shaft of the older model, so I have to either unplug the blender, wind up the cord, and put it underneath my counter, or leave it lying on its side on top of the counter. A minor issue, but just another little thing I don’t like as well.
I wrote this detailed review because I appreciate the other reviewers who wrote detailed reviews that addressed the issues with this blender, including quality control issues. Because of those reviewers, I saved the product box and amazon box the blender came in case this blender breaks. But due to the problems I had using it and my concerns about its longevity, I decided to return it within the 30 day period, and I had to pay shipping costs to do so.
All in all, I am disappointed in the quality of this new product. It looks to me like Kitchenaid has succumbed to the disease so prevalent in the US – cheaping down the products in favor of corporate greed.
All I wanted was a quality hand blender with a container to blend in, and I got one – the new OXO On Digital Immersion Blender, also available on amazon.
R. Nayak –
I have had this hand held blender (a previous version of it) for over a decade and use it several times a week. It’s simple, easy to handle and reliable. The engine still works perfectly. I like that the submerged part is made of stainless steel. However, the conical piece that is at the base of the engine is made of plastic painted over with some silver material to make it look like stainless steel. That started chipping off a while ago and pieces fall in the food. Not good. Why the plastic? Is it really a matter of savings for the company??? What happened to making good quality, lasting appliances? The engine still works perfectly and I hate having to just toss it away, but I was not able to find a replacement part. We are being hammered daily about environmental concerns and guilted over out-of-control consumerism, yet I don’t see companies providing the most durable materials or making an effort to provide replacement parts. I find it frustrating. I went ahead and bought a new one because I didn’t like the alternatives but I had to say it:-)
Pen Name –
I love this product so much that this is the second one I have purchased. (One as a gift.)
I use it to make smooth, perfect scrambled eggs; homemade salad dressings; soups, marinades, to chop up vegetables, and SO much more. I love how easy to clean the whole system is.
As a chronic pain sufferer, this makes life so much easier and I’ve been able to eat healthier because this product has helped cut down on prep time significantly. I absolutely recommend this product
roadkill9 –
Someone at KitchenAid put some good thought into this immersion blender. In fact, I’m not even sure I would call it an immersion blender since it’s so multi-functional. I don’t often give products a 5-star rating, only when they have good quality construction and deliver above and beyond comparable products. This one deserves the full 5 stars. It replaces the Kalorik that Cooks Illustrated previously rated as their top pick (and have recently demoted). I was not overly impressed with the Kalorik, and for slightly more, thought this looked to be a much better value. It’s also the current CI top winner, which I didn’t know at the time I bought it but am glad to see they also liked it.
At the heart of the device is the motor wand. The one-speed on/off switch is sealed, protecting against splashes. (I have not found this to have three speeds, will need to check that out.) Three devices can attach to the wand–the blender stick, a mini chopper, and a whisk.
The immersion blender stick piece is constructed of a solid piece of steel, which means you can use it without concern in hot sauces and soups.
The whisk is a nice addition, doing a good job of thoroughly blending some eggs that I was having a tough time to break apart with a hand whisk. My only beef here was that the one speed (that I could find) was a little too fast for eggs in a 1-cup measuring cup, they splashed out of the cup when I tried to blend them up.
I thought it brilliant to include the food chopper cup. This makes this product truly multi-functional and especially functional for a small kitchen without a lot of storage space. I would be cautious with water temperature when washing the chopper cup and the tall mixing cup. I’ve had other plastic items crack from water temperatures that were too high. I would only use moderately-warm water to wash these parts up.
The whisk, blender and motor wand all fit together in the cloth carrying bag.
Kathleen –
Easy to clean, very strong motor, works/blends like a charm!
A. Emery –
I was a little nervous about ordering this as I wasn’t sure how useful it would be in the kitchen. A lot of gadgets are far more attractive in the abstract than they are in reality! But I simply love this tool. It’s very sturdy and powerful and seems extremely well designed and built. A few minor things: The mixing cup seems a little flimsy. It’s very thin plastic and while it may be strong, I’m a little nervous as to how long it will last. I also wish it were bigger – or at least deeper as it only holds so much before it starts to spill over while being mixed. The chopping tool and cup is bigger than I expected but I’m glad. This will replace my food processor for 70% of what I would use it for. Much easier to clean and deal with on the counter top. And last, a picky thing: the settings dial on the top is a little hard to grip and turn. The grooves and settings are a bit too subtle. I almost didn’t even notice it was there at first.
But that’s all relatively picky stuff. The unit itself does what you want it to and it’s incredibly easy to clean. My only wish is that I’d gotten this sooner.