“If you’re making something like refried beans, it’s easy to control going part-way blended instead of full,” she says. Chef and author Virginia Willis, who had an older-model Cuisinart immersion blender for 15 years and recently replaced it with this one, can attest to that, too. It also never slipped too extreme in either direction, especially important when blending hot soup or whisking something like heavy cream, where increasing speed gradually prevents splatter. In my own testing, I was able to shift seamlessly between speeds and make subtle adjustments in either direction when necessary (with just as much nuanced flexibility as the 15 speeds of the more expensive Breville above). The Cuisinart Smart Stick’s standout feature is an incredibly smooth variable speed dial that takes the machine from low to high. ![]() Speeds: Low to high variable | Extras: Whisk, chopper, measuring cup “It has a cup attachment that lets you use it as a regular blender, too, so it can replace multiple tools that would otherwise take a lot of space.” “You can use the blender function to purée pumpkin or smooth out a custard for a cream pie, then swap it out for the whisk attachment to whip up some cream to top it with,” says Petra Paredez, owner of and baker at Petee’s Pie Company in Brooklyn and author of Pie For Everyone. “It has a rubberized lip so that it doesn’t scratch,” food writer and editor Alyse Whitney says. It’s good for sauces of any kind, really.” And no matter what you’re doing, it shouldn’t damage the bottom of any pots or pans or bowls. It’s good for eggs - like if you blend your scrambled eggs with one they’ll be so much creamier and better. I really think everyone should be using an immersion blender more. It’s sturdy and substantial and the motor is great. “It’s so easy to use, and so easy to clean. “Plus, I love the way it feels in my hand.” Posie Brien, recipe developer and writer of the food site 600 Acres, has had hers for even longer - over a decade. “For me, it’s just really brought a lot of utility when making soups and sauces,” he says. Matt Rodbard, food writer, editor, and cookbook author, has had his for over five years. It’s made of silicone and designed so that you can get your fingers fully around the neck while still operating the buttons. I also found the handle to be very comfortable. Too fast and the mixture would become undesirably thick as you slowly stream in olive oil. It also gives nice control for immersions like aïoli. That variance comes in handy when blending liquids you don’t want to splatter everywhere, such as hot soup and heavy cream you start low and gradually move up. It’s powerful but allows for subtle changes between 15 speeds (the most of any on this list). When I tested the machine myself, it became clear why. The majority of the experts I spoke to named the Breville Control Grip their favorite immersion blender. Speeds: 15 speeds | Extras: Whisk, chopping bowl with blades, storage jar with lid ![]() The immersion blender? “It’s all about convenience,” she says. It’s much easier to clean.” No matter which model you’re drawn to - likely from one of the few brands that seem to dominate the market - Cristensen’s points ring true. “It stores in a drawer where you can pull it right out. “I use mine way more than my full-size blender and food processor,” Simply Recipes associate general manager Emma Christensen told me. In fact, in talking to 13 expert cooks for this story, I learned that it’s pretty common to own both a blender and an immersion blender - but that the ease of the latter is preferable whenever it can be employed. And while I still do keep a large machine around for big-batch drinks or crushing nuts into butter (which takes a lot of force), the handheld blenders I’ve tested work totally great for emulsifying soups, marinades, dressings, aiolis, and making smaller smoothies. While many people think storing a blender in their kitchen is worth the space it takes up, I’ve found the smaller and overall less expensive immersion blender can handle a lot of the same cooking tasks with less fuss.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |