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Produce => Recipes => Topic started by: MaryM on January 02, 2006, 19:37:40

Title: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: MaryM on January 02, 2006, 19:37:40
I would like to buy a blender for making soups as my old food processor which I have had for 24 years leaks when I try to puree-I would welcome your recommendations please
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: sammyd on January 02, 2006, 19:47:06
mary m

i use a cheap hand held blender for soups works fine for me
:P

sammyd
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: Derekthefox on January 02, 2006, 19:57:32
I use a hand blender too, again, ours was cheap - £4.97 from Argos. I find it less messy than ladling into the food processor than back into the pan. I use it for big pans of soup. Perhaps that is why I literally wore the last one out completely !!!
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 03, 2006, 00:43:51
Yup, I have a hand blitzer blender thingy, with whisk and chopper/blender type attachment.  Love it, use it daily!  Had it years, kenwood I seem to think.
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: flowerlady on January 03, 2006, 22:34:08
Hello MaryM

I have both hand blender and a food processor.

Handblender by Braun is quite amazing: if you choose this type just remember to hold them perfectly vertical or you will decorate the WHOLE of the kitchen  ;D

My food processor is by MagiMix where the engine is below the food container, the motor is extremely powerful.  These seem to last longer than those with bowl to one side. 

From an engineering point of view the first sustains less stress being able to turn the blade using a spinning motion.  The latter, where things are set to one side, needs a series of 'rubber bands' to create the spin, these slip and do wear out!

Food for thought!  Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: MaryM on January 04, 2006, 18:44:53
Thanks for all of your feedback
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: busy_lizzie on January 04, 2006, 19:38:06
Mary, I have taken a pic of mine that I have had for years.  It was pricey but is so versatile and has five function buttons on it, so it does all the chopping, cutting, pureeing, blending and mixing and grinding you could want.  It is very easy to clean as it has a glass jug and everything just goes into the dishwasher.  It you use this sort of thing all the time, like I do, then it is worthwhile to get something very hard wearing if you can.   :) busy_lizzie

 
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: moonbells on January 04, 2006, 22:39:03
I do soups with a hand blender - had the cheapest Braun for years but finally it started to go, and we put a new shiny superduper one on our wedding list.

Got told off my a friend who said we couldn't possibly want a plastic Braun when we could have a Bamix.  A what? I said.  Look in Lakeland she said, and I nearly fainted at the price.  Not that it dissuaded the friend  - apparently she's still using her granny's, they are so long-lasting! She bought it for us - and I have to admit it is capable of whizzing *anything* including raw meat, leftovers,  as well as all sorts of other bits and bobs. They have interchangeable bits so you can do whipping, pureeing, er, see http://www.lakelandlimited.com/product.aspx/!10388 and don't say I didn't warn you on the price!  :o :o

She said we'd never put it away either - and she was right there too. It is wall-mounted by the saucepans.  They now do a mini food processor attachment too called the Slicesy
http://www.lakelandlimited.com/product.aspx/!10389
so we boxed up my old big one and made space at last on the work surface.  Doesn't chop quite as finely as the old dedicated FP but made excellent green tomato chutney - size of bits was just right.

Only grumble is that the metal can scratch so I can't use it in my Le Creusets but that just means I decant the soup before whizzing instead of after.

I can strongly recommend it - as long as someone else is paying...  ;D

moonbells
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: MaryM on January 05, 2006, 17:51:27
Thanks Lizzie and Moonbells-Lizzie,what make is your blender please?
Moonbells-unfortunately the Lakeland site seems to be down-thanks for posting the link-I will try it later
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: busy_lizzie on January 05, 2006, 18:26:38
Mary it is a Kitchen Aid Blender and as I say was pricey at about £89.  I have had it about four years now and it is as good as it was when new, whereas other cheaper ones I have used in the past have broken or not maintained their efficiency. The upper part all just comes to pieces and gets put in the dishwasher but it is pretty streamlined so it is also easy just to put under the tap.  It usually just stands on my work surface in the kitchen, ready for action.

I use it almost every day.  In the summer it was smoothies from live yoghurt and some of my soft fruits. Have made lots of soup of course and chopped nuts, ground coffee beans and made bread crumbs, chopped herbs and some veggies, make batter; I can go on and on.  Good luck with finding your ideal. It is interesting to hear other people's opinions.  :) busy_lizzie
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: moonbells on January 06, 2006, 16:46:58
Have checked link, and it's one of those PC stupid things.

The URLs have an exclamation mark in them - which doesn't show up on the highlighted link even though it's part of it. Even putting the entire URL in quotes doesn't allow it to be clickable, so if I were you I'd copy each URL and paste it into the browser!

http://www.lakelandlimited.com/product.aspx/!10388
http://www.lakelandlimited.com/product.aspx/!10389

moonbells
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: MaryM on January 06, 2006, 19:29:06
Thanks Moonbells-I love your cat
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: moonbells on January 06, 2006, 22:43:52
Quote from: MaryM on January 06, 2006, 19:29:06
Thanks Moonbells-I love your cat
;D ;D

So do we!

moonbells
Title: Re: Recommendations for a blender
Post by: grawrc on January 09, 2006, 19:50:19
I've got a Braun hand-held thingy for soups and sauces and a Moulinex Ovatio blaaah for big jobs. THe Moulinex came recommended: the Braun was a present.