Product Review: KitchenAid KHB 1000B Hand Blender

Since a lot of people love KitchenAid, I thought I'd put a product review of one of their hand blenders up today. Meet the KitchenAid KHB100OB Hand Blender in classy onyx black! If you look at yesterday's post, you'll find a review on Cuisinart's Smart Stick. I love Cuisinart, but this little beast has really caught my eye. We're talking an immersion hand blender with 9 variable speeds!

Let's check out the specs:

Product Features

* Immersion hand blender with powerful, quiet motor for blending, mixing, whipping, and more

* Durable snap-in attachment with stainless-steel blade and protective stainless-steel splashguard

* 8-inch immersion (impressive!); variable speed-control dial; one-touch "on/off" power button; ergonomic, non-slip grip

* Dishwasher-safe attachments and accessories; 3-cup blending beaker and sealing lid included

* Measures 17 by 3 by 6 inches; 1-year, hassle-free, replacement warranty

The biggie, apart from I love the thought of having 9 speeds - it has a 5' cord! Ok, some of you may not like long cords, but if you have a kitchen like mine where there's little space and outlets in the wrong places - a long cord is a cooks dream come true. : )

For those of us who are a bit on the klutzy side in the kitchen, the non-slip grip was made for us. : )

Let's take a look at the customer reviews. 131 customers gave a review on this little marvel and gave it a 4.5 stars. I noticed there are some people who didn't like the weight of the blender. They thought it was too heavy. Some didn't like the size, they thought it was too tall. Some thought the 5' cord was too short. And then there were the others who thought it was just right.

A couple other items worth mentioning that some didn't like is you have to hold the power button down while using it. But there's a good reason for that - it's called safety. The other item has to do with the plastic piece above the blades. A few people found bits of plastic in their food when the piece broke.

All in all, the majority love how fast it cleans up, the power, the weight, the price, the fact you can blend chumous and it actually turns out smooth, and the fact that KitchenAid has superior customer service if something should go wrong.

All in all, I think it's a great buy! It sales for $69.99 retail, but you can get it for 33% off, $46.88 from Amazon, and it qualifies for FREE super saver shipping.

Best Hand Mixers: KitchenAid vs Cuisinart Hand Mixer

A good hand mixer is one of the most essential tools in every kitchen. It offers the fastest way to mix egg whites, make meringue, cream sauces, making cakes, cheesecakes, puddings, mashpotatoes, etc.

So, let's take a look at two of the top hand mixers. The KitchenAid KHM9PWH 9-Speed Professional Hand Mixer(White):

* Nine digital speeds, 7-1/2 inches long by 6-1/2 inches high

* Pro whisk attachment increases air for fluffier mixtures

* Comfort-designed handle; heel rest won't tip when set on end

* Powerful lightweight motor designed for quiet, lifelong operation

* Wipes off for easy cleaning

* 120 Volt Powered AC

* Comes with a 1 year warranty.

At $59.99, it's a great deal for a professional model hand mixer. One more benefit I haven't mentioned yet is that the whisk is longer and wider than most other brands.

Now let's take a look at the Cuisinart HM-70 Power Advantage 7-Speed Hand Mixer, Stainless and White:

* Hand blender with 220-watt motor and automatic feedback

* 7 speed options; slide control easily shifts speeds with a single touch

* Swivel cord; extra-long dishwasher-safe beaters; beater-eject lever (makes it nice for left handers)

* Spatula and instruction/recipe book included

* Measures approximately 8 by 3-3/4 by 5-3/4 inches

* 3-year limited warranty

The cost is an easy $49.95. My favourite part of the Cuisinart is that it comes with an instruction and recipe booklet. That's always a nice extra.

Like the KitchenAid, the Cuisinart gets 4.5 stars outa 5 from users. That says a lot for both.

KitchenAid products have been a fave among professional chefs. On the other hand, professional chefs also use Cuisinart.

So, in my opinion, regardless of which hand mixer you buy, there's no way you can go wrong.

Related recipe articles

• Recipe: Silky Buttermilk Pie with Blueberries (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• How To Make a Classic New York Cheesecake (howcast.com)