Stick Blender Recommendations

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

In the last 25 years (:eek:), I've had three stick blenders. One was probably around the £40 mark and disintegrated when I dropped it, one a fiver and lasted getting on for 10 years until the plastic just shattered one day, and the most recent, a £12 jobbie from Tesco, pretty much exploded in the OH's hand as he was blending the incredibly tough things that are tinned peaches, after 8 months of nothing more challenging than cooked broccoli and other soup related vegetables. The flames and puff of smoke were quite spectacular.

Anyhow, we need to get a new one. I'd prefer something with a metal stick 'bit' as it's less plastic to shatter, but I'm wary of going back to Tesco and getting something else that spontaneously combusts when expected to do its job (we've had bad experiences with their kitchen electricals before, but I decided it couldn't possibly happen with everything I've ever bought from them. It has.)

As always, skint is the most accurate term for our situation - it's necessary because we have lots of YS veggie soups. And chopped veg in stock really isn't as appetising, IMO. Doesn't freeze nearly so well, either.


Unfortunately, it's a little too far away from our wedding (end of October) to try our luck with asking for presents, and who knows, by that point, we might actually be the First Couple For Decades Who Actually NEED A Toaster.

I'd ideally like recommendations for lower priced stick blenders that could conceivably manage frozen fruit for smoothies as well as tender cooked veggies, but at the moment, something that'll last until the warranty runs out would be a start.


Please help - I'm going into HM soup withdrawal!

Tiddlywinks

I've got a Triblade and it's brilliant:

http://www.johnlewis.com/kenwood-hdp406wh-triblade-hand-blender/p1743497

BUT it is at the high end price wise... I can't speak for the other Triblade models that are cheaper in price but they do still get good reviews on John Lewis and look very similar to mine:

http://www.johnlewis.com/kenwood-triblade-hb681-hand-blender-white/p553482

http://www.johnlewis.com/kenwood-hdp300wh-triblade-hand-blender-white/p1745317

All come with two year warranty.

Franalamadingdong

My last one was a a cheap jobbie and was given to me for nothing. After 3 years I did something daft and broke it - I can't remember what but it was something to do with the bit that runs up the middle and holds the blade. Anyway, I got one from asda which was cheap as chips and plastic, but it's working out great for blending, making breadcrumbs and frothing milk. I've no experience with high end ones or metal ones, I know my previous one was cheap and old because my mother, who gave it to me, said so when I said it had died. If you can't stretch to higher end, and may receive some home appliances come October might I suggest this as a stop gap?

Tiddlywinks

In the meantime - don't laugh - you could use a potato masher... I used to do this before I got a stick blender as, for years, I didn't trust putting something electrical into a pan of liquid .

It's slightly messy but does work - you can get nylon ones to use in non-stick pans.

Not quite as smooth but still better than full on chunky.

suki1964

Ive been using a Kenwood one for the past 7/8 years

It's plastic but it's holding up well

Anne_Marie_2

Love the Kenwood Triblade, got the same one as Tiddlywinks. Check out your local Sainsbury, they had this one.
http://www.johnlewis.com/kenwood-hdp300wh-triblade-hand-blender-white/p1745317
down to £20, but not available online any more, may be some in store. Also saw from post on HotUKDeals that JL did a price match.

Also, bought a Silvercrest hand blender around 3/4 years ago for my daughter, she swears by it, so worth keeping an eye on Lidl offers.

Slinky

Mine's a Philips one which we've had for several years and gets used daily. We got it free by using Nectar points at Argos. Do you have any supermarket points or vouchers you could use?

ETA do you blend fruit whilst it's still frozen? I'd microwave to defrost first to extend the life of the blender.

WantToBeSE

I got one from Morrisons for about £5 and have had it for 4 years so far, and it's still going strong.

Islandmaid

I use a Bamix, which is fab and very powerful, but I bought DD one from Lidl about 5 years ago and she loves it for making smoothies, soup etc that has a metal stem.

Jackieboy

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

I've got a Triblade and it's brilliant:

http://www.johnlewis.com/kenwood-hdp406wh-triblade-hand-blender/p1743497

BUT it is at the high end price wise... I can't speak for the other Triblade models that are cheaper in price but they do still get good reviews on John Lewis and look very similar to mine:

http://www.johnlewis.com/kenwood-triblade-hb681-hand-blender-white/p553482

http://www.johnlewis.com/kenwood-hdp300wh-triblade-hand-blender-white/p1745317

All come with two year warranty.

Another vote for the Triblade - does far more than the cheap ones do and feels very well made.

[Deleted User]

I bought a bamix when my old kenwood turned up its toes, I have had it for 8 years and never a problem, yes its expensive but really well made, I also bought that small pot with the blade which is great for chopping small amounts like herbs

Its swiss made and very well made, a metal shaft and head which is great.