When I started cooking as a personal chef I had to put together a second kitchen I could take to my clients' houses. For the most part this was straightforward, but the appliances were an issue. I didn't want to buy a second food processor or a second mixer, nor did I want to have to haul them around. So I decided to look at a tool I had previously seen no need for: an immersion blender.
I settled on the Kitchen Aid blender because it offered a whip attachment and a food processor attachment. My hope was it would cover three jobs and for the most part it does.
At a Glance
Description of KHB300
- Variable speed motor
- 8-inch immersion depth
- 5-foot power cord
- Food chopper
- Whisk
- Blending beaker with lid
- Heavy cotton twill storage bag
Pros
- Powerful motor
- Highly efficient blender attachment
- Whisk and food chopper attachments
- Attachments are dishwasher safe
Cons
- Food chopper attachment is wimpy
- Trigger mechanism is tiring
Price: $129.99 MSRP, $80 - $90 online
Guide Review - Kitchen Aid KHB300 Immersion Blender
The blender attachment does an outstanding job quickly producing everything from a coarse chop to a silky puree. I've used it for fresh tomato sauce, shrimp bisque, and even milk shakes. But an immersion blender only works if the blending end is immersed, and when you're cooking for two that can be an issue. The KHB300 includes a deep plastic container that allows smaller quantities to be processed. I don't use it often, but I'm glad I have it when I do.
The real surprise was the whisk attachment. It does a better job of whipping cream or egg whites than anything I've ever used. I've used it to make mayonnaise as well. The only drawback is that the whisk is too light for heavy ingredients, such as whipping butter or cream cheese.
Also on the down side, the food chopper attachment isn't particularly effective. Nevertheless, with some encouragement it works for small tasks in client kitchens.
The other negative is the device doesn't fit my hand well and if I use it for more than three minutes my hand cramps. The trigger is designed to be pressed with three fingers and it's stiff. I have small hands and short fingers, but it may be that if my hand was a bit smaller or even larger it would fit the design better. Fortunately, the device is powerful enough that three minutes of continuous use is rare.
I would never have bought an immersion blender if I hadn't needed to cook away from my own kitchen. But having bought one for the road, I ended up buying one for my home.
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