Jump to content

  • Welcome to the eG Forums, a service of the eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters. The Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the culinary arts. These advertising-free forums are provided free of charge through donations from Society members. Anyone may read the forums, but to post you must create a free account.

Immersion/Stick Blenders

Marlene

By Marlene
in Kitchen Consumer

 Share

Recommended Posts

Anna N

Anna N

Posted
Posted

Love my Bamix. 

  • Like 1

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

TdeV

TdeV

Posted
Posted (edited)

I also posted this on another Bamix thread:

 

To anyone who owns a Bamix:

Would you be willing to take (and post) a photo(s) of the Bamix while it's supported by the wall bracket?

I'd like to see what kind of space it needs.

TIA. 

Edited by TdeV
Edited to add link (log)
JoNorvelleWalker

JoNorvelleWalker

Posted
Posted

If it helps my beloved BioSpec Homogenizer comes with a Bamix engine.  The stand is counter top, not wall mount.  I suspect it is a regulation issue Bamix stand.  Not much space required:

 

http://amzn.com/B005FY4YGC

 

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

JoNorvelleWalker

JoNorvelleWalker

Posted
Posted

I might add that if I were looking for a heavier duty immersion blender I'd look at KitchenAid (their commercial units have removable shafts), Robot Coupe, or Dynamic.  I'm not sure any of the Bamix qualify as heavy duty.

 

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

paulraphael

paulraphael

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

If it helps my beloved BioSpec Homogenizer comes with a Bamix engine.  The stand is counter top, not wall mount.  I suspect it is a regulation issue Bamix stand.  Not much space required:

 

http://amzn.com/B005FY4YGC

 

 

That's interesting. Do you think the pricing difference between this and a regular Bamix is largely because of different markets? Like the way there was no such thing as a sub-$1000 immersion circulator before the companies discovered cooks?

 

Or is there something inherently expensive in a rotor-stator mechanism? Or does the motor itself need to be much more powerful?

Notes from the underbelly

TdeV

TdeV

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

I might add that if I were looking for a heavier duty immersion blender I'd look at KitchenAid (their commercial units have removable shafts), Robot Coupe, or Dynamic.  I'm not sure any of the Bamix qualify as heavy duty.

 

 

@JoNorvelleWalker, I've blown through 2 KitchenAids, so curious what you'd recommend. I'm thinking of Bamix as heavy duty; are you saying it's not?

 

I'm about to remodel my kitchen . . . and am thinking where to place appliances.

 

 

JoNorvelleWalker

JoNorvelleWalker

Posted
Posted (edited)
7 hours ago, TdeV said:

 

@JoNorvelleWalker, I've blown through 2 KitchenAids, so curious what you'd recommend. I'm thinking of Bamix as heavy duty; are you saying it's not?

 

I'm about to remodel my kitchen . . . and am thinking where to place appliances.

 

 

 

My first immersion blender was an inexpensive KitchenAid and I burned that out.  I hope you are not saying you burned out two of their commercial units?  If so at least they come with a "hassle-free" two year replacement warranty.

 

http://www.kitchenaidcommercial.com/commercial-products/400-series-immersion-blender

 

The Bamix motor in my homogenizer has a stated duty cycle of five minutes max.  It works great but I would not call that heavy duty.  Your mileage may vary.

 

My current immersion blender is a cheap Cuisinart, circa $20.  So far I haven't burnt it out.

 

 

Edit:  oops, sorry, my Cuisinart was $31.49 -- $26.99 at the moment.

 

Edited by JoNorvelleWalker (log)

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

JoNorvelleWalker

JoNorvelleWalker

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, paulraphael said:

 

That's interesting. Do you think the pricing difference between this and a regular Bamix is largely because of different markets? Like the way there was no such thing as a sub-$1000 immersion circulator before the companies discovered cooks?

 

Or is there something inherently expensive in a rotor-stator mechanism? Or does the motor itself need to be much more powerful?

 

The rotor stator generator is the expensive part.  The motor is least of the cost.  The motor has to be high RPM but little power is required.

 

  • Like 1

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Kerry Beal

Kerry Beal

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

The rotor stator generator is the expensive part.  The motor is least of the cost.  The motor has to be high RPM but little power is required.

 

Actually the motor on most I see are actually a Bamix.

 

Oops - I see I'm stating the obvious.

 

Edited by Kerry Beal (log)

the Chocolate Doctor
www.thechocolatedoctor.ca

www.eztemper.com

 

Confectionary Course • Confectionary Course Q&A
eGullet foodblog 2006 • eGullet Foodblog 2012

  • 1 year later...
ASporkwithBravado

ASporkwithBravado

Posted
Posted

Hi all.

 

I am a heavy user of hand/immersion blenders, have been for the psat 15 years. 

 

I use them 3x daily, for 30 seconds at a time, or 1.5 minutes daily x 365 days =547.5 minutes = little over 9 hrs 7 minutes per year.

 

I find them much more convenient than full sized blenders due to the easy cleanup, and big time savers (when you use them as frequently as I do).  

 

Over the years, I've had immersion blenders by Oster, Cuisineart,  Braun etc. as well as cheaper off brands.

 

Most last about 18 months, (2 years is the all time record by the Cuisineart smart stick)- the weakpoint for ALL of them has been the bearings/seal that hold the blade shaft in place.  When it fails, the blades/ shaft will drop extending out from its housing, and disengage from the motor connection, all the while leaking old grease/plastic bits into whatever I'm blending.   

 

It seems the vast majority of manufacturers do not sell replacement blade-wand attachments, and the ones that do, sell them at a price that is 75-%100 of the cost of a full new unit/set.  So I end up tossing the perfectly working motor unit/accessories and buying a whole new set, trying a different brand in hopes of a more durable unit.

 

Kills me every time. 

 

At this point, I'm ready to concede that physics prevents man from designing a longer lasting unit, but I'm hoping somewhere out there, a chronic hand blender consumer has discovered a supremely long lasting unit, OR a quality unit manufacturer that also sells replacement attachments at a reasonable price?

 

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

 

Cheers

ASporkwithBravado

ASporkwithBravado

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, gfweb said:

I’d say that the brands you use may have cheapened construction to meet a price point from Walmart or whoever. 
 

I’d check a restaurant supply place for a pro model. 

The most I've spent is $60.  

 

I've seen $100 plus units, but I would like to hear some anecdote indicating I could expect it last cost-proportionately longer than the consumer models Ive had. ie; would a $140 dollar unit last 7x longer than a $25 unit?

JoNorvelleWalker

JoNorvelleWalker

Posted
Posted

I am not a fan of immersion blenders.  In my experience the motor is first thing to go.  If I were really wanting to use one I would buy KitchenAid.  Your mileage may vary.  KitchenAid may or may not last longer than cheaper stuff but the wands are interchangeable.

 

  • Like 1

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

gfweb

gfweb

Posted
Posted

@ASporkwithBravado your experience is a good enough anecdote for me. The consumer models won’t stand up to your pro level usage. You proved it.

 

I’d look into that linked group of stick mixers. check out the guarantees and reviews. 

JoNorvelleWalker

JoNorvelleWalker

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, ASporkwithBravado said:

I've never had a motor fail, even on the cheapest models.  It's always been the shaft attachment bearing/seals for me (having used 15-17 blenders)

 

Go with KitchenAid then.  Problem solved.

 

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

heidih

heidih

Posted
Posted

What are you blending? Our 2 Brauns are 30+ years old. Not as much used as yours but steady beasts. Maybe lay in some lightly used older ones when they were better made.  Probably cheap. 

  • Like 2
Maison Rustique

Maison Rustique

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, heidih said:

What are you blending? Our 2 Brauns are 30+ years old. Not as much used as yours but steady beasts. Maybe lay in some lightly used older ones when they were better made.  Probably cheap. 

I can't recall if mine is Braun or Cuisinart, but I've had it at least 30 years with nothing breaking. But, I also do not use it as much as you do.

Deb

Liberty, MO

Anna N

Anna N

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, liuzhou said:

You'd have to prise my Bamix out of my cold dead hand!

Mine, too. Although it would have to be out of my cold dead hand, not yours. 

  • Like 2
  • Haha 3

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

Okanagancook

Okanagancook

Posted
Posted

I have a KitchenAid regular old stick blender.   It's about 10 years old at least.  I use it may be once a week for soups, salad dressings, 2 minute mayo and three times a day to blend my Metamucil 😎

Still going strong.  Maybe the ones made now aren't as well made?

kayb

kayb

Posted
Posted (edited)

I picked up an off-brand -- Ambiano, the brand of a lot of small electrics sold at Aldi -- four or five years ago. It has two wands, one a blender and one a whisk. I use it probably once a week. It's held up fine, but obviously the amount of use is not close to yours. But I think I paid maybe $19.95 for it.

 

Edited by kayb (log)
  • Thanks 1

Don't ask. Eat it.

www.kayatthekeyboard.wordpress.com

 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...