Buying guide for Best Braun blenders
The blender is a basic yet vitally important kitchen accessory, essential for creating dips, sauces, batter, creams, and a variety of desserts and beverages. Every functioning kitchen can use both a hand blender and countertop blender. Braun, a German consumer products company founded in 1921, has grown to become a trusted name in engineering and design. While the company may be most noted for its line of shaving and grooming products, it offers an impressive line of blenders, as well.
Braun has sought to set its blenders apart from the competition by implementing patented technology and efficient engineering. The blenders from Braun are somewhat pricier than those from many other companies, but the high cost is made up in Braun’s design and innovation. If you’re considering a Braun blender for your kitchen or as a gift for someone, our guide details how these blenders work and what they offer.
Key considerations
Blender types
Braun makes both hand blenders and countertop blenders.
Hand blender: Also known as an immersion blender, this simple handheld device is ideal when you need to blend, puree, mix, mash, or whisk. Braun hand blenders support between 350 and 700 watts; some come with a variety of attachments that easily connect and disconnect from the handle. Immersion blenders are easy to store and wash.
Countertop: As the name suggests, these items take up some space on a countertop. They feature large bases and have a more powerful motor than hand blenders. Braun’s countertop blenders reach up to 1,000 watts. They are ideal for making smoothies and other beverages.
Accessories
Some blenders come with convenient accessories to make your cooking and kitchen experiments run more smoothly, such as beaker to store your mix, a spatula to clean the bowl, or a travel mug to take your beverage on the road. More elaborate and expensive sets may include a small food processor. While these are useful items, they may already exist in your kitchen, and you will need to determine whether extras are worthy or redundant.
Attachments
Every Braun immersion blender comes with a primary attachment: the blade itself, surrounded by a protective bell to suck in food and prevent splashing. Many Braun hand blenders also come with a whisk that can be attached in its place. A whisk is a particularly useful tool to have on hand, especially for making desserts. A masher is useful for potatoes. Comprehensive Braun collections may include chopper cups, which are essentially small food processors powered by the immersion blender motor. All of these attachments can also be purchased separately, should the need arise.
Expert Tip
Don’t place a stick blender blade side down between blends. The blade can pick up bacteria, pet hair, and old food, and you don’t want that in your final product.
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Features
ActiveBlade
Hand blenders with Braun’s ActiveBlade technology produce improved, smooth results with less effort. The shaft moves up and down slightly, which covers more area than traditional, static shafts.
Smart Speed variable control
Another intuitive piece of patented Braun technology is known as Smart Speed, which allows users to apply more or less pressure to the hand blender in order to increase or decrease the speed. This is an added layer of convenience; most blenders feature buttons that indicate various speeds, if they have options at all. Instead of taking time to press the buttons, simply squeeze your hand.
Splash Control
As the name suggests, this patented technology by Braun is intended to prevent the splashback and mess that can sometimes occur when you’re blending. Braun limits splashback with the contoured and arched design of the bell around the blade. Braun refers to this as a “floral” design, and that, paired with the careful and angled position of the blades, greatly decreases splash potential. This technology also reduces suction and is supplemented by better handling and an ergonomic grip, all of which help decrease splash.
Power Bell
An extra blade on a Braun immersion blender gives user more slices per rotation and thus smoother and faster results. Blending is made fast, effective, and easy.
Expert Tip
Avoid blending in a glass jar – the blender heads are metal and can shatter glass.
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Accessories
Stainless steel mixing bowls: Monka Mixing Bowls
Immersion blenders need to proper container to be used effectively. This stainless steel set of mixing bowls from Monka is durable, stylish, and perfect for hand blenders.
Spatula: di Oro Living Silicone Spatula Set
Spatulas are essential kitchen utensils, as they prevent you from wasting food unnecessarily. They are especially handy when scraping the sides of blenders or mixing bowls. We love this set of three non-stick spatulas with a high heat tolerance.
Travel mug: Thermos Stainless Travel Mug
For juices and other blended beverages, it’s best to have a mug on hand to take with you. Even if your new blender comes with one, it’s worth getting more, including this travel mug by Thermos.
Kitchen apron: Aunt Martha’s White Cotton Apron
Whenever you’re cooking or baking, there is always a chance for a bit of a mess, even when being careful blending. Grab this comfy and practical apron to keep your clothes clean.
Did You Know?
There are different kinds of whisks. Braun’s whisk attachment, like many, is the common balloon whisk, which incorporates the most air into the food.
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Braun blender prices
Inexpensive
For under $50, you’ll find a Braun immersion blender with perhaps lower power, lower wattage, only one or two attachments, and few, if any, accessories.
Mid-range
Spending between $50 and $100 will earn you either an immersion blender from Braun with a variety of attachments and accessories or a high-powered countertop blender.
Expensive
Braun offers immersion blender sets at over $100. These will include higher-power blenders and several attachments and accessories, including a small food processor. Some countertop blenders may also be available with extra travel mugs included.
Expert Tip
Let your blender dry thoroughly before storing – water left in the blades can encourage bacterial growth.
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Tips
- Register your product. Braun offers a limited warranty on their products. Registration will also send consumers tips, deals, and other news.
- Be careful with hot food. Despite offering guards against splashback, it’s still possible under the best of circumstances. It’s better to let hot food cool first, or exercise more caution while blending.
- Blend big batches. Immersion blenders work best when you’re preparing large quantities of food. Smaller batches, or shallow bowls, may damage the blender or prove ineffective.
- Clean the blade immediately. Try to avoid letting the blade sit unattended after use. Rinse in warm water to prevent food from settling in hard-to-wash places.
FAQ
Q. How do I wash the blender?
A. Several parts of the blenders are dishwasher safe. In a hand blender, the end with the cord and motor is not safe for the dishwasher and should be gently washed by hand while unplugged and without getting too wet. The jug of a countertop blender can go into the dishwasher; the blade can as well, but it may lose its sharpness over time.
Q. How do I achieve the best results with a hand blender?
A. For most effective and efficient results, always keep the immersion blenders moving. However, avoid moving it so fast that you create splashes and don’t properly blend your food. Make sure you’re using a bowl or beaker that has high walls. Rotate the hand blender while moving it up and down as well.
Q. What are the main programs for a Braun countertop blender?
A. Braun blenders all come with a smoothie function, which will effectively blend beverages. Some also include an ice-crushing option that will turn ice cubes into shards. Another option is the chop function, which is useful for food prep.
