Cusinart HB-154 Stick Blender
Hand held immersion blenders, also known as stick blenders, are a convenient tool for pureeing soups, like split pea or lentil, chopping vegetables, and making a quick smoothie.
There are many models on the market and, in general, the more you spend the higher the product quality. If you rarely puree soups or make smoothies and inexpensive electric blender is adequate. Why electric and not cordless. The simple reason is uniform power or a period of time. Cordless, battery powered blenders can loss power long before you’ve finished the job. Yes, a cord is a bit inconvenient, but you’ll save time and not have to worry about the batteries being fully charged. Some corded models have time limits to prevent the motor from overheating. You should consider investing in a professional model if you plan on using your blender daily.
Cusinart HB-154 Stick Blender
Looking for a more convenient way to puree split pea soup versus using a blend and small batches to prevent pea soup splatter and burns I bought a Cusinart HB-154 Stick Blender from a local warehouse store. The unit is heavy and has preformed well the half dozen times I’ve used it.
It is easy to clean, but like any kitchen appliance with very sharp blades you must use caution especially when the unit is plugged in. A distraction or accidentally turning the blender on with fingers on or near the cutting blades could send you to the emergency room for treatment.
Easy To Clean
The blender separates allowing you to clean the cutting unit in a dishwasher. I’ve found swishing it in hot soapy water and air drying is enough to clean the blade and shroud.
The blenders Achille’s heal is its plastic drive gears.
I would not use this blender to grate cheese or chop a large amount of hard vegetables like carrots. A crack in either gear will render the blender useless. This model comes with a two year warranty. If you do not abuse the blender, it will be repaired or replaced if it fails within the warranty period.
In the 10 months I’ve owned this blender it has done a very good job pureeing soups which is the reason I bought it. Whether you use it for hot soups or cold smoothies, always keep the blade submerged to prevent splatter across your kitchen. This model has two speeds. If you have never used an immersion blender, use the slow speed until you are familiar with its operation. It can save you a lot of cleanup.
Recommended
If you like pureed soup and do not own a blender, this immersion blender is recommended.
I will update this post with new information when available.
Update: June 1, 2014
I’ve owned and used this blender to puree soups for a little over two years with no problems. Having only two blades, it doesn’t produce as smooth a puree as a conventional blender, but it comes close enough for my purposes. I’d estimate I’ve used it about a dozen times over the past year which is very light usage. I generally prefer chunky soups to pureed soups. The blender is designed for consumer not commercial use.
I have not used any of the attachments to whip cream, blend batters, mix drinks or chop vegetable as the manufacturer claims. I did not buy it for that purpose. Here are three varieties of soup pureed using this immersion blender:
Spicy Cauliflower Soup
Butternut Squash Soup
Red Lentil Soup
The blender’s blade attachment is extremely easy to clean. Swish it around in hot, soapy water, carefully wipe it dry and your done. Much simpler than cleaning a standard blender.
If you like making occasional creamy soups, this immersion blender does a good job for the price.
