... Braun Multiquick.
So Why Did I Choose This Model?
After my experience with the very cheap Tesco blender a few months ago, I decided to go for a known brand which I could rely on. Admittedly, this is a very basic blender but is suitable for what I use it for, namely, lightly mashing ... Read review
Advantages: Reliable; Efficient; Inexpensive Disadvantages: Single Speed; Difficult to Clean
...His name? Multiquick. Braun Multiquick.
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So Why Did I Choose This Model?
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After my experience with the very cheap Tesco blender a few months ago, I decided to go for a known brand which I could rely on. Admittedly, this is a very basic blender but is suitable for what I use it for, namely, lightly mashing food for my son and making soup and milk shakes. ... ...
Yes folks, the Braun Multiquick has it all. In addition to attractive design itself and the reliability of this model, you could also be the proud owner of a high speed chopper. I am unable to review this accessory as I don't own one (boo-hoo) but I assume it chops the food rather than blends and connects to the motor unit in the same way as the blade shaft. This additional piece of equipment can be purchased from most electrical retailers ... more
Let me introduce you to my new buddy. He's twelve inches long, has an anti-splash shaft, is happy to be mounted and is a top performer in the kitchen. What's more, I can switch him on and off whenever I please! What more could a girl want… from a hand blender?
Anyone familiar with my reviews will recall that I recently had a near miss with the blade of a very cheap hand blender. Well, what else could I expect from a £5.00 piece of s…kit? At the time, I merely needed a no-frills blender to prepare food for my baby and didn't see the point in spending a fortune on something that would be redundant in a few months time. Now I do possess a standard food processor which has all the bells and whistles and which, put simply, is a big bugger. However, I found I was using my little hand blender more often than the food processor, purely for speed. Or could it be that I was just being lazy as there were less parts to wash?
So, off I went to discover the wonder of Woollies in search of a replacement. And there he was. Left on the shelf all alone. It must have been fate because that day, I took him home (after paying for him, of course) and neither of us have looked back since! His name? Multiquick. Braun Multiquick.
==================== So Why Did I Choose This Model? ==========================After my experience with the very cheap Tesco blender a few months ago, I decided to go for a known brand which I could rely on. Admittedly, this is a very basic blender but is suitable for what I use it for, namely, lightly mashing food for my son and making soup and milk shakes. The blender also comes equipped with a mixing beaker with measurements running up the side. ==== Appearance ==========
The blender is made of good quality, easy-clean white plastic and comes in two separate sections: the motor unit and the blade shaft. When fully assembled, the full length of the blender measures twelve inches so is a good size for make ample portions of food.
(Motor Unit)
This model comprises a 300 watt motor which is quite sufficient for the number and lengths of time that I use it. At the top of the motor unit you will find the on/off switch. This is very simply a blue rubberised button which you keep depressed for the duration of the time that you wish to blend.
(Blade Shaft)
The blade shaft is attached to the motor unit with a simple twist. Now this is supposed to be an anti-splash shaft, no less! However, I have discovered this depends a lot on how you use it. The end of the shaft (hmm, I must apologise if this section sounds a little inappropriate) is splayed out so as to retain the food in one place. As long as you remember to keep the shaft pointing downwards, all surrounding worktop equipment is safe. However, if the blender is slightly tilted, food flies everywhere. Take a tip from me - keep it vertical! It took me quite a while to remove tomato puree from the toaster, kettle, sugar jar etc. etc.
========== So What Does It Do? ================Speak to it nicely and it will dance the Tango round the kitchen! It's a blender. What do you think it does? But seriously, due to the very basic nature of this model, it blends food quite effectively, but unlike some blenders, it only has one speed setting. However, I found this to perfectly adequate for simple mixing. You simply give it a few quick zaps for course textures, or for foods such as purees or soups, just blend constantly for a longer period.
There is one aspect of the blender that may potentially put people off choosing this model. The on/off switch requires you to leave your finger on the button whilst mixing. In my view, this may not be suitable for people with bad arthritis in their fingers as the button does require some pressure to keep the blender going.
======================= Anyone Fancy A High Speed Chopper? =============================Yes folks, the Braun Multiquick has it all. In addition to attractive design itself and the reliability of this model, you could also be the proud owner of a high speed chopper. I am unable to review this accessory as I don't own one (boo-hoo) but I assume it chops the food rather than blends and connects to the motor unit in the same way as the blade shaft. This additional piece of equipment can be purchased from most electrical retailers and from the Braun Service Centres. However, they are not available in every country. = Cleaning =======
In my opinion, one of the main drawbacks of hand blenders is the difficulty in cleaning behind the blades. The blades on my normal food processor are removable and can be cleaned efficiently. However, the blades on the hand blender cannot be removed and I find it quite difficult to ensure that all the food is cleaned from underneath. I have found one way round this problem by using a pipe cleaner style brush but I must admit this is not ideal. The rest of the blender is very simple to keep clean. The motor unit must be wiped with a damp cloth, however, this should not get particularly dirty if using it properly. The blade shaft can be immersed in water, and can obviously be cleaned in a dishwasher.
========= Instruction Booklet ===============As with all electrical appliances, we are treated to the compulsory little booklet telling you what to do and what not to do with your new toy. It contains some simple diagrams of the various parts of the appliance, together with instructions on how to operate it. It also contains a recipe for simple mayonnaise and demonstrates how to use the blender to do this. I am always amused by the section in these booklets on safety issues. The first pointer we are given here is - "The blades are very sharp!" Well, I'll be damned! And then we are advised not to hold the motor under running water. Hmm. Proof in itself that they have to cater for everyone, including the hard of thinking. So, in this instance, a very long, drawn out instruction booklet for the sole reason it is written in 21 different languages. Fear not - the English section takes up only a couple of paragraphs.
== Price
==
I bought my hand blender approximately six weeks ago and paid £14.99 from Woolworth's. This, in my opinion, is an extremely reasonable price for a good quality piece of kitchen equipment.
========= My Overall Opinion ===============In general, I think this is a very good hand blender. It does the job it is supposed to and is quite a sturdy design. It can be used either with the mixing beaker supplied, or works just as well in a saucepan or mixing bowl. Unfortunately, I think there are certain flaws with this model which may deter some people from purchasing. Many people may prefer more than one speed setting. Some people may not be happy with the absence of a lock-down on/off switch. And I'm sure most people would prefer easier access to the underside of the blades for cleaning purposes. Basically, it works for me but may not be the favourite of others. ========== Contact Information ==========
Braun (UK) Information Line Tel. 0800 783 7010 www.braun.com
