Braun MR 400

...one I could find: the Braun MR400 for around 15 pounds. My decision at the time was based on several things: the maximum wattage (power)* -- 250 watts as opposed to 220 or the 150 that other handheld blenders sported, the price -- not too much for my rather modest budget, the name -- I had heard of Braun before so felt reasonably comfortable with it due to familiarity, versatility -- the outside box stated that it could puree and blend and crush, ...
...of the aforementioned regards, the Braun MR400 did not fail me although it did have some flaws. When I needed to puree some pea soup, I grabbed it of the kitchen drawer and placed it in the 2-quart pan of hot chicken broth and peas and was instantly gratified. It was beautiful. A really smooth and sleek-looking soup made me feel a certain sense of pride. In addition the blending of raspberries also proved successful (after having picked too many ... more

While I am not exactly a Bridget Jones clone as I do have a permanent live-in boyfriend (currently snoring mercilessly near computer); nevertheless, I have often felt similar to her as I have had to fend off various well-meaning friends and family as to why I have not, as of yet, gotten married. And not only have I had to watch various comrades and cronies walk down that long white aisle into that state she rather bemusedly calls 'married smugs' but I also have had to endure that time-honoured ritual of "buying wedding gift from said registry." It is in so doing that I first had my encounter with the often requested (although mysterious to me) 'Braun Handheld Blender.'

Now I would hate to say that insecurity and peer pressure and a bit of jealousy crept into my consciousness but it did. With this influx of some slightly green monsters into my brain, I had ... HAD to find out exactly what this thing was.

So I did what any reasonable person would do under the circumstances, I went shopping to determine more on what "it" was -- this "thing" all brides seemed to need to possess. This being said I made my way to the nearest Argos store to peruse their catalogue. I saw the picture of a white, cylindrical, wand-like electrical contraption that you apparently grip with one hand and insert into food contents and turn on. "VRROOOM-VROOM!" I immediately heard in my mind. Being of an adventurous mien, I decided to purchase the most reasonable and reliable-looking one I could find: the Braun MR400 for around 15 pounds. My decision at the time was based on several things: the maximum wattage (power)* -- 250 watts as opposed to 220 or the 150 that other handheld blenders sported, the price -- not too much for my rather modest budget, the name -- I had heard of Braun before so felt reasonably comfortable with it due to familiarity, versatility -- the outside box stated that it could puree and blend and crush, and convenience -- it was a rather small kitchen appliance that could be stored neatly away in a drawer.

In addition, this wand (as I later called it due to its seeming magical propensities) also came with a rather tall, clear, measuring beaker for blending. I did not use this much though as I often found it too small to be very valuable (except for one-glass smoothies).

New brides ... 'smug marrieds' eat your heart out! Wow! I realized I could have my cake and eat it, too -- literally and figuratively -- well almost anyways. (Maybe a cake made with less than optimal taste and appearance in mind ... read on ....).

In many of the aforementioned regards, the Braun MR400 did not fail me although it did have some flaws. When I needed to puree some pea soup, I grabbed it of the kitchen drawer and placed it in the 2-quart pan of hot chicken broth and peas and was instantly gratified. It was beautiful. A really smooth and sleek-looking soup made me feel a certain sense of pride. In addition the blending of raspberries also proved successful (after having picked too many on one of those self-pick farms). I was not unhappy with the concoction of raspberries, bananas, milk, sugar and yoghurt it produced from the recipe found on the internet. Easy. My main piece of advice would be that care needs to be taken when turning on this one-speed only appliance. DO SO AFTER AND ONLY AFTER it is submerged under liquid contents or you may get "Jackson Pollock"-like patterns and colors on your walls, your tiles, your clothes, your dog Sparky, your daughter Melanie, and your NOW ex-best friend, etc. ;-)

And while maybe -- just maybe -- it was the Chinese character traits in me that led me to my further culinary exploits (and not the "Bridget Jones" syndrome after all), I could not be sure. I began to test this device on all manner of epicurean delights in that peculiarly way Orientals often have of trying to maximise the utilitarianism and functionality of an object or situation with a frightening perseverance and tenacity.

My first experiment was with a Betty Crocker cake mix and this produced mixed results. While it did a highly efficient job of mixing the batter for the cake, I believe it did not incorporate enough air to achieve a light texture and taste for the final result. My end cake was rather dense and heavy although still flavourful. A whisk or electric mixer would have served my purposes better here. (I imagine that egg whites would be difficult to whip for the same reasons although can not say for sure as have not tried).

My next move was to cream butter with sugar for some cookies. In my perhaps rather overzealous attempts at using the wand, I unwittingly and accidentally turned the power on while using my fingers to remove the 'uncreamed' butter from the bottom chamber (for more thorough mixing). While not a fatal or even very traumatic experience, I did cut my finger in my attempt to dislodge this butter. I cut my pointer finger in a 1/2 inch wide and not very deep slit that has since healed. The blades were not sharp enough (thank goodness) and the power not intense enough to have done more serious damage. (I think accident-prone Bridget might very well relate to this!) My normal experience with creaming butter (or of such things as the cookie dough itself) is that it does become a pain to mix it with this blender as it does get large chunks of unmixed contents stuck on its bottom in the space above the blades.

Other difficult contents I have used include ice and deeply frozen strawberries (just can't get enough of those self-pick farms -- guess it has to do with my former often-suffocating, often-smoggy, often-crowded Los Angeles living!! <giggle> ). The ice was really not a problem. It would break easily into the fresh fruit smoothies I made to produce a nice frozen "treat" consisting of ice, vanilla soymilk, fresh strawberries, an orange, and a banana. These pulsed rather nicely and cleanly. Upon using frozen strawberries (harder and more solid than the ice when frozen), I ran into a different story. Although the wand worked, it took much much longer to make the smoothie (five minutes or more sometimes). The wand would get rather hot and the blender would sometimes pulse in fits and starts and pauses.

The cleaning of the wand was its real advantage I felt. I pretty much just rinsed its detachable foot under the faucet spray in hot water and it came out like new. No muss, no fuss.

My final use resulted in its demise. I had asked my partner to assist me in mixing some cake mix. Having turned it on, he became enthusiastically intrigued by its novelty and force and the mysteries inherent in this machine and had it on for quite some time before I realized what was happening. (Probably the "VROOM!" factor playing itself out again -- this time to an excess in HIS mind). The wand had become too hot to touch due to an overworked motor. Shortly thereafter, a spark emitted itself from somewhere on the blender and the current of electricity -- along with the Braun -- died -- after two years of intermittent usage.

And although I am still not married, I do plan on buying another Braun Hand Blender MR400. This time though I will be sensible and experienced enough to also know to buy a hand mixer/whisk ALSO (which I have found that Britain's beloved Delia recommends over a free-standing and costly mixer) for appeasing my more saccharine affinities (chocolate chip cookies, butter rum or Kahlua fudge cakes, etc.). I would recommend this for people who like to make soups and/or smoothies using fresh fruit and who might use it for baby foods. It can really give a quite pleasant and silky texture to liquid-like foods. For persons who make drinks using frozen fruits I would not advise buying it but would probably recommend a standard countertop blender.

The first and most basic in a series of three, the Braun MR400, is the model which I am discussing. My most recent internet searching (as of 01-10-01) shows that this blender can be purchased at Argos for 12.50 pounds (down from 16.50) and at Comet for 12.95 (plus a delivery charge).

The second and next in the series is the Braun MR400-HC which sells for around 23 pounds. In addition to the calibrated beaker, this also has a (quoting Comet-online here) "chopper attachment for meat, fish, cheese & herbs" and is purportedly "ideal for small quantities of onions, fruit and nuts." And I obviously can't say much about this as I have the simpler model.

The third in the series is the Braun 430CA. It has both a detachable whisk that I imagine would serve well in incorporating air for such things as when one may need to whip egg whites until fluffy or meringued (can do up to four the brochure states) or whip cream. This last model also has an almost twice-as-large chopper attachment as the previous Braun MR400-HC; nevertheless, it still can't chop harder items such as coffee beans, nutmeg, large pieces of ice, etc.

* I have recently repurchased the Braun MR400 (Comet, 12.95) and while this model still has the same name, it now boasts a quite powerful 300 watt motor. I think this will definitely improve it for me.

For those who have a hankering for something a bit fancier; there are more posh, higher wattage (~500), faster, and more powerful hand blender models. Some of these have such things as metal construction at the base instead of plastic and further attachments for other uses. If interested, you can go take a look at www.braun.com

 

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