Hand blenders: Features explained
The basics
Braun MR 4050 HC
A hand blender is a small spinning blade mounted on the end of a rod, shielded by a plastic or metal skirt and is most suitable for blending and chopping. A few also come with whisks, grinders and measuring beakers.
They are easy to clean and store, and straightforward to use and do jobs around the kitchen with the minimum of fuss. If you want to pureé soup, for example, you can blend in a saucepan, rather than tipping hot liquid into a blender jug.
The majority have a simple press-and-hold control button, but fancier versions have more speeds or turbo buttons.
Before you buy, check that the that the button is easy to press: hand blenders are about as long as a ruler and some weigh nearly as much as a bag of sugar, so they can be exhausting to control if it is hard to get a good grip.
Plastic shafts can stain but clean up easily with some vegetable oil.
Although you'll often find the wattage mentioned in the product details, a higher wattage doesn't guarantee better results or durability.
However, bargain-basement hand blenders don't tend to be as well constructed or durable as more expensive models.
Making mayonnaise
Making mayonnaise is a delicate art that seems to be beyond some hand blenders. It involves adding oil, drop by drop, to a mix of lemon juice (or vinegar) and egg yolk. Blenders either do it well or curdle the egg yolk into a disgusting mess.
Unfortunately, most retailers frown on customers who try whipping up mayonnaise in the store before they buy. However, when you get yours home, it's worth experimenting with the recipe if you don't get good results straight away.