Impressive power & versatility

Author's Rating:

Pros: Power, ease of use, variable speed, cleanup

Cons: Attachments, too attractive for dogs to resist, isn't sold by piece, where is the MR5000?

The Bottom Line: 
Totally recommend it if you want power and finesse. It *is* expensive, but I found it durable and worth the price. Just keep it out of your dogs mouth.

Author's Review
I bought this model handblender off of eBay, after getting tired of using a bar blender to puree soups. I had to wait for the soup to cool a bit, the bar blender could never handle the whole batch, hot soup would splash out, you know the drill. The Braun makes the entire process exponentially easier.

I can puree in the same pot used to cook the soup. It works equally well on sauces and mashed potatoes. The small chopper attachment is very adept at handling small amounts of vegetables, herbs and other items you want finely chopped. I had some difficulty with this attachment chopping smaller than I intended, so I would typically rely upon my knife skills instead. But it made quick work of chicken livers for a very smooth pate.

I use the whisk attachment less, since many of my saucepans are non-stick and the whisk is uncoated metal. But it too is a great help for light sauces and roux. I use it every time I make gumbo for both the roux base and when adding in the stock.

The final attachment, a Big Chopper w/ ice crusher, doesn't get much action from us. We have employed it for making pitchers of frozen drinks, but since we are just a couple, haven't needed to chop large quantities of items yet. Like the smaller chopper, expect it to chop or shred rather finely.

What I like most about the Braun Multiquick is its variable speed- this helps plow through large-cut veggies, but can also produce a very smooth finished product such as in a butter sauce or herb foam. The 400W and turbo power make quick work of everything I've thrown at it, including ice.

Additionally, the stainless steel shaft cleans up easily and can handle high temperatures. The design of the blade guard is supposed to prevent splashing, but I have splattered tomato sauce on occasion. Just keep an eye on your work and make sure you use a pot of sufficient size. Each attachment locks in place with a satisfying click so you know it's ready to go.

Lastly, the whole shebang is a since to clean. Most parts can go directly in the dishwasher. Those that cannot (electrics, the gear boxes), just take a quick rinse in the sink. The blades are sharp, so make sure you keep them out of reach of kids and that you secure them when drying.

The worst thing about the blender is that my dog decided to chew up the powercord. I could have replaced the electric body with the one from the cheaper MR 5550 CA model (plastic shaft), but he decided to get to the blender shaft as well, so I have to go get the entire kit. But I wouldn't consider any other make or model (wish they bring the MR5000 to the States:()

Braun! Bring us the MR5000 or sell your components separately!