A useful device

Author's Rating:

Pros: Well made, very sturdy.

Cons: Can't stand on the counter without tipping over easily.

The Bottom Line: 
A good quality, very useful addition to any kitchen.

Author's Review
We purchased this as a replacement for a Braun hand mixer. The Braun gave out after about two years of daily use. We looked at buying the same Braun as we had or moving up in quality to this item. We have had it now for about two weeks and it seems to be much better made than the Braun for a couple of reasons.

To begin with, the Cuisinart just feels more substantial. I've always been led to believe that a more substantial motor in a small appliance will last longer. This item weighs about twice what the Braun unit did. Still, it feels balanced in the hand, primarily due to the shape. They have "carved out" the space where your hand is to go so that it is right at the center of gravity. This also places your fingers right in line with the two power buttons.

The second quality immediately noticeable is the power rod. This is the rod leading from the motor to the mixing blade. It is heavy duty chrome plated. The previous model we had used a plastic covering over a much thinner rod.

The motor housing of this item also has vent holes. Although this may not seem like much, I believe that the Braun unit failed due to overheating. The use of the vent holes will keep the motor cooler, thus leading to a longer life.

There are only a couple of minor negatives I can see so far. The Cuisinart is top heavy and thus can't stand on the counter very easily without tipping over. Also, the blending blades are a little smaller than the Braun's, and consequently it appears to take a little longer to mix some things.

Overall, this is a very good item and it seems like it is going to last a long time.