Another Kitchen Gadget...

I want to make protein drinks and am stuck between buying a single sized blender or a hand held immersion blender. I have so many counter top gadgets already and can't buy both or buy the wrong one and then buy the other. Which would people suggest over the other? I found the Oster brand at Walmart with both the blender and immersion blender the same price.

Replies

  • hdlb
    hdlb Posts: 333 Member
    I'd go with the blender.
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    Just get a regular blender. You can make single serving drinks in a full size blender, but you can't puree soups or make larger portions in a single serve blender. I sometimes find myself wishing I had an immersion blender, but haven't really found a time when a regular blender wouldn't work just fine.

    I've been eliminating kitchen appliances over the last couple of years, and I don't miss my 6 quart crock pot or my bread machine. Ditto with the rice cooker and the toaster oven.

    Sometimes simpler is better.
  • kazdav
    kazdav Posts: 62 Member
    Bamix which is a stick blender ( I think what you are calling an immersion blender), then if you are making soup you don't have the gaff of transferring it from plan to blender, you just blend it directly in the pan.


    http://www.bamix.com/mono-189.html

    Forgot to say, I have both but use my bamix most.
  • orapronobis
    orapronobis Posts: 460 Member
    I prefer the stick blender. It takes up less space, stores in a drawer. Less parts to separate and wash.... However, if you're going to be putting ice in your drinks, a standard blender might be better.
  • shutterbug282
    shutterbug282 Posts: 588 Member
    I'd say a regular blender, we have both, but I rarely use the hand blender, because it's a bit dodgy. :)
  • bunjijk
    bunjijk Posts: 44
    Too funny about all the gadgets. I have in my household 3 breadmachines, 3 crockpots in different sizes, 2 mixers, 2 rice steamers.... The list goes on and on. You can see why I would ask which to buy!
  • If you want quick, easy to clean and easy to store go immersion. If you think you want it to do other things and you have a place to store it go blender. My daughter has a "Nija" and that works great for smoothies (it is great with ice!) It all depends what works best for your life style. :happy:
  • alaskaang
    alaskaang Posts: 493 Member
    If you use ice in your drinks, the blender. If not, the stick. I use my stick far more often and is easier to store.
  • supahstar71
    supahstar71 Posts: 926 Member
    I love my Magic Bullet. It's perfect for smoothies. I use frozen fruit (blueberries) and its excellent at blending. I prefer it to my blender because there's less stuff to clean (you blend it in the same cup you use to drink it).
  • kazdav
    kazdav Posts: 62 Member
    If you use ice in your drinks, the blender. If not, the stick. I use my stick far more often and is easier to store.

    the bamix which is a stick blender can cope with ice, used to use it with lighter life shakes to make thick ice cream style shakes.
  • giggitygoo
    giggitygoo Posts: 1,978 Member
    I am in love with my immersion blender. I make a lot of soups, and it's freaking fantabulous for that purpose. It's good for protein shakes too, but only if you don't use ice, as another poster mentioned.
  • KrazyAsianNic
    KrazyAsianNic Posts: 1,227 Member
    I use a Ninja. It's suppose to be a blender, juicer, and dough maker.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    Too funny about all the gadgets. I have in my household 3 breadmachines, 3 crockpots in different sizes, 2 mixers, 2 rice steamers.... The list goes on and on. You can see why I would ask which to buy!

    In your case, buy both. Probably $50 for the pair, and you obviously have room!

    In my case, less is more (small kitchen) so I have a blender...oh, oops. I have a blender and a smaller blender specifically for drinks. And I have a hand mixer that I've had since before immersion blenders were invented. :laugh:
  • bunjijk
    bunjijk Posts: 44
    Too funny about all the gadgets. I have in my household 3 breadmachines, 3 crockpots in different sizes, 2 mixers, 2 rice steamers.... The list goes on and on. You can see why I would ask which to buy!

    In your case, buy both. Probably $50 for the pair, and you obviously have room!

    In my case, less is more (small kitchen) so I have a blender...oh, oops. I have a blender and a smaller blender specifically for drinks. And I have a hand mixer that I've had since before immersion blenders were invented. :laugh:


    I think we both need a kitchen gadget intervention. I forgot to mention we had 2 separate full-size coffee makers and one back-up.
  • glitteredgrave
    glitteredgrave Posts: 194 Member
    I'd go with the regular blender. The immersion blender is sort of a convenience thing, right? I'm a kitchen gadget hoarder; I just bought a vitamix lol.
  • issyfit
    issyfit Posts: 1,077 Member
    I love my single portion smoothie maker, drink out of the same container you made it in, easy clean-up.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    Too funny about all the gadgets. I have in my household 3 breadmachines, 3 crockpots in different sizes, 2 mixers, 2 rice steamers.... The list goes on and on. You can see why I would ask which to buy!

    In your case, buy both. Probably $50 for the pair, and you obviously have room!

    In my case, less is more (small kitchen) so I have a blender...oh, oops. I have a blender and a smaller blender specifically for drinks. And I have a hand mixer that I've had since before immersion blenders were invented. :laugh:


    I think we both need a kitchen gadget intervention. I forgot to mention we had 2 separate full-size coffee makers and one back-up.

    Well, not being able to make coffee could be fatal.
  • LisaPhi72
    LisaPhi72 Posts: 9 Member
    I have both but use the regular blender more, mostly for smoothies. The immersion hand blender is good for pureeing a big pot of soup though.