Braun MR5550CA Multiquick Professional Hand Blender, White

This is a non paid response to a product purchased from the Amazon.com site.NOTE: Another review by me follows this review...I purchased this replacement Braun, six weeks ago. The replacement Braun hand blender is 400 watt opposed to the replaced one, which was a 200 watt version. The 200 watt version replaced a less powered version too. I owned the 200 watt model two years. I blend 4 times a week, omelets and fruits. the two earlier versions were GREAT kitchen tools. Both earlier models were under powered. I fried the motor in the first one, via over usage. The second I ground the rubber to metal joining connector, within the hand/motor to blend/washable/removable head, from bad usage or from over usage.This new Braun MR5550CA Multiquick Professional Hand Blender has a stronger rubber to metal joining connector and has an improved motor rating. The new unit stays cool.This new unit has a dual speed push button, where one is full power, the other is variable sped interdependent upon the top speed dial.For my dollar and usage this is one fantastic tool. For the power, the price was very good. BUT: for my needs, the a mini chopper/blender included was a waste. I paid for this and had no choice to say NO. The packaging was extensive and elaborate, a lot of unnecessary plastic and virgin beautiful ornate cardboard. I would have liked to receive the unit in brown recycled paper, and no mini chopper (with or without receiving credit for refusal of this addition, as this chopper is not bad quality, its just that a cook usually has a full sized chopper, and with over dependence/usage of oil....).Would I buy this unit again? In all measures except those stated: Unnecessary attachments,and overkill of packaging.For my usage, I conclude this Braun MR5550CA @ $64.67 delivered to be the best choice I could find, as I spent four hours researching on-line, with personal experience and past similar kitchen tool usage for my reference.I would buy this unit again. Great tool. I hope it lasts.Sincerely,ChangeItOrDrownIt************************************************************************6-25-09ChangeItOrDrownIt...Braun MR5550CA Multi Quick:I rated this item on 8-16-08. I had just purchased the unit. I was impressed both the change in the blending blade end as food did not clog the holes, and the increase in power. I disliked the inability of the purchaser to refuse the attachment array. Most cooks will not use the attachment blender as I believe most of us have a full size blender.I might have abused the unit, as I added some dried cranberries to my fruit juice blend drink. This questionable overuse ground the rubber to metal joint where the motor meets the blade attachment, in other words the blade would not spin with the motor. I accomplished this feat within the first couple of months of ownership/usage. As this was my third Braun: 1st @ 100W, 2nd @ 200W, I feel the connection might be improved for the increase in power to 400W MR5550CA.I immediately purchased a ROCCO Model ROHB300MU @ 330Watts. The joint (described above) is slightly superior in the ROCCO and I do not grind dried fruit anymore, although the slight power loss of 17.5%, the ROCCO blends as effectively as the Braun.Unfortunately this ROCCO came with even more "wonderful accessories" which I will never use. Great virginal plastic, packaging and increased shipping for the weight and volume. The costs were almost exact to the Braun 5550. I would choose the ROCCO over the Braun now that I have experienced both. I would like the ability to refuse the accessories whether I receive much price discount or not!Sincerely,ChangeItOrDrownIt.

I originally had ordered a Kitchen Aid handmixer but sadly the company does not know at this point when they will ship those out, if ever.So I searched some more and came across this one.The reason I bought this one over the $29.99 model is that it has not just one power strength but is adjustable.It really is powerful and works quickly.But in reality, the attachements are double of what you have in your kitche most likely. I find myself preferring my own chopper and whisker over the attachements.Basically I use the mixer stick and it is nice that I can adjust the powerlevel. THe rest is not that impressive. But it is a strong little machinery and if you have to hold it for a long time while in use your hand/arm/end up with some kind of cramp or pain. Strong vibration going on while in use.If you have joint problems or such issues you will find yourself wishing for a different model.After a while. Not right away. Of course if you don't use it often and use it only for little tasks that don't last long then you have a very excellent product.So basically it works but it is overpriced like this .

I was very disappointed to see that crucial inner parts were made of plastic. The lower hand blender part had a broken plastic part after a year of moderate using ( I mostly use it for blending soups). The mixer bowl is still working fine. I cannot ask for replacement because the warranty year is over... Research more before you buy this one.

We had this for about a year, and maybe used it once a month. Then it just stopped working while in the middle of blending something. It was a great product while it worked, but it is hard to recommend a kitchen tool this fragile.

I am very impressed with the heftiness and solid build of this stick blender. I have another Braun, much smaller, which now feels like a toy compared to this one. Time to retire the little, less powerful one. I also like the size of the food chopper - it is much bigger than the mini choppers that are in the market. You can easily put in all the ingredients for salsa or guacamole, and chop it all in one chopping session, rather than chop little portions as you would in a mini chopper. Much easier than hauling down the food processor. Great in-between size.The ONLY reason I give this item 4 stars (would have given it 4.5, if I could have) is that it is much bigger than I had expected, and as another reviewer mentioned, the "base" of the stick blender is quite wide (2-7/8 inches in diameter) and therefore, does not fit most drinking glasses. Solution to this: use the included beaker then pour into the glasses. On the other hand, it is really nice to have the wider base for puree'ing soups - makes your job much faster, especially with its power. The whisk I really don't have a use for, much faster and less clumsy to use a hand whisk. But hey, it is still an added bonus.