Cuisinart CSB-77 Smart Stick Hand Blender with Whisk and Chopper Attachments

This is one of the more versatile gadgets I have purchased that has become the indispensable kitchen workhorse. It plunges, mixes, blends, chops, purees, and when needed pulverizes. Purchased August 2007, it still works like a charm with no motor issues, no broke or dull blades (I did manage to nick a blade) and the finish looks as good as the day Amazon delivered it over 10 years ago (knock on wood). My only gripe is I didn’t receive the whisk attachment so I don’t know how well that works.I have the CSB-77 model which is a rather basic unit with the chopper attachment. It does not come with multiple speeds and whatever improvements the manufacturer decided to throw in later. It’s a simple unit, well constructed, comfortable weight, easy grip, great power and easy to use. Just plug it in and press the on off button to use. What I have found it works great at:Protein shakes, yogurt, fruit smoothies - This is where I believe the stick excels. The shaft works well in the cup that came with and in deep bowls. I would not recommend adding ice cubes to be crushed (maybe only shavings) and frozen fruit is ok. It’s an immersion blender that is not built for crushing ice. You’ll not only damage the blades but your motor. If you want crushed ice in your smoothie, pull out the Ninja or use any traditional blender.Crepe batter - Best mix ever = Crepe batter + Cuisinart stick = restaurant quality crepes. Yep, the stick rules when it comes to mixing crepe batter super thin and smooth with a 5 star end result to prove it. What can I say, I love my strawberry and blueberry crepes!Sauces and soups - Plunge your stick into the pot to mix, blend, puree until lumps are gone and you get the desired texture. It’s exceptional when it comes to really smooth and extra creamy sauces. At least it’s easier than transferring hot liquids back and forth for the task. Just make sure you have “depth” to your liquid and the pot isn’t too shallow or you can damage your pot and not get the desired effect.Pestos, Salsas, Gazpacho, and Hummus - This is where the stick excels again. It can plow through fibrous vegetables pulverizing in seconds saving time and additional messes.Mayonnaise, béarnaise, hollandaise and salad dressings - Yep, the stick works amazingly well as an emulsifier for homemade mayonnaise, hollandaise, béarnaise and vinaigrette dressings.Pet Food - Sometimes you gotta be sneaky about getting your pet to take his/her meds or if they’re on a special diet. My dachshund isn’t so picky, but the cats have taught me to be creative so I learned to make cat food as well as dog food. Pet food is similar to making gazpacho using different ingredients + meds!I’m sure there are probably thousands of uses for the stick, but the above is what I’ve been using it for. I still have a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer, food processor, and blender for large jobs & holidays, but the Cuisinart stick is my go to workhorse for small batches when cooking for two people (+/- pets) daily. If I have to be really honest about it, I’m just lazy sometimes and don’t want the extra work of cleaning. I also like that it takes up a small space, does the quick and dirty work in less time, the unit separates so only the blade shaft part can be easily cleaned without worry of getting the motor wet and best of all… the price was right! Overall, I’m really happy with my Cuisinart Immersion Stick model CSB-77 and I do find myself eating healthier with more fresh ingredients.

Excelente

After talking to a friend who's a dietitian, I realized I don't get enough fruits and veggies, and when I do, they're in processed form, so there's lots of hidden ingredients and chemicals in them. I decided I want to know exactly what was in my food. So I bought this blender/chopper and use it everyday. I make a different variety of smoothie every morning for my drive to work. It's great because I can just stick the blender right into the cup I'm going to drink it out of.I also use the whisk as a milk frother so that my coffee tastes more like a latte. (Well, it's about halfway there.)This also offers great ways to extend the freshness of vegetables. I've been shopping at farmer's markets, and once foods like spinach start to lose their freshness (or start to wilt) I can simply blend them up in a soup. These can be frozen so that on any given day, I can choose from a variety of healthy options. The chopper does have a harsh sound to it, and other products might be a bit quieter. But for the price and the various attachments, I think this is a great buy for someone looking for ways to live healthier.Update, 2012: I've had this blender for 2 years, and I still love it. I avoid using it with ice, but I frequently use it to blend frozen fruit. I have absolutely no complaints, and have been giving this as wedding gifts, and gave one to my mom, who has arthritis. She's loved how much easier it is to make mashed potatoes and soups.

This is the best kitchen gadget I've ever purchased! I used to be stuck with a "rustic" consistency on any and all creamy soups. The first day I used it, I made about a gallon of amazing butternut squash soup. I pureed it hot and had no splatter; even with my caution about a new appliance, it was done in under a minute. I've done it since then in 10 seconds! It elevated my soup to a high-end restaurant quality and all my friends were impressed.One of the reasons I purchased the item was because I wanted to eat healthier and eliminate grains/gluten without feeling deprived. With this item, I don't need to add any flour, cornstarch, or other thickeners to gravies. I can simply puree a portion of the food. For example, I can puree a potato into my turkey gravy or use some of the potatoes and carrots straight out of the pot roast to thicken the sauce!The cup it comes with is also fantastic for making homemade salad dressing emulsions and aioli. I can replicate bottled balsamic dressing and others with ease.When I purchased the item, the Prime price of the one with whisk and chopper was only a few dollars more than without. So, I splurged on this one. I've made about a dozen homemade fruit & traditional salsas with the chopper. The whisk is also wonderful as it has more control than the traditional electric whisk/beater, is far lighter, and can reach in corners.The only thing I can't really do with it is smoothies. I bought the milkshake cup and was not very happy with its failure to puree frozen fruit. However, I have a blender for that.

I was wondering when I bought it, so I went back on my orders history and found it back in 2013. This equipment is build to last. The only issue is the blade assembly has a cover that got junk up with nastiness. It is a pain to disassemble and clean it but I built a rig with couple plastic shims.