KitchenAid KHB300 Hand Blender Review - Trash or Treasure?

There are times when a full-sized blender isn’t quite right for the job. It’s big, clunky and you probably aren’t astatic about the idea of taking it apart to clean it. You need a quick fix, right? This is where the blender’s nimble cousin comes into play: the hand blender. These devices are by no means a replacement, nor do they come close to the traditional blender for more serious tasks. Still, they have certain jobs cut out for them.

Although hand blenders have long been a staple in small kitchens, more and more people with plenty of space are discovering it’s uses. Probably the niftiest possibility is placing the device right in a pot and letting it whirl to thicken soups. Turning fruit into puree on the go and mashing potatoes right in the bowl are just a few more.

No more transferring hot soup from the pot to the food processor and creating some unnecessary spills. This is the ultimate solution for folk’s that hate washing up afterwards. And isn’t that nearly everyone?

Let’s get to the review, shall we?

Pros

• This stick blender is mighty and powerful.
• Extremely versatile with the included attachments.
  

Cons

• Although not heavy, it could be lighter.
• Guards around the blades are plastic, not metal.
  

The KHB300’s Many Tricks

KitchenAid is well aware of all the creative uses people are finding for the hand blender. The KHB300 was designed to take full advantage of this.

Thanks to the various attachments included, the possibilities are increased considerably. The chopper is good for finely dicing small amounts of herbs, vegetables, fruits, cooked meats, nuts and cheese. It also comes with a stainless-steel whisk for beating eggs and batters. The blender attachment can be immersed 8 inches into soup pots or deep bowls.

KitchenAid’s less expensive KHB100 is the same thing with out all the extras, so if your needs are more modest, it is also worth considering. Both are available in empire red, onyx black and white.

Making Soup with the KHB300

Being new to handheld blenders, I initially thought that the KitchenAid KHB300 would be heavy and awkward to use. It turned out to be lightweight enough to be ergonomic and easy to maneuver with.

Being a fan of vegan black bean soup, I put together this recipe to test the KitchenAid and felt the KHB300 did an admirable job. Since I don’t particularly like the beans mashed into a very smooth puree, I arbitrarily moved the device around in the pot so that there was still some lumps in there. The flexibility was impressive and it because apparent that this would also be an ideal tool for making hummus (a mediterranean chick pea dip).

Conclusion

Overall, it's a solid gadget. It isn’t Cooks Illustrated's first choice for hand blenders for no reason: it’s powerful, has adjustable speeds, and detaches without fuss for cleaning. This little guy packs a surprising punch so those seeking a subtle and hummingbird-like tool should definitely look elsewhere.

More Reviews

The editors of The Washington Post, Cooks Illustrated and Bon Appétit magazine have tested the KHB300 in product shootouts and it ranked well on both occasions. Bon Appétit selected the KitchenAid KHB300 as their favorite, but did not reveal how many models were in the running.