Braun MR4000 Hand Blender (Braun Hand Blender)

Name: jennysue

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Product:	Braun Hand Blender
Date:	12/01/04 (483 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: two speed, high power motor, comes apart to wash

Disadvantages: looks a bit flimsy inside, over-long

When both my old Braun hand blenders broke within a couple of weeks I worked out how much use they had had and how old they were. One of them was over 10 years old, the other was about 8 years old and bought when I first met my husband and we had two homes for a couple of years.

The older Braun hand blenders did not take apart to wash. Consequently, I assume, food debris worked up into the drive shaft and clogged it, eventually burning out the motor.

I originally looked at the much more sophisticated Braun Multipractic which was advertised on TV over Christmas. However, I already have other appliances which do all the same jobs that this appliance's attachments do, so looked for another simple stick blender.
There is plenty of choice out there. A look on Comet, Argos and Curry's websites identified half a dozen options made by Kenwood, Phillips and other well-known appliance manufacturers, plus a couple of unknown cheaper brands. However the Braun MR4000 has the highest rated motor (400W) which was the deciding factor. Blending root veg. to make soup is a frequent task and makes the motor work hard.

With this blender, the blade and housing come right off for washing, with just a twist, so no problems for arthritic hands (which I will probably have in a year or two!). The instructions say dishwasher safe. The parts click simply and securely back together.

The buttons are covered with a rubberised pad, helping to keep the appliance clean and clear of any bits trying to find a way inside. It is light and comfortable to use, although perhaps a bit longer than it really needs to be.

There are two improvements on my old blender. One is the design of the 'business end' - no more awkward little holes to clog and clean round, the other is two speeds rather than one. This might help to prevent spraying the kitchen with sweetcorn soup or pancake batter!

The Braun MR4000 isn't the cheapest o
f its kind by quite a long way, but I
was happy to pay the extra for a brand previously found to be reliable and I know it will earn its keep, more than I can say for some of my other kitchen appliances.

You have to be a bit careful with what you are buying though. Some shops are advertising different models of Braun blenders that have a lower wattage motor and may not be as robust for daily use - for instance if you regularly make soup/milkshakes or puree food for a baby. Check the power rating. The less powerful blenders may be cheaper but the motors can burn out quickly.

I have quoted the Argos price. You might get this blender a pound or two cheaper elsewhere.

Incidentally I used Argos's internet pre-order system. This lets you choose your item and check stock at your local store. It is then reserved for you for at least 24 hours. It doesn't help you jump any queues, but it does avoid paying the delivery charge which can be disproportionally large for small value online orders and you at least know that you won't be wasting a journey. At 4pm on a Monday, my local Argos was almost deserted and I even got a seat while I waited - unheard of!

Summary: