Are Braun immersion blenders good?
Braun immersion blenders have an average overall score of 7.8, ranking #11 among all immersion blender brands, and an average review score of 8.8, placing them at #2 among brands graded by independent reviewers.
Braun is known for its MultiQuick hand blenders, a ladder of lines that runs from the 450 W MQ10.001P to the 1,200 W MQ9147X. The PowerBell guard has ribs inside the bell that break suction, and SplashControl keeps soup in the pan at full speed. SmartSpeed on MultiQuick 7 models such as the MQ7035X raises speed as you squeeze harder. The MQ9195XLI adds ActiveBlade, a knife that moves up and down as it spins to bite into hard pieces.
The real limitation is the blade on most of the range. Models such as the MQ3135WH and MQ5245WH use a two-point knife, which handles soup and purées well. Crushing ice or frozen berries takes noticeably longer than with four-blade designs, and only the MultiQuick 9 line closes that gap with its moving blade.
(Note: A total of 61 brands were evaluated in the comparison in the first paragraph. Only those with at least 3 immersion blender models in our database were included.)
The chart below ranks immersion blender brands by average overall score.
[horizontal-chart-01236393224515583485153992884091065572451810322944]What are the main advantages of Braun immersion blenders?
The main advantages of Braun immersion blenders are the following:
- Little splashing: The PowerBell guard on models such as the MQ5235WH and MQ7035X keeps soup in the pot even at top speed. Ribs inside the bell stop the blade from sucking onto the pan base.
- Moving blade: The MQ9195XLI and MQ9147X push their knife up and down as it spins. Raw carrot and almonds get chopped instead of dodging the blade.
- One-hand speed control: SmartSpeed on the MQ7087X and MQ7045X sets speed by how hard you press the button. You start gently in a full pot and reach full power without a second hand.
- Fine speed steps: The MQ50.051M and MQ50220M offer 21 speeds. Low steps keep sauces and baby food in the beaker, and high steps finish smoothies.
- Cheap entry point: The MQ10.001P costs £20 and handles soup and cooked vegetables without fuss. It suits a small kitchen that blends once or twice a week.
What are the main disadvantages of Braun immersion blenders?
The main disadvantages of Braun immersion blenders are the following:
- No cordless model: Even the flagship MQ9195XLI runs on a cable. If you want to blend at the table or on a kitchen island without a socket, Braun has nothing to offer.
- Bare entry kits: The MQ10.000P ships without a single attachment and has one speed. You get a stick for soup and nothing more, so a chopper or whisk means buying a bigger model.
- Two accessory systems: Newer models such as the MQ7045X use EasyClick Plus, while older ones such as the MQ700 use the original EasyClick. Choppers and whisks from one generation do not always fit the other.
- Steep top-end price: The MQ9147X costs £140, twice the price of an MQ5245WH at £70. The extra money mainly buys the moving blade and a stronger motor, which matter mostly for hard food.
