The Sad Death of a Hand Blender

My 20-Year-Old Hand Blender

Yesterday, I had to bid a sad farewell to my trusty cooking partner of  20 years.  I was about to hand blend a bunch of ingredients for a sauce after braising a chuck roast for pot roast, so I pulled out my Braun hand blender, plugged it in and alas, it didn't have the strength to do the job.

The blade turned vigilantly but just barely. You could hear the mini motor trying its very best to spin the little propeller at the end of the wand but to no avail. It was tired after 20 years of blending soups and sauces and anything else I could find for its use.

I have been waiting for this day, knowing it would come, and for the past several years, I've been preparing myself for this eventual outcome. In fact, I'm surprised that my hand blender has lasted this long.

Not many small appliances do. The other day, I saw one of the new fancy hand blender models on Amazon and thought I might pick one up but quickly realized I already owned a perfectly good hand blender, so why bother? It must have been a premonition of what was to come.

Now as I sit here writing about the end of a truly great kitchen helper, I don't want to run out and purchase a new one. Isn't there some period of bereavement for a faithful gadget?

I can't tell you how many times my faithful hand blender helped me out of a jam, especially when my regular blender was on the fritz.

When I do go out and purchase a new hand blender, I'll look for one as clean and simple as this one, and it will probably be another Braun, but I'll be sure to do my research to find the best-rated model. With my 59th birthday coming up next month, I may be looking at a kitchen tool that will last me until I'm 80. Now that's a thought.

I'd like to know what I'll be blending at that age. According to my wife, "Everything."

onlinesources: Small Kitchen Appliances

There are many sources for purchasing quality small kitchen appliances, including blenders, toasters, and mixers.  I suggest you check out your local department stores and kitchen supply shops, but if you're looking for a wide selection of products and prices, you may want to check out Amazon.com, where I buy many of my favorite cookware pieces.

Amazon.com - small kitchen appliances
- Started in the book business, but now they sell almost everything. Good prices, ok service, these are the folks many of us have done business with and feel comfortable with.