The Cooks' Den » Braun http://www.thecooksden.com Cooking Tools - Gear for Cooks and Chefs Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:49:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Braun Multiquick Immersion Hand Blender | White Mixer MR5550CA http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-multiquick-immersion-hand-blender-white-mixer-mr5550ca/ http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-multiquick-immersion-hand-blender-white-mixer-mr5550ca/#comments Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:52:31 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=9021 Braun Multiquick Immersion Hand Blender I like this device because it feels like having an extension of my body with the ability to blend. The movement is far more natural than the awkward way I have to hold a regular mixer. I can maneuver it with simple rotations of my wrist, with no strain, my hands nowhere near the blades. I can mix right in the container -- if I want my ingredients pureed, I can lower it into the can, blend, and pour.

The pros are many. The blender is portability paired with power. I save dishes by mixing my creations in place, right in the pan. The device stores in a drawer. It comes with a nice variety of attachments. One-handed use is always appreciated because I'm adding items or adjusting with the other. It does the job fast. And it is ready to go; you just grab it and start blending.

With the design of the Braun, you're protected from the blades and the blades are protected from their tendency to splatter. Braun has even designed storage potential into the accessories. The set can be used as a blender (for smoothies and ice cream drinks) and as a food processor (for chopping smaller batches). This makes it an excellent all-around choice to save space and maximize function.

Also see the Cuisinart SmartStick immersion blender.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-multiquick-immersion-hand-blender-white-mixer-mr5550ca/feed/ 4 Braun AquaExpress | Electric Hot Water Cordless Kettle WK200B http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-aquaexpress-electric-hot-water-cordless-kettle-wk200b/ http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-aquaexpress-electric-hot-water-cordless-kettle-wk200b/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:56:18 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=8332 Braun AquaExpress My family has an overwhelming need for hot water. Using the stove, the kettle gets filled, the burner heated ten times or more a day. With a whistling kettle, the charming sound can wear out its welcome quickly if you're busy and can't get right in to take it from the heat.

This is a brilliant solution. Hot tea and coffee can be made where we want it. Plug in the pad, fill the kettle, and place it on top -- and you can simply reach over for a refill. There's no noise, no running for the stove. The electric kettle is fast to boil, even faster to reheat. That is a required feature for me, because I need my beverage at the boiling point to accommodate cream without cooling completely.

The kettle boils and shuts itself off. Pour your water and then put it back down any way you please onto the pad. There's nothing to align. Getting a hot drink can be accomplished without leaving your chair. This is great for company or for the home office, where you can stay engaged in what you're doing and still have a nice tea. Plus, you're not tempted by snacks with repeated trips into the kitchen.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-aquaexpress-electric-hot-water-cordless-kettle-wk200b/feed/ 0 Braun Tassimo Coffee Maker | Automatic Hot Beverage TA 1400 | Custom T Disc http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-tassimo-coffee-maker-automatic-hot-beverage-ta-1400-custom-t-disc/ http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-tassimo-coffee-maker-automatic-hot-beverage-ta-1400-custom-t-disc/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:18:53 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=7675 Braun Tassimo Coffee Maker Have you ever come home tired, sat down at the table, and wished you could have a butler appear at your elbow to take and prepare your drink order? This machine won't walk the cup to the table for you, but it will do almost everything else.

Braun addresses several common complaints heard about other models in their version. The machine operates using pre-measured T discs. It reads the T disc label and adjusts automatically to figure the right amount of water and proper brewing time and temperature. The strength settings can be customized, which overcomes beverage flavor issues that arise with the use of K cups. An adjustable cup stand can be set to handle different cup sizes, so both your dainty cup and oversized mug can be accommodated.

The 68-ounce water tank relieves you from filling the machine each time you want a cup, and the water filter ensures a better taste. Both are removable. Most of the movable parts of the Tassimo are dishwasher safe. The Tassimo creates coffee and espresso, milk-based lattes and cappuccino, will steep tea, and make hot chocolate. There is also a concentrated milk insert available. A number of popular brands and varieties of hot drinks are found in the wide selection of T discs. Each cup is eleven ounces, fresh brewed, poured directly into your cup. The system has very little cleanup, no measuring, and takes about a minute from the push of a button to a cup of coffee.

Also see the Ariete Cafe Prestige Coffee & Espresso Maker.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-tassimo-coffee-maker-automatic-hot-beverage-ta-1400-custom-t-disc/feed/ 0 Braun AromaDeluxe Time Control Coffee Maker | 10 Cup KF580 http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-aromadeluxe-time-control-coffee-maker-10-cup-kf580/ http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-aromadeluxe-time-control-coffee-maker-10-cup-kf580/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:21:49 +0000 Dan http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=5169 Braun AromaDeluxe Time Control CoffeeThere's only one way to describe this coffee maker from Braun. It's cute. From a company that likes to push the style and performance envelope with kitchen appliances, cute is rather a novel approach.

With a white and silver color scheme, and a notable absence of stainless steel, this model is a humble machine that retains all the features that have proven to be the most popular with consumers. A ten cup brewing capacity and a programmable timer assure you of a hot pot in the morning, while a built in Brita water filter keeps the water quality up to snuff, and promises to prevent calcification of the unit. The ever popular GoldTone coffee filter is included, and the basket swings out with an automatic release to make emptying and filling easier. The standard features are not left out here- pause and serve, large pilot light, and an indicator that shows you when the water filter has done its job and needs to be replaced.

This is a simple and well designed coffee maker for anyone that is seeking quick, automatic brewing and modern good looks on a budget. The only thing pretentious about it is the name. Honestly, Time Control? If this coffee maker was more expensive, I might take issue with its lack of more high tech features, but for the current price you can't really go wrong.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-aromadeluxe-time-control-coffee-maker-10-cup-kf580/feed/ 1 Braun Aqua Express Electric Kettle White WK200W http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-aqua-express-electric-kettle-white-wk200w/ http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-aqua-express-electric-kettle-white-wk200w/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:38:55 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3408 Braun Aqua Express Electric KettleThe Braun 1500 watt electric kettle heats a cup of water in just over a minute. The heating element is a separate, covered stainless steel hotplate. This means you aren't limited by the reach of the cord and smaller amounts of water can be prepared. The kettle, which includes a lime scale filter, can be filled through the spout. The kettle turns off automatically once the water is boiled, if the pot is empty, when the lid is opened, or when the kettle is removed from the base. The handle is ergonomic and fits both left and right handed users comfortably.

Enjoy hot water ready and available when you need it. Useful for tea, instant coffee, hot cereals, soup and formula, you can lift the pot and serve without dragging a cord along. The capacity is enough for a small office or large family, but the Braun can also serve smaller amounts or single cups. The reservoir window is very easy to read. With the number of features for safety and convenience, such as not having to align the pot on the base, this is an improvement on the stovetop kettle and less progressive electric models. Suitable for service right at the table, the Aqua Express is a very popular item.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-aqua-express-electric-kettle-white-wk200w/feed/ 0 Braun Multiquick Hand Blender | Professional Immersion Chopper MR5550CA http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-multiquick-hand-blender-professional-immersion-chopper-mr5550ca/ http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-multiquick-hand-blender-professional-immersion-chopper-mr5550ca/#comments Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:43:33 +0000 Cheyenne http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3465 Braun Multiquick Hand Blender I have only just begun to realize the full power and versatility of this hand blender. I use it mostly to puree soups and blend smoothies. But it would be worth the price just for those two purposes alone.

My favorite feature is the no-splash head. It prevents the food splatter issue that I've had with other immersion-style blenders. No more kitchen walls and clothing covered with Jackson Pollack-style food splatter art!

The 400-watt motor is very powerful. This thing could turn concrete into dust. You can even use it to make juice from vegetables- and that's not something that you can even do with most full-sized blenders.

In general, I am not a fan of accessories when it comes to kitchen appliances. I end up leaving all the pieces in my large kitchen drawers and rarely pulling them out. But this blender has some that I actually use, including a whisk, a tall blending beaker, and a chopping/dicing head.

The processor attachment isn't great for large jobs. I actually like the Zen activity of chopping large amounts of veggies anyway. But it is fantastic for mincing small amount of garlic and onion for a quick saute. You can use it for salsa, too.

Bottom line: I love this hand blender. I'm not sure what this little chopper can do that a large processor can't.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-multiquick-hand-blender-professional-immersion-chopper-mr5550ca/feed/ 0 Braun Hand Mixer, Electric Blender | M880 Multimix 4-in-1 White http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-m880-multimix-4-in-1-white-hand-mixer-electric-kitchen-blender-appliance/ http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-m880-multimix-4-in-1-white-hand-mixer-electric-kitchen-blender-appliance/#comments Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:19:07 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/braun-m880-multimix-4-in-1-white-hand-mixer-electric-kitchen-blender-appliance/ Braun M880 Multimix 4-in-1 White HandIf you've done much mixing, the importance of having a 280 watt "exceptionally powerful" motor cannot be overstated. All of the convenience of having a hand blender is lost if it fails to perform the task. When it comes to performance, this model shines. Many customers remark on the suction effect created by its power. When you can feel the pull against the pan or bowl, you know those last stubborn chunks of food that refuse to yield to other mixers won't stand a chance this time.

The M880 Multimix comes with four attachments: beaters, a dough hook, chopper, and blender. The beaters are designed in a way that reduces splashing, nearly eliminating those annoying mixing incidents- the ones you didn't notice while busily whipping ingredients, but discover as spots of cake mix on your wallpaper weeks after the cake has been and gone. An improvement over old fashioned designs, these beaters also give you better volume and lightness to your whipping.

Mix, blend, puree, whip, chop, knead and more utilizing three speed options as well as a pulse control in this versatile kitchen tool. The mobile option with the power cord enables you to lock it in place or swivel it out of the way while you're working- never have a cord drag through your batter again. A safety button release system is included for attachments. An accompanying two cup container is especially handy for mixing and measuring liquid items for salad dressings or sauces. And the container for chopping items also has a snap-on lid for handy storage. The mixer stands upright on a base that prevents skidding.

The switch appears to be the Achilles heel of this mixer if it is going to have one. With heavy use, this component tends to wear out more quickly than the rest, but even worn still provides some function. Also, some have found the switch and directional function counterintuitive. But overall, for the size, power, and mobility, the Braun combines the best of a traditional mixer with the streamlined function of a stick.

For a more traditional hand & stand mixer set, see this model by Hamilton Beach.

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