“I just need a versatile, durable, and comfortable to-hold immersion blender!”
A month ago, I threw a small get-together with all of my college friends. And I was mumbling the above-quoted line while struggling to blend the soup. That’s when my friend said that you should switch to a different hand blender, as I can see yours is not a great one!
I was like, seriously! I am so done with it! Do you have any suggestions? That’s when she advised me to get the Cuisinart CSB-179 smart stick variable speed hand blender. She is an excellent home cook, so I took her recommendation and immediately bought it.
Can you guess what my experience with it is? Well, that’s what my goal for today’s writing is. Just go through this Cuisinart smart stick variable speed hand blender review, and you will know whether it is worth buying or not.
Impressive Features At A Glance
First, I want to share which features of this immersion blender impressed me the most.
- 300-watt powerful motor
- Easy pureeing with an 8-inch stainless steel blending shaft
- Variable speed slide control
- Quiet DC motor
- Lock/unlock button for safety
- Durable stainless steel motor body housing
Okay, as you have a sneak peek of this blender’s great features, it’s time to see the key specs.
Key Specifications
Product Name: Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender
Item Number: CBS-179
Material: Stainless steel
Material Type Free: BPA free
Power: 300-watts
Power Source: Corded
Run Time: Continuous
Shaft: 8-inch
Display Control: lock/unlock, on/off button
Power Control: Variable speed slide control
Capacity: 3.2 liters
Product Dimensions: 8.5″D x 5.63″W x 13″H
Item Weight: 4.2 pounds
Warranty: 3 years
What I Like About It
✅ Sturdy stainless steel structure
✅ Dishwasher-safe detachable parts
✅ Comfortable grip handle
✅ Chopper/grinder and chef’s whisk attachment available
✅ Powerful and quiet
✅ Budget-friendly
Since I was looking forward to getting a blender that can blend smoothly and is easy to clean, this blender truly made my wish come true. Whether it’s soup or smoothie, it’s able to produce a smooth blend right in the pot.
To be honest, I am quite lazy when it comes to cleaning. And since all of its attachments are completely dishwasher-safe, I have nothing to worry about.
Besides, I wanted to get a budget-friendly immersion blender because I already have a professional blender for heavy use. As this is affordable, I was thrilled. It was like vanilla icing on top of a cake.
Now what amazed me the most was the quiet blending operation. The motor is powerful enough for a typical handheld blender, and it doesn’t make loud noise while blending. It’s truly a blessing if you hate loud noise.
The Cuisinart smart stick variable speed hand blender comes with different attachments like a chopper/grinder, chef’s whisk, and measuring cup. As a result, you can utilize this blender in a variety of ways.
So, do I like everything about it? Of course, not! Let’s find out What I think could be better in this.
Where It Lacks
❌ The new safety switch makes it a bit awkward to operate with one hand
❌ No speed boost or turbo button
❌ It’s not cordless
The Cuisinart CSB-179 comes with 2 buttons, one for power and the other a safety button. When I read some user reviews, they said both buttons must be pressed for continuous blending. I was a little taken aback to think it would be awkward to keep pressing two buttons.
But wait, this information isn’t quite correct! The actual thing is you have to press both the lock/unlock button and the power button to start the device. Once it starts, only the power button needs to be pressed, and you can release the safety button.
To be honest, I didn’t have any trouble using it in this way, but others may find it a bit awkward. Especially because once you release the power button, you have to press both buttons again to restart it. This means you have to unlock the safety feature each time you want to start it.
So, considering others’ opinions, you may also find it troublesome. Since I have a relatively large hand, I was able to handle it with one hand without any discomfort.
But, if you have a relatively small hand, you may find it hard to press both buttons with one hand. Instead, you have to use both of your hands. This situation can make it impossible to hold the jar you are blending in with one hand and the blender stick with the other hand. As a result, you may mess up blending and spilling things around.
Besides this, the CSB-179 isn’t a cordless device. Hence, you also have to be near the electric outlet. In such a situation, any type of spill isn’t a great scenario.
Still, I was able to operate with one of my hands, and the safety feature didn’t bother me. As I have children, it is a great safety addition cause they won’t be able to press both buttons with their small grip. So, it’s a plus for me.
Anyway, with this much information, you can’t judge this blender. Before deciding on whether to buy this blender or not, you must be aware of every aspect of it. You will discover all of its features, benefits, and other facts only after going through my whole Cuisinart CSB-179 smart stick variable speed hand blender review.
From here, I will discuss everything part by part. Hence, stay with me till the end and decide whether to give this immersion blender a chance or not.
Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender Review in Detail
An immersion blender should help you shorten your meal preparation time. When I thought of getting this Cuisinart CSB-179 hand blender, I knew I had to test it as soon as it arrived.
And the first impression was wow, it came with all the necessary items I needed. When you don’t get the required attachments with any kitchen appliance, you need to buy them separately, and I find this very annoying. But this blender didn’t disappoint me.
Are you also eager to know what I got from the package? Okay, let’s see what the box includes.
What’s in The Box
- CSB-179 motor housing
- Detachable blending shaft
- 3-cup chopper/grinder attachment
- Reversible chopper/grinder blade
- Chopper work bowl
- Whisk attachment
- Detachable whisk gear box
- 2-cup mixing/measuring cup
- Manual & recipe booklet
The Cuisinart smart stick variable speed hand blender manual is filled with helpful information. The instructions are written in different languages, including English. And there are several images with usage directions.
What I cherish the most is that there are over 10 pages of recipes, and each of them includes which speed of the blender to use for that recipe and how long to blend.
Build Quality & Design
This blender is mostly made of brushed stainless steel. Additionally, there is a firm black plastic portion on top that gives your hands an ergonomic grip. A thin plastic ring indicates where the motor base and detachable blending shaft connect.
In general, this Cuisinart hand blender looks sturdy and durable. Even though the chopper/grinder attachment is small, it is also a well-built piece of equipment.
On the front of this blender, there are two buttons available: an on/off button and a lock/unlock button. An adjustable knob that controls the various speed settings is situated at the top of the body.
The stainless steel finish gives it a shiny look. Overall, the design and build quality are up to the mark. Also, the grip handle feels comfy to hold.
Still, I didn’t like the fact that it doesn’t have a turbo or speed boost button that is usually found on similar types of stick blenders.
Jar Capacity & Materials
A food processor attachment is an excellent addition to any immersion blender. And it does have one. But, the thing is that even a small batch of pesto or cashew cream sauce can be hard to blend in an 8 or 12-cup bowl.
This blender comes with a 3-cup grinder/chopper attachment, making it easy to reach the ideal consistency for small-batch recipes. But, if you need to chop or grind large batches, you will have to blend a small amount at once, which will take lots of work and time.
Anyway, the material of both measuring and grinder/chopper cups is made of BPA-free material. As a result, you won’t have to worry about any hazardous chemicals contaminating your meals.
About Blades
First, the stick’s blade is stainless and partly covered by a blade guard that reduces splatter. On the other hand, the chopper attachment offers a reversible sharp/dull blade that provides the right edge for the job. The sharp edge is fantastic for chopping herbs, and the dull edge is ideal for grinding spice seeds like cumin or coriander.
How Powerful Is The Motor?
This immersion blender has a 300-watt motor that gives it a powerful boost to cut through veggies and fruits and froths up liquids. From making baby food, smoothies, refreshers, and shakes to blending vinaigrette, aioli, hollandaise, and tomato sauce, you can achieve the required consistency for every recipe with this powerful motor.
Is It Noisy?
It has a quiet DC motor. With a single-touch control for low to high blending speeds, this hand blender was designed to give maximum power with the least amount of noise. So, if you don’t like the loud motor noise from blenders, this can be your way out. You don’t have to compromise with the motor power or worry about loud noise.
Will It Take Lots of Space?
While talking about storage, the motor body, shaft, and whisk attachment can be stored in a drawer easily. However, you have to store the blending jar and chopper attachment separately on a shelf. In short, even though you will store the parts separately, they won’t take up much space.
By the way, if you wanna keep all the parts together, the best way would be to keep the box that the set came in.
How to Set Up It?
This blender is quick and simple to set up. When the shaft is properly inserted into the body, there will be an audible click. The same goes for the whisk and chopper attachments. There is a button available on the back of the body that releases the chosen attachment quickly.
How to Use Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender?
One of the main traits of this hand blender is the variable speed control. What I noticed is that many people struggle with control. Hence, here I will let you know how to control it step by step.
Step 1: Attach the blending shaft to the housing of the motor.
Step 2: Connect the electrical cord to a wall socket.
Step 3: Insert the shaft’s blade end into the mixture to be mixed. You can choose to blend in the provided mixing cup, bowl, saucepan, pot, or pitcher.
Step 4: Depending on what you are blending, slide the two-speed switch to the appropriate setting.
Step 5: To activate the blender, follow the below instruction:
a) First, press and keep holding the Lock/unlock button.
b) Next, press and hold the on/off button.
c) Now, release the lock/unlock button while keeping holding down the on/off button.
Important Note: You are suggested not to blend continuously for more than 60 seconds. Between 60-second mixing cycles, release the ON/OFF button for 20 to 30 seconds.
Step 6: Unplug as soon as you are done blending.
For Pulse Control:
1. Press and keep holding the lock/unlock button.
2. Then, press and hold down the on/off button.
3. Press and then release the ON/OFF button repeatedly while keeping the LOCK/UNLOCK button pressed to pulse the ingredients until they reach the desired consistency.
Cleaning & Maintenance Guide
The mixing cup, chopper/grinder bowl, whisk head, and shaft are all top rack dishwasher-safe. After using the chopper/grinder attachment, rinse the cover, the blade, and the end of the blending shaft right away to avoid food drying and crusting in the blades.
The stainless steel motor housing should never be placed in a dishwasher. The right way to clean it is by wiping it down with a damp cloth.
If washing by hand is your preferred method, the attachments are also easy to clean that way. However, as the blades are sharp, be careful while handling them with your hand.
What Type of Food Can It Handle?
The specially designed blade of this hand blender purees and mixes all types of foods, such as thick smoothies, salad dressings, soups, sauces, and powdered drink products. You can also use it to emulsify mayonnaise.
This blade is made to combine with the least amount of air possible. You can create the most tasty, full-bodied results by gently moving it up and down.
So, what is my impression of using it?
Well, I started by pulsing some salsa in a tiny saucepot to test the blender on its own. It was effective and gave me an excellent texture. I also made a creamy salad dressing using this stick blender in a small canning jar. Despite the use of a too-short jar, the result was satisfactory.
And it was a total success in making an emulsified salad dressing in a higher jar. Then, I tried making applesauce, and the blender handled the heat from the stove, providing me with a sauce with the ideal texture.
Shortly, I was delighted with the performance of the blending shaft. Then, I started to test the attachments to see if they were even worth being included.
At first, I tried the whisk and was satisfied to see that it could successfully whip egg whites and cream. Also, this attachment was excellent for whipping eggs to make a fluffy omelet.
After that, I tried to chop an onion with the chopper attachment, but in order for the onion to fit into the Cuisinart bowl, I first had to cut it into four pieces. Although most of the onion got chopped up properly, there were a few large pieces left. So, I took out the large pieces, tossed out the chopped onions, then put the large pieces back and ran the blender again.
Give the Smart Stick manageable ingredients to work with to increase its lifespan. Also, use crushed ice rather than ice cubes to blend with this immersion blender.
Next, I tried to chop a tomato, and it did better than the onion. It might have been faster to use a knife, given that I had to cut the onion and tomato in order for it to fit into the chopping bowl.
In short, I ain’t a big fan of the chopper attachment. I had to put manageable items in it to make it work. Also, the work bowl is relatively small, so it will only help produce a small amount of things.
But, since the main attraction is the immersion blender itself, and it did the job nicely, I am fine with its performance. And for prepping a small batch of nuts or garlic, the grinder/chopper attachment is also an excellent addition.
Anyway, after using this hand blender for some time, I mastered how to use it properly by applying a few techniques. And there are some safety matters that you need to know. Hence, check my next segment to learn all of the techniques, tips, and tricks.
Tips, Tricks, & Techniques of Using It
1. The distance between the liquid and the shaft’s attachment to the motor housing should not be any closer than 1 inch.
2. Take care not to scratch a nonstick cooking surface with the edge of the blender blade guard when using it.
3. Avoid submerging the motor body housing in liquids of any kind.
4. To make mixing solid foods easier, cut them into 1-inch pieces.
5. Never blend continuously for more than a minute using this blender. Allow 20 to 30 seconds of rest in between 1-minute cycles for the best results.
6. Make sure the protective blade guard on the blending shaft is submerged in the liquid during blending to prevent splatter. While the motor is operating, never take it out of the liquid.
7. When not in use, never keep a hand blender in a hot pot on the stove.
8. Avoid adding fruit pits, bones, or other hard items to the mixture when blending it because they may harm the blades.
9. Avoid overfilling mixing bowls. When blending, the mixture will reach a higher level and may overflow.
10. Adding warm liquids rather than cold ones makes it easier to combine solids and liquids.
11. A gentle up-and-down motion is the most effective method for evenly blending and incorporating ingredients.
12. To puree a soup, mix the solid items in the saucepan or pot using a moderate up-and-down motion. It will help to achieve the appropriate consistency.
About Warranty
Cuisinart provides a 3-year limited warranty. The warranty registration process can be finished with proof of purchase on the Cuisinart website.
Why Should You Buy This?
The Cuisinart CSB-179 smart stick hand blender is made of stainless steel. Hence it is a durable product. This three-in-one hand blender is multifunctional, comes with a three-year limited warranty, and the majority of its parts are dishwasher safe.
If you want a durable immersion blender that is also powerful enough to smoothly blend smoothies, shakes, sauces, and soups, getting this blender can be the right decision. Also, the safety feature is a great addition if you don’t bother to press it each time to start blending.
In Which Case Should You Avoid This?
If you want to use the chopper attachment more than the blending shaft, then it’s not a good option. This attachment is only good if you will make a small batch.
On another note, you will have to press two buttons, first, the lock/unlock, then the on/off button to operate the blender. Even though you can release the safety button once you press the on button, many people find it bothersome to do it with one hand.
You may need to use both hands while blending if you can’t manage to do it with one. In case you find this awkward or hard to handle, you shouldn’t purchase it.
Is It Worth The Price?
Speaking of the Cuisinart CSB-179 hand blender price, it is very affordable. This immersion blender is an even better deal when you consider the brand’s reputation, the three-year warranty, durable build quality, the powerful & quiet DC motor, and the included accessories.
Considering every aspect, I think this hand blender is worth every penny.
Although I ain’t a fan of the chopper attachment, certain users might find it useful in a variety of situations. But, since the blending shaft is great at doing its job, I personally have no regret purchasing it.
Where to Buy?
After going through my review on the Cuisinart CSB-179 stick blender, if you want to purchase it, there are several online shops you may look forward to. You will find it on Amazon, eBay, and Best Buy.
Or, you can go to your nearby appliance shop, search for this model there, and buy it in person.
Comparing It with Similar Types of Hand Blenders
It’s time for a rapid comparison between the Cuisinart smart stick variable speed hand blender and a few similar kinds of stick blenders. This comparison will help you to understand more about this model.
Cuisinart CSB-179 Vs. CSB-175 Smart Stick Hand Blender
Both CSB-175 and CSB-179 come with a 300-watt quiet DC motor, 2-speed slide control, and an 8-inch blending shaft. But, what made CSB-179 different is that it includes whisk and grinder/chopper attachments which don’t come with the CSB-175 model.
However, CSB-175 is less priced than 179. So, if you want the extra accessories, then CSB-179 is best. In contrast, if you’re looking forward to a more budget-friendly option and only intend to use the blending shaft, then CSB-175 has all you need.
Cuisinart CSB-179 Vs. Crux Cordless Hand Blender
The Cuisinart stick blender and Crux hand blender are both durable, have an easy-to-grip handle, and dishwasher-safe removable parts. They are similarly priced as well.
One of the principal differences between them is that the Crux one is cordless, and the Cuisinart one is corded.
Final Verdict
Alright, here ends my Cuisinart smart stick variable speed hand blender review. I personally find it useful for my day-to-day blending task. Besides the blending shaft, the whisk attachment is also my favorite. If you just set aside the grinder’s capability, this set is actually worth trying.
But not everyone has a similar opinion, and you might not like it for that reason. But at least you have crystal clear knowledge about this hand blender. Now, it’s entirely up to you whether to buy it or not. I am hoping that you’ll be able to choose wisely.
