Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I ordered the Breville BXB51XL Immersion Blender primarily for making breakfast smoothies after tiring of the time and work taking apart and cleaning my stand blender after every use. The blender is fast and powerful. Once you learn the technique of raising and lowering the blender in the mixing cup, it makes quick work of turning ice, fruit, and yogurt into a smoothie. I was also amazed at how neatly the blender works without splatter or splashing due to the design of the blending blades and shroud. The plastic mixing container is nicely designed with a handle for securing the container while blending, and the top when inverted and placed underneath acts as a skid proof cushion to keep the container from sliding around on the countertop while blending. The container and top can also be used to store soups or other liquids in the refrigerator. For me the blender works better at making liquid based creations (smoothies, milk shakes, soups), however, it does a decent job of chopping vegetables, onions, etc using the chopper attachment. The whisk attachment works great for beating eggs and making whipped cream. Clean up is a breeze, and Breville made this with safety in mind since the blades are protected by a shroud. The only potential negative is someone with very small hands may find the grip too large, however, I find the cushioned grip and trigger switch to be ergonomically pleasing. A note of caution - Amazon pops up a recommendation for a chrome milkshake mixing cup when you purchase the Breville blender. The base of the cup is too small for the blender, and can only be used with the whisk attachment, not the blender blade attachment. I would pass on the milkshake cup. A leading consumer magazine rates this blender higher than others costing 2X more. I followed that advice as well as the Amazon customer reviews and found a great kitchen tool at a great value.