DeLonghi DHB723

The DeLonghi DHB723 is a high-end home hand blender with chopper and whisk attachments -- similar to the top-rated Breville Control Grip BSB510XL (*Est. $70 to $100). However, the DeLonghi doesn't perform quite as well as the Breville in a leading test, and several owners complain it broke quickly.

Performance

Good for smoothies and soups but can't crush ice. Most experts and owners are pleased with the DeLonghi DHB723. In one leading comparison test, the DeLonghi smoothie doesn't turn out quite as creamy as one made with the Breville Control Grip. However, editors at Good Housekeeping put the hand blender to the frozen-fruit smoothie test, and it passed.

Here's the difference: The Breville is designed to crush ice, while the DeLonghi's manual warns against it. One Amazon.com user says you really shouldn't try it: "Just one icy drink was enough to change the way the detachable blade fit onto the body of the instrument. In short: don't use this on anything harder than frozen berries."

The DeLonghi DHB723 performed well in a few other Good Housekeeping tests: Ninety seconds after immersing the stick blender in a large pot of thick soup, they had a smooth purée. And editors also liked the attachment for oversized pans "that can be used to whisk a lump-free gravy right in the roasting pan."

The DeLonghi also comes with whisk and chopper attachments. We didn't find professional reviews for these, but owners say they work well -- the whisk for mayonnaise, sauces and whipped cream, and the chopper for prepping veggies and herbs.

Ease of Use

Heavy but easy to hold, use and wash. According to Good Housekeeping testers and most owners the rubberized grip makes the DeLonghi DHB723 easy to hold, with two buttons under your fingertips for blending and turbo boost. But at nearly 4 pounds, it's substantially heavier than other models. One expert source says hand blenders weighing more than 3 pounds are tiring to hold, and Good Housekeeping editors agree the DeLonghi feels heavy.

Like the Breville, the DeLonghi includes storage-friendly lids for the chopping bowl and blending beaker and boasts a long shaft (good for deep pots) that's detachable and dishwasher-safe. However, Good Housekeeping cautions that some parts require hand washing including the whisk collar and chopper lid.

The DeLonghi boasts a very powerful motor, several users warn. Even the lowest setting is very strong, which can cause some splashing. An Amazon.com customer advises using the whisk attachment with the included 25-ounce beaker to avoid a mess. If you try whisking in any other container, expect the contents to be "launched at great speed all over your kitchen. Alas. Especially for the whisk, I really wish there was a '-2' power setting."

Appearance

Despite its heft, some complain the DeLonghi breaks easily and warranty service is poor. The DeLonghi has a dark-gray rubberized-grip handle and is available with either stainless steel or plastic shafts that won't scratch nonstick cookware. Both models are the same size as the top-rated Breville Control Grip but weigh 1.63 pounds more, which is too heavy for some testers.

Most owners report no durability problems. In fact, one Amazon.com customer says the DeLonghi "has withstood moderate use in a small café. We usually use it to blend cooked vegetables into soup, whisk batter and whip cream. [It's] powerful enough to blend croutons or pistachios and big enough to hold chopped veggies for guacamole."

However, one out of six Amazon.com reviewers experienced problems with both quality and warranty service. "Mine broke after only three uses," one user writes. "These things happen. The real problem is that after two months the issue remains unresolved."

Another says the motor quit working after six months, and the company was no help. "They lost the documentation I sent them, did not return a call and are charging me $15 to replace the element."

The bottom line

Although it blends, whips and chops nicely for most users, the DeLonghi DHB723 doesn't perform quite as well as the Breville Control Grip BSB510XL hand blender -- and several owners complain the DeLonghi hasn't held up well.