For anyone who’s ever tried making velvety butternut soup with a stand blender, the experience can be such a pain in the ass. Transfering scalding liquid into the blender is a tedious and risky process, which is why an immersion blender is such a godsend.
I like to think of an immersion blender as a magic wand of the kitchen. With its slim shape, it’s easy to carry around and poke it into any cooking pan that needs its boiling ingredients mashed and pureed smoothly into soup.
What this means is that you can prepare large batches of soup for family gatherings because you’re not constrained by the size of the blender. Plus, it shaves off time for soup prepping because it processes the food faster than a stand blender.
This is because of the way the blades are positioned. In a regular blender, the blades on the bottom rely on a whirlpool action to pull food towards them. With an immersion blender, the user operates it in an up and down motion to puree the food more efficiently.
But less you think that soupmaking is all that it’s good for, it’s also useful for preparing other kinds of food.
It can shred soft, braised meat into a smooth, flavorful ragout. It can turn chunks of juicy fruit into perfect smoothies. Or crush ice for your fruity shakes.
You can even beat eggs with it or make some mayonnaise. Or even pesto or tomato sauce, if you’re in the mood for pasta. Some even use it for making soap!
Vegans love it for its versatility. It can be used as an alternative food processor for making hummus. It can chop nuts and grind seeds. Remember though that if you’re using something small like seeds, you need to grind them in larger amounts so that the blades can function efficiently. With nuts, use it with small quantities.
Best of all, it can be stored anywhere. Because it’s small and compact, it doesn’t occupy countertop space. And it’s easier to wash than a stand blender. Just remove the blade attachment, wash it with soap and then wipe it clean.
These days though, immersion blenders now come with a lot of bells and whistles.To get the best value for your money, you gotta pick one that’s an all-around helper. And one that’s easy to operate, much like waving a wand.
Here are my top five picks for the best immersion blenders that you should consider.
Best Immersion Blenders
- Utalent 5-in-1 8-Speed Stick Blender with 500ml Food Grinder
- Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick Multi-Purpose Hand Blender
- Braun 3-in-1 Immersion Hand Blender
- Cuisinart Cordless and Rechargeable SmartStick Hand Blender
- Immersion Smart Stick Hand Blender
1. Utalent 5-in-1 8-Speed Stick Blender
This immersion blender has the best accessories by far in this list. It is a 5-1/3-1 hand blender set that has a 4 blade system and 8 variable speed control. It’s very versatile; it can be used for grinding spices, making sauces or soups, and even puree infant food!
It comes with a mixing wand, milk frother, 500ml Food Chopper, 600ml Beaker, Egg Whisk and backed by a 2-year warranty. The milk frother, which makes milk foam for your coffee, gives out a milk to foam ratio of about 1:2.
It has a cord and it’s BPA free and washer friendly.
Pros
- Low noise and shake
- Motor doesn’t overheat within two minutes of continuous use
Cons
- Not for crushing ice; if you must though, the seller says it has to be mixed with water and the ice should be no more than 1-inch cubes
- Does not sell attachments separately; if your blade needs to be replaced, you’ll have to contact Amazon
2. Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick Multi-Purpose Hand Blender
Made of stainless steel, this Austrian-designed hand blender is stylishly devised to give you a smooth and non-slip grip when using it.
The blade is S-shaped which makes it easy and quick to blend ingredients for smoothies, soups, and baby food. The manufacturer says it takes 30 seconds to blend most foodstuffs. The blade is fixed into the blending arm, but the arm itself is removable for easy cleaning.
It is corded and comes with whisk & milk frother attachments.
Pros
- Uses a heavy-duty copper motor to prevent overheating; lasts 3x longer than conventional motors
- Safety features include a LED light to indicate that the hand blender is ready for use, and a Continuous Hold button to operate it.
Cons
- Cord’s length is only 4 inches
- May scratch the pot’s interior bottom if the base of the blades hit it.
3. Braun 3-in-1 Immersion Hand Blender
This has all the bells and whistles that you could want for an immersion blender. It features the ActiveBlade Blending Wand which moves the blade up and down automatically for you. This cuts food more efficiently and smoothly with less effort on your part.
It has an extra milling blade so that you can slice more per rotation and blend large and hard ingredients more easily. It also has 25% less suction for easy handling. It also reduces splashing when blending.
It has a one-button push for operation; just push gently to get coarser food results and push harder for finer results. It is corded and comes with a 20 oz. beaker, whisk and 2 cups chopper attachment.
Pros
- Variable Speed, and not noisy
- Solid metal body is lightweight
Cons
- Contains removable small parts; best to keep away from children when cleaning this
- The accessories are made of plastic but there is no mention if they are BPA-free
4. Cuisinart Cordless and Rechargeable SmartStick Hand Blender
This hand blender runs on 2 lithium ion batteries. It has a quick charge feature and can run on 20 minutes per charge. It comes with a charging cord and a transformer.
It has a long, slim, 8 3/4 inch arm and 3-inch blade guard that are both made out of stainless steel. It can be used with a normal sized Mason jar without splashing the food.
It has five speed settings that can be used for making dips, sauces, soups and even whipped cream. Accessories include a chef’s whisk and a 4-cup measuring beaker.
Pros
- Power Lock/Unlock Safety Feature: push both buttons to operate it.
- Battery charge lasts long when not used
Cons
- One customer said it’s too large and heavy for travel
- Has a neoprene gasket and a nylon plastic around the shaft of the cutting blade; doesn’t say anything being BPA-free
5. Immersion Smart Stick Hand Blender
This has a LED indicator that allows you to select a pre-set speed for cooking a particular type of dish. This can be used for making dips, sauces, soups and baby food. It can also be used for making milkshakes and crushing small ice or frozen fruit and veggies.
It has four titanium coated stainless steel blades which allows you to chop and grind more efficiently. This corder blender is also ergonomically designed for easy holding and grip. It’s also easy to clean; just scrub, rinse and dry.
Pros
- Power Lock/Unlock Safety Feature
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Unreliable warranty; a customer reported he was unable to register his product online
- May encounter difficulties when removing the blade during washing.
Immersion Blender Buyer's Guide
Before you get overwhelmed by all the great product features of the immersion blenders featured on Amazon, here are some key points to consider:
Check out its Overall Design
Some immersion blenders are designed haphazardly, with no concern for the user. The best blenders are those that are ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip and are non-slip. Power button placements should feel natural to touch because if they are placed awkwardly, they can add to hand fatigue. In some models which have variable settings, the buttons should be easy to press.
Check out the blade guard. Is it just the right size to fit most cookware openings? Can you use it for making your bulletproof coffee or mix salad dressings in a mason jar?
Note the length of the arm. Is it long enough to use in big pots or is it just good for smaller and shallower ones?
What kind of Blade do you need?
Not all blades are equal. Some are good for mixing liquids, others are good for crushing nuts and ice. If the blade is thick and strong enough, you can even use one to grind coffee beans for a French press. If you need it ground fine for a brewing machine, an immersion blender is NOT what you need.
Does it have Safety Features?
Because the blades tend to be stainless steel, this kitchen tool can be a safety hazard. So you should look out for its safeguards. Does it have LED lights that signal if the tool is on or off? Do its buttons have a safety lock guarantee? Does it have a blade guard and is it the right size to protect the blade from cutting off anything that’s not food?
Check out the Motor’s Performance
Does it overheat easily? Hand blenders are not supposed to be used for longer than a minute because they’re supposed to do the job in half that time. If need be, you can use it longer but only after it has rested for another minute. Depending on the quality of their motor, overheating is a significant factor that should not be overlooked.
Is it too noisy? How fast can it blend? Take note of these issues when selecting your blender.
Corded vs Cordless
Check out the length of the cord; is it long enough to allow you to operate the tool easily? If you prefer the cordless option, does the charge last long enough without requiring frequent charging?
Is it Washer Friendly?
Is it easy to clean? Some have removable blades, others have removable arms. Some are dishwasher friendly, some are just for hand washing.
Is their Customer Service reliable?
For established brands, customer satisfaction is always important. So they will have legit warranty claims and customer agents looking out for negative comments in order to resolve them. If you decide on a brand that doesn’t have any name recall, check out the review section on their product page to see if there are any complaints about their warranties.
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