The 9 Very Best Immersion Blenders
While many people think storing a blender in their kitchen is worth the space it takes up, I find the smaller (and overall less expensive) immersion blender can handle a lot of the same cooking tasks with less fuss. Sure, I keep a large machine on hand for big-batch drinks or crushing nuts into butter, but I actually prefer the several handheld blenders I’ve tested — all of which you’ll find on this list — for emulsifying soups, marinades, dressings, and aïolis. And I’m not alone in that: In addition to my own testing, I talked to 15 expert cooks for this story and learned that many own both a larger standing blender and an immersion blender — mainly because the immersion is often so much easier to pull out, use, and clean. “I use mine way more than my full-size blender and food processor,” Simply Recipes associate general manager Emma Christensen told me. “It stores in a drawer where you can pull it right out. There’s no transferring. It’s much easier to clean.”
Summary of items we will discuss in this buying guide :
Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender
Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender
Braun MultiQuick 5 Immersion Hand Blender
KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Blender
GE Immersion Blender
KitchenAid Corded Variable Speed Hand Blender
All-Clad Stainless Steel Cordless Hand Blender
Our top picks :
Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender
When I tested the Breville Control Grip, I found it to be very powerful — but the main reason I awarded it best in class is that it allows for subtle changes between 15 speeds (the most of any on this list). That variance came in handy when blending liquids I didn’t want to splatter everywhere, like hot soup and heavy cream; I was able to start low and gradually move up. The distinction also means it’s very easy to control. With variable speed, it can be harder to land exactly where you want to — but this one allows for subtle-but-clear differences when making mixtures like salsas, where you don’t want to overblend, or immersions like aioli (too fast and the mixture would become undesirably thick as you slowly stream in olive oil). I also found the handle to be very comfortable. It’s made of silicone and designed so that you can get your fingers fully around the neck while still operating the buttons.
Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender
The Cuisinart Smart Stick’s standout feature is an incredibly smooth variable speed dial that takes the machine from low to high. In my own testing, I was able to shift seamlessly between the high and low points. Making subtle adjustments in either direction when necessary isn’t quite as easy as it is with the more expensive Breville above — but it’s certainly doable. I managed to never slip too far in either direction, which is especially important when blending hot soup or whisking something like heavy cream, where increasing speed gradually prevents splatter. Chef and author Virginia Willis, who had an older-model Cuisinart immersion blender for 15 years and replaced it with this one a few years ago, can attest to that, too. “If you’re making something like refried beans, it’s easy to control going part-way blended instead of full,” she says. And Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens says even the lowest speed was enough to purée vegetables for her baby, either fully or with some texture depending on how long she let the motor run.
Braun MultiQuick 5 Immersion Hand Blender
The Braun only has two speeds. Cookbook author Julia Turshen uses hers primarily for two tasks: making salad dressing directly inside of a deli container (so she can store it in the fridge without dirtying two bowls) and blending soups, especially when she’s looking to purée just some to thicken the body. She appreciates the simplicity, which works perfectly for her needs without giving her too many choices. And she doesn’t “find the cord impacts my usage at all since nothing in my kitchen is terribly far from an outlet,” she says. “Most kitchens can probably say the same.” For several years, this straightforward model has held up great, Turshen says.
KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Blender
This KitchenAid model has fewer speeds than the Breville. Still, recipe developer and cookbook author Jessie Sheehan finds it perfectly flexible. “I’ve always been fond of it,” she says. “It’s a tool you might not think you really need, but it’s actually super helpful. I have a salad-dressing phobia — I always want other people to make it for me. But this really helps. I can make mayo, or a fruit compote, or I can whip egg whites for baking with the whisk attachment. We have a Vitamix we use when we’re making smoothies en masse, but it’s nice to be able to make smaller portions, too.” One of those attachment bell blades that comes with the KitchenAid 5-Speed is, in fact, meant to be especially efficient at crushing ice. “It’s easy to use and the cord has never been a problem because it’s quite long,” Sheehan says. “Plus, it’s not crazy expensive.”
GE Immersion Blender
The GE Immersion Blender holds up in a professional kitchen — meaning it’s bound to last even longer at home. Richard Rea, executive chef at the Butcher’s Daughter has been using one in his own kitchen and at his restaurant for several years. In the latter, he says he probably uses it even more than the commercial model they also have on hand, pulling it out for creamy soups, cashew ricotta, hummus, and all types of salsa. “It’s very strong,” he says. “It breaks through nuts — even some big, bulky blenders don’t do that. It has a powerful motor and very sharp blades. And it’s super lightweight and doesn’t make much noise (a little hum, but that’s it).”
KitchenAid Corded Variable Speed Hand Blender
In testing this KitchenAid model, I found it performed well. Like Turshen, I used it for salad dressings (especially bigger-batch ones I intended to keep around for a week or so, since it emulsifies a large amount so quickly) and soup. In the latter case, I was especially appreciative of the pan guard, which fits snugly around the appliance’s sharp metal cage, but still allows the blades to whir freely. When I accidentally touched the bottom of my beloved Dutch oven, it didn’t leave a scrape. I will note that when I blended a sauce with lots of herbs using the highest setting, there were still very tiny pieces speckling the liquid, unlike the fully emulsified, uniformly colored mixture I get when I use the Cuisinart Smart Stick. This didn’t so much affect the texture, however, which still felt overall really smooth. A final note: Though I have the black, KitchenAid sells theirs in nine different colors, if aesthetics are important to you.
All-Clad Stainless Steel Cordless Hand Blender
Though many people manage an immersion blender with a cord just fine, there’s no doubt that not having one is a plus. It’s easier to store away and you never have to deal with it accidentally trailing through food. Gaby Dalkin, the cookbook author and blogger behind What’s Gaby Cooking, has tried a lot of different models over her 13 years as a recipe developer — and she says this All-Clad is the best one she’s ever used. Dalkin charges hers once a week in the accompanying charging dock, and during the colder months is able to use it several times during the subsequent days before recharging (though she says it definitely would last even longer). She also appreciates its stainless-steel body. While it might be a stretch to call any immersion blender particularly stylish, this one has no visible plastic parts, giving it a sleek look — so much so that it’s one of Dalkin’s most-asked-about products when she does an Instagram live-cooking demonstration, she says.