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Immersion blenders, also called handheld blenders, can be used for a variety of everyday kitchen tasks like mixing pancake batter, whisking eggs, whipping cream, pureeing smoothies and baby food, and it's an essential tool for blending creamy vegetable soups, like butternut squash soup, right in the pot.
A handheld blender can be a useful and space-saving alternative to a full-size blender since it can be tucked into a drawer or cabinet. Here, our buying tips and picks for the best immersion blenders.
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Variable speed control
Convenient attachments included
Easy to clean
Awkwardly placed safety button
Cuisinart may be the most familiar name in food processors, so we’re confident in the brand's knowledge of spinning blades, no matter what size they are. This immersion blender has a button for continuous or pulse blending, and variable speed control so you can choose exactly the speed that’s right—no need to rely on a preset high and low that might not be perfect.
It comes with a jar that’s perfect for blending smoothies or making mayonnaise, a chopper attachment that’s great for making salsas, and a whisk attachment for making whipped cream or beating eggs.
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Comfortable soft-grip handle
Variety of colors to choose from
Simple, easy-to-use design
Blending arm can detach while in use
This simple two-speed blender has a removable blending arm that makes cleaning easier and comes from a brand that’s much-loved when it comes to kitchen appliances and gadgets. The blender doesn’t include a lot of accessories or frills that add to the price, so it’s quite affordable despite the quality.
This does include a handy blending jar with a lid, so it can be used for storage before or after foods are blended. The soft-grip handle is easy to hold when blending, so it’s comfortable to use, no matter how much you need to blend. Like many KitchenAid products, this comes in a wide range of colors, so you can match this to your stand mixer or kitchen décor, or add a pop of crazy color to the kitchen.
"This KitchenAid blender gets the job done well (and fast!). Plus, it's so easy to clean. The blending arm quickly detaches, so you can rinse it in the sink." — Julia Warren, Senior Director, The Spruce Eats
Quick recharging
Cordless
Slightly clunky controls
Larger and heavier than other models
Cordless immersion blenders make sense from the usage viewpoint, but they’re not as easy to manufacture since the motor needs to be strong and the battery needs to last long enough to do its job. Cuisinart has solved that problem with this 5-speed cordless blender that is advertised to run 20 minutes on a single charge. When it’s time to recharge, it has a quick-charge feature, so you’ll be back at work in no time.
This includes a whisk attachment for whipped cream and other fluffy, aerated mixes and a 4-cup measuring cup with measurement marks, a pouring spout, and a handle.
Includes lots of convenient extras
Perfect for smaller jobs
Easy to operate
Freezer tray is flimsy
While any immersion blender can be used to puree cooked carrots and bananas, this set was created with babies in mind. This has an extra blade and larger cutting area, so purees are smoother faster.
The bell-shaped shroud over the blades keeps splashing to a minimum, so there will be less mess and less to clean up when cooking is done. This has two speeds, so you can adjust the food texture to suit your baby’s needs.
The included 1 1/2-cup chopper lets you chop as well as puree, so you can add some texture to the baby’s puree, or make some salsa for yourself at the end of the day.
This includes a 20-ounce blending beaker that’s the perfect size for the blender, so you don’t have to scramble for a jar or glass to use. You can also use the beaker for making smoothies or cocktails. A flexible silicone freezer tray lets you make and freeze up to nine portions in advance, then just pop them out and thaw or heat them when you need them.
"Multipurpose tools are a must for small kitchens and Braun's Multiquick has everything you need. The blending wand makes ultra-smooth soups and smoothies and the mini chopper is great for blitzing together small batches of sauce or homemade baby food." — Patty Lee, Senior Food Editor, The Spruce Eats
Extremely versatile
Includes compact storage case
Powerful
Can overheat when run for long periods
While most immersion blenders are designed to mimic the functions of a blender, this one also takes on many of the functions of a food processor with a 6-cup processing bowl that is powered by the blender body. You can do more than just chop in that bowl—it even includes an adjustable slicing blade with 19 thickness settings, so you can slice potatoes for chips or carrots for soup. A reversible shredding disk lets you choose from two different shredding options, while the processor bowl’s s-blade lets you chop, blend, or puree, just like a larger food processor.
Another unique accessory is the Variable Mashing Leg that lets you choose fine, medium, or coarse mashing with the twist of the head, so you can use your immersion blender for mashing potatoes without the risk of turning them into glue.
When you’re using the immersion blender in its traditional mode, the shape of the blade housing reduces suction, so it won’t get stuck to the bottom of your containers while you blend, and it has 15 speeds, giving you greater control of the result. Ice crushing blades and a whisk attachment are included, making this an incredibly versatile appliance.
Shaft and blade are dishwasher safe
Easy, one-handed use
Solid construction
Bulky end won't fit in smaller containers
This may be one of the easiest immersion blenders to clean since the shaft removes from the body of the blender, then the shaft and blades are dishwasher safe so you don’t need to worry about protecting the motor from water or hand washing yet another item. The removable shaft also gives you options for storage in small spaces where the full blender might not fit as well.
Of course, cleaning doesn’t matter if the blender doesn’t perform, but you needn’t worry about that since this blender has the All-Clad name backing it up. This is a high-powered immersion blender that has a variable-speed control dial, regular and turbo modes during blending, as well as easy pulsing so you’ll have complete control of the texture of your refried beans, soups, or pureed vegetables. You can even use this for a quick chop of nuts since the blade shroud gives you plenty of space.
While this doesn’t include any accessories that you might find with other blenders, a mini chopper, and a whisk are available for purchase, if you need those options.
Durable
Great for large batches of soup
Easy to operate
Difficult to clean
Made for commercial kitchen use, but priced in line with home-use immersion blenders, this has the power to blend three gallons of soup. While this is called a light-duty blender, it’s designed for light duty in a professional kitchen environment, so it will be more than enough for your home kitchen.
This is lighter in weight than more robust commercial units, so it’s easy to hold and use. It has two speeds so you can control the texture of your food, operated with a simple button. This doesn’t come with any extras, but it’s a powerful choice for cooks who prefer commercial appliances.
We love the Cuisinart CSB-179 Smart Stick Hand Blender for its overall quality, versatility, and useful included attachments that should cover almost all your needs. For even easier handheld blending, consider the Cuisinart SmartStick Cordless Hand Blender. It's battery operated so you won't have to deal with a cord dipping into pots or getting tangled in storage.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Donna Currie is a cookbook author and food writer who specializes in product reviews and recipes. Her kitchen is filled with all the latest gadgets, from smart blenders to immersion blenders, and she's tested out models from numerous brands on this list.
Julia Warren, Senior Director of The Spruce Eats, loves using her KitchenAid immersion blender, featured above, and Patty Lee, Senior Editor of The Spruce Eats, uses her Braun immersion blender to make everything from sauces to homemade baby food for her son.
Design: Immersion blenders are meant to be smaller, more compact, and easier to store than regular blenders and food processors, but that doesn't mean there isn't variation when it comes to size, weight, and style. Pay attention to the size of the blender head—some are too bulky to fit in a standard smoothie cup and are designed for large batches. Also, decide whether you want a corded or cordless model. Cordless models offer convenience but need to be recharged often. Finally, pay attention to whether the shaft detaches, which makes for easier cleaning.
Power: Think about what you will be using your immersion blender for the most. Some are perfect for purees, like when you want to make baby food. Others are designed to slice through ice for quick smoothie making. Most immersion blenders start at about 200 watts but can go up to 1,000. Another thing to consider is how many speed settings there are, which will allow for some versatility in what you blend.
Included accessories: If all you want is a stick blender, then there's no reason to pay more for lots of extras (that might not be the highest quality). However, a lot of immersion blenders come with convenient items like a chopper or whisk attachment and blender jars. If you're getting an all-in-one immersion blender package, keep in mind how you'll store everything—some come with storage cases for all the pieces so nothing gets lost.
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