The Best Immersion Blenders for Soups, Sauces, and Smoothies

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Best Immersion Blenders

The Spruce Eats / Chloe Jeong

An immersion blender, also called a handheld blender, can be a convenient, easy-to-clean, and compact alternative to a full-size blender since it can be tucked into a drawer or cabinet. It can be used for a variety of everyday kitchen tasks, such as mixing pancake batter, whisking eggs, whipping cream, blending smoothies or sauces, and even pureeing baby food. It's an essential tool for blending creamy, pureed soups, like butternut squash soup, right in the pot. Ready to get going? We found the best immersion blenders on the market.

Best Overall

Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender

4.8
Cuisinart SmartStick Handheld Blender
What We Like
  • Variable speed control

  • Convenient attachments included

  • Easy to clean

  • Reasonably priced

What We Don't Like
  • Awkwardly placed safety button

  • Not easy to store

Cuisinart may be the most familiar name in food processors, and this immersion blender lives up to the brand's reputation. It has a button for either continuous or pulse blending, as well as variable speed control so you can choose exactly the speed that’s right for you—no need to rely on a preset. We preferred using the highest speed setting for most recipes, but the adjustable speed is useful for blending softer foods like avocados or recipes that may splatter.

The blender only has two buttons on its front; an on button and a lock button, which needs to be depressed before the blender will turn on, but then it can be released. (While that might be a safety feature, we found it awkward to use.) It comes with a jar that’s perfect for blending smoothies or making mayonnaise, a chopper attachment that’s great for making salsas and prepping veggies, and a whisk attachment for making whipped cream or beating eggs.

Price at time of publish: $70

Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender Review

 The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

Power Rating: 300 watts | Speed(s): Variable | Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 13 inches | Warranty: 3 years

Runner-Up, Best Overall

KitchenAid 2-Speed Hand Blender

KitchenAid Immersion Blender

Courtesy of Walmart

What We Like
  • Comfortable soft-grip handle

  • Variety of colors to choose from

  • Simple, easy-to-use design

What We Don't Like
  • 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. The soft-grip handle is easy to hold when blending, so it’s comfortable to use no matter how much you need to blend, and it comes with a handy blending jar with a lid, so it can be used for storage before or after foods are blended.

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 color to the kitchen.

Price at time of publish: $52

Power Rating: 220 watts | Speed(s): 2 | Dimensions: 2.3 x 2.3 x 15.8 inches | Warranty: 1 year

What Our Editors Say

"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, SVP of Commerce Operations

Best Power

Vitamix Immersion Blender

4.7
Vitamix Immersion Blender, Stainless Steel, 18 inches

Amazon

What We Like
  • Long running time

  • Safe for nonstick cookware

  • Easy, one-handed button controls

  • Easy to clean

What We Don't Like
  • Expensive

  • No blending jar or accessories included

Vitamix makes blenders that have a top-of-the-line reputation for professional and home use, and its immersion blender fully lives up to that hype. Thicker soups, sauces, and smoothies can be tricky to get all-the-way smooth and cause some immersion blenders to overheat, but this handheld blender has the power and durability to handle tough jobs and large batch sizes every time.

It has five different speeds and can run continuously for up to four minutes before automatically shutting off. Lastly, the heat-safe shield at the bottom will keep this blender from damaging your nonstick cookware. When tested, it was both easy to use and easy to clean, and the 5-foot-long cord helped to reach between pots and faraway outlets.

At around $150, the Vitamix Immersion Blender is one of the more expensive immersion blenders on the market. If you can spring for it, it's worth the price and will last a long time.

Price at time of publish: $150

vitamix-immersion-blender-blended

The Spruce / Donna Currie

Power Rating: 625 watts | Speed(s): 5 | Dimensions: 3 x 18 x 3 inches | Warranty: 3 years

Testing Takeaway

"Except for the time when I purposely let the blender run for the full four minutes, I never needed to run it that long. Most tasks were accomplished in under a minute."

Best Budget

Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Hand Blender

Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Multi-Purpose Hand Blender

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Easy to clean

  • Powerful

  • Sturdy

What We Don't Like
  • Noisy

Mueller's stick blender is a great option if our top picks don't quite fit within the budget for an immersion blender. With a full copper motor and 500 watts of power, this handheld blender is plenty powerful to handle making baby food purees, smoothies, smooth soups and sauces, and even homemade peanut or almond butter. Reviewers say everything about this blender feels sturdy, durable, well-made, and comparable to blenders that cost twice as much.

It includes a milk frother for the ultimate upgrade to homemade lattes and a whisk attachment so you can use it to whip cream, beat eggs, or make a batch of homemade mayo for sandwiches. Clean up of the blender and attachments is as simple as running under warm water or popping them in the dishwasher for a more thorough cleaning.

Price at time of publish: $40

Power Rating: 500 watts | Speed(s): 9 | Dimensions: 2.68 x 4.92 x 15.59 inches | Warranty: 1 year

Best for Smoothies

UTALENT 5-in-1 Immersion Hand Blender

UTALENT 5-in-1 Immersion Hand Blender

Amazon

What We Like
  • 8 speeds

  • Includes 4 attachments

  • Pleasing design

What We Don't Like
  • Blender head can be tricky to clean

For smoothie-making, you’ll need a blender that can handle ice and frozen fruits—this one can handle that and so much more. In fact, this particular model comes with four different attachments: an immersion blender, food processor, whisk, and milk frother. 

The blending wand is made from durable stainless steel and has four blades total, making it a powerful and efficient blending tool. The food processor attachment can hold up to 500 milliliters worth of ingredients and is ideal for salsas, sauces, and soups. In addition to the whisk and frother attachments, the bundle comes with a beaker lined with measurements. 

With a total of eight speeds and a turbo setting, the UTalent Immersion Hand Blender is a strong, versatile tool able to tackle all sorts of kitchen duties. 

Price at time of publish: $50

Power Rating: 250 watts | Speed(s): 8 | Dimensions: 2.4 x 2.4 x 15 inches

Best Commercial Blender for Home Use

Waring 7-Inch Light-Duty Quik Stik Immersion Blender

Waring (WSB33X) 7-Inch Light-Duty Quik Stik Immersion Blender

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Durable

  • Great for large batches

  • Easy to operate

What We Don't Like
  • Difficult to clean

Made for commercial kitchen use but priced in line with home-use immersion blenders, this has the power to blend 3 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.

Price at time of publish: $109

Power Rating: 100 watts | Speed(s): 2 | Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 x 16 inches | Warranty: 1 year

Best Cordless

All-Clad Cordless Rechargeable Stainless Steel Hand Blender

4.9
All-Clad Cordless Rechargeable Stainless Steel Hand Blender

Amazon

What We Like
  • Easy, one-handed use

  • Solid construction

  • Cordless, making cleaning and storage easier

What We Don't Like
  • Bulky end won't fit in smaller containers

  • Shaft must be washed by hand

This may be one of the easiest immersion blenders to clean since there's no cord to worry about, and the shaft removes from the body of the blender. The removable shaft also gives you options for storage in small spaces where the full blender might not fit as well. It is important to note, however, that the components of this blender must be washed by hand. This is the cordless version of the blender we reviewed previously.

This is a high-powered immersion blender with a variable five-speed setting 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. This cordless model has the same power as the previously reviewed blender at 600 watts, but you will pay a premium for the convenience of cutting the cord.

It comes with a recharging base that doubles as upright storage housing. 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.

Price at time of publish: $230

All-Clad Immersion Blender

 The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

Power Rating: 600 watts | Speed(s): 5 | Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.9 x 10.9 inches | Warranty: 2 years

Testing Takeaway

"We liked the variable speed control at the top of the blender and found there was a very noticeable difference from low speed to high speed."

Best for Food Processing

Breville All In One Processing Station

Breville All In One Processing Station

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Extremely versatile

  • Includes compact storage case

  • Powerful

What We Don't Like
  • 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 powered by the blender body. The bowl includes an adjustable slicing blade with 18 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, which lets you choose fine, medium, or coarse mashing with a twist of the head, so you can use your immersion blender for mashing potatoes without the risk of them turning 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. Plus, 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.

Price at time of publish: $160

Power Rating: 240 watts | Speed(s): 15 | Dimensions: 9 x 11.5 x 11 inches | Warranty: 1 year

Best for Baby Food

Braun MultiQuick 5 Baby Hand Blender

Braun MultiQuick 5 Hand Blender

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Includes lots of convenient extras

  • Perfect for smaller jobs

  • Easy to operate

What We Don't Like
  • Freezer tray is flimsy

While any immersion blender can be used to puree bananas or cooked carrots, this set was created with babies in mind. It has an extra blade and larger cutting area, so purees get smoother faster. The bell-shaped shroud over the blades keeps splashing to a minimum, so there will be less mess to clean up when cooking is done, and there are two speeds, so you can adjust the food texture to suit your baby’s needs. The included 1.5-cup chopper lets you chop as well as puree, so you can add some texture to the baby food or make a dip 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 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.

Price at time of publish: $74

Power Rating: 350 watts | Speed(s): 2 | Dimensions: 2.2 x 2.2 x 15 inches | Warranty: 2 years

What Our Editors Say

"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

Best for Soup

Bella Immersion Hand Blender with Whisk

BELLA Immersion Hand Blender with Whisk

Amazon

What We Like
  • Long blending shaft

  • Attachments are dishwasher-safe

  • Straightforward operation

What We Don't Like
  • Motor heats up quickly

Soup is such a cozy and comforting meal, perfect for wintery nights, sick days, or any occasion, really. If you want to make quick, homemade soups, an immersion blender is a must-have in the kitchen. 

This particular hand blender has a 6-inch long stem, so you’re able to blend ingredients in deep pots with ease. Many reviewers praise how straightforward the operation is: There are two speeds, the blending and whisk attachments switch with ease, and cleaning is simple since both attachments are dishwasher-safe. That said, multiple reviewers did note that the handle grew warm after a few minutes of blending. 

The overall design is sleek and beautiful. Thanks to the ergonomic handle, it’s easy to grip and hold while operating. There are seven colors to choose from so you can find one that matches your kitchen decor. 

Price at time of publish: $30

Power Rating: 250 watts | Speed(s): 2 | Dimensions: 2.44 x 2.44 x 14.57 inches | Warranty: 2 years

Final Verdict

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 something that costs less but doesn't skimp on performance, we recommend the Mueller Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Hand Blender.

What to Look for in an Immersion Blender

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 and storage.

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 watts. In general, the higher the wattage, the greater the power.

Speed Settings

Most immersion blenders offer a high and low speed. High speeds are best for blending tougher ingredients, like fibrous vegetables or ice, while low speeds can chop vegetables for salsa and retain some texture.

Some models have variable speed settings, which gives you greater control and versatility over the finishes texture and consistency of your blends.

Included Accessories

If all you want is a stick blender, then there's no reason to pay more for lots of extras—particularly because they might not be the highest quality. However, a lot of immersion blenders come with convenient items like a chopper or a 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.

FAQs

Why use an immersion blender instead of a regular blender?

An immersion blender gives you more flexibility, since you can blend recipes directly in a cooking pot, cup, jar, or mixing bowl. Not having to transfer recipes into a regular blender saves time, makes less of a mess, and cuts down on the number of dishes to clean.

Immersion blenders also do a better job of blended or pureeing small amounts of food. Regular blenders often need to be filled to a certain level for the most efficient blending. They're also smaller and therefore easier to store compared to countertop blenders.

Can you froth milk with an immersion blender?

Yes, you can froth milk with an immersion blender. Place your milk of choice in a container with tall sides to prevent splashing. A Mason jar or drinking glass will work.

Can you use an immersion blender for mashed potatoes?

Immersion blenders will mash potatoes, but many cooks report the texture of the potatoes turns gummy and starchy due to the high speed of blenders.

The best tool to mash potatoes for a creamy, but not gummy, texture is either a hand masher or a ricer.

How do you use an immersion blender without splashing?

Blend in a container with tall sides to keep splashing to a minimum. Tall drinking glasses, Mason jars, pitchers, and deep pots are your best options. Another tip to cut down on splashing is to make sure the blade head of the immersion blender is completely submerged.

Can you use an immersion blender in a nonstick pan?

You can, but you run the risk of scratching the nonstick coating if the blades make contact with the bottom or sides of the pan. To prevent this, don't touch the blades to the bottom of the pan and hold the immersion blender at an angle.

Some immersion blenders, like the Vitamix model, have been specially designed with blade guards for use in nonstick cookware. Still, if you're worried about your nonstick pans, it may be better to blend in another container to be safe.

Can an immersion blender replace a hand mixer?

While an immersion blender can handle some of the same tasks as a hand mixer, like whipping egg whites into stiff peaks or making whipped cream, it cannot replace a hand mixer. Immersion blenders are not equipped to mix stiff batters or cream sugar into butter.

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, SVP of Commerce Operations at The Spruce Eats, loves using her KitchenAid immersion blender, featured above, and Patty Lee, Senior Editor for The Spruce Eats, uses her Braun immersion blender to make everything from sauces to homemade baby food for her son.

This roundup was updated by Katrina Munichiello, a writer and editor who specializes in the tea and food industries, Katya Weiss-Andersson, a professional chef who is an evangelist for the convenience and versatility of immersion blenders, and The Spruce Eats Staff Writer Allison Wignall, who focuses on food and kitchen products.

Additional reporting by
Julia Warren,
Julia Warren

Julia Warren is Dotdash Meredith's Director of Product Testing. With more than a decade of experience in the digital publishing industry, her work has appeared in What to Expect, Food & Wine, Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food, and This Old House.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Patty Lee,
Patty Lee
Patty was a Senior Food Editor for The Spruce Eats, where she oversaw recipe developers and food writers in creating delicious recipes and helpful cooking guides.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
and
Katrina Munichiello
Katrina Munichiello The Spruce Eats
Katrina Munichiello is a freelance writer and editor whose career began in the tea industry. Her work has appeared in Yankee Magazine, Connecticut Magazine, and the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. A highlight of her career was covering a Mother’s Day tea event at the White House.
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Updated by
Allison Wignall
Allison Wignall The Spruce Eats

Allison Wignall is a staff writer for The Spruce Eats who focuses on product reviews. She has also contributed to publications such as Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
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