The Best Immersion Blenders

The best immersion blenders are great for blending hot soups on the stovetop and can also blend frozen fruit for smoothies and even emulsify mayonnaise. Our winner, the Braun MultiQuick 5 Hand Blender, is lightweight and compact. We love its satisfyingly simple controls and impressive pulverizing ability. It’s also considerably less expensive than many models on the market.

What You Need to Know

Anyone who has pureed hot soup in a countertop blender knows it can be a hassle. It often has to be done in batches, which requires an extra pot or bowl. You also have to let the soup cool down a little so that pressure doesn't build up inside the blender and cause the lid to pop off. But the best immersion blenders (also called hand blenders or stick blenders) get the job done efficiently, tidily, and safely; all the blending is done directly in the pot. You can also use them for many of the tasks you’d lug out your regular blender for, including crushing ice and making frozen cocktails, emulsifying salad dressings, and blending sauces and marinades. They’re also generally easier to clean and store than countertop blenders, and they often cost less.

Each immersion blender consists of the same two components: a cylindrical handle that houses the motor and controls and a blending shaft that's usually detachable. On one end of the blending shaft sits a blade housed in a cup-shaped guard. A handful of models are cordless and are rechargeable using charging cables or docks. Some models also come with whisk attachments, plastic blending jars, and even chopping chambers with extra blades that look like small food processor bowls. Interested in what factors make the best immersion blenders, we tested a lineup of models, including their extra attachments when available. 

What to Look For

• Simple, Intuitive Controls: We preferred models with one or two easy-to-interpret power buttons that required only one hand to use. Our favorites had two buttons for two simple speed options or single buttons that adjusted the speed as we increased or decreased pressure. 
• Fewer Speed Options: The best models had only a few (two to four) speed options. Fewer speeds made blending more efficient; instead of wasting time choosing between up to 15 speeds, we could pick from just a few and save ourselves the hassle. 
• Comfortable Grips: Our favorite handles had well-designed grips that comfortably fit many different hand sizes. They were 5.5 inches in circumference or less, and they were coated in soft, grippy plastic or silicone to prevent slipping.
• Lightweight, Compact Construction: Operating any immersion blender for a substantial amount of time can b...
read more