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Our top picks quickly blend, purée, emulsify, and whip with easy cleanup. Automatic Liquid Filling Line
When it comes to time-saving kitchen tools, an immersion blender is a speedy superstar. Also called a hand blender, it does much of the same work as a full-sized blender — blending, emulsifying, whipping, and pureeing — without the limitations of a fixed blade. Instead, you can make soups directly in the pot, dips in your serving bowl, and smoothies in a travel-friendly tumbler. (That means less mess to clean up, too.)
Just as immersion blenders are incredibly versatile, there is an abundance of options to consider before adding the appliance to your kitchen. To find the best immersion blender, we put 15 top-rated models through a series of tests to measure everything from sound to feel to functionality. Read on for more about the best options according to our findings.
This blender performed just as well or better than options that were five times the price, effortlessly pureeing creamy soups and smoothies, and has an easy-to-clean design.
Its plastic body doesn't feel as substantial as ones made with stainless steel.
Nutribullet made its name with its small-but-mighty personal blender that's excellent for single-servings and mini meals. We tried out the brand's immersion blender and were equally impressed with its power and performance when processing tough ingredients.
In the soup test, this model pureed the broccoli, onions, and celery in just 35 seconds and reached a velvety texture after a minute. Likewise, it had one of the fastest results in the smoothie test, fully blending ingredients in 40 seconds, and didn't splatter or overheat like similarly priced competitors. While it was in the middle of the pack in the mayo test, we did appreciate that its dual-speed dial and button design helped when transitioning between pulsing and blending.
Lightweight and designed with rubberized buttons, the Nutribullet was easy to maneuver and took just seconds to assemble. Its plastic body felt a little flimsy compared to stainless steel options, but that didn't seem to stop it from outpowering them. We also noticed that the base didn't have holes for blended food to flow through; it made cleaning easier and increased the amount of suction in the soup test.
Weight: 2 pounds | Number of speeds: 8; variable | Dishwasher-safe wand: Yes | Accessories: Whisk attachment
Food & Wine / Kevin Norris
This is an exceptional blender that passed with flying colors across all of our tests and was the only one strong enough to break down chia seeds when making smoothies.
It was one of the louder blenders we tested, likely due to its powerful motor.
When it comes to impressive immersion blenders, this is it. Breville's powerful appliance came out on top of all our tests with minimal splatter or suction, flawlessly pureeing velvety smooth soup, blending smoothies in record time, and easily emulsifying mayo. We were particularly impressed with its smoothie performance, where it crushed ice in 40 seconds and chia seeds after just two minutes.
The Breville has several design features that make it intuitive and enjoyable to use. Its textured trigger grip and variable speed dial were comfortable to hold and operate, and it didn't feel too heavy, even after a full minute of use. The trigger also made it easier to pulse, which was helpful in the emulsion test. Its 8-inch stainless steel shaft easily reached the bottom of deep containers and featured a rubbered base to prevent damage to nonstick cookware. Its head is also shallower than other models we tested, which minimized suction and prevented food from getting stuck, so it was easier to clean.
The Breville's 15-speed dial is at the top of the blender, so you need to use two hands to adjust between slow and fast blending. We noticed that the highest speed setting was a bit loud during the soup test, 90 decibels, about the same level as a lawnmower. But since this blender proved to be the most powerful one we tested, we felt the benefits of speedy blending outweighed the noise.
Weight: 3.8 pounds | Number of speeds: 15; variable | Dishwasher-safe wand: Yes | Accessories: Whisk attachment, 2.5-ounce chopping bowl, 42-ounce blending container
Food & Wine / Kevin Norris
This blender offers an excellent performance with the added convenience of its maneuverability.
Because it's powered by a battery, remembering to fully charge the device before you need it is key.
For home cooks who don't want to be limited by power outlets, KitchenAid's immersion blender can handle a range of blending tasks without the hassle of a cord. It's designed with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is ready to use after a 10-minute charge (although it needs two hours to fully juice up if it's empty) and easily lasts through our tests.
The cordless KitchenAid gave a solid performance across all three tests. It blended soup in just 35 seconds, a smoothie in 40, and whipped up mayo with four pulses and 52 seconds of blending. We noticed minimal splashing, suction, and noise and loved the freedom of maneuvering it around the container. KitchenAid also includes a removable cover for the blender head to protect nonstick cookware from scratches, which we thought was a nice touch.
The blender's variable speeds were controlled by a trigger: the harder you push, the greater the speed. That made it easy to pulse ingredients, but did present a challenge in keeping a consistent speed throughout blending. It felt comfortable to hold and had an easy-to-use safety switch, which is important since it doesn't have the barrier of plugging it in to turn it on.
Weight: 3 pounds | Number of speeds: Seven; variable | Dishwasher-safe wand: Yes | Accessories: Blending container, pan guard, battery charger
Food & Wine / Kevin Norris
Its stainless steel body makes it feel sturdy and durable, and it did great with a range of tasks, from big to small.
The different power and lock buttons confused us, so i
Cuisinart's variable speed option is made with a stainless steel body that feels solid, as well as a strong 300-watt motor. We found it excelled in the emulsion test and did pretty well in ice-crushing, too, making it great for everyday smoothies. The included accessories are a plus for this blender, with a 3-cup chopper/grinder, chef’s whisk, and 2-cup mixing/measuring cup. With only two main parts, we found cleaning easy, and the wand is dishwasher-safe.
Controlled by power and lock buttons on the front, as well as a speed dial on the top of the device, it was a bit challenging to turn the device on and change speeds while blending, so it takes a bit of getting used to. That said, we appreciate the extra safety feature that it provides.
Weight: 3 pounds | Number of speeds: 6 functions | Dishwasher-safe wand: Yes | Accessories: Chopper/grinder, whisk, and mixing/measuring cup
If you're looking for an affordable, all-around great option, the Nutribullet Immersion Hand Blender offers incredible power and precision without some of the other bells and whistles. For a top-notch immersion blender that can quickly and thoroughly blend tough ingredients, the Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender does it all with minimal splatter or suction for a slightly higher price tag.
Food & Wine / Kevin Norris
Smooth, creamy soups are likely the first thing you associate with an immersion blender, and, while it's certainly an important function, it's capable of so much more. You can also use the appliance to emulsify sauces like mayo, whip up fluffy cream, or crush ice for frozen cocktails. You need a blender with a strong enough motor to power through tough ingredients, as well as sharp blades to create creamy consistencies. It's also helpful to have multiple speed options to adjust for softer and harder ingredients. To test functionality, we ran the blenders through a series of three culinary tests designed to evaluate their abilities to puree, emulsify, and crush ice.
An immersion blender is undeniably easier to maneuver than its full-sized counterpart, but some are less difficult to hold and use than others. During our tests, we took weight, ease of speed control, and design into consideration. We assessed how heavy each felt during both short and long blending tasks. Was it comfortable to hold for one minute, but not two? We also took into account design features. Was the grip ergonomic, even when wet? Is the blending wand long enough to use in deep containers?
Another factor to consider when it comes to a hand blender's design and maneuverability is whether it is corded or cordless. There are pros and cons to each kind, so consider which tradeoffs you'd rather have. With cordless models, you have to remember to keep them charged up so they're ready when you need them. However, they offer you a much wider range of motion and flexibility than most corded models. On the flip side, corded models may be able to support a more powerful motor and are generally less expensive than their cordless counterparts.
The blenders we tested ranged from simple two-speed options to high-power variable-speed devices. Wattage for immersion blenders starts around 200 watts and tends to go up to 1,000 watts. In our testing, however, we found that higher wattage didn't necessarily mean better performance.
We noted how it felt to pulse ingredients, as well as how it felt to operate blenders at full speed. Was it necessary to hold it with two hands? Was the safety lock helpful or hindering? How easy was it to change speeds? Also, because blenders of all shapes and sizes have a reputation for being loud, we used a frequency spectrum analyzer to measure the decibels of the products while blending soup. To test power and durability, we pitted the blenders against a tough ingredient: ice. The best options easily worked through ice cubes in our smoothie test, while several less-powerful machines struggled.
For an immersion blender to do its job, no extra accessories are needed. But with an attachment head for whisking or chopping, an immersion blender can take on additional functions. Some models come with a pan guard to prevent splatters, while others come with a bowl or a container designed for blending. Some models, like the Nutribullet Deluxe Set and the Breville Control Grip, even include accessories that allow you to convert your hand blender into a mini food processor for dicing veggies and other finely chopped ingredients without pureeing them. With the right attachments, an immersion blender can effectively take the place of several small kitchen appliances while saving you time, space, and effort.
How easy is it to clean an immersion blender? Well, having a detachable blending wand helps. That way there's less of a chance of getting the motor wet. And though many in our product group were dishwasher-safe, we washed the blenders by hand after every test to see whether food got stuck in nooks or crannies. To wash the blenders, we first pulsed the blending shaft in a container of soapy water, then used a sponge to clean around and under the blades.
Food & Wine / Kevin Norris
The first step in our test was picking which immersion blenders to try. We researched the top-rated options from a variety of tested reviews, as well as best-sellers. We asked our editors to share what immersion blenders they had in their kitchens and whether they'd recommend them. We narrowed it down to 15 blenders for our product set, including models from Breville, KitchenAid, Cuisinart, and Vitamix.
To test the functionality, feel, and durability of our blenders, we used three recipes. For pureeing, we made a creamy broccoli soup, timing how long it took to reach a smooth, velvety consistency and noting suction and splatter. For ice crushing, we timed how long it took to blend a very fibrous green smoothie filled with kale, chia seeds, and, well, ice. If the appliance overheated or struggled to process the ingredients, it ranked lower in our findings. Finally, we made mayonnaise to test emulsification, judging how long each took to blend the ingredients and continuing to note suction. We also noted how easy (or hard) the appliances were to control and clean, as well as their volumes at full speed.
Vitamix Immersion Blender ($170 at Amazon) This was the fastest blender in our soup test and has thoughtful features like blade guards to prevent scratches and a long shaft for deep containers. It's one of the more expensive options, but its domed head design and higher blade made it unable to emulsify mayo. However, if these two things don't matter to you, the Vitamix will not disappoint with its power and speed.
All-Clad Immersion Blender ($120 at Williams Sonoma) Incredibly powerful and very easy to operate, this blender created some of the smoothest textures we tested and was the fastest to emulsify mayonnaise. This would be our pick for best for emulsifying.
KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Handle ($60 at Amazon) We were impressed by how quickly and quietly the KitchenAid blended ice, chia seeds, and kale in the smoothie test, making the drink in just 40 seconds. For $60, this is a solid pick, and we don't have many bad things to say about it.
Braun MultiQuick Immersion Hand Blender ($175 at Amazon) Braun's immersion blender features a flexible shaft that helps reach the bottom of the container, an innovative design we didn't see on any other models. However, it didn't really stand out from the crowd during our tests—it made decent soup, smoothies, and mayo, but wasn't nearly as fast as our top picks. And while it comes with a plethora of accessories, including a whisk and puree masher, it was one of the most expensive options we tried. Hamilton Beach Professional Variable Speed Hand Blender ($73 at Amazon) With nine speeds and a comfortable handle, Hamilton Beach's variable-speed blender was easy to hold and operate. It has a trigger speed control and LED display that we found straightforward to read and control one-handed. We were impressed with its speed and velvety results when making smoothies and soup, but we noticed a fair amount of suction that made it challenging to move the device up and down the container.
We tested several more immersion blenders, including other models from KitchenAid, Cuisinart, and Hamilton Beach, as well as the Bella Immersion Hand Blender and two different Waring models. Some common themes among these low performers were the lack of versatility, power, and consistency we found with two-speed hand blenders. Across the board, two-speed models fell behind their variable-speed counterparts in terms of performance, particularly when it came to achieving a smooth consistency in purees and smoothies. In addition, we noticed that some of the lower-end models came with plastic bodies that felt flimsy and also struggled with overheating. Some other models, like the Waring Bolt Cordless Immersion Blender, lacked the performance to justify their high price tags, while the Waring Light-Duty Quik Stik had several design features, such as a short blending arm that was attached to the motor, that made it difficult to both maneuver and clean.
“An immersion blender is a hand-held blender with a rotating blade at the end of a stick. It’s most often used to puree or blend soft or softened ingredients that are in some sort of liquid base, like soup or canned whole peeled tomatoes, whereas a blender can be used to blend items with less liquid, as well as crush ice and grate hard cheeses,” says Anthony Contrino, chef and food stylist. Also, don’t confuse an immersion blender with a hand mixer, which is most often used to beat and whip ingredients.
“You use an immersion blender by submerging the blender head into the product you’re looking to puree or blend," says Contrino. “Be sure to fully submerge the blender to avoid splattering.”
“An immersion blender is a great way to beat eggs. The rotating blades not only mix the whites with the yolk but aerate the eggs, resulting in a fluffier finished cooked product. Just be sure to beat enough eggs to fully submerge the blade head,” says Contrino.
Yes, but not to barista standards, according to Contrino. “You can use a milk blender to froth warm milk, but it will not create the same small microbubbles that a milk frother would, resulting in a less thick foam that won’t last as long," he says.
Automatic Machine It depends on the ingredients. "As long as there’s enough liquid and you use soft fruits like very ripe melons, berries, and bananas, you can make a smoothie using an immersion blender," says Contrino. Some immersion blenders, however, may struggle to break down ice cubes, so you would need to use a regular blender for more heavy-duty jobs or you could damage the immersion blender's blade or motor.