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Your kitchen is missing something: the best companion for stovetop cooking that you could ever have.
Stoves are there to heat the food, but it’s up to you and your culinary mind to make sure everything is well blended together for optimal taste and consistency throughout the dish.
These aren’t for smoothies; the best immersion blender models are right here in front of you, and they’re going to help you take things up a notch in the kitchen.
We’ve developed a buying guide to answer all of your questions as well, so you can be certain that you’re purchasing the very best immersion blender for your needs.
Our Reviews Of The Best Immersion Blender
#1 Braun MQ505 Immersion Blender
The best stick blender goes to Braun for a few reasons.
They’re a company that makes electronics, but they’re widely known for beard trimmers and facial hair trimmers, so they took their working knowledge of electric motors and brought it over into the immersion blender space.
After looking at a ton of hand blender reviews, we were confident that this was worth testing, and it exceeded our expectations.
There’s a soft touch design on the handle that allows you to regain full control and maximum dexterity while using your immersion blender.
The powerful 350 watt motor gives off a lot of vibrations, so it’s great to have a sturdy place to rest your hand during use.
It’s also very lightweight, and with all that in mind, it’s a wonder that it doesn’t dance around the pot while you’re trying to use it.
Braun did fall short on one area though—the warranty.
They have specific terms and conditions, and even if you meet them perfectly, you’re only looking at a six month warranty that doesn’t offer a whole lot.
That’s a bit of a downer, but luckily, it’s a blender that people have been using for years with no issue.
There are two variable speeds to pick up momentum.
While it seems like they didn’t list the RPM information anywhere, it’s suffice to say that it’s powerful and gets through thick soup;s and sauces with ease.
You’ll get a cup container, as well as a whisk attachment. The basic claw attachment comes with an anti-splash guard that keeps liquids in the pan.
Technical specifications
- Power: 350 watts
- Weight: 1.60 lbs
- Volume: 20 oz cup attachment
- Speed: Two speed settings, undefined RPM
- Warranty: Six months
#2 Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender
In our search for the best hand blenders, there was one brand that you couldn’t ignore: Breville.
They’re everywhere, and for good reason—they’re a top brand that’s produced long-lasting equipment, and they don’t mess around with the quality of their blenders.
This control grip system offers an ergonomic way to hold onto the blender with a trigger-like finger slot near the hilt.
The cord runs horizontally, so you’re not feeling the resistance of the cable pulling down in one direction while you’re trying to blend.
Speaking of that cord, it’s six feet long, so you’ll have plenty of leeway to maneuver around the kitchen without dragging the cord through a pot of soup or pulling the whole thing out of the wall at random.
There’s eight inches of immersion depth, allowing you to conquer just about every size pot you can imagine.
Whether it’s spaghetti sauce on the stove or thick and creamy desserts, you’re good to go.
The exterior of the immersible area is stainless steel, so it cleans very easily, just be careful not to get the contents of your dish higher up on the handle.
The real heroic part of this immersion blender is that it has fifteen different variable speeds, which can be controlled via the button on the hilt near the finger grips.
That gives you a wide range to mess around with, especially if you use the attachment for the veggie chopper cup.
That cup comes with a rubber base for stability that doubles as a locking lid, as well as an easy to read measurement system on the outside.
It’s a package deal, and it’s a fraction of the cost of expensive countertop blenders that boast similar power.
Technical specifications
- Power: 280 watts
- Weight: 3.80 lbs
- Volume: 42 oz jug attachment
- Speed: 15 variable settings
- Warranty: One-year limited warranty
#3 OXA Smart Hand Blender
OXA came close to being the best hand held blender for a number of reasons, but the biggest has to be the overpowered 800 watt motor.
It’s a force to be reckoned with, yet OXA Smart was still able to create an effective anti-splash design so you don’t end up with smoothies and sauces all over the place.
To put it in perspective, 800 watts could actually replace your countertop blender for a lot of uses.
They wanted to put their full gesture of good faith behind this, which is why they offer a two-year warranty—which is double the usual length for immersion blenders—and even include lifetime support.
If you have a problem with your blender, they might not be able to fix it for you once the warranty expires, but they’ll help you find a viable solution so you’re not left in the dark.
That’s brand commitment to customers, because they’re not gaining anything out of that except your satisfaction with their product.
There’s a food processor base attachment that covers just about everything that a stationary food processor would be able to handle, including a ton of vegetables, fruits, and even nuts that can be whipped up into a fine butter.
Utilize the twelve different speeds of the blender, and let it rip.
There’s also a smoothie cup, though keep in mind that the construction on it is a bit crude. We’re here for the blender, but the attachment cup could have been a bit nicer.
The anti-splash design is titanium coated on top of 304 grade stainless steel, which makes it a bit better against corrosion resistance and sustains a good durability rating altogether.
If you decide to use it for rougher purposes, such as grinding coffee beans, that coating is going to protect it very well.
Technical specifications
- Power: 800 watts
- Weight: 2.80 lbs
- Volume: 16.9 oz attachment cup
- Speed: 12 variable speeds
- Warranty: Two-year warranty, lifetime support
#4 KitchenAid Onyx Blender
You’d think that a brand like KitchenAid would be closer to the top of the list, right?
This is a good immersion blender, but it serves basic functions and needs without getting too intricate.
That being said, the budget price also reflects it, so you’re getting what you pay for. KitchenAid even slaps a one-year no hassle replacement warranty on this.
There’s something to be said for that confidence, and of course, their lineage of durable kitchen appliances.
You get eight inches of stainless steel immersion wand action, with a unique S-shaped bit near the bottom.
Instead of just being anti-splash, it actually redirects whatever is being mixed through four slot-like conduits in the bottom, so you’re covering more ground than with a normal hand mixer.
The motor is a bit lackluster at only 200 watts, so you’ll only be using this for stovetop soups and perhaps mashed potatoes, but the uses will be limited.
That’s not just because of the motor, but also because there’s only two speed options—basically just slow and fast.
It gets the job done and does it well, but it’s not going to handle delicate dishes with a steady hand.
It’s lightweight and built to last, and includes a plastic 24 oz measurement cup for you to store additional food in, or blend it right there in the cup.
KitchenAid has other hand mixers, but this hits the perfect budget point while still being of high quality and caliber.
Limited, but built tough for what it can do.
Technical specifications
- Power: 200 watts
- Weight: 2.0 lbs
- Volume: 24 oz attachment cup
- Speed: Two speed options
- Warranty: One-year replacement warranty
Immersion blenders FAQ
What is an Immersion Blender Used for?
One look at immersion blender reviews, and you’ll find that people don’t really know what they got themselves into.
An immersion blender is not designed to replace a countertop blender; instead, it’s used in cooking to blend soups, stews, and sauces to create better consistency in a variety of dishes.
Common uses of an immersion blender include mashed potatoes, alfredo sauce, spaghetti sauce, broccoli and cheese soup, baking to mix dry ingredients, and scrambled eggs.
The possibilities are nearly endless, but an immersion blender should not be purchased with the intention of replacing the need for a countertop model. They are vastly different.
Both feature steel blades that rotate and blend food, but only a countertop blender creates a suitable vortex to blend items without manual aid.
In the controlled environment of a blender pitcher cup, that vortex helps to imbue food, and it’s not all about the sharpness of the blades—it’s often about the RPM and friction caused by the blades that blend food so well.
One way to determine how powerful a blender is, and therefore the RPM/blending power, is by looking at the amps or wattage of the motor.
You’ll notice that here on this list, we discussed an 800 watt motor versus a 200 watt motor.
The capabilities and time spent using them are vastly different, but even 800 watts is considered low for a countertop blender.
That’s not to say that you can’t use an immersion blender to its fullest extent.
You can create your own homemade condiments, whipped cream, and apply it to many baked goods that require constant stirring (even the production of candy), and a countertop blender might even be too powerful to handle all of those things.
There’s also a bit more control. With a blender, you can feather the pulse button or choose a set-and-forget method, but that’s all the power you have in how the final product comes out.
You can maneuver your immersion blender around to get the right consistency every single time.
Is an Immersion Blender Worth It?
Whether you side with a budget model or the best rated immersion blender in history, it is worth it, if you know what you’re using it for.
It’s not to replace a countertop blender, but if you’re someone who bakes often and can’t stand those dual whisk mixers (really, what were they thinking when they made those?) then you’re not alone.
An immersion blender cuts down the time taken in meal preparation, which helps you get the final meal out faster, and allows you to prioritize tasks better.
It’s not exactly easy to make a full meal or a series of baked goods come together if your hands are in agony and you’re running short on time.
Immersion blenders are worth it, and they’re ridiculously affordable when you compare it to countertop units.
Are Immersion Blenders Good for Smoothies?
No, they are not good for smoothies.
The RPM in a blender is what you can use to determine if it’s good for smoothies, because blades aren’t chopping up or dicing ice—it’s all about the speed of the blades to crush the ice.
It’s that, and the housing. If you got the ingredients for a smoothie into a big bowl and dipped an immersion blender into it, you’re going to end up with a slurry mess by the end.
Even if you had an immersion blender with enough RPM (18,000 is usually good for a countertop blender), it just doesn’t work the same way.
You could make renditions of smoothies, such as par-frozen fruit and yogurt and mixing them up together, but it’s just not going to be the same as a drinkable smoothie.
Can You Use Immersion Blender for Baking?
It’s one of the best things for baking, as a matter of fact.
Top rated immersion blenders with high RPM ratings and powerful motors can cut through the thickest of baking ingredients, and create some of the most delectable whipped cream you’ll have ever experienced.
Other baking tasks that immersion blenders can help with are:
Whipping Cold Butter
If you’ve ever gone to make cookies and forget to take the butter out, then it’s time to join the club.
You can use your immersion blender to cut through that ice-cold butter and get the right consistency for cookies.
A bit of friction will help thaw the butter out, while the motion will aerate it and keep it nice and smooth.
It might just become your new favorite way to make firm cookie dough that doesn’t melt by the time you roll it.
Making Icing
Icing and frosting are different, and though you can make both with an immersion blender, icing requires a bit more liquid and a lot more whipping.
It’s exhausting to do with a fork, and brings inconsistent results that you can clearly taste.
An immersion blender reduces the texture of the powdered sugar and the wet ingredients into a smooth and velvety icing, and there’s nothing better than that.
Smoothing Out Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato pie is a universal favorite. If you’ve never had it, then you’ve never smiled quite so wide in all your life.
Sweet potatoes can be a bit rough to handle even after you’ve properly cooked them to get that right consistency.
You’ve got enough to do with the brown sugar and marshmallows; leave this one up to your immersion blender.
Crafting Buttermilk
Buttermilk pancakes and buttermilk muffins are delicious, but buying buttermilk from the supermarket is rather expensive.
Not only that, but you always end up with more than you need. Immersion blenders take a lot of the guesswork out of it for you.
Cook Jams and Jellies
There’s a lot of stirring involved, unless you have an immersion blender.
It’s so easy to burn hot fruit on the stove due to the high sugar content, but you can ensure consistent results and a smooth, rich jam by keeping your immersion blender dipped in the mixture all the way through.
Can Immersion Blenders Crush Ice?
It takes a lot of work for an immersion blender to crush ice, and it’s not worth your time.
Yes, it can crush ice, but not into a drinkable format like you would need for a smoothie or a homemade slush puppy.
Heat and friction are going to come through the blade and begin to melt the ice, so even if you had the diligence to blend it until it turned into a fine snow, it’s going to catch some of that heat and begin to melt.
It’s a mess trying to crush ice with an immersion blender.
Can an Immersion Blender Replace a Food Processor?
No, it can’t be a food processor.
Food processors have a far wider range of functions, including dicing, chopping, and even pureeing.
However, with an immersion blender, it’s not going to chop your vegetables for you (unless you get an attachment for specific models), it’s not going to take raw ingredients and make a paste out of them, it’s a less powerful helping hand in the kitchen.
Even if you have the best hand immersion blender, it’s only so powerful compared to a Vitamix or Ninja countertop blender—they’re simply different machines with different functions, there’s nothing wrong with choosing one over the other depending on your food preparation methods.
If you make a lot of soup, you might find an immersion blender to be far more beneficial.
One thing that a countertop blender can’t really do is help you mix your stew together, since the high-powered motors usually pulverize ingredients like beef or potatoes.
Can an Immersion Blender Replace a Mixer?
It depends on your commitment.
Countertop mixers are wonderful, but they’re not always necessary.
You have to be present when manually operating an immersion blender, and while you don’t need to do that with a mixing bowl, you might end up having to scrape any powdery ingredients that caked onto its edges.
Either that, or you could just get your hands dirty from the start and manually oversee the entire process.
Immersion blenders will take a bit more time to use for baking if you’re trying to replace or fill the need for a countertop mixer, but it can be done.
If you bake frequently, we recommend going for something that’s no less than 350 watts for the motor, otherwise it’ll feel like you’re standing there all day.
Between time and efficiency when you’re making big batches, the more wattage on the motor, the better off you’ll be.
The irony is that while a KitchenAid countertop mixer is a great addition to any kitchen, their immersion blender works just as well for basic baking.
You can’t add all the fancy attachments or a dough hook with it, but you can perform about 75% of all normal baking tasks with their inexpensive immersion blender alternative.
Fast Blending to Save You Time
Immersion blenders save you time, and make far less of a mess than standard blenders.
There’s no pitcher to clean, nothing crazy to take apart, and no counter space being taken up—it’s the perfect solution.
Read over our buying guide to determine exactly what you need in your immersion blender, then hit the top of the page and select your favorite.
Everything in the kitchen is about to get easier.
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James Foust
James is a qualified chef and nutrition specialist with a desire to help everyday people make easy changes in their life for the better. His years of experience working with blenders of all shapes and sizes can be used to your advantage to make restaurant quality meals that are good for you, without putting in a lot of effort