Immersion Blenders for Soups, Sauces, and Smoothies: What to Look For

An immersion blender, also called a stick or hand blender, goes to the food instead of the other way around. You put the blade end right into the pot, bowl, or cup and blend in place. That makes it handy for pureeing soup on the stove, whipping up a smoothie in a tall cup, smoothing out lumpy gravy, or making a quick batch of mayonnaise. It also takes up far less room than a countertop blender and is easier to clean.

Most models share the same basic shape: a motor in the handle and a detachable blending shaft with a guarded blade. The differences come down to power, speed control, the shaft material, and which extra attachments come in the box.

Top Immersion Blenders

What an immersion blender does well

• Pureed soups: Blend right in the pot, so there is no need to move hot soup into a jar in batches.
• Smoothies and shakes: Many kits include a tall beaker that fits the blade guard.
• Sauces and dressings: Emulsify mayonnaise, vinaigrette, or hollandaise in a narrow cup.
• Baby food and purees: Blend small batches of cooked fruits and vegetables.
• Whipped cream: A whisk attachment makes quick work of cream or egg whites.

It is less suited to crushing ice, grinding nuts into butter, or blending large amounts of thick, frozen fruit. A full-size countertop blender handles those jobs better.

Features to compare

Power

Wattage ranges widely, from around 200 watts in basic models to 1,000 watts or more in some sets. More power helps with thick soups, fibrous vegetables, and frozen fruit. For soups and sauces, a mid-range motor is usually plenty. Keep in mind that blade design and speed control matter as much as the wattage number.

Speed settings

Two speeds cover most tasks. Variable speed dials give finer control, so you can start slowly to avoid splatter and then ramp up. Some models add a turbo button for a quick burst of full power.

Shaft material

Stainless steel shafts can go into a hot pot without worry and resist stains from tomato or turmeric. Plastic shafts are lighter and cheaper, but they can stain and are not always recommended for very hot liquids. Check the manual before blending on the stove.

Attachments

Many immersion blenders come as sets with a whisk, a mini chopper bowl, a blending beaker, and sometimes a milk frother. These add versatility, but they also take up drawer space. If you only plan to make soup, a simple stick without extras may be the better buy.

Cord and grip

A longer cord makes it easier to reach from the outlet to the stove. The grip and button placement matter too, since you often hold the button down the whole time you blend. Try to pick a model that feels balanced and comfortable in your hand.

Stick blenders and blending sets

The Cuisinart Smart Stick has a stainless steel shaft and variable speed control, a simple, all-purpose tool for soups and sauces.

The KitchenAid corded hand blender also offers variable speed, which helps when you want to start slow and avoid splashing.

At Target, the Vitamix immersion blender has a 625-watt motor, five speeds, a stainless steel build, and a 5-foot cord for reaching the stove.

The Turelar 5-in-1 set has an 1100-watt motor and comes with several attachments, a good fit for cooks who want one tool for many jobs.

The Bonsenkitchen hand blender is a straightforward stick for smoothies, purees, and baby food.

At Walmart, the GE 500-watt immersion blender includes stainless steel attachments for blending, whisking, and chopping.

The Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 hand blender has a 225-watt motor, two speeds, and a whisk, with dishwasher-safe parts.

The BN-LINK 4-in-1 set has a 500-watt motor and two speeds, with attachments for smoothies, baby food, and soup.

The MasterChef immersion blender has a 400-watt motor in a compact stick, a good option for small kitchens.

How to blend without a mess

• Keep the blade under the surface: Lifting it out while running is the main cause of splatter.
• Start on low: Increase the speed once the food is moving.
• Tilt the pot or cup: This gathers the food around the blade, especially for small amounts.
• Use a tall, narrow container: A beaker or wide-mouth jar keeps smoothies and sauces from flying out.
• Move the pot off the heat: Blending off the burner is safer and gives you better control.

Safety tips

The blade on an immersion blender is exposed at the bottom of the guard, so treat it like a knife. Unplug the blender before you change attachments or clean the blade, and never reach into the guard while it is plugged in. Keep the motor body out of water, since only the detachable shaft is meant to be washed. Take care with hot soup: a splash can burn, so blend slowly and keep the blade fully submerged.

Making baby food

An immersion blender is a popular tool for parents making their own purees, since it can blend a single serving in a small cup. The CDC notes that the way food is prepared can affect choking risk, and that cutting food into smaller pieces and mashing foods can help prevent choking. It also advises preparing food in the right shape, size, and texture for your child's development. Talk with your pediatrician about when to start solids and how to move from smooth purees to thicker textures.

Cleaning and care

Cleanup is one of the best things about an immersion blender. Right after use, run the blade in a cup of warm, soapy water for a few seconds, then rinse. Detach the shaft and wash it by hand or in the dishwasher if the manual allows. Wipe the motor body with a damp cloth. Dry everything fully before storing, and keep attachments together so small parts do not get lost.

Corded or cordless

Most immersion blenders plug into the wall, which means steady power for as long as you need it. Cordless models run on a rechargeable battery and let you blend anywhere in the kitchen without hunting for an outlet near the stove. The tradeoff is run time and weight: batteries add bulk to the handle, and a cordless blender may need a recharge in the middle of a big batch of soup. If you blend often and for long stretches, a corded model is the simpler choice. If your outlets are far from the stove or you like to blend at the table, cordless can be worth the higher price.

Immersion blender or countertop blender

The two tools overlap but are not the same. A countertop blender has a sealed jar and a larger motor, so it is better for crushing ice, making frozen drinks, and blending big batches until perfectly smooth. An immersion blender wins on convenience: it blends in the pot, cleans up in seconds, and fits in a drawer. Many home cooks find that a good immersion blender covers most everyday blending, and they save the countertop blender for smoothies with lots of ice. If you only have room for one, think about which jobs you do most often.

Questions to ask before you buy

• What will you blend most? Soups and sauces need less power than frozen smoothies.
• Do you want attachments? A whisk and chopper add uses but take up space.
• Will you blend in hot pots? Choose a stainless steel shaft.
• How much drawer space do you have? A basic stick stores easily; full sets need more room.

The short answer

For most kitchens, a corded immersion blender with a stainless steel shaft and two or more speeds is the right pick. Add a set with a whisk and chopper if you want more uses from one tool, or go for higher power if you make a lot of thick soups and smoothies. Keep the blade submerged, unplug before cleaning, and it will be one of the easiest tools in the kitchen to use and clean.

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