Immersion blenders (or hand blenders) may not be absolutely essential in every good kitchen arsenal. But they can be used in soups, smoothies, sauces, etc. they can open up faster and easier ways to prepare. Plus, they’re smaller than their countertop brethren, making them a better choice for RVs, boats, or apartments, where floor space is often high. Finally, cleaning them is usually as simple as running them in a bowl of hot soapy water, so there’s less hassle. To help you figure out which immersion blender is right for you, we’ve put together a list of our favorite models for different needs and uses.
Which device is right for you?
Before considering buying a new kitchen appliance, it’s important to understand how you will use it and where it will fit in with any gadgets you already own. In an ideal world, everyone would have a dedicated food processor, countertop blender, and stand mixer. But the reality is that many people don’t have the room or the budget.
While hand blenders and traditional, full-size blenders have a lot of overlap, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you want to make smoothies every day, a countertop blender may be a better choice. Larger pitchers make it easier to mix drinks for more than one person at a time, while larger motors make short work of ice and frozen fruit. Additionally, more expensive options like the Vitamix, All-Clad, Ninja, or Robocupe can even use the heat from the blender’s motor to cook soup during the blending process, something you can’t do with an immersion model. I’d even go so far as to say that if you have the space for it and don’t already own one, a regular blender is the best option for most people.
However, immersion blenders are often less expensive, and thanks to the variety of accessories offered by some manufacturers, they can be great multitaskers. The whisk attachment allows you to quickly make whipped cream or meringue without needing an electric hand mixer or risking tendonitis in your elbow doing it by hand. Some immersion blenders also come with food processor attachments, so you can easily throw together small batches of things like hummus, salad dressings, or homemade pesto in minutes. Because immersion blenders are smaller and less bulky than traditional models, they’re a great choice for apartment dwellers or anyone with limited storage or counter space. This means that if you’re just looking to expand your culinary repertoire without breaking the bank, an immersion blender can be a great way to try something new without too much effort.
Wired or wireless?
Just like figuring out whether you should buy a blender, trying to decide between a wired or wireless model depends a lot on the other gadgets you already own. Corded versions usually have more powerful motors, making them great for people who don’t have a countertop blender or food processor. But if you have either of these, wireless is the way to go. Not only do you get the convenience of not having to worry about wires, but the ease of use makes it quick and easy to whip up your immersion blender to add extra texture to a sauce or puree a big pot of soup without having to do it. at parties.
A quick word about security
No one should be embarrassed to be nervous around a device that has a motorized stirrer with a rotating blade on the end. But with proper care and use, an immersion blender needn’t be any more dangerous than a chef’s knife. The most important safety tip is to always make sure to keep sharp blades pointed down and away from you or anyone nearby. This includes your hands, and any objects (like spoons) that may be in or around your mixing bowl.
Thankfully, all consumer immersion blenders are designed to prevent their blade from directly touching the container (whether it’s a mixing bowl or pot) that holds your food. However, to be extra safe, you should avoid blending things in glass or non-stick bowls, as glass can break or shatter, and the metal blades and cover of an immersion blender can damage Teflon and ceramic.
You’ll also want to make sure to keep water away from the plug or outlet of corded immersion blenders. If you want to remove the blade or clean up any mixed food, first make sure the blender is turned off, disconnected from the power source (battery or wall outlet), and in safety mode with a lock button or other device. feature.
On the bright side, cleaning a dip is pretty straightforward and simple. All you have to do is fill a bowl or glass with soapy water, submerge the immersion blender in the water, and then run it for 10-20 seconds. This is so. If it is still not clean, you can repeat this process until it is clean. If hand washing is too much work, many models (including the ones on this list) are dishwasher safe.
Breville
With prices starting at $130 Breville’s Control Grip In addition to having one of the most powerful motors (280 watts) available in a corded immersion blender in this price range, it also comes with many useful accessories. In addition to the basic 8-inch spindle/immersion blade, the set includes a 25-ounce chopping bowl for chopping and chopping and a 42-ounce blending bowl for making soups and smoothies. There’s also a whisk attachment, which means that among all its accessories, the Control Grip can take the place of three different common kitchen appliances: a food processor, a traditional blender, and a hand blender.
I also appreciate the two-button attachment system, which has a safety feature that ensures accessories are properly attached before use. Breville even includes a removable blade guard to prevent the stainless steel blender from scratching your other appliances in storage. And with support for 15 different high speed settings, it’s versatile and can handle all kinds of food. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a multi-purpose immersion blender with more attachments for making drinks and pureeing soups, you might want to consider this one. KitchenAid’s 5-Speed Hand Blendercrushing ice, whipping egg whites, etc. comes with two extra bell blades to help.
KitchenAid
If you want a simple and easy-to-use immersion blender, KitchenAid’s Cordless Variable Speed Blender is the one who gets it. It comes with a dishwasher safe mixing bowl and an extra bowl guard to make sure you don’t break your bowls. However, the real cool feature is that instead of having discrete speed settings, you can adjust the blender’s 180-watt motor by simply pressing a trigger. This makes it incredibly intuitive to use, and thanks to the built-in safety switch, it’s much harder to press the power button and accidentally spin the blade.
KitchenAid also claims that the battery can blend 25 bowls of soup on a single charge. Although my kitchen is too small to test this properly, I didn’t run into any problems. That said, you’ll want to make sure you charge its battery beforehand, as its charging port is next to where you attach the mixing arm, which means you can’t plug it in while it’s running.
Hamilton Beach
For those who want something versatile and great value, Hamilton Beach’s Two Speed Hand Blender is the top choice. While it’s not cordless, in addition to the basic mixing arm, you also get a whisk attachment and a chopping bowl — all for just $35. Plus, its 225-watt motor is plenty powerful for the price, although you don’t get as many speed settings as you do with more premium competitors. With over 15 years on the market, this blender has long been a top choice among budget-conscious chefs.
Vitaminix
Vitamix is almost synonymous with blenders, so it’s no surprise immersion model it is quite beautiful. That is, there are several features that distinguish it from its competitors. The first is the 625-watt motor, which is more powerful than almost anything (except super expensive, high-end blenders). This makes it great for people who want to make drinks that require crushed ice but don’t have a full-sized blender in their pantry. Its bell guard also has a unique shape designed to reduce suction and better pull ingredients onto the blade, while the rubber tips help prevent scratching of your mixing bowl (bowls, bowls, etc.). Despite being very powerful, the blender head is still small enough to fit into a one-quart wide-mouth mason jar, which is great for quickly mixing a sauce or salad dressing without messing up a bunch of extra food.
