- For making smoothies, soups, and more, you can't beat the convenience of an immersion blender.
- The Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender is our top pick with its excellent performance, ergonomic design, and ease of use.
Immersion blenders are a dream come true for the smoothie lover, nut-butter maker, or parent who prefers to DIY their own baby food. They're easy to use, don't take up much storage space, and rinse or wash clean without fuss.
Although you can chop or grind in a food processor and blend or puree in a countertop blender, using an immersion blender - often called a stick or hand blender - makes food prep so much easier. Once you buy a stick blender, you'll probably find yourself reaching for it far more often than its larger kitchen cousins.
We researched all the most popular and recommended immersion blenders on the market, looking for those that deliver the most bang for your buck.
What to look for in an immersion blender
Stick blenders are fairly straightforward, but there are a few things to know before choosing one.
- How powerful is the motor? While an immersion blender isn't going to beat your countertop blender in a duel, an effective stick blender needs at least 200 watts of power. In general, the more power, the better it will do when mixing and chopping ingredients into creamy smoothness.
- How many speeds does it have? The most basic immersion blenders have two speeds, but some offer five or more. While two speeds are perfectly sufficient for occasional mixing or blending, you'll enjoy having more choices if you use your stick blender regularly. That's especially true if you are chopping nuts or herbs, or mixing thick soups or purees.
- Cord or cordless? While cordless hand blenders are great for use at the office, in a kitchen without many outlets, or while camping, you'll usually pay for that versatility with less power. However, cordless immersion blenders do have their benefits, so we have a recommendation if you prefer to unplug.
- How about accessories? Less-expensive stick blenders don't typically include much in the way of accessories, but many models come with some handy extras, such as mixing or chopping cups, whisks, or even an electric knife attachment.
- Plastic or stainless steel? While just about every hand blender has steel blades, the more expensive models typically have stainless steel shafts as well. Less expensive immersion blenders are likely to have plastic shafts. While not a deal-breaker, plastic is more likely to warp or crack, and white plastic may stain if you frequently mix strongly colored ingredients like tomatoes or beets.
- Is it easy to clean? Some immersion blenders have detachable shafts for easy cleanup in the dishwasher. If not, you'll have to rinse the shaft and blades by hand.
Choosing your immersion blender
When shopping for a stick blender, consider how you'll be using it. If you simply want to mix protein powder and water, a basic, inexpensive model will be sufficient. If you plan to make thick fruit smoothies, pureed baby food, creamy soups, or homemade mayonnaise, you'll be happier with a hand blender with several speeds and more power. If you want to chop nuts or herbs, a chopper attachment is a handy accessory.
If you'll be using your immersion blender regularly it's also important to choose a model that feels comfortable in your hand, switches on and off easily, and doesn't vibrate excessively or become hot during use.
Here are the best immersion blenders you can buy:
- The best overall: Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender
- The best for making smoothies: KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Blender
- The best on a budget: Cuisinart CSB-75BC Smart Stick
- The best for making soup: OXO On Digital Immersion Blender
- The best cordless: Cuisinart CSB-300 Smart Stick
Updated on 1/7/2020 by Caitlin Petreycik. Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added related guides.
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