The Hand Blender
The Pinnacle of Convenience in Your Kitchen

The hand blender or immersion blender is small, compact and versatile enough to successfully accomplish a slew of cooking tasks.

The hand or stick blender, used to be the red headed step child to standard full size jug blenders, however in recent years technological advances have made these convenient tools a real asset to any kitchen.

They are hugely convenient. They are very small and take up very little space, and can be easily stored in a draw, or cupboard, or mounted on the wall. And they come with a variety of attachments which make them suitable for many tasks in the kitchen.

Many Uses for Hand Blenders

Stick blenders are ideal for blending hot liquids like soups because you can cook and blend all of the ingredients in the same pot. Plus there’s no need to transfer hot, boiling liquids back and forth as you would have to do with a standard jug blender.

Most immersion blenders come with optional attachments such as spice grinders, food processors, whiskers, choppers, and even tools that wash bottles. So you can use them for a variety of tasks, such as preparing soups, making organic baby food, blending smoothies and pureeing tomatoes for a nice pasta sauce.

Most models come with cords, but having a cordless model is a great asset because it maximizes portability and is very convenient. You can use them anywhere.

Easy Blender Cleaning

Not only is cooking easier, but cleaning is too with immersion blenders. With a jug blender you have to take all of the parts apart and wash each one, as you can see from our article on blender cleaning. However a hand blender only has a few parts or attachments that are easy to remove and clean. Most can be safely placed in a dishwasher, which makes cleaning even easier.

Safely Using Your Hand Model

As with any kitchen appliance, a stick blender should be properly cared for and you should pay attention to safety. Always use the shield on the machine and make sure that you start out blending at a slow speed to prevent splattering. Also, care should be taken when trying to blend ice or other hard substances like nuts; often a standard jug blender would be better at this task.

Many manufacturers advise not to run hand models continuously for more than a minute, which means if you have a big blending project, then you are better off getting a jug blender for the task. Many people own both blender models because they find that an immersion model is better and easier to use for certain tasks, and requires less clean up, which is great if you are in a hurry.

A quick tip for using hand models lies in the choice of the container or pot you are using. Since immersion blenders don’t come with a container like jug blenders, you need to select your own. Make sure you use one that is deep enough so that the blades of the stick blender can be submerged completely and so that you can move the device up and down to ensure a full and even blend. The result is smoother sauces and much less splattering.

Some of the most popular models of hand blenders include the following brands.

Kitchen Aid Hand Blender

Cuisinart Hand Blender

Braun Hand Blender

Braun offers several models of its popular Multiquick immersion blender. The 3, 5, and 7 series all offer varying power, speeds, and attachments. The most popular model is the Series 5 Braun Multiquick. It has 15 speeds and features a powerful 400 watt motor. It also comes with a variety of attachments including a stainless steel whisk, and a 40 oz chopper. The Braun immersion blender gets great reviews and comes highly recommended with a strong reputation for quality.

Braun Hand Blender Review - The Braun Multiquick Is A Fantastic Immersion Blender
The Braun hand blender is one of the most powerful immersion blenders on the market. Add to that its attachments and high quality and you've got a great product.

Waring Immersion Blender

Most of Waring's hand blenders are targeted to the commercial restaurant market, however several powerful, high quality models are offered suited to the general public as well. The WSB33 is considered a light duty model and works great in the amateur chef's home kitchen. The WSB40 is bit more industrial and great for restaurants and the home chef that is willing to pay more for high power and quality. The 40 model features a powerful 350 watt motor and a 10 inch long shaft.

Waring Immersion Blender Review - This Quik Stik Is Great For Professional Chefs
The Waring Immersion Blender offers strength and power, as well as the quality you would expect from Waring. This hand blender is ideal for restaurants and commercial settings.

Dualit Immersion Blender

Dualit offers only one hand blender model and it's a good one. It has a powerful 320 watt motor and multiple variable settings, ranging from 9,000 to 16,000 rpm. It tops this off with a pulse function. Add to that a number of accessories, including a balloon whisk, chrome plated beakers, a chopping blade container, and a blending beaker. With few reports of breakdowns, it appears that the Dualit immersion blender offers good quality and durability.

Dualit Immersion Blender Review - This Hand Blender Offers Good Quality and Power The Dualit Immersion blender has a variable speed setting and pulse function that make it very flexible for blending a variety of ingredients. At 320 watts it's powerful.

Oster Hand Blenders

Although Oster standard countertop kitchen blenders are generally of a very high quality, their immersion blenders are not up to the same standards. We researched five Oster hand blender models and most owners of these models reported engine failures and product breakages. The Oster immersion models come very cheap, about $35 for the standard model, and have numerous attachments including a chopper and even an electric knife for one model. However, consumer reviews make us question the durability and quality of the Oster hand models. Look to buy this as a disposable blender that will only last a short time.

Oster Hand Blender Review - Breakages Make This A Questionable Buy
The Oster hand blender is inexpensive, but in this case you get what you pay for, which is a cheap disposable immersion blender that won't last very long.

Bamix Hand Blenders

All of the Bamix hand blenders are made in Switzerland and are of very high quality. Bamix makes five models of its immersion blender; and the most popular one in the US in the Bamix Mono Hand Blender. We don't see may reports of breakdowns and engine failures with this blender and almost all of the consumer reports show that owners really love this device. It's also endorsed by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Although it's a little more expensive than some of the other blenders listed on this page, we feel that it's worth paying a little more for the quality and durability you get with Bamix.

Bamix Mono Hand Blender Review - This Swiss Immersion Blender Is Excellent
The Bamix Mono hand blender gets excellent reviews and most all owners seem to love it. It has several cool attachments, is durable, and extremely reliable.

Bosch Blender - Mixxo Cordless Hand Blender

Bosch makes everything from dishwashers to washer and dryers to ovens and microwaves. They also make a pretty good immersion blender. Their Mixxo hand blender is the first cordless hand blender on the planet to feature lithium ion battery technology. This type of battery allows the Bosch to run for a full 20 minutes constantly before the power starts to ebb. And since it's cordless you can take the Bosch around with you all over the kitchen and even outside to make drinks for your guests during a cookout. Most reviews about this cordless hand blender are very positive.

Bosch Blender Review - The Mixxo Cordless Hand Blender Offers Mobility
The Bosch blender Mixxo is a light weight, mobile and easy to use hand held blender. It major benefit is that it's a cordless hand blender that operates on lithium ion batteries.

Helpful Tips & Advice

The Best Stick Blender For Making Delicious Homemade Soups
A stick blender is a great tool to have in your kitchen. Simply stick it down into your boiling homemade soup and puree until the mixture is nice and creamy.

Back to Blender Reviews Home Page from Hand Blender