The Best Immersion Blenders

We learned that several models from top brands have been discontinued, so we researched and tested five new immersion blenders for this 2022 update. After puréeing gallons of soup and quarts of fruit smoothies, we decided that our previous top pick, the Bamix – Pro-1 is still the best immersion blender. But we can now also recommend the GE – G8H1AASSPSS for its solid construction and superb maneuverability and control. We’ve selected the handsomely designed All-Clad – KZ800D51 as the best cordless immersion blender.

Table of contents

• The 12 immersion blenders we tested
• Best overall: Bamix – Pro-1 M150
• Also great: GE – G8H1AASSPSS
• Best cordless: All-Clad – KZ800D51
• Other products we tested
• How we selected
• How we tested
• Why use an immersion blender?
• Important features to consider
• The bottom line
• Immersion blender recipes

The 12 immersion blenders we tested

Best overall: Bamix – Pro-1 M150

Bamix was founded in the 1950s by Roger Perrinjaquet, the very man who invented and patented the first-ever immersion blender. Derived from the French term “battre et mixer,” which translates to “beating and mixing,” Bamix only manufactures immersion blenders. For 60 years they’ve concentrated on engineering this one type of product, which helps explain why they do it so well.

Though it may not flaunt as much sleek stainless steel as our other contenders, the Bamix – Pro-1’s outstanding performance convincingly pushed it to the top. Unlike most other cages that form a solid dome over the blade, the Bamix has a unique four-pin cage that is open at all sides. This design allows food to easily be drawn across the blade. We credit this design as the reason why the Pro-1 outperformed the competition. What impressed us most was how well it sustained a consistent, strongly defined vortex during our control test.

Top Pick: Bamix - Pro-1 M150

Engineered with Swiss precision and style, the Pro-1 puts power and performance in the palm of your hand. Its quiet motor, comfortable grip and anti-suction head earned the Bamix our top pick.

See Price at Amazon.com

The Bamix not only performs well, but it’s also pleasing to operate. When we first powered up, we found ourselves awed by the low hum of the precision motor — it really does purr like a fine European sports car. We found the ergonomic grip fits nicely to the palm, and both speed buttons are properly located for a comfortable finger position. The Pro-1 comes with only two-speed settings, but its low and high speed are really all you need. At an inch-and-a-half under the next tallest model, it’s the most compact blender of the lot, making for efficient drawer storage.

It’s interesting that our top-pick Bamix is the only finalist not to come with a detachable shaft, meaning it needs to be cleaned by hand and cannot go in the dishwasher. Bamix has stayed with this same fixed-shaft design that has proven successful since its inception. On the plus side, this sealed shaft also allows the motor unit to be partially submerged, giving the Pro-1 the greatest immersion depth. It’s a bit more awkward to clean the head due to the motor being attached, but it’s certainly not a deal-breaker.

And though the Bamix is our only finalist with a fixed shaft, it’s also the only product that features interchangeable blades. Each blade fits onto a piston located at the end of the shaft. Removing the blade actually simplifies cleaning. The Pro-1 package comes with four blades total, each with a specific function: chopping, blending, slicing, and aerating. For our tests, we used the four-pronged chopping blade, which has an irregularly shaped blade so that it can better connect with food particles.

Given that most brands offer only a one-year warranty, with a few rare two- or three-year exceptions, the Bamix 10-year warranty is pretty extraordinary. In fact, we called their support team just to confirm 10 years wasn’t a typo. Their rep explained that over the past 60 years Bamix has focused their efforts on engineering a reliable AC motor, and they’re confident in offering a longer warranty. Additionally, should a repair or replacement part ever be needed, Bamix provides service in both the United States and Europe.

Key takeaways:

• The Bamix – Pro-1 generates a powerful yet controlled vortex that effectively blends and purées.
• Unique cage design efficiently pulls ingredients to the blade without inducing any suction to the bottom of the pot.
• The Bamix’s comfortable grip fits naturally in the hand and provides easy access to both speed buttons.
• Its 10-year warranty is five times longer than the next longest warranty and ensures its long lifespan.

Also great: GE – G8H1AASSPSS

For this 2022 update, we tested five new immersion blenders. Almost all performed well, but the GE – G8H1AASSPSS stood out for its design, ease of use, and affordability. The GE feels solidly constructed, weighing in at 1.5 pounds, which gave us maneuverability and control without tiring the hand, particularly when plowing through the soup ingredients. Its weight was also a key factor in blending the smoothie since it allowed for one-hand operation, giving us the freedom to hold the blending cup with our other hand.

The body measures 9 inches, and the shaft (including head and base) measures 7.5 inches — so it handily stores in a kitchen drawer — and when assembled, it was the right length for reaching the bottom of our soup pot. The GE is equipped with a 500-watt motor, which was surprisingly quiet at the high speed. The powerful motor made short work of the soup, blending the squash and onion in 35 seconds, and pureeing the smoothie practically instantly.

Also Great: GE - G8H1AASSPSS

A sturdily built immersion blender, this GE model gives excellent maneuverability and control. It has a powerful motor and comes with a chopper/grinder and full size whisk attachments, all at a great price.

See Price at Amazon.com

The GE had a tightly controlled vortex and good suction for pulling ingredients into the 2.5-inch (diameter) blender head. Also included are a chopper/grinder attachment and a sturdy, normal-sized whisk (far superior to the toy-like whisks of other immersion blenders). We tested the chopper/grinder with 1/4 cup of whole peppercorns, and although it was admittedly noisy, it did a great job of breaking down the peppercorns into a coarse and fine grind.

We did have a couple of minor issues with the GE. First, it took a bit of adjustment to find the right angle for holding the blender body while simultaneously pushing the speed button. Second, you need to make sure that the shaft locks securely in place, and it took a little trial and error to get it right. But otherwise, the GE – G8H1AASSPSS is an excellent immersion blender at a very reasonable price.

Key takeaways:

• The GE – G8H1AASSPSS has a balanced weight that allows for easy maneuverability and control.
• Its powerful 500-watt motor creates a tight, controlled vortex that efficiently pulls in ingredients.
• The blender comes with two handy attachments: a chopper/grinder and a full-size whisk.

Best cordless: All-Clad – KZ800D51

If you’re looking for beauty and functionality, the All-Clad – KZ800D51 cordless immersion blender will add a noticeable touch of class to any kitchen. If you’re familiar with All-Clad products, then you know that they’re high-end, high-quality stainless-steel cookware that’s quite expensive. That said, the All-Clad cordless immersion blender is actually a few dollars less than our top pick.

The All-Clad has a remarkable 600-watt motor that can hit 12,000 RPM at full speed. It’s powered by a lithium-ion battery that after its initial two-hour charge, runs for about 8 minutes, which is plenty of time to puree a soup. After each use, you simply store the blender body into the charging station, so it’s always charged for when you need it.

Best Cordless: All-Clad - KZ800D51

This sleek and attractive immersion blender has a powerful 600-watt motor charged by a lithium-ion battery. The All-Clad purees as quickly and efficiently as any corded model.

See Price at Amazon.com

The All-Clad blender body has a sleek, stainless-steel casing, and the shaft is entirely stainless steel. Although All-Clad claims ths shaft s dishwasher-safe, we wouldn’t want to risk it getting scratched. Besides, it washes clean quickly and easily. We found the blender body fit nicely in our hand, but the power button needed to be firmly pressed, so one-handed operation wasn’t always possible. But at only 1.4 pounds, the All-Clad was easy to maneuver.

The All-Clad has five adjustable speeds at the “low” setting that increase to the full “turbo” setting, which prevents splashing hot soup up into your face. As might be expected with such a strong motor, the All-Clad pureed the soup in 40 seconds and the smoothie in 24 seconds — both were perfectly smooth and, even, frothy. We definitely needed to hold on with both hands to keep this robust “motorboat” under control. But it has a very tight v0rtex that pulls everything up from the bottom of the pot, so we just kept our grip and let the blender do the work.

The All-Clad has an odd feature: It locks after 30 seconds of inactivity. You simply need to push the flashing-blue unlock button on the top of the blender body to start it up again. All-Clad claims the feature is to prevent operation when the blender isn’t being used, but since you have to push the power button anyway, it doesn’t make much sense.

Many new models of immersion blenders are cordless. Some people might prefer a corded model to ensure the constant flow of power. But we enjoyed the convenience and freedom of the cordless All-Clad – KZ800D51 and can easily recommend it.

Key takeaways:

• The All-Clad – KZ800D51 is a high-end cordless immersion blender with an extra-powerful motor.
• It can be stored in its charging station and will make a handsome addition to any kitchen.
• Because it has such a robust motor, two hands are sometimes required to keep the blender controlled, particularly when blending soup.

Other products we tested

All-Clad – KZ750D

The All-Clad – KZ750D is a corded model that was quite an impressive performer in our tests. Its 600-watt motor churned through the soup in 28 seconds and whipped up a smoothie in 15 seconds. Like its cordless “cousin,” this All-Clad has an adjustable speed dial and a turbo setting, and at full speed, it creates a perfect vortex.

This model has a larger blender head, and it noticeably made a difference in drawing in the ingredients quicker, resulting in a silky-smooth soup. But it’s the longest (17.25 inches) and heaviest (1 pound, 12 ounces) of the models we tested for this 2022 update, and it took a lot of effort in navigating it in the soup pot. Because of its size and weight, the All-Clad is too unwieldy for blending smoothies in a cup. However, if you’re looking to make big batches of soup, the All-Clad is up to the job.

Breville – BSB510XL

With its brushed stainless steel and elegant lines, the Breville – BSB510XL Control Grip inspires confidence right out of the box. Its ergonomic design provided the most comfortable, natural-feeling grip of all our contenders. The rubberized grip contours right to the hand and has a single-button trigger that prevents fumbling with multiple buttons or accidentally hitting a turbo button.

The Breville offers 15 variable speeds that are adjusted from a top dial. Although it’s nice to have that many speed settings,  you can’t change speeds while in operation because one hand needs to press the trigger while the other holds the mixing container.

The Breville’s head design is the only model to integrate a scratch-guard for protecting cookware and the only model to come with a blade-guard for safer drawer storage. We also noted that the Breville’s head geometry is more oblong than standard circular-shaped cages. That means you need a wide-bottom cup for making smoothies directly in the container, though you can of course just use the beaker.

Finally, regarding performance, we held higher hopes for the Breville based on all the positive reviews we had read. However, though the box claims the head is anti-suction, we experienced quite a bit of pull when set on the highest speed. And for whatever reason, the head also yielded slower purée and blend times than others. The Breville is indeed a solid product, but these test results held it back from earning our top pick.

Mueller – Ultra-Stick

If you’ve never used an immersion blender before, the bargain-priced Mueller Ultra-Stick is a decent blender for a first-timer. It has a 500-watt all-copper motor (unusual for any immersion blender), nine adjustable speeds, and a turbo setting. The Mueller is quite lightweight (1 pound 4 ounces), but maneuverability is slightly hampered by its short cord, meaning you need to be close to an outlet.

Surprisingly, it has a blender head that’s the same size as the corded All-Clad, so it had no problem with breaking down the butternut squash and onion in 52 seconds. (Oddly, it struggled a bit with the frozen bananas in the smoothie.) A small whisk and milk frother are included, but we had a lot of trouble inserting each attachment into the driveshaft. Although the Mueller’s vortex could be tighter, it was easy to use and overall performed well in our tests.

Bella – 14460

The Bella – 14460 is vibrant proof of the adage “you get what you pay for.” At less than $25, the Bella has a 250-watt motor encased in a hard plastic body that would crack at the first drop on the floor. Its 6-inch stainless steel shaft was supposedly designed for kitchens with little storage space, but in this case, smaller doesn’t translate to good.

The Bella’s blender head is the smallest of the other blenders we tested for this 2022 update and, in tandem with the weak motor, it sprayed and struggled to get through the soup and missed huge chunks. The Bella had better success with blending the smoothie, but the speed button was difficult to hold for more than a few seconds. Included is a minuscule and flimsy whisk attachment that’s better suited for a dollhouse.

Braun – MultiQuick 9

Of all our contenders, the recently introduced Braun – MultiQuick 9 blender offers the most unique feature: the shaft is designed with a slip joint that allows the blade to move up and down. This vertical movement is just under 3/8 inch and is intended to provide a more optimized grind. To be honest, we didn’t notice a significant improvement over our fixed-blade models. However, the adjustable blade does have the benefit of reduced food clogs and easier cleaning.

The Braun boasts lots of nice features: a pressure-adjust speed trigger, ergonomic grip, and nicely balanced weight, plus a two-year warranty. It comes with the most attachments, but also the highest price tag. While we did appreciate its anti-suction performance during testing, we’re not big fans of the top safety button which is awkward to operate and only stays active for a couple of seconds. Still, the Braun is a worthy choice if you’re willing to spend the extra money for its full set of gadgets.

Hamilton Beach – 59766

The Hamilton Beach – 59766 includes a rubberized grip and well-designed detachment mechanism. During testing, it aggressively powered through foods and produced a very consistent purée. The Hamilton Beach features three speeds (low, medium, and high) adjusted by a slider switch on the side. It has two power buttons, one for basic power, plus one for turbo — and this is where our main complaint lies. These two buttons are located too close together, and because the turbo button is larger than the standard power button, it’s very easy to unintentionally press the turbo boost.

KitchenAid – KHB3581CA (Discontinued)

(Editor’s note: In 2022, we learned that KitchenAid has phased out the Pro Line series and discontinued the KHB3581CA.)

The KitchenAid Pro Line had a sleek, modern profile, and like the older models the rubber-covered power button was high up on the handle, rather than on top, so the blender’s body fitted comfortably in your hand. The power button was actually an indentation, so it was easy to start and stop and pulse.

The Pro Line had a super powerful motor that could grind through just about anything in seconds. Also, because it created such a strong vortex, the Pro Line pulled up all the ingredients in the bottom of the blending cup, so there was no need to add ingredients gradually, for example, when making mayonnaise.

One feature that was pretty remarkable was the chopper. If you wanted to chop garlic or herbs, once you added the ingredients to the cup, you attached the blender’s body to the top of the cup, and it motored the chopper. The KitchenAid Pro Line was the Mercedes of immersion blenders; it was also about triple the price of other blenders and double the price of the Bamix, our top pick.

KitchenAid – KHB2351 (discontinued)

Since this review was first published we learned that KitchenAid has discontinued this model. It had been our budget pick because not only was it under $50, it consistently performed much better than the other similarly priced immersion blenders we tested.

The KitchenAid was our only finalist not to feature a trigger-like grip shaped to the hand. This wasn’t a dealbreaker for us: The rubberized grip, monolithic in how the rubber seamlessly incorporates the power button, indented more than enough to offer a firm grasp. Other blenders had the grip at the very top, while the KitchenAid’s grip was located about 80% up its total length. We found that this position provided great leverage for stirring ingredients.

Our one gripe with the KitchenAid was that its blending shaft was difficult to attach and remove.

Philips – ProMix (Discontinued)

The Philips – ProMix was designed as a joint venture with a leading ergonomics company in Sweden. Like the Braun, the Philips featured a pressure-adjust speed control, and it could also trigger a turbo boost when squeezed all the way. It was the most slender of our finalists, though still nicely weighted, and our only model with a titanium-coated blade. We appreciated the look and feel of the ProMix; its performance didn’t quite measure up to that of our top pick.

Epica – Heavy Duty (Discontinued)

The Epica – Heavy Duty made it in our test lineup due to its high number of positive reviews across online retailers. Right out of the box, we noticed the Epica had the most plastic parts of all our contenders and was the only model without a rubberized grip. Yet it had a nice substantial weight in the hand, and the stainless steel cage had a larger diameter and thicker gauge than our other two midrange models. Oddly, the Epica fell short not because it lacked power, but rather it had too much power that wasn’t sufficiently harnessed. During testing, it sucked tight to our pot on all speed settings, and its high-energy vortex kicked up the most splatter.

How we selected

To narrow down our top immersion blender finalists, we undertook an exhaustive research process. Our team began by looking at top-reviewed products on Amazon, in which we analyzed standout features, price point, and warranty. We expanded that search to sweep across other major retailers, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Walmart, Target, and Macy’s. On each company’s website, we dug through customer reviews to find out which features are most important to people and what types of problems are most common.

Going beyond retail analyses, we read up on important differences between immersion blenders and other types of countertop mixers. To prepare for our testing, we watched videos from Sur la Table and chef Laura Kumin that described how to properly use these nifty devices.

Finally, to pull in some crucial professional insight, we reached out to the local culinary experts at Decker Brothers Gourmet, a maker of delicious all-natural soups in San Diego, California. Founding partner Chris Decker and chef Jeremy Wilcox shared that three speeds (low, medium and high) are plenty sufficient for an immersion blender. They prefer to stick with name brands (the commercial-grade Waring 16” Heavy-Duty is their product of choice), with cost and size being other top considerations.

As we compiled our findings, it became clear that customers hold many different opinions. Among review sites, no one seems to agree on which immersion blender reigns as the undisputed champ. However, we did find agreement on these two issues:

• Wattage is not a critical factor for effective performance.
• Two speed settings — low and high — are plenty adequate. More variable speeds than that are unnecessary.

Taking all things into account, we refined our list down to seven contenders — four at a higher price range but capped at a reasonable $150— and three midrange models priced at under $50.

How we tested

Two factors guided the type of tests we conducted. First, to maintain a level playing field, we decided not to do any tests that required attachments beyond the main blending arm and beaker common to most packages. That basically meant no testing with a chopper cup attachment.

Second, we learned during our research that immersion blenders have no problem whipping (pastry frosting, whipped cream) or emulsifying (mayonnaise, salad dressings). The real challenge is grinding solid foods. Therefore, we focused on purée and blending tests.

Soup purée test

For our purée test, we made seven batches (one for each finalist) of butternut squash soup using 16 ounces of squash and 8 ounces of onions in a medium-size, 2.5-quart pot. Following a 20-minute simmer and just prior to blending, we noted that the squash remained at the bottom of the pot while the onions floated to the surface. This test challenged our seven contenders to draw all ingredients to their blade to deliver an acceptable purée.

We began our blending process by placing the immersion-blender head close to the bottom center of the pot. Starting at the slowest speed, we gradually increased to mid-high speed over the first 10 seconds. During this initial main grind, we moved the blender head up and down while slowly tracing a circular pattern around the pot. The squash and onions quickly blended into a rich brown soup.

A preliminary test indicated 30 seconds was an appropriate point to stop and check for solids. Using that 30-second benchmark, we stopped blending and passed a slotted spoon (with 3/16” wide slots) back and forth to inspect for remaining food chunks. If the slotted spoon caught up partially ground veggies, we ran the blender for additional 5-10 second intervals (depending on residual amounts) until no solids were trapped by our spoon check. We then drained the soup in a stainless steel colander and measured the residual solids.

All of our contenders produced a well-puréed soup in under a minute, which seems perfectly acceptable for most home chefs. Completion times ranged from 35 to 55 seconds. Of our higher-end models, the Bamix – Pro-1 blender performed the fastest and yielded the least residual solids. Surprisingly, the Breville – BSB510XL Control Grip, which ranks high among many review sites, produced the least favorable results. We actually tested the Breville twice just to be sure, and both efforts showed the Breville struggled to attract and shred that one last remaining chunk.

Turning to our lower-priced models, the Hamilton Beach – 59766 hand blender got its work done quickest. Its blade yielded an exceptionally consistent purée. It’s worth noting that both the KitchenAid – KHB2351 (discontinued) and Epica – Heavy Duty did a fine job holding their own in this group of high-end and mid-range products.

Smoothie blending test

While our soup purée test challenged finalists to grind ingredients in a large open pot, our smoothie blending test aimed to assess how well they could process solids in a narrow container. Our smoothie recipe combined one cup of frozen blueberries with half a cup of frozen bananas, plus some milk and yogurt. We allowed the frozen fruit to thaw in a beaker for five minutes, then put a stopwatch to the blend time. Similar to the purée test, we checked for residual solids at the 20-second mark; if fruit chunks remained, we continued to blend in 5-second bursts until all were removed.

Each of our contenders delivered a strong performance, producing smoothies that were thick and creamy. Unlike grinding in the large-diameter pot (eight inches), the small-diameter beaker (four inches) helped the blenders efficiently trap and blend the fruit. None of our products left any measurable solids.

All seven immersion blenders completed the smoothie test within 30-40 seconds. Allowing for a margin of error, plus a bit of subjective judgment, our contenders performed at near-equal level. The Philips – ProMix (discontinued) along with the Hamilton Beach and Epica models performed fastest, churning out thick smoothies in just 30 seconds. Each features a turbo boost, an advantage that pushed all three to the top. At the other end, we were surprised to again see the highly reviewed Breville finish with the slowest time (though at only 5-10 seconds difference, that’s really not much to complain about).

Cleanability test

To be honest, this wasn’t much of a test. All of our contenders rinsed off easily from both our soup and smoothie tests. That said, we did notice a few subtle differences.

The Breville’s brushed stainless-steel finish rinsed off easiest, with almost no scrubbing required. The Braun – MultiQuick 9 allowed clear access above its adjustable blade, but we docked it a point because fluids can seep into its slip joint when submerged. We also docked a point from the Bamix, simply because it’s our only finalist without a detachable shaft. But to its credit, the Bamix’s removable blade does help with washing, whereas our fixed-blade models can make it tough to clean the topside of the blade (mainly because you can’t see it).

KitchenAid received our lowest cleanability rating only due to its troublesome detachment mechanism that proved particularly difficult to unlock with wet hands.

Suction and vortex control test

Speed is an important quantitative measure, but we also wanted to study our finalists’ qualitative performance. Specifically, we wanted to see how well each immersion blender could build and sustain a consistent vortex — and one commensurate with the speed setting. We also wanted to test for head suction, a critical factor that can greatly hamper performance and also damage cookware (see “anti-suction head” topic above).

Given that our soup purée test was timed for speed, it didn’t afford us much opportunity to study suction or vortex control. The chunky brown soup also obscured a clear view of the head. So for this test, we used the same 2.5-quart pot, but this time with only water. We filled the pot to 80-percent capacity (64 ounces), which set the waterline an inch-and-a-half below the rim. Placing heads close to bottom center of the pot, we then ran each immersion blender at low, medium, and high speed, observing results for both suction and vortex control.

This performance test proved more telling than we expected. By taking time to closely observe each vortex, we gained a better understanding of which models could hold a controlled, swirling current. The test also revealed which blenders create suction; we really can’t place enough value on this second quality, because when the head sucks tight to the bottom of the pot, it completely throws off your momentum.

For sustaining a controlled vortex, all of our high-end models performed well. All four generated a vortex with appropriate power for the speed setting, and none caused splatter or overflow. The Bamix produced the most consistent vortex, creating a well-shaped funnel without any splatter.

By contrast, our lower-priced models did not perform nearly as well. The Epica churned up a vigorous, frothing whirlpool at all three speed settings. In fact, its high speed was so powerful that it started to push water up and over the pot. The Hamilton Beach performed only slightly better, also too powerful for its speed settings, but the KitchenAid formed and held a decent shape.

For our suction test, the Bamix again shined through as our standout winner. This appears to be a function of the four-pin, open-cage design that allows fluids to efficiently circulate while also preventing the rotary blade from sucking down. Braun’s hand blender also performed very well, though we’re not exactly sure why because the MQ-9 has a solid cage similar to most other products; still, it exhibited only minimal suction at high speed.

None of our other finalists fared so well. For our high-end models, suction mainly occurred at the highest speed. This includes the Breville that claims its bell-shaped base reduces suction. Of our lower-end models, KitchenAid was the only product not to create suction, but that was only at the lowest speed.

Why use an immersion blender?

Immersion blenders are frequently referred to by different terms. “Hand blender” or “handheld blender” are most common, with “wand blender” and “stick blender” also coming into play. These terms all hit the mark. At its most basic level, an immersion blender is an electric motor that drives a shaft that spins a razor-sharp blade.

The primary reason to own an immersion blender is for convenience. Immersion blenders let you blend ingredients right in the pot rather than having to transfer to an upright blender or food processor, a task that can be extremely messy and unsafe when working with hot soups. These devices can also quickly blend up your morning smoothie directly in a cup. The main point is that immersion blenders are highly flexible and can eliminate the need to pull out more cumbersome appliances.

On top of that, hand blenders are super compact. And unlike personal blenders, also relatively small, these devices readily slide into a drawer.

Another major benefit is quicker and more effortless cleanup. With an upright blender or food processor, you need to disassemble and wash each component. That alone can be enough to discourage you from using it. With an immersion blender, you simply detach the shaft and give it a quick rinse. It’s a big time-saver, and the minimal effort means you don’t need to hold back from whipping up the tasty foods you enjoy.

With their convenience and versatility, immersion blenders pack a lot of bang for your buck. Low-end models start around $25-$30. Higher-end models are priced closer to $100, which can bump up to $150 when packaged with attachments, and can range over $300 for commercial-grade units. But you certainly don’t need to spend that much — you can find plenty of midrange options that balance function and style for less than $50.

What they do

The first immersion blenders were developed in Europe in the 1950s. Although features have modernized over the years, these handy kitchen gadgets still perform the same tasks they were originally designed for. Here are their four basic functions:

• Purée vegetables for soups, stews, and sauces.
• Blend ingredients such as frozen fruit and yogurt for smoothies.
• Emulsify liquids to create salad dressings, mayonnaise, and hollandaise sauce.
• Whip desserts like meringue, mousse, and — of course — whipped cream!

What they don’t do

While versatile, an immersion blender can’t completely replace your countertop appliances. For one thing, most are not intended to grind ice; you’ll still need an upright blender to whip up a pitcher of frozen margaritas. And although you may see immersion-blender recipes for nut butter, be aware that a chopper cup attachment (not available with all models) is required.

Important features to consider

First, since different manufacturers use different names to describe their parts, we’ll stick with the following terms for this article. The basic components of an immersion blender are:

Motor Unit: This housing forms the upper half of the device.

Grip: Located at the top of the motor unit, this is typically an ergonomic handle with a power button.

Shaft: This is the stainless-steel blending arm that connects motor to head.

Cage: Sometimes called a “guard,” this is the dome-shaped shield that covers the blade.

Blade: This is the rotary blade that cuts and dices.

Head: This term is usually used to refer to the cage and blade as a single element.

Now that we’re on the same page, here are the features our research steered us toward as we selected our finalists. With those immersion-blender terms in mind, let’s check out which features are most essential.

Blending effectiveness

A good immersion blender generates enough torque to create a powerful vortex within a mixing container. This movement circulates food through the blender’s rotary blade, ideally passing through the blade multiple times. For a silky smooth purée, you want a steady vortex that produces consistent particles. If too powerful, you may find the device unwieldy or experience significantly more splatter. If not powerful enough, you’ll be left with residual solids that require additional passes.

Stainless-steel head

After blending power, this is the next most important quality. Avoid less-expensive models with plastic cages, which can deform in very hot liquids. Stainless steel provides much better long-term durability due to its protective coating that resists scratching and corrosion as well as staining. Unlike plastic, stainless steel is inherently BPA-free and also less porous, so it resists bacteria and remains easy to clean. Plus, a  strong, rigid steel cage lets you really power down on pesky solids that resist your blade.

Anti-suction head

With the powerful torque created by their rotary blades, immersion blenders tend to suck the cage tight to the bottom of the mixing vessel. This is less a problem when blending in a narrow container, such as a tall cup or beaker. But for blending in a pot, suction can make it incredibly difficult to control the head’s path as you move it up and down while trying to sweep a steady, circular pattern. When the head becomes suddenly sucked to the pot bottom, you essentially need to stop, reposition and start again. If you don’t power down and instead try to pull free of the suction, it typically jerks the head clear of the surface and causes a splattery mess.

Strong suction — which frequently occurs at high speeds — can also cause metal cages to damage Teflon-coated cookware. A nylon-coated guard that lines the base of the cage will prevent such scratching and gouging. Unfortunately, such designs are rare, and only our Breville product includes this thoughtful protection.

When you use your immersion blender for the first time, try testing it in a pot of water — and probably not your favorite pot! This lets you get a feel for how it handles. If you hold the wand at a slight angle, it will help prevent suction; take care though, as this angle can also kick up more splatter.

Ergonomic grip and speed controls

You want the handle to provide a comfortable, natural fit to your hand. Better models come with a textured rubber grip that not only feels more welcoming than plastic but also helps prevent slippage.

Immersion blenders are intended to be operated with one hand, as you usually need to hold the mixing container in place with your other hand. That means you want easy finger access to the power button, which activates the blade (for clarity, immersion blenders do not have an on/off switch — once plugged in, the unit is “hot” and ready to go). Some models come with two power buttons, typically for low/high speed or for regular speed plus a turbo boost. For either setup, you want to be sure your fingers can comfortably reach both buttons.

Newer products, such as our Braun and Philips models, are designed with a pressure-adjust trigger. By slowly squeezing the trigger, you can cycle through low to high speeds. Sounds great, but it can prove challenging to maintain consistent pressure and speed while also wrangling a pot of ingredients. That’s not to say pressure-adjust triggers are poor design, just that they take some practice to master.

Lastly, two more ergonomic factors, both interrelated, are weight and grip location. For weight, the unit should feel balanced in your hand, neither too heavy nor too light and insubstantial. Most high-end models achieve this. For grip location, you want the handle positioned at a point that offers firm, stable control. If located too high on the motor, the leverage can feel awkward.

For each of these ergonomic concerns — and especially if you plan to order online — your best bet is always to first visit a brick-and-mortar retailer and compare the feel of different products in person.

Detachable shaft

Motor units should not be submerged in water; you need to wipe that component down with a dry or damp cloth. The stainless steel shaft and head, however, need a thorough cleaning. Fortunately, most immersion blenders come with a detachable shaft that can be placed directly in the dishwasher. For the detachment mechanism, you want a design that easily disengages the shaft (usually by a button), so you can deposit it in the sink right after use. Also, be sure the shaft forms a rigid connection when attached to the motor as a single unit.

The good news is that cleaning stainless-steel parts is often effortless. Sometimes a quick rinse will do the job, with barely any scrubbing required. Of course, if you have a dishwasher, it’s always a good idea to power wash your blender shaft every few uses for guaranteed sanitization.

Immersion depth

If you plan to make a lot of soups or other recipes in deep containers, then you’ll want to pay attention to immersion depth. This is the height the shaft can submerge below fluids without reaching the motor. Most manufacturers set this at the joint between motor unit and detachable shaft. Pay attention to that joint because you want to avoid products with joints that can trap food and make cleaning difficult.

Reliable warranty

As we pored over customer reviews, it was surprising to read more than a few complaints about motors burning out, some within just the first couple of months. We have to wonder if some of these complaints are due to people not following manufacturer instructions, such as exceeding recommended run time or trying to dice items covered on the “do not chop” list.

Still, whether those reported motor burnouts were due to user error or not, you want to make certain your immersion blender comes with a solid warranty. In our research, we found most manufacturers offer a one-year warranty covering repair parts and labor; some offer product replacement but at the company’s discretion.

For our seven contenders, most warranty language includes the phrase “free from defects in material and workmanship.” They do not cover user negligence. So take time to read your manual, or you might have a battle on your hands if you fry your motor by going beyond the recommended run time.

Less-important features

If you browse immersion blenders online, you’ll find that most brands tout multi-speed models as well as varying attachment packages. Don’t be swayed by these two factors, as neither is critical. Two to three speeds are all you need. As for attachments, while this is more a matter of personal desire, you shouldn’t let it drive your decision on which blender is best. It’s also wise to look at the amount of storage space those attachments will take up.

A few safety tips

• Never put your fingers near the blade when the unit is plugged in.
• Know your product limitations (for example, do not grind ice cubes).
• Before mixing hot ingredients in a pot, remove the pot from the burner and place it on a stable countertop.
• Respect the manufacturer’s maximum run time, which is typically about one minute.
• After use, briefly run head in a bowl of water, then unplug and wash with a scrub brush.

The bottom line

Immersion blenders offer the convenience of direct, in-the-pot blending without taking up a lot of kitchen storage. A quality immersion blender feels comfortable in the hand, generates a strong yet controlled vortex, and comes with a reliable warranty that ideally extends beyond one year.

The Bamix – Pro-1 ticks all these boxes and serves as a perfect example of what the Bamix company continues to do best: produce high-caliber immersion blenders with Swiss precision engineering. Best of all, the Pro-1’s open cage avoids any suction whatsoever, giving you optimum control in either a stewpot or a smoothie cup.

For this 2022 update, we also recommend the GE – G8H1AASSPSS, a sturdy immersion blender with a high-speed motor that’s quiet and efficient. It comes with a useful chopper/grinder attachment and a full-size whisk, all at an attractive price.

If you’re looking for a cordless option, the All-Clad – KZ800D51 is a beautifully designed, highly functional immersion blender. Its extra-robust motor is powered by a lithium-ion battery that keeps the blender charged and ready to go when you need it.

Top Pick: Bamix - Pro-1

Backed by an astounding 10-year warranty, the Pro-1 guarantees long-term durability and eases concerns about motor burnout. Its smooth-purring motor is a pleasure to operate, and the unique open cage stirs up a controlled vortex without messy splatter.

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Bryan Vu, Editor

Bryan is our cooking and kitchen expert, with more than 15 years of experience of cooking and testing kitchen products. When outside of the kitchen, he enjoys woodworking, photography, videography and figuring out how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. He thoroughly enjoys discovering the best, whether it’s ingredients or equipment, and finding products that can stand the rigors of daily use.