The 5 Best Immersion Blenders in 2023 Tested and Reviewed

A specialist tool ideal for preparing quick meals, your immersion blender will come in handy for small batches of soups, sauces, or baby food. Some high-powered blenders can even handle tougher tasks like processing raw nuts or frozen fruit with very little effort. Distinguished by their portable design and the ability to work with nearly any container, they can also be life-savers for those with limited kitchen space or those wanting to get rid of countertop clutter.

How We Test Our Immersion Blenders

Our goal for the review is not only to evaluate the performance of a stick blender; we want it to communicate the practicality of each machine in the real world, too. As such, we researched the functions and performance traits that matter most to users. It took some time to get a feel for how other people use their devices, but once we had a solid list, we started formulating the test recipes accordingly.

Test Recipes

As of today, we’re employing five recipes corresponding to five different tests. They include Puréed Hot Soup, Frozen Fruit Smoothie, Mayonnaise, Almond Milk, and Whipped Egg-White recipes. Each of them is inspired by our own Chef Tuyet, with at least five hours of development and continuous testing to pass the trial process.

The process was not as simple as it sounds, though. We had to go through a lot of failures along the way to ensure that each recipe was both practical and revelatory as an evaluation.

Out of the five recipes, the Puréed Hot Soup recipe was the hardest to develop, requiring us to fine-tune several times, then repeatedly perform tests on each of the variants. This was because we had to find suitable ingredients that work together as a real soup but which would also help us find points of distinction between models. Most of the stick blenders we tested were very capable of blending a simple root-veggie soup, so we had to add more challenging ingredients to the recipe.

Once we developed our test recipes, our team moved on to the next stage.

Test Procedure 

We had to run each recipe through dozens of trials to end up with the best testing procedure for each. All the while, we brainstormed as many different solutions as possible to improve on shortcomings. We wanted the results to come out entirely logical and helpful, so we couldn’t be lax in our attention to detail.

While testing our purees to find out the best immersion blenders for pureeing soup, for instance, we found it hard to create a recipe that would be consistent across all test batches. If any serving of bare ingredients is thicker, it will be harder to blend, thus compromising the test’s value as a comparison. To minimize skewed results, we kept all the soups at the same temperature (136°F and 140°F) and performed the same hand motions with each blender.

Test Results 

The final step of the performance testing was to assign a rating based on the blenders’ results.

For this process, we needed to determine what factors reflected a blender’s efficiency in each test. And after dozens of tests and hours of research, we decided the Blending Time and the Blended Result would be our two main scoring factors. Not every test can use both of these parameters, however; some only focus on one or the other.

We don’t score the results by flavor. Since we use the same recipe for each test, each one should taste roughly the same.

Check out How We Tested Our Immersion Blenders in detail.

How Our Recommendations Are Made

Recommendations are based upon the resulting scores of our testing procedures. We take into account the specialized strengths of a product, the situation it’s best suited for, or the personal circumstances it is likely to best match. 

Reviews of the Best Immersion Blenders in 2023

Now that you know our thought process behind the testing procedure, let’s move on to the product summaries for the top-rated immersion blenders.

1. Best Overall: Braun MultiQuick 5 Immersion Blender

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So far, we are pleased with our Braun MultiQuick-5 in almost every respect and haven't found much to complain about this handheld blender. Though it wasn’t the winner in all tests, it was consistently better than most, beating the competition within its price range hands down thanks to its versatility and heavy-duty performance.

In the pureéd soup test, particularly, this blender delivered us with a batch of smooth soup where different kinds of veggies came together in a snap. And so did the fruity smoothie. Our ingredients, including kale and frozen fruits, were included to pose challenges, but this Braun immersion blender otherwise churned out a quick, icy treat with minimal effort.

The included practical accessory package makes this blender an even better value, especially considering its reasonable price. We used the whisk to emulsify mayonnaise and surprisingly found the sauce it produced was the best. This goody also allowed our blender to function as a hand mixer for forming even large quantities of egg-whites to stiff peaks. 

Design-wise, the surfaces are anti-stick, the parts feel extra sturdy, and the whole thing stands up to wear and tear better than others. Comfort is one of the blender’s strong suits as well. At roughly 2 pounds, your stick blender may work without overtaxing your hand and wrist.

Moreover, its ergonomic grip offers a non-slip, comfortable grip so you can perform a wide range of cooking activities with unparalleled comfort, even toward a prolonged blending process. Just note that its blending tools may scratch or mar your non-stick cookware.

Price at time of publish: $62.87

Key Specs

2. Upgrade Pick: Vitamix Immersion Blender

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We tested the Vitamix against other stick blenders before coming to the conclusion that this is among the fastest, most efficient ones on the market. Although it costs nearly twice as much as others, the premium price isn’t just for the brand name.

Featuring a high-powered motor (625 watts), the Vitamix genuinely gives you superior blending performance, turning your foods into creamy, nutrient-dense purees in a matter of seconds.

At 17.5 inches tall by 3 inches wide, the Vitamix is larger than average, but it doesn’t feel bulky or cumbersome. That length, in fact, may allow it to reach the bottom of deep pots more easily. At 3.2 pounds, it is also heavier than most, but maneuvering it is no issue since the handle is ergonomically designed and coated with a rubber layer to ensure a comfortable grip.

The Vitamix is a variable speed hand blender with an intuitive interface. You can get five different speeds using the two buttons on the front (Power and Speed Control). Furthermore, because this machine accelerates much more smoothly than most of the blenders on our list, it allows you to start low and increase as you go without the risk of splattering. 

On the downside, since it doesn’t include extra blending attachments, its capabilities are limited. That fact became very apparent in the whipping task — the similar Braun hand blender worked much better thanks to a whisk attachment. Nevertheless, if you don’t intend to make meringue, that shouldn’t affect your buying decision. This blender is entirely worth the money, and the company’s generous warranty reflects their confidence in the product.

Price at time of publish: $146.87

Key Specs

3. Best Cordless: KitchenAid Cordless KHBBV53 Hand Blender

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People love KitchenAid products for their overall quality (even if they may balk at the price), and this powerful immersion blender lives up to the company’s reputation. Well constructed, versatile, and moderately powerful, the KitchenAid KHBBV53 is made to cover every basic task — creamy mayonnaise, hot soup, whipped cream, and baby food are just the start.

As a cordless device, it is powered by a lithium-ion battery which can keep it running long enough for about 25 medium bowls of soup. The battery charges fully in 2 hours, but you can get enough power in 20 minutes for most any quick task. 

We like the beauty and simplicity of this blender’s design. The controls are also practical enough. You can get multiple speed options through a trigger switch which is extremely responsive. The palm switch on the blender’s backside functions as a helpful safety mechanism. 

Unlike many others, this blender doesn’t have a “Turbo” button to give it an extra burst of power. It also doesn’t have a button release for the blending arm; instead, you simply twist the attachment counterclockwise to detach.

Price at time of publish: $89.66

Key Specs

4. Best Budget: Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender

$47.22 at Amazon

The Cuisinart Smart Stick is a budget option that struggles with hard ingredients like frozen fruits compared to higher-end models such as the Vitamix or the Braun MultiQuick-5. However, it still provides consistent performance for lighter-duty tasks and offers good value for the money.

Despite its affordability, it doesn't sacrifice power or features. Boasting a 300-watt motor with stainless steel 2-pronged blades, it enables even blending of soups, smoothies, and mayonnaise. The two-speed options that offer the user fine-grained control over texture is also a plus. 

However, the blender's locking mechanism requires simultaneous depression of an additional button alongside the operational button, resulting in a cumbersome user experience. The locking button's operation often necessitates the use of both hands and proves counterintuitive for some. Moreover, the dial for adjusting the blender's speed is separated from the On/Off button, presenting a significant ergonomic challenge for users who may need to simultaneously adjust speed, blend, and hold the beaker. These limitations may result in frustrating user experiences and necessitate frequent stops to alter the blending speed.

Price at time of publish: $46.56

Key Specs

5. Best for Smoothies: BELLA 10-Speed Immersion Blender

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The BELLA 10-Speed is an average hand blender with a sharp blade locked into a sturdy stainless steel wand for safe and easy operation. It's a valuable option if you are willing to compromise on heavy blending performance and a little bit of comfort. In return you get a bunch of helpful features and a kit of mixing attachments to aid in many different cooking styles. 

We liked the BELLA 10-speed for its ergonomic design and the convenience it adds to the kitchen. Its 350-watt motor lets you blend, puree, or mix with acceptable results while the solid body offers a reasonably comfortable, non-slip grip. As you may guess from the name, it’s also equipped with 10 speed options that you select using two front buttons and a top dial. Also included in this set is a whisk, a blending jar, and a mini chopper attachment, which is really nice if you want to get more creative in your kitchen. 

Indeed, we were really surprised by this blender’s performance, especially in the smoothie test. At the highest speeds, it broke all the frozen fruits down into liquid form without much struggle, delivering a silky smoothie that not many blenders in this price range could match. For those who want lump-free smoothies everyday, this BELLA 10-speed is definitely one of the best options. Just be aware that its motor vibrates excessively, causing your hands to feel shaky throughout the blending process.

Price at time of publish: $37.09

Key Specs

Nearest Competitors

A few quick notes on other immersion blenders we tested:

• Muller Ultra-Stick: Sporting a 500-watt motor, this Muller device is adequate for any light-duty blending task so we believe it would be a nice choice for low-budget buyers. The trade-off is that its performance isn’t consistent and it causes a lot of splashing, no matter how slowly you try to go. We got splatters all over the counter and ended up wasting food in every test. The included mixing cup, which is very prone to scratching, also leaves much to be desired.
• Hamilton Beach 59765: Of all the immersion blenders we tested, this Hamilton Beach was surprisingly the worst, lacking the blending comfort and refinement that we look for. Low efficiency aside, it also disappointed us with a flimsy design and entirely unhelpful attachments. Given all its shortcomings, this blender really isn’t worth your consideration. 
• UTALENT 5-in-1: We expected the UTALENT 5-in-1 to pass all our tests with acceptable results, given its mid-range power and solid blade. Surprisingly, though, this blender turned out to be an underperformer by every metric, redeeming itself only slightly better than the Hamilton Beach. On the upside, the testing results suggest that this blender’s performance is at least consistent and is fine for simpler recipes.

Things to Keep in Mind When Buying an Immersion Blender

Here are a few key aspects that everyone should consider before buying an immersion blender:

1. Motor Power

The blender’s efficiency and capability is often heavily dependent on the motor’s power. In other words, the higher the wattage, the better your machine performs and the wider range of food it is able to handle. As such, it’s best to decide what types of ingredients you’re likely to blend before you start shopping for a device. 

A power output of between 200W and 600W will be enough for the basic tasks of whipping, blending, chopping, and preparing baby food. If you’re trying to find a winner that is capable of performing heavy-duty tasks such as crushing ice or grinding seeds, you may have to invest in a model rated at around 1,000W instead. 

Be aware that higher power can also mean more noise. That might be a consideration if you’re blending in the morning while your baby is still asleep.

2. Price 

For less than $50, you can own a medium-quality immersion blender with a motor and blades that are sturdy enough to deal with almost all types of greens. It should remain operational for years with only moderate maintenance.

High-quality models appear more frequently in the $80 - $150 range, with some exceeding $200. They are better built and have heavier-duty motors. At higher price points, you may also get more significant accessory packages.

3. Stainless Steel Blending Shaft

Hand blenders typically come with a detachable blending wand that is either made of stainless steel or plastic. Stainless steel blade shafts are usually more durable than their cheaper plastic counterparts.

Steel also limits the risk of warping or cracking if properly cared for. It will hold its shape in the face of both high torque and hot cookware that might melt or warp cheap plastic.

4. Speed Controls

Ideally, you should find a hand blender with two speed options (Low and High). That will cover most of your needs and usually doesn’t drive the price up.

Multi-speed blenders (those with more than two settings) offer more flexibility, of course. They are also helpful for when you want to start slow and progressively increase the speed so as to avoid spilling or splattering food. However, they may take a bit of practice to operate smoothly and are likely to cost more.

5. Additional Attachments

Some models include additional attachments with the blender. Other companies only offer them as add-on products. 

Since most people use hand blenders purely for simple tasks, they don’t always need extra accessories. But if yours comes with an extra whisk, chopping blade, blending cup, etc, you may find yourself trying new tasks with it. It’s good to experiment if you have the option.

6. Ease of Cleaning

While it seems as if the most important aspect of a good immersion blender is its motor power, the ease of cleaning can also be a significant factor. A well-designed blade guard that keeps food from getting stuck and a detachable shaft that you can throw in soapy water will be a real convenience.

It’s good if the attachments are dishwasher-safe as well. If not, you’ll have to wash them by hand, adding time to the whole cycle of preparing and cleaning.

Anatomy of an Immersion Blender

Before we delve into the buying guide, let's familiarize you with the components that constitute an immersion blender.

An immersion blender consists of several integral parts. The main components are the motor housing, which contains the engine that powers the blender, and the shaft, which is a long, slender attachment that houses the blades at its end. These blades, shielded by a blade guard to prevent accidents, are responsible for the actual blending, pureeing, and chopping of ingredients. 

There is also a control panel which allows for easy adjustment of speed and mode to suit various culinary tasks. To power the blender, it either has a cord that plugs into an outlet or relies on a battery in cordless models.

Immersion vs. Full-Sized Blender

Immersion blenders provide advantages over full-sized blenders, including the fact that they allow you to blend your food directly in the pot in which it’s being cooked. But they are not without drawbacks as well. 

If you’re in the market for the best blenders but haven’t yet decided on a type, take a look at the table below to see how immersion blenders stack up against more traditional full-sized blenders. Note that not all models offer the same features; this is just a list of common traits.

FAQ

Why Trust US

When we chose to start doing in-depth product reviews, we wanted to distinguish ourselves from most of the other sites out there. Our process is designed to be a great source of real-world information and we try to present it in a way that’s easy for anyone to relate to. 

We began our review by purchasing all the immersion blenders of our own accord specifically for testing purposes. We didn’t receive any sponsorships or donations and have no stake in the manufacturers’ reputations. 

Suffice to say, this review was purely conducted to communicate dependable recommendations based on our hands-on testing and evaluations as actual users. The conclusions and opinions we bring to you here are the same ones we’ll be passing on to our own friends and families.

Note that we couldn’t put our own hands on every possible hand blender for testing, but we ran our tools through a series of tasks to give you different perspectives on their blending performance. Each test reflects one of the most common functions for standard immersion blenders. We truly hope these reviews are helpful and make your buying decisions simpler. 

Many members of the Healthy Kitchen 101 crew were involved in this process. Our Research, Testing, and Review (RTR) team is composed of a panel of kitchen tool enthusiasts bent on creating clear, objective, and consistent test procedures. By their sides were our expert cooks and our top professional chef, Tuyet Pham, all of whom have years of culinary experience. Everyone worked together to apply the same testing procedures to each model to ensure all results were accurate and reasonable comparisons.  

There is also our Media Team—after all, we couldn’t communicate the test results to you without great photos and recordings. We want to make all aspects of the tests accessible — from beginning to end — so you can make the best decision about which product to choose. The Media Team is responsible for all the visuals presented in this and all our articles.

Our Expertise 

As a dedicated tester at Healthy Kitchen 101, Tina has been on a quest to uncover the actual practicality of immersion blenders since 2018. The extensive research allowed her to identify the 15 top models on the market, both corded and cordless models, and she then devoted two years to perform hands-on testing on each one. 

Her evaluation was made even more comprehensive by her collaboration with Chef Tuyet Pham, Consultant Luna Regina, and Test Lead Lap Vo, who brought their expert culinary skills and technical knowledge to the table in order to add an extra layer of expertise to the testing process.

About your guide

Tina PhamReviewer

Tina Pham is a staff writer and reviewer, with five years of experience in the industry. As a passionate amateur home cook, she loves to discover practical cooking solutions, and has made it her mission to bring her findings to every kitchen. Her ultimate goal is making cooking more of a pleasure for all.

Luna ReginaEditor

Luna Regina is an accomplished writer and author who dedicates her career to empowering home cooks and making cooking effortless for everyone. She is the founder of HealthyKitchen101.com and HealthyRecipes101.com, where she works with her team to develop easy, nutritious recipes and help aspiring cooks choose the right kitchen appliances.

Lap VoTest Lead

Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.

Tuyet PhamProfessional Chef

Tuyet Pham is an award-winning Saigonese chef passionate about delicious and healthful foods. At HealthyKitchen101, she develops recipes and collaborates with our Research, Testing, and Review lab to evaluate the performance of cooking appliances. Her assessments add a strong authoritative voice to our product scoring process.