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After a round of testing in 2021, our top pick remains the same. We are adding a variable speed Braun MQ7035 MultiQuick immersion hand mixer as another good choice.
After a round of testing in 2021, our top pick remains the same. We are adding a variable speed Braun MQ7035 MultiQuick immersion hand mixer as another good choice.
Our previous upgrade option, the Philips ProMix handheld mixer HR1670/92, has been discontinued.
An immersion blender (also called a hand blender or stick blender) is not as powerful as a countertop blender, but it can be more convenient. You can use it to puree the soup directly in the pot, or make a quick and easy mayonnaise, and throw it in the drawer after eating. Since 2013, we have used more than a dozen immersion blenders to mix gallons of soups, smoothies and sauces, and Breville Control Grip has always been among the best. It produces smoother textures, uses a more comfortable design, and is equipped with truly effective whipping and chopping attachments.
This immersion blender can produce smooth purees, and its overall ease of use and well-designed additional features make it worth the money.
*At the time of publication, the price was $119.
The Breville Control Grip immersion blender can even puree the fiber soup thoroughly, and can blend smoothies made with ice and frozen berries into a thick creamy mixture. It has a rubber handle and a power button, which you can press naturally when holding it, so it can be held comfortably even if you stir for a long time. The stirring rod will not splash when mixing into mud. We also appreciate the extra-large 42-ounce mixing jar, which has a handle, clearly marked size and a rubber handle that can be firmly fixed in place during the mixing process. Breville is equipped with an egg beater and chopper attachment. Although it is one of the currently more expensive hand mixers, we think it is unlikely to wilt in the trash drawer compared to other inconvenient products.
We found that other models are more comfortable to hold, but Braun blends better than any other affordable immersion blender we have tested.
*At the time of publication, the price was $65.
The Braun MultiQuick 5 Hand Blender MQ505 is comparable to more expensive models in thoroughly whipping soups and smoothies. It has a soft grip, but we found that pressing its small button during the entire mixing time quickly becomes tired. In addition to the mixing tank, Braun is also equipped with an egg beater, but does not include a chopper. Although there are cheaper options, we think it's worth spending a little more than the lowest price to get a model that won't splash. The other low-cost models we tested—including the Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-175, which replaced our previous budget choice CSB-75—are more difficult to use and produce hot liquid splash cleanup that is neither fun nor easy. Cuisinart CSB-175 also has ice problems, while Braun MQ505 can easily crush ice and frozen fruits.
This powerful immersion blender produces an impressive silky puree, but it costs a lot for models without accessories.
In our tests, when it comes to mixing smoothly and thoroughly, the Philips ProMix Hand Blender HR1670/92 is unparalleled, it produces the velvety soup and the thickest smoothie. It is also very comfortable to hold for a few minutes, because when you squeeze, your hands will naturally rest. To increase the power level, you only need to press hard so that you can easily use the blender with one hand without stopping. However, Philips is not cheap, and apart from the 24 ounce mixing cup (you can purchase whisk and chopper accessories separately at a high price), you have not got any accessories. If you want the best puree from an immersion blender, and if you are willing to pay anything for it, then this Philips ProMix model is worth your consideration.
This immersion blender can produce smooth purees, and its overall ease of use and well-designed additional features make it worth the money.
*At the time of publication, the price was $119.
We found that other models are more comfortable to hold, but Braun blends better than any other affordable immersion blender we have tested.
*At the time of publication, the price was $65.
This powerful immersion blender produces an impressive silky puree, but it costs a lot for models without accessories.
Associate editor Christine Cyr Clisset wrote our original guide to immersion blenders in 2013, and she spent hundreds of hours researching, testing, and writing articles about rotating, cutting, and chopping kitchen gadgets on Wirecutter. This includes writing our original guide for food processors and blenders. Before that, she was the cookbook editor of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Senior staff writer Michael Sullivan, who contributed to our 2016 update, reviewed everything from wine glasses to Wirecutter toasters. He graduated from the International Culinary Center and worked as an editor there. He previously served as a recipe tester for the recipe "Meat: Everything You Need to Know". Sharon Franke, who participated in our 2018 update, tested and wrote articles about kitchen equipment at the Good Housekeeping Institute for more than 30 years. Before that, she spent seven years working as a professional chef in a restaurant in New York City, brandishing knives and pots and pans.
In 2015, we interviewed Rudy Speckamp, a former restaurant owner, who worked as a lecturer at the Culinary Institute of America for countless hours using immersion blenders, and Volker Frick maker Kettle Gourmet, who has worked in immersion blenders for 20 years. In our research, we also read Cook's Illustrated (subscription required) and reviews in Serious Eats, and we carefully reviewed owner ratings on retailer sites such as Amazon and reviews from Wirecutter readers.
If you are making puree, an immersion blender is definitely worth the investment. “You can use a blender or a food processor, but an immersion blender can only make it a one-pot cooking,” chef Rudy Speckamp tells us. Use an immersion blender to easily put the soup directly into the soup pot, instead of pouring the cooked ingredients into the blender in several batches, then pour each batch into another bowl or pot, and finally mix them and put them in Reheat in the pot. The immersion blender is also suitable for small batches of smoothies, baby food, and even dips, pesto or mayonnaise. If you have a whisk attachment, it can make whipped cream on pies or ice cream sundaes.
Immersion blenders are not suitable for heavier tasks, and most do not produce a silky smooth texture. Food processors with various blades and discs are best for shredding, dicing or shredding, while full-size blenders can make smoother purees and smoothies.
If you are making puree, an immersion blender is definitely worth the investment.
We recommend that you upgrade from your old immersion mixer only when the current model cannot produce smooth textures, is difficult to hold and use, or requires more accessories (such as a mini chopper or egg beater).
For the 2018 update, we checked which new models have been introduced since the last guide, and whether any models we reviewed before have been updated or discontinued. We read the latest reports from other review sites and looked at the best-selling products on Amazon and other retailer sites. We also pay close attention to reviews of our existing guidelines and Amazon, noting design features that people like or hate. Considering all this, and all our past research on immersion mixers, we established the following criteria for a good model.
The most important feature of the immersion mixer is that it can mix the mud into a fairly delicate texture within a reasonable time. The motor of the immersion mixer needs to have enough torque to generate a violent vortex so that the food circulates in the mixing container and passes through the rotating blade many times. "If there is a lot of sports, that's great," Kettle Cuisine's executive chef Volker Frick said in an interview with us in 2015. "How deep is [vortex]? How fast does it spit out?" An effective vortex will produce a smooth puree, while a substandard vortex will leave thick or coarse crumbs in the soup or smoothie. Crumbs.
Because these machines are designed for one-handed use (you may use your other hand to hold a pot or mixing cup), the best machines are comfortable to hold. This means that the controls should be easy to press or adjust, the handles should feel good in your hands, and the machine should be light enough that you can hold it for at least a minute without getting tired. (Many non-commercial immersion mixers are designed for no more than one minute, otherwise they will overheat.)
Immersion stirrers with detachable stir bars are easier to clean and there is no risk of wetting the motor. These designs also allow you to connect different accessories (such as food choppers or egg beaters), and some can even be washed in the dishwasher. That is, more expensive models (such as Bamix models) and models for commercial use usually have wands that will not fall off. In a way, fixed rods may be the reason these professional blenders are more durable than household models; they just have fewer pieces and can break. (We couldn't find an official electrical engineer to confirm this theory, but we talked to a process engineer who agreed with this assessment.) But in more than five years, our Breville detachable wand did not show any durability For sexual problems testing, we ultimately prefer this style because it is convenient.
We prefer models with wands made mainly of stainless steel because they are not only more durable, but also heat resistant. The plastic parts may be deformed in a batch of hot soup (or if they touch the hot side of the pot). We read at least one Amazon review and mentioned the issue of cheaper all-plastic models in the review of this Kitchn article.
In our testing of the 2018 update of this guide, we noticed that the cheapest model we tested had an opening in the cage around the blade. These models are the only ones that splashed during our mixing process-this was not pleasant when we made the hot soup. In one case, we left a lot of stains and needed to clean up the countertops, cabinets, walls and clothes .
As for accessories, many models have food choppers and blenders. Chefs Volker Frick and Rudy Speckamp agree that these accessories are actually just gravy, because the main task of the immersion blender is to stir. In our own tests, we found that the chopper attachment can be used to grind small batches of breadcrumbs, mix quick sauces, or make wonton fillings, but it is not always suitable for chopped onions and the like, because it is easy to crush. Normally, we find that dirtying the mini chopper attachment is more troublesome than its value. At the same time, the mixer attachment is particularly useful for whipping cream quickly, and it gives us a more fluffy effect than the mixing stick.
Some brands make models with taller wands and advertise that they are more suitable for mixing in deep basins. Speckamp agrees: "[Length] is important, especially for large amounts of cooking, because you want it to go into the bottom of the pot to be pureed. If the shaft only hits the middle of the pot, I don't think it will be that successful." On the other hand, If it is too high, the operation of the immersion mixer will become more troublesome, as we have encountered during the test.
Multiple speeds are good because it helps to start slowly and gradually increase the speed to prevent splashing, but it is not required. However, our tests confirmed that people really only need two speeds: low speed and high speed.
You can also find various cordless immersion mixers, but they are often not as powerful as their corded counterparts. In our 2015 reviews, we did not find any cordless models that exceeded the editorial or buyer reviews, and we decided not to include any models in our testing.
Almost every major brand that manufactures small kitchen appliances produces immersion blenders, but there is not much consensus on which brand is best—at least in editorial comments. America's Test Kitchen (subscription required), Good Housekeeping, and Serious Eats tested different models, and we did not find any consensus in the smaller reviews we read, so it is difficult to compare the results. Therefore, we check Amazon reviews more carefully than usual.
In the previous test, we first pureed a whole pot of root vegetable soup until it looked smooth (this is how most people use an immersion blender at home). We calculated the time it took, and then we filtered the results to see if the blender left any lumps. For the 2018 update, we decided to test each blender for four minutes because we noticed that most of the models in our lineup took that long to make a soup pot that looks smooth. Once again, we poured a large batch of broth consisting of root vegetables, ginger, and almonds directly into a 6-quart pot and filtered the results to look for any unmixed parts. We also used kale, frozen strawberries, a few ice cubes, orange juice and yogurt to make smoothies in each mixing cup (for models without cups, you can also use Pyrex 4 quart glasses). Although we recognize that many immersion blender manufacturers do not recommend using their blender to crush frozen ingredients or ice, we know that many smoothie recipes require ice and frozen fruit, and some people like to use their immersion blender to make smoothies. As with the soup, we filter the smoothie after mixing.
In order to judge the emulsification efficiency of the immersion blender, we used a stirring rod (trying to make a quick immersion blender mayonnaise by mixing all the ingredients at once) and a blender attachment (adding oil in a slow drizzle) to make a small batch mayonnaise. During this process, we noticed how easy it is to operate each mixer in the mixing cup and whether the cup remains stable on the countertop while we are working.
During the test, we also checked whether the blender sucked to the bottom of the cup or pot, which would make it difficult to continue stirring without pulling up and causing splashing. In addition, use the stirrer attachment-or if the stirrer does not come with a stir bar, we whipped the heavy cream and measured the result to see if the volume had at least doubled. In the chopper attachment (if the mixer comes with one), we cut the onions into cubes to determine whether the machine can chop them evenly without crushing them.
This immersion blender can produce smooth purees, and its overall ease of use and well-designed additional features make it worth the money.
*At the time of publication, the price was $119.
In our tests, the Breville Control Grip immersion blender processed soups and smoothies into uniform and fast textures. We also found that it is easier and more enjoyable to use than most other hand-held blenders, which means it is more likely to be played regularly in the kitchen. The rubber handle and the power button, you can squeeze like a trigger, making it one of the most comfortable models of all the mixers we have tested, it will not splash or suck into our pot bottom or mixing cup. Breville’s 42-ounce cup is almost twice the volume of the cups that come with other blenders we’ve tested—enough for two smoothies. Its wide speed range and useful accessories help make it stand out from the competition.
In our initial 2013 test and our 2016 update, Breville produced the smoothest puree. When we filtered the results through a sieve, there was almost zero food waste (impressively, it even reduced Ground peanuts into a smooth peanut butter). Our 2018 test results were roughly the same, even though we pureed the soup made from root vegetables, ginger and almonds, even though the soup made from the two new models we tested had a smoother texture. Breville only left a few slices of almond skin. Perhaps most importantly, it did not splash in the process.
None of the blenders we tested before performed well on green smoothies, but Breville has always been at or near the top in this regard. In 2018, when we used ice cubes in our smoothie recipe, we found that Breville and several other smoothies were thick in texture, with very small kale spots, and only a fraction of an ounce did not pass through the fine sieve. In the previous In the test, the Dualit handheld mixer was only on par with Breville, although it was a more powerful immersion mixer (400 watts vs. Breville's 280 watts). In our recent test, we found that the Philips ProMix hand blender HR1670/92 (our upgrade option, 300 watts) and Braun MultiQuick 7 hand blender MQ725 (400 watts) produced smoother results-when we tighten There were almost no fragments or debris left in their smoothies.
In addition to mixing well, Breville is also one of the most comfortable blenders to use.
Breville's low and high speeds are more extreme than other models we tested, and its significantly higher high speed may be the reason for its efficient mixing. Although we found that most of the 15 available speeds are too large, this range is helpful when we need to start slowly and gradually increase the speed to prevent the ingredients from splashing. A small dial on the top of the mixer controls the speed, which is easy to adjust while you are mixing.
In addition to mixing well, Breville is also one of the most comfortable blenders to use. As a result, it is easier for us to deal with things that take a few minutes (such as our pot of soup or mayonnaise). Part of the Breville handle is covered with rubber, so it is easy to grasp. Because you hold the Breville trigger style and place your finger on the power button instead of pressing it with your fingertips, Breville is also one of the easiest models to operate.
Breville is one of the few models we have tested over the years. There is a plastic rim around the bottom of the metal cage, which prevents slight suction from the bottom of the mixing cup or pot. We also appreciate that the non-stick surface prevents the mixer from scratching the bottom and sides of the pan.
In our many years of long-term testing, we did not often use Breville's mixing cup, but we appreciate that it is larger than the cups that come with other models. At 42 ounces of the top filling line, it is close to double the other cups we have tested, and it is the only cup in our 2018 test that can comfortably hold two smoothie ingredients. When we use it to make traditional mayonnaise (slowly drizzled with oil), its larger capacity makes it easier for us to manipulate the hand blender. For storage, the cup has a lid, and then the lid is stuck on the bottom of the cup to prevent the container from moving on the countertop while you are stirring. For other functions, such as making smoothies, the handle on the jar gives us a good grip. Breville's mini choppers can also be put directly into the cup to save space when you are not using them.
Breville is equipped with a series of high-quality additional equipment, including mini shredders, egg beaters and blade guards. In our test, the chopper evenly chopped the onions in just a few seconds, and using the mixer we were able to make a dough of whipped cream and cream mayonnaise. In the past few years, we also admire this guard; when the machine is stored in the tableware drawer, it can prevent you from accidentally cutting your hands on the blender.
Breville has a fairly average one-year limited warranty. Considering that the motors on the company's food processors have a 25-year warranty, we expect more coverage, but many immersion blenders we evaluated have similar warranties. In our long-term testing since 2013, Breville has consistently performed well.
Although Braun and Philips have no restrictions on how long you can use their respective hand blenders continuously, Breville recommends that you only use Control Grip for one minute at a time and rest for one minute between mixing. However, this is a routine procedure for many hand-held mixers, and it helps prevent the machine from overheating, thereby keeping it in good working condition for a longer period of time. In some of our tests, we tried to use Breville continuously for up to four minutes, and it did not overheat or stall.
In our tests, Breville was unable to make super fast mayonnaise (this involves mixing all the mayonnaise ingredients in the cup and emulsifying them with a mixing stick). In other words, the basic mayonnaise recipe contained in the Breville instructions says "Gradually pour the oil into [the] egg mixture." When we use this more traditional method, Breville can make mayonnaise more effectively than using The quick method takes a minute or two longer. We don't think this will ruin the transaction, because most people don't make their own mayonnaise regularly, if any, anyway.
In addition, if you are not careful, Breville will completely crush the onion in its chopper attachment. We recommend to pulse wisely after a few seconds and check the consistency of the items in the shredder attachment to prevent over-processing.
In our long-term testing, we noticed that Breville is a bit tricky to clean under the blade, especially after we use it to make thick purees or mayonnaise. But this is a problem with all immersion mixers. Sometimes, taking out sticky things requires a little stimulation with utensils (never do this when the mixer is plugged in). Running an immersion blender in a cup of soapy water can also make cleaning easier.
Since 2013, several Wirecutter employees have helped us conduct long-term testing of Breville Control Grip, and now we use it in the test kitchen. We made smoothies, soups, fillings for wontons and other recipes, and used the mixer attachment to beat batches of egg whites. Some of the printing on the side of the handle has worn out, but the blender still works like new.
We found that other models are more comfortable to hold, but Braun blends better than any other affordable immersion blender we have tested.
*At the time of publication, the price was $65.
Although the price of the Braun MultiQuick 5 handheld mixer MQ505 is only about half of the Breville Control Grip, it is almost as good at making mud. When we strained the root vegetable soup, there was hardly any vegetable fiber or almond skin left behind. This blender can easily process kale, frozen strawberries and ice cubes, turning them into a thick drinkable smoothie. Breville's ease of use and versatility make you nothing for less. To operate Braun, you have to press the low or high power button with one fingertip throughout the mixing process, which is annoying. On Breville, you can press and hold the trigger while squeezing the opening button with the side of your finger. Although Braun only has two speeds, we don't think there are too many obstacles. After starting from low speed, we used high speed most of the time and got very good results.
One of the best things about Braun MultiQuick 5 is that in our tests, it did not splash or suck to the bottom of the pot. This is a real problem with other budget-priced models we tested, including Cuisinart, Bella, and Hamilton Beach mixers. It also blends the mayonnaise with a quick immersion blender brilliantly, blending it into a fluffy texture in one minute. In the manual, we found that there is no limit on how long the mixer can run continuously, and most other hand-held mixer manufacturers we tested (including Breville) warn against running the motor for more than one minute without a break. When we used Braun for four minutes, we did not encounter any problems. The wand is detachable and can be safely used for dishwasher cleaning.
Although you have a blender with Braun, it has less than half the capacity of Breville and does not have a handle, so it is not very convenient to use. You will also get an egg beater, but not a chopper.
In general, this Braun model is close to Breville Control Grip in mixing soups and smoothies, and its blender can whipped cream well. If you are not ready to buy a more expensive model, we think this is a good choice.
At the time of writing, the Braun MultiQuick 5 is one of the most highly rated hand blenders on Amazon, and its two-year limited warranty is better than Breville's one-year warranty.
This powerful immersion blender produces an impressive silky puree, but it costs a lot for models without accessories.
The Philips ProMix handheld mixer HR1670/92 is the best at making mud in our tests, and it is the closest to producing professional results. It creates a soup with a silky texture, leaving almost nothing behind, it blends a smoothie so thick and smooth, the result is similar to the machine-frozen margarita you can get during happy hour. Like Breville Control Grip, you can hold the Philips ProMix trigger style and place one side of your finger on the large power pole, so you can use it comfortably for a few minutes. But although the cost is the same as Breville, it has no accessories other than a mixing cup.
Philips has a clever speed control mechanism: to adjust the speed, you can more or less apply pressure to the power pole, so you can easily change the settings with one hand. However, in fact, we found that after initially applying light pressure, we tend to hold on tightly, increase the pressure to a high level, and maintain this state for the rest of the entire mixing process. In contrast, on Breville, you can rotate the dial on the top of the handle to change the speed.
The Philips manual for this model does not limit the time the mixer can run continuously; we were able to use it for four minutes without any signs of overheating or struggling. The detachable mixing rod makes a satisfactory clicking sound when connected and can be safely used for dishwasher cleaning. However, since the bell cage around the blade is deep, manual cleaning of the mixing rod of this model requires more effort.
Although this Philips model has many advantages, we don't recommend it as our first choice, because its price is too high, you can only get a 24 oz beaker, no other accessories. You can choose the more expensive Philips ProMix handheld blender HR1686/92, which is equipped with a blender and chopper, but the current price is $150. Considering its features, the cost of this version is much higher than we think The price that most people are willing to spend on a hand-held blender, Breville Control Grip, is much lower. Whisk and chopper accessories can also be purchased separately.
Since the Philips model does not include a whisk accessory, we use a stirring rod to make whipped cream and mayonnaise. It only thickens the cream slightly, and cannot produce the fluffy whipped cream that can be spun or folded into a mousse on a pie or a bowl of ice cream. We can quickly make a good mayonnaise with a stirring rod, although not as fast as we use Braun (this may be related to the nearly triangular shape of the stirring tank, which is a bit difficult for us to operate).
Like Breville Control Grip, Philips ProMix also provides a one-year warranty. If you make soups on a regular basis, like a soft texture, and don't mind spending more while skipping accessories, then Philips may be a great addition to your kitchen.
Although there is a lot of overlap in what an immersion blender and a countertop blender can do, the two devices are not completely interchangeable. For different tasks, you may even need both. The advantage of an immersion blender is that it is smaller, easier to clean and store, and easy to operate: you can move it around a pot of soup, and the target area you see still needs to be mixed. On the other hand, a good countertop mixer is much more powerful. It can process harder ingredients (think nuts or ice) and produce a smoother texture. Think of it this way: a countertop mixer can mix everything that an immersion mixer can mix—and even more—but for some tasks, an immersion mixer is more convenient.
If you are used to the many safety features of a food processor, you may find that the immersion blender has fewer features, well, anti-idiot. In January 2013, the New York Times published an article about how easy it is to hurt yourself with an immersion blender. The author broke two fingers on her immersion blender and quoted many others who cut her.
As the author writes, these machines are usually called "hand blenders" appropriately. Unlike food processors, the only thing that can protect you from the rotating blades of an immersion blender is the cage surrounding it. Always pay attention to where you point the end of the blender blade, do not put your free hand in its path, and unplug the power plug when not in use.
If you are used to the many safety features of a food processor, you may find that the immersion blender has fewer features, well, anti-idiot.
However, experts we interviewed said that the greater danger is splashing hot liquid on yourself. "The biggest thing is probably being burnt," cooking teacher Rudy Speckamp told us. To avoid this fate, soup expert Walker Flick said that if you use a smaller pot or pan, always use a lower speed or pulse setting.
The working cycle of immersion mixers is often short. Many manufacturers of these machines recommend not to run them for more than one minute at a time. They recommend letting the mixer rest for one to three minutes before using them. It is very important to follow these instructions, otherwise you may risk the motor overheating and eventually damage. In our 2015 test, we accidentally did this with the Panasonic immersion blender we tried. In 2018, we deliberately ran all the models in the test group for four minutes; although none of them stopped, the Cuisinart CSB-175 became uncomfortable at the end of the four-minute period.
According to the Breville Control Grip (PDF) manual, the owner should only operate the model for one minute at a time, and cool down for one minute before running it again. (When you mix a particularly thick or thick mixture, the Breville manual says that you only need to operate the machine for 15 seconds, with one minute intervals between each use.)
You can also burn the immersion mixer by using it for heavier tasks that are not suitable for handling. For example, although we found that the whisk attachment on Breville can be used for whipping eggs or cream, avoid using it for things like thick meringues. Choose manual or stand mixer.
Immersion mixers are usually easy to clean. Wipe the motor base with a damp cloth, and wash the wand with soap and water. Running the immersion blender in soapy warm water in the blender bowl should loosen thick or sticky ingredients stuck in the blade housing.
Braun made our budget choice immersion mixer, and there are some new models that we plan to test as soon as possible. Braun MQ7025, MQ7027, MQ7035 and MO7077 are all available through Braun's website, but the inventory elsewhere does not seem to be reliable. Once we are able to test it, we will update this guide.
If you have a favorite immersion blender that we have not tested, please let us know in the comments.
Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-175 replaced our previous budget choice CSB-75. Just like its predecessor, the CSB-175 can evenly and quickly mash soup into a puree, but it is the only model we have tested that cannot crush ice, even though the manual contains an ice recipe. After mixing for longer than the time required to make a smoothie in any of our other models, it left two completely unmixed cubes. This Cuisinart model also has a little splash, when we use it to stir for four minutes, it becomes too hot (the manual recommends stirring for no more than one minute at a time, but other blenders do not overheat when we run them for a long time). This model also has the same safety lock, which we (and many owners on Amazon) found particularly annoying on the CSB-75: unless you press the lock button and the power button at the same time, the motor will not start.
Due to the low price, the performance of the Hamilton Beach 2-speed hand blender is surprisingly good, and it can even crush the ice in our smoothie recipe. Unfortunately, it was sucked to the bottom of our pot during the mixing process and it splashed badly. If our soup is hotter, it will be very dangerous; in fact, we have to clean up the mess. When you connect the stirring rod, you need to turn it carefully to lock it in place so that it does not fall into the soup.
As a best-selling product on Amazon and Wal-Mart websites, Bella Hand Immersion Blender usually sells for about $30. In our 2018 test, we found it difficult to control and noticed that it tends to splash and suck to the bottom of the pot. However, it can mash the soup even if it is not as smooth as other models, so if spending as little as possible is your top priority and you don’t use the blender often, then this model might be worth considering. Although it is not equipped with a beaker, it does include a stirrer attachment.
Even after nearly 5 minutes and 40 seconds of mixing, the KitchenAid 3-speed hand blender still leaves a thick soup. Our tester had a problem with the model sucking to the bottom of the pot and complained that it splashed a lot. It also did not make smoothies like its competitors, leaving small nut pieces and raspberry seeds.
In our 2013 test, the KitchenAid 5-speed hand blender was well received, and the score was higher than the KitchenAid 3-speed. It comes with a large box of accessories, including interchangeable blades, choppers and egg beaters. But in our tests, 5-Speed did not perform better than 3-Speed, and we don’t think we will use all accessories.
All-Clad KZ750D left two large pieces of ginger, which were hardly moved after being mashed. This model has no accessories—not even a cup—but it still costs about $100 at the time of writing. This is one of the tallest and heaviest immersion mixers we have tested and is more troublesome to operate than Breville.
Although the handle of the Dualit hand blender is annoyingly large, it performed as well as or second only to Breville in almost all of our tests the previous year. It actually has a better chopper attachment (the only chopper attachment we have seen with a feed tube). But we can't get rid of the uncomfortable handle, we find it tricky to open and close the mixing stick, especially if it is smooth with oily ingredients. Breville's snap-on handle design is much better. Dualit is also expensive, and we don't think it is worth spending a little more money than Breville.
A few years ago, Good Housekeeping chose the Cuisinart smart stick 2-speed hand blender CSB-79 as one of its first choices, and wrote: “It has excellent performance and is easy to use.” Food & Wine also recommended this model at the time, he Said: "The obviously sharp blades are beautifully made, and the cover around the blades is particularly deep, which helps to pull the food into the blender." In our 2013 test, this model is compatible with the cheaper KitchenAid 3-Speed and KitchenAid 5-Speed. It is equivalent to Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-75, but far less effective than Breville.
We have high hopes for Bamix Mono, because the Bamix brand is known for making sturdy and durable machines. We chose Bamix Mono because it was one of Bamix's cheapest models, and it was highly rated on Amazon at the time. In the test, we found that it has a comfortable handle and easy-to-press buttons, but unfortunately the blender failed to produce a huge vortex, so the speed of stirring soup and smoothies was noticeably slow. Surprisingly, this is the worst in our puree test, leaving a lot of fiber in the sieve. In addition, the mixing rods of all Bamix models are permanently attached (although most have interchangeable blades), which makes them more difficult to clean than models with removable mixing rods.
Like Bamix, we are interested in Waring's professional-grade immersion mixers because they look particularly durable. Quik Stik is the smallest model manufactured by Waring. Like Bamix Mono, it has a fixed wand and no accessories. Quik Stik actually does better than the Bamix or Cuisinart and KitchenAid models we tested, and like Bamix Mono, it feels very sturdy. But this model does not have a mixing cup, and it is not as convenient as the Breville Control Grip with a detachable shaft and accessories. If you are doing a lot of cooking and actually need affordable professional-grade tools, you can consider this model, but the power and speed of Breville can provide a better service for most people.
Immersion Blender, Cook's illustration (subscription required), February 1, 2017
Kristin Donnelly, Best Immersion Blender, Food and Wine, October 17, 2011
Walker Flick, executive chef of Kettle Gourmet, interview
Alexandra Jacobs, excluding bandages, New York Times, January 15, 2013
Interview with Rudy Speckamp, Lecturer of the Culinary Institute of America
The Good Housekeeping Institute, Immersion Blender, Good Housekeeping
Best hand blender, best review
Immersion blender, American test kitchen (subscription required)
Sohla El-Waylly, the best hand (immersion) blender, eat seriously
Anthony Irizarry, the 7 best immersion blenders to buy in 2018, The Spruce Eats, August 16, 2018
Christine Cyr Cliset is the associate editor responsible for the Wirecutter family report. She previously edited recipes and craft books for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and began reviewing kitchen utensils in 2013. She sews many clothes herself, which makes her fascinated by high-quality fabrics-whether it's on skirts or bed sheets.
Since 2016, Michael Sullivan has been a full-time writer on the Wirecutter kitchen team. Previously, he was the editor of the International Culinary Center in New York. He has worked in all aspects of the food and catering industry for more than ten years.
After testing more than 25 mixers since 2012, we found that there is no better mixer than the powerful and durable Vitamix 5200.
If you are ready to transform from an occasional home cook to a home cook, these are the professional-grade tools we recommend.
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Authors: Ganda Suthivarakom and Wirecutter Staff
Our preferred Instant Pot recipe, which provides a simple dinner as simple as the Instant Pot itself.
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