MomSkoop
We put nine popular immersion blenders through a week of soups, smoothies, sauces, and nut-butter trials—and one unexpected contender rose above the pack. From velvety tomato bisque to crushed ice and fibrous kale, we dialed up the difficulty to see who could really blend it all. Surprises emerged around ergonomics, noise, and splatter control, not just raw power. Ready to see which handheld hero won our blind taste tests and stress challenges?
1. Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender
The Breville Control Grip impressed with stability and finesse. Its bell-shaped head and internal ribbing minimized suction, letting us maneuver effortlessly in deep pots without vortex stalls.
Pureed carrot-ginger soup came out satin-smooth in under a minute, with notably low splatter. The trigger-style handle felt secure, even during long batches. Ice-crushing was competent, though not its strongest suit. Noise levels were moderate and less shrill than rivals. The included chopper produced even pesto with minimal leaf bruising.
Cleanup was straightforward thanks to a one-click detachable shaft. While pricier, it balanced power, control, and comfort exceptionally well.
2. KitchenAid 3-in-1 Cordless Immersion Blender
KitchenAid’s cordless model delivered freedom and surprising torque for quick jobs. It zipped through smoothies and hot tomato soup without tether tangles, and the variable speed wheel had precise feel.
Battery life handled three soup pots and two smoothies per charge, though thick nut butters drained it quickly. The blade guard reduced nicks on cookware, and the included pan guard ring truly helped. Texture on butternut squash soup was ultra-creamy, but crushed ice remained coarse.
Weight balance skewed top-heavy; shorter sessions felt fine, longer ones fatigued wrists. For small kitchens or travelers, the cordless convenience is compelling.
3. Cuisinart Smart Stick Variable Speed
The Cuisinart Smart Stick shined as a value workhorse with consistent performance. Its variable speed dial offered smooth transitions, avoiding the jumpy starts that spur splatter. In our broccoli-cheddar soup, it achieved a fine, even puree in under 90 seconds.
The ergonomic barrel felt secure but slightly slick with wet hands. Noise was on the louder side; however, vibration remained low. The optional whisk attachment whipped cream rapidly but introduced some wobble at peak speed. Detachable parts are dishwasher safe, easing cleanup.
For budget-conscious cooks who still want versatility and reliability, this model hits a sweet spot.
4. Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario
Braun’s MultiQuick 5 Vario stood out for minimal splatter and steady suction control. The PowerBell head pulled ingredients efficiently, producing silky cauliflower puree with fewer air bubbles than competitors.
The speed wheel was intuitive, offering delicate ramp-up to reduce mess in shallow pots. It handled fibrous kale in smoothies commendably, though tiny flecks remained. Noise leaned lower-pitched and less piercing. The grip is slim, suiting smaller hands; large hands may prefer thicker handles.
Accessories click on positively and clean easily. Overall, it’s a refined balance of precision, comfort, and cleanliness, making it a great everyday pick.
5. Hamilton Beach 2-Speed Hand Blender
This Hamilton Beach model delivers credible performance at a bargain price. The two-speed setup is simple, and it powered through tomato salsa and pancake batter without stalling. In thick potato-leek soup, it required more time and left a slightly grainy finish compared to premium rivals.
Build quality feels lighter and the motor louder, but vibration stayed manageable. The included whisk works for quick whipped cream, though it strains on meringue. Cleanup is painless with a detachable shaft.
For occasional blending or starter kitchens, it’s a cost-effective tool that covers basics without fuss, albeit with modest refinement.
6. All-Clad KZ750D Immersion Blender
All-Clad’s KZ750D delivered brute strength with a professional edge. The long shaft reached deep stockpots, making large-batch soups easier and safer. It annihilated chickpeas into velvety hummus and pulverized ice better than most, though splatter risk increased at full tilt.
The speed dial is broad, but the jump from medium to high feels abrupt. Weight and size demand two-handed control for precision tasks. Sound is assertive but not harsh.
Construction is tank-like, and the metal guard tolerated contact with cookware. If you prioritize power and batch capacity, this blender is a powerhouse that rewards practiced technique.
7. Ninja Foodi Power Mixer System
Ninja’s modular system emphasizes versatility. Swapping from blending arm to mini-processor was quick, letting us chop nuts, emulsify mayo, and blend soups with one motor.
The paddle-style speed trigger offered decent control, though starting torque could jolt lighter cups. Smoothies were ultra-fine, and mayo emulsified in seconds. The processor bowl handled pico de gallo cleanly with minimal mush. The bell guard sits wide, limiting use in narrow mugs.
Noise is energetic but short-lived thanks to fast processing. For cooks who want an all-in-one handheld toolkit, this system delivers value and convenience with only minor ergonomics quirks.
8. Mueller Ultra-Stick Hand Blender
The Mueller Ultra-Stick proved a capable budget pick with unexpected finesse in light-to-medium tasks. It blended tomato soup smoothly and handled pancake batter without overmixing.
The motor warmed during extended butternut squash sessions, suggesting rest intervals for heavy blends. Texture on smoothies was decent, though berry seeds remained. The whisk whipped cream adequately but struggled with thick peaks.
Build quality is solid for the price, and the detachable shaft cleans quickly. Noise is moderate, and the compact size stores easily. For occasional cooks or dorm kitchens, it delivers practical performance without stretching the wallet.
9. Zwilling Enfinigy Hand Blender
Zwilling’s Enfinigy shocked us with its refined control and superb texture results. Its narrow bell and sharp blades created an exceptionally fine puree in record time, with almost no splatter.
The speed control ramped smoothly, allowing gentle starts in shallow pans. In stress tests, it tamed fibrous kale and even crushed small ice batches more evenly than pricier rivals. Ergonomics are excellent: a balanced grip, intuitive buttons, and low, mellow noise.
Cleanup is effortless with a secure twist-off shaft. Without flashy extras, it simply blends better—making it our surprise winner for performance, polish, and everyday reliability.