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If you’ve ever struggled with the frustration of transferring soup or fresh tomato sauce into a blender one small batch at a time to try to get it smooth, you already know exactly how useful an immersion blender can be. These ingenious tools let you easily blend your food in the container it’s already in, so you can have a silky smooth soup done all in one pot.
But the sheer number of options out there can be overwhelming. While there isn’t one absolute best immersion blender, we’ve narrowed things down to help you figure out which one is best for you. As you decide, keep in mind your budget, whether you need attachments, and how much control you want over the device’s speed. These factors should help you narrow down the list to the best one for you!
Table of Contents
Best 8 Immersion Blenders at a Glance
Best for: An Affordable Blender for Home Use
Best for: A Reliable Immersion Blender for Home Tasks or Light Commercial Use
Best for: Serious Home Chefs or Businesses
Best for: An Excellent Balance of Budget and Quality for the Home User
Best for: An Affordable Light-Duty Set for the Home Cook
Best for: Home Users Who Want to Protect Their Pots and Pans
Best for: A Powerful Professional Immersion Blender by an Industry Leader
Best for: A Quality Set From a Well-Known Company
The Top 8 Immersion Blenders
#1. WOLF ARMOR 350 Watt 8-Speed Immersion Hand Blender
Best for: An Affordable Blender for Home Use
A great immersion blender for the home cook should be powerful, versatile, and affordable. And the WOLF ARMOR 8-speed option hits the mark on all counts!
We particularly appreciate its eight speed options, which mean that you can blend just about anything you want at the speed of your choice. Plus it’s a three-in-one device, meaning that it comes with a whip and a chopper (in addition to the blending blades). You’ll also receive a container for blending in and a chopper container.
While there are definitely other three-in-one immersion blenders with adjustable speed, what we really love about this one is its price. It’s always a struggle to find the balance between affordability and quality, and the WOLF ARMOR walks that fine line perfectly. If you’re able to splurge, there are better options—but nothing we’ve found beats the WOLF in terms of bang for the buck.
Be aware that this is a relatively new product, so it hasn’t (yet) had time to prove its long-term durability and reliability. We’ll be keeping an eye on it and adjusting its position on our list (or removing it entirely) as necessary. For now, you’ll need to make a judgment call on whether you want all of these features at this price, or would rather go with a more established device that has already proven its staying power.
The only other notable drawback that we have for now is that, even on the lower speeds, the WOLF may be too powerful for some uses. This is particularly true when using the whisk and chopper attachments. But if you’re shopping specifically for an immersion blender and don’t plan to use it often for whisking or chopping, this shouldn’t be an issue at all.
#2. Waring 7″ Light-Duty Quik Stik Immersion Blender
Best for: A Reliable Immersion Blender for Home Tasks or Light Commercial Use
While the Waring immersion blender may be marketed as a “light-duty” option, that’s on the scale of professional tools. In other words, it’s absolutely suited for a home kitchen, as long as you don’t plan on blending more than three gallons at a time!
This blender is powerful and well-built, making it a great option if you want a durable household tool that’s strong enough for a chef. But keep in mind that strength doesn’t necessarily mean speed. This option is best suited for soups, sauces, and similar items that don’t require an extra-fast device.
One of the things that we love about this one (but that may or may not suit you) is that it’s a single-purpose device specifically designed just for immersion blending. Personally, when I shop for an immersion blender, I’m not looking for a dozen attachments; I just want a great immersion blender. And finding one that’s designed for light commercial use at a price that’s reasonable for a passionate home cook is even better.
Be aware that it’s harder to clean than some other options, because it doesn’t fully come apart and isn’t intended for the dishwasher. But this just means that you should clean it right away before the food on it has a chance to set and dry. Read all about how to do this in our guide to using an immersion blender properly!
#3. Bamix GL200 Gastro Pro-3 NSF Professional Immersion Hand Blender
Best for: Serious Home Chefs or Businesses
While the price for the Bamix is definitely higher than our other options, it can absolutely be worth it for the right person.
In today’s sea of products made in China, it’s almost impossible to find an immersion blender that’s made anywhere else. But the Bamix stands out; it’s hand-built in Switzerland, which has a reputation for incredible quality.
And if you want that level of quality in a professional-level device, the Bamix is the way to go. It’s commercially rated, so it’s ideal for the professional kitchen as well as the passionate home chef.
In addition to the basic chopping blade, the Bamix comes with attachments for chopping and aerating/whisking. This variety, plus its shaft which allows an immersion depth of almost 15”, makes this tool incredibly versatile and suitable for a wide range of purposes either in the restaurant or at home. Plus it has two speeds (10,000 and 14,000 RPM), making it even more versatile.
Be aware that this immersion blender is extremely long, at over 19”. If you’re shorter than average or working in a tight space, this may actually be too long for you. But it’s this overall length that allows for such a long shaft, which can handle large quantities. And speaking of quantities, since this is a professional tool, it’s at its best when you’re not trying to blend particularly small amounts of food.
Bonus Product: the Bamix M150 “SwissLine” Immersion Hand Blender. Another Swiss-made product by Bamix, this one comes with extra attachments. It’s also much shorter than the Gastro Pro, with a shaft length of 4.75” and an overall length of 13.5”. This makes it a better option for shorter users, or those working in smaller spaces or with smaller quantities.
#4. Vitamix Immersion Blender
Best for: An Excellent Balance of Budget and Quality for the Home User
You’ve heard of Vitamix for their famous countertop blenders—but did you know that they make an immersion blender too? It features all the quality and blending power that you would expect from this company, at a mid-range price point.
While it’s far from the cheapest option on our list, it’s also definitely not the most expensive (that honor goes to the Bamix GL200 Gastro Pro-3!). This may be out of reach if you’re shopping for a budget tool, but we believe that the price is worth it for the high quality you’ll receive. Plus, with 5 speed options, this one is more versatile than many other home immersion blenders.
Unlike some other options, this one disassembles for easy cleaning. The shaft part (which has the metal blades) can even just go in the dishwasher! To be honest, we find it easier to clean an immersion blender in a jar of hot soapy water as recommended in our guide to using an immersion blender, but you may prefer having the option of using the dishwasher.
Be aware that the Vitamix immersion blender is another fairly new product that hasn’t yet had time to prove itself. However, the Vitamix brand has so firmly established itself as one of the leading options in the blender space that we’re confident that their immersion blender will be similarly durable. And just in case anything goes wrong, you’ll be glad to know that this device has a three-year warranty!
Finally, the Vitamix doesn’t come with attachments, which most other immersion blenders do. If having a variety of attachments is your priority, look elsewhere. Personally, this wouldn’t bother me at all; I tend to blend in whatever container I’m using anyway, and never use the whisk or chopper features of my immersion blender. But you’ll need to assess whether it’s an issue for you.
#5. Oster Versatile Turbo Function Stick Mixer With Whisk Attachment
Best for: An Affordable Light-Duty Set for the Home Cook
If you’re looking for a great immersion blender set at a reasonable price, the Oster is a great choice! Like Vitamix, Oster is already well-known for their quality blenders and food processors, so it’s no surprise that their immersion blender offering would be a great choice as well.
Some of the other blenders we’ve mentioned are powerful but somewhat slow. If you’re concerned about that being an issue, you’ll love the Oster, which has a turbo function to help you achieve a perfectly smooth result.
This stick blender is clearly designed for convenience and versatility. It comes apart, making it easier to clean than some others (plus certain parts, including the blades, are dishwasher-safe!).
Plus the Oster has various accessories to make it as easy as possible to use. In addition to the blender itself, you’ll get a whisk attachment, a chopping attachment and container, and a blending jug with a lid. That makes this a great all-in-one pick if you want a complete set!
Be aware that you can also buy just the blender itself (without the extras and attachments) for a somewhat lower price. But if you think you’ll use those extras, it’s better to buy the complete kit right away than to try to source each piece on its own later.
#6. Chefman Immersion Blender 300-Watt Turbo 12-Speed
Best for: Home Users Who Want to Protect Their Pots and Pans
Do you tend to use a lot of nonstick pots and pans, or ones that require some extra love and care (like cast iron or carbon steel)? If so, we think you’ll love the Chefman immersion blender.
Here’s why: most immersion blenders have a metal guard around the blades. This guard protects your fingers, but the metal of the guard itself can end up scratching your delicate pots and pans. The Chefman solves that problem by using a heat-resistant plastic guard on the blades instead. This means that even if you’re accidentally a little rougher than you intend, and end up scraping the guard along the inside of your pan, you shouldn’t cause any damage.
Of course, we wouldn’t recommend an immersion blender just because it has a plastic blade guard, and the Chefman has plenty of other features going for it. It’s versatile, with an impressive 12 speed options. We also appreciate that the wand is detachable, which makes it easier to clean than some others (plus the blade is dishwasher safe!).
And if you’re particularly concerned with making sure that your kitchen appliances all look good together, you’ll be glad to know that this one comes in two color options: stainless steel and black.
Be aware that the two colors may cost different amounts. If you’re more concerned with budget than the specific color, check both the black option and the stainless steel option to see whether one or the other is on sale!
It’s also worth noting that this option doesn’t come with attachments, like a whisk or chopper. This shouldn’t be an issue if you just want to use your immersion blender as a blender, but since so many others do come with attachments, it’s worth pointing out.
#7. Robot Coupe MP 450 Turbo 18-Inch Heavy-Duty Commercial Immersion Blender
Best for: A Powerful Professional Immersion Blender by an Industry Leader
If you’ve ever worked in a professional kitchen, there’s a good chance that you already know just how appreciated and cherished Robot Coupe products are. I remember my first day in one of the professional kitchens I worked in: I was told that I was absolutely not allowed to touch the beloved Robot Coupe food processor until I had “proven myself.” This was after several years in the restaurant industry.
When you’re looking for a truly professional tool of that caliber, or want to bring that level of equipment into your top-of-the-line home kitchen for cooking large quantities, the Robot Coupe is the ultimate pick. It’s capable of handling a whopping 100 liters (26 gallons) of food at once, far beyond anything that most immersion blenders could ever dream of.
The Robot Coupe is exceptionally long for an immersion blender, which is part of what allows it to blend such large quantities. The shaft alone is 18”, almost as long as the entire second-longest immersion blender on the list. The entire device is over 32”, which dwarfs any other product we’ve written about. This makes it ideal for the restaurant kitchen, but hard to store for the home cook with limited space.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Robot Coupe is prohibitively expensive for many home cooks. This is a high-end professional piece of equipment, and it’s priced accordingly.
The big question is this: do you actually need this much power for your home kitchen? For the vast, vast majority of home cooks, the answer is a resounding “no.” This device is absolutely overkill for most home kitchens. Unless you really want the ultimate high-end professional-level kitchen at home, or you tend to make huge quantities of food at once, you can save money by getting a less powerful immersion blender.
#8. Braun Multiquick Hand Blender
Best for: A Quality Set From a Well-Known Company
It’s understandable if you feel a bit like Goldilocks by now! “This immersion blender set is affordable but not the best quality. This one is amazing and professional-level, but costs more than many people’s monthly rent!”
Here’s some good news: the Braun Multiquick Hand Blender is “just right.” It offers plenty of power and durability, comes with a nice assortment of extras and attachments, and is a very reasonable price for the typical home cook.
In addition to the high-quality blender itself, you’ll also get a whisk, a chopper, a beaker, and a masher. And while this is the only option on our list that comes with a masher, don’t get too excited about that!
Here’s why. In general, you shouldn’t use an immersion blender to mash potatoes, because they’ll end up gummy. While the design of Braun’s masher attachment may solve this issue, it doesn’t work effectively, so the general rule of not using one of these devices on potatoes unfortunately still holds true.
Nonfunctional mashers aside, one of the things we really love about this stick blender is that it’s built with comfort in mind. All too often, using an immersion blender leads to a tired arm, a sore thumb, and a general sense of annoyance and discomfort with the unwieldy process. Braun has taken this into account when designing this machine, intentionally making it lightweight and ergonomic. If only more manufacturers would follow their lead!
What Is an Immersion Blender? And Why You Need One
An immersion blender, also known as a stick blender, is a handheld device that you can use to blend all sorts of things in your kitchen. They’re great for making soups, sauces, smoothies, and even salad dressings.
They’re stick-shaped (hence the name “stick blender”), with the motor and controls at one end and the blades under a shield at the other end. Instead of putting the food you want to blend into a blending container, you simply insert the immersion blender into the food. For example, if you want a blended soup, you simply put the bladed end of the immersion blender into the pot of chunky soup, then turn it on.
If you’re not familiar with using this type of blender correctly, you may find that it splatters your food everywhere, creating a huge mess. Luckily, that’s incredibly simple to fix! Check out our guide to using an immersion blender correctly to learn how to avoid this issue and make sure you’re getting the most out of your device.
Having an immersion blender makes blending your foods so much easier. Unless you’re making a smoothie or something else that involves blending right away (instead of cooking first and blending later), this device tends to be the simplest choice. Plus it means fewer dishes, because you don’t need to transfer cooked foods into your blender to blend them!
I have both a countertop blender and an immersion blender, and honestly I rarely use the countertop option for anything cooked. If I had to choose just one to keep, it would absolutely be the immersion blender.
What Is the Difference Between a Hand Blender and an Immersion Blender?
There isn’t one! A hand blender and an immersion blender are different names for the same thing. It’s also sometimes called a stick blender.
A hand mixer, on the other hand, is a completely different tool. This one is designed more for whipping and beating rather than blending. You may be familiar with it from beating egg whites and whipped cream!
Is An Immersion Blender Worth It?
Absolutely—with the caveat that it depends somewhat on what you cook.
For me, having an immersion blender is a priority. When I recently ended up unexpectedly moving to the opposite end of the world due to the chaos of 2020 (it’s a long story), an immersion blender was very high on my list of tools to get for my new empty kitchen. And it comes out of the cupboard pretty frequently!
But maybe you cook differently than I do. So before you buy an immersion blender, think about how often you’ll use it. Do you tend to make lots of soups and smooth sauces? If so, you’re likely to find that your new immersion blender is a welcome addition to your kitchen.
Can I Use an Immersion Blender Instead of a Regular Blender?
It depends on what you’re making, but in many cases, yes!
Immersion blenders excel at processing soups, sauces, and other liquid-based foods. They’re ideal when you want to blend in the vessel you cooked in rather than transferring your food into a blender. They’re also great for large quantities, since you can do an entire pot of soup at once instead of processing it in batches, for example.
Your countertop blender is still better for certain tasks, though. Most countertop blenders are stronger than most immersion blenders, so you’ll generally want to use the traditional one for tough tasks like crushing ice or grinding nuts.
One other point to consider is whether you want a perfectly blended mixture, or you want the option of leaving some texture. Both tools are capable of achieving both results, but a handheld immersion blender gives you far more control.
Can You Use an Immersion Blender Instead For Mashed Potatoes?
This is where we get into the differences between “can” and “should.” Can you use an immersion blender to make mashed potatoes? Sure. Should you? Absolutely not.
Here’s the problem: an immersion blender tends to tear starch molecules, while mashing them traditionally leaves more of the molecules intact. This means that traditionally mashed potatoes are more fluffy, while those made with an immersion blender end up gummy, heavy, and sticky.
It’s not a pleasant consistency or eating experience.
If you want to try it just to experience the difference for yourself, by all means go for it. But ideally do it when you’re just serving yourself, not when you’re preparing a nice meal to share.
Note: this doesn’t mean you can never use your immersion blender with potatoes! I frequently use mine with soups containing potato chunks, and it turns out fine. If I had to guess, there’s enough water in the soup to thin out the potential gumminess of the starch. But with mashed potatoes, there’s none of that dilution.
Conclusion
Once you get your new immersion blender, you’ll be surprised by how often you find ways to use it. This is an incredibly versatile tool, especially if you get one of the sets that includes a variety of extra attachments. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, one of our top picks for the best immersion blender should be perfect for you based on your needs, preferences, and average use.
