Immersion blenders (or hand blenders) may not be completely important in each good kitchen arsenal. However they’ll unlock sooner and simpler methods of constructing soups, smoothies, sauces and extra. Plus, they’re smaller than their countertop brethren, which frequently makes them a better option for RVs, boats or residences the place house is a premium. Lastly, as a result of cleansing them is normally so simple as operating them in a bowl of scorching soapy water, there’s much less problem, too. That will help you determine which immersion blender is best for you, we’ve put collectively an inventory of our favourite fashions throughout quite a lot of wants and use circumstances.
Which gadget is best for you?
Earlier than you even take into consideration shopping for a brand new kitchen equipment, it’s necessary to determine the way you’re going to make use of it and the place it suits in with any devices you already personal. In a really perfect world, everybody would have a devoted meals processor, countertop blender and a stand mixer. However the actuality is that many individuals don’t have the room or the finances.
Whereas handheld blenders and conventional, full-size blenders have quite a lot of overlap, there are strengths and weaknesses to each. For instance, for those who’re trying to make smoothies every single day, a countertop blender could be a better option. The larger pitchers make it simpler to mix drinks for a number of individuals without delay, whereas bigger motors will make quick work of ice and frozen fruit. Moreover, dearer choices like these from Vitamix, All-Clad, Ninja or Robocoupe may even cook dinner soup in the course of the mixing course of utilizing the warmth generated from the blender’s motor, which isn’t one thing you are able to do with an immersion mannequin. I’d even go as far as to say that if in case you have the house for it and don’t already personal one, an everyday blender might be the best choice for most individuals.
That mentioned, immersion blenders are sometimes cheaper and, due to all kinds of equipment supplied by some producers, they are often nice multitaskers. A whisk attachment means that you can make whipped cream or meringues shortly without having an electrical hand mixer, or threat getting tendonitis in your elbow doing it manually. Some immersion blenders additionally include meals processing bowls, so you’ll be able to simply throw collectively issues like small batches of hummus, salad dressings or do-it-yourself pesto in minutes. And since immersion blenders are smaller and fewer cumbersome than conventional fashions, they’re a fantastic alternative for condominium dwellers or anybody with restricted storage or counter house. Which means for those who’re merely making an attempt to develop your culinary repertoire with out blowing up your finances, an immersion blender may be a good way to attempt one thing new with out committing too arduous.
Corded or cordless?
Much like determining for those who ought to get a blender or not, making an attempt to determine between a corded or cordless mannequin relies upon lots on the opposite devices you already personal. Corded variations usually have extra highly effective motors, which makes them nice for individuals who don’t have a countertop blender or meals processor. However for those who do personal certainly one of each of these, cordless is the way in which to go. Not solely do you get the comfort of not worrying about wires, however the ease of use makes it quick and simple to whip out your immersion blender so as to add some additional texture to a sauce, or puree a big pot of soup with out having to do it in batches.
A fast phrase about security
Nobody needs to be ashamed of being nervous round a tool that’s basically a motorized mixing wand with a spinning blade on the finish. However with correct care and use, an immersion blender doesn’t need to be way more harmful than a chef’s knife. Crucial security tip is to ensure you at all times maintain the sharp blades pointed down and away from you or anybody else close by. That features your arms, together with any utensils (like a spoon), that could be in or round your mixing bowl.
Fortunately, all shopper immersion blenders are designed to stop their blade from immediately hitting the vessel holding your meals (be it a mixing bowl or a pot). Nevertheless, to be additional secure, it is best to keep away from mixing issues in glass containers or nonstick cookware, as glass can chip or shatter whereas the metallic blades and shroud of an immersion blender can harm teflon and ceramic.
You’ll additionally wish to ensure you maintain water away from the plug or outlet of corded immersion blenders. And if you wish to take away the blade or clear away any meals that may have gotten tangled, first ensure that the blender is off, disconnected from its energy supply (both its battery or wall socket) and in security mode with a lock button or different characteristic.
On the intense aspect, cleansing an immersion is somewhat easy and easy. All it’s important to do is replenish a bowl or cup with soapy water, submerge the immersion blender, after which run it for 10 to twenty seconds. That’s it. If it’s nonetheless not clear, you’ll be able to repeat that course of once more till it’s. And if hand washing is an excessive amount of work, the mixing wand on quite a lot of fashions (together with the entire ones on this listing) are dishwasher secure too.
Breville
Beginning at $130, Breville’s Management Grip not solely has probably the most highly effective motors (280-watts) out there on a corded immersion blender on this value vary, it additionally comes with a wealth of helpful equipment. Along with the principle 8-inch shaft/immersion blade, the equipment includes a 25-ounce chopping bowl for slicing and mincing and a 42-ounce mixing jug for making soups and smoothies. There’s additionally a whisk attachment, which implies that between all of its equipment, the Management Grip can take the place of three totally different frequent kitchen devices: a meals processor, conventional blender and hand mixer.
I additionally respect the two-button attachment system, a security characteristic that ensures equipment are correctly locked in earlier than use. Breville even features a detachable blade guard to assist stop the stainless-steel blender from scratching your different home equipment in storage. And with assist for 15 totally different excessive pace settings, it has quite a lot of versatility and may deal with all kinds of dishes. Alternatively, for those who’re on the lookout for an all-purpose immersion blender with much more attachments for making drinks and pureeing soup, it’s possible you’ll wish to think about KitchenAid’s 5-Velocity Hand Blender, which comes with two additional bell blades to assist crush ice, whisk egg whites and extra.
KitchenAid
If you happen to simply need an immersion blender that’s easy and simple to make use of, KitchenAid’s Cordless Variable Velocity Blender is the one to get. It comes with a dishwasher-safe mixing jar and an elective pan guard to assist make sure you received’t nick your cookware. Nevertheless, the actual nifty characteristic is that as an alternative of getting discrete pace settings, you’ll be able to modify the blender’s 180-watt motor just by squeezing down on the set off. This makes utilizing it extremely intuitive, and due to its built-in security swap, it’s way more troublesome to hit the facility button and spin up the blade by chance.
KitchenAid additionally claims the battery can mix as much as 25 bowls of soup on a single cost. And whereas my kitchen is just too small to check this correctly, I by no means bumped into any points. That mentioned, you’re going to wish to ensure that to high off its battery beforehand as a result of its charging port is subsequent to the place you connect the mixing arm, which implies you’ll be able to’t have it plugged in whereas it is operating.
Hamilton Seashore
For many who need one thing that’s versatile and a fantastic worth, Hamilton Seashore’s Two-Velocity Hand Blender is a high choose. Whereas it isn’t cordless, along with the principle mixing arm you additionally get a whisk attachment and a chopping bowl – all for simply $35. On high of that, its 225-watt motor is somewhat highly effective for its value, although you don’t get as many pace settings as you’ll on extra premium rivals. With this factor having been available on the market for greater than 15 years, this blender has lengthy been a best choice amongst budget-conscious cooks.
Vitamix
Vitamix is nearly synonymous with blenders, so it’s in all probability not shocking that its tackle an immersion mannequin is kind of good. That mentioned, there are a few options that set it aside from its rivals. The primary is a 625-watt motor that’s extra highly effective than just about the rest on the market (except for tremendous expensive, pro-grade blenders). This makes it nice for individuals who wish to make drinks that require crushed ice however who might not have a full-size blender stashed of their pantry. Its bell guard additionally has a singular form designed to scale back suction and higher pull components in direction of the blade, whereas rubber ideas assist stop scratching your mixing vessel (bowls, pots, and many others.). And regardless of being tremendous highly effective, the top of the blender remains to be sufficiently small to suit inside a one-quart wide-mouth mason jar, which is nice for shortly mixing up a sauce or salad dressing with out dirtying up a bunch of additional dishes.
