When you need to whip some cream or make a quick mayonnaise or pesto, you don’t use a food processor, rather you turn to your hand blender. It is handy, easy, efficient and above all quick.
So how do you choose a hand blender suitable for your needs? Which are the best hand blenders available? We explore in detail in this guide.
How To Choose A Hand Blender?
Design
A good blender should be short and slim. If it’s too thick, you won’t be able to get a good hold of it. And if it’s too long, you will be holding it at an awkward angle when blending in a large bowl.
The top part around the motor should also have a rubberized cover so that you get a good grip. Equally important is the speed controller. It should be within the reach of your index finger when you hold the blender. Push buttons are better than rotary dials as it is easier to control with a single hand. With rotary dials, you will have to use both the hands.
Power and RPM
Most hand blenders have a speed of 10-14k RPM. Without sufficient power, it won’t be able to maintain such a high speed when it is blending tough ingredients. Thus, you will have to spend a longer time blending. So, ideally, a good blender should have at least 200 watt power so that it can handle a variety of ingredients with ease.
Accessories
Blenders nowadays come with a variety of accessories. The most important ones that you ought to have are whisks and blending cups. Whisks work better when you need to whip cream or butter as it aerates well.. Cups help contain splashes and spills.
Weight
A heavy blender is difficult to handle. They are usually thick and difficult to hold for an extended duration. So, a good blender should be lightweight, preferably less than 2 pounds.
Warranty
Most of the reliable brands offer a 1 to 2 year warranty on the product. Anything less than that is not really worth the hassle.
Keeping these aspects in mind, we have rounded-up some of the best immersion blenders available in the market.
Difference Between Hand Blender, Personal Blender and Full-Sized Blender
A hand blender is small, handy and can be used to blend a small quantity of smoothie, make mayonnaise etc. A personal blender is more suited for making a single-serve smoothie or shake. A full-sized blender is for making smoothies and shakes for 3-4 servings. It can crush ice and carry on a variety of blending chores. Yet another version of blender is a mixer grinder which is suitable for Indian cuisine. A good mixer grinder can be used to make chutney, curry masala, batter etc.
Best Hand Blenders
Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender
Simple, yet strong, Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender is one of the best hand blenders available in the market. It doesn’t have many accessories. But, if you need a strong blender that blends and emulsifies quickly and efficiently, then Breville BSB510XL is the way to go.
Along with the blender, you get a whisking attachment, 3 cup bowl and 42 oz jug with lid which can contain any spills. The user reviews are quite positive about its blending feature that helps make smoothies in a fine texture.
Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Powerful Immersion
Hand blenders from Mueller are powerful and economically priced. The unit has a 500 watt motor and it comes with a blending stick, whisk and milk frother attachments.
It has 2 speed control buttons which can be used to set the speed at 9 different levels. Though not as slim as the previous Braun hand blender, it is comfortable to hold in the hands.
As it has a powerful motor, you can use it for a variety of chores. It can blend purees and smoothies, make salsa and peanut butter, whip cream and froth coffee in no time.
The after sales service is also quite prompt, making it a budget-friendly option worth considering.
Braun MultiQuick 5 Immersion Hand Blender
With easy controls and strong attachments, Braun MultiQuick Hand Blender is an option which many reviewers swear by.
The immersion blender comes with a whisking and blending attachment. You also get a tall jar which minimizes splatter. The blender has a user-friendly design. It is thin and has two buttons for increasing and decreasing the speed as per your needs.
Also, the blender is fairly short so that you can hold it at a comfortable angle to blend various ingredients. As it weighs just about 1.6 pounds, you don’t strain your hands even when you hold it for an extended duration.
The 350-watt motor ensures ample power. So, the results are fairly quick. You can emulsify mayonnaise, make smoothies, purees and soups in no time.
KitchenAid KHB2561OB 5-Speed Hand Blender
The KitchenAid 5-speed blender is an excellent option that comes with all necessary attachments and accessories for blending and chopping. The blender has 5 speed settings. You get along an 8 inch and 13 inch blending arm, 1 litre blending pitcher and 3 cup blending jar, interchangeable bell blades, whisk and chopper attachments and removable pan guard.
Using the attachments, you can blend and whip a variety of ingredients. Thanks to the soft grip handle and easy to access buttons, it is pretty easy to use as well.
All-Clad Cordless Rechargeable Stainless Steel Immersion Multi-Functional Hand Blender
If you don’t have enough plug points on your kitchen top or if you value having a hand blender that you can carry around, then the cordless hand blender from All-Clad is what you need. However, it costs more than other options on the list.
The unit comes with a 600 watt motor. It has a quick charge base that charges the blender to full capacity in just 2 hours.
The blender is elegant and slim. It performs pretty well by pulverizing fruits, vegetables and meat with equal ease. However, its design could have been a bit better. First of all, though slim, the blender doesn’t have a rubberized grip. So, it has a tendency to slip, especially when your hands are wet. Also, the speed control is using a rotating dial at the top, which means you can’t control the blender with the same hand with which you are holding it.
Overall, it is high performing, but the design could have been a bit better.
VITAMIX IMMERSION BLENDER
Vitamix are market leaders when it comes to blending machines. Their full-sized blenders are powerful, well-designed and highly durable. The immersion blenders also follow suit.
With strong blades and a powerful motor, it can pulverize various ingredients to make silky smooth pastes, purees, smoothies, dips, soups and spreads. The blender is easy to move around and can blend even tough ingredients in just about 30 seconds.
Comparatively, it is a bit heavy. So, you may need a bit of time getting used to it. But otherwise, it is well-designed. You can easily remove the attachments and even when blending hot soups, it doesn’t splatter too much.
A drawback however is that it doesn’t have a whisking attachment.
Final Thoughts
A hand blender is a versatile kitchen equipment that saves time and effort. Out of the options, Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender is the overall best option. If you need a budget-friendly option, you can consider Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Powerful Immersion.
