Immersion blenders (or hand blenders) may not be completely important in each good kitchen arsenal. However they’ll unlock quicker and simpler methods of creating soups, smoothies, sauces and extra. Plus, they’re smaller than their countertop brethren, which frequently makes them a better option for RVs, boats or flats the place area is a premium. Lastly, as a result of cleansing them is often so simple as operating them in a bowl of scorching soapy water, there’s much less trouble, too. That can assist you determine which immersion blender is best for you, we’ve put collectively a listing of our favourite fashions throughout a wide range of wants and use circumstances.
Which system 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 matches in with any devices you already personal. In an excellent 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 funds.
Whereas handheld blenders and conventional, full-size blenders have plenty of overlap, there are strengths and weaknesses to each. For instance, when you’re seeking to make smoothies day-after-day, a countertop blender is perhaps a better option. The larger pitchers make it simpler to mix drinks for a number of folks directly, 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 throughout 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 area for it and don’t already personal one, a daily blender might be the best choice for most individuals.
That stated, immersion blenders are sometimes inexpensive and, due to all kinds of equipment supplied by some producers, they are often nice multitaskers. A whisk attachment permits you to make whipped cream or meringues rapidly while not 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 possibly can simply throw collectively issues like small batches of hummus, salad dressings or selfmade pesto in minutes. And since immersion blenders are smaller and fewer cumbersome than conventional fashions, they’re an awesome selection for condo dwellers or anybody with restricted storage or counter area. Which means when you’re merely making an attempt to broaden your culinary repertoire with out blowing up your funds, an immersion blender could be an effective way to strive one thing new with out committing too arduous.
Corded or cordless?
Just like determining when you ought to get a blender or not, making an attempt to resolve between a corded or cordless mannequin relies upon lots on the opposite devices you already personal. Corded variations sometimes have extra highly effective motors, which makes them nice for individuals who don’t have a countertop blender or meals processor. However when you do personal one among 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 straightforward 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 should be way more harmful than a chef’s knife. An important security tip is to be sure you all the time maintain the sharp blades pointed down and away from you or anybody else close by. That features your palms, together with any utensils (like a spoon), that is perhaps in or round your mixing bowl.
Fortunately, all client 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, you must keep away from mixing issues in glass containers or nonstick cookware, as glass can chip or shatter whereas the steel blades and shroud of an immersion blender can injury teflon and ceramic.
You’ll additionally wish to be sure 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 which may have gotten tangled, first ensure 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 brilliant facet, cleansing an immersion is fairly easy and easy. All you must do is refill 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 possibly can repeat that course of once more till it’s. And if hand washing is an excessive amount of work, the mixing wand on plenty of fashions (together with all the ones on this record) are dishwasher secure too.
Breville
Beginning at $130, Breville’s Management Grip not solely has some of the highly effective motors (280-watts) obtainable on a corded immersion blender on this value vary, it additionally comes with a wealth of useful equipment. Along with the primary 8-inch shaft/immersion blade, the package includes a 25-ounce chopping bowl for chopping 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 completely different widespread 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 chrome steel blender from scratching your different home equipment in storage. And with assist for 15 completely different excessive velocity settings, it has plenty of versatility and may deal with all types of dishes. Alternatively, when you’re on the lookout for an all-purpose immersion blender with much more attachments for making drinks and pureeing soup, chances are you’ll wish to take into account KitchenAid’s 5-Pace Hand Blender, which comes with two additional bell blades to assist crush ice, whisk egg whites and extra.
KitchenAid
For those who simply need an immersion blender that’s easy and straightforward to make use of, KitchenAid’s Cordless Variable Pace Blender is the one to get. It comes with a dishwasher-safe mixing jar and an non-obligatory pan guard to assist make sure you received’t nick your cookware. Nevertheless, the true nifty characteristic is that as a substitute of getting discrete velocity settings, you possibly can alter 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 change, 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 simply too small to check this correctly, I by no means bumped into any points. That stated, you’re going to wish to ensure 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 possibly can’t have it plugged in whereas it is operating.
Hamilton Seashore
For many who need one thing that’s versatile and an awesome worth, Hamilton Seashore’s Two-Pace Hand Blender is a high choose. Whereas it isn’t cordless, along with the primary 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 fairly highly effective for its value, although you don’t get as many velocity 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 just about synonymous with blenders, so it’s in all probability not stunning that its tackle an immersion mannequin is kind of good. That stated, there are a few options that set it other than its rivals. The primary is a 625-watt motor that’s extra highly effective than just about anything on the market (other than tremendous dear, 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 novel form designed to scale back suction and higher pull substances in direction of the blade, whereas rubber suggestions assist stop scratching your mixing vessel (bowls, pots, and many others.). And regardless of being tremendous highly effective, the top of the blender continues to be sufficiently small to suit inside a one-quart wide-mouth mason jar, which is nice for rapidly mixing up a sauce or salad dressing with out dirtying up a bunch of additional dishes.
