Breville BSB510XL Control Grip - Verdict
The Breville Control Grip is the immersion blender I have owned the longest. The trigger sits exactly under your forefinger, which means you can adjust the 15 speed settings without taking your eye off the pot. The blade housing has small vents that prevent the dreaded suction that pins cheaper blenders to the bottom.
Check price on Amazon →A handheld blender is the kitchen tool I use more than any other. Here are the five immersion blenders that survived my soup, smoothie, and sauce tests.
A handheld blender lives on my kitchen counter and gets used more than my food processor and stand mixer combined. Soups, smoothies, salad dressings, baby food, and even whipped cream all happen in less time than it takes to wash a full-size blender pitcher. The five immersion blenders below are the ones I have tested through real cooking, not lab benchmarks. | Blender | Best For | Power |
|——|———-|——-|
| Breville BSB510XL Control Grip | Best overall | 280 W |
| Vitamix Immersion Blender | Premium power | 625 W |
| Mueller Ultra-Stick 9-Speed | Budget pick | 500 W |
| KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed | Cordless | Lithium battery |
| Cuisinart Smart Stick Two-Speed | Simple operation | 200 W |
How we test
We compare every pick against the field on real specifications, certifications, and aggregated owner reviews. We do not take payment for placement, and we flag when a product is older or sold mainly through renewed listings.
At a glance
| Pick | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breville BSB510XL Control Grip - Verdict | Check price | ||
| Vitamix Immersion Blender - Verdict | Check price | ||
| Mueller Ultra-Stick 9-Speed - Verdict | Check price | ||
| KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed - Verdict | Check price | ||
| Cuisinart Smart Stick Two-Speed - Verdict | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Breville BSB510XL Control Grip - Verdict
The Breville Control Grip is the immersion blender I have owned the longest. The trigger sits exactly under your forefinger, which means you can adjust the 15 speed settings without taking your eye off the pot. The blade housing has small vents that prevent the dreaded suction that pins cheaper blenders to the bottom.
Vitamix Immersion Blender - Verdict
Vitamix makes the most powerful handheld blender I have used. At 625 watts, it crushes through soup ingredients without any of the lag that smaller motors have on dense vegetables. Five speed settings let you scale down for delicate sauces, but the real reason to own this is when you need raw power.
Mueller Ultra-Stick 9-Speed - Verdict
The Mueller is the immersion blender I recommend to anyone on a budget. It runs around 35 dollars, has 9 speed settings, and pushes 500 watts of power, which is more than the Breville on paper. The build quality is plastic-heavy but does not feel cheap in the hand.
KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed - Verdict
The cordless KitchenAid solves the cord problem for outdoor cooking and grill prep. Lithium battery runs for around 25 minutes of continuous blending, which is far more than I have ever needed in one session. The variable speed slider is intuitive and gives smooth control.
Cuisinart Smart Stick Two-Speed - Verdict
The Smart Stick has been the entry-level pick at most appliance stores for a decade, and the current model still earns the spot. Two speeds keep things simple, the motor is 200 watts which is plenty for soups and smoothies, and the price stays under 30 dollars during most sales.
What to look for
What to consider
Start with the power rating. Wattage is a rough proxy for blending strength. 150 to 250 watts handles soft soups, smoothies, and dressings. 300 to 500 watts moves into denser tasks like pesto and hummus. Anything above 500 watts, like the Vitamix, can take on small batches of nut butter and tougher root vegetables.
What to consider
Speed settings matter more than people expect. A single-speed blender forces you to start full blast, which splashes hot soup across the kitchen. Variable speed lets you ease in, then ramp up once the blade is submerged. Look for at least three speeds, or a continuous variable slider like the KitchenAid.
What to consider
Attachments turn an immersion blender into a multi-tool. A whisk makes whipped cream and mayonnaise easy. A chopper bowl replaces a small food processor for chopping onions and herbs. A blending jar makes single smoothies possible without breaking out the large blender. The Breville and KitchenAid both ship with full attachment sets that I actually use. Cheaper blenders often skip these, so check before buying if multi-function is important to you.
FAQs
It can blend soup right in the pot, emulsify mayo in a tall cup, and reach into containers a full-size blender cannot fit. The main tradeoff is smaller batch size and less power for hard frozen items.
Corded blenders give more consistent power and never die mid-recipe. Cordless models are more flexible and great for grills or outdoor cooking. For daily kitchen use, I prefer corded.
Most cannot. A few high-powered models like the Breville Control Grip and Vitamix Immersion can crush small amounts of ice, but a regular blender is better for true frozen drinks.
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