The Best Immersion Blender

The Breville Control Grip is a powerful and versatile handheld immersion blender that makes quick work pureeing soups, sauces and smoothies, and easy cleanup.

Breville Control Grip

No room in your home is as comically besieged as the kitchen for the sheer breadth of craptastic gadgetry invented to clutter its drawers and cabinets, while befuddling earnest home cooks. I couldn’t count the menagerie of electronic slicers, and dicers, and mixers, and mincers, and choppers, and shredders and grinders, and dubious all-in-one thingamabobs I’ve been tempted by—many of which are now being blessed with fearsome Bluetooth and “smart” capabilities.  To my discerning eyes, however, the once mysterious immersion blender is the rare exception. In fact, after several weeks of testing, I now consider one a must-have.

In its simplest form, an immersion blender, a.k.a. a wand, upright, or hand blender, is a high-speed rotating blade attached to a handle that you submerge into a cooking pot or mixing bowl. The business end of the blender always has some sort of bell-shaped guard (more on those in a bit). The motivating idea behind these multi-purpose devices is that, rather than transferring your food into a dedicated or overly large and cumbersome food processor, blender or mixer, you can quickly achieve the same results with a much handier and faster handheld version. In practice, this means not only being able to easily puree soups or sauces in literally a few quick bursts of power, but also make quick work of nut butters, dips, smoothies or mixed drinks, or even more esoteric culinary ventures like homemade mayo. Many blenders also come with potentially attractive accessories such as a whisk or chopper.

From the left: All-Clad KZ750D, Cuisinart CSB-100, Breville Control Grip, Kitchen Aid KHB2351, Cuisinart CSB-75, Hamilton Beach 59765

I recently road-tested a half-dozen of the leading models and consider myself an instant convert. An immersion blender made quick work of many often tedious tasks such as liquefying soups, making dips and sauces, as well as tasty frozen drinks, without adding too much to the hassle of cleanup or storage. To find a select list of test models, I consulted professional reviews from trusted publications and also took in real world owner experiences from thousands of consumers (more on this below). Once I winnowed-down the options, my short list included the All-Clad KZ750D Immersion Blender ($99.95 on Amazon), Breville Control Grip ($99.97 on Amazon), Cuisinart CSB-75 Smart Stick 2-Speed Immersion Blender ($26.49 on Amazon), Cuisinart CSB-100 Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender ($77.49 on Amazon), Hamilton Beach 59765 2-Speed Hand Blender ($28.80 on Amazon), and the Kitchen Aid KHB2351 3-Speed Hand Blender ($47.00 on Amazon). With the exception of the All-Clad, all of these blenders came with accessories of some sort, as modest as a blending cup to a full-array of attachments such as a whisk, or chopping bowl with food processing blade.

After challenging all of these test models with a punishing gauntlet of home cooking recipes, the good news is that I had a generally good experience with most all of them, however, our hands-down favorite was the Breville Control Grip. Its powerful but quiet motor, extended-length blending shaft, comfortable controls and useful accessories put it over the top, especially since it’s reasonably priced for such a high-quality device at just under $100.

Going deep

One criticism of immersion blenders as all-in-one devices is that they are like the definition of the Renaissance man: They may do many things, but none perfectly. I’d agree, though I’d also offer another old chestnut: Perfect is the enemy of good. And so, while even my top pick, the Breville Control Grip, may not go head-to-head with the results of a dedicated top-quality blender or food processor, for most home cooks they are absolutely “good enough”, which sounds like faint praise but isn’t. If you’re a home cook of even average ambition, an immersion blender will up your game substantially.

When picking test subjects, I looked for models with at least two motor speeds, to be more versatile, and only corded models—the need to keep battery-powered ones continuously charged up means they don’t make practical sense for home cooks. Accessories weren’t a primary concern. However, depending on your skill set and interests, they might be the added value that makes an immersion blender a must-have for you (or just an instant way to terminally clog yet another kitchen drawer. Handy!)

To gauge their functional capabilities, I put the blenders to work on three different dishes: mixing and blending a fresh-made tomato pasta sauce; pureeing a smooth, roasted squash soup; and chopping and blending a fruit smoothie made from juice, frozen mangoes and strawberries. Besides the most basic ability to slice and dice through the various ingredients without issues, I paid particular attention to the texture and consistency of the resulting foods. In particular, for the tomato sauce, I wanted the herbs, garlic and olive oil to be well mixed and blended while still leaving a coarse enough overall texture. Conversely, I looked for the soup to be perfectly smooth, almost pudding or yogurt-like in texture, without any accidental chunks floating around. And for our smoothies, we wanted a consistent blend – a real challenge with two types of frozen fruit. To do the job well required a powerful enough motor and sharp blades without getting clogged or even burning out.

Besides their blending chops, as it were, there were several areas of comparison that ended up making the decision process far easier. At the most basic level, there was comfort and ease-of use; specifically, the shape and weight of the handle, the length of the power cord, the action of the buttons, and the ability to control the wand and feel safe. I also looked at the length of the blending shaft—was it long enough to use in a deep pot?—and the process for attaching it or other accessories. Build-quality was important and, in a few cases, a major differentiating factor. And crucially, I paid attention to how easy it was to clean—some models are dishwasher-proof, others aren’t and require more delicate care.

One Blender to Rule Them All

From the left: All-Clad KZ750D, Breville Control Grip, Kitchen Aid KHB2351, Cuisinart CSB-75, Hamilton Beach 59765, Cuisinart CSB-100

Right from the unboxing, the Breville Control Grip is impressive, all sleek lines and smart design. Its 8-inch long shaft is longer than most and made of brushed stainless-steel that’s smooth top-to-bottom, with no seams to trap food; making it able to go deep into cooking pots, while being the easiest to clean of the bunch. The comfortable hand grip is molded like a joystick, with a rubber coating that is soft but also slip-proof even when wet (which is all the time when I’m in charge of dinner). The power button is sealed under the rubber and is easy to press without being a hair trigger. On top is a dial to adjust the speed to one of 15 settings, which we think is probably overkill but nice to have, all the same. The cord is heavy-duty gauge and a generous six-feet-long, which allows for more freedom of movement between a stove and countertop. Also included is a whisk attachment, a 3-cup chopping bowl with its own blade and driver top, and then an even larger 42-oz mixing or storage jug.

In our experience with other Breville devices, we’ve been impressed with thoughtful design choices and other small details that cumulatively make for an especially satisfying experience. The Control Grip has plenty of them. For instance, the storage jug’s rubber top can be fastened to the bottom of the container to function as a slip-proof mat, which is especially handy with a powerful blender. And wouldn’t you know, the chopper bowl and top fits right in the mixing bowl for easier storage. Another savvy design choice, the handgrip has a lip that separates your trigger finger from your middle finger, making it easier to hold and thus control, and also ensuring you always have just one finger poised over the power button, preventing accidental button presses. Similarly, the Breville was the sole model to come with a blade guard, a modest little snap on shield that covers the business end of the shaft and which will be appreciated by anyone who has hazarded an unwary hand into the kitchen whatnot drawer and pulled back a bloody finger as a souvenir, thanks to a long-forgotten food processor blade lurking in the corner.

One thing you quickly discover when using an immersion blender is what’s called the vortex, a pleasingly sci-fi-ish term for the suction effect created by the high-speed rotation of the angled blades. On the one hand, it’s useful as it causes your food to circulate and thus prevents having inconsistent pureeing. The problem though is some models suffer from too much suction, which causes the bell of the blender to get stuck to the bottom of your mixing container, not only preventing proper mixing but also creating a modest safety issue if you aren’t aware and attempt to pull the wand away without holding your mixing bowl with your other hand.

From the left: All-Clad KZ750D, Breville Control Grip, Kitchen Aid KHB2351, Cuisinart CSB-75, Hamilton Beach 59765, Cuisinart CSB-100

One key differentiating feature of the Breville’s performance is its unique racetrack-shaped bell, with open notches on the side. The unorthodox shape allowed for smooth blending action without a noticeable suction (which we’re sure will soon be appearing on competing products).

And in all of the food tests, the Breville made short work of the material without our ever feeling like I had a tiger by the tail (as I did when accidentally triggering one blender’s Turbo mode). To the contrary, the Breville feels very controlled and, well, fun to use. In action, the Breville had a remarkably quiet hum, and yet it chewed easily through everything I threw at it: I pulverized a pint of blackberries and made frozen-fruit popsicles with my kid (on sale soon at a street corner near me); then I made three different types of hummus in about a minute each, using both the blending wand and the chopper attachment (the chimichurri flavor won hands down); and using the whisk attachment tossed up some fluffy, rich whipped cream, again in just a minute or two.

The sole criticism I have with the Breville Control Grip is the mechanism for connecting attachments, a pair of mechanical buttons on the front and rear of the power unit that must be squeezed simultaneously to remove an attachment, and which require the two-finger pincer-strength of a mountain free-climber. In testing all of the immersion blenders, I found a good workflow was to blend one-handed, often pulsing, and when finished to disconnect the mixing shaft and put it in the sink with one hand so that the power unit can be set down on a counter safely and without making a mess. The Breville generally failed or at lease flummoxed this portion of testing, often requiring a tooth-gritting tug of war to finally free the mixing shaft. It’s irksome, but far from a deal-breaker for an otherwise stellar experience.

In picking test models, but also when comparing my test results, I consulted as many professional reviews as I could find, as well as user reviews from retail sources such as Amazon. It turns out there is no one conclusive “best” pick among immersion blenders. Encouragingly, Consumer Reports awarded the Breville 92 of 100 points rating it “excellent” and it was the top pick for The Sweethome, as well.

Retail sites were especially useful for getting “real world” user experiences with the various options, and so I paid special attention to sites where there were at least several dozen user reviews of our picks, such as Sur La Table, Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon (for which our top pick, the Breville, had more than 650 reviews). Through all, the Breville Control Grip earned near universal praise and scored an average 4.5 of 5 stars or higher. One typical note from an Amazon verified buyer echoed our sentiments and those of most other reviewers succinctly: “Excellent product, exceeds my expectations. Weight, construction are top notch. Power for any home task. Nice accessories. Good quality for your money.”

The Runner-Up

While I don’t think our top pick, the Breville Control Grip, should be considered a pricey splurge at about $100, I was impressed enough with the KitchenAid KHB2351 3-Speed Hand Blender that it bears consideration, especially as it comes in at about half the price. Every aspect of the Breville met or exceeded those of the KitchenAid, however, the Kitchen Aid is still an overall well-made machine I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

As with the Breville, the KitchenAid is sturdily built of stainless steel with rigid plastic and slip-proof rubber on its handle. The extra-long power button is comfortable to use with your choice of finger, though I found the 3-position speed adjustment knob on top problematic as it’s a little too smooth and slippery to turn when dry, much less when wet. Though KitchenAid claims an 8-inch stainless steel shaft, it’s more like 6 as the upper two inches are the plastic connector used to join it to the power unit. It also comes with a chopping bowl (a half cup smaller than the Breville’s) and a 3-cup mixing/storage bowl (about half the size of the Breville’s) as well as a whisk attachment. While we had minor issues with the Breville’s accessory connector (see above) the KitchenAid attaches with a twist though, as with the speed adjuster, the smooth plastic makes that a bit tricky if your hands are wet, which they will be.

In my testing, the KitchenAid performs well, with a powerful enough motor to handle everything from fibrous veggies to ice with aplomb. If the Breville is a stretch for any reason, the KitchenAid is a great backup with considering.

The Also-Rans

As noted above, I had a largely good experience with most of the blenders at the most basic level—any of these can and will slice, dice, blend, and puree in a pinch—but there’s no question that our pick is hands down the best performer and value of the bunch, and most other models had at least one failing that knocked it from contention.

The All-Clad KZ750D Stainless Steel Immersion Blender is a gorgeous machine, but at $100 we think too over-powered and pricey compared to our pick, considering it comes with no accessories at all. We loved its extra-long shaft, though combined with its extra-wide protective bell it verges on unwieldy, with too much muscle for many users. We’d call it a prosumer model. One nagging hiccup is the placement of the Turbo button, which instantly turns this thing into a rogue powerboat. The button is located just above the power trigger making it too easy to accidentally press instead of the regular power button; in fact, for our initial food test, we did just that, creating a fearsome dervish of lava-hot soup, which splattered and splashed all over our counter, thank-you-very-much. 

Both the Cuisinart models we tested performed well, have a solid feel and quality materials, came with either a blending bowl (CSB-75) or a chopper and whisk accessory (CSB-100), and were dishwasher safe with a great price to boot—all great explanations for their evident popularity among Amazon buyers, in particular. But in my testing, I simply couldn’t get over the awful implementation of a mechanical safety lock, which requires that you push in a button with one hand before being able to activate the power button. This necessarily takes two hands and, since the name of the game with immersion blenders is frequent pulsing, this is a bizarre, self-defeating design choice as you must depress the lock button every time you release the power button. In fact, we’d go so far as to say this two-handed system is actually a safety hazard, as it’s extremely easy to have the blending bowl knock over or tip if it gets suctioned to the blender, which is common. At any rate, there’s no doubt Cuisinart’s models are popular, but for us, the hassle of the locking mechanism, which we appreciate in theory, make them a pass for us compared with our pick.

In comparison with all the other models we tested, the Hamilton Beach 59765 2-Speed Hand Blender felt like a toy—and not a very nice one at that. Yes, it blends, but all of its various components were flimsy and don’t seem designed to last. The power buttons aren’t sealed and depress too deeply, which makes it uncomfortable to hold; the mixing wand was the shortest of all the ones we tested, meaning it’s not able to be used with more than a cup or two of food. And the mixing wand itself is astonishingly poor—the straight 1.5-inch blade doesn’t create much of a mixing vortex, causing it to clog with food bits too easily, and the shaft itself is secured to the plastic connector cone by mere bent metal tabs, which we’d wager will be a source of early death. The best we can say about it is that’s it’s cheap, for around $30. However, for an extra $25 our runner-up pick, the KitchenAid KHB2351OB 3-Speed Hand Blender, is orders of magnitude better, if budget is a concern.

An instant game-changer

Pro chefs and savvy home cooks have long touted the efficiency and versatility that immersion blenders bring to your cooking game, and my testing bears that out. Whether it’s to speed up every task or to broaden your culinary horizons, an immersion blender is a terrific asset, and the Breville Control Grip was the hands-down best and most satisfying model of all we tested. It’s made of high-quality components, is easy to use, works quickly and consistently, and makes clean-up a cinch. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go dig into the pantry to find some more things to puree.

Breville Control Grip - The Best Immersion Blender

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