The best hand blenders to buy to help you easily whip up sauces and soups

The best hand blenders are an essential piece of kitchen kit, allowing you to create a range of dishes, from soups, smoothies and sauces, to dressings and batters. Below, we've rounded up the top-performing hand blender models to help you decide which one to buy—and we’ve also answered common questions you may have.

When it comes to cooking, hand blenders—or immersion blenders, as they are otherwise called—can help with a range of tasks. The lightweight, compact machines can help you to puree, mash, blend (of course), as well as whisk, chop and grind any ingredients, from vegetables to nuts. They have the capacity to do so many technical cooking tasks—which is why they're such a practical purchase. 

Unlike many of the best blenders, the best hand blenders, or stick blenders, are a much more lightweight and compact kitchen appliance. They take up less counter space and storage space in your home, and are often easier and more simple to use. While they might not have all the functionalities of regular blenders, they can do almost any essential blending task you might require. One big plus for hand blenders, is that cooking and food prep can be much easier too, especially if you struggle with lifting. With an immersion blender, there's no need to transport your food out of its pan to blend, as you would need to do with an ordinary blender. Simply stick the hand blender in the pot, and you're good to go. 

How we selected and tested the best hand blenders

In order to properly assess the best immersion blenders on the market, we selected products from a range of price points, in order to test a wide range. We then individually tested each one of these kitchen gadgets, evaluating its look and design (after all, it needs to look good in our kitchens), how easy it was to set up, and the different array of functions it offered.

Of course, the most important part of testing was seeing how well each one worked to blend, puree and mix our foods, so we used each one in an array of different dishes. Finally, we assessed the value-for-money each hand blender offered. You don't want to pay over the odds for your blender—but quality is important. We examined whether some of the more expensive models here are really worth splashing the extra cash on, or whether you'd get just as good an experience from more affordable models.

What to consider when choosing the best hand blender for you

When choosing the best immersion blender for you, it's important to consider some key features to make sure you are purchasing the right machine. It might help you to think about:

• Ease-of-use: The best hand blenders are supposed to be portable, light and easy to hold. If a hand blender is too heavy it’ll not only make your arm ache but also be trickier to maneuver. Pay attention to the size of the blender—if the handle is too chunky you’ll find it harder to grip, while the end that actually blends the food (known as the guard over the blade) shouldn’t be too wide or it’ll be difficult to fit inside small bowls and jugs to blend effectively. Ideally, you’d be able to pick up the blender to see how it feels in your hand but, if you’re buying online, be wary of too many buttons and where they’re positioned—too far from the top of the handle is a no-no. Another feature to look out for is a rubber grip on the handle, which can make blending much more comfortable and reduce the chance of any accidents.
• Design: Some hand blenders are better looking than others, so perhaps consider how important this is to you (for example, while you be leaving the blender out on your countertop?) It can also be helpful to think about how easy each hand blender would be to store—some are much more streamlined and space-saving than others.
• Efficiency/power: Arguably the most important thing to consider is how well a blender works at mixing your food. We've evaluated this below for you, but it can also be helpful to peruse the wattage of the device, which is a good indicator of how powerful it is. Anything above 250W should be more than enough for a hand blender, but many of the models below go above that.
• Attachments and accessories: Additional attachments minimize the need for extra appliances. Every hand blender will have the basic blending function, but consider whether you need it to also be able to chop, whisk, or froth ingredients, for example. 
• Cleanability: If you're wondering how to clean a blender, it's worth noting that hand blenders are usually much easier cleaned than regular blenders, given that they're often smaller and more compact. However, some include dishwasher safe parts where others don't. Think about how important this ease of cleaning is for you.
• Corded or cordless: Cordless models can be much easier to move around with in your kitchen, but you'll have to remember to power them up before use. On the other hand, corded hand blenders are always ready for use, but the cable may make food prep awkward and may increase the chances of things being knocked over. Decide which would work best for your kitchen.

The best hand blenders as tested by our experts

The Desire 3-in-1 Hand Blender streamlines the cooking process by eliminating the need for endless appliances, which is why it's made our edit of the best immersion blenders.

This 500W hand blender spins at 12,000rpm, so its stainless-steel blades have no problem crushing hardy items like ice in seconds. It has two speeds, comes with a mini chopper, whisk and a 700ml beaker, plus a detachable blending arm—a handy feature. Its versatility will save you both storage space and time, equalling convenience and delicious culinary creations. However, it's worth noting that the extra attachments need to be stored, so it's perhaps not the most space-saving of all our picks. We also like that it’s black, rather than the more common white and metal finishes, making it slightly more sleek and a good pick for those after something more stylish. Plus, the detachable parts are all dishwasher safe so it's an easy one to clean—just pop them in, sit back, and relax. 

As well as being nice and powerful, we love that this design has six speeds rather than the more common two, meaning it’s easier to keep some texture in your food if you don’t want everything blitzed to a pulp. 

It’s a no-frills option, as there are no attachments, but what it lacks in extras it more than makes up for in power and professional good looks. We love the quality feel of the blender, and its durable design which would work well in a kitchen with little ones.

There's also no doubt that this model offers great value for the price, with its simple-to-use functionality, and the fact that it is incredibly easy to clean. Simply put, the George at Asda Stainless Steel hand blender is a super sleek, holy grail kitchen essential that enables you to blend and puree with relative ease.

If you like mashed potato as much as we do, this is almost worth buying for the masher attachment alone—you’ll never have to use a potato ricer or traditional masher ever again, which is a big part of why it's made it onto our list of the best hand blenders. 

This model has two speeds (if you count the pulse function) as well as three blades for blending food more quickly, a 750ml beaker with a lid, is dishwasher-safe and has a rubber grip on the handle. It's an excellent tool for creating soups too, which is a brilliant reason to buy this hand blender. Not to mention, the Kenwood is simple to clean after usage too, with dishwasher-safe parts. It is super easy and gentle to use too, especially for those with arthritic thumbs.

Considering this hand blender costs less than £15, we’re surprised it packs a powerful 600W punch, which is why it’s included on our list of best hand blenders. This blender option features a durable, long-lasting stainless steel blade, a stainless steel shaft, and a basic on-off Turbo switch, making it very simple to figure out how to use.

We also like the unusual grey color and the fact that it’s so compact (less than 40cm), making it great for smaller kitchens with less storage space. It has two speeds, but doesn’t come with any attachments which might put some shoppers off. However, this isn’t a deal-breaker; if you don’t actually want or need any extras, it’s a very good entry-level model that does exactly what it says on the tin.

Yes, we know it’s not cheap, but if you think of it as an investment and as several small appliances in one, the Dualit 88910 hand blender set's overall value for money is difficult to argue with. At 700W this model is among the most powerful hand blenders on our list, making it ideal for blending more difficult food items. It's also handy when It comes to clean-up, with dishwasher-safe parts. The Dualit also comes with lots of helpful kitchen extras including a generous 1-liter jug, 600ml chopping bowl and a whisk. It’s also really sturdy, sleek and professional-looking, which is why it's one of our best hand blenders.

This 200W design is ideal if you want control over the speed that you blend—simply twist the top of the handle until you have the desired speed and press ‘go’. There is also a pulse function for chopping rather than pureéing, if you want a thicker texture for some foods. While it has a detachable blending arm and blades for easy cleaning, it's important to know that this particular stick blender doesn’t come with any additional attachments. It's an excellent, simple option for newbie chefs who want to create sauces, smoothies, and soups though. 

The best immersion blenders should be able to make a range of dishes—including baby food. And this one stands up in testing—it's a great option for parents who want to mash veggies and delicacies for their children.

With over 30,000 reviews on Amazon, the top-rated Mueller Austria Immersion hand blender is hailed for its versatility and can help you to create a medley of dishes like salsa, pesto, pancake batter, and more. This particular option is great at blending tough-to-crush textured foods—yes, even peanut butter. For this reason it's a great pick for those who want their hand blender to work hard at more difficult-to-blend food items. 

We love its sleek design (it's one of the most stylish picks on our list), as well as its impressive power, speed variables, and its various different functions that add much-needed convenience. It has dishwasher-safe parts that make for easy clean-up, and it's certainly an affordable option.

For those of us who aren't natural chefs, the KOIOS 800W Immersion Hand Blender is a no frills, stick-to-the-basics option that simplifies whisking, blending and pureeing, making it a great option if you want something that is simple and easy to use. 

It's a quiet model, which will make it much more convenient for people who tend to cook at odd hours, and has nine handy variable speed settings. Despite its label as a great option for newbie chefs, advanced cooks will enjoy its versatile attachments, sleek, but durable stainless steel design, and powerful blade. Simply put, it is a great hand blender that's ideal for the masses.

Do I need to buy a hand blender with attachments?

Some of the more expensive hand blenders come with jugs, different blades, masher and whisk attachments and are definitely worth considering if you don’t have—or don’t want—additional electrical whisks or processors taking up space in your cupboards. But, if you already have those gadgets and don’t want to double up, a no-frills model is ideal and can be picked up for a great price.

Hand blenders are one of the few kitchen gadgets that can fit in a drawer, so look for compact ones if that’s where you plan to store it. If they have a removable blender attachment for easier storage and cleaning, so much the better. 

Are hand blenders worth it?

If you're looking to make a soup, a sauce, or if you're even trying out an easy smoothie recipe, a hand blender is absolutely worth it. A hand blender saves you the trouble of getting out your bigger blender to whizz up your ingredients—saving your hands when it comes to lifting saucepans, and the extra effort.

In fact, many blender recipes online even call for hand blenders as a way of mixing your food together—so in some instances it's even recommended that you use a hand blender over a regular blender. In fact, there are a huge amount of immersion blender recipes out there for you to try out!

And if you're wondering whether a hand blender will help you keep on top of your help, you can find out the answer to the question—are smoothies good for you?—in our guide.

How powerful should my hand blender’s wattage/motor be?

We recommend hand blenders that exceed 200 watts of power, which will allow you to mix liquids and chunkier foods, and thereby get more for your investment. That being said, wattage doesn’t necessarily translate to enhanced functionality. Focus on how power is delivered, particularly the technology and speeds involved; and how they operate. That’ll determine whether or not your blender is a quality product, or a bogus sham.