12 best hand blenders for making soup and more
Get whizzy with it and invest in a stick blender to make soups, smoothies, sauces and much more. We put them to the test and picked our favourite versions
A hand blender - sometimes called a stick blender or immersion blender - can be one of the handiest tools in your kitchen. You can quickly purée soups and smoothies, whip up mayonnaise, pancake batters, pesto, and even baby food without sometimes transferring hot liquids from separate bowls or pans. Plus, they are easier to clean than jug blenders or food processors as there are only two pieces: the handle containing the motor and the shaft with the blade at the end protected by a metal basket. A hand blender is also compact, so it takes up far less room in the cupboard, which is helpful if space is a problem.
When choosing a hand blender, consider how often and for what purposes you plan to use it. A cheaper model should be acceptable if it is only for occasional use. However, investing in a blender with a powerful motor is a good idea if you are a frequent user, especially if you are making soups or blending frozen berries for your morning smoothie. Opt for stainless steel if you are pureeing or blending dark fruits or vegetables like tomatoes and beetroot, as plastic can stain.
Many brands now sell cordless hand blenders, which can be helpful if you use them directly in pans on the stove or worktop.
Best hand blenders at a glance
- Best for simplicity coupled with quality: Zwilling Hand Blender, £64.95
- Best professional quality blender: Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Food Prep System, £99.99
- Best for all round versatility: Gastroback Design Hand Blender Advanced Pro, £257.59
- Best for design quality: Bamix Classic hand blender, £109.99
- Best for smooth blending: Tefal Optichef hand blender, £81.99
- Best for families: Braun Multiquick 5 Vario hand blender, £68.16
- Best for versatility: Cuisinart 3 in 1 cordless hand blender, £99
- Best for occasional use: Salter Cosmos 3 in 1 blender set, £27.99
- Best mid-range hand blender: Russell Hobbs Desire 3-in-1 hand blender set, £43.99
- Most efficient hand blender: Smeg 50s-style hand blender, £142.88
- Best cordless hand blender: KitchenAid Artisan cordless hand blender, £96.74
- Best for practicality: Dualit 700W hand blender, £77.98
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Best hand blenders to buy 2024
Zwilling Hand Blender
Available from Zwilling (£64.95), OnBuy (£72.69)
Best for simplicity coupled with quality
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Pros:
- Incremental speed
- Easy to hold and use
- Shuts off if it gets too hot
- Great price for quality
Cons:
- Small blade
Star rating: 5/5
The Zwilling hand blender is a straightforward, unfussy, and hard-working hand blender. The simplicity of it, however, does not take away from its quality build with a black and stainless motor housing and a brushed steel shaft with two-leaf blade. There is a sliding speed adjuster at the top for the 550W motor and a turbo boost for that extra push when the going gets tough. Included is a 600ml beaker, which fits the blender perfectly, and though there are no other attachments, extras such as a whisk and chopper can be bought separately.
Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Prep System
Available from Amazon (£99), Very (£99), Ninja (£99.99), Currys (£99.99), Argos (£100)
Best professional quality blender
Pros:
- Professional-sized, robust hand blender
- Easy to hold and use
- Super-speedy
- Attachments included
- Motor recognises each attachment
- Optimised speed settings for attachments
Cons:
- A little heavy
- No beaker
Star rating: 5/5
The Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Food Prep System is a serious hand blender. It is weighty at just shy of 2kg, so for some, it may feel a little heavy, but the weight distribution is even, so it feels lighter. Behind that weight, there is an 850W motor driving this machine, which makes short work of anything in its path.
The hand blender has just two speeds, and toggling between the low and turbo settings is easy. The box also includes a five-speed hand mixer attachment and two beaters, making this an incredibly versatile package. However, there is no beaker for mixing smaller quantities, so a jug is needed.
Gastroback Design Hand Blender Advanced Pro
Available from Gastroback (£114.90)
Best for all-round versatility
Pros:
- Five speeds
- Attachments included
- Potato masher attachment
- Powerful 800W
- Generous 800ml beaker with lid
Cons:
- Confusing instructions
Star rating: 5/5
The Gastroback Advanced Pro hand blender is, as suggested by its name, a professional looking and sturdy machine capable of tackling most blending jobs in the kitchen. From its ergonomic Soft-Touch handle, 800W motor which will make short work most ingredients, five easily adjustable speeds and a titanium coated four-fold blade, this is a serious hand blender.
And, if that is not enough, the Gastroback Advanced Pro also has an enviable range of accessories included in the box with a 500 ml mini chopper, whisk and a generous 800 ml beaker with a non-slip base, which turns into a lid for the beaker and a special attachment for mashing potatoes.
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Bamix Classic hand blender
Available from Harts of Stur (£98.10), Lakeland (£109.99), Amazon (£112.79)
Best for design quality
Pros:
- Powerful
- Long cord
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Unclear instructions
Star rating: 4.5/5
This is a design classic that’s been around, pretty much unchanged, since 1954. No fancy bells and whistles here, just a sturdy hand unit with three stainless-steel discs to chop, whisk or blend.
The Classic model comes with the basic stainless-steel attachments but with interesting designs. Instead of the usual balloon whisk, we made whipped cream using the flat whisk ‘disc’ with perfect results. These small additions could be easy to mislay in the kitchen drawer though, and although this set comes with a basic stand for the main unit, it could do with somewhere to stash those precious blades.
There are lots of extra accessories available to buy for your Bamix, like mincer blades, shredders, jugs and beakers and a processor for grinding spices. There’s also a deluxe stand with those all-important cubby holes for the attachments if you’d like to upgrade.
We liked the simple black casing of this model, which was easy to clean and didn’t require too much effort to remove the end pieces as we moved from recipe to recipe.
Tefal Optichef hand blender
Available from Amazon (£81.99), OnBuy (£119.06)
Best for smooth blending
Pros:
- Quick blending
- Easy to alter the blending speeds
- Minimal splashing when blending
Cons:
- Noisier than we’d like
- Complicated instruction sheets
- Blender doesn’t feel securely locked to mini chopper bowl
Star rating: 4/5
We liked the feel of this chunky Tefal blender, which has a soft grip and controls that kept slippy fingers on the button. It was easy to manage the speed as the dial for changing the strength of the chop is right on top of the main blender. Some people may need to use both hands but in tests, we were able to hold the 'on' button with one finger while rotating the control with another.
With four blades, the Tefal made light work of even the toughest chunks of veg, smoothies with oatmeal and even pulses. The mini chopper attachment was successful at chopping onions and blending spice mixes, but we’d have liked the main body of the chopper to lock into place securely over the bowl. It took a few attempts to get right, but mayonnaise was a splash-free experience, with the deep 800ml (and BPA-free) beaker a generous size for a family portion.
In a light, bright white and grey colour, this is a great addition to any worktop and a good all-rounder you can rely on to get the job done quickly with its super-sharp, quadruple-pronged blades.
Braun Multiquick 5 Vario hand blender
Available from Braun (£64.99), Amazon (£68.16), Hughes (£74), AO (£89)
Best for families
Pros:
- Food processor has non-slip grip
- Chunky and easy to hold
- Easy-use variable speed control
Cons:
- No eco-friendly packaging
- Confusing instructions
- No lid or non-slip rubber bottom for the beaker
Star rating: 4/5
This is a great choice if you’re dealing with larger capacities. The 600ml beaker was one of the most generous we tested and it meant there was more than enough smoothie for a couple of generous breakfast servings, and lashings of silky gravy for all the family’s roast.
We have to give minus points for the fact this model came packed in non-biodegradable polystyrene. Once unpacked, everything felt well-constructed and of good quality when it clicked together. The main blending stick twisted tightly onto the food processor unit, whereas some lesser models just hover. The rubber ring on the base meant the unit held firmly in place on the work surface as we whizzed up a batch of chopped onion portions for the freezer.
The control on top of the main unit was easy to operate while holding down the rubber ‘on’ button, so it was possible to wheel our way through 21 speeds to get exactly the right blend for each dish. There was no splashing while using thanks to the deep bell-shaped head on the blender, which helped to keep mess to a minimum.
Cuisinart 3 in 1 cordless hand blender
Available from Amazon (£84), B and Q (£98.95), Harts Of Stur (£98.95), ManoMano (£98.95), Lakeland (£99.99), John Lewis and Partners (£100)
Best hand blender for versatility
Pros:
- Versatile cordless option
- Masher attachment
- Long blending shaft
Cons:
- Expensive
- 2.5 hour charge time
- Larger and heavier than most
Star rating: 4/5
Busy kitchen? Big space? Then you’d appreciate a blender that isn't tied to a plug socket, so you’re not constrained by the length of its cable. This fabulous cordless Cuisinart model charges in its dock in just over two hours, allowing you to take it from worktop to table or anywhere you need to whizz up ingredients. Make fresh smoothies on the patio, pulp baby food at the table or just grab it from the other end of the worktop to finish off gravy on the hob.
The Cuisinart 3 in 1 is a versatile kitchen helper that we loved using – its masher attachment came close to rivalling the cordless function as our favourite attribute. Smoothing out boiled spuds effortlessly, we added butter and milk for the perfect creamy mash. We also used this attachment on veggie soups, knowing that larger pieces would be pulped with ease. This well-designed model also looks great left in its dock on the worktop, which is a plus if you have the space.
Salter Cosmos 3 in 1 blender set
Available from Amazon (£27.99)
Best for occasional use
Pros:
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Useful storage stand
Cons:
- Cheaper plastic parts may not stand the test of time
- Short cable length
- Whisk feels flimsy
Star rating: 3.5/5
With only two speed settings – 'on' and ‘turbo’ – there’s not a lot of choice in terms of control with this model, but you do get attachments to blend, chop and whisk, with the addition of a lidded chopping bowl.
We found this model more than capable when making smoothies and mayonnaise, but we’re not sure how long it would last with constant use. There were no lumps in our smoothies and nothing got caught up in the wide mouth of the blender attachment, but we had less success with the small chopping bowl accessory.
This blender’s motor parts are plastic and we think these might wear down faster than the other, more robust models we looked at. The plastic also means it was louder in use than other models tested, especially on the faster speed setting.
However, if a hand blender only gets occasional light use in your kitchen, then this budget choice may just fit the bill. And when it’s stashed away in a cupboard, the different components won’t go missing as a handy plastic stand can be placed on top of the mixing beaker to keep everything together. Just slot all the components on there to keep everything in one place.
Russell Hobbs Desire 3-in-1 hand blender set
Available from ManoMano (£39.99) and Currys (£43.99)
Best mid-range hand blender set
Pros:
- Dishwasher-safe detachable components
- Really quiet
- Simple two speed settings
Cons:
- Backwards locking system
- Narrow 700ml beaker
Sleek with a matte-black finish design, this hand blender set felt more powerful than its 500 watt motor and was notably quiet during use. It's covered by a three-year manufacturer's guarantee which indicates the brand’s confidence in its performance.
Additional accessories include a 700ml beaker, which is tall with a sturdy base but it's also quite narrow and could be broader. It was fine for smoothies and lumpy soups, but whipping cream with the whisk attachment would be better done in a large mixing bowl than in the beaker. The long, stainless-steel blender arm was easy to clean and allows for plenty of height if batch-cooking large quantities of soups. Plus, there are smart design sections, like the 500ml chopper, which has a silicone lid that doubles up as a non-slip base during chopping.
All the components except the motor unit are dishwasher-safe on the top shelf. All the attachments are compact enough to be simply stored in a cupboard, while the blades have blade guards, so the blender arm and whisks could also be put in a utensils drawer. Read our full Russell Hobbs 3-in-1 hand blender set review
Smeg 50s-style hand blender
Available from Amazon UK (£142.98), Argos (£143), AO (£143.00), Boots (£149.95), Robert Dyas (£149.99)
Most efficient hand blender
Pros:
- 1.7-litre Tritan measuring jug
- 500ml chopper with anti-slip base
- Masher
- Five speeds and turbo function
Cons:
- Pricy
- Bulky to store
Compared to the others tested, this Smeg hand blender sits towards the top of the price spectrum, but you get what you pay for in quality. Rather than a beaker, it comes with a 1.7-litre jug made of clear plastic and designed more like a retro milkshake jug, featuring both a sturdy plastic handle and pouring spout. Its lid means it can be popped straight in the fridge for decanting later.
This five-speed hand blender with additional turbo function was fun to use because, thanks to the power of its settings, even large lumps of frozen fruit were ploughed through, fuss-free, on the lowest speed.
The size, power and practicality of this gadget makes it a genuine investment purchase and negates the need to invest in other large appliances like bullet blenders or hand mixers. In that way, you could save space and money. A Smeg food processor attachment (£137.51) is also available. Read our full Smeg 50s-style hand blender review.
KitchenAid Artisan cordless hand blender
Available from Harts Of Stur (£96.74), ManoMano (£96.74), Amazon (£125), Currys (£129.00), John Lewis and Partners (£139)
Best cordless hand blender
Pros:
- Multi-tasker
- You can move around the kitchen when using it
Cons:
- Long length of handle
While this is undoubtedly an investment purchase, its cordless functionality is worth the money alone – meaning no more dangling cords near your chopping device. The visible LED display means you can clearly see which one of the five speed settings you're on, and it tackled everything thrown at it, from thick curry pastes to iced smoothies.
It comes with 20cm and 33cm stainless-steel arms and has a guard to protect your pan bases while blending. With a large toolbox of attachments plus a mini chopper, jug and battery charger, its versatility does require some storage space.
The design is unique and the weight of the handle is well balanced but for some, the length may be a little unwieldy. On the plus side, it’s easy to clean with a number of dishwasher-safe parts.
Dualit 700W hand blender
Available from OnBuy.com (£197.22)
Best for practicality
Pros:
- Ergonomic hooked handle
- Minimal suction
Cons:
- Slippery feeding spout
This high-gloss silver blender is hooked at the top so it rests on your hand, making it feel more secure during use. At low and medium speeds there was very little suction to the saucepan base, making it easy to move the blender around. It comes with a solidly built 1-litre jug with helpful volume markings on the side.
The mini chopper was efficient and has a useful feeding spout, but it did slip around a bit so it needs to be held during use. The whisk attachment felt sturdy and made gently whipped cream on the low speed. It also comes with a detailed manual with helpful troubleshooting tips. The attachments are dishwasher-safe, too.
How to use a hand blender
Assembling a hand blender is super easy. There are usually just two sections: the motor housing, where the control buttons are, and the blade section.
Many blenders come with beakers for preparing smaller amounts of food, such as spice pastes or salsa. The beakers are tall and narrow, and the blender should fit comfortably.
- Use tall jugs or bowls to avoid splashing if you do not have a beaker
- When processing anything with hot liquids, start at a low speed if your hand blender's speed is adjustable. If not, approach the hot liquid carefully to avoid splashing, which can burn
- Never overfill the beaker. Otherwise, you will struggle to puree and must force the blade down, which can cause the beaker to slip or the food to spill out, which is dangerous
- Overfilling and forcing the blender can also cause a vacuum in the bottom of the beaker, which prevents it from working correctly. To avoid a vacuum, tip the beaker slightly at an angle, which allows any trapped air to escape
- You can use a hand blender directly in pans and mixing bowls. Be careful not to drag the blade housing on the bottom of a pan, especially a non-stick pan, as it may scratch
- Always carefully handle or clean the very sharp blade section. When cleaning your hand blender, never submerge the motor housing in water; wipe the handle clean instead
How we tested hand blenders
We scored a range of hand models against the following criteria on our testing matrix:
1. Weight: nothing too heavy or large. Hand blenders are about as long as a ruler and some weigh nearly as much as a bag of sugar, so they can be exhausting to control and hard to get a good grip.
2. Easily controllable: you want the blender to be able to blitz a thick soup. Too fast, especially if you're doing delicate jobs like making mayonnaise, the mixture will curdle. So sensible speeds and easy-to-reach speed controls are a must.
3. Cleaning: you want a model that cleans quickly and doesn't have too many nooks or crannies for food to linger in, making it unhygienic.
4. Versatility: with good quality attachments and accessories, hand blenders can perform multiple kitchen tasks saving you cupboard space and money on separate appliances.
If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Put those hand blenders to good use with our soup and smoothie recipes.
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