Best Stick Blender For Soap Making? Trust The Answer

A regular old blender is standard equipment in most homes, and if yours is any good, it should be able to handle the full range of essential blending tasks — pureeing fibrous veggies and crushing ice with the same ease and doing the least a credible job at emulsifying sauces like homemade mayonnaise. Why bother cluttering up your precious kitchen workspace by throwing an immersion blender into the mix?

The answer is usually convenience. A hand blender, also known as a hand blender or hand blender, is small enough to store in a spacious drawer and light enough to be pulled out with one hand. The simple construction and the ability to mix right in a pot, measuring cup or jar make cleanup that much easier.

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Buy the Hamilton Beach Immersion Blender from Amazon

For those who already have a stand mixer but aren’t looking forward to lugging it out or washing the jar afterwards — especially for small, quick blending tasks — an immersion blender is a handy alternative. If you don’t own a stand mixer and want a tool that can perform 90% of the same functions with less mess and fuss and wasted space, an immersion blender is what you need. What can’t it do? We’ll discuss that further down the page – feel free to skip ahead – but first we’ll lay out the pro-immersion mixer argument.

What are hand blenders good for?

Creamy soups made easier

Photo: Vicky Wasik

If you and your family love a velvety smooth soup, like comforting tomato or butternut squash soup, there’s absolutely no easier way to achieve that luxuriously creamy texture than with an immersion blender. Many of our soup recipes call for the flavors to be sautéed in one pot, then the main ingredients and the broth or other liquid added to the same pot and simmered before blending. With an immersion blender, you can puree the soup directly in the saucepan by dipping the stick with the blade directly into the soup mixture (get it?). Contrast that to a countertop model where you have to scoop the contents of the pot into the jar and risk splashing yourself in the process.

Also, to prevent steam blowing off the lid directly, we recommend that those using a benchtop blender to puree hot food fill the jar no more than half full (and cover the jar with a kitchen towel instead of a lid to seal it). let off steam). Escape route). While there’s nothing wrong with this approach at all, it means you may have to mix batches depending on the yield of the recipe, making the process more time-consuming. Meanwhile, by design, a hand blender is used in an open container, so no precautions against vapor build-up need to be taken.

Need more mixed soup recipes to get that shiny new hand blender up and running? Try our quick mushroom soup, which is great for consuming mushrooms that are past their prime; a colourful, hearty pumpkin soup with miso and dashi; a rich but balanced broccoli cheese soup; or a spring-like asparagus tarragon velouté.

Homemade mayonnaise without breaking a sweat

Photo: J. Kenji López-Alt

Mayonnaise can be made in a variety of ways – in a stand mixer, in a food processor, or even by hand with a whisk, a method Daniel especially loves.

But these approaches have significant disadvantages. The larger machines don’t work well unless you’re making a fairly large batch of mayonnaise; A smaller amount of ingredients are unlikely to come in direct contact with the blades, causing your egg yolk and lemon juice to fly up and splatter against the walls of the jar or bowl, rather than staying close to the blades where they are have to be. Whipping by hand, while it can create a more desirable texture, is tiring for those of us who aren’t Daniel, who, let us remember, also finds joy in dicing a butternut squash into tiny cubes. And all of the above methods depend on adding the oil in a slow, steady trickle, which takes a lot of patience and control.

An immersion blender, on the other hand, feels not only capable, but ready to get the job done, making creamy, tender mayonnaise in record time—as little or as much as you like. Instead of adding the oil in a slow-motion drizzle, you can just add it to the blender jar along with the rest of the ingredients. However, the size of this cup will be crucial: it only needs to be slightly larger than the head of the blender stick, which needs to be seated firmly on the bottom of the cup, allowing the blades to pull the layer of oil down into a whirlpool and perform the tricky task careful to distribute it evenly among the water-based ingredients.

Check out Kenji’s article on making mayonnaise with an immersion blender for more instructions. Once you’ve mastered his original recipe, try adding flavors like herbs or harissa paste and play around with some of our variations, including vegan mayo with silken tofu or aquafaba and Stella’s Egg White Mayonnaise. Or, building on the same technique, check out our foolproof Hollandaise and Béarnaise sauce recipes.

Smoothies right in the cup

Photo: Autumn Giles

Looking to eliminate a step and dish from your morning smoothie routine? Toss frozen fruit, yogurt, spinach, ginger, and anything else that makes you bright and virtuous in the morning straight into a glass or mug wide enough to fit on the head of your hand blender. Lower the blender into the cup. Turn on. Mixture. Drink. No glass to clean or interlocking blades to dissect; Simply detach the wand when you’re done and quickly (gently) wash it by hand or, if the manufacturer allows, in the dishwasher.

Batch smoothies are no less easy as all you have to do is increase the size of the jar and the amount of ingredients accordingly. Would you like to win the Breakfast Host of the Year award by creating custom smoothie mixes for a group of guests? Now, that might sound like you might be trying a little too hard, but with a hand blender, that accolade can be yours if you give the stick a quick rinse between cups.

If you like your smoothies frosty-cold, note that some hand blenders aren’t as effective at crushing ice, although the top picks from our hand blender test did the job.

Whipped cream without a mixer

Photo: Emily Dryden

Stella doesn’t mince words on this subject: Cream can’t really become whipped cream unless you add air to it with a whisk, whether it’s a whisk in your hand or the whisk attachment of a handheld or stand mixer. The result of processing cream with the flat blades of a mixer is more of a softened butter, not a whipped cream at all.

Still, it can be a delicious soft butter, and there are some advantages over the much denser and less fluffy cream topping that comes out of a blender or food processor. (For example, Stella’s Fruity Whipped Cream, which is made by combining freeze-dried fruit, sugar, and heavy cream in a food processor, is far more stable than the real deal, which empties if not used immediately.) Furthermore, we’ll admit that the speed and ease of this mixer-style whipped cream make it an appealing option.

If you go down this route, once again, sticking an immersion blender in a cup with a few ounces of heavy cream is neater and quicker than pulling out a stand mixer. Some hand blender models, including the All-Clad and Hamilton Beach models we recommend, can also be fitted with a whisk attachment for whipping cream or egg whites, either as part of their standard accessory kit or at an additional cost. We haven’t thoroughly tested these attachments, and they’re not really a stand-up substitute for a whisk in a stand mixer, but they do successfully whip cream faster than you could by hand.

Small jobs and on-the-fly jobs

Small mixing tasks are not only more convenient with a blender; They are also made better. A hand blender performs best when you only need a little puree, making it our top choice for low-volume tasks. This includes making a slurry of water and just a few ounces of oatmeal for Stella’s Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies, mixing together half a can of tomatoes and some ginger for Kenji’s Chickpea and Spinach Stew, and pureeing a basket of fresh blackberries for Stella’s Blackberry Pie.

That being said, although it still needs to be plugged in, the portability of a hand blender means it’s better suited to being lugged around the kitchen and whipped out ad hoc. Whether you just need to touch up a creamy soup that didn’t turn out quite creamy enough, or you need to quickly mash up a few chunks of sweet potato for baby’s dinner, an immersion blender makes any small or last-minute blending task smaller, making it smaller and more manageable.

The Disadvantages of a Hand Blender / What It Can’t Do

Photo: Emily Dryden

No matter how dedicated you are as a chef, no one has unlimited money or space to purchase every single potentially useful kitchen gadget out there. A question we’ve often seen from readers in the past is how to assess whether a given tool provides a benefit unique enough to justify the investment, or whether its features differ slightly from those of another, more versatile device. Hand blenders are a common topic of such conversations.

But it’s hard for us to answer that question without knowing the specifics of each chef’s situation — like how often you bake, or how often you prepare food for a large group, or whether you have a dishwasher. The best we can do is describe some of the areas where an immersion blender falls short or where another tool can’t replace, and allow you to figure out if any of those areas are a deal-breaker for you personally .

Namely:

Reduced performance. This is a significant downside and shouldn’t come as a surprise – smaller, lighter hand blenders don’t have the same power and are therefore less reliable than good stand mixers at handling demanding tasks. (But good is a keyword here: a really good hand blender will almost certainly outperform a bad blender.)

For example, grinding nuts into smooth nut butter is beyond the capabilities of most hand blenders, as is thoroughly crushing ice. Other tasks, like making a thick bean puree for hummus or making a large batch of soup, can be done with a good hand blender but can take a lot longer. That could negate the other benefits of such a blender depending on your needs and cooking style.

Most hand blender manufacturers emphasize that their products cannot be used continuously for more than one minute to avoid overheating the motor. That means you can’t use them to “cook” a soup using just the heat of the blender, as in Kenji’s No-Cook Blender Tomato Soup, which relies on the raw power of a high-speed blender like a Vitamix. (On the other hand, a standard countertop blender isn’t powerful enough to do the job either.)

Limited hacking ability. A hand blender’s much smaller blade and tightly-enclosed head make it less suitable for chopping dry ingredients like carrots and celery used in a mirepoix. If you’re hoping to come by without a food processor and use an immersion blender for tasks like this, you’re out of luck. However, some models come with a mini food processor that attaches to the wand’s motor portion. They’re not very powerful, but some of our editors have used them successfully to chop up a smaller amount of ingredients in a pinch.

You must choose your ship wisely. The big advantage of a hand blender: You can choose which container you want to mix in! The downside: you have to choose the vessel you’re mixing in, and this can definitely affect your results. Don’t try to use an immersion blender in a pot that’s only a few inches full; You will end up banging the blade into the pot, splattering the contents over the sides and not effectively blending what you are trying to blend. And as mentioned above, our homemade mayo recipes only work if you use a jar that’s barely wider than the head of the blender.

Reduced stability. Quite obviously, a blender that stays stationary on a countertop offers a level of stability you don’t get from an immersion blender. For best results, purchase an immersion blender that is comfortable to hold. (Both top picks from our hand blender test scored well on handle comfort.)

Possible security risks. Hand blenders have gained a reputation in some quarters for being more dangerous than other bladed kitchen tools. As this New York Times article from a few years ago describes (warning: gory details in it!), users who forget to turn off their hand blender before attempting to clean it put themselves at great risk for razor sharp products serious injuries from blades and very sensitive power switches. Don’t become one of those people. Of course, the blades for traditional blenders and food processors are also sharp and should be handled with care, but because they’re embedded in a work bowl or jar while the tool is in use, they’re less accessible to the distracted fingers than dipping blender blades.

Which hand blender should you buy?

There are tons of hand blender models on the market, but only a few of them are worth considering. Luckily, we’ve already got them sorted for you: check out our hand blender review for our picks, as well as details on our testing process and clues about the competitors that didn’t make it.

This blog post was originally written in 2011. I am updating it to reflect my preferences which may have changed in the last 10 years.

Also, for your information, I do not profit from recommending any of these products. These are my personal experiences and opinions. I hope they save you time and effort.

Every soap maker I know has their own favorite tools and paraphernalia.

I would say my favorite soap making gadget is the hand blender / immersion blender / wand blender. I will use these terms interchangeably as they all mean the same thing.

For me, this is essential from all other tools.

As a home chef and the occasional lazy home cook, believe me, an immersion blender is an essential, affordable kitchen tool that will take your home cooking to the next level with minimal fuss.

The humble hand blender is an often-overlooked but remarkably functional kitchen tool. This is a staple in professional kitchens that’s inexpensive, accessible, and just as useful for home cooks. It’s a great way to perfect everything from creamy soups to emulsified salad dressings to weeknight fondue. And the best? No extra dishes or mess.

My favorite is the KitchenAid Cordless Hand Blender because of its low price, reliability, and effectiveness.

But we’ll get to that later. First, let’s answer the obvious question:

What is a hand blender?

An immersion blender, also known as a hand blender or hand blender, is a hand-held stick-shaped machine with small blades at the end.

When you push the button, the blades whizz around like a regular blender, and you can dip the blades into a hot pot of soup or a small jar of pesto and blend.

Hand blender vs regular blender

Can you replace (or skip entirely) a stand mixer with an immersion blender? For most households, the answer is yes.

A hand blender is not only easier to store than a bulky stand mixer, but it can also perform almost all of the same tasks. These include fruity smoothies and frosty drinks made from frozen fruit or ice cream, creamy pesto and even whipped cream.

Hand blenders are also easier to clean than regular blenders. While many stand mixers need to be hand washed or take up a lot of space in the dishwasher, the lightweight hand blender fits easily in the top basket.

Hand blenders can also cook both small and large batches. If you’ve ever tried making a small amount of sauce or dressing in a large stand mixer, you’ve probably gotten frustrated when the blades just can’t reach the contents.

Either you keep stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender, or things just never come together smoothly. However, you can use a hand blender to blend in a smaller container to ensure everything is thoroughly blended.

Likewise, the hand blender can eat up a whole pot of butternut squash soup or tomato sauce. You can ensure an even, creamy texture by moving the stick around the pot as needed until you reach your desired consistency.

5 unique ways to use an immersion blender

Wondering how to use a new hand blender? Here are some of the best ways to make the most of this useful gadget:

Emulsify the salad dressing

Whether you’re mixing up a vinaigrette or preparing a rich tahini-based sauce to drizzle on your signature Kale Caesar Salad, use a blender to ensure your dressing is fully emulsified and stays that way. For the best (and fastest) results, use a narrow blender jug ​​(like the one that comes with our favorite blender).

Puree soups and sauces

This is where your hand blender will help you save on dishes and tidy up. After cooking a vegetable soup, a rich pasta sauce or melting down queso, you can insert the immersion blender directly into the saucepan for pureeing. No need for the guaranteed mess of transferring hot and tangy red sauce from the pot to your blender and back again. You can also mix at any temperature. Stand mixers tend to explode if the contents are too hot, which is certainly a situation best avoided.

mix dough

Streamline your Saturday morning pancakes or kick things up a notch with French-style crepes. A hand blender whips up a smooth, lump-free batter in seconds, so you can focus on making premium toppings and fillings.

whipped cream

Speaking of pancake toppings, while your batter is resting, complete an elegant breakfast spread with fluffy and ethereal whipped cream. With a blender you can save yourself the shoulder training of a whisk.

scrambled eggs

Whether it’s a breakfast omelette, a fluffy light soufflé or a beautifully layered quiche, a hand blender is all you need to beat eggs or egg whites until smooth.

Make smoothies

If you’re a daily smoothie drinker who starts each day by waking the house up by crushing ice in a noisy blender, a much quieter hand blender might be just what you need to achieve household peace. A powerful hand blender is powerful enough to crush frozen fruit, vegetables, and even ice.

Which hand blender is the best?

My favorite hand blender is the KitchenAid Cordless Hand Blender. Because this model is battery operated, you can mix anywhere and not be tied to an outlet. It fully charges in just 20 minutes and can blend 25 portions of soup per charge, which is more than enough for most homes.

Plus, this sleek blender is available in seven glossy colors, from Passion Red to Blue Velvet. It complements any kitchen color scheme, which is important as you can expect this tool to be on display more than most appliances.

That is… when you’re not busy cooking something delicious with it.

Smaller, lighter, cheaper and easier to use than a blender, an immersion blender — also known as a hand blender — can turn you into a true genius in the kitchen. It’s a handy device to have on hand for quick jobs, and it can even save you money making more things from scratch (and it’ll definitely save you time if you’re used to doing everything by hand) .

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Be left with less washing up

Since you can puree, whip or emulsify ingredients directly, you don’t have to transfer them from one bowl to another – which reduces washing up. When you can make salad dressings, baby food, smoothies, and sorbets that easily, think how much more you could cook!

A hand blender also saves you heavy lifting because you don’t have to lug your big blender out of the cupboard every time you need to make something.

What are hand blenders used for?

A hand blender is a handy and versatile kitchen tool, perfect for quick tasks like:

mix soup

Puree baby food

Production of mayonnaise and other sauces.

The ones that come with the extra processing attachment are even more versatile, expanding what you can do with them and giving you the power to do small processing tasks like making pesto and chopping veggies with little effort.

Can you whip cream with a hand blender?

Whipping cream with your hand blender is quick and easy. Our house economist Fiona Mair says just put the cream in a glass jug and you’re good to go. Move your hand blender in an up and down motion to incorporate air into the mixture and if your hand blender has a lower speed setting, use that. You may have to stop and stir the mixture halfway through, but it doesn’t take long so be careful not to over-whip your cream.

Can a hand blender crush ice?

Some manufacturers will say you can crush ice with your hand blender, but we don’t recommend it as it could dull the blades and overload the motor. Fiona says it can be easier to put ice cream in a cone and hit it with a rolling pin.

What features should you look out for?

Handle

The hand blender must have a comfortable handle that is easy to hold. A non-slip handle reduces the likelihood of the blender slipping out of your hand while you’re making an oily aioli.

controls

Look for sealed controls that make food less likely to get into crevices.

Attachments

Some models are equipped with a whisk/whisk attachment specifically for whipping cream and egg whites. For some, it’s a large whisk, for others, it’s a disc-shaped attachment.

Cable

The power cord should not interfere with your hand when holding the hand blender.

pulse function

This is a general trait and gives a short burst of energy. It’s useful for small batches of dry foods to spread the load and promote an even texture.

Pitcher/Mug

A tall, narrow pitcher/cup is useful for pureeing or blending things like soups and smoothies without making a mess.

Wall mount or storage pedestal

This is useful for keeping your blender and accessories within easy reach.

How much do hand blenders cost?

We tested hand blenders ranging in price from $39 to $399.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on an immersion blender as even the cheapest will mix up the basics, but you might want to shell out a little more if you want a quality product that will stand the test of time.

Looking for hand blenders? We tested to find the best for you. See hand blender review

Stock images: Getty unless otherwise noted.

How to re-dose your soap

Rebatching brings already-made soap to life by rubbing it, melting it, and then adding any additional colors, fragrances, or additives. Think of it as a soapy overhaul. Although some will call it that, it’s not really “ground” soap as we’ve come to know it in stores. It’s grated and processed, yes, but not actually ground and processed (milled) like the hard, ground bars.

There are two main reasons for a repeat:

To fix a batch of soap you made a mistake with. Using sensitive or temperamental ingredients (like some natural scrubs) that don’t survive, react poorly, or otherwise have problems with the lye solution.

There are two sides of the soap making fence when it comes to rebatching:

The Kathy Miller’s Soap Site side of the fence, which basically says, “Don’t do it unless you absolutely have to.” The Complete Soap Making Site by Norma Coney and Susan Hamblen’s Making Scented Soap site. In their books they use the rebatching process, almost celebrate it, right alongside their other recipes and processes – as a perfectly useful and valid technique.

Pros and cons of rebatching soap

The Spruce / David Fisher

Disadvantages of rebatching

The soap is perfectly fine, but the aesthetics of it are less than desirable (in my opinion) than just pour-once soap.

The soap never fully melts – it ends up being a kind of gooey, thick, opaque mass of soap that you have to squeeze into the molds instead of pouring.

Air bubbles can become trapped in the bars and it is difficult to get a smooth edge or top.

It’s extra work. I’m taking care of salvaging a batch that went wrong… but I just don’t have the patience to make a batch of soap twice – on purpose.

The soap ends up looking somehow “rustic” or “primitive”.

Benefits of rebatching

The fragrances, colors and additives you put in the soap are added after the oils have fully reacted with the suds. In fact, they’re added after most of the saponification process is complete—so the additives aren’t affected by the caustic lye. Rebatching allows you to use ingredients like:

Light or delicate fragrances Fragrances or essential oils that tend to stick. Colors that are extremely pH sensitive. Additives that will be attacked or brown by the lye (such as lavender buds).

It is also useful for testing scents or colors in soap. You could make a 5 lb batch of unscented soap and then transfer it into 5 1 lb batches, each with a different scent or colourant.

It’s useful for troubleshooting, but only if you know exactly what the error is. If you have a batch that just doesn’t come out quite right, or you think it might be lye-heavy…don’t re-dose.

Crush and/or grate the soap to prepare it for re-dosing

The Spruce / David Fisher

If you have a good reason to rebatch, let me show you what I think are the best ways to do it.

The first step is to break the soap into as small pieces as possible. After the soap has set for a few days, you can use a cheese grater to grate the soap. If the soap is fresh out of the mold (and therefore too soft to rub), simply cut it into small pieces.

Once you’ve grated or crushed your soap, you have two options:

What kind of liquid to fill

Where to melt the soap

liquid for your rebatched soap

William Reavell/Getty Images

You can simply use plain water to help the soap melt. Many people (including me) like to use milk instead of water. I used cow, goat and coconut milk. They all seem to help the soap melt to a smoother consistency, and as I alluded to above, achieving a smoother consistency is the biggest challenge when refilling soap.

how much liquid

I’ve seen about a dozen different recommendations for how much liquid to use. The best answer I can give is “enough”. You want just enough liquid to thoroughly “wet” the grated soap. How long your soap has been out of the mold (how soft it is) will also affect the amount of water. A day-old batch requires less water/milk than a week-old batch. Rebecca Erisch says in her rebatching instructions on the SoapNuts website, “Think of the water as a salad dressing…and the grated soap as a salad” — that’s about right. That just doesn’t mean lettuce is drowning in dressing.

A good starting point with a week-long batch of soap would be about 2 or 3 ounces of liquid per pound of soap grated. Start with 2, if it just doesn’t seem “wet” enough, add another.

Note: The only problem with adding too much water is that the more water you add when refilling, the more of the soap has to harden out before it’s good to use. So don’t stress yourself out too much if you use too much liquid.

Using a crock pot or oven dish to refill soap

The Spruce / David Fisher

The best containers for this are:

Crock pots Oven ware (Pyrex or other bakeware) Baking or “oven” bags

Using a slow cooker is very similar to using a dish in the oven. Take your grated soap and place it in a Dutch oven or glass oven dish that you can cover tightly.

Add the liquid and stir gently.

If you are re-dosing to fix (the problem) that you left out an oil in the original batch, add that oil at that point as well. If the mistake you made was not adding enough lye-water solution, you can now do the same with two precautions:

Don’t let the fact that this is a reissue make you any less careful with the lye – it’s just as dangerous. If you’re adding the lye water to correct a mistake (again, you know exactly what mistake you made), be careful with the water you add for the purpose of re-dosing. Depending on how much lye solution you add, wetting and melting the soap may be enough. If not, just add the water little by little.

Set your crockpot to “low” or your oven to 150 F – 170 F. Place the lid on and allow to heat. Set the timer for one hour. Go and read a book. This is not a quick process.

Continue cooking the soap in the crock pot

The Spruce / David Fisher

After heating the soap for about an hour, open the lid and stir gently. At this point, you might just be able to mash it up a little. You’ll see that it’s probably just beginning to liquify (to the consistency of thick applesauce) and that the edges of the soapy mass are beginning to become a little translucent.

Give it a gentle stir and set it in for another hour or so.

After another hour, the soap has become more liquid and is more homogeneously translucent. What you want is for it to be fully liquefied (or at least fully softened) and translucent. It will look like a big pot of soap going through a hot gel phase. Stir again, crush any large lumps, and let heat through a bit more.

When it’s a consistency you consider “pourable,” it’s time to add whatever additives (other than the lye solution) you want to add. Stir well so that the additives are well incorporated into the soap.

When you refill unscented soap, you’re adding a little less fragrance than you normally would. Half an ounce per pound of soap is a good start.

Scoop the rebatched soap into the mold

The Spruce / David Fisher

Scoop or tap the soap into the mold you intend to use, press the soap down with a spoon or rubber spatula, and tap the mold on the counter to allow the soap to settle in the mold.

Leave the soap on for about 24 hours. After that you should be able to demould or cut it. Allow to set until fully cured. How much extra curing time you need to add depends on how much extra liquid you added.

Use a baking or oven bag to re-measure the soap

The Spruce / David Fisher

The crockpot and oven processes work well, but our favorite method of rebatching is using a baking or “oven” bag. As with the crock pot method, add the grated soap and liquid/milk to a boiling bag. (Note that as with the crock pot method, you would be adding oils or caustic solution here if you were re-dosing to correct a caustic solution or oil meter error.)

Secure it tightly with the zip tie and place it in a large pot of gently boiling water.

Add additives to rebatched soap and crush the pouch

The Spruce / David Fisher

Set the pot to a low simmering simmer and let it heat. This process is faster than the crock pot process. Check the soap in about 30 minutes. Pick up the bag and squeeze the soap (with a hot pad) around the bag. Crush any large pieces and place the bag back in the water.

When the soap is evenly translucent, place the pouch on the counter and open it. Add any additives, fragrances or colors you want. Close the bag again and crush it a little more.

Press the soap into the mold

The Spruce / David Fisher

That’s when the real magic of using these bags comes out. With the bag tightly closed, use scissors to cut off the corner of the bag. Use the bag like a piping bag and pipe/squirt the soap into the moulds. You may have to squish the soap with a spoon and be sure to tap the molds on the counter to set the soap down.

Leave the soap on for about 24 hours. After that you should be able to demould or cut it. Allow to set until fully cured. How much extra curing time you need to add depends on how much extra liquid you added.

You can see that soap refills have their uses. It’s great for fixing batches where you missed an ingredient, didn’t have enough time to add ingredients, or want to use ingredients where the lye solution breaks down or reacts poorly with.

“Trace” is one of those words that soap makers throw around that means something different to each person. Trace is the point at which the soap has thickened and mixed sufficiently to form a stable emulsion. It is a “point of no return” where the oils and caustic are no longer in danger of separating.

After this “point of no return” there are many variables.

There are soap makers that pour at “very light gauge”, which may only require a few quick taps of the hand blender to achieve. The soap will still be watery and unable to support that telltale traditional “drip” of soap on the mix, but it will still be mixed well enough not to separate. At the other end of the spectrum, there are soap makers who prefer to pour (or scoop) “heavy tracks” that are thick and custard-like.

Both mixes are fine, and one could have said that both hit the mark.

But what about the time it takes to reach the track? Whether you’re pouring on an easy or heavy lane, sometimes it takes a while to get there and other times it’s real quick. What is causing this?

Factors affecting Soap expiration time

Kevin Dunn says in his wonderful book Scientific Soapmaking that the amount of direct mixing is the main determinant of the time it takes soap to reach marks. That’s why using an immersion blender is so much quicker than just stirring with a spoon. But beyond mixing, he says, three factors can affect the time it takes for soap to reach traces: water content, temperature, and catalysts.

How much water you use in the recipe will affect traces. More water means a slower trail. If you have a recipe that calls for four ounces of lye and you use eight ounces of water, all other things being equal, it will trace faster than using 10 or 12 ounces. If you have a recipe that’s being followed up too quickly, you can add more water to slow things down.

The higher the temperature, the faster your soap will reach marks. Even the difference of just 10 degrees, lathering at 100F instead of 90F can make a difference. If you have a recipe that’s moving too fast, lower the soap-making temperatures. Aside from the oils starting to solidify, you don’t run the risk of the lye and oils getting “too cold”. You can make room temperature whipped soap or even chilled oils and lye.

Catalysts are one of the biggest variables on the track. Most soap makers have had a seizure when you make soap from scratch and it goes from liquid to thick in just a few seconds. We’re not quite talking about confiscation, though. Other ingredients will speed things up a notch, as will lowering your water or raising your temperature. Some oils are slower or quicker to follow than others. But not as much as some specific ingredients for soap recipes.

Ingredients to speed up trace time

Ingredients that can expedite (speed up) tracking include spice essential oils – especially clove, fragrance oils with clove oil or clove oil ingredients, some floral fragrance oils, and honey, beer, and other sugary liquids

Every single factor – the water, the temperature, the ingredients – can affect the speed of the trail. So each recipe will be just a little bit different.

Whether you pour your soap on light or heavy lanes, soap is still being made. As long as you get to the point of no return where the oils and lye don’t separate, you’re fine. But if you’re using intricate shapes, or especially if you’re trying to create swirls of color in your soaps, you probably want your soap to reach a trail as slowly as possible.

Hand blenders are an amazing tool in the soap making world. They can emulsify oils and suds in a minute or less, while whisks and hand mixers can take hours. Ever had a recipe that thickens a little too quickly? As in instant pudding once the lye is added? Don’t throw away that hand blender! You may be dealing with “false tracks”.

Spur is the point in soap making where the oils and lye have begun to saponify. Once the soap has reached a thin line, it will continue to thicken as you work with it. This post contains more information about Trace. There are two types of false marks: false emulsification and cool soap. This blog post is about the cool wrong track type of soap. False tracks will look like the soap has been saponified as it gets quite thick. However, there are actually oils like coconut or butters like cocoa in the formula that will start to harden and solidify again before the soap is fully emulsified. Below is an example of a real fat track. False marks can look and feel like thick marks, but appear very quickly after the lye and oils combine.

False tracks look like thick tracks, but the soap is not fully emulsified.

What Causes a False Track?

Temperature is the main cause of super-thick false tracks. If cold or room temperature lye water is poured into the soap oils, it can cause them to harden. While soft oils like avocado are always liquid, hard oils are solid up to a certain temperature. For example, avocado butter starts to melt at around 90°F. Cocoa butter is even higher at 100°F. For more information on melting points, see the article on lathering in the summer heat. Adding cold lye to butters and oils that are solid at cooler temperatures can cause the oils/butter to cool and thicken on contact.

False trace happens pretty quickly. When you pour in the suds, the soap begins to thicken immediately. You can also notice that it looks grainy. Solid pieces of soap may appear in the bowl. If you continue to pulse the soap, it will thicken very quickly. Most likely there will be thick bars of soap along with liquid oils.

Coconut oil begins to melt at 76°F and is solid at cooler temperatures.

You can see fake tracks in the photos below. In this batch, the oils were about 100°F and the caustic was about 70°F. The recipe consists of 25% palm oil, 30% coconut oil, 30% olive oil, 10% sweet almond oil and 5% castor oil. Below, the lye was added to the oils and the hand blender was pulsed a few times. Notice below that you can see soap that already looks emulsified.

After just a few more pulses with the hand blender, look at that batter! You can see the thick bars of soap. This is a false lead. The chunks appear to be a thick trail when they’ve actually cooled and hardened due to the cold lye temperature.

The chunks in the soapy batter after just a few pulses with the hand blender are what fake tracks look like.

What do you do when your soap has a wrong track?

If this happens to you, keep mixing! The oils and caustic must be bar mixed until the batch is emulsified. The soap will become quite thick during this process. If you have a more complicated design planned, you may need to switch gears. A great option for unexpectedly thick soap is the spoon pop design. See how to create this technique in the Creamy Cow Milk Cold Process Tutorial. You can also create a really simple design. Even though the design might not be what you planned, it will still look great!

This is how you prevent wrong tracks

Higher temperatures prevent false tracks. Lathering at around 100-130°F keeps the hard oils and butters in the batch melted throughout the process. False marks are common when making soap with milk when using a low temperature technique to prevent scalding the milk. Certain ingredients may require higher soap temperatures. For example, beeswax has a melting point of 144-147°F. I recommend lathering at around 170°F to keep it melted. Learn more about working with beeswax in this tutorial.

Adjusting the recipe can also help. Adding more slow-flowing soft oils like virgin olive oil, canola oil, and sweet almond oil to the recipe gives you more time to work with the design. They remain liquid throughout the process, helping to avoid false marks. Read more about slow-moving oils in the post 5 Tips for Swirling Cold Process Soap. The Formulating Cold Process Recipes post also has helpful information.

Adding more softening oils to your recipe will help avoid false traces.

Have you ever experienced a wrong track? If it happens to your batch, keep calm and keep mixing. Once your soap is cut into chunks and hardened, I recommend a pH test just to make sure the oils and suds are fully emulsified. Luckily I found wrong trace batches turned out fine! =)

Each editorial product is independently selected, although we may receive compensation or receive an affiliate commission if you purchase something through our links. Ratings and prices are correct and items are in stock at the time of publication.

Would you like to add a new kitchen appliance to your list? Immersion Mixer vs Mixer might be the matchup you’re thinking of. Find out which model you prefer based on your cooking style.

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Looking for a new blender? Don’t rush to traditional blender models. Instead, find out about all the options available. You may just find that a smaller model suits your needs better.

Learn the difference between the types of blenders and when to use which.

Sydney Watson/Taste of Home

What is a stand mixer?

When you think of a blender, you probably think of a classic countertop model. This is a lidded jar that is mounted on a motorized base, which causes the blades to rotate inside the jar.

These larger blenders often have many settings including pureeing, blending, chopping, and even crushing ice for frozen drinks. Features like these make stand mixers the ideal tool for making homemade smoothies, purees, and smooth soups.

Contrary to popular belief, cleaning a blender is easy, so don’t hesitate to plug in yours when needed.

advantages

Powerful

Versatile thanks to multiple speeds and functions

Splash-free mixing

Super smooth results

Disadvantages

Take up valuable space in the kitchen

Expensive

What is a blender?

Buying an immersion blender — also called a hand blender or hand blender — is another option. These gadgets are much smaller than their countertop counterparts. They consist of a motorized handle with an easy-to-clean, detachable blending mechanism. Some models include additional attachments such as whisks or even small food processors.

Hand blenders are better suited for various tasks than traditional blenders. Being compact, they are ideal for preparing small batch recipes such as vinaigrettes and homemade whipped cream.

Hand blenders are also good for smoothing sauces and soups. With this gadget, you don’t need to decant the recipe into a pitcher or bowl; You can mix right in your pot. In general, hand mixers work best with softer ingredients (don’t try to crush ice with one of these!).

advantages

Payable

Compact and easy to store

Easy to clean

Ideal for small jobs

Can be mixed right in your cooking vessel – no need to transfer to a pitcher

Disadvantages

Cannot chop, crush, etc.

Not as powerful as countertop models

Check out the best hand blenders in our test kitchen.

Which type of blender is right for you?

Consider your cooking habits. If you prepare a lot of smoothies, baby food, frozen drinks or large portions of soup, we recommend a powerful tabletop model.

If you don’t use a blender often, we recommend using a cheaper immersion blender. You can still puree ingredients in soups and sauces without sacrificing much storage space.

That being said, the right solution for you might be to have one of each type! Both are incredibly useful gadgets – not to mention that they can be incredibly fun to use.

Disclosure: We may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Used for everything from making smoothies and soups to grinding nuts and ice cream, the blender is definitely one of the most versatile appliances you can have in your kitchen. You may be wondering how many watts you need for a good blender. We’ve researched this matter thoroughly and we have some answers!

The wattage of a blender determines its performance. To determine how many watts you need for a good blender, you need to know the types of tasks you will be using the blender for:

Hand blenders are sufficient with 250 watts

Small batch blenders work well at 300 to 600 watts

For occasional use, regular sized blenders work well at 500-750 watts

Professional and heavy-duty blenders are the most versatile at 1200 to 1500 watts

We know this is a great blender choice! We’re going to break this list down and discuss the different types of blenders and the wattage you would need for a good blender. Read on for detailed information on how important watts are when choosing a blender!

Does the wattage matter in blenders?

Put simply, watts are the measure of how much energy a device can use or draw to operate. This does not mean that the mixer is using this power efficiently. Higher watts should, but don’t always mean more mixing.

Some argue that watts don’t matter above a certain amount; However, the majority of experts agree that watts matter when it comes to what you mix. For example, if you want to grind ice cream into a fine, snow-cone-like texture, you should look for a higher-wattage blender. If you just want to puree some soft, non-frozen fruit, then any blender would probably do.

Since wattage reflects the power potential of your blender, this is a good place to start when considering blenders. We recommend also considering other customers’ experiences with the item and reading the product descriptions to see how the device actually works to get an overall picture of whether a blender is a good fit for you.

Does higher wattage mean a stronger motor?

Since higher wattage means the potential to draw more current, it should mean the device has a more powerful motor, or at least more power. This isn’t always the case when the design is poor or the parts are cheaply made, resulting in less than optimal wattage utilization.

Higher wattage means the motor has to work less to mix some substances, which can result in less wear on parts and blades. This results in a more durable engine.

hand blender

Since hand blenders are mainly used for soups and other dishes that are already soft, around 150 watts are sufficient for pureeing. With 250 watts you can blend everything that you normally have to blend with a hand blender, such as. B. baby food or thick stews. Although over 300 is considered unnecessary for this type of blender, there are now 1000 watt hand blenders.

Click here to see it on Amazon!

Blender for small batches

The most popular small batch blenders are at least 600 watts, some operate at 1000 watts. Since they are intended for blending small batches and personal drinks, you can get a good blender with lower wattage.

Because they make a powerful blend, they can add excellent texture to spice mixes for stews and curries. Their power and convenience make this type of blender great to use as a grinder for coffee or nuts, or personal beverages.

Click here to see it on Amazon!

Click here to see it on Amazon!

Blender for occasional use

Maybe all you need is a blender handy in your kitchen to mix slushy drinks for entertaining. Many households have a blender in their kitchen to blend children’s drinks or soups. A good household blender has an output of 500 to 750 watts. This kind of performance is enough for the casual user.

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Professional blenders

A good professional blender is 1200 to 1500 watts. Professional mixers are for the true mix connoisseur. For some, blending is an important part of a particular lifestyle or eating plan that requires daily application, so textures become really important.

These powerful blenders really shine, blending leafy greens into a smoothie. Users say there is a visibly superior result in the texture and even the taste of the smoothies.

If bits and chunks in your smoothie are a deal-breaker for you or you want to get the most out of leafy herbs, these blenders are for you. Their high wattage and performance also make them the most versatile. You can do quick chopping jobs, both dry and wet, and more difficult jobs, such as digging. B. Prepare nut butter or frozen sorbet with little or no liquid.

Click here to see it Amazon!

Click here to see it on Amazon!

How long can you keep a blender running?

You should always refer to your owner’s manual before operating the blender, as different blenders are designed for different tasks. Nowadays the amount of time a blender can and should run varies quite a bit! To avoid overheating and damaging your motor, never run your blender longer than the manual specifies. To learn more about what to do if your blender is overheating, click here.

Mixers with their own program buttons switch themselves off after the specified time. Blending these blenders can take a few minutes as they stop and start when they detect the amount of food to be blended.

The typical household blender will usually run between one and a half and three minutes with no problems. A professional blender can be engineered to run longer. There are some that you can run for 10 minutes or more to make a hot soup, heated by friction and speed alone!

This Vitamix blender is famous for being able to make hot soups and sauces by running for up to 10 minutes!

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Can a blender blow a fuse?

A blender can blow a fuse in your blender or in your house. If you use a blender, there are steps you can take to avoid this.

A blender can blow a fuse if too much power is fed to the device at once. Avoid this by using higher speeds with heavy loads. Running the blender on thicker substances at low speed may result in a blown fuse. Be sure to read the manual as most have instructions, warnings and even recipes for different types of food.

Avoid blowing a fuse in your home by using your blender on a different outlet or circuit from other larger appliances. For example, using a blender at the same time and in one area of ​​your kitchen as your microwave or air fryer can certainly blow a fuse.

Do blenders run on batteries?

Although you couldn’t get a professional blender that runs on batteries, you can get smaller personal drink blenders that do!

This blender claims to be able to crush ice and do most of the jobs regular blenders do with the convenience of traveling with it! It charges with an included charger and the battery holds its charge for long periods of time. Most users report that they only top up theirs every few months.

Click here to see it on Amazon!

This blender runs on a rechargeable battery that uses a USB connection, which is a good choice if you don’t have an outlet to charge. It can be connected to any laptop or charging station with a USB port. Although not as powerful as a regular plugin mixer, users seem to be quite happy with its performance. It also comes with its own ice tray to make ice of a suitable size for the machine to crush into your drinks!

Click here to see it on Amazon!

Use watts as just one of the criteria for choosing your blender

Now you know how many watts and what type of mixer you need to get the results you want. Use this information as a starting point for choosing your blender! Think how often you will use it, the importance of texture and what you will mix! Choose a suitable powerful and robust blender to add versatility to your kitchen routine and you will enjoy blending your favorite recipes for years to come!

Read more about blenders below:

Where to keep a blender in the kitchen

Does a blender work as a food processor? (The answer might surprise you!)

Also known as a hand blender or hand blender, an immersion blender is a handy tool that many home cooks would benefit from. While hand blenders aren’t as powerful as traditional stand mixers, they do come in handy for certain tasks.

They’re especially useful when it comes to making purees for soups and other recipes, as you can use just one pot instead of adding multiple batches to a stand mixer. These hand mixers are also great for sauces, homemade mayonnaise, baby food and even smoothies. Also, hand blenders are smaller than their standard counterparts, making them easier to use, clean, and store.

If any of these handy helpers sound like an addition to your kitchen, read on to learn which features suit your cooking style and why these models rank among the best hand blenders out there.

Features to look for in the best hand blender

Consider these factors and features when purchasing a hand blender.

perfomance

The main function of an immersion blender is to create smooth purees – and that takes power. While most models can easily blend softer fruits and veggies, only the highest quality hand blenders can crush ice and frozen fruit, blend fibrous veggies, and even turn nuts into nut butters. It’s important to note that most manufacturers dictate that their hand blenders should only be used continuously for a minute or two. Most hand blenders on the market are between 225 and 600 watts.

Wired vs. wireless

Hand blenders can be either corded or cordless.

Wired models must be plugged into an outlet to function. Although this makes them a little more difficult to maneuver, corded models tend to be more powerful than cordless hand blenders.

Models must be plugged into an outlet to operate. Although this makes them a little more difficult to maneuver, corded models tend to be more powerful than cordless hand blenders. Cordless models offer optimal convenience and portability as they do not need to be plugged into an outlet. They are also safer as there is no risk of your blender cord coming into contact with a hot surface. However, they tend to be less powerful than their wired counterparts.

speed settings

Many hand blenders simply offer two speeds: high and low. While this is sufficient for most tasks, a wider range of speed settings has its advantages. With different settings, you can gradually increase the speed when mixing, which can prevent splashing. If you intend to use your hand blender primarily to make hot soups, look for a model with three or more speeds.

Sound

Hand blenders consist of two main components: the motor and the blade. A quality model will have a splatter-proof blade, which will prevent users from being splashed with hot or dirty liquids during use. Hand blenders always include a blade guard or cage that covers the blade and can be ventilated to promote optimal circulation. Some models may include different blade attachments to perform different tasks.

handle and handle

Unlike stand mixers, hand blenders are hand tools and must be stabilized by the user. Since it can take a few minutes to blend a large batch of soup, it’s important that the blender has a comfortable and light grip. Some models come with easy-grip, ergonomic handles so you can blend comfortably for long periods of time. Tapered handles are preferred by most users, as are models with conveniently placed easy-press knobs.

noise level

Due to their powerful motors, hand blenders can potentially be noisy. If you or someone in your household is sensitive to noise, buy a model that is described as quiet.

Easy cleaning

Some users might feel intimidated by cleaning an immersion blender for fear of water coming into contact with the motor. Many hand blenders get around this problem by including a detachable blender stick that can be detached for easy cleaning. Some detachable blender sticks are dishwasher safe, while others require hand washing.

Some high-end hand blenders have fixed rather than detachable wands; This makes them more durable as there are fewer parts that can potentially break. Fixed wand models can also be more powerful. This type of immersion blender can be cleaned by placing it in a tall glass of soapy water and turning it on.

Attachments

Hand blender models with detachable blender sticks also allow the use of different attachments. Whisk and chopper attachments increase versatility, allowing you to perform a greater variety of cooking tasks. A whisk attachment can be used to make whipped cream or beat eggs, while a chopper attachment can dice small veggies. Some models are sold with additional attachments, and other models’ attachments are sold separately.

Our top picks

Now that you know everything about hand blenders, it’s time to start shopping. The selection below takes into account the criteria listed above, including performance, noise levels, speed settings and additional attachments. This list offers a variety of choices for a top-notch hand blender to suit your needs and budget.

Altogether 1 Breville BSB510XL Hand Blender with Control Handle Photo: amazon.com Check current price Not all hand blenders are powerful enough to puree frozen fruit or fibrous vegetables, but this 280-watt Breville model gets the job done with ease. It’s even capable of grinding peanuts, cashews and the like into butter. There’s a comfortable, ergonomic grip with a rubber grip, as well as an easy-to-use trigger-style power button. The 15 speeds are controlled by a dial on top of the handle, allowing you to gradually increase the speed to avoid splattering. This model features a metal cage over the blender blade with a plastic rim designed to protect your cookware from scratches. While many hand blenders can suck to the bottom of your pot, making them difficult to maneuver, the Breville Control Grip is specifically designed to avoid this. Weighing 3.8 pounds, the Breville Control Grip comes with a 42-ounce mixing jar and includes a chopper and whisk attachment, so you can chop onions or whip cream on the fly. The blender and attachments are dishwasher safe.

Best Bang For the Buck 2 Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 9-Speed ​​Hand Blender Photo: amazon.com Check Current Price The Mueller Austria 9-Speed ​​Hand Blender has a budget-friendly price but stands up to many high-priced models. It packs an impressive 500 watts of power and features two fixed speeds, plus eight variable speeds in between. The blender stick is detachable and dishwasher safe, allowing for easy cleaning. It also includes a whisk and milk frother attachment, making this product versatile for preparing a range of dishes. It’s lightweight at just 2 pounds and has a sleek look with stainless steel construction.

Best Cordless 3 All-Clad Cordless Stainless Steel Hand Blender Check Latest Price If you don’t want to be tied to a power source while blending, this All-Clad cordless model can set you free. It uses a 1500mAh lithium-ion battery for longevity and impressive performance, and has a small charging unit that can stay on the counter. There are five speeds you can use to gradually increase power, and it can run for up to nine minutes before needing a recharge. The blender stick is made of stainless steel and can be removed for easy cleaning. It’s equipped with a safety lock that requires the user to press a button before blending – a key feature for a cordless model to ensure no accidents happen. At 2.99 pounds, the All-Clad is fairly light.

Best for Baby Food 4 KitchenAid KHB1231AQ Pro-Line Hand Blender Photo: amazon.com Check Current Price While new parents can buy dedicated equipment for preparing baby food, this KitchenAid hand blender gets the job done with ease while still being versatile enough for other cooking tasks. This model has two speeds and comes with a BPA-free 3-cup jar – a great size for storing your little one’s purees – with a secure plastic lid for storage. The blender features a soft, non-slip handle for easy maneuvering, and the 8-inch blender stick is detachable for easy cleaning. It’s also available in a wide range of fun colors to match kitchen decor or other KitchenAid appliances. It is lightweight at 2.71 pounds and plugs into a standard 120 volt outlet.

Best for Soups 5 UTALENT Immersion Blender Photo: amazon.com Check Current Price When blending soup with an immersion blender, variable speeds are useful so you can gradually increase power and avoid spilling hot liquids. This model features eight speeds and a detachable, dishwasher-safe blender. It also includes a range of attachments, such as a milk frother, whisk and chopper. It has a quiet but powerful 250 watt motor that allows you to puree even tough vegetables. The unique four-blade system brings an ultra-smooth finish to whatever you’re pureeing, and at just 1.66 pounds, you can avoid arm fatigue when making large batches of soup.

Frequently asked questions about hand blenders

If you want more information about hand blenders, check out the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Q. What is the difference between an immersion blender and an immersion blender?

There’s nothing! The terms “hand blender”, “hand blender” and “hand blender” all describe the same tool.

Q. What can you make with an immersion blender?

Hand blenders can be used to make soups, smoothies, mayonnaise, baby food and sauces. Depending on the attachments, like a whisk or a food processor, you might be able to dice small vegetables or make whipped cream.

Q. How do I choose a hand blender?

Look for a hand blender with a detachable blender that offers plenty of power, multiple speeds and an ergonomic handle.

Q. Will an immersion blender scratch the pots?

An immersion blender is safe to use with any cookware that is compatible with metal utensils. Some models have plastic-coated blade guards that make them even less prone to scratches.

Q. How do I use my blender without making a mess?

Quality hand blenders are designed to avoid spills. To avoid a mess, always blend in a high-sided saucepan or container and only turn on the blender when the blade and blade cover are fully submerged.

The best hand blenders in Australia

Our editorial team selected the products on this list based on actual customer reviews on sites such as Harvey Norman, The Good Guys and Appliances Online. For each category, we carefully selected parameters based on our research and identified the hand blenders with the highest score within those parameters.

Read more about our methodology below.

Why we chose it

With a large number of convenient functions and many positive reviews, the Braun MultiQuick 9 is a huge hit with consumers. It has received a fair amount of positive customer feedback, including an average score of 4.7 out of 5 from over 900 Google reviews, an average score of 4.6 out of 5 from over 75 Harvey Norman customer reviews, and an average score of 4.5 5 out of 80+ The Good Guys customer reviews.

The MultiQuick 9 is a versatile appliance that can handle a variety of food preparation tasks. From chopping and slicing to pureeing, julienning, and grating, it can help make many of those time-consuming kitchen chores a lot quicker. It also comes with a french fries attachment if you prepare some fries to cook in an air fryer or air fryer.

The MultiQuick 9 uses Braun’s ACTIVEBlade technology, where the blades move up and down for more efficient blending. The shape of the blending shaft is also designed to pull food inward for a finer blending. Other features include intuitive speed controls instead of preset settings, as well as a 650ml beaker and 1.5L food processor bowl.

It has a higher price tag than some other models, which may be a sticking point for some buyers. However, if you are looking for a quality product that is versatile and easy to use, the Braun MultiQuick 9 could be just the thing for your kitchen.

Why we chose it

The Breville Control Grip was one of our leading contenders for first place overall, so it’s no big surprise that it’s being named the best baby food hand blender here. This versatile hand blender offers a variety of features and has received many positive customer reviews, including an average score of 4.5 out of 5 from over 30 customer reviews from The Good Guys.

The Control Grip uses anti-suction technology to prevent liquids from spilling out of the bowl and a bell-shaped mix base to give the user better control. It also features an ergonomic trigger handle designed for comfortable use in a variety of kitchen tasks.

There are 15 speed levels to choose from for all your baby food blending needs, powered by a 300W motor. The stainless steel immersion blender also has a scratch-resistant base to prevent it from damaging your pots and pans, while a blade cover is included for added protection.

The Control Grip comes with a 750ml chopper and a 1.25L blender jar. The jug doubles as handy storage for the chopping bowl, with a double storage lid and anti-slip mat. A whisk attachment is also included to increase the versatility of the unit.

Finally, Breville backs The Control Grip with a 12-month limited warranty. If you’re looking for a handy hand blender to use to prepare baby food for the youngest member of your family, there’s a lot to like about this highly rated model.

Why we chose it

Are you looking for a hand blender that you can use to make delicious soups? The Kenwood Triblade hand blender has a lot to offer. Not only does it come with a special soup-making attachment, but it has received many positive customer reviews with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 from over 100 The Good Guys customer reviews and an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 from almost 600 Google reviews. Therefore, it is our pick as the best hand blender for soup.

The Triblade system combines angled blades for faster performance, suction-reducing ribs, and a foot shape that eliminates spatter. Powered by an 800W motor, this model allows you to choose the blending speed you want by turning the dial anywhere from minimum to maximum power. It also has a reshaped handle for extra comfort and a Suregrip material to prevent slipping during use.

When it comes to attachments, there’s a lot to mention. In addition to the Soup XL attachment, which allows you to prepare soups quickly and easily, the plastic masher Pro, a metal whisk, a 0.5 l chopper and a 0.75 l mug are also included. This allows you to handle a wide range of tasks in the kitchen, making this an extremely versatile appliance.

Finally, the Triblade comes with dishwasher-safe parts and carries a one-year warranty. If you’re looking for a hand blender to make soup and take the hard work out of a variety of food prep tasks, the Kenwood Triblade is worth a look.

Why we chose it

Want a health boost or just start the day with a delicious smoothie? The Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario hand blender has everything you need to prepare your own delicious drinks. With a variety of useful attachments and loads of positive customer feedback, including an average score of 4.5 out of 5 from over 50 customer reviews from The Good Guys, it’s here that it earns the award for Best Smoothie Hand Blender.

The MultiQuick 5 Vario is powered by a 750W motor and has a speed dial that can be easily adjusted with your thumb. So you can easily choose from the 21 speed settings while blending, puree, chopping and beating or whipping up your morning smoothie.

There’s a lot to do here in terms of attachments. The MultiQuick 5 comes with a 500ml chopper, blender attachment, whisk and 600ml mug. The attachments snap into place for quick and easy changes, and this model also features SplashControl technology to help prevent spills and keep your kitchen clean.

Other features include a comfortable soft-grip handle, a 1.2-meter power cord that offers plenty of reach, and a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. The parts are also dishwasher safe, so cleaning up after blending is also easy.

All in all there is a lot to like about the Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario. Making smoothies (and performing a range of other everyday food prep tasks) will be a breeze with this solid little performer in your kitchen.

Why we chose it

The Breville The Control Grip is not only our top pick for baby food, it’s also our pick for best hand blender for soap making. Not only is this versatile blender great for preparing food, it also comes highly recommended if you’re looking for a hand blender to make your own soap with. And with an average score of 4.5 out of 5 from more than 30 customer reviews from The Good Guys, it’s well worth checking out for a variety of mixing tasks.

This hand blender is designed to make all your blending tasks easy and clean. It uses anti-suction technology to prevent spills, while the ergonomically designed trigger grip ensures your hand stays in a natural, comfortable position while using the device. The bell-shaped blending base and internal ribs are also designed to minimize suction, giving you more control over your blending.

The stainless steel blender has a scratch-resistant base to minimize the risk of damage, while the blade cover is a welcome addition. And depending on your mixing needs, you can choose from 15 different speed settings to get the job done.

Powered by a 300W motor, the Control Grip also features a 750ml chopper bowl, 1.25L jug and whisk attachment. The storage lid doubles as a non-slip base for your blending tasks, and this model comes with a 12-month warranty.

So if you’re looking for a hand blender that makes making your own soap quick and easy, add The Control Grip by Breville to your shopping list.

Why we chose it

Want to buy an immersion blender for less than $100? The Sunbeam StickMaster Platinum is definitely worth a closer look. It has an average score of 4.5/5 from 70 The Good Guys customer reviews, 4.5/5 from 85+ reviews at Harvey Norman, and 4.4/5 from 240 Google reviews. This, combined with its affordable price and handy features like dishwasher safe attachments, makes it our winner for best cheap hand blender.

The StickMaster Platinum offers a choice of nine speeds for all your mixing needs, plus a turbo setting for when you need an extra power boost. The soft start feature ensures that when you start the blender you can slowly increase to your desired speed to avoid splattering whilst the speed used is displayed on an LCD screen.

The 3×3 blade system uses horizontal cutting blades and vertical piercing blades to quickly meet your mixing needs. This model also features a 1.9m power cord for added convenience, a 750ml chopper and a 1.5L mug. Accessories can be attached with a twist and lock motion, while the inclusion of dishwasher safe parts is another big bonus.

At the time of writing, the Sunbeam StickMaster Platinum was listed for $119 on Sunbeam Australia’s website. However, we’ve found it for $99 at several home appliance retailers, so it’s worth shopping around to find the best deal. And if you’re looking for something even more affordable, Sunbeam also offers the more affordable StickMaster and StickMaster Plus.

How did we choose this list? 12

Marks count as 12 20+

Products compared 20+ 6

Selecting the best products We considered hand blenders from 12 leading brands.

We’ve based our findings on key product features and reviews from real customers.

The products on this list are handpicked by our editorial team and are not selected on the basis of business relationships. Why You Can Trust Our Selection We started our search for the best hand blenders by looking at the top rated products by customers at retailers like The Good Guys, Harvey Norman, Appliances Online and Kogan. We then compared these top products to other highly rated hand blenders in the same category, taking into account factors such as ease of use, features, accessories and price, before making our top picks. In the best cheap hand blender category, we considered products that are available from multiple retailers for less than $100. We considered hand blenders from the following brands: bamix

Brown

Breville

Cuisinart Healthy Choice

Kambach

kenwood

KitchenAid Kogan

smeg

sunbeam

Westinghouse We value our editorial independence and base our comparisons, content and reviews on objective and unbiased analysis. However, Finder may receive compensation if you click on some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money with our partners and why you can trust our guides

frequently asked Questions

What is the difference between a hand blender and a hand blender? A hand blender and hand blender is the same thing. It’s a handy kitchen utensil with a small motor and rotating cleaver that lets you chop solid ingredients into smooth liquids right out of a bowl or container. However, an immersion or stick blender is not the same as a hand mixer. This one has blunter blades and is suitable for blending dry ingredients instead of blending food into liquid form.

Can you crush ice with a hand blender? Unfortunately, an immersion blender isn’t powerful enough to pulverize ice cubes to make your favorite smoothies. This dulls the blades and leaves you with only a small amount of crushed ice to enjoy.

When should I use an immersion blender instead of a stand mixer? A stand mixer is great for making creamy soups, smoothies with ice and frozen fruit, and dips. This appliance is ideal for preparing larger portions. A hand blender is ideal for beating eggs, making whipped cream, making smoothies without harsh ingredients, and pureeing solid ingredients. It is the perfect device for preparing smaller portions.

Can you put a hand blender in the dishwasher? Most hand blenders have parts that are dishwasher safe. However, most models have shafts that require hand washing. Do not wash the base of a hand blender in the dishwasher or sink as this can damage the motor.

Amazon prices were last updated on 28 Jul 2022 at 10:13am. AmeBay prices were last updated on 28 Jul 2022 at 01:09

What is the best hand blender to buy?

Hand blenders make everyday kitchen tasks so much easier. Depending on the model, you can find hand blenders that not only prepare perfectly smooth soups and sauces, but also chop, slice and grind as a mini food processor, and all with very little effort. During our most recent round of testing, we tested 16 hand blenders from the top brands on the market and found six that we would recommend.

We have selected a variety of models for different budgets and needs. Of these, two deserve a special mention. The Braun MQ9087X MultiQuick 9 is the best hand blender we’ve tested. With an impressive 1000W motor, it delivers far better results than its competition, with attachments for chopping, slicing, pureeing, beating and kneading. If you’re on a tighter budget, the Braun MQ3025 Spaghetti is excellent value and incredibly effective and is our current Editors’ Choice.

1. Braun MQ9087X MultiQuick 9

Advantages:

Multiple attachments

Easily handles hard foods

Fast and efficient

Disadvantages:

Requires additional storage space

Expensive

Why we liked the Braun MQ9087X MultiQuick 9

The Braun MultiQuick 9 is one of the most impressive hand blenders on the market. Not only does it look good, with its black and stainless steel finish it performs better than most of the competition. An impressive 1000W motor and a mobile blender leg that moves up and down as you use it – creating a larger cutting surface for its blades – ensure the MultiQuick 9 gets the job done in no time.

The Braun even features a smart safety button to prevent accidental activation, with a second button to control speed. It comes with a full range of attachments for chopping, slicing, pureeing, beating and kneading, with the EasyClick+ system ensuring they all connect and disconnect quickly and easily. It works well across the board, and its splatter-minimizing design keeps mess to a minimum. It’s more of a mini food processor than a hand blender, making it ideal for those short on space.

Read the full review

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2. Brown MQ3025 spaghetti

Advantages:

Whisks and chops

good value

Impressive design

Disadvantages:

A little fiddly to stow away

Why we liked the Braun MQ3025 Spaghetti

The Braun MQ3025 Spaghetti is a fairly affordable hand blender that comes complete with whisk and chopper attachments and a blender foot. It’s powerful and well-equipped, and we found it to be a jack of all trades in its mixing abilities. However, it can’t make spaghetti — that’s just a whimsical name.

We really like the industrial design and found it easy to hold and grip. The two-speed buttons for switching between fast and slow fall well under our fingers if we hold them well. So how did it work? Its chopper attachment is small but mighty, making parmesan a breeze, while its blender foot unquestionably mashes chickpeas into super-smooth hummus. The whisk also did a good job on our egg whites, achieving firm peaks within 30 seconds.

For its price, you’ll struggle to find anything better.

Read the full review

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3. Morphy Richards 402052 Full Control Hand Blender Pro Set

Advantages:

Multiple attachments

Soft start and variable speed

Separate chopping bowl

Disadvantages:

No parts dishwasher safe

Rather for small tasks

Not suitable for grinding eg coffee beans

Why we liked the Morphy Richards 402052 Total Control Hand Blender Pro Set

If you’re tired of the all-or-nothing performance of the average hand blender, you might want to consider the Morphy Richards Total Control. It’s equipped with the company’s Smart Response technology, which gradually builds up speed so that quick meal comes without the usual jerks and splashes.

Simply select one of the eight speeds, press the control button and let the blades – which appear to stay sharp 12 times longer than standard blades – do their job. They slow down steadily once you release it.

More power comes in the form of a turbo button, while a variety of attachments make pureeing, blending, crushing, ice crushing, whisking and pureeing a breeze. Storage lids are even included for both containers. The Morphy Richards Total Control hand blender is uncomplicated, easy to clean and very powerful.

Read the full review

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4. Tefal Infinity Force HB864140

Advantages:

Excellent mayo attachment

Compact to stow away

Different speed

Disadvantages:

A bit expensive

No chopping attachment

Why we liked the Tefal Infiny Force HB864140

The Tefal Infiny Force is a hand blender with bigger ambitions. It comes with three handy attachments to make it a foodie’s friend in the kitchen, including a sauce foot for making your own mayonnaise if you ever fancy it.

You also get a standard blender foot and whisk attachment, as well as two jugs – an 800ml jug for soups and a smaller one for sauces. All attachments worked very well during the test, with a variable speed dial to set how much Welly each task requires. And if you need a boost of power to finish, there’s a turbo button for just that.

It’s well designed and feels good in the hand – even smaller hands shouldn’t have any problems here. However, we found it a bit difficult to clean, and it’s not the cheapest either.

Read the full review

5. Dualit DHB2

Advantages:

Large range of accessories

Affordable price

Adjustable speeds

Disadvantages:

The blades of the food processor could be longer

Chrome finish slightly marked

Why we liked the Dualit DHB2

The Dualit DHB2 hand blender is an excellent choice for any discerning cook. Its 700W motor, upgraded from its predecessor’s 500W, means it handles food better and comes with all the necessary accessories. There’s also a Turbo mode for dealing with super hard compounds.

Other thoughtful touches include a convenient spout for adding ingredients to the food processor mixing bowl. We’d prefer the pot to be more securely latched to the blender, and the chic chrome finish marks easily. Nonetheless, this remains a very good hand blender that will prove invaluable to serious cooks.

Read the full review

6. Russell Hobbs Food Collection 22241

Advantages:

Attractively priced

space saving

Disadvantages:

low current

Mixtures only

A little difficult to clean

Why we liked the Russell Hobbs Food Collection 22241

The Russell Hobbs 22241 is a cheap and cheerful hand blender, in a really good way. If you just need a blender for blending without fancy extra feet for other tasks then this is worth a look. At 200W it’s not very powerful, but it does a good job of blending soups. Chickpeas were a bit more difficult, but on the faster of the two settings it did a decent job.

It won’t win any awards for its design – it’s a simple hand blender with a blending base made of plastic, not metal. You’ll find that it’s more susceptible to stains and heat because of this, but at this price point it belongs in the territory. It’s a bit weedy but it does the basics well and at this price point that will do for many. Not needing additional accessories saves both closet space and money.

Read the full review

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All about the best hand blenders

Braun MQ9087X MultiQuick 9 Braun MQ3025 Spaghetti Morphy Richards 402052 Total Control Hand Blender Pro Set Tefal Infiny Force HB864140 Dualit DHB2

How we choose the best hand blender

Hand blenders are a must-have kitchen gadget for any serious home cook. They’re ideal for whipping sauces and soups, and most models are available at a far cheaper price than sophisticated food prep devices that can cost you hundreds of dollars.

Testing hand blenders is all about seeing how well they do for each task, as different models come with different attachments. Depending on the attachments, we then test the ability to blend smoothly, looking at things like guacamole, chickpeas, or soup. For those who have a whisk attachment, we test with cream or egg white and beat until we get firm peaks. For those with extra extras, we test the ability to knead dough, julienne vegetables, and chop and dice. In all cases, user-friendliness, suitability for the task at hand, and end results go into our final evaluation. We also test each model for ease of cleaning, noting which models are easy to clean and have dishwasher-safe parts and which aren’t.

The best hand blenders – buying guide

What features do I need?

To ensure you choose the best hand blender for your needs, consider the task you will be using it for most. If you’re primarily interested in making sauces, opt for one that has a dedicated tool for the task. Most of the blenders in our roundup come with multiple attachments, so be sure to check which ones.

You probably don’t need that many attachments to make soup, but if you use your blender to make a lot of veggies, a chopping tool is a godsend. Is the mug or bowl included – and how big is it? If it doesn’t meet your sizing needs, you may need to look elsewhere.

How much power do I need?

All hand blenders have a motor specified in watts. This is an indicator of how powerful the engine is inside. A basic hand blender has a 200W motor, powerful enough to blend soup at the end of cooking and cut the software ingredients. Fresh, harder ingredients turn out to be more of a chore. For more versatile use, look for a hand blender with a motor of 500W or more; Top-end models have 1000W motors, making them suitable for use as food processors as well.

A decent hand blender means long gone are the days when soups, sauces, dips and smoothies were prepared lump-free with a hand whisk or wooden spoon. In fact, the very best hand blenders will transform your meal prep, making it a lot quicker and easier without the hassle of removing your ingredients from your pot or bowl. However, many have their own mug, so at least you have the option.

However, it doesn’t stop there. Many hand blenders can do much more than just blend, thanks to their extensive range of attachments that beat, beat, slice, dice, puree and more. These multitasking machines take up less space in your kitchen and require far less washing up than a blender or food processor.

How much do you really need to spend on a hand blender that costs between £10 and £300? Do you always get bang for your buck? Which features are really useful and which models would we recommend?

Our buying guide below answers these questions for you, and as for the best models, all you have to do is scroll down to find our roundup of recommendations for every budget.

READ MORE: Our pick of the best blenders

Best Hand Blender: At a Glance

How to choose the best hand blender for you

How Much Should I Spend?

If you’re paying less than around £30, don’t expect a whole bunch of attachments. But if you buy the right one, you should still have a snappy machine that makes rich and creamy soups and sauces (the most common uses for hand blenders). Spend more money and you’ll either get useful attachments — usually for chopping and beating — or a machine that’s faster, quieter, or more precise.

Alternatively, your dosh can run on a machine that doesn’t tend to overheat mixes like mayonnaise, or a machine that’s really lightweight. But what splashing in the cash doesn’t automatically mean is that you get a better machine, as many inexpensive machines outperform the more expensive ones on the basics.

READ MORE: The best hand mixers to buy right now

Which functions do I have to pay attention to?

At the very least, you should expect your hand blender to be comfortable to hold, easy to assemble and use, do well for the tasks you need it to do, and be easy to clean afterwards. Additionally, features are a nice touch and you need to balance them with your main personal preferences.

Don’t assume that the higher the wattage, the more powerful the machine. Some lower wattage hand blenders (100 watts) are better than the so-called commercial models (750 watts). That’s because the powerful motor needs to be coupled with a good design to allow the food to circulate easily in and out of the cutting zone. And don’t assume the more speeds the better – more than two or three may be overkill in some cases.

Which material is best?

Blenders come in a variety of materials, but mostly with plastic or metal shafts. Metal shafts are preferable as they tend to stain less than those with plastic. This is because the blender stick is the part that gets the dirtiest and if you mix a lot of soup, for example, you may find that a metal stick stays in better condition over time. What accessories are available?

Here are some of the most commonly available accessories. Keep in mind that while they look tempting, they won’t cover the heavy work – you’ll need a more expensive food processor for that. Don’t be put off if the attachments are only available at an additional cost. We actually think that can be a good thing, as it means you don’t end up with extras you don’t need. Also: keep in mind that you can also get wired or wireless models – the latter is great if you’re limited with outlets.

Metal whisk (ideal for beating egg whites, light batters, and cream, but can’t handle more difficult textures like cake mixes)

(ideal for whipping egg whites, light batters and cream, but doesn’t come close to trickier textures like cake batter) Mini chopper (good for chopping onions, herbs and nuts, but some don’t chop finely and evenly)

(good for chopping onions, herbs, and nuts, but some don’t chop finely and evenly) Grater (useful for slicing apples or carrots, and grating cheese)

(useful for slicing apples or carrots and grating cheese) double beater (use for cake mixes and other similar consistencies)

(use for cake mixes and other similar consistencies) Mug (good for making smoothies – and some have a lid)

(good for making smoothies – and some have a lid) masher (excellent for potatoes, parsnips, squash, etc.)

The best hand blenders to buy

1. Braun MultiQuick 1: The best budget hand blender

Price: £26 | Buy now on Amazon

This highly affordable machine is ideal for anyone who needs a hand blender for everyday tasks like whipping up soups or making smoothies. We like the simple one-touch functionality. It’s surprisingly powerful for the price, which means it shouldn’t fail after a single use, and it’s also easy to keep clean: you can detach the head and put both this and the jug in the dishwasher, although you’ll quickly find it rinsing with some warm soapy water works just as well.

You have to move it around a bit to make sure everything is fully mixed and the jug that comes with it isn’t really useful for much. You can use it with other pitchers and bowls though, so if you’re not into hardcore mixing this shouldn’t be a problem.

Main Specifications – Power: 450W; Speed ​​settings: 1; Accessories: mug 600 ml; Guarantee: 2 years

Buy now on Amazon

2. Cuisinart Cordless Hand Blender: Best Cordless Hand Blender

Price: £100 | Buy now on Amazon

There’s really something to be said for going wireless. A battery powered blender like this gives you complete control over how and where you blend. And while that doesn’t seem all that important on the surface, once you’ve tried it, you’ll likely want to ditch the cord for good.

We were impressed by how light this blender was, especially considering how cumbersome some cordless kitchen appliances can be. It also comes with a mini processor, jug, and whisk attachment included in the box, making the price a little more palatable. It’s pricey, but you’re paying for wireless convenience.

We’ve made a range of soups and sauces (including chimichurri) with relative ease, but it should be noted that its low motor output means it’s not suited to tough, fibrous vegetables or ultra-thick dips. It’s still a must-have in the kitchen when you’re tired of being held back by cords, and with up to 30 minutes of continuous charging, you don’t have to worry about running out of juice while blending.

Main Specifications – Power: 10W; Speed ​​settings: 5; Accessories: shaker, whisk, mini chopper; Guarantee: 2 years

Buy now on Amazon

3. Bamix Swissline Hand Blender 100.309: The best professional hand blender

Price: £210 | Buy now on Amazon

You can tell this is top notch as soon as you take it out of the box. While not the lightest hand blender, it’s nice and compact and feels good in your hand. It works quickly and competently with just the right momentum to transform the toughest lumps into velvety smooth mixes. The accessories make chopping, pureeing, stirring, chopping, mixing, frothing and emulsifying child’s play – with particularly impressive results with mayonnaise and whipped cream.

It’s virtually indestructible (many hand mixers aren’t), but you’ll need to take the time to watch the YouTube videos to get the most out of it, and we’ve found it works best with smaller batches. For anyone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, this is not a purchase you will regret.

Main Specifications – Power: 200W; Speed ​​Settings: Two (and Turbo Boost); Accessories: whisk, fly knife, mug, dry processor attachment, storage stand; Guarantee: 3 years

Buy now on Amazon

4. Braun Multiquick 9: The best high-performance hand blender

Price: £189 | Shop now at Curries

With a 1200W motor and plenty of accessories, the Braun MultiQuick 9 is quite simply one of the best hand blenders you can buy right now. It not only mixes, but also chops, cuts, grates and purees. Switching between tasks is easy with the multi-purpose motorized handle that simply clicks into the top of the accessory. Switching between fine and coarse grating is also easy with the food processor’s interchangeable disc.

In the test, the mixer and most of the attachments worked like a dream. We could julienne and finely chop vegetables in seconds, and the powerful blender produced creamy dips, sauces and soups, even with tough ingredients. The only real downside was the french fries blade, which didn’t produce the expected result even after carefully following the instructions.

This is certainly not a budget hand blender and a lot of the price comes from these extra accessories. If you want to spend a little less and have fewer accessories, there are cheaper models for the MultiQuick 9, including the MQ9135XI and MQ9138XI.

Read our full Braun MultiQuick 9 review here

Main specifications – Power: 1,200 W; Speed ​​Settings: Variable; Accessories: whisk, blender attachment, 6 cutter blades, 2 bowls for food processor, ice crusher blade, kneading tool, mug; 1 year warranty

Shop now at Curries

5. Morphy Richards Total Control Hand Blender Collection 402061: The best mid-range blender

Price: £33 | Buy now on Amazon

With five speeds and a turbo boost, this hand blender proves that less powerful models aren’t necessarily lacking in power. It’s easy to use thanks to its one-touch controls and comes with a couple of decent accessories. The anti-splatter head means you won’t be covered in chunks every time you make tomato soup, the whisk is sturdy and gives you more control, and the chopper gave us diced-sized chunks with ease.

It’s pretty quiet, has a great grip, and the instructions are easy to follow. While it’s not the smartest blender we’ve tested, it makes up for it with its attractive price and efficiency.

Main Specifications – Power: 650W; Speed ​​settings: 5 speeds (and turbo boost); Accessories: whisk, mini chopper, mug; Guarantee: 2 years

Buy now on Amazon

6. Smeg HBF02PBUK Hand Blender: A stylish blender with lots of accessories

Price: £130 | Buy now on Amazon

If good looks are as important to you as functionality, then this is the blender that dreams are made of. Smeg’s classic style is iconic and will transform your hand blender into a kitchen statement. It’s not just a pretty face, however. Variable settings and a turbo button make this a powerful piece of kit. It is also equipped with many extras. As well as the basic blender head, you also get a whisk attachment, a potato masher, a mini chopper and a sturdy plastic pitcher.

That’s a lot of commitment for your money and everyone has excelled in their respective jobs. The only issue we had was the whisk attachment, which we felt could be a bit more robust for the price. A thin neck and body meant we had a hard time controlling him, although he still did a good job of hitting our double cream.

Main Specifications – Power: 700W; Speed ​​settings: Variable speed control (and turbo boost) Accessories: Whisk, potato masher, mini chopper, mug Warranty: 2 years

Buy now on Amazon

7. Kenwood HDP406WH Triblade Hand Blender: The best for big blending jobs

Price: £71 | Buy now on Amazon

If you love making soups for freezing, you’ll love the XL skillet attachment – not to mention the fact that this machine is significantly faster than many others. The manufacturer attributes this to the angled blades, which puree more food in less time, coupled with the ribbed design meant to reduce suction. The good news for your clothes is that this blender isn’t a squirt, and we’ve found it works well even with hard foods like nuts and dark chocolate (many claim this but fail miserably). All of the attachments do the job (the tamper makes extra creamy mash – no annoying lumps) and is easy to take apart for washing afterwards, although it would be nice if all attachments were dishwasher safe.

Main Specifications – Power: 800W Speeds: 8 Accessories: Blender and puree attachment, XL soup pan attachment, whisk, masher, chopper and mug 1 year warranty

Buy now on Amazon

8. KitchenAid Cordless Blender 5KHBBV53: The most stylish cordless hand blender

Price: £130 | Shop now at Fenwick

In the test, this wireless mixer worked great. It had no trouble pureeing cooked veggies for smooth soups, and it was a good hand at making thinner sauces, too. Being cordless, it’s not quite as powerful as corded blenders in the same price range, so it’s not an ideal choice for making thick hummus or recipes with lots of fibrous veggies. Still, it’s worth considering for the added convenience and stylish appearance.

You don’t have to worry about constant charging either. We’ve got plenty of utility on one charge, and there’s even a 20-minute quick-charge feature if you get caught and need to mix up a bowl or two of soup in a hurry.

Main Specifications – Power: 16W; Speed ​​Settings: Variable; Accessories: pot protection, mixing cup; Warranty: 2 years (5 with extension)

Shop now at Fenwick

Blender purchased and tested in store, endorsed by you via Insider Access and if you purchase through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission.