Top 10 Immersion Blenders — Best Overall + Best Value in 2027

1. Breville Control Grip

The Breville Control Grip earns the top spot because its anti-suction bell guard stops the blade head from locking onto the pot bottom, the main cause of splatter, and it has been America's Test Kitchen's long-standing recommendation. The 280-watt corded motor pairs with a 15-speed dial under your thumb for smooth ramping instead of button-stabbing. The $129.95 kit includes a chopper bowl, whisk, and 42-ounce jug.

This is for cooks who blend large batches of soup and want a clean countertop more than raw wattage. At roughly 1.5 pounds it is heavier than a bargain stick, and there is no cordless version. The Braun MultiQuick 7 below costs $40 less and cuts chunks better with its traveling blade, but the Breville's trigger-grip handle and finer dial control stay more comfortable through a big pot.

2. Braun MultiQuick 7 MQ7035

The Braun MultiQuick 7 ranks second on blending technology: its ActiveBlade shaft lets the blade travel up and down, adding roughly 250% more cutting surface so nothing hides at the bottom of the pot. It is Wirecutter's top pick after testing a dozen models. A variable-speed trigger scales power with squeeze pressure, and it runs noticeably quieter than most sticks at $89.95 with whisk, chopper, and beaker.

Buy this if chunk-free soup matters more than premium materials. The plastic upper housing feels cheaper than the All-Clad models, and the squeeze trigger takes practice before you can hold a precise low speed. Against the Breville above, you save $40 and gain smarter blade geometry, but you give up the thumb dial that makes fine work like mayonnaise easier to modulate.

3. Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-175

The Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-175 takes third as the best value at $39.95, well under a third of the Breville's price. Its 300-watt motor and two-speed push-button control purée soups, blend smoothies, and make baby food without complaint. The stainless-steel shaft with improved blade guards resists scratching cookware, the shaft detaches for the dishwasher, and a 3-cup mixing and measuring cup is included.

This suits anyone who wants a name-brand stick for occasional weeknight blending. You trade away variable speed entirely — two speeds, no fine control — and the basic box has no whisk or chopper. Compared with the Braun above, it costs $50 less and covers the same everyday soups, but it lacks the traveling blade and the splatter control that make big batches painless.

4. All-Clad Cordless KZ800D

The All-Clad Cordless KZ800D ranks fourth because nothing else pairs cord-free operation with corded-grade torque: its lithium-ion pack delivers power equivalent to a 600-watt corded model, with about 9 minutes of continuous runtime per charge and a fast-charging base. It offers 5 speeds, a polished stainless-steel body, and a wide anti-splash guard. Price is $330.00, the highest here.

This is for cooks who work away from outlets and want metal rather than plastic in hand. The trade is cost and battery aging — capacity fades after a couple of years of heavy use, unlike a corded motor. The Cuisinart above does the same weeknight soup for $290 less; you pay this premium strictly for untethered freedom and build quality.

5. Braun MultiQuick 9 MQ9097

The Braun MultiQuick 9 MQ9097 places fifth on raw capability: 700 watts, the ActiveBlade traveling shaft, and a SmartSpeed trigger that scales power to squeeze pressure. It is a 5-in-1 set at $159.95, shipping with a 6-cup food processor, ice crusher, whisk, masher, and beaker — the most complete kit on this list. The extra wattage handles fibrous vegetables, nut butters, and frozen fruit that stall weaker sticks.

This is for the cook replacing several appliances with one. The attachment haul demands real cabinet space, and 700 watts is more than plain soup ever needs. Against the All-Clad Cordless above, it costs $170 less and hits harder on dense loads, but you are tethered to an outlet and the housing is plastic rather than stainless.

6. KitchenAid Cordless KHBBV53

The KitchenAid Cordless KHBBV53 ranks sixth by delivering cordless blending at $99.95 — roughly a third of the All-Clad's $330. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery drives a variable-speed trigger, and it hot-blends soups and sauces directly in the pot. The blending arm detaches for the dishwasher, a pan guard protects nonstick cookware, and a 4-cup blending jar is included.

This fits buyers who want to skip the cord without a premium outlay. Runtime is shorter than the All-Clad's roughly 9 minutes, and the motor loses authority on dense mixtures. Against the Braun MultiQuick 9 above, it costs $60 less and moves freely around the kitchen, but it will not touch that unit's 700 watts on nut butters or ice.

7. Vitamix Immersion Blender

The Vitamix Immersion Blender sits at seventh for frozen work specifically: a 625-watt motor and a four-pronged blade pull ingredients into a tight vortex, handling ice and frozen fruit better than most corded sticks. It runs 5 speeds with an ergonomic non-slip grip and a stainless shaft, and bundles commonly add a whisk, blending jar, and storage. Price is $149.95, with Vitamix warranty support behind it.

This is for smoothie and frozen-drink drinkers rather than soup cooks. It is heavier than most sticks and expensive if purée is all you make. The KitchenAid Cordless above costs $50 less and moves freely, but its motor gives up on hard ice; the Vitamix trades that mobility for a vortex that actually pulls frozen chunks down.

8. Mueller Ultra-Stick 500

The Mueller Ultra-Stick 500 ranks eighth on price-to-performance at $24.95 — the cheapest here by $15. It packs a 500-watt all-copper motor, 9 adjustable speeds, and a turbo button in a body weighing about 1 pound 4 ounces, light enough to maneuver one-handed. For under $25 it purées soup and blends smoothies noticeably better than the price suggests, which is why tested lists keep including it.

This is the pick for first-time buyers unsure they will use a hand blender often. The vortex is looser than premium sticks, and a short cord limits reach at the stove. Versus the Vitamix above, you save $125 and get more nominal speeds, but the blade geometry cannot match that tight pull on frozen fruit or hard ice.

9. All-Clad Corded KZ750D

The All-Clad Corded KZ750D ranks ninth as the battery-free route to All-Clad build: heavy stainless-steel construction and a 600-watt corded motor for $119.95, $210 below the cordless KZ800D. It adds a turbo function for quick power bursts, variable-speed control, and a detachable 9¼-inch shaft that cleans easily. The all-metal body resists the flexing common on plastic sticks, and the wide guard keeps splatter down.

This is for cooks who intend to keep one blender for a decade and never think about charge cycles. It is heavier than budget sticks and priced above equally powerful corded rivals. Compared with the Mueller above, it costs nearly five times as much for similar wattage — the money buys metal, durability, and a genuinely better guard.

10. KitchenAid Corded KHBV53

The KitchenAid Corded KHBV53 rounds the list at $59.95 by offering variable speed, uncommon at this price. Its dial eases from a gentle stir to full power, and the soft-start design is tuned for control rather than raw wattage, which keeps splatter down when you first submerge. The blending arm removes for the dishwasher and a 1-liter jar is included, making single-batch smoothies and sauces straightforward.

This suits budget buyers who want KitchenAid styling and gentle control over brute force. Power sits below every pricier pick here, and the base box is thin on attachments. Against the All-Clad Corded above, it costs $60 less and offers similar speed control, but the plastic housing and weaker motor will show on dense or fibrous loads.

How we ranked these

Ten currently shipping hand blenders were scored against a weighted rubric: blending power and purée smoothness at 25%, ergonomics and build at 20%, splatter control at 15%, speed control at 15%, included attachments at 15%, and price-to-performance at 10%. Tasks mirrored real kitchen work — soup purée, mayonnaise emulsification, frozen fruit and ice. Placements were cross-checked against Wirecutter, Serious Eats, America's Test Kitchen, CNET, The Spruce Eats, and RTINGS, plus manufacturer spec sheets.

Deliberately ignored: peak wattage claims, which reward marketing over engineering — Braun's ActiveBlade shaft produces smoother soup at 350 watts than rivals do at 700. Also discounted were color options, speed counts above five (three well-spaced speeds beat nine badly spaced ones), Amazon star averages inflated by review-gating, and discontinued or import-only models. Warranty length was noted but not weighted, since motor failures in this category are rare.

What to look for

The two things that separate these in daily use are the bell guard and the speed ramp. A wide, vented bell breaks the suction seal against the pot bottom — that seal, not motor power, is what flings soup up your shaft and across the counter. Trigger-squeeze control (Braun, KitchenAid) or a thumb dial (Breville's 15-speed) lets you start slow in a full pot, which no push-button two-speed can do.

The common mistake is buying wattage for soup. A 300-watt Cuisinart purées butternut squash as well as a 700-watt Braun; the extra motor only matters for ice, nut butter, and fibrous celery or kale. The second mistake is paying for cordless before checking runtime — the All-Clad manages roughly nine minutes per charge, and its battery fades within a few years while a corded motor does not.

Related questions

Is the Breville Control Grip worth $129.95 over the $39.95 Cuisinart?

Only if you make soup in volume. The Breville's anti-suction bell and 15-speed thumb dial deliver the cleanest, most controllable blending here, and the kit adds a whisk, chopper bowl, and 42-ounce jug. For occasional soups and smoothies, the Cuisinart's 300-watt two-speed motor produces comparable purée for a third of the money.

What does Braun's ActiveBlade technology actually do?

The blade sits on a flexible shaft that travels up and down as you blend, adding roughly 250% more cutting surface. In practice that means chunks hiding at the bottom of a stockpot get reached instead of orbiting the blade. It appears on both the $89.95 MultiQuick 7 and the 700-watt MultiQuick 9, and it is why Wirecutter ranks the 7 first.

Which immersion blender handles frozen fruit and ice best?

The Vitamix at $149.95 pairs a 625-watt motor with a four-pronged blade that pulls ingredients into a tight vortex, making it the smoothie and frozen-drink specialist. The Braun MultiQuick 9 at 700 watts ships with a dedicated ice-crusher attachment and more raw torque, so pick it if you also want a food processor in the box.

How long does the All-Clad cordless run per charge?

About nine minutes of continuous blending, which covers several pots of soup since actual blade time per pot is under a minute. The fast-charging dock tops it back up quickly. The real limitation is lifespan — lithium-ion capacity fades after a couple of years of heavy use, and replacing a pack costs a meaningful fraction of the $330 purchase price.

Will an immersion blender scratch my nonstick pot?

It can if the blade guard is worn or the shaft is bare plastic. Look for a stainless shaft with intact blade guards, like the Cuisinart CSB-175's improved guards, or the KitchenAid Cordless KHBBV53, which ships with a dedicated pan guard specifically to protect nonstick surfaces. Keep the head centered and off the pot floor while blending.

Can you make mayonnaise with an immersion blender?

Yes, and it is one of the fastest emulsions in home cooking — egg, oil, acid, and mustard in a narrow jar, blade to the bottom, then lift slowly. Success depends on fine low-speed control, which is why the Breville's 15-speed dial and Braun's variable trigger outperform two-speed push-button models like the Cuisinart here.

Is the $24.95 Mueller Ultra-Stick actually usable?

For its price, yes. A 500-watt copper motor, nine speeds, a turbo button, and a body just over a pound make it genuinely capable at soup and smoothies. The compromises are a looser vortex than the Vitamix or Braun and a short cord that limits reach at the stove. Buy it to find out whether you will use one at all.

What is the difference between the two KitchenAid hand blenders?

The KHBV53 at $59.95 is corded with a variable-speed soft-start dial and a 1-liter jar. The KHBBV53 at $99.95 swaps the cord for a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, adds a pan guard and a 4-cup jar, and can hot-blend in the pot. Both use dishwasher-safe detachable arms; the cordless trades runtime for freedom.

FAQ

What is the best immersion blender overall in 2027?

The Breville Control Grip at $129.95. Its anti-suction bell guard stops the head from locking onto the pot bottom — the main cause of splatter — and the trigger-style handle keeps your hand high while a 15-speed dial sits under your thumb. The kit includes a whisk, chopper bowl, and 42-ounce jug. America's Test Kitchen has recommended it for years.

Which immersion blender is the best value?

The Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-175 at $39.95. A 300-watt motor and two push-button speeds purée soups, blend smoothies, and make baby food without fuss, and the stainless shaft with improved blade guards resists scratching cookware. You give up variable speed and a whisk, but the included 3-cup measuring cup covers single-serving work.

How many watts do I actually need?

For puréed soups, sauces, and emulsions like mayonnaise, 250 to 300 watts is plenty — the Breville winner runs just 280 watts. Step up to 500 to 700 watts only if you regularly crush ice, blend frozen fruit, or grind nut butters. The Mueller, Vitamix, and Braun MultiQuick 9 all sit in that higher range.

Are cordless immersion blenders worth the extra money?

They are if you dislike cords near water or blend away from an outlet. The All-Clad KZ800D delivers corded-grade power at $330; the KitchenAid KHBBV53 offers the same freedom for $99.95 with less torque on dense loads. Both trade a permanent motor for a battery that fades after a few years of heavy use.

How do I stop an immersion blender from splattering?

Keep the blade head fully submerged before you pull the trigger, start on the lowest speed, and only ramp up once the mixture is moving. Then buy the right design: a wide, vented anti-suction bell guard, best on the Breville and Braun models, breaks the seal against the pot bottom that flings soup upward.

Can an immersion blender crush ice?

Some can. The Vitamix's four-pronged blade and 625-watt motor pull ice into a tight vortex, and the Braun MultiQuick 9 ships with a dedicated ice-crusher attachment behind 700 watts. Budget two-speed sticks will struggle and can dull blades or strain the motor. For daily frozen drinks, a countertop blender still does it better.

Which model comes with the most attachments?

The Braun MultiQuick 9 MQ9097 at $159.95 is a 5-in-1 set with a 6-cup food processor, ice crusher, whisk, masher, and beaker — the most complete kit here. The Breville includes a chopper bowl, whisk, and 42-ounce jug. The base Cuisinart ships with only a 3-cup measuring cup.

Corded or cordless — which should I buy?

Corded, for most people. A cord gives steady, unfading power for the life of the motor and costs less for equivalent performance; the All-Clad KZ750D delivers 600 watts and an all-stainless body for $119.95, versus $330 for its cordless sibling. Choose cordless only if outlet placement genuinely constrains where you cook.

Are the blending shafts dishwasher-safe?

On most modern models, yes — the detachable arm goes in the dishwasher while the motor housing gets wiped down only. The Cuisinart, both KitchenAids, and the All-Clad KZ750D all use removable shafts. Check your manual, since some manufacturers rate the shaft top-rack only, and never submerge the motor body under any circumstances.

Do more speeds mean a better blender?

No. Three well-spaced speeds outperform nine poorly spaced ones, and the number on the box is a marketing figure more than a spec. What matters is whether the control is continuous — a trigger you squeeze harder, like Braun's SmartSpeed, or Breville's thumb dial — so you can ramp smoothly rather than jumping between fixed steps.

Sources

• https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-immersion-blender/
• https://www.seriouseats.com/best-immersion-blenders-5216873
• https://www.americastestkitchen.com/equipment_reviews/1966-immersion-blenders
• https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-immersion-blenders-4155838
• https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/best-immersion-blender/
• https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/appliances/blender-reviews/g28399602/best-immersion-blenders/
• https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/blenders/bsb510.html
• https://www.braunhousehold.com/en-us/multiquick-7-hand-blender
• https://www.cuisinart.com/shopping/appliances/hand_blenders/csb-175/
• https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/immersion-blenders/

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