Best Immersion Hand Blender of 2021
When it comes to hand blenders, it'd be hard to top the Braun MQ505. This nifty little kitchen appliance is one of the most comfortable models that we've reviewed, and the buttons are easy to use. When it comes time to grind, whip, and blend, the MQ505 offers the utmost performance, further enhanced when you engage the turbo boost. During our smoothie-making party this device did a great job, didn't create much suction, and pulverized everything very quickly. We also found that the attachments for this model were especially easy to change.
However, speaking of attachments, the Braun MQ505 only includes two. If you're looking for a model with a chopping cup attachment or a milk frother, this is not the one. The only other flaw we found is that the textured handle is so grippy that it tends to hold onto little towel fuzzies and dust. Despite these minor drawbacks, we still think this appliance is the best choice for those looking for a simple blender that is ergonomic, does a tremendous job, and is easy to use.
If you're ready to immerse yourself into the hand blender world but don't want to break the bank to purchase one, we recommend the AmazonBasics Multi-Speed. When it comes to blending performance this model is one of the best, especially considering the price. We noticed that the accessories are effortless to attach, making it a cinch to get prepped for blending up your delicious sauces, dips, and concoctions in the kitchen.
Although the attachments are a cinch to snap into place, we found them to be a bit difficult to remove. If you're going to be switching up accessories in the middle of your project, be ready to put a little extra elbow grease into exchanging them. Another small flaw we found is that the speed setting is a bit of a pain to change while the appliance is in use. Still, this isn't much of a problem so long as you don't mind halting your blend for a quick second to dial it up or down. If you're looking for an affordable hand blender that offers similar performance to the high-end models, go with the AmazonBasics Multi-Speed.
If you are looking for a model to be used in a professional setting or you know you're hard on your kitchen appliances, check out the Mueller Ultra-Stick 500 Watt. This device has a very solid feel to it thanks to its metal construction and the fact that the blending arm locks directly into the motor. Our team found this model to be particularly powerful during our blending assessment, thanks to its 500-watt motor. The power buttons are a cinch to use, adding to kitchen efficiency.
The speed dial is sort of challenging to use while operating the Meller Ultra-Stick 500Watt. This is not a big deal so long as you have your speed set properly before you get started. During our blending experiments, we found that this model doesn't circulate material quite as well as some. Flaws aside, the Meller Ultra-Stick 500Watt is an excellent choice if you're in the market for a heavy-duty hand blender.
The Ovente Electric Hand Blender with Easy Grip Handle is one of our favorite models, especially considering the price tag. It's very easy to toggle speed while in use — you don't have to stop blending to change speeds, unlike several models in our review. Removing the shaft when it's time to clean is as easy as can be, and attaching it is a cinch.
While using the Ovente to create smoothies, our testers noticed that it creates a bit of extra suction. Although the handle is comfortable, it is relatively large. This may be preferable for some people, but others may prefer a device with a more slender construction. Lastly, The Ovente only includes the standard shaft & chopper, but that may be all you need. Overall, we think this device is an excellent choice for those shopping on a budget who aren't looking for extra bells & whistles.
If you're looking for a kitchen appliance with an array of applications, look no further than the Utalent 5-in-1 Immersion. This model includes a shaft chopper, a cup chopper, a milk frother, and a whisk, opening the door to create all types of delicious kitchen concoctions. We love the ergonomic handle and the fact that the Utalent has eight speeds to chop, blend, or froth at the perfect rate for optimal consistency.
When blending with the Utalent 5-in-1 Immersion, we noticed that it's not quite as powerful as many of the models in our review. However, with a 250-watt motor, this is to be expected. This version is on the expensive side. Still, considering all of its capabilities, we think it's an excellent choice for those looking for an all-around model that can replace several other kitchen appliances, helping you save space and get rid of rarely used clutter in the cabinet.
If you're looking for a version with controls that are easy to use, check out the Homgeek 500W. The on, off, and turbo buttons are all operated by your thumb, and the speed dial is on the top of the body, making it very simple to adjust. With a 500 watt motor, this model delivered plenty of power during our smoothie blending extravaganza. During our assessment, we noticed that the Homgeek does not create much suction when compared to the others.
The Homgeek 500W only includes the standard shaft & chopper and a whisker, so if you're looking for a version with a milk frother or other accessories, you're going to have to look elsewhere. The Homgeek is also on the heavier side of the spectrum. It's not a huge deal, but if you know you're going to be using it a lot, the added weight may add to arm fatigue. Despite these drawbacks, we still think this model is a decent choice, especially if you're a fan of accessible controls.
The handle on the Bella 10-Speed is fairly large in diameter, but we found it comfortable to hold for all shapes and sizes of hand thanks to its tapered handle that rounds back off to the full diameter of the body at the top. This device has ten speeds to dial the RPMs to the optimal rate for your desired consistency. Although the Bella 10-Speed is not the most powerful model that we've tested, we still found it reasonably strong, especially considering its 350-watt motor.
The main flaw that we found with the Bella 10-Speed is that the speed dial is difficult to use while the device is in operation. This can get annoying or cut down on kitchen productivity. Regardless of this flaw, we'd still recommend this model to those looking for a hand blender with a comfortable handle.
If you know that you'll be taking your appliance on the go, you may want to go with the KitchenAid KHB2351WH Pro Line. This model comes with a handy pouch that fits the device and all of its attachments. We found the KitchenAid handle to be reasonably comfortable, and this version has some appealing aesthetics.
While in use, we found that the KitchenAid KHB2351WH Pro Line makes quite the mess — it even sprayed one of our product testers in the face. This device creates a lot of suction. In some instances, it even pulled the attachment right off the handle while in use. It didn't do as good of a job at getting every bit of our smoothie blended, especially hemp seeds. Still, If you want to be travel-ready, the KHB2351's case is the way to go.
Two things differentiate the Gourmia GHB2360 from the other devices in our review. First of all, it has an LED light that shines into your concoction. This may seem like a bit of an odd feature but could come in handy if you're working behind a bar or have a kitchen with low light. Second, the Gourmia has twelve speeds — more than any other model in our review.
Other than the standard shaft, the only accessory included with the Gourmia GHB2360 is a whisk. Sadly, when it came to our blending assessment, this model left some food types in chunks — strawberries, specifically. We'd still recommend this model if you know that you will be blending in a dim setting.
The on, off, and turbo buttons are located right where we like them on these appliances — near the top of the handle where they are easily operated with your thumb. The various attachments included with the KOIOS 800W are a cinch to attach and remove.
Sadly, despite its 800-watt motor, the KOIOS 800W did not do well during our blending assessment, and we'd recommend that our readers go with a model that offers a higher degree of performance.
Why You Should Trust Us
To complete this review, we paired our Senior Research Analyst Michelle Powell up with our In-House Review Editor Ross Patton. Michelle already had more than ten years' experience working in the food & beverage industry before joining our team. Since joining us at GearLab, she has conducted in-depth side-by-side product analysis on over a dozen different types of kitchen appliances ranging from espresso machines to air fryers to ice cream makers. With a formal education in environmental science and more than a decade of product review experience under his belt, Ross is no stranger to studying the intricacies and tiny details of products that set them apart from one another. With this team, you can rest assured that they have created a darned good set of review parameters.
To test these products, we began by carefully inspecting each package for included accessories and how easy they are to attach and remove. We then subjectively judged their ergonomic feel as well as their ease of operation. We made smoothies with the exact same recipe to assess their overall performance. Finally, we gauged how much of a mess each model made while in use as well as how difficult each blender was to clean.
Analysis and Test Results
We took our findings from our head-to-head assessment and grouped them into three individual rating metrics — Blending, ease of use, and accessories. This allows our readers to make their purchasing decision based on your own specific wants and needs.
Blending
The first subcategory of our assessment is blending. Our recipe included bananas, frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries, spinach, orange juice, and hemp seeds. We paid close attention to each blender's feel and power while in use, as well as how long each one took to get the concoction to the same general consistency. Once the smoothies were done, we used a blind panel of judges to let us know what they thought about the blend and noted any excess chunks of fruit or seeds left in each batch.
The clear champion of this assessment was the Braun MQ505. This model did a phenomenal job, and it did it quickly. Our judges found that the finished product was perfectly smooth and that it was devoid of any chunks of fruit or spinach leaves, and the hemp seeds were pulverized.
Next up was the AmazonBasics Multi-Speed and Ovente Electric Easy Grip 300. Although the AmazonBasics took a bit longer than the Braun MQ505, it eventually got the mixture to an appropriate consistency. The Ovente Electric Easy Grip 300 did a great job too, but it missed a few of the blueberries and created a moderate degree of suction.
The Utalent was also able to get the smoothie to the ideal blend for our panel of judges, but it took longer than the aforementioned models to do so. Finally, the Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt produced the same result, but it took the longest to get there.
Ease of Use
To subjectively judge the ease of use of each model, we began by subjectively considering each device's overall ergonomic feel. We paid close attention to how each model fit into our hands and how well they balanced during operation. We carefully inspected and tested the buttons and controls to see if anything made the blender easier or more challenging to operate. We paid close attention to any extra spattering or spraying during our smoothie making extravaganza while each device was in operation. We switched and used the various dials and buttons while mixing and assessed how easy or difficult the accessories included with each device are to attach or remove. Finally, we considered the amount of effort required to clean up each model and anything that made cleaning especially easy or difficult.
When it comes to operation, the Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt is our favorite. We found this model to be particularly easy to hold and maneuver. The on, off, and turbo buttons are comfortable and don't require much effort to push, and the accessories are a breeze to attach and release. The Braun MQ508 operates similar to the Mueller Austria, but the rubber texture on the grip tends to hold onto things such as dust and paper towels.
The AmazonBasics Multi-Speed has an ergonomic feel, and the buttons require minimal effort to press. We found that the attachment is a bit difficult to remove but very easy to put on. The power and turbo buttons on the AmazonBasics are perfect, but the speed dial is hard to access during use. The Ovente Electric Easy Grip 300 Watt 7 has a speed toggle that is a cinch to use while blending, and we noticed that the body of this model has an unusually thick handle, which may be a deal-breaker for many users. The Utalent isn't quite as easy to operate as the others because the buttons are a bit harder to push, and the attachments are a very tight fit, but it's still one of the better hand blenders that we've used.
Accessories
Depending on the application for which you will be using your hand blender, accessories may play a key role in your purchasing decision. If all you're looking for is something to help you froth milk, then you probably don't require a whisk or a chopper cup. But if you want an all-around kitchen blending machine, it'd be wise to purchase a model with as many attachments as possible. We carefully cataloged and tested all of the included accessories for each device.
If you're looking for the model with the most bells & whistles, look no further than the Utalent. In addition to the standard shaft & chopper, this model includes a whisk, a milk frother, a cup, and a chopper cup. The AmazonBasics Multi-Speed comes with everything the Utalent does besides the milk frother, same with the Braun MQ505 minus the chopping cup. The Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt has the standard chopper, a whisk, and the often coveted milk frother but does not come with a chopping cup or blending cup. If all you're looking for is the most basic model without the frills, the Ovente Electric Easy Grip 300 Watt does not come with any attachments or accessories at all.
Conclusion
A device as seemingly basic and easy to use as a hand blender can, in fact, end up being a bit of a pain to find the right one for you and your needs. We purchase all of our products for a proper hands-on analysis here at GearLab so that we can take the headache and stress out of shopping to ensure that you get the perfect product for your given situation. We hope you have as much fun using these devices and creating delicious treats as we did while testing them.
— Ross Patton and Michelle Powell