What is an immersion blender?

Whether you call it a stick, hand, or immersion blender doesn't matter. They’re the same thing. A hand blender is a handheld kitchen tool designed for blending directly in your pots or bowls. Unlike traditional blenders, where you transfer food into a jug, an immersion blender works by submerging the blade end into your mixture – think soups, sauces and dips. The best bit? You don’t need extra dishes, and it's easy to clean.

They’re especially handy when blending a big batch of soup still in the pot, or a quick and easy alternative for smaller blending tasks – like a small mayonnaise, dip or a batch of pancake batter.

But, how does it differ from a traditional blender?

Differences between an immersion blender and a traditional blender

A traditional blender that sits on your countertop is your workhorse for large batches and heavy-duty tasks. It comes with a built-in jar that usually holds 1.4 L or 1.7 L, and is excellent for making smoothies, soups, or frozen drinks for multiple people.

These high-powered blenders are strong enough to crush ice easily. However, they take up more space and have more parts to clean.

Now, a hand blender steps in for your smaller, more agile tasks. You don't need to blend ingredients in a separate jar; you can use it directly in your pot or bowl. Hand blenders aren’t as powerful for heavy-duty tasks, but they're excellent for quick blending and chopping.

This balance of power vs. versatility is the main difference between the two.

Immersion Blender vs Traditional Blender: Differences

	Immersion Blender	Traditional Blender
Size/Portability	Small, handheld, easy to store	Larger, requires more counter space
Usage	Great for blending in pots and small batches	Best for big batches, smoothies, ice crushing
Cleaning	Quick and easy, often dishwasher-safe	More parts, harder to clean
Power	Less powerful, but efficient for most jobs	More powerful, ideal for tougher tasks
Versatility	Ideal for soups, sauces, dressings	Best for smoothies, purees, frozen drinks

Immersion Blender vs Traditional Blender: Features and Capabilities

Feature	Immersion Blender	Traditional Blender
Blender Jar	No	Yes
Capacity	Unlimited (depends on container size)	1.4 L - 1.7 L
Up to 10 Speeds	No	Yes
Variable Speeds	Yes	Yes
Crush Ice	No	Yes
Small Jar accessory	Yes	Yes

In short, traditional blenders have a more powerful motor and blades to crush hard ingredients easily. Immersion blenders are nimble and perfect for small jobs. They give you precision control. Want a chunky soup? Blend just a bit. Looking for a smooth puree? Blend longer, right in the pot. See more differences with our blender comparison.

Right, now you know what a hand blender is and how it differs from a traditional blender. Let’s look at why you might choose to use one.

Benefits of using a hand blender

Hand blenders make your life easier in unexpected ways. Here’s some of what we love most about them.

Blend right in the pot to make cleaning easy.

First, they cut down your clean-up time. And who doesn’t need to save time these days? Instead of transferring hot soup from a pot to a blender and back again, you just blend it right in the pot.

That's a shorter time and one less bowl to clean (and one fewer chance to spill hot liquid all over your counter). But it’s not just soups. Think about your breakfast smoothie – no need to dirty a big blender jar when you can do it directly in your cup.

And when you’re done, cleaning is quick and easy. Our hand blenders come with removable, dishwasher-safe arms. Easy.

2. Be versatile in your use

Hand blenders are also incredibly versatile. You're not restricted by the size of the blender jar, so you can blend anything from small amounts, like a single-serve smoothie or small portions of baby food, to bulk cook-ups in a big stockpot.

3. Blend smaller amounts

Regular blenders can struggle with small amounts, but a hand blender is perfect for whipping up a quick salad dressing or making a jar of your favourite homemade sauce.

4. Blend with precise control

Then there's control. A hand blender gives you precision to easily create the right texture. If you're making a chunky soup or salsa, you can blend just enough to keep those pieces intact. Or, if you're going for silky-smooth puree, simply blend a little longer.

5. Vary your blending speed

A good immersion blender also comes with variable speed settings, giving you more control over the texture of your food. Use a low speed for frothy milk or smooth batters, or crank it up for pureeing fibrous greens or soups with tougher vegetables.

6. Go Cordless

Try our Cordless Go Hand Blender if you're tight on outlets or just want the freedom to move around your kitchen. Powered by rechargeable batteries – you can blend wherever you need to.

7. Save space in your kitchen

Hand blenders save space. Unlike a countertop blender, they’re compact and fit easily into a drawer or cabinet. Perfect if you have a smaller kitchen or just want to keep your counters clutter-free.

8. Cook faster

Finally, save yourself valuable time. Imagine whipping up a quick vinaigrette or pesto in seconds without lugging out a big appliance. Use your hand blender to make these small-batch recipes quickly and easily.

Whether you’re blending baby food, pureeing soups, or whipping cream, a hand blender streamlines your process. Use it to simplify tasks, reduce mess and gain more control.

Best way to use a hand blender

Your hand blender helps you do most of the same things your countertop blender does. And using one is simple: you hold the blender at an angle and immerse it in whatever you’re blending. Move it around for even results, but don't lift it too high while running, or you’ll risk splattering.

What is a hand blender best for? You can use it for smoothies, whipping cream, blending baby food, or making dressings – whatever your imagination can dream up.

While we’re all about being versatile and adaptable, what we love to do most with our hand blender are the classics: blend and puree. Try making a big pot of creamy roast cauliflower soup, or whip up a fresh salsa as it warms up outside. An all-time summer fave is this minted lime mango sorbet. Or try these super smoothies chilled to perfection. Looking for something a little bit naughty? You can’t go past Julian Cincotta’s Hennessy and Chocolate Boozy Milkshake .

Recap: What is a hand blender?

A hand blender is a versatile tool that blends directly in your pot, bowl, or cup. It’s perfect for soups, sauces, or small-batch recipes where you want quick results without extra dishes. It’ll save you space, time, and give you precise control over texture.

Still have questions? Find out whether you can use a blender as a food processor here.

FAQ

Are there any times when it’s best not to use an immersion blender?

It’s best not to use a hand blender with very thick or heavy mixtures, like stiff doughs, as it can overheat the motor. Similarly, a regular blender may be more efficient for tasks like crushing large amounts of ice or blending fibrous vegetables in large batches.

What’s the difference between a blender and an immersion blender?

A hand (or immersion) blender is a compact, handheld tool you can directly submerge into a bowl, pot, or cup to blend smaller batches of food. Meanwhile, a traditional blender has a jar on a fixed base and works best for blending larger quantities. Hand blenders are ideal for soups, sauces, and quick purees, while traditional blenders handle more heavy-duty tasks, like crushing ice or making smoothies for multiple people.

What can I use if I don’t have an immersion blender?

If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a standard blender, a food processor, or even a manual whisk or fork for smaller, less intensive tasks, depending on the texture you're after.

What is an immersion blender and why do you need one?