Best immersion blender: which hand blender to buy for soups
Three immersion blenders picked for soups, sauces and chopping: the Braun MultiQuick 7 for most kitchens, the Cuisinart Smart Stick on a budget, the Breville for big pots.
In this article
- How we chose
- Braun MultiQuick 7: the best all-rounder
- Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-179: the budget pick that does the basics
- Breville Control Grip: for stockpots and big batches
- Wattage, blades and guards: what actually matters
- Chopper, whisk and beaker: do you need them?
- Cleaning, spare parts and lifespan
- Baby food, mayo and sauces: the less obvious uses
- Common mistakes with hot soup
- When to buy, and when to skip it
- Our verdict
The immersion blender we recommend for most kitchens is the Braun MultiQuick 7 MQ7035X: smooth soups with very little splatter, speed you control with one finger and a 2-cup chopper in the box. If you just want to purée soup, the Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-179 costs about half as much; for tall stockpots, look at the Breville Control Grip.
- For most home cooks Braun MultiQuick 7 MQ7035X 3-in-1 Immersion Blender Premium See on Amazon
- For soups and smoothies on a budget Cuisinart CSB-179 Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender Budget pick See on Amazon
- For big pots and batch cooking Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender Premium See on Amazon
How we chose
We don't physically test the products we recommend. We compared manufacturer specs, long-term verified buyer reviews and published testing from outlets such as RTINGS, Good Housekeeping and Food Network, then dropped models with hard-to-find replacement parts or recurring complaints about shafts that loosen over time.
Our criteria, in order: how smooth a pureed soup comes out, how much it splatters, how easy it is to change speed one-handed, what comes in the box, and how sturdy the weak spot of every stick blender is, the joint between motor and shaft. Wattage came last, and we explain why further down. If you're refreshing your small appliances and already own an air fryer, a stick blender is the natural companion: it lives in a drawer, not on the countertop.
Braun MultiQuick 7: the best all-rounder
Illustrative image- ActiveBlade shaft that also moves up and down
- Easy SmartSpeed: squeeze harder for more speed
- SplashControl bell
- 2-cup chopper, whisk and 20 oz beaker
| Power | 500 W (120 V) |
|---|---|
| Controls | Pressure button |
| Speed settings | Variable |
| Technology | ActiveBlade, SplashControl |
| Included accessories | 2-cup chopper, whisk |
| Capacity | 20 oz beaker |
What sets the MultiQuick 7 apart is control. There are no fixed speed settings: squeeze the button lightly for a coarse chop, harder for a silky purée, and you can adjust without stopping. The ActiveBlade shaft lets the blade shift up and down, which helps it reach chunks sitting at the bottom of the pot, and the SplashControl guard is shaped to keep hot soup in the pot instead of on your shirt.
In the box you get a 2-cup chopper, a whisk and a 20 oz beaker; attachments click on and off with two side buttons. The US model is rated at 500 watts on 120 V, half the European figure; that does not make it a weaker blender in practice.
- Pressure-sensitive speed control that's easy to fine-tune
- Low splatter, even in shallow pots
- Replacement shafts and attachments are sold separately
- The chopper's gearbox is plastic; some long-term reviews say it's the first part to wear out with hard ingredients
- The cord is on the short side if your outlet isn't next to the stove
- Mid-range price, roughly double the Cuisinart
Who it's for: anyone who makes soup every week, chops herbs and nuts, and wants one tool for all of it.
Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-179: the budget pick that does the basics
Illustrative image- 300-watt motor
- Variable speed slide plus push button
- 8-inch stainless steel shaft
- 3-cup chopper, whisk and 2-cup cup
| Power | 300 W |
|---|---|
| Controls | Slide plus push button |
| Speed settings | Variable |
| Technology | 8-inch stainless shaft |
| Included accessories | 3-cup chopper, whisk |
| Capacity | 2-cup cup |
The Smart Stick is the stick blender plenty of American kitchens already own, and the variable-speed CSB-179 version is still one of the safest budget buys. A slide sets the speed and a push button runs it, the 8-inch stainless shaft reaches the bottom of most saucepans, and you get a 3-cup chopper, a whisk and a 2-cup mixing cup. RTINGS lists it as its budget pick and notes it blends fibrous greens like kale more smoothly than some rivals in its class.
- Budget price with a full set of attachments
- Long 8-inch shaft for its class
- 3-year limited warranty
- You set the speed first and then press, which is less fluid than Braun's squeeze control
- 300-watt motor slows down with hard ingredients in the chopper
- More splatter if you lift the shaft while running
Who it's for: anyone who mostly purées soups, makes smoothies and sauces, and wants to spend as little as possible.
Breville Control Grip: for stockpots and big batches
Illustrative image- Trigger grip for a natural hand position
- 15 speeds
- Anti-suction bell with non-scratch base
- 42 oz jug, 25 oz chopping bowl and whisk
| Power | 280 W |
|---|---|
| Controls | Trigger |
| Speed settings | 15 |
| Technology | Anti-suction bell, 8-inch depth |
| Included accessories | 25 oz chopper, whisk |
| Capacity | 42 oz jug |
Breville built the Control Grip around two ideas. First, a trigger switch that keeps your wrist in a natural position, which matters when you're blending a full stockpot of chili or butternut squash soup. Second, a bell-shaped base with internal ribs that cuts suction, so the blender doesn't latch onto the bottom of the pot. The 8-inch immersion depth and a non-scratch base make it the friendliest of the three for tall and nonstick pots. It comes with 15 speeds, a 42 oz jug with a storage lid, a 25 oz chopping bowl and a whisk.
- Trigger grip is comfortable for long blending sessions
- Anti-suction base and non-scratch guard
- Biggest jug of the three, and the chopper stores inside it
- Heavier and louder than the Braun, per RTINGS
- Only a 1-year warranty, against 3 years for Braun and Cuisinart
- Upper-mid price
Who it's for: batch cooks, big families and anyone who blends in tall stockpots or nonstick Dutch ovens.
| Braun MultiQuick 7 MQ7035X 3-in-1 Immersion Blender | Cuisinart CSB-179 Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender | Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | For most home cooks | For soups and smoothies on a budget | For big pots and batch cooking |
| Power | 500 W (120 V) | 300 W | 280 W |
| Controls | Pressure button | Slide plus push button | Trigger |
| Speed settings | Variable | Variable | 15 |
| Technology | ActiveBlade, SplashControl | 8-inch stainless shaft | Anti-suction bell, 8-inch depth |
| Included accessories | 2-cup chopper, whisk | 3-cup chopper, whisk | 25 oz chopper, whisk |
| Capacity | 20 oz beaker | 2-cup cup | 42 oz jug |
| Price band | Premium | Budget pick | Premium |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
Wattage, blades and guards: what actually matters
Our three picks are rated anywhere from 280 to 500 watts in the US, and the lowest-rated one is the most expensive. That's not a contradiction. For soup, blade shape and the guard decide how smooth the result is and whether the blender suctions to the pot. Power helps with nuts, hard cheese and chopping, but even there the attachment design counts for more.
Look at three things instead. The guard: wide, with side openings, it blends better and splatters less. The control: continuous, pressure-based speed beats a dial because you can adjust while you blend. The shaft: metal and detachable, so it goes in the dishwasher and can be replaced.
Chopper, whisk and beaker: do you need them?
Of all the attachments, the chopper is the one that justifies paying more, if you'll use it. It handles parsley, walnuts, Parmesan and the onion-carrot-celery base for soups in seconds, and it's quicker to wash than a food processor. The whisk, on the other hand, often stays in the box: it whips cream fine, but a hand mixer does egg whites better.
A tall, narrow beaker is more useful than it looks. Mayonnaise and dressings emulsify without splashing out, and it's the right shape for a single smoothie. For two or more, Breville's 42 oz jug is the roomiest.
Cleaning, spare parts and lifespan
Rinsed right away, the shaft cleans in seconds: warm water and a drop of dish soap in the beaker, a short run, then rinse. Wait until the evening and you'll be scraping dried soup from under the guard, where a sponge can't reach. Most makers list the shaft and beaker as dishwasher safe (check your manual); the motor body never is, so wipe it with a damp cloth.
Lifespan comes down mostly to the coupling. Every time the motor starts under load, the joint between body and shaft takes the jolt, and that's where cheap stick blenders with flimsy plastic couplings give up first. Spare parts are the other half of the story: Braun sells shafts, choppers and whisks separately, so a broken piece doesn't mean a new blender. Before you pick an unknown brand, check that you can at least buy a replacement shaft. Warranty is a fair tiebreaker too, and here Braun and Cuisinart beat Breville by two years.
Baby food, mayo and sauces: the less obvious uses
New parents tend to discover that an immersion blender is the quickest way to make baby food: you blend straight in a small saucepan or the beaker, in quantities too small for a countertop blender to handle. A blender with fine speed control, like the Braun, makes it easy to leave a little texture when your pediatrician suggests it.
Homemade mayonnaise is the other classic: a whole egg, oil and lemon juice in the narrow beaker, the guard resting on the bottom, and you lift slowly only once the emulsion has started. It works with all three models. The same move gives you smooth tomato sauce, quick pesto and creamy bean soups without a food mill.
Common mistakes with hot soup
The first one is switching on with the guard lifted: rest it on the bottom at a slight angle and only lift it once the motor has stopped. The second is blending over a lit burner, where bubbling soup pops back at you. The third is running a metal guard in a delicate nonstick pot; if you care about the coating, transfer the soup or choose the Breville.
A quieter mistake is running the motor for too long without a break. Stick blenders are designed for short bursts; the manual tells you the limit, and respecting it is what keeps the shaft joint healthy. It's the same advice we give in our guide to the variable temperature kettle: read the instructions once, before the first use.
When to buy, and when to skip it
Hand blenders show up often in fall sales events. If you can wait, our page on what to expect on Black Friday explains how to spot a real price drop. Skip it altogether if you already use a countertop blender with a soup program: for purées it does the same job. And don't buy a model loaded with attachments if you cook twice a week; the Cuisinart covers that.
Our verdict
If you cook often and want one tool: Braun MultiQuick 7 MQ7035X, for its speed control and low splatter.
If you mostly purée soups and want to spend less: Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-179, simple and covered by a 3-year warranty.
If you blend in big stockpots: Breville Control Grip, with its trigger grip and anti-suction base.
See it on Amazon.com Paid link
Frequently asked questions
Immersion blender, hand blender, stick blender: are they the same thing?
Can I use an immersion blender in a hot pot of soup?
Can an immersion blender crush ice or make smoothies?
How long can I run an immersion blender without a break?
Does the European 1000-watt Braun blend better than the US 500-watt version?
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Emily Carter
Editorial byline of the English edition for home, kitchen and beauty. Angle: what verified reviews say happens after a month of use, and the cheap products that surprise.
Guide produced by the editorial team with AI tools from verified sources and published under the editorial responsibility of Andrea Bertolotti. How we work · Report an error
You may also like
Best heated mattress pad: which one to buy for a warmer bed
Which heated mattress pad to buy: Sunbeam and Bedsure picks for twin and queen beds, with dual control, timers, running costs and a heated throw for the couch.
Best cordless stick vacuum: which one to buy for your home
The best cordless stick vacuum for three kinds of homes, from a light Levoit to a Shark built for pet hair, compared on real runtime, weight, and anti-tangle brushes.
Air fryer oven vs basket: which air fryer oven to buy
Air fryer ovens with a door, racks and a rotisserie: when they beat a basket air fryer, how much counter they take and four picks by kitchen and budget.
The best guides, once a week
No spam: only products worth knowing about and deals that make sense.