Hand Blender Review

Introduction to Hand Blenders

While they can't totally replace full-size blenders (covered in our separate report on blenders), hand blenders (also called stick or immersion blenders) are handy for puréeing soups or frothing milk right in the cooking vessel. By far the best review of hand blenders we found is at Cook's Illustrated magazine. Editors gathered nine models priced between $13 and $90 and put them through rigorous paces, whizzing up marinara sauce, pesto and broccoli soup. Other reviews are more limited in scope. Consumer Reports devotes a couple of paragraphs to handheld blenders in its review of traditional blenders, but this short article is not nearly as detailed as the write-up in Cook's Illustrated. Australia's Choice and U.K.-based Which? magazines each tested a dozen stick blenders, but only two of the tested blenders were available in the U.S., and both of those models have since been discontinued.

Most hand blenders are simple devices, and most get similar ratings ranging between good to very good. A few models, like the Dualit 88860 500-Watt Immersion Hand Blender (*est. $80), don't measure up according to professional and user reviews. In Food & Wine's tests, the Dualit's powerful motor earned praise, but editors found it heavy and a bit awkward to hold. Owners posting to Amazon.com are divided: Some say it works well, while another says that the shaft became hot to the touch after just a minute of use.

On the other end of the price spectrum, reviews of the inexpensive, curvaceous Toastmaster 1740 Immersion 2-Speed Hand Blender (*Est. $15) are likewise mixed. Some owners praise its simple operation and long cord, while others say it's noisy and prone to breaking.

Although many cooks prefer the convenience of a cordless blender, the one cordless hand blender we found isn't a standout. The Cuisinart Cordless CSB-44N Rechargeable (*Est. $50) failed to turn nuts and herbs into pesto during testing at Cook's Illustrated. Editors say that the blender itself lacks power, and its components are not fastened together securely. Consumers posting at Amazon.com also give the Cuisinart Cordless a middling rating. Some owners say that the shaft is difficult for small hands to grip, while others say that the nickel cadmium batteries won't hold a charge long enough.