Hand Blender Information

Experts say that while handheld blenders excel at a few tasks, such as whipping cream or egg whites, they can't replace traditional blenders or handheld mixers. Many manufacturers advise against running hand blenders continuously for longer than one minute. If you want one appliance that can handle most blending tasks, you may want to buy a traditional blender instead. See our blenders report for more information.

Food processors perform many of the same tasks as traditional and handheld blenders, but the best models outperform either type of blender when it comes to grinding hard foods. They cannot, however, crush ice. Some food processors come with small jars that allow you to crush small quantities of food. Our report on food processors provides details on a variety of models.

The Internet is a great source of hand blender tips and recipes, especially for those who are feeling a little intimated with their new kitchen tool. This article in Restaurants & Institutions magazine explains how professional chefs use immersion blenders.

Blending soup right in the pot is one of the most popular uses for an immersion blender. KitchenScoop.com has a recipe for making broccoli cheese soup with an immersion blender.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides information on making a smoothie with a hand blender. Instead of ice cubes, frozen bananas or crushed ice should be used in blenders without a grinder attachment.

Hand blenders can be used to mix more than just food and beverages. This article on Fresholi (a U.K.-based website) describes using a hand blender to mix lye and other ingredients to make homemade soap. Be aware that some hand blenders may experience mechanical problems if operated continuously for longer than recommended by the manufacturer.

Manufacturer websites provide specifications and suggestions for use:

Bamix

Cuisinart

Dualit

Hamilton Beach

KitchenAid

Oster

Proctor-Silex