When comparing an immersion blender vs a blender, a little technical knowledge goes a long way. Adding a new appliance to your kitchen arsenal can be a considerable investment. This is especially true if that kitchen tool is a top-notch but pricey option. Reading every immersion blender review you come across can help, so soak up information as you find it. However, the best blenders are those that fit your needs perfectly. Let’s explore which is best for you between the two we have today.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- An excellent immersion hand blender is a top-notch but pricey option, especially when looking into professional-level kitchen gadgets.
- Personal blenders might take up counter space, but they offer a more comprehensive range of use since you can use them to mix dry ingredients, as a food chopper, and more.
- Your budget and cooking needs will best determine whether you need to use traditional blenders or you want to invest in an immersion hand blender.
Differences Between Immersion Blenders and Blenders
Looking at an immersion blender vs a blender can feel a little overwhelming. This article will help you understand where jug blenders and immersion blenders, also known as stick blenders, compare. One is a handheld tool, while the other takes up precious space. One is best for pureed soup, while the other can handle frozen ingredients. Both are suitable investments, but only one can fit your lifestyle best. And with so many different types of blenders, you may wonder what is the difference between stick blenders vs hand blenders or an immersion blender vs frother. Don’t worry, we have many great articles comparing these different blenders so you can choose the best one for you.
Insider Tip
Take into account the volume of ingredients used in your kitchen regularly and whether an immersion hand blender would make processing ingredients easier.
Variety of Ingredients Handled
The variety of ingredients each can handle depends on a few factors we’ll go over more in-depth below. The purpose of a countertop blender is to crush through things like frozen foods. A stick blender creates creamy soups, blends raw chickpeas, and combines small quantities of food. If you’re making small batches of homemade soups, the immersion hand blender is your best bet. For almost anything else, you’ll want to look past immersion blender models and instead focus on the countertop options, like when you are comparing a smoothie maker vs a blender.
Overall Motor Power
Having a powerful motor is just as crucial as your spinning blades being sharp. For most jug blenders, a 600-watt motor is average. In fact, you can see a model like this in our Nutribullet superfood nutrition extractor NBR 0601 review. In immersion blenders, a 400-watt motor is typically used. The difference comes down to intended usage, which we explored in the previous section. Tougher ingredients call for a more powerful motor. Jug blenders win where motor power is concerned. In fact, in our Cleanblend ULTRA’s countertop container drivetrain review, you’ll find a model that proves its motor is powerful enough to handle any blending job, from smoothies to milkshakes.
Ease of Blending Process
Expensive blenders will always win when it comes to an easy blending process, whether it’s an immersion hand blender or a jug blender. Power plays a huge part, and more power translates to more effortless blending. Because of this, the handheld blender falls behind with fewer watts. If you want an even easier time blending, you may want a blender with two blades. In that case, it is easy to see how a hand blender vs dual blenders compare. However, if you only need something to blend your protein powder, you can check out the differences between hand shakers vs blenders for protein shakes to see which will work best for your situation.
Use of Kitchen Space
Any immersion blender review will tell you that most immersion blender models are fantastic for small spaces. This depends on what types of attachments you have, however. Even when you add things like a whisk attachment, they’re still small-space-friendly. Almost any type of blender will also be pretty easy to store. The stick blender still wins, if only by a margin. However, if you want a blender similar to a standard blender but smaller and more portable, you can check out the differences between personal blenders and blenders. Don’t worry, if you aren’t sure what that is; read our page to learn what is a portable blender. Alternatively, if you make a lot of purees, you should consider our comparison of a liquidizer vs a blender or check out our guide on some of the top pureeing blenders.
Warning
Use precautions like hand protection when preparing hot foods to avoid burning yourself.
F.A.Q.S
Can a food processor replace an immersion hand blender?
A food processor will not produce the same silky smooth purees that handheld immersion blenders can. However, the processor can replace quite a few functions of the immersion hand blender.
What are immersion blenders best for?
An immersion hand blender can produce the following delicious results:
- Smooth Purees
- Smoother Soups
- Beaten Egg Whites
- Baby Food
When should I use a food processor?
A food processor makes an excellent food copper, unlike an immersion hand blender. You can also produce a more textured soup than the pureed soups that the immersion hand blender will create.
What should I consider before buying an immersion hand blender?
The volume of ingredients you’re processing should inform your decision the most. An immersion hand blender will provide a better ability to process a large volume of ingredients.
STAT: In 2021, a global study found that around 80% of residents in Spain, France, Germany, Austria, and Sweden claimed to own a coffee machine in their household. (source)
