We tested five of the most popular immersion blenders on the market — from a $30 budget pick to a $200 professional model. Here's what we found.
The immersion blender — also called a stick blender or hand blender — is one of the most underrated tools in the kitchen. It lets you blend soups directly in the pot, whip up a smoothie in the glass, make aioli in under a minute, and puree sauces without dirtying a second container. The best ones do it all without splashing hot soup across your stovetop.
After testing five immersion blenders across soup pureeing, smoothie making, hummus, mayonnaise emulsification, and general sauce work, we've landed on clear recommendations for every budget and use case. Here's what works, what doesn't, and what specs actually matter.
| Best Overall | Breville Control Grip — 280W, exceptional splash control |
| Best for Versatility | Braun MultiQuick 9 — ActiveBlade tech, 700W, iMode + SmartSpeed |
| Most Powerful | Vitamix Immersion Blender — 625W, handles anything |
| Best Design / Aesthetics | KitchenAid KHBV53 — 5-speed, premium build |
| Best Budget Pick | Mueller Ultra-Stick — 500W for under $40 |
Not all immersion blenders are equal, and the specs that actually matter may surprise you. Here's what to evaluate before buying:
Wattage determines how much power the motor can deliver. For blending soft cooked vegetables and soups, 200–300W is plenty. For frozen fruit smoothies, nuts, or fibrous raw vegetables, 400W+ is where you want to be. The caveat: manufacturers sometimes inflate wattage specs. What matters more is the actual torque and blade design, not just the number on the box.
The blade guard (the bell-shaped housing around the blades) determines two things: how well it blends without moving the blender, and how much it splashes. A wider, deeper guard with ventilation holes reduces splash dramatically. Narrow guards — common on budget models — are notorious for flinging hot soup at your face.
More speeds give you more control. For thick smoothies or rough chops, start slow to avoid splashing. For fine pureeing, high speed finishes the job faster. Look for at least 2 speeds; 5–12 speeds gives you genuine flexibility.
Many immersion blenders come with a blending cup (ideal for smoothies), a whisk attachment (whipped cream, eggs), and a chopper bowl. These expand the tool's utility significantly. Some, like the Braun MultiQuick 9, work with a whole family of compatible attachments.
You'll be holding this for 30–120 seconds at a time while it vibrates. Grip comfort matters more than you'd think. Look for rubberized handles and a balanced weight distribution. Avoid lightweight plastic-only construction — it tends to feel cheap and fatigue quickly.
~$80–$100
The Breville Control Grip earns its "best overall" title for one reason above all others: its unique Control Grip bell design. The blade guard is wider than most competitors and features a series of small holes around the sides. When you're blending hot soup in a pot, this design redirects any vacuum/splash back into the liquid rather than up and out. In practice, it eliminates the hot-soup-on-the-wall problem almost entirely.
Beyond splash control, the Control Grip delivers in every dimension. At 280 watts, it's not the most powerful blender in this roundup, but its blade geometry compensates impressively — it consistently outperformed higher-wattage competitors in our soup pureeing tests. The trigger-style speed control is intuitive: squeeze lightly for low speed, fully depress for high. It's more natural than button presses, especially with a wet hand.
For most home cooks blending soups, sauces, and the occasional smoothie, the Breville Control Grip is the one to beat. Its splash control feature alone is worth the price premium over budget models — anyone who's had hot butternut squash soup hit them in the eye once appreciates this deeply.
Price varies — check Amazon
The MultiQuick 9 is Braun's top-of-the-line hand blender, and the MQ9137XI is the current US version on Amazon. Its signature feature is ActiveBlade technology. Braun says it creates a 2.5x more active cutting zone and needs 40% less effort. The motor is rated at 700 watts. Braun calls its drive system Active PowerDrive.
Speed control works differently from a dial. iMode gives you three settings (low, high, and pulse), and Advanced SmartSpeed lets you vary power by how hard you squeeze the button. Accessories attach with Braun's EasyClick System Plus, and Braun says the handle works with all of its straight-cut-design attachments. That compatibility is why we rate it best for versatility.
~$180–$200
Vitamix's reputation for building serious blending hardware extends to their immersion blender. Rated at 625 watts, it's one of the most powerful motors in this roundup. You feel it immediately when you push the blender through dense frozen fruit or thick nut-based sauces.
The stainless steel blade cage is heavy-duty and genuinely designed for professional-adjacent use. The body is denser and more solid-feeling than any other blender in this roundup. It's also the least likely to vibrate uncomfortably in your hand, because the motor is powerful enough to run without straining.
The trade-off is price. At $180–$200, you're paying a significant premium over the Breville Control Grip, and for most everyday home tasks, the difference in results isn't dramatic. Where the Vitamix earns its premium is in heavy-duty applications: blending very fibrous ingredients, processing in large batches, or using it multiple times daily over years.
~$60–$80
KitchenAid's entry in the immersion blender space does what KitchenAid always does: makes a competent, well-designed appliance that looks excellent on the counter and comes in fifteen colors. If your kitchen follows a KitchenAid aesthetic and you want your tools to match, this is the one.
Performance-wise, the KHBV53 is genuinely good — not class-leading, but solid. At 5 variable speeds, it handles soups, smoothies, and sauces without complaint. The blending arm is stainless steel and dishwasher safe. The variable speed thumb wheel on the handle is smooth and well-calibrated.
Where KitchenAid pulls back is in raw power and splash control. The blade guard is narrower than Breville's, which means more splash potential. And without a dedicated anti-suction design, blending in shallow pans can be messier than with the Control Grip.
~$30–$40
If you want a functional immersion blender without spending more than $40, the Mueller Ultra-Stick is the one to get. At its price point, it vastly outperforms expectations — the motor is legitimately powerful (marketed at 500W peak; real-world power is lower, but still effective), the included whisk and blending cup add genuine value, and it handles everyday soup and sauce tasks without drama.
Let's be honest about the limitations: the build quality is noticeably below the premium models. The plastic feels lighter and less durable. The blade guard isn't as sophisticated as Breville's, so expect more splashing when working in shallow pots. And it won't handle truly heavy-duty tasks (frozen solid fruit, very dense vegetables) as smoothly as higher-wattage models.
But for a first immersion blender, a dorm room, a beach house, or anyone who just needs to puree a soup once a week, the Mueller delivers surprising performance per dollar. It's genuinely hard to beat at this price.
| Blender | Wattage | Speeds | Splash Control | Attachments | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Control Grip | 280W | Variable trigger | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent | Blending cup | ~$90 |
| Braun MultiQuick 9 (MQ9137XI) | 700W | 3 (low/high/pulse) + SmartSpeed | Not rated | Beaker, whisk, masher, chopper | Varies |
| Vitamix Immersion | 625W | 5 speeds | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good | 32 oz container | ~$190 |
| KitchenAid KHBV53 | 225W | 5-speed variable | ⭐⭐⭐ Good | 3-cup jar | ~$70 |
| Mueller Ultra-Stick | 500W peak | 9 speeds | ⭐⭐ Fair | Cup, whisk | ~$35 |
Each blender was put through five tests:
We also assessed noise levels subjectively, evaluated ergonomics after 60-second continuous runs, and noted cleanup ease.
For soup specifically, the Breville Control Grip wins outright. Its anti-splash bell design is a game-changer for anyone who makes soup regularly. The Braun MultiQuick 9 is another strong option, with a 700W motor and ActiveBlade technology.
For smoothies — especially ones with frozen fruit — you want wattage. The Vitamix handles everything you throw at it. The Braun MultiQuick 9, rated at 700W, is another option. If you're on a budget, the Mueller's advertised 500W handles soft-to-slightly-frozen fruit adequately, though it struggles with completely frozen ingredients.
For mayo, aioli, and hollandaise, the Breville Control Grip's wide bell creates an excellent vortex in a tall narrow cup. The KitchenAid also performs well here. Any of the five will make successful mayonnaise with the right technique.
For more small appliance recommendations, browse our Small Appliances hub, or check our curated Best Picks page. If you're upgrading your whole kitchen, our Cookware section covers pots, pans, and cutting boards.
For most home tasks — soups, smoothies, sauces — 200–300 watts is adequate. For tougher tasks like blending frozen fruit, nut butters, or fibrous vegetables, 400–800 watts makes a noticeable difference. The Vitamix at 625W continuous handles nearly anything.
Yes, but blend in a deep pot and keep the blender submerged before and after running to prevent hot liquid splashing. Don't fill the pot more than half full. Metal blade guards are more durable for hot liquids than plastic.
Yes, especially for single-serve smoothies in the included blending cup. Higher-wattage models (400W+) handle frozen fruit better. For very thick or frozen smoothies, a countertop blender still produces smoother results, but the immersion blender is great for quick, low-cleanup blending.
Splash control refers to a blade guard design that prevents hot or messy liquids from splattering when the blender runs near the surface. The Breville Control Grip has a wider, vented bell-shaped guard that dramatically reduces splashing. It matters most when blending hot soups directly in a pot.
If you blend frequently or handle tough ingredients regularly, yes. For occasional home use, the Breville Control Grip offers excellent everyday performance at significantly lower cost. The Vitamix premium makes more sense for heavy use or if you already trust the Vitamix brand ecosystem.
Absolutely — and it's one of the best uses for an immersion blender. Place all ingredients in a tall narrow cup, lower the blender to the bottom, run for about 10 seconds without moving until the emulsion forms, then slowly raise. You'll have perfect mayo in under 30 seconds.
Best for most people: Breville Control Grip — the splash control alone makes it worth the $90.
Best for power users: Vitamix Immersion Blender — unmatched motor, built to last.
Best for versatility: Braun MultiQuick 9 — chopper, whisk, and masher included, and it works with Braun's straight-cut attachments.
Best budget pick: Mueller Ultra-Stick — remarkable value under $40.