What’s the perfect immersion blender substitute?
Well, this is a question stumping more than a few cooks. But that’s because there are so many different types of immersion blenders, and each one works for certain things.
There’s the cheap one, the simple one that you can find at the grocery store. It has a handle on top, with a blender head on the end. It will absolutely puree soup right in your pot, but it doesn’t whisk or chop and it doesn’t have a particularly powerful motor.
And then there’s the more expensive, motorized version which will chug through everything from soup to ice cream and make most jobs a breeze. And this replacement is actually fairly versatile, since it can be used for much more than just immersion blending (think chopping nuts and mincing herbs). But if you need something to blend small amounts of soup at home? This isn’t really your best pick.
So, what is your perfect immersion blender replacement? Well, the answer may depend on your needs.
Find out more below:
For the soup lover who needs something quick and easy, the best immersion blender substitute will be a simple hand blender. These are usually inexpensive, lightweight and easy to store. Because they have a simple handle on top (or in this case, as a twistable piece of plastic attached to the bottom), they’re not particularly hard to clean and you’ll find that you can use them for almost any kitchen task that requires pureeing or mixing.
They can get the job done for some, but we think the tool you find easiest and most versatile will likely be a more expensive model. This is true especially if you’re planning to use it often. Also, because they have a small motor (and in some cases, a smaller cutting blade), there’s always the chance that the motor or blade could easily break. We’d opt for a true immersion blender instead.
They’ll cost a little more and may not perform as well as their inexpensive counter parts when it comes to pureeing soup, but they offer much better performance when it comes to chopping and mincing food. The motor is much bigger and more powerful, which means that you can use it for much more than just blending. For example, you’ll be able to chop your ice, nuts and herbs with it.
But if you’re looking for something that is versatile enough to do all of these things, we’d look at a model like the Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender. It’s powered by a strong motor that can handle some pretty heavy duty duties, even though it only has 750 watts of power (the average immersion blender has around 1900 watts).
That alone makes it well suited for chopping and mincing. On top of that, it’s got a powerful blade with an extra large base and the handle is designed to clip into the base which makes it super easy to maneuver. It may be a little heavier than most immersion blenders, but it’s easy to store in a drawer or on your countertop and its small profile will fit into almost any cabinet or drawer.
If you’re in the market to buy an immersion blender, there are several other things you should pay attention to first. These include:
The main material of the motor housing (most power blenders use plastic). This can affect how well it heats up and cools down.
The locking mechanism that keeps the motor and blade from spinning when you don’t want them to (this is fairly standard, but look for something secure).
The blending shaft. This holds the blade and without it, you’re not going to be able to blend. You’ll also want a long shaft so that you can reach all of your ingredients in a large pot (see our article on the best immersion blender with food processor attachment if you need something extra long).
The blending container or cup built right into the blender. You should look wherever the blade is when it’s not spinning to see how secure this part of the blender is. You don’t want it to fall off or come loose. This is also where you’ll find measuring lines on the outside of the cup.
The size of the blade, which will help you determine how powerful the motor is (big blades and motors make bigger jobs easier).
Whether or not it comes with a whisk attachment. If so, this will be perfect for your eggs, pancake batter and much more (we love this model that comes with a whisk and chopper attachment). The whisk attachment will also be good for whipping cream and egg whites or for making fluffy mashed potatoes.
Whether or not it has a food processor attachment (some of the best immersion blenders come with this as an extra). If you like baking, you’ll want something that comes with a food processor attachment so that you can make potato chips, bread and even homemade crème fraiche.
9.6 Average Rating
8 user ratings 8 out of 10 Good Good Cool Factor/Handy Size
Durability Power & Performance Top Speed Check Price Pros: Comes with a wide blade for chopping & mincing. The motor is powerful enough to handle some big jobs. It has a nice long shaft, which enables you to reach all the way into your pot and blend all the ingredients.
Comes with a whisk attachment that can save you some time when whipping cream and egg whites. It comes with a food processor attachment to make bread, breadcrumbs and crème fraiche. It also has a chopper and grater which can be handy for making Parmesan cheese and ginger ale according to your own specifications.
Cons: The blade is made of plastic, so it’s just not as durable as the best stainless steel models on the market. Also, the motor gets pretty hot and doesn’t cool down very fast, so you could find yourself melting things if you leave it unattended for any period of time.
This is a fairly affordable immersion blender that comes with a variety of attachments, including a food processor accessory. This makes it a great option if you want something to do multiple tasks while blending at the same time. It can do everything from making bread and breadcrumbs to shredding cheese and even making Parmesan cheese.
Best of all, it’s easy to use with its simple handle and lock mechanism; you just flip the bottom key over and lock your ingredient inside, then flip the top key back up for blend time! The motor is powerful enough to handle even the most dedicated mixed-blend jobs and it’s easy to store in any drawer or cabinet when not in use.
If you want something that will do the job but won’t break your budget, check out the KitchenAid Classic 4-Speed Hand Blender. This basic hand blender is just as sturdy and durable as it gets and it’s an excellent option if you’re looking for something versatile that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It’s got a very powerful motor which can handle any job you throw at it, from chopping nuts to blending gravy to making soup, and its stainless steel blades will last for years.
It comes with a blending container that makes cleanup so much easier because you can just rinse everything out when you are done (this means no more messy mixing spoons!). It’s lightweight and compact and it has a very comfortable grip with an ergonomic handle.
It may not come with a lot of bells and whistles, but this model is reliable, easy to use and won’t cost you a fortune.
9.8 Average Rating
11 user ratings 8 out of 10 Good Cool Factor/Handy Size Durability Power & Performance Top Speed Check Price Pros: It is fairly affordable considering how powerful it is. The motor is strong enough to not only chop nuts, but also make bread crumbs for your favorite recipes. It comes with an extra-long blending shaft so you can reach all the way into your pots to blend your ingredients completely. It is lightweight and compact. The stainless steel blades will never rust and last for years to come.
Cons: It does not have a lot of attachments. This immersion blender offers a lot of power for its price, but it’s not the best option if you want to make your favorite butter or whipped cream from scratch. The main issue is that it requires you to stick with pre-made mixes that can make things a little more complicated (i.e., no homemade nut butters for you). It also requires hot water, a process that requires you to boil water in the microwave or on the stove which can be a bit of a hassle.
It is powerful enough to chop nuts, make breadcrumbs for your favorite recipes and even make cheese. The motor is powerful enough to help you make even the toughest homemade jobs with ease and it incorporates multiple safety features like an automatic lock mechanism and long blending shaft so that you have complete control over blending time.
Can you use a hand mixer in place of an immersion blender?
This is a common question amongst those who are new to cooking. Blenders and mixers often look similar and lots of people confuse the two. They use similar attachments, so there’s a lot of tiny discrepancies that can seem pretty big for someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. Lots of people will say that because a blender and a mixer both contain motors, that one can be substituted for the other if you’re in a bind. In reality, though, these two appliances are quite different from one another!
Blenders are designed to mix ingredients together chopped up into little chunks. They are best for mixing food items like smoothies, salsas, soups and so on. If you try to use a blender to make something like breadcrumbs, the result will be a mixture that contains chunks of bread instead of actually making your bread into crumbs (they’ll just be stuck together instead of completely blended).
Mixers on the other hand are designed to incorporate services into other ingredients or whip up cream or egg whites. Using a mixer to chop nuts is going to make them into crumbs, but it’s not going to get them chopped evenly like a blender would.
What can I use if I don’t have an immersion blender?
If you don’t have an immersion blender yet and don’t want to shell out the money for one, there are always workarounds that you can try. The best workaround is to just buy a regular blender or food processor and use that to chop. This isn’t quite as efficient because it doesn’t give you the same type of control over the blending process, but it’s better than slicing everything up by hand.
If all else fails, try using a potato masher to mash up your ingredients (like in this recipe for creamy mashed potatoes).
What Are the Best Brands of Immersion Blenders?
In the end, the best model will depend on what you’re looking for. The ones below are some of our favorites, but you can always check out this list of immersion blenders as well to see what else is available.
KitchenAid KSM150PSB 5-Speed Travel Stand Mixer Check Price This is a great all-purpose model perfect for beginners and experienced cooks alike. It has a 5-speed motor and comes with a 5-quart bowl and whisk attachment. If you’re just looking for something simple, this is a great option that you can use for all of your cooking needs. It comes in three different colors to match your kitchen decor nicely and its built to last for years. Pros: Has an all-purpose motor for every one of your blended cooking needs
Can you use a hand mixer to chop?
Yes, but it will make your nuts into crumbs instead of chopping them up finely like an immersion blender would. It is also much less efficient and therefore more time consuming than using an immersion blender. These are often used to grate cheese and chocolate since they have the power necessary to do so.
Can you use hand mixer to puree?
A hand mixer is a very good choice if you’re looking to puree food. It can even be used to make whipped cream, butter and a variety of other things. Hand mixers also have attachments that are designed specifically for this purpose. If you’re looking for something that will help you create things like homemade butter, whipped cream or “ice cream” in your very own kitchen, an immersion blender is probably the way to go.
What is the difference between a hand mixer and a stand mixer?
The only difference between stand mixers and hand mixers lies in their design. Stand mixers have the motor built into them and do not require you to hold them while they work (handheld models obviously do). You can set the speed and switch between speeds by moving the paddles to the on position. The main benefit of using a stand mixer, though, is that it is much more powerful than a hand mixer and therefore capable of doing much more with the same amount of energy.
Should I Buy an Immersion Blender or a Handheld Blender?
If you’re looking for something to use for basic blending or food prep, you can definitely save some money by opting for a handheld model. If you’re looking to make things like homemade whipped cream or whipped butter, however, an immersion blender will be our recommendation.
Immersion blenders are great for people who want to chop nuts, make whipped cream and turn soft foods into a smooth consistency in select recipes. It can also be used to blend ingredients together by hand when you’re still new to cooking or have forgotten an ingredient. If you’re looking for this type of appliance, we would highly recommend the KitchenAid KSM150PSB. However, if you’re an experienced cook and need something more powerful than a hand mixer, we would highly recommend some of the stand mixers from our list above.
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