Australia’s seven best stick blenders for cooking and smoothies
These immersion blenders making cooking so easy you could do it all with one hand.
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You can call it a hand blender, stick blender, immersion blender, stick mixer or immersion mixer (just not a hand mixer).
This slim handheld gadget is a super convenient kitchen tool that can do pretty much anything its larger sibling can … but without taking up as much bench space.
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If you love making pesto, salad dressings and different sauces, immersion blenders provide an easy way to get the job done without having to fiddle with a bulky standard blender or the many attachments usually needed for a food processor. You can also fully submerge models with a long blending arm straight into the pot, even when the soup or liquid is hot, cutting down the amount of cookware for an easy cleanup. Many hand blenders also come with dishwasher safe parts, making things even simpler.
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And unlike the abandoned pie maker or vegetable slicer sitting around the house, our chief kitchen appliances expert and former Food Director at taste.com.au, Kim Coverdale, says the stick blender is a useful item that you can actually use every day.
“Does your mum still have a bamix hanging on her wall? Mine does! The foolproof do-it-all stick blender has evolved over the years and now there are more brands on the market and they’re not just a wand blender,” she told news.com.au.
“These days stick blenders come with a lot more added accessories, making them a cross between a blender and a small food processor.
“They’re the perfect option for people who might not have a lot of space in their kitchens, or those who are not necessarily big cooks, but need a trusty, versatile appliance that they can use for a few different things without spending up big in money and big in size.”
Think you can make a better salad dressing or smooth nut butter than the ones in store... and with just one hand? Take a look at our top picks for best immersion blenders to get started, including the tried and tested (and expert approved) Braun MultiQuick 9 Hand Blender.
And for anyone one a budget, we have affordable options like the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender which fellow home cooks are calling “small but mighty”.
OUR TOP PICKS
Best overall stick blender
BEST OVERALL STICK BLENDER – EXPERT’S PICK
Braun Household MultiQuick 9 Hand Blender, $249 (down from $339) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Braun is Kim’s “all-time favourite brand” for stick blenders, with models like the Braun MultiQuick (MQ9187XLI) topping her must-have list. She also labelled the products “smooth, safe, not too noisy” and versatile since they usually come with lots of different capabilities.
“The Braun MultiQuick has a simple on/off low/high and pulse settings. They’re easy to use, easy to clean and you can buy different sized sets so that you’re not ending up with too many attachments that you just won’t use,” she said.
“My picks for extras are the whisk attachment for whipping cream or egg whites and a small processing bowl for making dips, dressings, and purees. It even comes with an ice crushing blade for the processing bowl, which the 1200W motor makes light work of.”
The Braun immersion blender additionally has an ActiveBlade with a PowerBell Plus function that moves the blade in an up and down motion to chop tough ingredients with ease, and cuts more per rotation to reduce natural wear and tear.
BEST CORDLESS IMMERSION BLENDER
KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed Hand Blender, $231.20 (down from $289) at Myer
KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed Hand Blender
What You Need To Know
If having a power cord is a deal breaker, one cordless version worth checking out is the KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed Hand Blender. It can blend up to 25 bowls of soup (345ml each) on a full charge, and there’s a 20-minute Quick Charge option that gives enough power to make one smoothie or a bowl of soup.
The KitchenAid handheld blender comes with the usual accessories, such as a pan guard, chopper attachment, whisk attachment, 1L blender jar, removable blending arm and stainless steel blade.
“Since it is cordless it is so practical and efficient – you can literally be whisking to make whipped cream using the whisk attachment in your living room and not be tied down to the kitchen bench... We love the chopper attachment too!” raved a shopper,
“We blitz up our chilli hollandaise sauce in minutes as the hand blender is powerful! Once it is on full charge you have plenty of time to create something delicious.”
BEST EASY TO USE STICK BLENDER
Breville The Control Grip Immersion Blender, $119 at The Good Guys
Breville The Control Grip Immersion Blender
What You Need To Know
It’s not just stand mixers that can get a bit wild and messy. Immersion blenders can be just as tricky to use, so it’s great how the Breville Control Grip (BSB510WHT) has a bell-shaped blending base with internal ribbing to reduce suction and give you greater control. It also has a trigger switch and ergonomic grip to help with stability.
“I have had this mixer for over three years now with regular and often hard use. It just keeps on trucking,” praised a reviewer.
“This compact and lightweight mixer has a powerful motor and stainless steel beaters that make mixing and whipping a breeze, while the adjustable speed control and turbo boost function allow me to mix to my desired consistency. The ergonomic design and non-slip grip make it comfortable and easy to use, even for longer periods of time,” another wrote.
“The Control Grip has become my go to kitchen gadget and I highly recommend it to any home cook or baker looking to simplify their kitchen tasks.”
BEST VALUE STICK BLENDER
NutriBullet Immersion Blender Deluxe Set, $79 (down from $99.95) at Myer
What You Need To Know
Hungry for a compact hand blender that can handle everything from hot soups to ice cubes and frozen fruit? The NutriBullet Immersion Blender (NBI07110) is the brand’s first handheld blender and offers everything you need to blend, mix, mash and scramble without the hefty price tag. It’s small enough to fit in your cutlery drawer for convenience, but still comes with all the attachments you would expect from larger and more expensive models. Some include a 600ml chopping bowl, chopping blade and stainless steel blending arm.
Dubbing the NutriBullet Immersion Blender “great value”, reviewers say they’re particularly impressed with the “powerful”, “good quality” and “easy to store” design.
“Perfect little blender for whipping up dressings and smoothies. Easy to clean and doesn’t take up too much space in my small kitchen,” raved an impressed shopper, rating it five stars.
“I originally bought this for the stick blender so that I can puree vegetable soup right in the pot, but in less than a month I’ve also found uses for the whipping attachment and the chopper. I’ve used it for smoothies, whipping cheese sauce, chopping nuts and dates for baking, grinding coffee beans, and finely chopping carrots and zucchini in lieu of a shredder,” agreed another.
Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender, $79 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Another worthy candidate for best immersion blender for bargain hunters is this one from Cuisinart . Master the basics with two speeds and a long stainless steel detachable blending wand, along with ergonomic slide control and a power button with a safety lock to make sure it doesn’t operate until secure.
Similar to other hand blenders, this model includes dishwasher safe parts (top rack only).
“I wore out my last Smart stick, but I think it was at least 10 years old. I used it and use the new one to make soups, sauces, fruit butters, anything that needs to be puréed. It is so convenient to not have to transfer the liquid and solids from the pot to a blender and then put them back in the pot!!!” a happy customer commented.
“A great low cost option when the other accessories are not needed. It has a lock button which needs to be held down only until the blender starts. But if you are pulsing which they recommend you basically have to hold the two buttons down. Still easy to use and works a perfectly well,” agreed a reviewer, rating the immersion blender five stars.
“Simple tool and easier clean up than using my food processor for blended soups or quick blend for frosting. Since it is small but mighty, it takes less space in the previous kitchen cabinet,” a third posted.
BEST PREMIUM STICK BLENDER
What You Need To Know
For hand blenders that can tackle ice, this bamix stick blender (76090) is worth checking out. Made in Switzerland, the model is ideal for small jobs like making baby food, whipping up dips, beating eggs and crushing ice. It includes several accessories to help you get the most out of your hand blender, including a wet-dry food processor, 0.9L beaker and three different types of blades (aerating, blending and chopping).
“This is one of those things you buy and you know immediately you made the right choice. Solid, cuts through ice cubes like butter, cleans easily and looks the part. Buy once and buy well in my opinion,” an impressed customer wrote on the Kitchen Warehouse website.
“Bamix has been in our home for 45 years and I have used other brands that try to copy the best and they just cannot compete,” a reviewer agreed.
“The only peeve I have is the fact that you have to continually hold the button down for it to work and the length of the stick is a tad short if you want to blend a batch of soup straight from the stockpot … I won’t ever be changing back to a different brand though, despite my peeves as the quality of the motor is superior to any other brand of stick blender I’ve used in the past,” another wrote.
BEST STICK BLENDER FOR SMOOTHIES
bamix Classic Hand Blender, $299 at Myer
bamix Classic Hand Blender
What You Need To Know
Want a gadget that can do everything from grind coffee beans and froth milk, to mince meat and pulverise vegetables? This bamix Classic Hand Blender (76016) can perform as many cooking tasks as a countertop blener, including chopping, emulsifying, mixing, blending, frothing, grinding, pulverising, grating, whipping and mincing.
A must-have addition to your kitchen tool kit, this quality immersion blender is the most affordable option from the Swiss manufacturer and offers basic features including two-button operation, two speed settings (12000RPM and 17000RPM) and a heavy duty 140W AC motor.
Shoppers agree this Bamix hand blender is worth investing in, with customers calling it “very powerful and strong”, “sturdy” and “easy to use”.
“My kitchen wouldn’t be complete without a Bamix. It’s such a handy and compact appliance,” a customer posted.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A STICK BLENDER?
Want to make sure your hand blender won’t be collecting dust? Here are a few features to think about when looking for your next stick mixer:
Variable speeds: gives you more flexibility and control over the texture.
Pan guard: many models have a removable pan guard to protect your cookware.
Blade guards: connected to the blending arm, this is the dome-shaped part covering the sharp blades.
Safety feature: prevents you from accidentally starting the blender.
Dishwasher safe parts: many blenders come with accessories you can place on the top rack of your dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Kim also breaks down the top features you should consider when shopping for the best stick mixer for your kitchen.
Motor power
For a small appliance, you want it to work hard, so ensuring you’re getting maximum power is a big plus. Stick blenders range from around 250W up to a mighty 1200W. Sure, a 250W or 350W will be fine to get most things done, however a powerful 1200W motor will have your food whizzed up in much quicker time and be a lot smoother and fluffier.
Be mindful when using a powerful stick blender that they do tend to create a lot of suction and draw themselves to the base of whatever vessel you’re blending in, so be careful when using it with hot food.
Variety of settings
Is it a simple on/off switch or does the stick blender come with a variety of different speeds? Although it’s not imperative to the outcome of what you are blending, different speed settings can help when blending liquids so you can have a slow start without liquid spraying everywhere. Is there a pulse option? Perfect for finely chopping ingredients like nuts where you just need ‘a little bit more’ but don’t want to turn them into a fine powder.
Extra attachments
It’s amazing how a small, basic appliance can come with so many extras making it such a versatile machine – it might even help you to reduce the number of other appliances in your kitchen.
If you really want to put the blender to work, look for any of the following attachments: mini chopping and aerating blades, whisk (ideal for whipping up a pancake batter or prepping scrambled eggs), mini chopping bowls (the ones with a feed chute on the lid are fantastic for making mayonnaise so you can gradually add the oil while the motor is running), potato masher/pureeing blender.
Cordless versus a corded stick blender
As a left-handed person, I find the cords on stick blenders really frustrating. They always point in the wrong direction and get in the way. Unfortunately, there are a lot less options for cordless blenders on the market. Cordless blenders are great for blending soups or pasta sauces over the stove or for taking on the go. The negative – if you don’t have it set up permanently on your countertop or wall, you’re more than likely going to forget to charge it.
HOW DO WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
To help you find the best immersion blender for your needs and budget, we asked resident news.com.au checkout Food Expert Kim Coverdale for their expert advice and recommendations on what to look for when buying an immersion blender. With more than 25 years of experience in the food publishing industry, Kim certainly knows her gadgets. Aside from taste.com.au, she’s also written content and developed drool-worthy recipes for major foodie titles including Delicious, Best Recipes and Better Homes and Garden. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best immersion blender from premium to budget to help you find the right one.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STICK BLENDERS AND FULL-SIZE BLENDERS?
Kim said that while a high-powered stick blender can be just as powerful as a full-size blender, there are different tasks where a particular type of blender will work better.
“A stick blender has the motor in the handle and small blades on the opposite end, whereas an upright blender has the motor in the base of the machine along with the rotating blades,” she explained.
“A stick blender is quite versatile in where you use it and how you use it, for example, you don’t need to transfer hot cooked liquids to the machine like you would a blender, the stick blender will blend the mixture right in the pot that you’ve cooked it in.”
If you tend to blend tough ingredients, make sure to research how well different models work with a variety of consistencies because some tests have shown a higher wattage doesn’t always mean better performance. So, a stick mixer with decent power might end up only being able to blend smaller quantities well and struggle with mixing batter containing lots of fibrous vegetables and other tougher ingredients.
CAN YOU MAKE SMOOTHIES WITH A STICK BLENDER?
Absolutely! It’s just about inserting the stick blender into the beaker accessory or a large jug, according to Kim – but there are still limitations (much like with small personal blenders and larger heavy duty models).
“It will mostly only work with liquids and thicker ingredients like yoghurt and ice-cream. They can’t crush ice and won’t puree firmer fruits and vegetables,” she explained.
“If you don’t mind a little bit of texture to your smoothie, then ingredients like berries and banana will work well, but I would avoid trying to blend up leafy greens or firm fruits such as apples.”
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