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Do you have a limited kitchen space? Perhaps you’re always on the road in your RV? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to puree soups right in the cooking pot? Yes? Then, you might want to get and learn how to use an immersion blender appropriately.
Also known as a hand or stick blender, the appliance usually has a compact size with a tiny motor. On the contrary, you can still use the little guy to perform most of the tasks that a regular/ countertop blender can do. But then, you’ll need to first understand what it can do before you can make it work for you.
Immersion Blender vs Countertop Blender vs Personal Blender
Technically, we usually have three different types of blenders. Of course, there’s that hot and cold blender we were talking about last week, but, in my opinion, it’s a countertop model.
In a nutshell, countertop blenders are the normal, full-size designs that many of us have at home. They tend to be more powerful and also have a larger blending container that’s perfect for large batches of content. However, high-end blender series like Vitamix E20 or Blendtec is far stronger compared to the standard models. They usually rely on the motor power to pummel through the ingredients instead of the blades.
Meanwhile, a personal blender is the best choice if you frequently make single-serve smoothies. You can also use it for other tasks like chopping and grinding, but it all depends on the specific model or design you’ve got. If it’s the personal portable blender for travel, most brands usually run on a compact rechargeable battery. So, you might not be able to blend large chunks of ice cubes or grind grains well.
On its end, an immersion blender usually has a handheld design. Hence, its other name, hand blender. As was mentioned, the tool can also perform many culinary tasks like the countertop and personal blenders as we shall see later in the article. But again, the tool performs all these tasks based on the power and the kind of attachments it has.
For instance, the VAVSEA immersion blender shown below comes with the motor base and blending shaft, whisk, and milk frother attachment, as well as a mixing beaker and food chopper. So, you may be able to explore your culinary adventure much better than the hand blender that has only a whisk attachment.
| Immersion Blender Brand | Maximum Power Output | Extra Accessories | Current Price |
| Mueller Austria MU-HB-02 Immersion Blender | 500 Watts (8 variable speeds) | Whisk Milk Frother | Check on Amazon |
| Vitamix 067991 Immersion Hand Blender | 625 Watts (5 variable speeds) | N/A | Check on Amazon |
| Bella 14460 Immersion Stick Blender | 250 Watts (2 variable Speeds) | Whisk | Check on Amazon |
| VAVSEA Handheld Immersion Blender | 1000 Watts (12 variable speeds) | Whisk Milk Frother Food Chopper Mixing Beaker | Check on Amazon |
| KOIOS HB-2050 Immersion Blender | 800 Watts (12 variable speeds) | Whisk Mixing Beaker Food Chopper | Check on Amazon |
| Mueller Austria MU-HB-10 Immersion Blender | 800 Watts (12 variable speeds) | Whisk Food Chopper Mixing Beaker | Check on Amazon |
Should You Really Get an Immersion Blender?
That’s right. Is an immersion blender worth it?
Well, my answer is a bold YES. Similar to other kitchen appliances, the idea behind a hand blender’s to help you achieve your desired culinary adventures. And surprisingly, the more you come to use it, the more you’ll feel the need to go for it again.
But, anyway, here are eight things that make the handheld blending tool special in your kitchen.
- So affordable: other than Vitamix, most immersion blenders sell under forty bucks. Therefore, I don’t see the reason why you shouldn’t have one even if you have a smoothie blender and a food processor.
- Compact design: just like their name, hand blenders have a handheld size that will take almost no space on your counter or cupboard. Some models, like the KOIOS HB-2033B3, even have a hook to hang on the wall.
- Very versatile: An immersion blender isn’t only for making soups as many people think. You can also use it to make salsa and many other recipes if you know how to go about it.
- High Flexibility: An immersion blender can blend in about any container as long it’s wide enough for it to enter. You can also travel and use it almost anywhere without a hassle.
- Blends fast: a hand blender can deliver a power output of as high as 800 watts or even 1000 watts. So, you can make blends as smooth and consistent as with a regular blender.
- Ease of Use: The immersion blenders I’ve tried so far are light and easy to hold when blending. Many also do have a variable speed setting to help you make recipes of different textures.
- Less Cleanup time: in an immersion blender, not do you have fewer containers to clean but also you can remove the remains around the blade with ease.
- Gives plastic-free blending: A stick blender allows you to blend in about any container with an opening wide enough for it to pass. So, you can even opt to use your glass or stainless steel containers in place of the plastic ones that the makers provide.
How to Make the Most From your Immersion Blender
As was mentioned earlier, you need to know your immersion blender before you can have it work for you. That means you test the amount of power it gives, blending speeds, and the cutting blades. You might also want to check the nature of the bell guard (hiding the blade) to ensure you can make your blends without damaging your favorite pots.
Some other tips that you might want to consider before and during blending with an Immersion blender include:
Blend in large amounts: you’ll want to have the blending head of your blender fully submerged to avoid splattering issues.
Start slow, then high: as you blend, you should always start on the lowest power through the maximum to avoid jamming the blade. It will also help the ingredients get into contact with the blades and develop a nice blending momentum.
Move the head around: an immersion blender can’t be able to pull the ingredients into the spinning blades on its own. So, you’ll need to blend as you move the tool up and down to pick everything and ensure a consistent blend. If you’re blending in the pot, or any other wide container, you may want to move the blender in a slow stirring motion as well to not miss any chunks.
Let the mixture cool down: while it’s not a must, you may want to remove your boiled potatoes from the heat before you can blend. The immersion blender has a high risk of splatter since you’re the one in control, and to be honest, a drop of boiling soup has never been fun.
Well, with that, let’s now dive in and look at the various ways on how to use an immersion blender for the best.
- How To Use Immersion Blender For Smoothies
A smoothie is one of the easiest recipes to prepare with all three types of blenders. In an immersion blender, you just need to toss the ingredients into the container you want to blend in starting with the heaviest/ hardest (like frozen fruits) and the soft ones on top.
Once done arranging the ingredients, attach the blending shaft (blade) to the motor body. Next, start the blender on the lowest power, then increase to the highest speed and blend the mixture until the desired consistency.
To ensure you get that even consistency, make sure you blend as you move your hand blender around, up and down. Otherwise, you’ll be left with a smoothie full of chunks and unpleasant grains.
How To Use A Stick Blender For Baby Food?
Just like with smoothies, you can use any blender to puree food for a baby or even an adult who has trouble swallowing solid foods. This includes an immersion blender, which, by the way, you can use to blend right from the feeding bowl. You just need to put your cooked (and cooled) rice into the appropriate container for blending. Then, stream in like five tablespoons (75ml) breast milk or any other milk product you prefer.
After that, attach the blender blade attachment to the motor body, then use it to blend until you have a smooth puree.
If you’re making a fruit puree, perhaps a mango baby food, make sure you wash, peel, and cut the piece into small cubes. Then, place your stick blender as close to the fruit pieces and blend until the desired consistency.
How To Use Hand Blender For Chopping?
Do you love Salsa? In my case I do, and, fortunately, you don’t need a food processor to prepare your homemade recipe. If you have an immersion blender, you can turn your vegetables into a fine pesto or chunky salsa in less than a minute.
Just throw your clean onion, tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, pepper, and salt into the appropriate container. Then, place your immersion blender as close to the content as possible and blend as you move the tool up and down.
Alternatively, you can toss your ingredients into the chopper that came with your immersion blender (if it has one). Then, attach the motor base and run the machine for 30 seconds or until the desired consistency.
The good thing with a chopper’s that you can make both fine and chunky salsa with ease. It has a setup of a mini food processor, including a removable blade. So, you can also use it to grind meat.
How To Use An Immersion Blender For Soup?
Overall, this is the most common culinary breakthrough for an immersion blender. Unlike the countertop or personal blenders, you can make your creamy, flavorful vegetable soup right in the cooking pot without having to transfer.
All you need to do is to cook/ boil your recipe mixture, then submerge the immersion blender and blend until you have a smooth consistency. Remember, the pot is relatively wider than a beaker. So, make sure you blend as you move the blender in a slow stirring motion to get all the food pieces.
How To Use A Stick Blender For Frozen Desserts?
Did you think it’s only a countertop blender that you can make ice cream? An immersion blender can also give you the sweet, chilled dessert if you have an appetite for a piece. You just need to add your frozen bananas, unsalted butter, cinnamon, vanilla extra, and honey into the beaker in the order they appear. Then, attach the blender shaft (with blade) and blend your mixture until you have a smooth, creamy ice-cream-like texture.
If you love to, you can serve the ice cream right away while in its soft-serve consistency. Alternatively, you can freeze for about two hours, then serve.
Note, you can also process the ingredients of your frozen desserts in a chopper container if your immersion blender came with one.
How To Use Hand Blender For Cake?
If you want to make a perfect cake, you need a blender, electric whisk and or a free-standing mixer. This will enable you to puree your pumpkin blend smooth and perfectly mix all the ingredients, ready to bake.
Nonetheless, you could bake a nice cake from scratch while using only an immersion blender. You’ll just need to attach the blending shaft attachment when you want to puree your pumpkin or butternut squash. Then, replace the blending shaft with a whisking attachment when you want to mix the oil, sugar, and eggs.
How To Use An Immersion Blender For Coffee?
Last but not least, you can use an immersion blender to prepare a whipped coffee flavor of your liking. You just need to add your instant coffee, sugar, and hot water into your appropriate container and whip with your hand blender until foamy/ fluffy and thick.
Next, put some ice cubes into a glass and pour your milk of choice over them. Then, spoon the fluffy coffee you made earlier over the top, stir and enjoy.
Note, you’ll need to put the whisk attachment on the motor body of your hand blender to whip your coffee mixture.
Remember to Keep Clean
Well, that’s my take on the various ways you can make the most from your immersion blender. Of course, the seven are not the only ones as you can also use your tool to froth milk, prepare Hollandaise sauce, and in some cases knead the dough.
After preparing any of your recipes, make sure you always clean your immersion blender as soon as possible. This will help ensure the remains don’t dry up under the blades as it will make your cleaning hard while it should be easy.
Also, remember the motor part still holds the electronic components of the machine. So, you should never submerge it into water. If you notice it’s dirty, just wipe with a damp cloth as you do with a countertop blender.