Immersion Blenders - Are They Worth Buying?

Immersion blenders, hand blenders, or stick blenders, are an incredibly useful and versatile kitchen tool. Unlike a traditional blender a stick blender is submerged into the item to be blended, as the name suggests. These blenders allow for much more versatility than traditional blenders.

Since stick blenders are able to be submerged into the item to be blended the consumer is not limited by the carry capacity of a traditional blender. While traditional blenders certainly still have their uses, a hand blender can be used for almost anything a traditional blender can be used for.

There are certain jobs an immersion blender is particularly well suited for. When preparing soups, sauces, and even baby foods a stick blender can be used right in the pot or pan that the item is being prepared in.

When using a traditional blender for applications such as these the sometimes hot material has to be poured into the container of the traditional blender. Pouring hot food can be dangerous and lead to painful burns or wasted food due to spills. With a hand blender the cook must be careful to keep the blender submerged to avoid splashes, but the risk of pouring is eliminated and the risk of spills is greatly reduced.

There are various sizes, styles, and powers of immersion blenders available. Which model the consumer chooses will depend on what type of blending is anticipated. For most cooks a small moderately powered model will suffice. For cooks who anticipate using the blender for larger batches of food, a larger blender will save time and effort.

The power needed from a portable blender will depend on how liquid the items being blended are. The less resistance the blades will encounter, the less powerful the blender needs to be. Whichever type of blender is chosen, a hand blender is a handy tool in any cooks arsenal.