Buying guide
Best Immersion Blender: When to Skip the Countertop Jar
An immersion blender blends soup, sauces, and mayo right in the pot — faster and with less cleanup than a countertop jar. Here's when to choose one, what to look for, and the model we'd buy.
Take the quiz →An immersion blender solves a problem a countertop machine is bad at: smoothing something that's already in a pot, pitcher, or bowl. Instead of ladling hot soup into a jar in batches and washing it afterward, you drop the wand straight in and blend where the food already is. If your most common job is soup, sauce, mayonnaise, or a single smoothie, an immersion blender is often the faster, simpler tool — and it takes up a fraction of the space.
Our pick: Braun MultiQuick 7
The Braun MultiQuick 7 (MQ7035X) is the one we'd buy, and it's the immersion blender Wirecutter has ranked first since 2013. Its standout feature is ActiveBlade — a flexible shaft that moves the blade up and down for more cutting surface and less suction, which is why reviewers get velvety soup and silky mayonnaise in under 30 seconds. A variable-speed trigger gives you fine control (squeeze harder for more power), and the kit includes a whisk, a 2-cup chopper that doubles as a mini food processor, and a 20-ounce beaker. Braun's MultiQuick line is known for lasting a decade or more. The full breakdown is in our Braun MultiQuick 7 review.
What to look for in an immersion blender
- A shaft design that reduces suction. Cheap immersion blenders stick to the bottom of the pot and sputter; a moving or vented blade (like ActiveBlade) pulls food in and blends smoother.
- Variable speed. A trigger you can modulate beats a single-speed motor for controlling splatter and texture.
- Useful attachments. A whisk and a chopper turn one tool into three; a beaker gives you something to blend single smoothies in.
- Build quality. You'll hold this and dunk it in hot liquid for years — a reputable brand and a metal shaft matter.
Where an immersion blender falls short
It is not a countertop blender, and it won't pretend to be. It can't crush ice or handle big frozen smoothie batches, so it's a complement to a full-size machine, not a replacement. A bare stainless shaft can also scratch nonstick pots if it touches the bottom, so keep it moving. If your main jobs are frozen drinks, family smoothies, or thick blends, you want a countertop blender — the value Ninja Detect Power Blender Pro is our pick there — and ideally you'd own both: the countertop machine for smoothies and ice, the immersion blender for soup and sauces.
The bottom line
If soup, sauces, and mayo are why you're shopping, get the Braun MultiQuick 7. If you're not sure whether immersion or countertop fits your routine, personal vs full-size blender and how to choose a blender walk through the decision, or take the 60-second quiz.
<!-- pg:cluster-links:start -->Still choosing?
<!-- pg:cluster-links:end -->Frequently asked
What is an immersion blender best for?
Blending foods that are already in a pot, pitcher, or bowl — hot soups, sauces, purees, mayonnaise, and single smoothies — with very little to clean up afterward. It isn't built for crushing ice or large frozen batches.
Can an immersion blender replace a countertop blender?
Not for ice, frozen drinks, or big smoothie batches. It's best as a complement: the immersion blender for soup and sauces, a countertop machine for frozen and family-size blending.
What should I look for in an immersion blender?
A shaft design that reduces suction (so it doesn't stick and sputter), a variable-speed trigger, useful attachments like a whisk and chopper, and solid build quality from a reputable brand.
Which immersion blender is best?
The Braun MultiQuick 7 (MQ7035X) is our pick and Wirecutter's long-running top choice, thanks to its ActiveBlade shaft, variable-speed control, and included whisk, chopper, and beaker.