Best Immersion Blender, According to America’s Test Kitchen

Immersion blenders — also called stick or hand blenders — are built for jobs a countertop blender handles awkwardly: pureeing soup directly in the pot, whipping a quick batch of whipped cream, or blending a smoothie without hauling out a full-size pitcher. America’s Test Kitchen has tested this category extensively over the years, and one model in particular has held onto their top recommendation for a long stretch of testing cycles.

Braun MultiQuick 5 Hand Blender (Model MQ505)

This has been America’s Test Kitchen’s top pick in the immersion blender category for more than a decade as of their most recent update. Testers highlighted its lightweight build and comfortable grip, which matters more than people expect during longer blending jobs like a big pot of soup. The ventless, bell-shaped blade guard is designed to prevent splatter — a common complaint with cheaper immersion blenders that spray liquid everywhere the moment you turn them on.

Operation is kept deliberately simple, with two straightforward speed buttons rather than a dial full of settings most people never use. In ATK’s testing, the blender was put through repeated use, including pulverizing frozen pineapple and running continuously through a stretch of smoothies, without the motor bogging down or overheating.

What stands out about the MQ505’s reputation is less about flashy features and more about consistency: a simple two-speed design, a guard that genuinely reduces mess, and a motor that holds up to repeated, demanding use over time. If you’re choosing an immersion blender mainly based on independent testing rather than marketing claims, this is the model that keeps showing up at the top of that list. For most home cooks, that combination of comfort, splash control, and durability is exactly what you want from a tool that’s meant to simplify soup and sauce prep, not add another complicated gadget to the drawer.

Cuisinart Smart Stick (CSB-175)

If you’re comparing options outside ATK’s specific winner, the Cuisinart Smart Stick is one of the most commonly recommended alternatives in other kitchen-equipment testing, including a top rating in a separate test-kitchen-style comparison that reported it sailing through soup, whipped-cream, and vinaigrette tests. It runs a 300-watt motor with two speeds and a one-touch slide control, and it’s generally priced lower than the Braun. It’s a reasonable second option to compare against the MQ505 if the Braun isn’t available or you want to weigh an alternative brand’s take on the same basic two-speed format, though it hasn’t carried ATK’s own top rating the way the MultiQuick 5 has.

If you’re deciding whether an immersion blender is worth adding to your kitchen at all, think about how often you make pureed soups, sauces, or small-batch smoothies directly in a container. For those specific jobs, a well-built stick blender like the MultiQuick 5 is often faster and easier to clean than hauling out a full countertop blender.

Beyond the headline test results, a few practical details are worth checking before you buy. First, look at the attachment ecosystem — many immersion blenders, including the MultiQuick 5, offer optional whisk and chopper attachments that snap onto the same motor body, which can replace a separate hand mixer or mini chopper if you don’t already own one. Second, check the cord length (or battery runtime on cordless models) against how you’ll actually use it; blending directly in a tall pot on the stove requires more reach than blending in a bowl on the counter. Finally, pay attention to how the blending head detaches for cleaning — models where the shaft and blade assembly come off entirely are generally easier to clean thoroughly than ones where the blade is fixed and you’re stuck washing around it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an immersion blender a replacement for a full countertop blender?
Not entirely. Immersion blenders excel at pureeing soups directly in the pot, whipping small batches of cream, and blending sauces or dressings, but they struggle with tasks that need real crushing power over a sustained period, like frozen margaritas loaded with ice or large-batch smoothies. Most households that cook regularly end up using both tools for different jobs rather than replacing one with the other.

Why did America’s Test Kitchen pick the Braun MultiQuick 5 over pricier competitors?
Their testing emphasized day-to-day usability over spec-sheet features — a lightweight, comfortable grip, a splash guard that actually reduces mess, and motor consistency across repeated demanding tasks like crushing frozen fruit. Several more expensive or feature-loaded competitors didn’t outperform it on those practical measures, which is why a relatively simple two-speed design has held the top spot for so many testing cycles.

Do I need the extra attachments (whisk, chopper) that some immersion blenders offer?
It depends on what else is already in your kitchen. If you own a stand mixer or hand mixer for whipping and a mini food processor for chopping, the add-on attachments are largely redundant. If you don’t own either and want one motor body to cover blending, light whipping, and small chopping jobs, the attachment versions of models like the MultiQuick 5 can genuinely consolidate three gadgets into one, though the chopper and whisk attachments are rarely as capable as dedicated appliances built specifically for those jobs.