What is a Hand Blender?

A hand blender also called an immersion blender, is an electrically powered handheld kitchen tool.  They have a reasonably large and usually thicker handle with buttons to operate the blender, a long, skinnier tube in the middle, and a wider dome-shaped opening with the blades at the bottom.  They are long in design so that they can easily reach the bottom of tall pots.  Most hand blenders come in 2-speed, 3-speed, or 5-speed, but some hand blenders come in 7-speed or 9-speed.  Hand blenders are typically made of plastic, stainless steel or brushed stainless steel, or a combination of plastic and stainless steel, with metal blades.  Some hand blenders come with different attachments so you can remove the blade and use the tool for other purposes.

What are Hand Blenders Used For?

Hand blenders are used to puree and blend small chunks of food or liquid into a smooth liquid consistency.  They can sometimes be used when the pot is still on the stove.  A hand blender is best used when blending ingredients into a sauce or soup, especially in a large pot of ingredients.  The most common speeds you will use with a hand blender are low and high, depending on the thickness of your mixture and the consistency you want.

What are the Different Types of Hand Blenders?

• 2-Speed
• 3-Speed
• 5-Speed

2-Speed

2-speed hand blenders are one of the most common hand blenders and are considered to be the best by experts.  The only speeds this blender uses are low and high.

3-Speed

3-speed hand blenders are another common type of hand blender found in home kitchens.  The type of blenders uses low, medium, and high speeds.

5-Speed

5-speed hand blenders use low, medium-low, high, medium-high, and high-speed settings to offer versatility to blending.

Recipes Using a Hand Blender

Smooth Marinara Sauce

Create a smooth, delicious marinara sauce for any occasion. Soften an onion and garlic in a preheated skillet. Add in canned tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. Simmer the sauce until ingredients soften and the spices incorporate. Then, use a hand blender on low speed to puree the sauce. Spread marinara over your favorite pasta.

Creamy Avocado Dressing

Make a creamy dressing perfect for salads or sauces. Start with a whole avocado, remove from the peel and lightly mash with a fork. Next, add minced garlic, sour cream, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, sea salt, pepper, and a splash of water. Use a hand blender on a low speed to blend ingredients together. Pulse a few times on high speed to ensure ingredients are smooth.

Easy Smoothie

A refreshing smoothie doesn’t require a lot of hard work. Use a large pitcher to combine ingredients. Add guava nectar, bananas, strawberries, honey, and vanilla yogurt to the pitcher. Blend until smooth and pour into glasses.

Quick Pesto Sauce

Make a delicious pesto sauce without pulling out a food processor. In a large bowl, add chopped pine nuts, fresh basil leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Use the low speed on the hand blender to begin blending ingredients, then increase to high to reach desired consistency. Serve over cooked pasta.

Cream of Tomato Soup

Combine all soup ingredients in a stock pot and simmer until cooked and reduced. Carefully blend chunky ingredients until smooth. Ladle soup into bowls and serve with grilled cheese (related post: cheeses that melt).