Why Vitamix’s Immersion Blender Is Our New Top Pick
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
When I originally set out to select our best overallimmersion blenderseveral years ago, I started where I always do: by asking the pros about what they use in their own homes. Four of them told me they loved theBreville Control Grip, which has been around since 2011. That was a pretty impressive consensus, and its longevity on the market was a good sign, especially for an appliance — and so it earned the top spot.
Then, a little while later, as I was doing research for an update of that story, I spoke to recipe developer and cookbook authorSamah Dada, who told me her favorite was Vitamix’s immersion blender — the only one the brand makes, save for acommercial-use versionavailable through dealers. In that moment, I felt a bit stupid. The kitchen is my area of expertise, and I know full well how Vitamix reigns supreme when it comes tofull-size blenders. It’s difficult to find chefs who will recommend anything but one of their many models. And yet I hadn’t heard of its immersion blender. To be fair, Vitamix released it at the end of 2020, a fair while after the Breville — and immersion blenders are the kind of appliance that people buy once and hold on to for a long time. I wasn’t the only one who had somehow missed its launch: Several other Strategist staffers knowledgeable in this arena had too.
New! You can now save this product for later.
However it happened, I had to try it. Pretty immediately, it shot above the others I had tested (not just the Breville, but some solid KitchenAid and Cuisinart models as well). I’ve now been using the Vitamix for more than two years. As someone who tests kitchen gear for a living and is pretty constantly cycling though all manner of cooking tools, I have zero inclination to replace it.
To start, it comes without any attachments. If so inclined, you can buy packages that have various ones included (just a whisk; awhisk and measuring glass container; and acomplete bundlewith a chopper, stand, and carrying case added on). But you don’t have to — and for me, that’s a big plus. I prefer my appliances to do one thing and do it well. I don’t want to have to keep track of multiple bits and pieces.
Speaking of which, I actually like that it has a cord. Of course, I get the appeal of a cordless immersion blender, which is that you can use it anywhere in your kitchen. But honestly, it’s just not that hard to blend near an outlet. I don’t have one super-close to my stove, but even if I’m making soup, I simply transfer my pot to the counter, blend, and then bring it back. Just like with all those extra attachments, a cordless model requires you to keep track of the charger. You’re also more likely to find yourself without power, whereas a plug-in appliance is reliably ready to go.
Most important — and not surprising given the brand’s reputation — the performance is unparalleled. The blades are sharp and the power strong. While the Breville allows for subtle changes between 15 speeds (the most of any in my original roundup), the Vitamix operates with only 5. If this seems like a disadvantage, let me assure you that it’s not. I don’t actually require so many speeds to achieve what I need. The lowest couple work great when I’m blending something like aioli, which I don’t want to get too thick too quickly. I stay around there to make salad dressings, which don’t require the motor to run superfast. And I’ve put the blender’s high blitzing ability to the test, like with a smooth sauce of whole canned tomatoes for lasagna. Once again, the Vitamix immersion blender proves less is more.
Some more small appliances we love
More From The Strategist
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- The Strategist Summer 100
- I Replaced My Tretinoin With This $30 Retinal Cream
- My Hunt for Fisherman Sandals That Won’t Tear Up My Feet
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
