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Quick summary7 picks
- Entry PickRussell Hobbs RHSM5BLK about$65
- NutriBullet Immersion Blender about$75800W.
- Kenwood Triblade Hand Blender HDP109WG about$79600W.
- Braun MultiQuick 3 - Hand Blender about$85
- Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario Hand Blender about$981000W.
- Kenwood Triblade XL Hand Blender HBM60307GY about$1351000W.
- Most PremiumKitchenAid Classic KHBV53 Hand Blender… about$143
What a stick blender is good at, and what it isn't
A stick blender is a motor in a handle with a blade on the end of a shaft, and you take it to the food rather than pouring the food into a jug. That makes it the right tool for soup in the pot, a sauce in the pan, a smoothie in a tall cup or mayonnaise in a jar. There's no jug to scrape and less to wash up, and the shaft usually comes off so it can be rinsed on its own. In most kitchens it's the blender that gets used the most, because it lives in a drawer rather than taking up the counter.
It isn't a jug blender, and I wouldn't pretend otherwise. Crushing ice, blending frozen fruit into a thick smoothie or making nut butter asks far more of a motor than a stick can give, and the small sealed motors in these handles get hot quickly under that sort of load. If that's mostly what you want, a proper jug blender is the better buy. Likewise, if you want to slice, grate or knead dough, a food processor does it properly and a stick blender's little chopper bowl doesn't.
I've picked five here from $65 to $143 at time of writing, all sold new by Amazon AU, from Braun, Kenwood, Russell Hobbs, NutriBullet and KitchenAid. They're ranked #1, #2, #3, #4 and #11 in Amazon AU's Hand Blenders category, so these are the ones most people are actually buying. Every one of them comes with a beaker, cup or jar, and four of the five also include a chopper bowl and a whisk in the box.
I left out the long tail of no-name 1,200W and 1,600W sets that crowd the search results. Some of them are probably fine, but the listings are mostly marketing copy, at least one contradicted itself on how many speeds it had, and parts like a replacement shaft or chopper lid are hard to find a year later. I also stuck to corded models, because a battery is one more thing to wear out on a tool you use for two minutes at a time.
The shaft seal is what usually kills them
The most common way a stick blender dies is liquid getting where it shouldn't. The blade spins on a driveshaft that runs up the inside of the blending shaft, and there's a seal and a bearing at the bottom end keeping soup out. When that seal wears, liquid wicks up the shaft every time you use it. On models where the shaft detaches, it collects inside the shaft and starts to smell. On one-piece designs it can work its way into the motor itself.
You'll usually notice it as a rattle or grinding from the foot, a blade that wobbles, or grey liquid that drips out of the top of the shaft when you take it off. Once you see that, the seal's gone. The Braun and Russell Hobbs listings say outright that their parts detach, and the whisks in the Kenwood and NutriBullet boxes fit the same motor, so their shafts come off too. The KitchenAid listing doesn't say either way, so check the photos. A worn shaft you can swap is a part, not a whole blender.
How you use it decides how long the seal lasts. Don't plunge the blender deeper than the metal part of the shaft, because liquid over the top runs straight down to the join with the motor. Don't leave the shaft soaking in a sink of water, and don't run it in an empty pot, since a dry seal heats up and wears quickly. The easiest clean is to run it for a few seconds in a jug of warm soapy water straight after use, then pull it off and stand it upright to drain.
Hot liquids are the other trap. Blending soup straight off a rolling boil is hard on the seal and it spits, so take the pot off the heat and give it a minute first. Keep the head under the surface before you press the button, and let it stop before you lift it out. You'll get a lot less soup up the splashback, and the seal won't be cooking in boiling liquid while it spins.
Blades, couplings and the chopper bowl
The second most common failure is the drive coupling, the small toothed piece that connects the motor to the shaft or the chopper bowl. It's usually plastic on purpose, so if the blade jams on a bone or a frozen lump the coupling strips before the motor burns out. You'll know it's gone when the motor spins and the blade doesn't, or it grinds and slips under load. On most brands it's a small part, and it's well worth replacing rather than throwing the whole blender out.
Blades on these are stainless steel and rarely wear out as such, but they do get nicked and bent. A spoon left in the pot, a bone in the stock or a stone from a can of chickpeas will burr the edge and throw the blade out of balance. An unbalanced blade vibrates, and vibration is what finishes off the bearing and seal at the bottom of the shaft. The Kenwood uses three angled blades rather than the usual two, and Braun uses a bell-shaped foot to pull food into the blade.
Chopper bowls are the part people break most often, almost always at the lid, where the gear drive and the locking tabs live. Don't overfill them, cut hard food into small pieces first, and pulse rather than holding the button down. The Kenwood's chopper is 500ml and the NutriBullet's bowl is 600ml, while the Braun and Russell Hobbs listings don't give a size for theirs. If you'll use the chopper a lot, a stated size is worth having before you buy.
Watts, speeds and what actually matters
Wattage on the box is the figure everyone compares, and it's only part of the story. The Braun lists 1,000W, the NutriBullet 800W and the Kenwood 600W, while the Russell Hobbs and KitchenAid listings don't state a figure at all. Those are input power ratings, and a well-shaped foot and blade turn more of that power into blending and less into heat. Braun and Kenwood both lean on their blade and foot designs in their listings for that reason.
In practice, 600W is plenty for soups, sauces, mayonnaise and smoothies from soft fruit. More power helps with thick mixtures like hummus or a heavy batch of pumpkin soup, because the motor doesn't bog down and you're not holding the button down as long. That margin also keeps the motor cooler. The no-name listings quoting 1,500W or more in a $60 handle are numbers I'd take with a large grain of salt.
Speed control matters more than most people expect. The Braun has a 21-speed wheel you turn with one hand, plus turbo, and the NutriBullet and KitchenAid both have variable speed. The Russell Hobbs has two speeds plus pulse, and the Kenwood has a single speed with turbo. A low speed is what stops splashing when you start a sauce in a shallow pan, and it's what you want for mayonnaise. One speed is fine for soup, but it's limiting for anything delicate.
Running cost is close to nothing. At an assumed tariff of about 33c/kWh, the 1,000W Braun running flat out for two minutes uses about 0.033kWh, which is roughly 1c. Even daily use comes to a few dollars a year. The real cost of a stick blender is the purchase price and the parts you'll replace over its life, not the power it draws.
Duty cycle: why they get hot and stop
Stick blender motors are small and sealed into a handle with very little airflow, so they're built for short bursts. Most manuals I've read limit continuous running to around a minute or so, then ask for a rest to let the motor cool. None of these five listings states a duty cycle, so read the manual that comes in the box and follow it. In my experience it's the most ignored instruction in the kitchen.
Running past that limit doesn't usually kill a blender the first time. What it does is wear the motor's brushes and cook its windings a little more each time, and soften the plastic around the coupling. You'll notice a hot plastic smell, the handle getting warm to hold and the motor slowing down under load. That's the moment to stop and let it sit for a few minutes, not to press harder.
Big batches are where people get caught. Blending a slow cooker full of soup takes a few minutes in total, so work in short bursts, move the blender around the pot rather than holding it in one spot, and let it rest between goes. If you make big batches every week, the 1,000W Braun has the most headroom of the picks, and blending in batches in a jug blender might suit you better again.
Attachments worth having, and the ones that sit in the drawer
The beaker is the attachment you'll use most. Blending in a tall narrow cup keeps the food around the blade and stops splashing, and it's the right shape for smoothies, dressings and mayonnaise. The Braun's beaker is 600ml and BPA-free, the Kenwood's is 600ml, and the NutriBullet's 900ml measuring cup comes with a lid, so you can blend and store in the same container. The KitchenAid's 700ml jar has a lid as well.
A whisk attachment is handy for cream and egg whites in small amounts, and the Braun, Kenwood, Russell Hobbs and NutriBullet all include one. For a batch of meringue or a cake batter, though, a stand mixer does a far better job, and a whisk on a stick motor gets warm quickly. The Braun is also the one pick that includes a masher, which is useful if you make a lot of mash and don't want the gluey result a blade gives potatoes.
The KitchenAid includes a pan guard, a clip-on cover for the foot that stops the metal scratching non-stick or enamelled pots. If your soup pots are coated, that's worth more than an extra speed setting, since a scratched coating doesn't come back. With the others, keep the blade foot off the bottom of the pot and tilt the blender slightly as you work.
Chopper bowls are fine for herbs, garlic, small amounts of nuts and breadcrumbs. They're not meant for raw meat in any quantity or hard cheese, both of which strain the coupling. If you find yourself using the chopper every day, that's usually a sign you want a full-size food processor instead.
Cords, plugs and electrical safety
All five picks are corded, and the stated ratings top out at the Braun's 1,000W, well under the 2,400W limit on a standard Australian 10A socket. The KitchenAid's listing gives its cable as 153cm, which is generous and makes it easier to reach a pot on a back burner. The other listings don't state a cord length, so measure from your nearest power point to the stove before you buy.
The cord's weak point is where it enters the handle. Blenders get yanked, twisted and wrapped tightly round themselves for storage, and over a few years that breaks the copper inside the insulation right at the strain relief. The symptom is a blender that cuts in and out as you move it. Stop using it then, because a broken conductor inside a cord heats up. Wrap the cord loosely, never tightly around the motor body, and don't carry the blender by its cord.
Water and mains power don't mix, so never put the motor body in water or the dishwasher. Wipe it with a damp cloth while it's unplugged. If one does get dunked, unplug it and let it dry out for days rather than hours before trying it, and if it trips the safety switch, leave it alone until someone's opened it up. How liquid damages electronics covers why that drying time matters.
Look for the RCM mark on the plug or rating label when it arrives, which shows it's approved for sale in Australia. Buying from Amazon AU, as with all five picks, also makes it easier to send back one that turns up with the wrong plug or no compliance mark.
Making one last
A decent stick blender should last for years, and most of the ones that come into our Erina workshop early have been run too long, soaked or dropped. Rinse it straight after use, dry the shaft standing upright, don't soak it, keep the motor body dry and keep the cord loosely wrapped. That covers most of it.
Buy a brand you can get parts for. Braun, Kenwood, KitchenAid and Russell Hobbs are widely sold in Australia, so a replacement shaft, chopper lid or beaker is usually much easier to track down than it is for a brand that turns up on Amazon for a year and disappears.
Warranty terms vary a lot here. The Russell Hobbs listing states a 2 year warranty and the NutriBullet a 1 year manufacturer warranty. The Kenwood's warranty field reads "No Warranty", which I'd read as missing data rather than a policy, and the Braun and KitchenAid listings don't state one. Australian Consumer Law guarantees apply whatever the listing says, so keep the receipt.
The 5 picks, $65 to $143
Prices are Amazon AU at time of writing (2026-11-08) and move week to week. Ranks are Amazon AU category sales ranks, checked the same day.
Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario MQ 5237 Hand Blender
ASIN B092J8PW1W • $97.95 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario is the hand blender I'd buy first, and it's $97.95 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU. It's ranked #1 in Amazon AU's Hand Blenders category and #200 overall, which is well ahead of every other pick in this guide. The model on the listing is MQ 5237, in black. It has a 1,000W motor, the highest stated wattage among the picks, in a handle Braun says suits all hand sizes. Speed is set with a wheel you turn with one hand, with 21 speeds plus turbo. That makes it easy to start slow in a shallow pan and build up without splashing. It's also the pick with the most headroom for thick soups and big batches.
The blending foot is bell-shaped, and Braun says it draws food into the blade with less suction, so it doesn't clamp itself to the bottom of the pot. The foot also has six small feet to keep ingredients flowing into the blades and cut down splashing. Attachments swap with one click, and the listing says the detachable parts can go in the dishwasher or be rinsed under the tap. The box includes a chopper, a whisk, a masher and a 600ml BPA-free beaker. The masher is the one I'd point out, since none of the other picks includes one, and a blade turns potatoes gluey. It's a complete kit for most kitchens without buying anything extra.
The listing doesn't state a warranty, a cord length, a chopper size or a duty cycle, so check the manual for how long it can run without a break. At about $33 more than the Russell Hobbs it isn't the lowest outlay here, but the speed wheel and the extra power are what I'd pay for. The shaft detaches, so a worn seal means a new shaft rather than a new blender. Rinse the shaft straight after use and stand it upright to drain. Keep the speed wheel dry when you wipe the handle, since water around a control is how motors start to play up. If I could only have one of these five, it'd be this one.
Honest caveats: No warranty, cord length or chopper size is stated on the listing. The speed wheel and 1,000W motor cost about $33 more than the lowest-priced pick. It's still a short-burst tool, so check the manual's run time. The masher and whisk add drawer clutter if you won't use them. Rinse the shaft before food dries on it.
Best for: Most kitchens that want one hand blender with fine speed control and the power for thick soups.
Motor: 1,000W • Speeds: 21 plus turbo, one-hand wheel • In the box: Chopper, whisk, masher, 600ml BPA-free beaker • Cleaning: Detachable parts dishwasher safe • Colour: Black • Model: MQ 5237 (MQ5237BK) • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #1 in Hand Blenders (Amazon AU)
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Kenwood Triblade HDP109WG Hand Blender
ASIN B0CT8PMPBG • $79.00 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Kenwood Triblade HDP109WG is $79 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #2 in Amazon AU's Hand Blenders category and #2,068 overall. It's a white model with a 600W motor, the lowest stated wattage among the picks, but Kenwood's pitch is the blade rather than the motor. The foot has internal ribs that break up the flow and push food onto three angled blades instead of the usual two. The idea is that it chops and blends evenly without needing more power behind it. There's a single speed plus a turbo button, which is about as simple as these get. For soups and smoothies that's plenty, and there's less to go wrong.
The box includes the blender, a 500ml chopper, a stainless steel whisk and a 600ml beaker, so it's fully kitted out for the price. The model and part number on the listing both read HDP109WG, which matches the title. Kenwood says the motor holds a consistent speed whatever you're preparing, and the turbo is there for tougher ingredients. The whisk is stainless rather than plastic, which usually holds up better in a warm bowl. At $79 it's $14 more than the Russell Hobbs, and what that buys you is a stated motor rating and a stated chopper size. I'd have it ahead of the Russell Hobbs for anyone who mostly makes soup.
One speed is the limit here. Starting a sauce in a shallow pan on full speed spits, so tilt the pan and keep the head well under the surface before you press the button. The listing's warranty field reads "No Warranty", which I'd read as missing data rather than a policy, but check before you buy. It doesn't state a cord length or whether the shaft can go in the dishwasher either. Rinse the shaft in a jug of warm water straight after use and stand it upright to dry. It's a well-ranked, simple blender that handles the common jobs without fuss.
Honest caveats: Single speed plus turbo, so delicate sauces and shallow pans take some care. The listing's warranty field says "No Warranty", and cord length and dishwasher-safe parts aren't stated. At 600W it has the least stated power here. Large thick batches will work it hard. Keep the bursts short.
Best for: Soups and smoothies with a simple one-speed blender and a full set of attachments.
Motor: 600W • Speeds: 1 plus turbo • Blades: Triblade, three angled blades • In the box: 500ml chopper, stainless whisk, 600ml beaker • Colour: White • Model: HDP109WG • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #2 in Hand Blenders (Amazon AU)
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Russell Hobbs Desire RHSM5BLK Hand Blender
ASIN B08K8T4HG2 • $65.00 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Russell Hobbs Desire RHSM5BLK is the lowest-priced pick at $65 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #3 in Amazon AU's Hand Blenders category and #2,207 overall. It's matte black, and the listing calls it a 3 in 1 that blends, chops, whisks and mixes. It has two speeds plus a pulse setting, which is one more step of control than the Kenwood. The listing doesn't state a motor wattage, which is an odd thing to leave out, so I can't compare its power directly with the others. What it does state clearly is the part I'd care about at this price. The listing says its parts are detachable and dishwasher safe. It's the one I'd hand someone who blends a soup a week.
The box includes a beaker, a whisk and a chopping bowl, though the listing doesn't give sizes for any of them. The detachable parts are meant to store away in a cupboard or drawer, which keeps the counter clear. The part number and model on the listing both read RHSM5BLK, matching the title. It's the one pick with a stated 2 year warranty, double the NutriBullet's stated 1 year. Russell Hobbs is a common brand in Australian stores, so a replacement beaker or shaft is usually easy to find. Two speeds and pulse cover most of what people use a stick blender for. Pulse is handy in the chopping bowl for herbs and nuts.
With no wattage stated, I'd keep it to soups, sauces and soft-fruit smoothies, and use short bursts on anything thick. The listing doesn't state a cord length or a chopper size either. Don't put the motor body in the dishwasher, whatever the listing's wording suggests, because the dishwasher-safe claim applies to the detachable parts. Rinse the shaft straight away and dry it standing upright. Wipe the matte finish with a damp cloth, since abrasive pads mark it. For a first stick blender, or a second one for a holiday house, it does the job at the lowest outlay here.
Honest caveats: Motor wattage isn't stated on the listing, and neither are beaker, chopper or cord sizes. Two speeds plus pulse is less control than the Braun's wheel. Keep thick mixtures to short bursts. The dishwasher-safe claim covers the detachable parts, never the motor body. It has the longest stated warranty here at 2 years.
Best for: A first stick blender for soups and sauces at the lowest outlay, with a 2 year warranty.
Motor: Not stated on the listing • Speeds: 2 plus pulse • In the box: Beaker, whisk, chopping bowl • Cleaning: Detachable parts dishwasher safe • Warranty: 2 years • Colour: Matte black • Model: RHSM5BLK • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #3 in Hand Blenders (Amazon AU)
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NutriBullet Immersion Blender Deluxe Set NBI07110
ASIN B09F6W7HR7 • $74.96 • Ships from Amazon AU
The NutriBullet Immersion Blender NBI07110 is $74.96 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #4 in Amazon AU's Hand Blenders category and #2,277 overall. It's dark grey with an 800W motor and variable speed control. That puts it between the Kenwood and the Braun on stated power, at a price below both of them. The listing itself is thin, with four short feature lines, but the title and model fill in the important parts. It's sold as a deluxe set, and it's the kit I'd pick for smoothies and drinks made in the cup you'll drink from. The model on the listing is NBI07110, which matches the title.
The set includes a chopping blade and 600ml bowl, a whisk, and a 900ml measuring cup with a lid. That cup is the largest stated container among the picks, and with the lid on you can blend a smoothie or a dressing and put it straight in the fridge. Variable speed means you can start slowly in the cup and build up without it spitting over the rim. The listing describes an ergonomic design but gives no weight or grip detail. NutriBullet states a 1 year manufacturer warranty on the listing. For a household that mostly blends drinks, sauces and small batches, it's the most practical set here, and the lid means one less container to wash.
The listing doesn't state a cord length, a duty cycle or whether any parts are dishwasher safe, so check the manual before you lean on it. 800W is enough for most soups, though it'll work harder than the Braun on thick batches. A 1 year warranty is half the Russell Hobbs's stated term. Rinse the blade end in warm water straight after use. Store the cup with the lid off so it doesn't hold a smell. Pulse the chopper rather than holding the button on hard food. It's a sensible middle pick with the best container in the box.
Honest caveats: The feature list is four short lines, so cord length, dishwasher safety and duty cycle aren't stated. The warranty is 1 year, against 2 on the Russell Hobbs. 800W sits below the Braun for thick, heavy batches. Store the cup with its lid off. Check the manual before running it for long.
Best for: Smoothies, dressings and small batches blended and stored in the same lidded cup.
Motor: 800W • Speeds: Variable • In the box: Chopping blade and 600ml bowl, whisk, 900ml cup with lid • Colour: Dark grey • Warranty: 1 year manufacturer • Model: NBI07110 • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #4 in Hand Blenders (Amazon AU)
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KitchenAid Classic KHBV53 Hand Blender, Black Matte
ASIN B09CT92T4C • $143.20 • Ships from Amazon AU
The KitchenAid Classic KHBV53 is the most expensive pick at $143.20 at time of writing, sold by Amazon AU, and it's ranked #11 in Amazon AU's Hand Blenders category and #10,112 overall. This listing is the black matte version, model 5KHBV53ABM, and other colours sell on separate listings. It's a compact corded hand blender with variable speed control and a stainless steel blade. The listing says it's of lightweight construction, which matters if you're blending a big pot and holding it there for a few minutes. Its cable is 153cm, the one stated cord length among the picks. That's useful in a kitchen where the power point sits a long way from the stove.
It comes with a 700ml blender jar with a lid, and a pan guard that clips over the foot to protect cookware. That pan guard is the reason I'd pick it for anyone with enamelled cast iron or non-stick pots, since a metal blade foot scratches coatings for good. The listing is short on detail, with no motor wattage, no speed count and no warranty stated. KitchenAid is widely sold in Australia, though, so parts and accessories tend to be easier to find than for smaller brands. This listing doesn't include a whisk or a chopper. You're paying mostly for the pan guard, the cord and the name, and for some kitchens that's the right trade.
At about $45 more than the Braun, with no stated wattage and fewer attachments, it's not the pick I'd make on the numbers alone. It earns its place in kitchens full of good pots, and for anyone who wants it to match a KitchenAid stand mixer. Fit the pan guard before every use in a coated pot. Rinse the guard separately so food doesn't sit trapped under it. Check the warranty on the current listing before you buy. Keep the long cord loosely looped when you put it away. If your cookware's coated, it's worth the extra.
Honest caveats: Motor wattage, speed count and warranty aren't stated on the listing. There's no whisk or chopper in the box, unlike the other four. It's the most expensive pick here and has the lowest rank of the five. Rinse the pan guard separately after each use. Other colours sell on separate listings at their own prices.
Best for: Kitchens with coated or enamelled pots, where the pan guard and long cord matter most.
Motor: Not stated on the listing • Speeds: Variable • In the box: 700ml jar with lid, pan guard • Cable: 153cm • Blade: Stainless steel • Colour: Black matte • Model: 5KHBV53ABM • Seller: Amazon AU • Rank: #11 in Hand Blenders (Amazon AU)
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What we see fail in the workshop: stick blenders
Stick blenders come into the shop for a handful of reasons, and most of them come down to liquid, heat or a cord that's been wrapped too tightly. Here's what usually goes wrong once one's had a few years of soups and smoothies, and what you can check yourself before you decide it's finished. A lot of them are a part away from working again.
Liquid up the shaft
A blender that rattles, smells sour or drips grey water from the top of the shaft has a worn seal at the foot. On a detachable shaft, the fix is a new shaft, and it's worth pricing one from the brand before you buy a whole new blender. The bigger worry is liquid that's reached the motor, which shows up as a motor that crackles, trips the safety switch or smells burnt. Stop using it then. Don't run it to dry it out, since that's how a damp motor shorts, and get it checked.
Stripped couplings and jammed blades
When the motor runs and the blade doesn't, or it spins freely and then grabs, the drive coupling between the motor and the shaft has usually stripped. That's often after the blade jammed on something hard. Look at the teeth on both sides of the join. If they're rounded off, the worn part needs replacing, and on most brands it's the shaft or chopper lid rather than the motor. A bent blade that wobbles needs replacing too, because the vibration wears out the bearing and seal quickly. Keep spoons out of the pot while you blend.
Cords broken at the handle
A blender that cuts in and out when you move the cord has a broken conductor, nearly always where the cord enters the handle. It's the result of years of tight wrapping and yanking from the power point. Don't keep using it, because a broken strand heats up under load. A cord replacement is usually possible, but it has to be done properly with the right strain relief and a test afterwards. On a well-made blender it's usually worth doing rather than replacing the whole thing. Wrap the new cord loosely from then on.
Decision tree: which one should you actually buy?
- Want one blender that does everything well? → The Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario at $97.95: 1,000W, a 21-speed wheel, and a chopper, whisk, masher and beaker in the box.
- Mostly soups, and you want it simple? → The Kenwood Triblade HDP109WG at $79, with three angled blades, one speed plus turbo and a full set of attachments.
- Lowest outlay with the longest stated warranty? → The Russell Hobbs Desire RHSM5BLK at $65, with two speeds plus pulse and a stated 2 year warranty.
- Smoothies and dressings blended and stored in one cup? → The NutriBullet Immersion Blender at $74.96, with an 800W motor and a 900ml cup with a lid.
- Coated or enamelled pots you don't want scratched? → The KitchenAid Classic KHBV53 at $143.20, with a pan guard and a 153cm cable.
- Blender rattling, dripping or cutting out? → It's usually the shaft seal, the coupling or the cord at the handle. Bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll tell you which part's gone before you buy a new one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a stick blender and an immersion blender?
Nothing, they're the same tool. Stick blender, immersion blender and hand blender are all names for a motor in a handle with a blade on the end of a shaft that you put into the food. Amazon AU lists them under Hand Blenders. A hand mixer is a different thing, with two beaters for cake batter and cream, so check the title carefully, because some listings use the names loosely. All five picks in this guide are stick blenders with a blending shaft.
How many watts does a stick blender need?
For soups, sauces, mayonnaise and smoothies from soft fruit, 600W is plenty. More power helps on thick mixtures like hummus or a heavy batch of pumpkin soup, because the motor doesn't bog down and runs cooler. The Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario lists 1,000W, the NutriBullet 800W and the Kenwood Triblade 600W. Blade and foot design matter as much as the number, and very high wattage claims on no-name listings are often marketing rather than measured figures.
Can you put a stick blender in hot soup?
Yes, that's one of the main jobs it's built for, but take the pot off the heat and let it settle for a minute first. Blending at a rolling boil spits and is hard on the seal at the bottom of the shaft. Keep the blade head under the surface before you press the button and let it stop before you lift it out. Don't plunge it deeper than the metal part of the shaft, so liquid can't run down to the motor.
Why does my stick blender leak or smell?
A sour smell or grey liquid dripping from the top of the shaft usually means the seal at the bottom of the shaft has worn, so liquid wicks up inside it each time you use it. On a blender with a detachable shaft, a replacement shaft from the brand fixes it. To make the seal last, rinse the shaft straight after use by running it in warm soapy water, don't soak it, and stand it upright to drain.
How long can you run a stick blender continuously?
Most are built for short bursts, and many manuals limit continuous running to around a minute or so before a rest. None of the listings in this guide states a duty cycle, so read the manual that comes in the box. A hot plastic smell, a warm handle or a motor slowing under load means stop and let it cool for a few minutes. For big batches, work in bursts and move the blender around the pot.
Is a stick blender worth repairing?
Often, if the motor's fine. The common failures are a worn shaft seal, a stripped drive coupling, a bent blade or a cord broken where it enters the handle. A shaft, coupling or chopper lid is usually a replaceable part, and a cord can be replaced properly with the right strain relief. If liquid has reached the motor or it trips the safety switch, stop using it and have it checked, then weigh the quote against a new blender.
Related buying guides
Stick blender rattling, leaking or cutting out?
Most stick blender faults we see come down to a worn shaft seal, a stripped coupling or a cord broken at the handle. Bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll find the actual fault and tell you whether it's worth fixing or replacing before you spend anything.
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