Other choices in the mix

Multifunction machines claim to combine the functionality of a blender and a food processor. The Vita-Mix 5000 (shown) is billed as "10 kitchen appliances in one." This tall, heavy, and pricey machine did well in our blending tests, though less-expensive models did just as well. The Vita-Mix excelled in most of our other tests, though it is loud and not as easy to use as some basic blenders. What the high price gets you is versatility. We tested two of its many claims. The Vita-Mix mixed banana-bread dough well, but cleaning out the dough was a chore. It also made a smooth, creamy ice cream and did a very good job with salsa and blueberry-pancake batter.

The Blendtec Total Blender is another multifunction appliance, which, says the manufacturer, can "Blend, Chop, Grind, Freeze, Cook, Hash, Crush, Mince, Dice, Mill, Purée, and Much More!" The Total Blender excelled at making smoothies and crushing ice. But that power and performance come at a price: This blender is extremely loud.

We also made banana bread, ice cream, salsa, and pancake batter with this blender. The bread was a bit dense, the ice cream smooth though it had some ice crystals, the salsa was excellent, and the pancake batter was very uniform.

If having a do-it-all device is a priority, consider the Vita-Mix or the Total Blender--they both topped our Ratings. Otherwise, we'd get separate appliances.




Handheld, or immersion, blenders are designed mainly to make it much easier—and safer—to prepare many types of soups and purees. The shaft on these appliances features a long neck with the blades at the end, allowing you to puree food in the cooking vessel, say when you want to incorporate vegetables into a soup without having to remove the hot liquid and solids from the pot and pour them into a traditional blender.

Immersion blenders are also handy for mixing powdered drinks, milkshakes, and smoothies. Note that you do have to hold down a switch to keep the blades running, which can become tedious.

While handheld blenders are great for a few tasks, they're not designed to replace countertop blenders or handheld mixers.

We tested the Bosch Todd English Mixxo MSM6A3AUC ($100), Braun Multiquick Professional MR5550MBC-HC ($70), Cuisinart SmartStick CSB-77 ($50), and Hamilton Beach Turbo-Twister 5977 ($25). The Braun (shown at left) has more power and a variety of blender accessories. It did better at puréeing, whipping, and chopping than the other models.