The £35 hand blender that blitzes the competition

Hand blender, stick blender, immersion blender – it turns out the humble hand-held blitzer goes by many aliases and yet, no matter the moniker, it’s a staple kitchen tool for all home cooks. 

Designed for fast and fuss-free blending, the best immersion version will purée anything from soup to sauces and slushies to smoothies, as well as meat, veggies and cheese – plus it cuts down on cleanup (if you’ve wrestled with washing up a whisk, you know). 

More compact than its kitchen counterparts, a hand blender is a smart buy whether you’re renting, in university halls, or just looking for ways to make the most of a small kitchen space. It’s one of the most essential kitchen buys, but until recently I had only used one for batch cooking baby food (pureed pear anyone?) while embarking on the joyride that is baby weaning.

Which is why I leapt at the chance to review the best, multi-use, budget blender in the business. Because if anything will get me cooking, it’s got to be this. 

Now? I’m making meal plans, rustling up recipes, batch cooking like a banshee and – one word – hollandaise. It’s the secret to being a successful chef (or in my case, a grown up). Meet the easy-grab cooking essential I never knew I needed…

John Lewis’ Hand Food Blender features a whopping 1,000W turbo power with multi-speed options designed to handle even the toughest ingredients (nuts, we’re looking at you). While you can choose high or low speeds to best suit your culinary needs, the stainless steel blades blend food easily – using an immersion blending method to balance internal and external pressures.

Compact and sleek in design, this multi-use hand blender is splash-proof, stick and corrosion-resistant. It also includes a 700ml measuring cup complete with pad, whisk and potato masher too. Whether you’re rustling up slushies, smoothies, pesto, guacamole, chimichurri, béchamel and hollandaise sauces, sweet potato mash, milkshakes, protein shakes, pumpkin spice lattes, vinaigrettes, cold-pressed green juices or pear purees – or you just like piña coladas (and getting caught in the rain) – this stick blender has ALL of your blending needs covered. 

One for novices and MasterChefs alike, the best hand blender deserves its place in every kitchen. Even if, like me, you can’t cook (read: don’t always want to cook but have to cook because I have kids, cook) it’s a must. Why?

1. It’s easy-use: No matter your kitchen credentials, this stick blender is powerful, versatile, and handles like a dream. Sturdy enough for batch-cooking, but still small enough that you can hold it – with flair – in one hand. Plus, it’s splatter-proof (unlike my two-year old) AND it’s easy-clean (also, unlike my two-year-old). Hand wash it or go full pro and fill a tall glass ¾ full with warm, soapy water. Run the blender in the water for 10 seconds and repeat if needed.

2. It’s speedy: And strong. Whether you’re juggling work, school runs, dissertations, dinner parties or spontaneous Sunday lunches with the grandchildren, this is one fast and fuss-free hand-held blender. Perfect for whizzing up pumpkin soup in the pan, mash (like your mum makes it) and other, notoriously hardy, root vegetables.

3. It’s sleek: Measuring in at H21.6 x W23 x D11 cm, this blender is small to store – whether you’re strapped for kitchen storage space or just love a clutter-free countertop. Great news if you don’t have the space or budget for a bulky food processor. And if you do want it on show? IMO it’s the best looking immersion blender that money can buy (if attractive kitchen appliances are your thing). 

4. It’s cheap, and yet quality-rich: Thoughtfully designed by experts, it looks and feels expensive but costs less than its competitors. If you’re looking for great value for money, and a brilliant blender? This is it.

With its whopping 1,000W of power, splash-limiting arm, smart attachments and excellent price point, the Hand Food Blender is (unquestionably in my mind) the boss of all hand blenders. It’s also given me the confidence to cook quick and healthy recipes for all the family. No longer am I a one-trick pear-puree pony!

Honestly? I never knew I could get so excited about a hand blender. It’s both a mark of how good it is, and possibly an indication that I need to get out more. But I’m taking the blender with me.