14 Immersion Blender Hacks for Your Kitchen

An immersion blender takes all the power of a full-size blender and puts it into the palm of your hand. Here are 14 clever immersion blender uses that prove this versatile appliance deserves a spot in your kitchen.

An immersion blender with standard attachment accessories.Photo byYayImages.

Ways To Use an Immersion Blender

While an immersion blender is most commonly used to puree soups, this handy dandy gadget can do so much more. It is a versatile kitchen appliance that can do the work of your countertop blender, food processor, or stand mixer from time to time. See how this kitchen helper has you covered from soup to nuts. I’m not even joking—this tool can actually chop nuts!

1. Pureeing a Pot of Soup

One of the best ways to use your stick blender is when simmering a pot of soup. Instead of transferring the hot liquid to a countertop blender, all of the pureeing takes place right in the pot. Whether you want to blend a few veggies to add a little texture to a chunky vegetable stew or make your tomato basil bisque silky smooth, the immersion blender delivers the power you need right in your hands.

2. Effortlessly Emulsify Salad Dressings and Marinades

While you can make a simple vinaigrette by placing all of the ingredients in a jar and shaking, creamy dressings must be properly emulsified to prevent the dressing from separating. A stick blender can do the job quickly and efficiently. It also does a fantastic job chopping up ingredients like fresh herbs and shallots that can add a burst of flavor to your homemade dressings.

Homemade mayonnaise.Photo byCanva.

3. Crafting Smooth Spreads

Another fantastic use for a handheld blender is making spreads like homemade mayonnaise or aioli. The key to making these creamy spreads is to blend oil and eggs while incorporating air. While that may sound intimidating, an immersion blender can do all the work in a fraction of the time.

4. Swiftly Whip Up Homemade Whipped Cream

An immersion blender makes homemade whipped cream easy. Pour heavy whipping cream into a wide-mouth mason jar and blend it for a few seconds on the lowest setting. Add your favorite sweeteners and flavor extracts and blend a little longer until stiff peaks form.

5. Perfecting Silky Sauces

Whipping up smooth homemade spaghetti sauce is so much easier using an immersion blender instead of a full-sized blender. Just like making soup, transferring piping hot sauce from the pot on your stove into a blender pitcher on your counter is a hassle and can even be dangerous. Instead, grab your immersion blender for smooth sauce without the mess (or need to pull burn cream out of your first aid kit).

Fruit smoothies made with an immersion blender.Photo byYayImages.

6. Blending Smoothies and Milkshakes

Who doesn’t love a homemade smoothie or milkshake? Making them with an immersion blender means less mess and less clean-up. If your serving container is wide enough to fit the blade, you can prepare and serve your smoothies and shakes in the same container. Put in your ice cream, yogurt, fresh or frozen fruit, and liquid, then puree until smooth. It’s as simple as that!

7. Mixing Pesto and Hummus

Pesto, hummus, and other thick spreads and dips are excellent ways to use an immersion blender. The handheld blender quickly breaks down basil leaves, cooked chickpeas, and other ingredients — all without pulling your bulky food processor out of the cabinet.

8. Whipping Up Wonderful Batters

Pancake batter must be fully blended to create perfectly soft, fluffy results. The same is true for waffle, popovers, and crepe batter. You can skip the gym and get in an arm workout by mixing batter in a bowl with a whisk — or you can use a stick blender directly in the mixing bowl for great results.

9. Creating Jams and Fruit Sauces

Turning fruit into homemade jam or fruit sauce is a great way to use it up before it goes bad. Place fresh strawberries or other fruit in a saucepan, sprinkle some sugar on it, and add a bit of liquid. Then cover the pan and let the mixture simmer until the fruit breaks down. Then grab your immersion blender and puree the soft fruit in the pan until it reaches the desired consistency. For smooth sauces, puree it all the way, or for chunkier jams, puree it just a little bit. The choice is up to you!

A mother feeding her baby homemade baby food.Photo byYayImages.

10. Making Homemade Baby Food

Making homemade baby food is a breeze with an immersion blender. Butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peas — you name it. Simply steam or boil your veggies until they’re soft, then puree them directly in the pot to make delicious meals for your wee one. This way, you know exactly what’s going into your baby’s food, and it’s super fresh.

11. Stirring Sensational Salsa

Love fresh salsa? An immersion blender can help you make it fast and easy at home on taco night. Add fresh tomatoes, chopped onions, diced jalapenos, and fresh cilantro to a bowl. For a chunky salsa, blend at a low speed just until everything is combined. For a smoother salsa, crank up the speed and blend a bit longer.

12. Mastering Meringue

Whipping up meringue for pies or cookies is easy with an immersion blender using a whisk attachment. Simply beat egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks form. It’s perfect for making lemon meringue pie, pavlovas, or just a classic meringue cookie.

Lavender lattes.Photo byCanva.

13. Frothing Milk Better Than a Barista

Want to make your lattes or hot chocolates extra special? Use an immersion blender to froth your milk. Heat the milk in a pot, then blend it until it’s nice and frothy. Pour it over your coffee or hot chocolate for an alpha-gal friendly, café-quality drink at home.

14. Chopping Nuts Like a Champ

Your immersion blender can also help with chopping nuts for baking or as toppings for your dishes. Just place the nuts in a container and pulse with the immersion blender until they reach the desired consistency. This method is much easier than using a knife and cutting board, especially for large batches like the cup of chopped walnuts and pecans you need to make my favorite Mexican wedding cookies.

Read the full article at Sage Alpha Gal.