Immersion blenders are incredibly handy and minimalistic appliances that make quick work of things like soups and smoothies. A good reason for their rise in popularity is how simple they are. Since they are so relevant today, it makes sense that a lot of recipes call for an immersion blender. However, what do you do in these situations if you don't own one? We have looked into this issue for you so that you can still make those new recipes without an immersion blender!

There are a variety of tools and techniques that you can use instead of an immersion blender. Each one differs in effectiveness depending on what you are trying to blend. Check out these 7 alternatives:

  1. Hand mixer
  2. Stand mixer
  3. Food processor
  4. Blender
  5. Electric whisk
  6. Chopper bowl
  7. Potato masher

Many people might own immersion blenders, but that doesn't mean that you have to. There is always more than one way to get a job done. This is even truer in the kitchen considering how many tools exist for it. You can pick any of the substitutes listed above, but one may work better than others. Make sure to keep reading down below to learn exactly how well each of these alternatives compares to an immersion blender!

A cropped shot of a chef cook using hand blender, 7 Immersion Blender Alternatives

Do You Need An Immersion Blender?

The bottom line is that immersion blenders wouldn't be popular if they weren't useful. The main reason why many choose an immersion blender over a traditional one is because of its simplicity. With a hand blender, you don't have to inconvenience your entire cooking process by putting your ingredients into a traditional blender that's going to be a pain to clean later. You just have to stick the immersion blender into the ingredients while they sit in their pot or container. They're also much easier to clean.

Plastic bowl with fruit and immersion blender on blue background close-up

Just because immersion blenders are useful, doesn't mean they're necessary. They're convenient to use but they also have their limitations. They can be very messy since your ingredients aren't contained while they're being blended. Hand blenders also aren't as strong or large as other options so they can't do the same size of jobs. Blending things like soups, smoothies, and sauces is easy with a hand blender. However, you can do all of these jobs and more just as well, if not better, with some of these alternatives.

1. Hand Mixer

Hand mixers have been around much longer than immersion blenders and function very similarly. While traditionally thought of as a baking tool, these gadgets can do more than just make a batter. You can use them on soups and sauces just like immersion blenders.

Also, like immersion blenders, you can put them directly into a pot or container that the ingredients are already in. They might be even easier to clean since you just have to take off the beaters and throw them in the dishwasher!

Click here to shop for hand mixers on Amazon.

2. Stand Mixer

This option may seem a little bit like overkill but you have to use what you have to get a job done. If all you have is a stand mixer, then it will certainly work. It won't be as convenient as the handheld options since you have to place the ingredients in the mixer's bowl. However, it can do large jobs at a time like big batches of soup that need to be whisked. The cleanup for using a stand mixer also is not ideal, but this alternative will get the job done.

Shop for stand mixers here on Amazon.

3. Food Processor

Usually, you would turn to a food processor when you need harder foods diced like nuts. Immersion blenders are usually used on softer things like soups and sauces. This doesn't mean that they can't be interchangeable in some circumstances. If you need to puree vegetables for a soup, then a food processor can certainly do that.

The downside of using a food processor is the clean-up. It's not as minimalistic as an immersion blender. The upside is that if your ingredients are a bit harder or in larger pieces, then a food processor will make quick work of them!

Check out food processors on Amazon.

4. Blender

This alternative is fairly obvious since most individuals who don't own an immersion blender own a standard one. Stand blenders are going to be able to do the same jobs as an immersion blender and even on a larger scale. A bigger motor and blades mean bigger jobs. You also don't have to worry about the splatter problem that can easily happen with a hand blender.

The drawback of this option is that convenience goes out the window. You have to pour everything into the blender and then have extra dishes to worry about later.

Look here for blenders on Amazon.

5. Electric Whisk

This substitute is very similar to the hand mixer option. In fact, it's often the same tool, just a different attachment. Hand mixers usually just come with beaters but you can easily find ones with whisk attachments. You just put the whisk into the hand mixer and you can mix up ingredients more smoothly than with the beaters. The cleanup for using this tool is also the same as with the beaters. Just extract it from the hand mixer and toss it in the dishwasher!

Click here to shop for electric whisks on Amazon.

6. Chopper Bowl

Chopper bowls and food processors are very similar. The big difference between the two is that chopper bowls are manually powered and food processors use electricity. However, that doesn't mean that you can't still use a chopper bowl to prepare your dishes instead of an immersion blender. It's not going to liquefy things like an immersion blender, but it can finely chop up vegetables and fruits with a little bit of liquid to get it close.

If you like a slightly chunkier soup, sauce, or salsa and don't want the noise of an electric tool, then this is a perfect option!

Shop for chopper bowls here on Amazon.

7. Potato Masher

Whereas the stand mixer is a big tool for the job, a potato masher is on the other end of the spectrum. It may seem low-tech compared to all of the other options but don't count this classic tool out. If you have soft vegetables that need to be mashed up for a sauce or soup, then a potato masher does a wonderful job. You don't even have to plug it in! You can also use it directly in the cooking pot if desired and it's arguably the easiest substitute on this list to wash after using it.

Check out potato mashers on Amazon.

Other Thoughts On Alternatives To An Immersion Blender

It's important to know alternate ways to get a job done because you may not always have the exact tools that instructions call for. Aside from knowing the substitutes to an immersion blender, it's also important to know when exactly you might need them. Here are a couple more thoughts that may come up during these situations.

How Do You Blend Soup Without A Blender?

This is a perfect situation to use one of the simpler alternatives shown above. If you cook the vegetables well enough and they are very soft, you can easily use a potato masher. You can take out the vegetables with a slotted spoon and mash them and then stir them back into the pot to mix them with the liquid.

You can also leave everything in the pot and use a hand mixer or hand whisk to blend it all. It may not be exactly as smooth as with a blender but it will work well enough.

How Do You Make A Smoothie When You Don't Have A Blender?

The key to making a good smoothie without a blender is preparing the fruits and vegetables correctly. You'll want soft, non-frozen ingredients. Make sure that they are clean, peeled, and seeded depending on the fruits you're using. You don't want any hard skins or anything in your smoothie. Then you can mash up your ingredients with a fork or other preferred method. Once they are all mashed, you can add in the yogurt, milk, or other liquid ingredients and mix them all!

Finishing Up

Not having a hand blender doesn't have to stop you from enjoying delicious recipes! With the alternatives offered here, you can still make great dishes. They can all be used instead of an immersion blender depending on exactly what it is that needs blending. When you find something that you need an immersion blender for, you can look at these substitutes to find the ones that you already own and the best one for that specific job. Now that you know there are ways to get around having an immersion blender, nothing is holding your cooking skills back!

To learn more about alternatives to use in your kitchen, make sure to click on the links below:

5 Garlic Press Alternatives To Try Out

What Can I Use Instead Of A Casserole Dish? (5 Alternatives)

6 Cake Flour Substitutes and Alternatives

What Can I Use If I Don’t Have A Food Processor? [22 Alternatives]

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