Is An Immersion Blender Dishwasher Safe? [Including A Look At Top Brands]

Whether you use an immersion blender to puree soups, whisk up whipped cream, or blend smoothies, it eventually has to be cleaned. Which begs the question: is an immersion blender dishwasher safe? We researched this topic thoroughly, which included reading the user manuals of several top brands of immersion blenders, and found the answer for you.

While some immersion blenders have parts that are top-rack dishwasher safe, we found that most blending shafts need to be washed by hand. These include top brands such as Cuisinart, KitchenAid, and Vitamix immersion blenders. The power base on all immersion blenders should never be washed in the dishwasher or submerged in water as this can cause damage and potential injury.

While you will not be able to pop most immersion blenders directly into the dishwasher, cleaning them can be a simple chore that does not require much time or energy. Continue reading to learn how easy it is to clean an immersion blender, what method to employ when removing stuck-on food, and what specific manufacturers say about cleaning their immersion blender.

Are immersion blenders easy to clean?

Immersion blenders can be surprisingly easy to clean by hand. Follow our simple guide to effectively and safely clean your hand blender. We suggest that you follow this method immediately after blending your recipe for it to be most effective. You will need a tall glass, warm water, and mild dish soap.

Fill the glass about three-quarters full with warm, soapy water. Immerse the blender shaft in the water and run it for 10 to 20 seconds. If it is a huge mess, feel free to empty and refill the glass until the blender is clean. Unplug the unit before rinsing and drying it thoroughly.

Can you soak an immersion blender?

If you skipped the previous step because you did not have time to clean it right away, you might find yourself with stubborn, stuck-on food. How do you clean the blender attachment if the above-mentioned method does not do the job? We recommend that you first check your user manual to see if your brand of blender shaft is dishwasher safe. If it is, then you should place the blender attachment on the top rack only. Otherwise, you could risk melting and damaging your unit.

If the blender shaft is not dishwasher safe, your other option is to soak it in warm water. Be careful, though; you do not want the blender attachment to be soaking for extended periods of time as this can potentially damage the metal. Thirty minutes in hot water should be the maximum amount of time you will need to loosen food particles. Then you can clean your blender as described above.

Are there any other methods to clean your immersion blender?

While the aforementioned process seems to be the most popular method we found online, most manufacturers encouraged you to wash the blenders by hand. Since many of these immersion blenders have sharp blades attached to them, we suggest employing a scrub brush with a handle to avoid contact with the blades. This ensures that your blender shaft will get clean without causing any injuries.

How to clean the Cuisinart immersion blender

If you have a Cuisinart immersion blender, it is important to always clean the power handle and blending shaft thoroughly after every use. According to the Cuisinart user manual, the blending shaft is not dishwasher safe.

To clean your Cuisinart immersion blender, you first need to remove the blending shaft from the power handle. As stated in the manual, you should wash it by hand in hot water using a mild soap to clean the blending shaft properly.

A word of caution, there are fixed razor-sharp blades at the base, so we recommend using a scrubbing brush to avoid close contact with your fingers. When cleaning the power handle, only use a damp sponge or cloth, and never immerse the power handle into the water as this will damage the unit.

The Cuisinart smart stick hand blender features a three-cup chopper/grinder attachment, a whisk attachment, and a two-cup measuring/mixing cup, all of which are top-rack dishwasher safe.

Click here to view the Cuisinart hand blender on Amazon.

Is the KitchenAid immersion blender dishwasher safe?

Some parts are dishwasher safe on the top rack only when it comes to the KitchenAid hand blender. Those parts include the whisk, pan guard, chopper bowl, chopper blade, blender pitcher, blender jar, and lid. The blender arm, chopper attachment, and whisk adapter need to be hand-washed in hot, soapy water. According to the KitchenAid user manual, the motor body can be wiped clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap, but do not use abrasive cleaners.

We like this KitchenAid immersion blender in empire red, as it allows you to blend 25 bowls of soup on a full charge.

Click here to view the KitchenAid cordless hand blender on Amazon.

How to properly clean Vitamix immersion blender

Vitamix is the gold standard for regular-size blenders, so obviously, we had to check out their handheld version. We found, as stated in the Vitamix user manual that this immersion blender is not dishwasher safe. Therefore, follow these simple steps to properly clean your hand blender:

1. Remove the blending shaft from the motor body. Wash it in warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
2. Wipe down the motor body with a damp, soapy cloth. Wipe with a clean towel to remove soap residue.

To avoid damage or injury, do not immerse the motor body in water or any other liquid, also do not allow the blending wand to soak in water for long periods of time. Finally, ensure that no water remains inside the blending shaft to avoid water running into the motor body when reattached.

We liked the Vitamix immersion blender because it comes with a scratch-resistant blade guard, which prevents scratching and marring your favorite pots and pans.

Click here to view the Vitamix immersion blender on Amazon.

Is the Hamilton Beach hand blender dishwasher safe?

Even though this budget option is no commercial-grade immersion blender, it is one of the few models we found that the blending wand can be washed in the dishwasher. In addition, it comes with a whisk and chopping bowl attachment that is also dishwasher safe, on the top rack only. To clean the power base, unplug it and wipe clean with a damp cloth.

The Hamilton Beach immersion blender is a portable and lightweight tool that blends, mixes, whips, purees, and chops without breaking the bank.

Click here to view the Hamilton Beach 2-speed hand blender on Amazon.

In Closing

It does not matter what brand of immersion blender you have; we highly recommend you read the user manual to know exactly how to care for it. While most require you to handwash, it is an easy chore and will allow you to use your immersion blender for years to come. We hope you found this article helpful and recommend you check out these articles for more reading.

Wondering if your countertop blender can be washed in the dishwasher. Check out this article which answers the question: Is A Blender Dishwasher Safe? [Including Top Brands].

Perhaps you are in the mood to make some soup, potentially using your immersion blender to make it silky smooth. First, check out this article which addresses What Pot Is The Best For Making Soup.