Can You Use an Immersion Blender Instead of a Hand Mixer?

Although immersion blenders and hand mixers perform some similar functions, each has unique roles that it can do best. For instance, immersion blenders are suitable for blending ingredients into a fine consistency, while hand mixers are great at mixing ingredients. But can you use an immersion blender instead of a hand mixer? 

You can use an immersion blender instead of a hand mixer, but it isn’t recommended. While immersion blenders mix ingredients like a hand mixer, they’re ideal for blending solid foods to achieve the desired texture. However, immersion blenders can’t do a proper mixing job like hand mixers. 

Curious to learn more about the main differences between immersion blenders and hand mixers? If so, then you couldn’t be in a better place. Read on as I take a deeper look at the unique roles played by these handy kitchen appliances. 

What Is an Immersion Blender?

An immersion blender is a handheld tool used to chop ingredients and blend them into the desired consistency. The primary role of an immersion blender is to blend solid foods into puree or liquid form without using a bulky countertop blender. 

Immersion blenders perform similar roles to their bulkier blender cousins, transforming solid ingredients into liquids. 

However, immersion blenders come in a stick-like shape that you can dunk into almost any metal or glass container. So, no need to clean out that annoyingly bulky blender with these devices– all you have to do is stick it in a pot, power it up, and swirl it around to puree food. 

Still, with immersion blenders, you’ll need to place your ingredients into a container before immersing the handheld device. 

When To Use Immersion Blenders

As mentioned earlier, there’s not much difference between immersion blenders and conventional blenders. The main difference lies in how each device works. 

Immersion blenders can blend items that countertop blenders aren’t suitable for. 

For instance, you can insert an immersion blender into a boiling soup to give it a more consistent texture. Moreover, you can also insert an immersion blender into cooked food to make it mushy as per your recipe needs. 

Another great advantage of an immersion blender is its ability to make quick sauces or purees. Once you insert your device into a container with ingredients, you’ll have more control over how smooth and consistent you want the sauce or puree. 

Advantages of Immersion Blenders

Here are the advantages of an immersion blender:

• Immersion blenders are versatile. You can use an immersion blender to prepare different recipes. Besides mixing and mashing ingredients, immersion blenders can blend solid ingredients into a liquid.  
• Immersion blenders are easy to use. Immersion blenders don’t require experience, skill, or technical know-how to use. All you’ll need to do is read the user manual (for safe usage instructions) and immerse the device in a container with your ingredients. But you’ll need to be extra careful when dealing with hot ingredients. 
• Immersion blenders are convenient. Unlike a blender that you have to place ingredients into, you can stick an immersion blender into foods and various containers, making it easy to blend hot or copious amounts of foods, soups, and any type of ingredients. 

What Is a Hand Mixer?

Hand mixers, as the name suggests, are handheld devices that have attached whisks that you can use to mix a variety of ingredients. With a hand mixer, you can produce various consistencies depending on the ingredients in a container. 

Hand mixers don’t blend ingredients. Instead, their primary role is to mix ingredients and transform them into a different end product. 

You can use a hand mixer for kneading dough, combining batters, creating icing, and beating eggs, among several other functions. 

Hand mixers function a lot like stand mixers, only that they’re a lot more portable and compact. 

It’s also worth noting that hand mixers are more potent than immersion blenders and should be used with care when handling hot liquid ingredients. 

When To Use a Hand Mixer

Hand mixers perform similar roles to stand mixers, which combine ingredients. And although smaller than stand mixers, hand mixers can rise to the occasion and get the job done pretty well if used correctly. 

Hand mixers are commonly used as stand mixers substitutes when mixing hard ingredients. You can use hand mixers for kneading dough. 

Additionally, you can use hand mixers to crush ingredients into semi-liquid mush. However, since a hand mixer’s blades aren’t sharp, the device can’t wholly transform solid components into liquids. 

Advantages of Hand Mixers

Here are the advantages of hand mixers:

• Easy to clean. Hand mixers are a lot easier to clean than stand mixers, saving you a considerable amount of time and allowing you to focus on other tasks. 
• Affordable. Hand mixers don’t cost as much as stand mixers. Therefore, they’re highly recommended if you’re on a budget but need a mixer. 
• Convenient. You can use a hand mixer in a variety of containers. Additionally, these devices are portable and compact, making them a lot more convenient if you need to move around or have limited storage spaces.