An immersion blender, also known as a stick blender, mini blender, hand blender, or wand blender, is a kitchen
blade grinder
A blade grinder, also known as propeller grinder, is a machine that chops material while mixing it, by means of a high-speed spinning blade. Applications of blade grinders for preparing foods include numerous electric kitchen appliances such as ...
used to blend ingredients or
purée
A purée (or mash) is cooked food, usually vegetables, fruits or legumes, that has been ground, pressed, blended or sieved to the consistency of a creamy paste or liquid. Purées of specific foods are often known by specific names, e.g., app ...
food in the container in which they are being prepared. The immersion blender was invented in Switzerland by , who patented the idea on March 6, 1950. He called the new appliance " bamix", a
portmanteau
A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words Larger immersion blenders for commercial use are sometimes nicknamed boat motors (popularized by
Emeril Lagasse
Emeril John Lagassé III ( ; born October 15, 1959) is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, cookbook author, and National Best Recipe award winner for his "Turkey and Hot Sausage Chili" recipe in 2003. He is a regi ...
and
Alton Brown
Alton Crawford Brown Jr. (born July 30, 1962) is an American television personality, food show presenter, chef, author, voice actor, and cinematographer. He is the creator and host of the Food Network television show '' Good Eats'' that ran for ...
). Uses include puréeing soups and emulsifying sauces.
An immersion blender comprises an electric motor driving rotating cutting blades at the end of a shaft which can be immersed in the food being blended, inside a housing which can be held by hand. The shaft with blades is often detachable to facilitate cleaning, and there may be multiple different attachments available. Some blenders can be used in a pan while on the stove. Immersion blenders are distinguished from worktop blenders and
food processor
A food processor is a kitchen appliance used to facilitate repetitive tasks in the preparation of food. Today, the term almost always refers to an electric-motor-driven appliance, although there are some manual devices also referred to as "food ...
s that require food to be placed in a special vessel for processing, and from hand mixers, which mix but do not chop.
Models for home and light commercial use typically have an immersible shaft length of about , but heavy-duty commercial models are available with a shaft up to or more. A Web site listing a range of typical commercial models, with links to specifications pages. Home models are available in corded or cordless versions. Motor power rating ranges from about 120 W to over 600 W for a heavy-duty model. Domestic models may be supplied with a goblet or other accessories.
References
General references
*"The spin on sticks," by Janice Matsumoto. ''Restaurants & Institutions'', March 1, 2000.Vol.110, Issue 6, page 95.
A Whirling Dervish That Dips Right Into Your Pot " by Amanda Hesser. ''New York Times'', August 19, 1998, page F.3.