Are there significant differences between different brands/models of immersion blenders? I'm thinking of purchasing a new immersion blender as a gift for somebody that has a very old one which is quite literally being held together with duct tape.

I own a Sunbeam model which I believe is rather cheap (it was actually a gift to me several years ago) and although I use it infrequently, I haven't had any major problems with it.

My internet research on immersion blenders hasn't uncovered much other than a few unverified statements that molecular cooks prefer the Braun models for foams.  No explanation of why, and I haven't even seen a Braun in any store here, but regardless, the intended recipient of this doesn't make foams, she primarily uses it (often) to make creamy soups and maybe a few other purée-based dishes.

I seem to be seeing the same Cuisinart model everywhere and am starting to wonder if I should just get that one and not bother looking for anything more... premium.

Are there actually any characteristics or features that make some immersion blenders better than others, either in general or for a specific purpose?  If so, what are they?

Also, I'm not necessarily looking for a recommendation, but a few times in the past I've been told to look for features which were apparently unobtainable, so if there are any unique/premium features I should be on the lookout for, it would help to have at least one example of a model that has them.
America's Test Kitchen published a review of eight models in the April 2010 issue of Cook's Country.

Their test covered several common tasks for an immersion blender:


Mayonnaise emulsification
Making soup
Whipping cream
Making smoothies with frozen ingredients
Making pesto


They evaluated the blenders on three criteria: performance, usability, and ease of cleaning. The only blender to perform at the highest level across all three, and the only to win their top honors of "highly recommended" is the Kalorik Sunny Morning Stick Mixer. 

The model that I use is the KitchenAid Hand Blender. I have never had a problem with it, and it was the only other model reviewed to be recommended. It was dinged a few points in the soup &amp; whipped cream tests. 

The remaining models were either recommended "with reservations", or outright not recommended. The reasons for these included:


No cup included. The cup is important for ensuring optimal mixing.
Battery powered
Having to hold two buttons to use
Ridiculously loud
Excessive vibrations
General discomfort &amp; fatigue
Poor performance with one or more of the food tasks. This was typically attributed to either a weak motor, or a poor blade cage design. A poorly designed cage can restrict the circulation of food resulting in portions being over blended.


None of the models  reviewed included a Sunbeam or Braun. However, the Cuisinart model was, and received the lowest marks of all.