We Reviewed the Vitamix Immersion Blender (and It Was Almost Silly Powerful)

Immersion blenders are handy for soups, salad dressing, and even smoothies, and their lightweight, versatile nature makes them easy to incorporate into daily cooking without having to pull a full-sized appliance out of the cabinet. While they might not be able to fully replace a food processor or full-size blender, the best immersion blenders are powerful enough to tackle many tough tasks. 

We reviewed immersion blenders in November of 2017 but didn't include the Vitamix Immersion Blender. However, Vitamix products are powerhouses when it comes to blending, and we've even received a handful of reader emails asking our opinion on the immersion blender, so we decided to test it. We were thoroughly impressed with how powerful it was and how simple it was to use. You can now find it as a new winner in our immersion blender review.

The Tests

• Puréeing Soup Test: We blended 300 grams of a fibrous celery soup and passed it through a fine mesh strainer, measuring out how many solids were left behind.
• Pureeing Chickpeas Test: We blended a 15-ounce can of chickpeas with 1/3 cup of water and five drops of blue food dye to see how quickly the dye would be fully incorporated.
• Ice-Crushing Test: We used the immersion blender to crush one pint of ice with one cup of water.
• Usability and Cleanup Tests: We incorporated it into daily cooking, like making Caesar salad dressing and tahini sauce with whole garlic cloves, evaluating how simple it was to set up, how comfortable it was to hold, and how easy it was to clean.

What We Learned

It Was Powerful…

When we first started testing this immersion blender, we were caught off guard by just how powerful it was. When blending celery soup on the highest setting, it easily puréed almost all solids, leaving behind less than three grams of matter in the strainer from 300 grams of soup. It also blended the chickpeas into a smooth, uniformly blue paste in around 14 seconds, tying for the fastest time in our testing. It blitzed whole cloves of garlic into dressing and sauce in just a few seconds, and easily blended chunky soups into smooth ones. 

…Sometimes Too Powerful

There were issues with its power, however. When blending the celery soup in batches, it created such a deep vortex that the soup would get sucked under the level of the blade guard, sometimes spitting and sputtering out of the top of a deli quart container. We also found that instead of crushing ice right away, it shaved it into dense snow that blocked the blades. While it was too powerful to make smaller servings of salad dressings or mayo (admittedly, a more niche use), it worked well when we increased the batch size.

Variable Speed Helped A Lot

One of the ways to balance this power was to utilize the Vitamix’s five variable speeds. With multiple settings, it was easy to match the power to the container size. And it was simple to click the speed adjustment button and find exactly the right one for the job. Speeds one and two were great for mayo, speeds there and four blended the chickpeas smoothly, and the top speed was ideal for puréeing soup. 

The Blade and Blade Guard Were Unique

The Vitamix immersion blender has an “X” shaped blade with four edges, which were sharpened finer than other models we’ve tested. Though the four cutting edges weren’t quite knife-sharp, they cut through tougher fibers in the celery soup, blending it fully smooth. The Vitamix’s blade guard was wide and had big vent holes that helped create a deep, powerful vortex without clogging. What was truly unique, however, was the crown of the blade guard. With its plastic edges, this immersion blender can be used directly in the pan without worrying about scraping against nonstick or chipping enamel. 

It Was Extremely Comfortable to Hold

Even though it was heavy, the grip was nicely molded to fit securely in your hand, with a silicone covering for extra grip and comfort. The handle also directly aligns your pointer finger with the power button and your middle finger with the speed settings, allowing you to easily switch between speeds while blending. This was key for when a vortex grew rowdy and needed to be toned down, or when extra blending power was necessary for powering through a task.

The Verdict

Vitamix Immersion Blender

$170 $145 at Amazon $170 at Williams Sonoma $170 at Sur La Table

Pros: This is a truly powerful immersion blender that is up for tasks tough and gentle, thanks to its multiple speed settings. It’s comfortable to hold, with a tapered grip that orients your fingers on the speed button and power button, and the blending arm clicks securely onto the handle with a simple twist, making it easy to attach and remove. We really appreciated this function as a safety measure. We were able to keep the blade submerged in the blending container, click the power on, blend, and twist the blade head off so the blades were never out in the air while the handle was plugged in. It was also easy to clean around the blades thanks to its wide blade guard. 

Cons: The biggest downside of this immersion blender is what makes it special: its power. Because it can create such a deep vortex, it’s not a great option for smaller servings, since it'll splatter. It’s also on the higher end of the price spectrum, and accessories are sold separately. 

Who it's best for: If you have the budget, this is a great immersion blender that gets close to replacing a full blender. Cheaper than its full-sized siblings while taking up less space, it’s an excellent option for people with smaller kitchens, or those with a food processor that don’t want a second, full-sized appliance. And, it makes a great Mother's Day gift.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 3 x 8 x 3 inches
• Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Material: Stainless steel, plastic
• Wattage: 625 watts
• Speeds: 5
• Attachments: None
• Care instructions: Hand wash-only
• Warranty info: 3-year full warranty
  

FAQs

Does Vitamix make an immersion blender?

Aside from making many full-sized blenders that we love, Vitamix makes an immersion blender as well. It has five different speeds, a powerful, 625-watt motor, and a suite of accessories sold separately. After testing it, we highly recommend it. 

Is the Vitamix immersion blender made in the USA?

Every Vitamix product is engineered and assembled in Ohio, including the immersion blender, though some parts, like blender motors, are manufactured in China. The company does not publicly disclose where every part is made

Will an immersion blender scratch my pan? 

Most immersion blenders have a stainless steel blade guard that could scratch a pan or chip away at an enamel or nonstick coating, but the blade guard on the Vitamix immersion blender is plastic, making it more versatile for daily kitchen use in a number of different containers. 

What’s the best way to clean an immersion blender?

The best way to clean an immersion blender is to remove the blending arm and wash it with soap and warm water, making sure to remove any food particles from the blades while cautiously scrubbing around them. The body of the immersion blender can be wiped down with a damp cloth, but should never be submerged in water.

Why We're the Experts

• Jesse Raub is the commerce writer at Serious Eats. He's worked for the site since 2022.
• We separately tested immersion blenders, blending ice, soups, and more to find the best models.