How to Choose an Immersion Blender: 5 Questions That Find the Right Model

Yes, immersion blenders are the best tool for emulsification-based sauces including mayonnaise, aioli, and hollandaise. The standard method: add egg yolks, mustard, lemon juice, and salt to a tall narrow cup; add oil on top; submerge the immersion blender to the bottom of the cup and run at high speed without moving for 20 to 30 seconds. The blade emulsifies the egg yolks with the oil at the bottom, creating mayonnaise from the bottom up. As it thickens, slowly raise the blender while running to incorporate the remaining oil. Total time: 60 seconds. The narrow tall cup is essential, the emulsification technique does not work in a wide bowl.

Weekly soup making for a household of 2 to 4 people is well within the motor's design range, typically 2 to 3 minutes of blending per batch. The motor runs warm after 3 continuous minutes at maximum speed, which is longer than most single soup portions require.

A 16-oz to 24-oz beaker (tall narrow cup) is the standard included accessory. It serves as: a container for single-serve smoothies, a mixing vessel for dressings and sauces, and a measuring cup (marked in milliliters and ounces). The tall narrow shape is important for two reasons: it fits the immersion blender shaft correctly for efficient blending, and it prevents splashing better than a wide bowl. For smoothies specifically: a 24-oz beaker (approximately 700ml) is the right size for a single serving. If your blender comes with a smaller beaker: a 32-oz mason jar also works well as an immersion blender vessel.