“It’s so easy to use, and so easy to clean. “Plus, I love the way it feels in my hand.” Posie Brien, recipe developer and writer of the food site 600 Acres, has had hers for even longer - over a decade. “For me, it’s just really brought a lot of utility when making soups and sauces,” he says. “It is on the bigger side,” says food writer and editor Alyse Whitney, “but it’s really powerful.” Matt Rodbard, a food writer, editor, and cookbook author, has had his for over five years. With 15 speeds, it’s the most high-tech of the bunch. The majority of the experts I spoke to named the Breville Control Grip their favorite immersion blender.

Speeds: 15 speeds | Extras: Whisk, chopping bowl with blades, storage jar with lid

The immersion blender? “It’s all about convenience.” It’s much easier to clean.” No matter which model you’re drawn to - likely from one of the few brands that seem to dominate the market - Cristensen’s points ring true. “It stores in a drawer and you can pull it right out. “I use mine way more than my full-size blender and food processor,” Simply Recipes associate general manager Emma Christensen told me. In fact, I found that it’s pretty common to own both a blender and an immersion blender - but that the ease of the latter is preferable whenever it can be employed. And while they may not be right for, say, big-batch smoothies or crushing nuts into butter (which takes a lot of force), they work totally great for emulsifying soups, marinades, dressings and aïolis and, yes, for making smaller smoothies. While many people find storing a blender in their kitchen to be worth it, the smaller (and overall less expensive) immersion blender can handle a lot of the same cooking tasks with less fuss.

Blender kit