This Chef-Loved Cuisinart Tool Is a Soup Season Essential, and It’s Perfect for Small Spaces

Making delicious food doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. If you have the right kitchen tools and a bit of confidence, you can make almost anything. With countless options on the market, it can be difficult to determine which kitchen tools and appliances are worth buying. That’s especially true if you’re short on storage space. We’ve talked to countless chefs about their favorite kitchen gear, and immersion blenders are a popular pick for good reason.

Hand blenders are kitchen workhorses, coming in handy on a daily basis for everything from salad dressing to whipped cream. Brian Mooney, Executive Chef at Tre Luna Bar & Kitchen in Hoover, Alabama, shared his top immersion blender recommendation, and it happens to be a Food & Wine favorite, too. 

Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender

“The immersion blender, also referred to in the kitchen as the stick blender, was a game changer for me,” Mooney said. “It helps speed up the process of blending sauces and making dressings without having to do them in small batches.” While his commercial kitchen is stocked with multiple sizes, the Cuisinart stick blender is his top pick for home kitchens.

This hand blender is powerful and easy to use. Its quiet, 300-watt motor can pulverize tough ingredients in instants, and its simple control panel is easy to operate using one hand. Just push the button to turn the blender on and off, press and release to pulse, and slide the switch up and down to shift from high to low power.

Of all the immersion blenders we tested, this one was the most versatile. It performed excellently in the emulsion test, crushed ice with ease, and made well-textured smoothies. Its ultra-sharp stainless steel blade also sped up the meal prep process considerably. 

The Cuisinart Smart Stick comes with several essential attachments and accessories, including a chopper, whisk, and mixing cup. The 8-inch blending shaft can reach deep into pots and bowls, and its stainless steel blade can easily slice through any ingredient you throw its way. The chopper attachment has a 3-cup capacity and is perfect for grinding coffee beans and whole spices, chopping nuts, mincing ginger, and more. The stainless steel whisk attachment can blend perfect meringues in seconds, while the 2-cup mixing jar prevents splatters. 

At just 5 x 13 inches in size, this small but mighty appliance can fit in most kitchen drawers. As a plus, all of the attachments are dishwasher-safe — according to shoppers, it’s as easy to clean as it is to use. In fact, the appliance has over 4,300 five-star ratings 

A quality stick blender is essential — especially as we enter soup season — that allows you to puree ingredients directly in the pot. Snag this chef-, customer-, and editor-approved Cuisinart hand blender for $70 at Amazon today.

More Immersion Blenders to Shop:

Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender

KitchenAid Hand Blender

All-Clad Electrics Stainless Steel Immersion Blender

Vitamix Immersion Blender

Hamilton Beach 4-in-1 Immersion Blender

At the time of publishing, the price was $70.