A handheld blender is a magic wand for your kitchen, useful for puréeing soups, emulsifying sauces, and whipping up smoothies An immersion blender's compact size and versatility make it a handy tool.

A blender is a relatively simple machine—a blade, a jar, a couple of buttons that get everything going. If used properly, it can whip up smoothies, puree soups, and even blend nut butters. But use it ...