A handheld electric blender with a small blade housed at the end of a long shaft, lowered straight into a pot or jug to purée soups, sauces and smoothies where they are. Also called a stick blender or hand blender. It saves ladling hot liquid into a jug blender in batches and gives the cook control over texture, from a few pulses for a chunky soup to a full smooth purée. Many models come with a whisk and a small chopping bowl.
It does not match a jug blender for silky-smooth results or for crushing ice and frozen fruit, and a pot that is too shallow will spray. Keep the blade head fully submerged while it runs, tilt slightly to pull the liquid through, and never put a hand near the blade while it is plugged in.