South Korean reality TV trailer Siren Island Survival arrived, giving us a glimpse into a group of fit, overweight women undertaking grueling physical ordeals. Return your tongue to your mouth.

10 episode Netflix series, Siren Island Survival will divide 24 women into six teams depending on their profession. This includes firefighters, soldiers, cops, athletes, bodyguards, and stuntmen, all of whom will compete to see which team comes out on top.

It doesn’t look easy either. Trials include chopping wood, carrying poles as they become hopelessly bogged down in the mud, and even physically wrestling each other. No matter who wins, it’s a guaranteed win.

Siren Island Survival(will open in a new tab) Releases May 30 on Netflix.

While bench blenders have been a staple kitchen tool for quite some time, smaller, more compact immersion blenders (also known as hand blenders) are finding their way as well. They’re great for whipping up a quick sauce or smoothie before you run out the door. Personally, my personal favorite is making light, foamy matcha lattes (just whisk together a cup of milk, half a teaspoon of matcha powder, and a dash of simple syrup, and pour it over ice, if desired), which is quicker and easier. do with an immersion blender than their large countertop counterparts. And for dishes like blended soups, immersion blenders not only give you a lot of control over the consistency, they also make cleanup a breeze. But depending on what the rest of your kitchen appliances look like, choosing the best immersion blender for your needs can be a little confusing. So, let us help you with our selection of the best models on the market right now.

Which device is right for you?

Before you even consider buying a new kitchen gadget, it’s important to figure out how you’re going to use it and how it fits in with the appliances you already have. In an ideal world, everyone would have a dedicated food processor, tabletop blender, and stand mixer. But the reality is that many people don’t have the space or the budget.

While immersion blenders and traditional full-size blenders overlap in many ways, both have their own strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you want to make smoothies every day, a tabletop blender might be your best bet. Large pitchers make it easy for multiple people to mix drinks at the same time, while large motors will make short work of ice and frozen fruit. Plus, more expensive options like the Vitamix or Robocoupe can even cook soup while blending, using the heat generated by the blender’s motor, which can’t be done with an immersion model. I would even argue that if you have the space for it and don’t have it yet, a full size blender is probably the best option for most people.

However, immersion blenders are often less expensive, and with the wide variety of accessories offered by some manufacturers, they can be great multi-taskers. The whisk attachment allows you to quickly prepare whipped cream or meringue without having to resort to an electric hand mixer, or risk elbow tendinitis by doing it by hand. Some immersion blenders also come with food processing bowls so you can easily make hummus, salad dressing or homemade pesto in minutes. And because immersion blenders are smaller and less bulky than traditional models, they’re a great choice for apartment dwellers or those with limited storage or counter space. This means that if you’re just trying to expand your culinary repertoire without bumping up your budget, an immersion blender can be a great way to try something new without too much effort.

Wired or wireless?

Much like figuring out whether you should get a blender or not, trying to decide between a wired or wireless model depends a lot on the other gadgets you already have. Mains versions usually have more powerful motors, making them ideal for people who don’t have a bench blender or food processor. But if you have one of these, wireless is the way to go. Not only do you get the convenience without having to worry about wires, but the ease of use makes it quick and easy to take out an immersion blender to add extra texture to a sauce or to purée a large pot of soup without having to. parties.

A few words about security

No one should be ashamed to be nervous about a device that is essentially a motorized mixing stick with a rotating blade on the end. But with proper care and use, an immersion blender should not be more dangerous than a chef’s knife. The most important safety tip is to always keep the sharp end of the blade pointing down and away from yourself or anyone nearby. This includes your hands as well as any utensils (such as a spoon) that may be in or near the bowl.

Fortunately, all consumer immersion blenders are designed so that their blades do not directly hit the food container (whether it be a mixing bowl or a saucepan). However, to be completely safe, you should avoid mixing food in glass containers or non-stick utensils, as the glass can shatter or shatter, and the metal blades and casing of the hand blender can damage the Teflon and ceramics.

You also need to make sure that no water gets into the plug or outlet of corded immersion blenders. And if you want to remove the blade or remove any food that might get tangled, first make sure the blender is turned off and unplugged from the power source (battery or wall outlet).

On the other hand, clearing a dive is pretty straightforward and straightforward. All you have to do is fill a bowl or cup with soapy water, dip your immersion blender in the water, and turn it on for 10-20 seconds. That’s all. If it’s still not clean, you can repeat this process again until it’s clean. And if hand washing is too tedious, then the blender on many models (including all models from this list) can also be washed in the dishwasher.

Best corded immersion blender: Breville Control Grip

Best Wired

Breville

Starting at $130, Breville’s control grip Not only does it have one of the most powerful motors (280W) of any corded immersion blender in this price range, it also comes with a host of handy accessories. In addition to the main 8″ shaft/dipping blade, the kit includes a 25oz chopping bowl for slicing and chopping and a 42oz blending jug for soups and smoothies. There’s also a whisk attachment, meaning that among all the accessories, the Control Grip can replace three different common kitchen gadgets: a food processor, a traditional blender, and a hand mixer.

I also appreciate the two-button fastening system, a safety feature that ensures accessories are properly secured before use. Breville even includes a removable blade guard to keep the stainless steel blender from scratching other appliances in storage. And with support for 15 different speed settings, you can easily cook any dish. Alternatively, if you are looking for an all-in-one immersion blender with even more attachments for making drinks and pureeing soup, you may want to consider KitchenAid 5 Speed ​​Immersion Blenderwhich comes with two extra paddles to help crush ice, beat egg whites and more.

Best Cordless Immersion Blender: KitchenAid Variable Speed ​​Cordless Hand Blender

Best Wireless

Help in the kitchen

If you just want a simple and easy to use immersion blender, KitchenAid Variable Speed ​​Cordless Blender It comes with a dishwasher-safe mixing jug and an extra protective cover to help keep your dishes from scratching. However, the real cool feature is that instead of discrete speed settings, you can adjust the 180-watt blender motor by simply pulling the trigger. This makes it incredibly intuitive to use, and with a built-in safety switch, it’s much more difficult to press the power button and accidentally spin the blade.

KitchenAid also claims that the battery can cook up to 25 bowls of soup on a single charge. And while my kitchen is too small to test it properly, I’ve never run into any problems. However, you’ll want to charge the battery beforehand because its charging port is next to where you attach the faucet, meaning you can’t plug it in while you’re working.

Best Budget Immersion Blender: Hamilton Beach 2-Speed ​​Hand Blender

Best Budget

Hamilton Beach

For those who want something versatile and excellent quality, Hamilton Beach 2 Speed ​​Immersion Blender is the best choice. While it’s not cordless, in addition to the main mixing handle, you also get a whisk attachment and a chopper bowl – all for just $35. On top of that, its 225-watt motor is quite powerful for its price, although you don’t have as many speed settings as more premium competitors. Since this item has been on the market for over 15 years, this blender has long been a top choice among budget-conscious cooks.