Yes, you can make toum with a Hand Blender, and it is actually one of the most effective and reliable tools for making stable, fluffy toum. When used correctly, a hand blender can produce smooth, white, emulsified garlic sauce with strong structure and excellent consistency.

Short Answer

A hand blender is well suited for making toum because toum is a cold oil-based emulsion, which matches the operating principle of a hand blender perfectly.

Why a Hand Blender Works So Well for Toum

Toum relies on controlled emulsification, not grinding or cutting.

Key characteristics of toum:
• High oil content
• Raw garlic base
• No water-heavy ingredients
• Emulsion created slowly

A hand blender creates a strong vertical vortex, allowing oil to emulsify gradually into garlic, forming a stable structure.

What Makes Toum Different From Other Sauces

Unlike pesto or mayonnaise, toum:
• Contains no egg
• Depends entirely on garlic’s natural emulsifiers
• Is sensitive to speed and oil flow

This means precision control is more important than power.

Best Conditions for Making Toum With a Hand Blender

For best results, use:

• A tall, narrow container
• Fresh, firm garlic cloves
• Neutral oil or light olive oil
• Lemon juice added gradually
• A hand blender with steady speed control

Container shape is critical for emulsion success.

Step-by-Step Method That Works

1. Add peeled garlic and lemon juice to the container

2. Insert the hand blender and keep it at the bottom

3. Start blending at low speed

4. Slowly drizzle oil while blending

5. Keep the blender stationary until emulsification begins

6. Once thick, gently lift the blender to incorporate remaining oil

Moving too early will break the emulsion.

Texture You Can Expect

When done correctly, toum made with a hand blender is:

• Thick and fluffy
• Bright white in color
• Smooth and spreadable
• Stable at room temperature

The result is often more consistent than mortar or Food Processor methods.

Common Problems and Causes

Mistakes to Avoid

• Pouring oil too quickly
• Using a wide bowl
• Lifting the blender too early
• Using warm ingredients
• Blending at maximum speed from the start

Most toum failures come from technique, not the appliance.

Manufacturer Perspective on Toum Preparation

From a design standpoint, hand blenders are optimized for:
• Oil emulsions
• Vertical blending
• Small to medium batches

Toum falls directly within this intended use category and does not overstress the motor or blade system when prepared correctly.

When a Hand Blender Is Better Than Other Tools

Compared to other methods:
• More stable than food processors
• Faster than manual whisking
• More consistent than mortar and pestle

This is why many professional kitchens use hand blenders for toum.

Summary

You can absolutely make toum with a hand blender, and it is one of the best tools for the job.

Key points:
• Ideal for oil-based emulsions
• Requires tall, narrow container
• Oil must be added slowly
• Produces stable, fluffy toum

With proper technique, a hand blender delivers excellent toum quality with minimal effort and high consistency.