Of course you want the best blender for your money, so here are some useful features to look out for when buying a blender. To ensure you get the best blender with the features you really need try to use our checklist below.
For some consumers, a conventional blender will work just fine. These typically fall in the $30-$150 range and offer a few settings for different uses. This type of blender is typically made of cheaper materials and can be found pretty much anywhere you can buy small kitchen appliances.
Conventional blenders won’t offer the durability that higher-end models do and they won’t take on some of the more heavy-duty tasks some consumers will like their blenders to perform, but for making the occasional soups, salsas, or smoothies, they’ll usually get the job done nicely.
Designed for professional chefs and kitchen enthusiasts, this category of blenders costs a lot more than the more affordable blenders you find at your local grocery store. But, with this higher costs comes a performance that is a cut above what other types of blenders can offer. Professional blenders typically cost several hundred dollars, starting at around $200 and occasionally reaching prices as high as $1,000 (although blenders at that price point are outliers).
High-performance blenders are designed to take on heavier duty tasks like making peanut butter or blending produce even when you’re starting with larger pieces.
Smoothies have become an increasingly popular part of many people’s breakfast routines and post-workout regimens. Making your own smoothies at home can save you big versus purchasing them at the gym or smoothie shops. Recognizing the growing number of customers who want to make healthy smoothies every day (or most days) at home, single-serve blenders have become a big category in the blender market.
While conventional and high-performance blenders usually have pretty large containers, big enough to make a good batch of soup or salsa, that’s overkill for someone who just wants to make one smoothie.
The biggest difference between high-performance blenders and conventional ones is the amount of power they pack. Conventional blenders will often offer wattage of around 300 to 500, while high-performance blenders can get up to 1,000 watts and above. Immersion blenders trail behind the pack, sometimes offering as few as 100 watts, but most customers will want an immersion blender that offers more than that if you want to get some real use out of it.
Almost all countertop blenders offer different settings. They can be as simple as there being three different speeds or provide an array of settings for different uses like crushing ice, pureeing soup, or juicing. A machine that offers preset functions that match the primary uses you plan to put it to will be more user friendly than one that makes you figure it out as you go. Having a wide range of settings isn’t necessary, but it can add a lot of convenience.
If you’re interested in a blender for occasional use, but don’t have a lot to spend, you still have a lot of options within the categories of conventional, immersion and personal blenders. It’s perfectly possible to find a $40 blender that will satisfy some basic needs. If your blender will be getting frequent use, you aim to use it for more challenging dishes, or you’re particular about the consistency of your soups and smoothies, spending the extra to invest in a high-quality, powerful blender will likely be worth it.
Most kitchen counters are already crowded with various kitchen appliances, dishes, and condiments. Before you buy a blender, you’ll need to decide if there’s room for it to stay on the kitchen counter and, if not, if you have room for it in a cabinet or other storage space. You may be able to make room by moving some other items around, but you don’t want to find yourself stuck with a larger blender than you can find the space for.
The second consideration is the reason behind single serve blenders coming onto the market to begin with. If the container for your blender is larger than you need, then it’s taking up extra space, requires more cleaning effort, is bulkier to work with to no real effect, and is likely creating more food waste.
If it will be used primarily for one specific task, like your daily smoothie or pureeing soups, then you have an easy answer to which type to go with. If you expect to use it for a wide range of things, then you’ll want to both consider the power levels that your uses will require and look at the available preset settings of the different blenders you consider.
If you’ll be using your blender every day, you may benefit from spending more for a blender that will last longer. If you likely won’t pull it out from under the counter more often than once every few weeks, then a more affordable blender may last you a while.
The more pieces your blender comes in, the more time you’ll spend cleaning it. If you buy a blender with a large container, it may not fit in the dishwasher and you’ll need to count on washing it by hand after each use. The containers used in single-serve blenders are usually dishwasher safe and can just be thrown in alongside other cups in your dishwasher, and immersion blenders are one of the easiest to clean.
A blender that lasts you years will save money on future replacements. To find a blender likely to have a long life, consider purchasing one with a warranty — many high-performance blenders will offer warranties for several years, or even lifetime warranties for parts in some cases. You should also research the brand reputation of the blender you go with to make sure they’re known for building blenders that last. A look at user reviews will often give you an idea of what to expect from your blender.
For some customers, the look of a blender may seem unimportant. For many though, if you aim to keep it on your counter at all times in plain sight, you want something that looks nice. A lot of blenders are designed with aesthetics at least somewhat in mind (even if it’s not treated as the most important consideration). Many models come in different colors, so you can pick your favorite or match your blender to your other kitchen appliances.
Breville makes a number of blenders. Most of them fall in the high-performance category, but they do offer conventional and immersion blenders as well. The reviews of their blenders are mixed, but many more of them are positive than negative. Many reviewers find that their blenders work well, are quiet, and are a good value for the money. Others complain that they break too easily and don’t last long enough for the cost. The main takeaway we can offer from the reviews is that Breville’s models tend to do well for a while, but won’t necessarily tough it out for the long haul.
Dash offers a chef series of high-performance blenders that come in a number of different color options. Their reviews are positive almost across the board. Reviewers love the look of their blenders and are thrilled with the level of power they offer for the cost. Many reviewers even compare their Dash blender favorably to other more expensive brands they’ve tried. They have a reputation for being reliable, powerful, and a great value for the cost.
Vitamix specializes in making blenders, so perhaps it’s no surprise that their blenders perform well in reviews. They’re on the higher end pricewise, so expect to spend some money if you opt for a Vitamix blender, but customers consistently feel they get their money’s worth. Their blenders are powerful and can handle a wide range of heavy duty blending tasks with little issue.