Whether you need to replace an existing blender or are looking for the perfect blender to add to your kitchen gadget collection, check out my guide on how to choose a blender. No more guessing or wasting money on blenders that don't do the job. Grab the right one the first time.
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How To Choose A Blender: Why You Should Trust My Opinion On Which One To Buy
- Cookbook Author: I've written 5 Instant Pot Cookbooks and 2 Air Fryer Cookbooks so I've spent more than my fair share of time in the kitchen.
- Efficient: That's the only way I know how to do things in the kitchen. Who has time to waste when you're trying to get food on the table? I'm known for my ruthless efficiency and use the pot in pot cooking method every chance I get.
- Gadget geek!: I'm a self-proclaimed food tech enthusiast and have been known to purchase (and review) just about any kitchen appliance I can get my hands on.
Blenders
The trouble with choosing the right blender is the variety of types and functions offered with blenders. The things I take in to account when choosing the right blender are:
- What Do They Do?
- Blender Functions
- Blender Prices
- Which Type Of Blender Is It?
1. What Do Blenders Do?
- Crush ice
- Puree vegetables
- Make smoothies
- Whip air into a drink or smoothie
When Should I Use A Blender?
Because of their strong motor, a blender will be your go-to gadget when you're wanting things pureed. They're also great for making smoothies and icy drinks (think margaritas).
Because of their narrow, funnel shape, blenders create a small centrifugal force that not only purees things well, but also whips air into ingredients, making them light and frothy.
2. Blender Functions
Functions on blenders are not all the same but most blenders have different speed settings. They can vary from 1 to up to 20 speed functions, but just a few will get the job done.
While most blenders have a simple numbered dial or touchpad to select the blending speed, some offer different speed functions. Some of them are:
- Smoothie
- Salsa
- Milkshake
- Pulse
- Clean.
My personal bias is that you don't always have to have named presets. They are nice to have, but what you really need is something that has adjustable speeds, and a strong motor. The rest is really just mostly marketing hype.
3. Blender Prices
Prices in blenders can vary significantly. Depending on the functions they offer and the brand you're purchasing, you can pay anything from under $30 to over $500 for a blender.
Remember that with any kitchen gadget, you get what you pay for. While I'm not saying you need to run out and buy the most expensive blender on the market, I would personally avoid anything cheaply made.
Here are a few of my favorite mid range blenders currently on the market:
The Nutribullet Blender Combo works as a full size traditional blender and a personal blender all in one. It offers the power and speed of a full size blender with the option to make a single serving when the need strikes. It's easy to clean and comes with a 1 year warranty.
This Oster beehive blender holds 6 cups of ice or liquids to blend them to perfection. It has a specialized ice crushing blade to make your favorite frozen drinks. It even offers a 10 year warranty for lasting durability.
4. Different Types Of Blenders
To further complicate things, blenders came in a variety of shapes and sizes.
- Countertop Blenders
- Personal Blenders
- Immersion Blenders
- Heated blenders
1. Countertop Blenders
Stand blenders are full-sized blenders that have a large base with a tall glass or plastic pitcher that you blend food or drinks inside. They are generally used to blend or mix larger quantities at one time.
Countertop blenders have a larger footprint than the other two types of blenders. They tend to be heavy (anywhere between 5 and 20 pounds) and tall (most around 15 inches tall).
They don't take up much room on your countertop, but many will not fit under your kitchen gadgets and they can be quite heavy to store away after each use.
The countertop blender comes in an assortment of capacities. Most countertop blenders have a capacity ranging anywhere from 4 to 9 cups. What you really want to look for, is a blender that fits well underneath your cabinets. This way, you can keep it plugged in.
Highest Rated Countertop Blenders
A professional grade blender with blades much thicker and durable than other traditional blenders. Offers a 30 second preprogrammable cycle on top of the other blending functions for the perfect blend every time. Comes with a 2 year warranty and is made in the USA.
The Homgeek Blender offers one of the biggest capacity pitchers on the market at 2 full liters. With the assistance of the powerful motor and the preset options, it allows you to get the perfect blend every time. It's great for chopped salads, soups, and crushed ice. Easy to clean and easy to use.
The holy grail of blenders. You'll never worry about how to choose a blender again after you buy this one. It is a little more expensive than some of the other top models but it is worth every penny. I've reviewed hundreds of kitchen gadgets and this one I just can't part with. It's durable, powerful, and all around the perfect blender.
Think a countertop blender is the right choice for you? Pick up my favorite: Vitamix blender, or the budget choice that's fantastic, the Instant Pot Ace blender.
2. Personal Blenders
Compact/Personal blenders are the mid-range option for blenders when it comes to footprint and price. They're great for storing away when not in use, making enough for a single serving, and practical for travel.
Highest Rated Compact Blenders/Personal Blenders
Includes a strong 1000 Watt motor that pulverizes fruits and vegetables with ease. It comes with an assortment of different sized cups and pitches to make meals on the go a breeze. 28 oz insulated cup keeps drinks cold up to 8 hours. Easy to clean and durable.
Has a powerful 700 Watt motor. Comes with two separate 16 ounce containers to blend your favorite drinks, smoothies, or meal replacements in. It's dishwasher safe and great for hiding fruits and veggies for picky eaters.
If you're on a budget and are wondering how to choose a blender for smoothies or a meal replacement on the go, this is a great option for you. It has a nice 14 oz sized blending cup and is great for shakes, smoothies, baby food, marinades, and more. It comes with a stainless steel blade and is easy to clean.
Personal blenders are quite small and perfect for small spaces, travel, and dorms. They are compact, don't take up much room, and are very light weight. They are simple to clean and easy to store.
Personal blenders typically come with cups ranging from 8 to 24 ounces. Depending on which brand and model of personal blender you choose, some come with a variety of cups for a more customizable blending experience.
Personal blenders are just not as powerful as countertop blenders. For this reason I would not recommend that you have this as your only blender.
They're great for smoothies on the run or small batches of chutney etc, but these are not what you will want to use for that big batch of margaritas for example.
Think a personal blender is the right choice for you? Grab my favorite: Ninja personal blender.
3. Immersion Blender
Immersion blenders have the smallest footprint and are the most versatile when it comes to blending capacity. They're easy to store and great for making pureed soups and sauces.
Highest Rated Immersion Blenders
This Kitchenaid Immersion blender comes in a variety of colors to perfectly match your kitchen décor. It can blend up to 25 cups of soup on a full charge. Comes with a lithium ion battery for easy and affordable charging. With the variable blending speeds and stainless steel blades, it's guaranteed to give you the perfect blend every time.
The Utalent Immersion blender is incredibly versatile, even compared to the offered versatility of other immersion blenders. This one comes with multiple attachments and blending cups to use with the blender itself. It's easy to clean, safe, and highly efficient.
Packing 500 Watts of power, this tiny immersion blender is as strong as some of the full size blenders on the market. It has an ergonomic grip to make blending comfortable and easy. It also features a removeable arm with additional attachments to make it totally versatile and easy to use for a multitude of cooking needs.
Immersion blenders have the smallest footprint out of all of the blender types. They have blending shafts that can range from 7 to 10 inches long with handles that are varying lengths. They are small in diameter and designed to be stored in a drawer or a cabinet when not in use.
Believe it or not, the capacity of an immersion blender can be the largest of all. Since the immersion blender goes into the container you prepared the food or drink in, it takes on the capacity of that container.
It is however limited to things that have a significant amount of liquid to start with. It's really hard to start with four bananas and ¼ cup of ice and use an immersion blender for it. You really need a proper countertop blender for it.
If you're looking for the best immersion blender, you really can't go wrong with the Cuisinart immersion blender, or the Kitchenaid immersion blender. Those are my absolute favorites.
4. Heated Blenders
Increasingly, brands have started to make blenders that make soup or other hot liquids. Some of them contain a heating element in the bottom. Others, like the Vitamix heat via friction. I find the ones with a heating element make far superior soups, because the actually get hot enough to cook the ingredients.
Highest Rated Heated Blenders
Unlike many other blenders on the market, this one comes with a heating element. This is a game changer if you love making soups or warm drinks. It comes with several preprogrammed settings to making blending super simple. Want something cold? No problem. The heating function is completely optional depending on which setting you choose.
The Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot is great for people that want cold and hot blending options. It comes with a wide array of preprogrammed blending functions with the ability to control whether or not the heating element is activated. It features a generous 64 oz. pitcher for blending that is extremely durable.
The Instant Pot Ace blender, the Ninja heated blender, and to some extent the Vitamix, are capable of making hot soups.
The Vitamix works via friction, while the other two have heating elements that allow you to customize temperatures.
Which Should You Buy?
This decision should be based on how you intend to use this kitchen gadget. Here are a few tips to help you decide which one you should purchase:
Buy A Traditional Blender If:
- You want something that can blend large amounts of drinks or puree large amounts of liquids at once
- You have room to spare in your kitchen
Buy A Compact Blender/Personal Blender If:
- Have a small kitchen
- Only make portions for one person at a time
- Are on a budget
Buy An Immersion Blender If:
- You are limited on kitchen space
- Want something with customizable capacity
- Like to put appliances away after each use
More Kitchen Gadget Reviews
- Mealthy Nonstick Pan
- Oxo Kitchen Utensils
- Mealthy Stainless Steel Pan
- How To Choose A Knife
- Vitamix 7500 Review
- Dash Egg Cooker
- Dash Mini Waffle Maker
- Vitamix 5200 Review
- How To Choose A Popcorn Machine
Now that you know how to choose a blender, which is right for you? If you found this article on how to choose helpful, make sure you share it on Facebook and Pinterest so your friends can figure out which one is right for them too.
Originally Published September 29, 2020
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