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Blenders Buying Guide

Dying to learn how to make those Starbucks  drinks right in your home? Well with a blender,  you can!  Blenders can be made out of plastic,  glass,  stainless steel  or even porcelain.  They provide an easy and quick way to fully mix liquid or soft food ingredients together without making a mess. Since the blender is such a classic kitchen appliance, you may be needing one for your home. With so many on the market, how can you choose? One of the most important things to consider is how you plan to use your blender. See our tips below and happy blending!

Buying Tips

  • If you're a smoothie  nut and love to have one every morning, look for a blender that can handle a heavy workload. You might even want one that has a built-in spigot  for easy dispensing.
  • Do you want a blender just for the occasional margarita  party? You probably don't need a workhorse, but if you entertain large crowds, capacity is going to be important.
  • One downside of many blenders is noise level; fortunately some products use different types of technology to quiet their motors.
  • As with most appliances that last a long time, buy the best one you can afford; a good blender can last for 20 years or more, which definitely gives you your money's worth.

Quick Picks

Consumer Search and Blenders Best recommend these blender brands and models. Check them out and start whipping up some snacks!

Black & Decker Cyclone 12-Speed Horizontal Blender, White 

The Cyclone is designed to blend and chop just about any type of food and gives you 12 speeds of power with a high performance blade. An easy-pour spout on top provides the utmost convenience.

Hamilton Beach Wavestation Plus Blender 

2-way blending and a "wave action" system on this model produces smooth results in no time. The Wavestation is also dishwasher safe and comes with a 48 oz. plastic jar.

Oster 12-Speed Osterizer Cube Blender w/Plastic Jar 

 12 Speeds give you lots of blending options and long-lasting power - the Osterizer motor is designed to last 50% longer than other blenders on the market.

Kitchen Selectives Multi-Function Blender 

This 17 piece set comes with easy to operate hand blenders that are all microwave and dishwasher safe.

Oster 6640 10-Speed Blender with Plastic Jar 

This blender uses high power for jobs that require heavy mixing. The plastic jar is break resistant and fits up to 6 cups of liquid.

Smoothie Operators

There are two main types of blenders available. It's good to have both on hand, but if you are looking to just get one, this comparison will help you decide which suits your needs.

Countertop Blenders 

These are useful for making smoothies and ice-based drinks such as margaritas and milkshakes.  However, they can also be used for blending soups  and for puréeing ingredients for use in other recipes.  These models can usually hold between four and seven cups and run on a power source of 350 Watts and up. Be sure to consider your speeds when shopping;  these models typically come in seven to 10 speeds.

Hand Blenders 

Also known as immersion blenders,  these are mainly used for pureeing soups and sauces,  although with a handful of attachments they can be used for a wide variety of tasks such as whisking  and emulsifying salad dressings.   Most of these models take up less room and are easier to store as well as dishwasher safe.  Also, many hand blenders are cordless for mobile use and can be recharged in between blendings. If you find that you need a tool that will perform smaller chopping jobs as opposed to large scale liquid drinks, then this model may be for you.

Popular Blends

Now that you have your blender, it's time to consider one very important question - what should you make? See below for some popular blends that will keep you happily mixing.

Iced Mocha Shake 

Combine all ingredients till smooth for a caffeinated frozen treat! Serves 1.

Banana Smoothie 

Blend for 1-2 minutes and you'll have a creamy, delicious treat that's good for you too! Serves 2.

Margaritas 

Pour all ingredients into a blender and mix well at a high speed. Don't forget to rim the glasses  in salt  before pouring! Serves 4. 

Blueberry Lemonade 

Combine all ingredients until smooth. Pour through a wire-mesh strainer  and into a pitcher,  making sure to discard fruit solids. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon. Serves: 4

Related Buying Guides

Food Processors

Kitchen Mixers

Juicers

Meat Grinders

Coffee Grinders

External Links

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
NL: Blenders Shopgids