What to consider before buying a blender

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Whether for a smoothie or a summer cocktail, a quality blender is hard to do without. They can make your life much easier when preparing a drink or fixing a meal. From smooth, textured soups to thick, fruity concoctions, a well-functioning blender should be able to grind chunks of ice or vegetables in a minute or less.

Of course, finding the right one can be difficult; some can run on the expensive side. However, you should pay attention to a few areas of focus. And finding a blender with a powerful motor, easy-to-use controls and pre-sets and durability should also be top of mind. There are several different types to consider, too.

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Choosing the right blender between a jug- or pitcher-blender or a handheld immersion blender will make the perfect drink, delicious dressing or appetizer soup for your meal. We’ll talk more about the differences below. But first, we’ll outline some of the best and most popular blenders available in the marketplace. They include multi-functional options with attachments and handheld models that can crush nuts, fruits, ice and so much more.

Best overall: Vitamix 5200 Blender Also consider:  Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender (48 oz.) Best compact blender: NutriBullet Pro – 13-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer System Best splurge buy: Breville Super Q Blender Best smoothie-on-the-go blender: ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS Enfinigy Personal Blender Best value buy: Ninja 400-Watt Blender/Food Processor Best handheld immersion blender: KitchenAid KHBV53IC Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender

Why buy: Able to make hot soup or ice cream, the Vitamix 5200 blender is a stellar machine that can easily grind nuts, coffee and more; it’s also able to mix batters for pancakes, waffles, cookies, muffins and it can deliver kneading that is required for pizza doughs and thick bread. It’s a great, all-around blender for home cooks and chefs alike. It can chop fruits with ease and mince vegetables for purees. It can also handle dressings, sauces and non-dairy milk. Why? It has a powerful motor and blades to keep ingredients from sticking to the sides. The 5200 is also one of the more durable blenders on the market. It’s stainless steel, is easy to clean and can be featured on a countertop or stored away for future use.

Fine print: Comes in five colour options, and a seven-year warranty is available through the manufacturer.

Alternative: We also love the A3500 ($869.95), though it’s significantly more expensive. But if you’re looking for a fancier more modern option, the A3500 comes with a screen and pre-set buttons. We’ve tested this A3500 for about two years and it hasn’t failed any blending task. Read our Vitamix food processor review.

Why buy: Like the previous Vitamix model, this is also a great choice if you’re married to the idea of getting a Vitamix. The Vitamix Explorian E310 is slightly less expensive than the 5200 standard-blender or the Professional Series 750 — its priciest model. It’s a powerful 1400-watt model that can easily blend smoothies, savoury sauces, and fresh dressings. It can handle ingredients and liquids of different consistencies and has variable speeds that can take you from smoothie to butter in no time.

For those with less countertop space, the Explorian E310 is smaller than some other models. However, 48 ounces is still sizable enough to make enough goods for a dinner party or a family gathering. Not to mention, it’s dishwasher safe. You can easily take the attachments apart and sterilize them for the next use.

Where to buy: Vitamix | Amazon

Fine print: Its cord is four and a half feet long, and it comes with a warranty of up to 10 years through the manufacturer.

NutriBullet Pro – 13-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer

Why buy: For those that don’t want to stack up on too many appliances, a compact blender like the NutriBullet Pro is a great choice. Sleek and easy to use, it won’t take up too much space on your limited countertop. Instead, you can easily store it in your cabinets, and it comes with more than a dozen accessories, including two 0.5-quart/0.47-litre single-serve cups. It also comes with a 0.9-quart/830mL food processor bowl.

One thing to note: It’s better with thick fruits than leafy vegetables. Please do your best to chop them beforehand. It’s also not the best for crushing big pieces of ice and nuts. However, for breadcrumbs and smoothies, it’s a user’s dream. In addition, dressings and gravies are also great for the NutriBullet.

Fine print: Comes with a healthy recipe book and a nutritional guide.

Why buy: It might be expensive, but it’s worth buying. Made for home chefs who crave professional experience, the Breville Super Q Blender can suit various recipes and ingredients. It has 12 speeds that can easily chop through vegetables and puree fruits. It can handle nuts, beans, oats, doughs, and other ingredients with thickness to them. Its 1800-watt motor can take everything from baby food to protein-powder smoothies to gazpacho. Furthermore, it can handle coffee and non-diary milk with ease.

It’s not a stow-away model. You will have to find a place to store it permanently on your countertop. However, it’ll take firmly in place given its almost 20-pound frame, and it has an eye-catching stainless design. Equipped with a large 68-ounce container and razor-sharp blades, it’s a surprisingly efficient blender that can process almost anything. It also comes with a personal blender attachment with an additional blade system if you or a family member want a single-serve drink to go.

Where to buy: Breville | Amazon

Fine print: Has five-touch programs and noise suppression technology.

ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS Enfinigy Personal Blender

Why buy: For a personal blender of this size, the Zwilling Enfinigy is a powerful model. It has a handy to-go drinking lid perfect for drinks on the road. If you’re a workout warrior or have just gotten back into the swing of things, this great blender offers you functionality and style. Great for smoothies and protein-powder blends, you can ensure you get the nutrients you need to reach your goals.

It’s high-performance with a compact cross blade to easily handle fruits and vegetables, and it can even take nuts and beans. For those with limited counter space, it has a great design with a hidden display that doesn’t light up when powered off. And, if you consider yourself a foodie that likes to make a quality home meal from time to time, you can download the Zwilling Culinary World app with hundreds of recipes and cocktails from which to choose.

Where to buy: Zwilling | Amazon  

Fine print: It is made of plastic, but it does come with a three-year warranty through the manufacturer.

Alternative: Zwilling also has a full-size blender. The Zwilling Enfinigy Power Blender is a beauty. Not only does it power through ice, but it also looks nice while doing it. We’ve tested the Power Blender for a few months now and it continues to impress.

Ninja 400-Watt Blender/Food Processor

Why buy: For the price, this is a great buy. It can’t handle much more than frozen fruits and fresh vegetables, but it’s capable of mincing, dicing, chopping, blending and pureeing your ingredients. For the most part, it’s a reliable machine which for around $55 seems unlikely. But it can give you a six-cup capacity for most recipes, and its blade technology allows you to get most of the mixture from the cup without hassle or extra utensils.

Be sure not to get the motor wet with this blender. It sits on the top of the machine. It also comes with a dishwasher-safe jug attachment that is easy to clean. In addition, it’s lightweight and has a stable base that makes it easy to use when in operation.

Fine print: Comes with two different sized jars and has splash guards to prevent leakage.

KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender

Why buy: One of the most important things to assess when purchasing a blender is functionality. Not everyone needs a countertop blender. Some people need one for the drawer. If that’s you, a handheld immersion blender is a model of choice, and you can’t go wrong with KitchenAid. Envied by many and desired by most, this KitchenAid hand blender has a removable eight-inch blending arm that’s great for smoothies, milkshakes, soups, hummus and more. It also comes with a three-cup, BPA-free blending jar with a lid, making it easy to serve or store for later use.

Designed for the perfect puree or dressing, it’s also great for making butter or baby food. It’s even more suitable for a milkshake with hard ice cream. Whatever you decide, it’s a great option to consider. Moreover, it’s easy to clean, and the handheld option has a dishwasher-safe blender arm.

Fine print: It has a variable speed trigger switch that makes it easy to blend.

Immersion blenders vs. jug blenders

Shopping for a blender can be an important purchase. You don’t want to overspend, and you don’t want to buy a bigger model you need. If you love entertaining and have a big family that enjoys ice cream and fruit smoothies, a permanently fixed option on top of your counter might make much sense. However, if you’re the type that likes to make many dressings or sauces to go with your food, an immersion blender might be the best bet. Equally as useful, both have different uses for different recipes. Try to list the foods or drinks you’d like to blend and match your recipes with a machine that will likely get the job done.

What to consider before buying

If you buy a high-speed blender, there are a couple of things to consider before buying. Of course, counter space is important but so too is safety. Many blenders have locking mechanisms that prevent disaster, which is something to consider if you have children discovering themselves. Other factors to consider include:

Capacity: How much do you need? After all, time is usually limited during dinner prep, and you don’t want to spend too much time duplicating a recipe that you only need to do once.

Capability: It’s not one size fits all. If you want a blender that can handle most ingredients, go with a more powerful model. If you want a blender that’s easier to take on the go on the subway or in the car, choose a compact or personal option that is great for travel. It all depends on your preferences.

Material: Different durability standards exist in a stainless-steel model than in a plastic model. This includes leftover odours and stains that can come with different ingredients. Consider this when buying, as well as what you blend could affect the lifespan of the container or blender you buy.

Power: Always analyze the wattage of the blender you’re buying because that indicates how versatile it is. If you want a machine that can handle a wide range of ingredients, the Breville or the Vitamix might be better than the NutriBullet or the Ninja.

A blender can be a useful tool in your life; most of them last for at least five to 10 years, depending on how you take care of them. Purchasing one will give your kitchen a homey feel that might encourage you to expand your repertoire in the kitchen. Many also come with recipe books or app platforms to help you grow your range. Similarly, if you enjoy working out or love to make homemade ice cream, a good blender is your ticket to ride. Consider these options if you’re in the market for a blender this year.

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