If you’re looking for a new blender to make delicious smoothies, soups, and nut butters, you might be overwhelmed by all of the choices. Rather than sifting through the thousands of reviews, use this brief guide to find the right blender based on your needs and budget.
Start with the Right Type of Blender
Blenders come in several different sizes and shapes. They have different power capabilities which also affects their prices. Often, the best type of blender for smoothies is a commercial smoothie blender, because they have stronger blades and motors meant to efficiently chop nuts and thicker foods. Blenders fall into these categories:
- Hand Blenders
- Bullet Blenders
- Countertop blenders
- High-performance blenders
Choose the Best Blender for Smoothies
Your blender should be able to make what you need. If you occasionally make smoothies and use only soft ingredients, a high-performance blender will be overkill. If you need to make smoothies for your entire family, a hand blender or bullet blender will be too small. A countertop blender might be too big if you have a small kitchen and limited counter space.
Clean-up Process
It’s also a good idea to consider the clean-up process for each blender. Bullet blender jars and countertop blender pitchers are usually dishwasher safe. Hand-held immersion blenders usually need to be hand washed, as do many high-performance blender parts. You’ll have to reassemble the parts after cleaning, which can be a time-consuming project.
Blender Materials
The blender materials influence the price and the capability. You’ll get to choose from stainless steel, glass, or plastic. Stainless steel is most durable, but it’s not transparent, so you won’t know if your smoothie is done. Glass is easy to clean, but it can break. Plastic is inexpensive and lightweight, but it holds odors and stains easily. If you choose plastic, consider buying only BPA-free for your health and safety.
Wattage
The blender motors and blades affect the quality of the final product. The best electric blenders have motors with at least 800 watts. Those with fewer watts might get stuck when trying to chop ice.
Prices
The least expensive blenders are hand immersion blenders with prices usually under $20. Countertop blenders range in price starting around $20. With a countertop blender, you get what you pay for, as the least expensive models tend to have weak motors and break quickly.
Bullet blenders are small, but they often have higher price tags, starting around $50 and up. The quality of the motor and the number of accessories influences the price. High-performance and commercial blenders often cost more than $200, and the best ones have price tags around $400.
Warranties
Blender prices often include warranties. The cheapest models won’t have warranties, while the more expensive high-performance models often have multi-year or lifetime warranties. If you plan to use your blender to chop ice or nuts, buying an expensive one with a warranty can help you save money in the long run, when compared to buying cheap ones that need to be replaced regularly.
