How We Test Blenders
CR tests blenders on how well they make icy drinks, crush ice, and purƩe, as well as on convenience, durability, and noise.
In our lab, we make batches of nonalcoholic piƱa coladas and use a series of sieves (with increasingly smaller mesh sizes) to evaluate smoothness and thickness. āWhen a blender earns an Excellent score in our icy-drinks tests, the drinks have a smooth, consistent texture,ā says Larry Ciufo, a CR test engineer who runs our blender lab.
For our ice-crushing tests, we use another set of sieves to separate the big chips from the finer bits. A blender that garners an Excellent rating in our ice-crushing test serves up ice that looks uniformly like snow. A Very Good rating tells you the ice is more like a snow cone. (The lower the score, the biggerāand more irregularāthe ice chips.)
In our purĆ©e test, we blend veggies and other ingredients in boiling water, operating on the manufacturerās recommended speed (or high) for 15 secondsāthree times per model.
The convenience score is measured by how easy it is to use a blenderās controls, clean its base, and remove and replace the blade, among other factors. Our durability test involves crushing seven ice cubes (four for personal blenders) without liquid for 1 minute on the highest setting. To gauge noise level, CR blends 1 cup of water and takes an average decibel reading over 30 seconds.
To see how well the full-sized, personal-sized, and immersion blenders perform in our tests, see ourĀ blender ratings.
Compare Types
If youāre looking to whip up just the occasional milkshake or morning smoothie, youāll want a different model from one youād use if youāre into daily whole-fruit juicing with a taste for homemade almond butter. Here are the four main types, from most to least versatile.
āPremiumā or āHigh-Performanceā
āPremiumā and āhigh-performanceā are terms that manufacturers use. The price tips you off, and these blenders are usually meant to do more than conventional blenders, such as making nut butters or serving up hot soup.Ā
Priced from $300 to $1,000.
Conventional
These less expensive models are best for lower-intensity blending tasks, such as milkshakes and fresh fruit smoothies. Forget the hot soup or whole-fruit juicing; you might also have to settle for chunkier frozen cocktails.
Priced from $40 to $150.
Personal
This newish blender category targets people who prefer their power shakes and yogurt-based smoothies on the go; mixing containers double as travel jars. They are not intended for hardcore blending. Price and performance varies greatly in personal blenders.
Priced from $20 to $500.
Immersion
Submerge this cylindrical device with exposed blades directly into the food or drink youāre preparingāsay, simmering vegetables in a pot. Itās more of a complement to your countertop blender than a replacement.
Priced from $30 to $200.
Buying Guide Video
For more, watch our video below.
Don't Forget About Storage
SomeĀ blendersĀ are easier to store than others, which could be a real concern if you have a small kitchen. With their super-compact design,Ā immersion blendersĀ tuck easily into a drawerāthough, again, they canāt take the place of a countertop blender. Personal blenders are also fairly compact.
If youāre going for a full-sized unit and plan to keep it on the countertop, a model that is less than 17 inches tall shouldĀ save space by fitting under the kitchen cabinet when not in use. The height between countertops and the bottom of cabinets is typically 20 to 22 inches, so you want to have enough space to take the top off a blender or insert and remove the jar (though itās a good idea to take a measurement because some cabinets are lower).
Pay attention to the number of attachments and accessories that come with the blender. Some hybrid models feature multiple mixing containers, which might improve their versatility, but theyāll also take up storage space in your cabinets.
Blender Features to Consider
Paying more for a blender doesnāt necessarily get you more features. For more details, check ourĀ blender ratings.
Container
Most of our top-rated blenders feature plastic containers, which are lightweight and less prone to breaking than glass containers; the downside is that plastic can absorb odors and stains, so youāll want to clean it promptly after each use. Regardless of the material, look for a container with a wide mouth to facilitate loading and cleaning, as well as easy-to-read measurements.
Controls
No one type of control is best, so the decision is mainly about personal preference. Touchpad controls are the easiest to clean, but they can be a little more difficult to operate. For example, you might have to press the button multiple times to turn the machine on and off. Push buttons switch easily from one speed to the next, but grime can collect in their crevices. Dial controls wipe down easily, but you have to turn through all the settings to reach your desired speed. A flip switch is easy to clean but limits you to a few options.
Speed
Blenders may have just two speeds or as many as 17. Three are generally adequate. With a dozen or more, it can start to get difficult to distinguish from one speed to the next. A pulse setting, which eliminates the lag time between when you push the button and when the blender starts or stops, allows for more precision when blending delicate ingredients. Some high-performance blenders also come with convenient programmed settingsāsay, for smoothies, whole-fruit juice, and hot soup.
Power
Youāll see anywhere from 300 to 1,000 watts, or even greater, as more manufacturers make the claim that higher wattage equates to better performance. But weāve found that this is not necessarily the case, because the design of the blade assembly and the shape of the container are also factors. The exception is immersion blenders, where higher wattage does tend to deliver more consistent results.
Warranty
As with any product, the size and scope of a blenderās warranty can be an indication of how long the manufacturer expects it to last. Some high-performance blenders have 7- or 8-year warranties, and budget blenders might be covered for only a year.
Container
Most of our top-rated blenders feature plastic containers, which are lightweight and less prone to breaking than glass containers; the downside is that plastic can absorb odors and stains, so youāll want to clean it promptly after each use. Regardless of the material, look for a container with a wide mouth to facilitate loading and cleaning, as well as easy-to-read measurements.
Layer Up!
Get a perfect smoothie every time by layering ingredients in this order. If youāre using aĀ personal blender cup, reverse the order because youāll be inverting the container onto the motor base. For more on why placing ingredients in the order below is key to a great smoothie every time, see āHow to Load Your Blender for the Smoothest Smoothies.ā
Illustration: Rodrigo Damati Illustration: Rodrigo Damati
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