Our Essential Blender Buying Guide
Updated: Aug. 31, 2022
From chopping and crushing to mixing and puréeing, blenders can do it all. Use our blender buying guide to choose the right one!
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Purchasing an appliance for the kitchen, especially one that gets used as often as a blender, is a big move for a home chef. It doesn’t help that blenders can vary widely in almost every category, including size, speed and strength. From a simple machine to make piña coladas up to a high-end blender, they even range in price from $30 to well over $600. Before you shop, use our blender buying guide to point you in the right direction.
Consider the Size First
Blenders can vary in size from 3 to 14 cups. It’s important to choose the right one. If storage space a concern, it might be a good idea to choose a compact, single-serve blender. For anyone who likes to meal prep in advance—or often cooks for a group of family or friends—it might be a good idea to upgrade to a larger size.
Best Single-Serve Blender: NutriBullet NBR-1201 Blender ($60)
Best Family-Size Blender: Ninja Professional Countertop Blender ($100)
Think About Speed and Power, Too
Not every household needs a feature-rich blender—a simple but powerful machine can sometimes be the best. However, blenders can be used for surprisingly complex tasks like grinding meat, making nut butter and crushing ice.
Speed: Look for blenders with between 3 and 10 speed settings. Less than three won’t give you enough control, and more than 10 settings isn’t necessary. Having a pulse button is essential, though!
Power: 500 watts is generally enough for the typical blender workload, like making milkshakes and blending smoothies. (Here’s the secret to making a milkshake.)
Look for Special Attachments
I live in a small apartment in Brooklyn, so I don’t have much room to spare. It helps when I can double up on appliances and gadgets, so I have fewer things to store in my kitchen.
- Personal Cups: Blend up a personal-size drink that you can grab n’ go.
- Chopping/Mixing Bowls: Sharper blades help your blender do double-duty as a food processor.
- Coffee Grinder: Grind and store coffee beans or spices.
Weigh the Price
Last but not least, price is a huge factor in purchasing the right machine. There are plenty of options for quality, durable machines on the market at an affordable price. There are also plenty of options for professional-grade machines at surprisingly high prices! Take the time to assess your budget and your needs before making a purchase.
Best Splurge: Vitamix 7500 Professional-Grade ($530)
Best for a Budget: Hamilton Beach 58148AÂ ($35)
Psst… Here’s a surprisingly quick and easy way to clean your brand-new blender.
Berry Smoothie Bowl
We turned one of our favorite smoothies into a smoothie bowl and topped it with even more fresh fruit and a few toasted almonds for a little crunch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chipotle Butternut Squash Soup
My hearty soup uses herbs and vegetables from the garden along with convenient pantry items, so it’s easy, fast and mostly fresh. Your family will devour it. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Pork Tacos with Mango Salsa
I've made quite a few tacos in my day, but you can't beat the tender filling made in a slow cooker. These are by far the best pork tacos we've had—and we've tried plenty. Make the mango salsa from scratch if you have time! Yum. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
S'mores Milk Shake
When cabin fever hits, we whip up a beverage that tastes like s’mores. Oven-toasted marshmallows and a blender make it happen. —Sarah McKenna, Centennial, Colorado
Homemade Spicy Hot Sauce
I created this spicy recipe one day using what I had available from my garden: hot peppers, carrots, onions and garlic. The carrots make this recipe stand out. —Carolyn Wheel, Fairfax, Vermont
Peach-Chipotle Baby Back Ribs
My son and I collaborated in the kitchen one day to put our own unique twist on classic baby back ribs. We added a sweet peachy glaze and a little heat with chipotle peppers. It was a great bonding experience, and now we have a keeper recipe for fall-off-the-bone ribs. —Rebecca Suaso, Weaverville, North Carolina
Grilled Eggplant Panini with Basil Aioli
I love being able to use the bounty of fresh vegetables and herbs from my garden for summer meals. This sandwich is loaded with veggies and has such a satisfying crunch. The melty provolone finishes things off perfectly. —Joseph A. Sciascia, San Mateo, California
Spiced Pumpkin Coffee Shakes
The winter holidays are my favorite time of year, and this spiced pumpkin drink is one reason I love the season so much. If you don't have a coffee maker, it's OK to use instant coffee—just make it stronger. —Kathie Perez, East Peoria, Illinois
Cod with Hearty Tomato Sauce
My father made up this sweet, flavorful recipe for my mother when he took over the cooking. We serve it with whole wheat pasta or brown rice. —Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington
Berry Breakfast Parfaits
Expecting brunch company but short on time? Parfaits are the perfect solution. Feel free to mix and match with whatever berries you have on hand. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
Pronto Potato Pancakes
Pancake lovers know these fluffy delights are not just for breakfast. Try serving these savory ones as a side dish with any main, or enjoy them solo topped with some homemade applesauce. They will not disappoint. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Horchata
In this Horchata recipe, the mixture of ground rice and almonds is accented with a hint of lime. Depending on your preference, you can use more or less water for a thinner or creamier beverage. —James Schend, Dairy Freed
Makeover Traditional Cheesecake
Though softer than a full-fat cheesecake, this lightened-up dessert has all of the original's delectable flavor. It's sure to make any special event more festive. —Anne Addesso, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Fennel Carrot Soup
This soup is perfect as a first course for a special-occasion dinner. It gets its delicious flavor from toasted fennel seeds—a pleasant complement to the carrots, apple and sweet potato. —Marlene Bursey, Waverly, Nova Scotia
Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffed Shells
I rarely invite friends for dinner without someone requesting this easy pasta casserole. The sweet squash complements the spicy sausage, and the creamy goat cheese makes it all just melt in your mouth! You can substitute manicotti or even rolled lasagna noodles for the shells. The stuffed shells and sauce can be prepared a day ahead and assembled just before baking. —Taylor Hale, Sonoma, California
Ginger Salmon with Cucumber Lime Sauce
Lime with ginger is a favorite flavor combo for me, especially with grilled salmon. So good. Even with the cucumber sauce, this recipe is easy, too. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Yogurt Breakfast Drink
Sleepyheads will savor this dreamy smoothie. Simply blend yogurt, milk and orange juice concentrate for a fresh start to your day. —Renee Gastineau, Seattle, Washington
Old-World Puff Pancake
My mom told me her mother-in-law showed her how to make this dish, which became popular during the Depression, on their "get acquainted" visit in 1927. At that time, cooks measured ingredients in pinches, dashes and dibs. But through the years, accurate amounts were noted. My wife and I continue to enjoy this dish today, particularly for brunch. —Auton Miller, Piney Flats, Tennessee
Creamy Seafood Enchiladas
Shrimp and crab cooked with a flavorful sauce add up to outstanding enchiladas. I made them for an annual fundraiser, and now they’re always in demand. Spice up the recipe to your taste by adding more green chiles and salsa. —Evelyn Gebhardt, Kasilof, Alaska
Strawberry Watermelon Slush
We like to relax on the back porch with glasses of my slush after a long, hot day. Strawberries and watermelon blend up with lemon juice and sugar for an instant refresher. —Patty Howse, Great Falls, Montana
Bananas Foster Baked French Toast
Mmm…bananas Foster for breakfast! This yummy baked French toast serves up all the taste of the spectacular dessert in fine fashion. —Laurence Nasson, Hingham, Massachusetts
Traditional Meat Loaf
Topped with a sweet sauce, this traditional meat loaf recipe tastes so good that you might want to double it so everyone can have seconds. It also freezes well. —Gail Graham, Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Hearty Taco Chili
Ranch dressing mix and taco seasoning give extra special flavor to my hearty chili. Folks will come back for seconds. —Julie Neuhalfen, Glenwood, Iowa
Herbed Turkey Breasts
Tender, moist turkey breast is enhanced with an array of flavorful herbs in this comforting slow-cooker recipe. —Laurie Mace, Los Osos, California
Thick Strawberry Shakes
Cool off with a thick and rich treat that will remind you of a malt shoppe! Nothing can beat this strawberry shake recipe. —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Black Bean Tart
This colorful dish was a hit at a get-together I had for friends. I served the tart with sour cream on the side, a green salad and crusty bread. —Ellen Papa, Miami, Florida.
Pork Burritos
As a working mother, I depend on my slow cooker to help feed my family. We all love the spicy but slightly sweet flavor of these tender burritos. —Kelly Gengler, Theresa, Wisconsin
Contest-Winning Roasted Tomato Soup
Just before the first frost of the season, we gather up all of the tomatoes from my mom’s garden to create this flavor-packed soup. Although it sounds like a lot of garlic, when it’s roasted, the garlic becomes mellow and almost sweet. We serve this soup with toasted bread spread with pesto.—Kaitlyn Lerdahl, Madison, Wisconsin
Strawberry-Carrot Smoothies
My children resist veggies, but they love this carrot smoothie. It packs in lots of good-for-you fruits and veggies—but to my kids, it's just a super delicious breakfast. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Pecan-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
I loved chicken nuggets as a child. This baked version is healthier than the original, and it's a great meal for kids. —Haili Carroll, Valencia, California
