How to Choose the Right Blender for Your Kitchen
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a gadget fan and I have two blenders, both from the Ninja range. One is a high-powered Ninja blender that is ideal for smoothies. The other is a general purpose, smaller blender that can do a range of jobs. But if you are in the market for a new blender, how do you know which one is the right blender for you?
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What is a high-powered blender?
Let’s start with a few definitions. Because if you go to Amazon and search just ‘blender’ you are going to find thousands of results. If you are looking to use your blender to make smoothies, crush tough stuff like ice or hard ingredients like nuts, then you will want a high-powered blender. So what makes one qualify for this status?
According to one of the big names in the blender world, Blendtec, the answer to this is down to watt power. A high-power blender can be anywhere from 1000 to 1560 watts of power. This makes them as powerful as a microwave oven or some vacuum cleaners.
More than just power
Of course, loads of power and not much else doesn’t make for the best blender. The key to getting the right blender is a combination of the speed and features that you need. High powered blenders often have a lot of features not seen on regular blenders that are possible by their high power. Blending ice is one example, different speed settings or even pre-programmed settings including pulse as well as blend.
Another option is to look at blenders that do more than just blend. Some can make bread dough or nut butters or break down coffee beans or frozen fruit easily. They can smash up small seeds and grains into flour. Decide which features you might need and use these to help guide you to the right blender.
How to choose the right blender
Another part of the process when buying a blender is to ask yourself a series of questions. Especially if you plan to buy one of the more expensive blenders – you want to be sure you get the right blender and don’t end up having to buy something else to cover more tasks. Here are some ideas of the questions to ask and answer yourself as part of your blender research:
- What’s the budget for the blender?
- Will it be used for individual or larger recipes?
- Will I use the blender often?
- If I go for an inexpensive one, can I afford to replace it in a year or so?
- Can I spend more money upfront to get a blender that will last a lot longer?
- What features will I use?
- Do I want pre-programmed cycles, manual settings or a combination?
- Am I just looking to make drinks, or do I want other features such as making hot soups, bread dough or nut butters?
- Do I want to stick with a certain brand or try different ones?
Jot down the answers on a sheet of paper and have them handy when you start researching those blenders.
Filter the results
Armed with this information, let’s say you head to Amazon for some ideas of the blenders available. There are lots of things to filter those results to help you find the right blender. Terms to use to filter might include:
- Blender motor power
- Capacity
- Average customer review
- Price
- Discount or special deals
Most of the blenders you will see will be countertop models – this just means they sit on the counter. Using some of these filters can help you get a better idea of the models available.
Top brands
Another way to search and decide about the right blender is to look at the different brands. I’ve mentioned I’m a Ninja fan and that is one of the names you will see when you do those searches. Let’s meet a few of these top brands and some examples of the blenders that they offer.
Vitamix
Vitamix is one of the biggest names in the blender business and is often seen as the ‘gold standard’ in blenders. They are a US company but many of their models are available in the UK and around the world.
Notable features of their blenders include heavy duty, hardened stainless steel blades and a high-performance motor. Many of the models have adjustable precision controls and they are also very easy to clean. Vitamix blenders do tend to be more expensive than some other models but many come with longer warranties, in the region of 5-7 years depending on the model.
Product example – Vitamix Explorian Blender
This blender from Vitamix has a total of 10 different speed settings so you can get the perfect consistency every time. There’s even a pulse setting for those awkward bits. Added to that, it is easy to clean – there’s a self-cleaning setting that takes 30-60 seconds and just needs a little liquid soap.
Blendtec
Blendtec was founded in 1975 by Tom Dickson and made itself famous with an advertising campaign in 2006 where they asked if things would blend and included TV remotes, iPods and even golf balls in their blender to show how strong it was (not one to replicate at home!)
Blendtec blenders have won a number of awards since then including the Gold Innovation Award in 2013 in the US. They aim to be the ‘last blender you’ll ever own’ due to the quality and durability of their equipment.
Product example – Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender
Blendtec’s classic original blender combines 10 speed settings and 6 automatic programs so that it is a lot more hands-off than other blenders. The larger mixing jug can make enough drinks for 3-4 people in a single go (which you could then freeze for later use) and even has a warming feature to use to make soups.
Breville
Not everyone wants a high-powered blender and if you are looking for something simple, functional and less expensive, then the Breville ranges might be the perfect answer. Breville is an Australian company that offer a wide range of products to over 50 companies including toasters, coffee makers, food processors and blenders.
If you are a newcomer to the world of kitchen blenders, then the entry level Breville products can be an ideal solution. They also offer more expensive, high powered models that might be the right blender once you get the addiction to smoothies (which you will!)
Product example – Breville Boss To Go Sport Blender
This is a simple and easy to use blender that still has enough power to get the job done. It is also perfect if you like to make a smoothie and go as it comes with two tumblers and two lids to easily blend and leave.
Ninja
Lastly, a mention for my personal favourite at the moment, the Ninja blenders. Ninja is a part of the Euro-Pro brand who create cleaning products and small household appliances. While it may not be as big a name as some of the other brands mentioned here, their products receive consistently high reviews on places like Amazon.
Product example – Nutri Ninja Personal and Countertop Blender
This is the newer version of the blender we have with Ninja’s Auto-iQ feature in to allow it to pick up what setting works best for the content of the blender jug. It has a 1200 watt motor and blades strong enough to break down ice as well as fruit and vegetables. Plus it comes with sip-and-go cups with lids.
Get the right blender
Choosing the right blender is a personal thing. The key is to look at what you want it to do and how much you want to spend on it to help guide you to the right one. Don’t forget to check those customer reviews to spot any unexpected problems! Then you will be smoothie-making in no time at all!
