Finding the best blenders for your household is not always easy. There are so many brands and models available, with prices starting as low as $30 and going well over $500. The best way to start is to learn about the best blenders currently available. Once you know what each can offer your kitchen, you can start to narrow down the list by scrutinizing appliance quality, price and features.
Best Blenders: The Blendtec HomeTotal Blender
The Blendtec Blender is an excellent choice for the consumer with an eye for quality. Although this blender features a traditional square design, it comes in four appealing colors. Looks aren't everything, because the Blendtec model also features a solid 3 HP motor and two stainless steel blades that turn at up to 29,000 revolutions per minute. Although this blender tends to be a bit boisterous when it comes to motor noise, it offers preprogrammed settings and automatic cycles with a self shut off feature. Three warranties are also included, covering the motor base for three years, the jar for one year, and the lifetime of the coupling and blade system. The Blendtec Total Blender is available for around $400 and is excellent value for money.
Best Blenders: Vitamix CIA Professional Blender
Second on the list of best blenders is the Vitamix CIA professional countertop blender. This model features a slim design accented in silver and black with a clear container. Vitamix boasts an entirely metal construction that fortifies the blender and extends its average lifespan. The polycarbonate blender jar can hold up to 64 ounces of your favorite ingredients. This model also features stainless steel blades that spin as quickly as 240 MPH. The Vitamix blender comes with a seven year warranty, speed controls, and an instructional DVD. The Vitamix CIA professional blender is available for around $500.
Best Blenders: Waring MX1000R Professional Blender
Last on the three part best blender list is the Waring MX1000R professional blender. This model also features a traditional design in black. A 3 HP motor is included for even blending along with an oversized base that adds weight for maximum stability. The jar is very similar to the Vitamix blender in make and size. The Waring professional blender offers two speeds as well as pulse functionality. The Waring loses a few points for a lack of digital technology in the controls. It comes with a two year warranty and can be purchased for just under $400.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Hamilton Beach HBB250 Review
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 Commercial Rio Bar Blender is a unit with 0.5-horsepower motor. The blades of this blender are made of stainless-steel which ensures better blending results. The Hamilton Beach HBB250 has two speeds and pulse function. You can choose one of them for your ingredients and enjoy the most delicious food. The Sure Grip feet are integrated to the Hamilton Beach HBB250 and guarantee stable and smooth use of this blender.
Hamilton Beach HBB250: Features and Specifications
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 blender is a nice 0.5-horsepower blender with stainless-steel blades. This unit allows you choosing one of the three blending options including two speeds and pulse. The Hamilton Beach HBB250 has Sure Grip feet which ensure stable use of this unit.
There is a Wave Action System integrated into the Hamilton Beach HBB250 blender. Thanks to this system, the ingredients are forced to move down into the blades, this way providing great shredding results. The Hamilton Beach HBB250 also features low and high speeds, plus the pulse setting. There are also convenient toggle switches to choose one of these settings.
This Hamilton Beach HBB250 commercial style bar blender is so powerful and features a 44-ounce break-resistant jar made of polycarbonate. This jar is large enough and can be used to make the most delicious smoothie in just 20 seconds! In addition, the jar of the Hamilton Beach HBB250 has an easy-to-read measurement marking which allows you to measure ingredients in the most precise way.
Hamilton Beach HBB250: Customer Reviews
To help you with your purchase decision, we've gathered some Hamilton Beach HBB250 blender customer reviews including positive and negative feedbacks on this bar blender. Below you will find those that we believe are the most relevant and will help you making your choice. Read on carefully!
Performance
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 is a powerful bar blender that can do a great job: "This blender is great. Powerful motor and weighted well to not hop around on countertop to make all sorts of blended drinks. Really does a number on cubed or crushed ice for that perfect consistency every time, and quickly. A workhorse. Easy to clean too."
Other reviewers said that the Hamilton Beach HBB250 is a great choice for smoothie lovers: "I checked on many blenders to make smoothies. After reviewing them I chose this one as a middle of the road model that had great reviews. So far it has been fantastic and we make smoothies and protein drinks daily. Makes a fast breakfast drink even with ice!"
Price
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 is a great blender for this price; it also offers durability compared to other cheaper units: "It is simple to use, easy to clean in the dishwasher, and holds up well. We had an identical one that lasted for more than 3 years. The cheap ones last less than 6 months at our house, so the reduced frustration is well worth the extra money."
Saving money
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 is not considered to be a very expensive blender. Moreover, using this bar blender means to save money as now you can make the most delicious homemade smoothies and drinks: "We are saving a lot of money making our own drinks with just ice and fruit than paying $5 and $8 a drink elsewhere. This is especially good since my wife and I are grad students and we don't have the extra money anyways but we do like iced drinks during our studies."
The Pros:
0.5-horsepower bar blender
44-ounce break-resistant jar made of polycarbonate
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 has an integrated Wave Action System for smoother results
Stainless-steel blades provide great results
2-year warranty on parts and labor
The Cons:
We've received one comment saying that the Hamilton Beach HBB250 is not powerful enough to crush ice. One reviewer said he felt strange smell coming from the motor while he was doing ice. We remind that the Hamilton Beach HBB250 has a 0.5-horsepower motor which might not be enough for a constant ice crushing.
Hamilton Beach HBB250: Our Recommendation
After a consideration of all the features of the Hamilton Beach HBB250 we acknowledge this to be a great blender for this price. However, because we didn't receive many customer reviews of this bar blender, we would highly suggest you to consider the Vitamix 1710 which is a professional style blender with even more blending options!
Hamilton Beach HBB250: Features and Specifications
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 blender is a nice 0.5-horsepower blender with stainless-steel blades. This unit allows you choosing one of the three blending options including two speeds and pulse. The Hamilton Beach HBB250 has Sure Grip feet which ensure stable use of this unit.
There is a Wave Action System integrated into the Hamilton Beach HBB250 blender. Thanks to this system, the ingredients are forced to move down into the blades, this way providing great shredding results. The Hamilton Beach HBB250 also features low and high speeds, plus the pulse setting. There are also convenient toggle switches to choose one of these settings.
This Hamilton Beach HBB250 commercial style bar blender is so powerful and features a 44-ounce break-resistant jar made of polycarbonate. This jar is large enough and can be used to make the most delicious smoothie in just 20 seconds! In addition, the jar of the Hamilton Beach HBB250 has an easy-to-read measurement marking which allows you to measure ingredients in the most precise way.
Hamilton Beach HBB250: Customer Reviews
To help you with your purchase decision, we've gathered some Hamilton Beach HBB250 blender customer reviews including positive and negative feedbacks on this bar blender. Below you will find those that we believe are the most relevant and will help you making your choice. Read on carefully!
Performance
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 is a powerful bar blender that can do a great job: "This blender is great. Powerful motor and weighted well to not hop around on countertop to make all sorts of blended drinks. Really does a number on cubed or crushed ice for that perfect consistency every time, and quickly. A workhorse. Easy to clean too."
Other reviewers said that the Hamilton Beach HBB250 is a great choice for smoothie lovers: "I checked on many blenders to make smoothies. After reviewing them I chose this one as a middle of the road model that had great reviews. So far it has been fantastic and we make smoothies and protein drinks daily. Makes a fast breakfast drink even with ice!"
Price
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 is a great blender for this price; it also offers durability compared to other cheaper units: "It is simple to use, easy to clean in the dishwasher, and holds up well. We had an identical one that lasted for more than 3 years. The cheap ones last less than 6 months at our house, so the reduced frustration is well worth the extra money."
Saving money
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 is not considered to be a very expensive blender. Moreover, using this bar blender means to save money as now you can make the most delicious homemade smoothies and drinks: "We are saving a lot of money making our own drinks with just ice and fruit than paying $5 and $8 a drink elsewhere. This is especially good since my wife and I are grad students and we don't have the extra money anyways but we do like iced drinks during our studies."
The Pros:
0.5-horsepower bar blender
44-ounce break-resistant jar made of polycarbonate
The Hamilton Beach HBB250 has an integrated Wave Action System for smoother results
Stainless-steel blades provide great results
2-year warranty on parts and labor
The Cons:
We've received one comment saying that the Hamilton Beach HBB250 is not powerful enough to crush ice. One reviewer said he felt strange smell coming from the motor while he was doing ice. We remind that the Hamilton Beach HBB250 has a 0.5-horsepower motor which might not be enough for a constant ice crushing.
Hamilton Beach HBB250: Our Recommendation
After a consideration of all the features of the Hamilton Beach HBB250 we acknowledge this to be a great blender for this price. However, because we didn't receive many customer reviews of this bar blender, we would highly suggest you to consider the Vitamix 1710 which is a professional style blender with even more blending options!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Hand Blender and Immersion Blender
Many people have different opinion about hand and immersion blenders. Hand and immersion blenders have the same appearance and usage. Generally a hand mixer might get confused with a blender, and that is when the differences also emerge. These two don't differ from one another at all. Read on to know more concerning the blenders.
A hand blender comes with many functions. It can be used for whipping in addition to for mixing batters. These blenders are usually geared up with whisks to whip lotions or whisk eggs. The chopping blade alternatively makes mixing cake batter and making smoothies easier. You possibly can even puree vegetables or fruits utilizing it. It's perfect for mixing soups to the proper consistency.
The most important feature of an immersion blender is that it may be cleaned and saved easily. Just rinse in heat water and you're done. You can choose to take away the whisk and blade to get them cleaned completely. Then again, cleansing the common blender is a time consuming task. Another good thing with immersion blenders is they do not take much house when stored. In case your kitchen is just too small, you possibly can go for a wall mountable hand blender.
One distinct function of this blender is you get to combine your ingredients using any type of container. It is usually protected to use a glass container in it. The container can be spared from any scratch marks. Aside from that, it additionally saves your time because you may have less mess to clean up. Nevertheless, be sure to use a deep bowl to do the blending to avoid splatters.
An everyday blender or meals processor needs to be placed on a flat surface to operate, whereas an immersion blender do not want any space as you can maintain it in your hand. When an everyday blender needs a power outlet, this blender may even work on battery power.
You will have solely very limited house to store them in comparison with big blenders that take up majority of your bench and cupboard spaces. Its compact design additionally means that you can take it wherever, and can be utilized easily for a fast smoothie or vegetable puree. Campers for that matter would discover this convenient since they want an instant drink all of the time. Large blenders will not be superb to make use of throughout outside activities since they aren't batteries operated. Even though it is small, it will probably even crush ice and chop vegetables like carrot. It's worth your cash because it lasts long.
One other main distinction is the price. You should buy a good quality hand blender under one hundred, whereas an everyday blender will price you hundreds of dollars.
If you are the kind who love puree soups, then what you want is a robust blender. You may choose blenders with or without cords. There's a wide choice of completely different designs. To sum it up, your selection will rely on how and the place you intend to make use of the blender.
A hand blender comes with many functions. It can be used for whipping in addition to for mixing batters. These blenders are usually geared up with whisks to whip lotions or whisk eggs. The chopping blade alternatively makes mixing cake batter and making smoothies easier. You possibly can even puree vegetables or fruits utilizing it. It's perfect for mixing soups to the proper consistency.
The most important feature of an immersion blender is that it may be cleaned and saved easily. Just rinse in heat water and you're done. You can choose to take away the whisk and blade to get them cleaned completely. Then again, cleansing the common blender is a time consuming task. Another good thing with immersion blenders is they do not take much house when stored. In case your kitchen is just too small, you possibly can go for a wall mountable hand blender.
One distinct function of this blender is you get to combine your ingredients using any type of container. It is usually protected to use a glass container in it. The container can be spared from any scratch marks. Aside from that, it additionally saves your time because you may have less mess to clean up. Nevertheless, be sure to use a deep bowl to do the blending to avoid splatters.
An everyday blender or meals processor needs to be placed on a flat surface to operate, whereas an immersion blender do not want any space as you can maintain it in your hand. When an everyday blender needs a power outlet, this blender may even work on battery power.
You will have solely very limited house to store them in comparison with big blenders that take up majority of your bench and cupboard spaces. Its compact design additionally means that you can take it wherever, and can be utilized easily for a fast smoothie or vegetable puree. Campers for that matter would discover this convenient since they want an instant drink all of the time. Large blenders will not be superb to make use of throughout outside activities since they aren't batteries operated. Even though it is small, it will probably even crush ice and chop vegetables like carrot. It's worth your cash because it lasts long.
One other main distinction is the price. You should buy a good quality hand blender under one hundred, whereas an everyday blender will price you hundreds of dollars.
If you are the kind who love puree soups, then what you want is a robust blender. You may choose blenders with or without cords. There's a wide choice of completely different designs. To sum it up, your selection will rely on how and the place you intend to make use of the blender.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Should You Buy a KitchenAid Blender
Your hand me down KitchenAid blender has just conked out. So you need a new blender and you have been looking at many different brands and styles. There are plenty to choose from both in the retail stores and the online shops. How do you choose a brand so you can move on to choosing the style? There are Oster, Hamilton Beech, KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Vita-mix, Waring and Blendtec to name only a few. I am drawn to KitchenAid products as I've grown up on a KitchenAid kitchen. Let's check the pros and cons of KitchenAid blenders as posted in many online reviews and ratings.
Pros of KitchenAid Blenders
Easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Since the blender comes in mostly one piece there are no parts to take apart.
The lid on the blender has a 2 ounce, removable plastic piece. So you can add ingredients or use a stir stick without taking off the lid.
The blender has a high speed motor that assures quick and consistent blending.
The blender is strong and stable. The solid base and 4 rubber feet hold the blender in place even at the highest speeds.
The KitchenAid blender has a space saving shape and is lighter in weight than comparable blenders from competitors.
The leak proof decanter and pour spout prevent the blender from dripping and leaking.
This blender comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes.
The blender easily chops and liquefies.
The decanter on the KitchenAid blender was known to leak and that was a major con but KitcheAid has fixed this and the decanter is now leak proof.
KitchenAid blenders are very powerful. The two lower speeds are so good you will hardly need to use the highest one.
The five different settings on the blenders are a real plus. Each one has a very distinct function.
Cons of KitchenAid Blenders
Depending on what you are blending, the blender lid tends to turn colors. For example when you are pureeing tomatoes the lid will turn reddish orange.
It is a little noisy at the highest speeds. This might be expected but other blenders were said to be not quite as loud.
The blender starts slow and then builds up speed no matter the speed you have it on. This causes whatever is in the blender to get thrown up to the lid and the lid is not always secure.
The decanter could crack at high speed.
In summary there are almost 3 times as many pros as cons in regard to the KitchenAid blenders. Popular Mechanics put 5 blenders through a series of rough tests and KitchenAid came out on top. So they considered it the best value for price in terms of performance per dollar of cost. When they filled the KitchenAid blender with 40 jawbreakers, the jawbreakers turned to sugar very quickly and easily. It seems obvious that the pros outweigh the cons with a KitchenAid blender.
Pros of KitchenAid Blenders
Easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Since the blender comes in mostly one piece there are no parts to take apart.
The lid on the blender has a 2 ounce, removable plastic piece. So you can add ingredients or use a stir stick without taking off the lid.
The blender has a high speed motor that assures quick and consistent blending.
The blender is strong and stable. The solid base and 4 rubber feet hold the blender in place even at the highest speeds.
The KitchenAid blender has a space saving shape and is lighter in weight than comparable blenders from competitors.
The leak proof decanter and pour spout prevent the blender from dripping and leaking.
This blender comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes.
The blender easily chops and liquefies.
The decanter on the KitchenAid blender was known to leak and that was a major con but KitcheAid has fixed this and the decanter is now leak proof.
KitchenAid blenders are very powerful. The two lower speeds are so good you will hardly need to use the highest one.
The five different settings on the blenders are a real plus. Each one has a very distinct function.
Cons of KitchenAid Blenders
Depending on what you are blending, the blender lid tends to turn colors. For example when you are pureeing tomatoes the lid will turn reddish orange.
It is a little noisy at the highest speeds. This might be expected but other blenders were said to be not quite as loud.
The blender starts slow and then builds up speed no matter the speed you have it on. This causes whatever is in the blender to get thrown up to the lid and the lid is not always secure.
The decanter could crack at high speed.
In summary there are almost 3 times as many pros as cons in regard to the KitchenAid blenders. Popular Mechanics put 5 blenders through a series of rough tests and KitchenAid came out on top. So they considered it the best value for price in terms of performance per dollar of cost. When they filled the KitchenAid blender with 40 jawbreakers, the jawbreakers turned to sugar very quickly and easily. It seems obvious that the pros outweigh the cons with a KitchenAid blender.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Buying Your First Blenders
The modern kitchen without a blender is incomplete. It helps in performing various task of grating the food, whipping the cream and many more. To choose from the endless options is a real tough job as there are The Gas Powered Blender, The Immersion Blender, Electric Blender, Cordless Blender, Portable Blender, Battery Operated Blender, Hand Blender, Mini Blender, Stick Blender and stainless steel blender. These blenders are manufactured as per your need and convenience.
some blenders are unique and can do the bone crushing job with ease. Some are handy and does not require space whereas some are huge and requires proper place to store. All the blenders come with different attachment for different purposes
The blenders have different size and shape and come in variety of colors giving a better choice to the buyer. While buying a blender the endless option may confuse you to make the best choice. Selecting a right blender is not all about crushing the ice. Off course it is the toughest job but you need to know more about its capacity, functions, durability and on the whole its working capacity.
Everybody wants the product they choose should give them satisfaction and value for money. The best ways to choose one is to find out the features and the reviews of some of the best selling models. Take into consideration of certain facts like how often the product will be used? Which one will be suitable for the family? Storage space in the kitchen. As space will decide the type of blender to be chosen. Once the choice is done you can go further with the options and details important for purchase.
With the available space you can decide between the countertop table/ tabletop or stick/hand blender. The counter top table requires more space than other but it is the most commonly used blender due to its powerful motor and variable speed options, which makes it more sturdy and functions smoothly. It is good to choose variable speed option with the minimum 3 speed that can go up till 16 speed. The speed will quicken the process of blending from the usual required time.
Check the jar and their capacity and make sure that it is spill proof. But the most important feature in any blender is the blades as they crush the ice in the blender. They should be of hardened stainless steel. If you are thinking of buying a multipurpose blender just check the additional attachment and accessories properly
it is stylish, sturdy, and elegant and delivers a lot of power. The accessories like the breakers, whipping attachments and the mini chopping bowls make it a versatile device.
Buying a product with the warranty is must as it ensures you of the quality and can be replaced if found with the problem during warranty period. So decide for the product, get the first hand information instead of getting confused in the last moment and come out with the best option.
some blenders are unique and can do the bone crushing job with ease. Some are handy and does not require space whereas some are huge and requires proper place to store. All the blenders come with different attachment for different purposes
The blenders have different size and shape and come in variety of colors giving a better choice to the buyer. While buying a blender the endless option may confuse you to make the best choice. Selecting a right blender is not all about crushing the ice. Off course it is the toughest job but you need to know more about its capacity, functions, durability and on the whole its working capacity.
Everybody wants the product they choose should give them satisfaction and value for money. The best ways to choose one is to find out the features and the reviews of some of the best selling models. Take into consideration of certain facts like how often the product will be used? Which one will be suitable for the family? Storage space in the kitchen. As space will decide the type of blender to be chosen. Once the choice is done you can go further with the options and details important for purchase.
With the available space you can decide between the countertop table/ tabletop or stick/hand blender. The counter top table requires more space than other but it is the most commonly used blender due to its powerful motor and variable speed options, which makes it more sturdy and functions smoothly. It is good to choose variable speed option with the minimum 3 speed that can go up till 16 speed. The speed will quicken the process of blending from the usual required time.
Check the jar and their capacity and make sure that it is spill proof. But the most important feature in any blender is the blades as they crush the ice in the blender. They should be of hardened stainless steel. If you are thinking of buying a multipurpose blender just check the additional attachment and accessories properly
it is stylish, sturdy, and elegant and delivers a lot of power. The accessories like the breakers, whipping attachments and the mini chopping bowls make it a versatile device.
Buying a product with the warranty is must as it ensures you of the quality and can be replaced if found with the problem during warranty period. So decide for the product, get the first hand information instead of getting confused in the last moment and come out with the best option.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Best Mini Blenders
Mini Blenders are versatile in many ways. Whether you are making a single serve smoothie for yourself or a small serving of salsa for your party, a mini blender is a welcome addition to any kitchen. Mini Blenders are milkshake makers, smoothie makers and personal blenders or even a mini hand blender! You can use a mini blender to chop, mix, whip or blend. Using a mini blender eliminates the excess waste you would need for a larger blender.
Mini blenders perform just as well as their larger cousins but for those of us who need to make smaller portions they are the perfect size for our needs and take up much less space in our kitchens and are an attractive addition to your counter tops.
Mini blenders or single serve blenders makes it easier for you to make a single healthy drink right in the drinking cup saving you time and clean up. Many also come with travel cups and are portable.
When purchasing a mini blender there are some important characteristics to look for. Not only should the mini blender be the style that is attractive to you, it should have enough power to do the job you need it for. Many mini blenders have the same amount of power as the larger blenders even though they are smaller. Especially if you are making smoothies since ice is a difficult ingredient to crush.
The base of the blender should be stable and slip resistant. This will prevent the blender from slipping and spilling or toppling over when you are blending at a high speed. This will prevent you from having to hold the blender while it is on, which can be awkward at best. Mini blenders are also designed to clean easily which is a big plus.
Safety features are also very important. Make sure that the blades lock in place during blending or are covered to avoid injury. Many blenders will not work unless the blades are locked in place.
There are also many accessories that you can purchase for a mini blender, such as additional cups and blades, travel cups and larger size mixing cups to accommodate those larger recipes.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Best Blender for Use in the Kitchen
If you really want to make delicious drinks like fruit smoothies, then you need to have the best blender you can find for your home. There are a lot of choices out there. So how do you narrow down the selection and find the highest quality and best rated blenders? To help you in your search, we've put together these helpful tips.
Blender Usage
First of all you need to look at how you use blenders. If you are going to be packing your blending with lots of hard to blend ingredients and making large batches of thick smoothies, then you'll need a large countertop kitchen blender. These blenders feature large jug containers made of glass, plastic, or polycarbonate. The motors on these blenders are also powerful, going from a couple hundred watts to over 3 horsepower. You'll also find the speeds on these blenders will vary from 2 to 15 on some of the high end blenders. The Blendtec Total Blender is one of the best countertop blenders on the market and it has multiple speed options, a 3 horsepower engine, and 6 preprogrammed blending settings.
For the mobile traveler and those that like small single serving smoothies, then a single serve blender is a good choice. These blenders, like the Magic Bullet Blender, use small single serve cups that you use to blend your ingredients and then take with you. You'll even find that these cups fit in you car's cupholder. Clean up is also a snap as you only need to clean one cup, not a huge blender jar.
If you fix a lot of soups and are very mobile in the kitchen, then an immersion hand blender is the way to go. The KitchenAid Immersion blender is one of the best you can find and it has 9 speeds and excellent consumer ratings. Hand blenders are long and thin and can be moved easily around the kitchen and submerged in boiling pots.
Blender Features
After you select the best type of blender based on how you are going to use it, then you can start to look at individual brand features. Capacity or the amount of ingredients you can fit into the blender container is very important. You can blend lot of ingredients if you get a large capacity jug like 64 ounces or so. What the container is made out of is very important as well. Polycarbonate is one of the best materials, but it also expensive.
Clean up is also very easy if you get a blender jar that is dishwasher safe. Selecting the right motor power is another crucial element. A powerful blender can turn ice to snow, making sure that you won't find any chunky pieces of ice in your tasty smoothie. You want at least 450 watts in a standard kitchen blender to get the job done. You can get by with less power on a single serve blender because the container is smaller.
How expensive is the blender you're looking at? The best blenders tend to be the most expensive, typically around $400 for a Vitamix or Blendtec model. There are some quality models that you can find for less though, that work very well. The KitchenAid 5 speed blender, which is a countertop model, is under $100 and has many fantastic features.
Consumer Opinion
The final factor you need to look at is on-line reviews. You can find these on many sites including GoBlendIt.com and Amazon.com. Taking the time to read a few reviews can really help you find the best blender. The information and features on a blender may sound great, but if it breaks down after a short time, then it's a bad buy. You can find out about product defects, and quality and reliability by reading a few owner reviews before you make your purchase.
As you look through reviews make sure you get both sides of the story by looking at positive and negative reviews. You want to check out owner reviews from those that have had their blenders for a while and been running them a lot. Most blender problems like engine failure will happen just a couple of months in.
Blender Usage
First of all you need to look at how you use blenders. If you are going to be packing your blending with lots of hard to blend ingredients and making large batches of thick smoothies, then you'll need a large countertop kitchen blender. These blenders feature large jug containers made of glass, plastic, or polycarbonate. The motors on these blenders are also powerful, going from a couple hundred watts to over 3 horsepower. You'll also find the speeds on these blenders will vary from 2 to 15 on some of the high end blenders. The Blendtec Total Blender is one of the best countertop blenders on the market and it has multiple speed options, a 3 horsepower engine, and 6 preprogrammed blending settings.
For the mobile traveler and those that like small single serving smoothies, then a single serve blender is a good choice. These blenders, like the Magic Bullet Blender, use small single serve cups that you use to blend your ingredients and then take with you. You'll even find that these cups fit in you car's cupholder. Clean up is also a snap as you only need to clean one cup, not a huge blender jar.
If you fix a lot of soups and are very mobile in the kitchen, then an immersion hand blender is the way to go. The KitchenAid Immersion blender is one of the best you can find and it has 9 speeds and excellent consumer ratings. Hand blenders are long and thin and can be moved easily around the kitchen and submerged in boiling pots.
Blender Features
After you select the best type of blender based on how you are going to use it, then you can start to look at individual brand features. Capacity or the amount of ingredients you can fit into the blender container is very important. You can blend lot of ingredients if you get a large capacity jug like 64 ounces or so. What the container is made out of is very important as well. Polycarbonate is one of the best materials, but it also expensive.
Clean up is also very easy if you get a blender jar that is dishwasher safe. Selecting the right motor power is another crucial element. A powerful blender can turn ice to snow, making sure that you won't find any chunky pieces of ice in your tasty smoothie. You want at least 450 watts in a standard kitchen blender to get the job done. You can get by with less power on a single serve blender because the container is smaller.
How expensive is the blender you're looking at? The best blenders tend to be the most expensive, typically around $400 for a Vitamix or Blendtec model. There are some quality models that you can find for less though, that work very well. The KitchenAid 5 speed blender, which is a countertop model, is under $100 and has many fantastic features.
Consumer Opinion
The final factor you need to look at is on-line reviews. You can find these on many sites including GoBlendIt.com and Amazon.com. Taking the time to read a few reviews can really help you find the best blender. The information and features on a blender may sound great, but if it breaks down after a short time, then it's a bad buy. You can find out about product defects, and quality and reliability by reading a few owner reviews before you make your purchase.
As you look through reviews make sure you get both sides of the story by looking at positive and negative reviews. You want to check out owner reviews from those that have had their blenders for a while and been running them a lot. Most blender problems like engine failure will happen just a couple of months in.
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