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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Our Essential Blender Buying Guide
Updated on Aug. 31, 2022
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 58148A ($35)
Psst… Here’s a surprisingly quick and easy way to clean your brand-new blender.
Must-Try Blender Recipes
Chipotle Butternut Squash SoupMy 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 SalsaI'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 ShakeWhen 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 Hot SauceMake your own hot sauce at home with this spicy recipe. Habanero and serrano peppers provide bold heat that's balanced by the sweetness of carrots and onions. We'll also show you how to can hot sauce for long-lasting flavor.
Peach-Chipotle Baby Back RibsMy 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
Eggplant SandwichThis eggplant sandwich with tomato and goat cheese is grilled to perfection and layered on a crusty ciabatta roll for a delicious meatless meal.
Spiced Pumpkin Coffee ShakesThe 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 SauceCod in tomato sauce is a sweet, flavorful recipe that goes excellently with nutty grains and starches such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
Berry Breakfast ParfaitsExpecting 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 PancakesPancake 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
HorchataIn 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 CheesecakeThough 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 SoupThis 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 ShellsI 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 SauceLime 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 DrinkSleepyheads will savor this dreamy smoothie. Simply blend yogurt, milk and orange juice concentrate for a fresh start to your day. —Renee Gastineau, Seattle, Washington
German PancakesWhip up a show-stopping centerpiece for your breakfast spread with our recipe for German pancakes.
Creamy Seafood EnchiladasShrimp 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 SlushWe 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 ToastMmm…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
Mom's Meat LoafMom made the best meat loaf, and now I do too. When I first met my husband, he wasn't a meat loaf guy, but this recipe won him over. —Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas
Taco ChiliRanch dressing mix is the secret ingredient that makes this Mexican taco chili recipe so amazing that guests will wonder how you made it. To make things even better, the chili practically cooks itself in a slow cooker once you've browned the beef.
Strawberry MilkshakeGrab your spoon: this strawberry milkshake is thick, bright with strawberry flavor and infinitely customizable.
Black Bean TartThis 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, Bean & Rice BurritosGet ready for tailgate season with these slow-cooker pork burritos, featuring tender spice-rubbed pork wrapped up with rice, beans, and your choice of toppings. They're an easy and satisfying meal well-suited for any casual occasion.
Roasted Tomato SoupTurn fresh tomatoes, garlic and onion into a roasted tomato soup that explodes with flavor.
Strawberry-Carrot SmoothiesMy 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
