Blender buying guide: capacity, features, cleaning, design, and price explained
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A blender is a must in every kitchen. From making your favorite smoothies to purées, the right blender can make your life easier, and we will tell you what to look for when purchasing one.
What to Make In a Blender?
Depending on the blender, you may chop, crush, mix, and puréeing your ingredients; however, beware of overloading it. We will discuss the capacity of a blender further.
Lots of people use their blenders to prepare soft foods, such as hot soups, frozen desserts, smoothies, dips, sauces, and purées.
Capacity
It’s essential to look for the right container according to your needs. Their size can vary from 8 ounces (mini blender) to 10 to 64 ounces (average traditional blender) to 80 ounces (high-performance blender). Besides considering how many people you will cook for, you should also think about your storage space, given that some jars are taller and more spacious than others.
If, for example, you are only going to use it for personal smoothies, a mini blender is a good option because it has personal size. On the contrary, when using it for a group of friends or to cook large batches of food, you may opt for a larger size.
Features
The features of your blender will vary depending on your budget and brand, but most of the best blenders have these features:
- Pulse switch control
- Variable speeds
- High blending power
- Resistant jar
- Sound dampening technology
- Wide blades
- Pre-programmed settings
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Large capacity
- Warranty
Cleaning
Luckily, conventional blenders are easy to clean because they are self-clean. It is as simple as adding a drop of dish soap and hot water inside the jar and turning it on. Make sure that the lid is on to avoid making a mess on your countertop.
Let it run for 10-15 seconds, and turn it off. Pour out the water and rinse with some more hot water.
As for the base, use a damp cloth and wipe it thoroughly. Never submerge this part in water or put it in the dishwasher.
With mini blenders or personal blenders, it is usual that the container is dishwasher-safe; however, you may opt to wash it by hand. Be cautious when cleaning the surface around the blades to avoid injuring yourself.
If there is any debris stuck in the lid, you may scrub it off with a sponge and dish soap.
Design
If you want your blender for daily use, we recommend considering the size of the jar with the lid on so it can be over your countertop without any issues. If storage space is a deciding factor, you may look for a conventional blender that has a total height of approximately 17-inches with the lid. If it’s not a deciding factor or you don’t mind storing it elsewhere, you may opt for a blender with a taller lid and a total height of 20.5 inches.
Regarding personal blenders, they don’t take much space; therefore, it won’t be a storage problem. They are usually about 13 to 15 inches tall.
As for the style of the blender, some models are more basic, and others come in a wide variety of colors. Choosing one or another will depend on your personal preferences and the looks of your other kitchen appliances.
Also, we recommend that the material of the jar is copolyester or any other type of high-quality plastic due to its long durability. On the contrary, polycarbonate plastic containers are the least resistant; however, if you are not going to use it daily, a cheap polycarbonate plastic pitch may do the trick.
Price
Consider your budget and personal preferences before finding a blender.
On average, a personal blender can range from $40 to $70. Keep in mind that a $40 one may not have the best quality; but, if you are going to use it sporadically, it might be enough for you.
A medium quality conventional blender can cost around $200-$300, and it will be efficient for daily use; while a premium one is about $500, with more accessories and possibly more power.
Now, if budget is not a deciding factor and you are a foodie, you may look for high-end blenders, which can exceed $500, but it will be efficient for many years.