{"id":787697,"date":"2019-12-19T12:14:16","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T18:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=787697"},"modified":"2022-08-31T16:52:55","modified_gmt":"2022-08-31T21:52:55","slug":"blender-buying-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/blender-buying-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Essential Blender Buying Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"Purchasing an appliance for the kitchen, especially one that gets used as often as a blender<\/a>, is a big move for a home chef. It doesn't help that blenders<\/a> can vary widely in almost every category, including size, speed and strength. From a simple machine to make pi\u00f1a coladas<\/a> 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.\r\n

Consider the Size First<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nBlenders 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\u2014or often cooks for a group of family or friends\u2014it might be a good idea to upgrade to a larger size.\r\n\r\nBest Single-Serve Blender:<\/strong> NutriBullet NBR-1201 Blender<\/a>\u00a0($60)<\/em>\r\n\r\nBest Family-Size Blender:<\/strong> Ninja Professional Countertop Blender<\/a>\u00a0($100)<\/em>\r\n

Think About Speed and Power, Too<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nNot every household needs a feature-rich blender\u2014a simple but powerful machine can sometimes be the best. However, blenders can <\/em>be used for surprisingly complex tasks like grinding meat, making nut butter and crushing ice.\r\n\r\nSpeed:<\/strong> 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!\r\n\r\nPower:<\/strong> 500 watts is generally enough for the typical blender workload, like making milkshakes and blending smoothies<\/a>. (Here's the secret to making a milkshake.<\/a>)\r\n

Look for Special Attachments<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nI 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.\r\n