Best Countertop Blender Reviews 2018

Depending upon your needs, you can get a decent-quality blender for about $50 (yes, we know you can get a cheap countertop blender for less, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get quality). Or you can pay as much as $500 for a professional-grade blender. What you pay will be greatly impacted by the features, the power of the motor, and whether or not the blender can serve other purposes such as chopping and food processing.

For the purpose of this review, we are looking at blenders that we consider a good fit for the home cook. This meant eliminating the very lower-end models that aren’t necessarily going to stand up to frequent usage. We also eliminated a lot of excellent commercial-grade countertop blenders because not only are they quite expensive, they are more than what most people need in a kitchen appliance.

The main purpose of a blender is quite simple—to blend foods. Needless to say, all of the blenders we have chosen to recommend have this covered well, but there are some models that add some extra features that help to add even more convenience to your life.

This could be as simple as containers that are dishwasher-safe (and that can handle hot foods) or a nice storage spot built in for the cord when it’s not in use. And then there are blenders that add versatility, providing you with a multi-functional appliance that can double as a food grinder and/or a food processor.

To ensure that you make the best decision when shopping for blenders, assess your cooking habits and find out what exactly you need when preparing foods. Afterwards, keep an eye on the features section of each of our blenders to identify the best one for you!

In terms of the construction and design of a blender, there are a few standard factors that you will want to consider: Design and overall size, capacity, power, and blade type. Before you pick a blender, ask yourself these questions.

Do I want to keep my blender on the counter so it’s readily accessible? If the answer is yes, then what it looks like and how much space it takes up may be very important to you. There are models available today that come in all kinds of stylish colors and designs that can be chosen to fit your décor. There are also compact models if your counters are small or already crowded with other appliances.

Do I want to keep my blender in a cabinet? And if so, how frequently do you plan on using it? Size again plays an important role here, as does weight. There are a lot of great blenders out there that are on the heavy side and might not be very convenient to keep taking out from under the counter and then putting it back later.

What quantities of food do I want to be able to prepare in my new blender? For this, you need to look at the capacity of the blender container. This can vary from “single serve” containers around 20 ounces in size to about 64 ounces for a non-commercial-sized blender. While we’re on the subject of the container, you will also need to decide whether you want glass or plastic (and if you want it to be BPA-free). Glass is easier to keep clean and resists scratches, but it’s also heavier and can break. The decision will be a matter of preference.

What kinds of foods do I want to prepare with my blender? This is where power and blade type play a role. If your goal is to be able to whip up a few milkshakes, strawberry daiquiris, and margaritas, then you may be fine with a lower-intensity conventional blender. On the other hand, if you want to blend hot vegetables into soup, make ice cream and nut butters, and some perfectly blended fruit smoothies, then you’d be better off with a high-performance blender with fast-spinning blades and a super powerful motor. Further, if you want to work with ingredients such as grinding grains and coffee beans, you will need to make sure that your blender has both wet blades and dry blades.

Determining how well a blender works is pretty simple—how long does it take to get the job done, and is the job done right? For example, just because you can technically make a fruit smoothie in any blender, doesn’t mean that every blender will give you a velvety smooth drink free from chunks. A great blender will also be easy to use and clean up.

The power, number of speed settings, and types of blades will have a great impact on how well a blender performs. For example, lower-end blenders can typically handle the task of pureeing soft fruits and vegetables, but not more difficult blending tasks such as completely crushing ice, frozen fruits, or mixing meats.

For each of the products we review, we will make sure to let you know the types of foods that you can prepare with it so that you are sure to get one that meets your expectations.