As with most kitchen appliances, it’s hard to commit to a purchase when they cost a pretty penny. Blenders are no exception.
Not to mention, the appliances usually have limited uses and often take up valuable counter real estate. Nowadays, many modern kitchen tools and appliances are built with variety of use in mind, but you’re still faced with the challenge of how to choose the best ones.
If you’re reading this, you’ve decided that a blender is a must-have for your home. But given all the options out there, you’re not sure which is best. How do you go about choosing the best blender to include on your wedding registry?
Blenders are registry regulars at Blueprint and we’ve dug deep to determine which blenders we—and the world—love best and why. At first glance, blenders may seem pretty straight forward, but it turns out there’s a lot to know before deciding on which model is right for you given your home and blending needs.
Best Blenders: Score Sheet
Our top picks for best blenders includes analysis of real customer reviews, consumer reports, and overall value.
| Best Blenders | Consumer Reports Score | Amazon Score | Blueprint Score | Overall Score |
| Vitamix 750 Professional | 85/100 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.5 |
| Ninja Professional NJ600 | 78/100 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| Blendtec Designer 725 | 84/100 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 4.2 |
| Breville Hemisphere | 69/100 | N/A | 4.6 | 3.9 |
| Black + Decker 3-in-1 PowerCrush Blending System | 63/100 | N/A | 4.5 | 3.7 |
So, Blenders Aren’t Just for Blending?
At their core, yes, blenders blend. At the bare minimum, every model will blend, puree, and crush ice at different speeds. However, with the rise of professional blenders like the Vitamix and Blendtec—even Jamba Juice has its own—comes a plethora of functionalities and often the combination of several kitchen appliances in one. Just like a KitchenAid stand mixer isn’t just a stand mixer, a blender no longer has to be just a blender.
Some blenders can be programmed for food texture, speed, portion size, and even heat. Other blenders can be dismantled and put back together to create a completely different tool (more on this later). Blenders can even come with smaller container sizes, perfect for smaller spaces and individual, on-the-go portions. There are a lot of options for functions, and therefore a number of decisions to make before buying.
Types of Blenders
Not every blender is ”one size fits all”. Someone who only really wants to be able to make smoothies for breakfast probably doesn’t need a blender with heating capabilities. An avid home cook or professional chef may want a blender with a dial for subtle increases in power to execute a perfectly emulsified sauce. Maybe your partner doesn’t see the need for a blender at all, and you’re the only one in the household who will be using it. There are different types of blenders for every need and situation.
Conventional
Conventional blenders are the easiest to find and don’t usually come with an exorbitant price tag. Most department stores will offer a variety of conventional blenders that vary in motor power, but may not necessarily have many additional features besides blending, pureeing, and crushing. They’ll cover the basics—blend, pulse, and crush—and will get more expensive as the materials and motor quality increase.
Personal
Personal blenders are fantastic for making individual portions. They take up significantly less counter and cabinet space, and the boxes typically include a number of personal to-go containers. Prices will vary depending on the brand and motor power, but overall are a great option for people on the go.
Professional/High Performance
With home cooking and baking consistently increasing in popularity, so are trendy high performance appliances. Blenders, of course, are no exception. High performance blenders boast high motor power and will have the most functionality (can you say “self cleaning”?) out there. These are also what you’re likely to find in most professional kitchens, so they’re chef approved. High performance blenders don’t come cheap, however, so be prepared to pay a pretty penny for a rad tool.
Immersion/Stick
Immersion, or stick, blenders are great for simple blending tasks like smoothing out a chunky soup or whipping up a quick batch of homemade mayonnaise. The blade head is inserted directly into your cooking pot, container, or bowl and eliminates the traditional blender containers entirely. They’re slim, lightweight, and can be easily stored in a drawer, making them the smallest of all the blenders on our list.
Although immersion blenders are convenient, they have very limited functionality. We consider immersion blenders more of a complement to your kitchen tools rather than a replacement for a traditional blender. Cooking enthusiasts will probably prefer to have both a good blender and an immersion blender in their arsenal, however.
Vitamix 750 Professional
“Cleanup is easy. I rinse the cover and container and then add some warm water and a drop of soap before putting back on the blender to use the clean cycle. It’s very simple.” -Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- Blades specially designed to create a unique vortex, minimizing mess and keeping your food neatly in the container during blending
- Stainless steel blades that can cut through tough foods
- Variable 5-speed functionality, with dial for steady speed increase/decrease
- Includes 64 ounce container that easily blends small and large batches
- Features include pre-programmed settings for soup (heat), frozen foods, pulse, puree, walk-away, and self-cleaning in just 30-60 seconds
- Box includes container, motor base, instructional DVD, and a cookbook
- Motor runs relatively quiet and stays cool for consistent, powerful blending
CONSIDERATIONS
- The Vitamix 750 Professional is the most expensive blender on our list
- Smaller containers for smaller food batches available for additional purchase
- Does not include timer and touch screen control like the A3500 model
Ninja Professional NJ600
“The puree function works very well as the smoothies come out very consistently without chunks of fruit or ice after as little as 30 seconds of blending.” -Jake, Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- The Ninja Professional is a great high performance option for more price-conscious shoppers
- Includes 6 blades for powerful blending, and excellent ice crushing capabilities
- 1000 watt, 3-speed motor provides fast, smooth blending and is relatively quiet
- Container holds up to 9 cups of frozen or hot foods
- Container top has hinged spout top that can be opened for hot foods and is also slotted to minimize messes
- Crushes ice with a breeze for smooth iced beverages like smoothies, margaritas, and more
- All removable parts, including blade, are dishwasher safe
CONSIDERATIONS
- The container has sharper corners than other blenders, and can trap chunks of food may not get blended right away
- It’s bulky—the base is relatively heavy and the container is quite tall
Blendtec Designer 725
“It does look nice, it’s quite compact, comes with two jars. The motor is powerful, the jars are fairly thick and easy to use.” -Eric, Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- Another great high performance option
- 3.8 horsepower motor that crushes, blends, and purees seamlessly and relatively quietly
- Container holds up to 4.5 cups of food
- Touchpad controls, rather than buttons, include 6 programmed cycle options (smoothies, juices, soup, self-cleaning, and more)
- 100 variable speed slider settings
- Includes twister jar and spatula for personal smoothies, mixtures with lots of crumbs, or thick and sticky nut butters
- Convenient “Add 10” feature that adds 10 seconds to any walk-away program
- Blender keeps track of number of blends, which can be reported on Blentec’s website for their rewards program
- Blendec has a fantastic YouTube channel called “Will It Blend” where Blendtec blenders are tested to blend everything from iPhones to markers. They have plenty of actual recipes, too!
CONSIDERATIONS
- Although not quite as expensive as a Vitamix, it is still one of the pricier models on our list
- Reviewers have noted that the lid takes a good amount of pressure to secure, and can come off if not secured
- 4.5 cup container capacity is less than the other high performance models on our list
Breville Hemisphere
“I put it through more than I should and have not been disappointed.” -Consumer Reports Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- The Breville Hemisphere is a higher-end conventional model blender
- 750 watt motor
- Touchpad controls have pre-programmed and variable speed options
- Digital LCD screen displays the timer
- Plastic container holds up to 6 cups of food
- Stainless steel central blades pull food from the top of the container, while the sweeping blades blend from the bottom
- Lid has opening for adding ingredients while blending
- Includes cord storage underneath the base
CONSIDERATIONS
- Although Consumer Reports claims the Hemisphere crushes ice very well, reviewers noted that it’s not quite as smooth as they’d hoped
- On par with most conventional model blenders, the 750 watt motor may not be as powerful as most cooking enthusiasts would prefer
Black + Decker 3-in-1 PowerCrush
“The 3 speeds give me exactly the consistency that I am looking for when I am make beverages in the blender.” -Target Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- The Black + Decker 3-in-1 blending system is a great budget option
- Very lightweight at only 5 pounds
- 900 watt motor is powerful and can crush ice with ease
- System includes 6 cup container, personal container for food on-the-go, and a flavor infuser
- Flavor infuser adds delicious and fun flavors to your water
- Touchpad includes 3 programmed settings (including infusion), and 3 motor speeds, and a pulse function
- All parts are dishwasher safe
- Lid has two openings for easy additions of more ingredients
CONSIDERATIONS
- A bit louder than more expensive blender options
- Because the motor isn’t as powerful as high performance models, blending may take more time
BONUS: Blueprint’s Favorite Immersion Blender
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- A fantastic all in one tool that blends, chops, and whips without taking up counter space
- Includes detachable immersion blender, small food processor, and whisk attachments
- Immersion blender can be put directly into bowls, cups, and containers to smooth out mixtures and eliminate container cleaning
- Food processor attachment chops with ease
- Whisk attachment makes hand whipping much easier
- 200 watt motor
- Includes 16 ounce measuring beaker
CONSIDERATIONS
- 200 watt motor is not suitable for powerful blending, and is only recommended for quick purees, soups, or emulsifications
- Speed options are limited (high/low) and no programmable settings
- Best as a complement to countertop blender for smaller blending tasks
Blender Storage + Care
In general, the space between your countertop and cabinets averages around 17 inches. Most blenders, with few exceptions, will fit easily on top of your counters without hitting the bottom of your cabinets. This assumes, however, that you have the counter space to begin with.
We recommend measuring the space between your countertop and cabinets to confirm the a blender will fit if you wish to keep it handy. Additionally, we recommend measuring a potential storage place your kitchen or pantry before purchasing. Storing your blender with the container attached to the base will make it taller, so take measurements with that in mind. Luckily, blenders can be taken apart and stored side-by-side, instead of stacked.
Most of the blenders on our list have dishwasher safe parts. If the container isn’t too tall, they should be placed on the upper shelf of your dishwasher with the lids. Although labels will probably tell you that blades are safe to clean in your dishwasher, we recommend cleaning them by hand. Hand washing will keep the blades sharp for as long as possible, thus lengthening their life. Soak them in warm water with a little dish soap, and clean gently, but thoroughly with a sponge. A toothbrush designated for kitchen use only is great for scrubbing any hard to reach nooks and crannies, and puts a little distance between your hand and the sharp blade.
Final Thoughts
Blenders are one of the top gifts we see across Blueprint registries, and we don’t expect it to slow down. As more and more millennials are cooking at home, cooking tools and appliances—and especially blenders—are getting smarter, more efficient, and more functional. They’ve achieved a level of virality, and have become a staple in most homes.
Your registry is the perfect opportunity to finally get the blender of your dreams, and our list of favorites will help you determine which is best for your home and lifestyle. Whether it’s for a daily protein shake or a masterfully crafted bearnaise, a quality blender will help you reach your culinary goals.