What's Trending Right Now? Is a $450 blender worth the money? It is if you choose the right one, says Consumer Reports. But you can also pay far less and get top performance. The magazine rated both personal blenders that make smoothies and premium mega-blenders that can cost hundreds of dollars. Consumer Reports tested each product's ability to make smoothies, puree, and crush ice, and rated each blender for convenience, noise and durability. Among the 58 premium blenders, the top-scorer since at least June 2010 is the $450 Vitamix 5200 (pictured on the right in the above photo), according to Consumer Reports' senior editor Daniel DiClerico. "Besides acing our frozen drinks, puree, and ice crush tests, it's one of the few models that makes hot soup and blitzes whole fruits and vegetables into smooth, creamy juice," Consumer Reports said, as shown in a video on its website. But this year, the $60 Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004, a blender and food chopper, shares the top spot - and a score of 91 out of 100 - with its much more expensive competitor.

That Ninja Master out-scored the more expensive $650 Vitamix Professional Series 750, which scored 81 and scored "excellent" for its ability to puree, crush ice and in the durability test. As for smaller, personal blenders, Consumer Reports put them to the same tests and found they each had different strengths. "The $35 Back to Basics Blender Express BPE3BR performed superbly across all tasks, but it didn't pass our durability test, which involves crushing successive batches of ice," the magazine said. (That blender is pictured on the left in the photo above.) Out of 12 personal blenders that Consumer Reports rated, eight Hamilton Beach products ranging from $20 to $25 shared the top rating in that category, scoring 55 out of 100 possible points. When asked if a household, with the kitchen space and money, should fork over more money to buy a premium blender over a personal blender, DiClerico says, "Definitely." "It's incredible how much you can do with a top-performing blender like the Vitamix," he said.

"All the usual stuff like smoothies and shakes and frozen drinks, but also things like hummus and soup, even cappuccinos and hot chocolate. These can be incredibly versatile machines, and they should last for many years, making them well worth the investment."braun hand blender type 4193 Here are lists of the top-scoring 10 blenders for both categories, out of 100 possible points. waring blender kopenFull Size Blenders 1. vitamix 6300 vs 5200 costcoNinja Master Prep Professional QB1004, $60. breville kinetix blender review bbl605Ninja Professional NJ600, $100. recette creme anglaise avec blender cuisinart

Vitamix Professional Series 750, $650. Vitamix Professional Series 300, $530. Hamilton Beach Commercial Tempest HBH650, $450. Waring Xtreme MX1000R, $350. Ninja Kitchen System 1100 NJ602, $160. optimum 9400 blender ebayL'Equip RPM Professional, $300. breville optiva blender partsScore: 73 Personal Blenders 1. Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender 51101, $20. Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender 51102, $23. Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender 51103, $20. Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender 51104, $20. Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender 51106, $20. Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender 51108, $25. Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender 51111, $20. Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender 51126, $20. Back to Basics Blender Express BPE3BR, $35. Processors, Blenders & Juicers (66) Cooking with Kids (63) Up To SGD 30 SGD 30 - SGD 76

SGD 76 - SGD 152 SGD 152 - SGD 305 SGD 305 and Up Magic Bullet® The Original Baby Bullet™ 4-Cup Food Processor BEABA® Babycook Pro Baby Food Maker in Latte/Mint Baby Brezza® Glass One Step Baby Food Maker Cuisinart® Baby Food Maker & Bottle Warmer Breville® The Control Grip™ Immersion Blender Baby Brezza® Formula Pro Formula Dispenser Cuisinart® SmartPower® Deluxe™ Blender in Metallic Red MagicBullet® NutriBullet® Pro 900 Series Cuisinart® Smart Stick® Two-Speed Hand BlendersDesigns® 2-Piece Counter Top Juicer Breville® Juice Fountain® Duo Nostalgia™ Electrics Old Fashioned Wood Ice Cream Maker Vitamix® 1709 CIA Professional Series Stainless Steel Blender babymoov® Nutribaby Food Processor in Cream OXO Good Grips® Citrus Juicer Cuisinart® Smart Stick PLUS® Cordless Rechargeable Hand Blender Healthy Baby Meal Planner babybrezza® 3-Cup Complete Food Maker with Storage Pouches in White

BEABA® Babycook Pro Baby Food Maker in Red Organic Baby and Toddler Cookbook Sage Spoonfuls® Glass Homemade Essentials Mixer Package Sage Spoonfuls®  Sage Baby Puree & Blend MEDport® Fit & Fresh™ Food Mill Blendtec® Designer 625™ Blender with WildSide Tritan Jar BEABA® Babycook Baby Food Maker in Cloud Breville® The Juice Fountain® Elite Cuisinart® Smart Stick® 2-Speed Hand Blender in Brushed Chrome KitchenAid® 2-Speed Hand Blender with 3-Cup Jar & Lid "Real Baby Food" Cookbook by Jenna Helwig Breville® Die-Cast Citrus Juice Press Cuisinart® SmartPower 4-Cup Compact Blending/Chopping System in Pink KitchenAid® 2-Speed Hand Blenders with 3-Cup Jar & Lid KitchenAid® 5-Speed Hand Blender Vitamix® 1978 CIA™ Professional Series Blender BEABA® Babycook Baby Food Maker in Sorbet Cuisinart® Smart Stick® Two-Speed Hand Blender in White Breville® Hemisphere™ Control Blenders

Cuisinart® Pulp Control Citrus Juicer Sage Spoonfuls® Homemade Essentials Mixer Package Cuisinart® Compact Juice Extractor BEABA® Babycook Original Plus in Peacock BEABA® Babycook Plus Food Maker in Neon babymoov® Nutribaby Food Processor in Grey/Cream/Cherry Processors, Blenders, & Juicers There is no doubt that you want the best for your little one, and what better way to start then with what they’re eating. Not only is baby food easy to make, it is definitely less expensive than buying pre–made baby food. Plus, you can guarantee that your baby’s food is made from the best and healthiest ingredients. With essential nutrients like as Vitamin A and potassium, fresh fruits and vegetables are a vital part of your baby’s diet for healthy growth and development. is here to help ensure your baby is getting exactly the nutrients they need. Easily turn fruit, vegetables, chicken and other favorites into easy–to–eat baby food with a high grade food processor or a powerful blender.