The blender was invented in 1922—and now, nearly 100 years later, more than 85 percent of American households own at least one of the many whirring, pulsing magicians of the kitchen, with much of the growth in the last five years accredited to the ubiquitous smoothie invasion. The blenders of today feature details like backlit LED displays, heated soup elements, timers, “snow” functions and dry ingredient-blending capabilities for grains and flours. But do you own the best blender for your culinary and nutritional needs? It’s worth the money to invest in a powerhouse blender that will give back its value many times over, and the list we’ve assembled includes a variety of models and price points, from practical to princely. Think about how often you blend (pulverize, chop, juice, extract), what you blend and how much space you have, then let our handy guide assist you. We’ve included classic countertop, bullet and immersion blenders for all types of food-prep tasks. Time to toss that old clunker for a sleeker, chicer model.

Glossary: For each blender, we offer information about the following so it’s easier for you to compare: Horsepower (hp): the actual speed/power of the blender, which determines how fast it blends. This is key when considering blending more concentrated foods like dough, gelato, batter and nut butters—you may want higher hp and watts. Jar Capacity: the volume of glass or plastic vessel with the handle on the blender. Are you blending gazpacho for a crowd or making a green super juice for one? The jar size will help you decide. Height: so you can choose a blender that fits nicely on your countertop and under your cabinets or on a shelf. Wattage: the power coming into the motor of the blender, based on American standards for everyday items like lightbulbs. Our Blender Deal-Breakers: Blenders with pieces of rubber gasket breaking off, oil leakage from the under base of the power element, a burning smell or engines that run too hot and loud didn’t make our cut.

We also omitted machines that require shaking and wobbling in order to incorporate ingredients. If we couldn’t trust the blender enough to walk away from it for a minute or two without fearing an explosion, then it didn’t make the list. Also, jars that aren’t BPA-free were definitely off limits.Use your blender to create vegetable-heavy juices or smoothies, as those that rely too much on fruits may spike blood sugar levels and defeat the purpose of getting healthy. : History of the Kitchen Blender1 small red onion, peeled and finely sliced 1kg overripe tomatoes, roughly chopped 25g basil leaves, torn 25g flat leaf parsley leaves, torn 1 tsp table salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper I used the Breville Pick & Mix Hand Blender to mix it all together and it was really powerful so I was super impressed!Buzz your way to a better body with our favorite blenders, with this exclusive guide from Buy This, Not That. Blending up a fresh smoothie or soup may help you get a better body, but not every blender is for everybody.

And that's because we all have different lifestyles, diets, kitchens, and budgets. Not sure which blender best fits your needs? We've got you covered. Whether you're looking for a blender that's quiet as a mouse, something that's perfect for camping, or a gadget that won't take over your tiny kitchen, we've got you covered. Check out our go-to picks for every category and then sip your way slim with the help of these delicious Zero Belly Smoothies! If you typically chug your smoothie before running out the door, it's time invest in a blend n' go machine. margaritaville frozen concoction maker blender dm1000Both of the options below allow smoothie fanatics to blend their drinks right in to-go cups. waring wsb50 immersion blenderThe sets even come with lids to assure you won't have any spills during your commute. breville juicer and blender juicer in one bjb840

Not only will sipping your drink more slowly throughout the morning ward off brain freeze, it will also give your body more time to process the sugars from the fruit, which can help keep extreme blood sugar spikes at bay. Top Notch: Ninja Nutri Auto-iQ Blender, $120 Budget Buy: Cuisinart Compact-Smoothie Blender, $60 Every woman knows that nutrition is a top priority when they're pregnant—and that's one of the main reasons we wrote Eat This, Not That! But how can ensure your baby is well fed after they're no longer relying on your body for food? ninja blender model bl773With the help of a baby food blender, you can easily create an entire week's worth of healthy, nutritional food for your mini me in minutes flat! bamix gastro 350 testThe best part: Each of our picks come with small storage containers and lids, so you can throw your little one's meal into the fridge or into the diaper bag for easy feedings on the go.blendtec designer series vs hp3a

Top Notch: BELLA Baby Rocket Blender, $94 Budget Buy: Magic Bullet Baby Bullet Baby Care System, $60 If you wake up early to hit the gym or head to the office, a quiet-as-a-mouse blender is key. Both of our picks are strong enough to break down ice and tough produce, yet far quieter than their competitors, thanks for their sound minimizing features. Your family will thank you. Top Notch: Vitamix Quiet One Blender, $1,144 Budget Buy: Jamba Quiet Shield Blender Jar, $149black and decker cyclone blender error code Looking for the perfect gift for the ultimate smoothie addict? These unique mix masters are both solid picks. While Oster's mason jar blender is perfect for fans of the rustic country trend that's all the rage right now, the Vitamix is a great gift for those who enjoy blending up soup recipes. In a mere six minutes, it can turn cold ingredients into a steaming hot liquid.

How impressive is that?! Top Notch: Vitamix 5200 Series Blender, $450 Budget Buy: Oster Blend N Go Mason Jar Blender, $30 If you often find yourself away from home craving a creamy smoothie or blended cocktail, these are the best blenders for you. The Waring Tailgater Blender plugs right into your car's cigarette lighter and comes with a 14-foot cord so you can easily set it on a nearby table; this should be your go-to gadget for glamping and tailgates! Curious what the "Extreme" Daiquiri Whacker is all about? It's a motor-powered blender that is perfect for the beach, boating, a day at the races, or any other outdoor function that would be far more fun with an ice-blended drink in hand. Top Notch: The "Extreme" Daiquiri Whacker, $499 Budget Buy: Waring Tailgater Blender, $85 As a healthy foodie, you know the ideal blender should be able to handle more than just smoothies and gazpacho—it should be able to slice, shred, and churn out a silky batch of chickpea cookie dough, too!

Both of these versatile buys act not only as blenders, but as choppers, processors, kneaders, and graters. If you want to invest in one machine that does at all, these are two of the very best bets on the market. Top Notch: Tower Professional Food Processor, $319 Budget Buy: Ninja Mega Kitchen System Food Processor Blender, $218 Farm chic and retro inspired kitchens are endearing and enduring, and these fashion-forward blenders are the perfect accessories to complete the vintage look. You'd be hard pressed to find other countertop gadgets that can make your farm sink look this good! Top Notch: Smeg Retro Style Blender, $250 Budget Buy: Nostalgia Retro Series Blender, $46 Just because your kitchen is only slightly bigger than your car doesn't mean you have to toss your blender and other high-tech kitchen gadgets into storage (or worse, to the curb). Just trade in your way-too-big toys for a tiny, versatile option and you'll be good to go. The Bella Blender comes with grinding and blending blades and various-sized blending cups and to-go lids.

The NutriBullet is just as versatile and comes complete with various types of blades, cups, lip rings, and lids. It even shreds, chops and grinds! It may be just five inches wide, but it's a no-nonsense multitasker. Top Notch: Magic Bullet NutriBullet 12-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer System, $86 Budget Buy: Bella 12-Piece Rocket Blender, $24 If you love to cook but you hate the mess, these souped-up blenders are for you. Not only does the Breville Superblender have an auto-clean feature (you just need to add soap), it also has a ton of preset blending and timer functions. If you want something with all the bells and whistles this may be one of the best bets. The Vitamix is equally as impressive—but if we had to pick just one thing about it that wows us, it would definitely be the fact that it self-cleans in 60 seconds. It also comes with pre-programmed settings, each specifically designed to help you create things like smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts, and purées.