Selecting the Best Blender for You

I have broken more than my fair share of blenders. There was that first cheap $17 blender I got at Wal-Mart. The motor died shortly after, smoke and all. Then I upgraded to an Oster blender. The motor also died, but this time with no smoke. Then the nice $200+ Breville blender that did not have the horsepower necessary to blend frozen fruit. It did not make the smoothies as creamy in texture as I would have liked. I gave it away because it wouldn’t break on me.

Now, I live and die by my Vitamix. I love the Vitamix, and I am never looking back, except maybe to try the Blendtec, which is the other high-powered blender on the market competing neck-in-neck with the Vitamix. With a $500 to $600 price range, these power blenders are pricey, but they can become your staple kitchen appliance for years, and get used several times per day, not to mention for multiple purposes—I love making soups in addition to smoothies using the Vitamix, and I truly believe I am saving money by having a high-quality blender with multiple purposes.

 Having said that, I’ve made some impressive smoothies in the Magic Bullet, and it works just fine. Both the Nutri Bullet and Magic Bullet brands are sturdy, boast a strong engine for their size and price range, and yield creamy, delicious smoothies. You also have the advantage of not having to pour out your smoothie into another glass. You just turn over the hard plastic cup container in which you blended, put the cap on, and you’re all set. Their plastic cups fit nicely in most cupholders. I love those little machines. They travel very well in case you want to take your smoothie along with you on the road.

When you are choosing your blender, what matters is how well the machine blends and what quality of smoothie it produces. The higher the motor power, the better it can blend and handle the frozen items, and it will last longer despite frequent use. If you can produce high-quality smoothies that are fully blended, creamy, and smooth, as if you ordered it at a high-end restaurant, you are likely to continue making them. The whole point is to establish this as a habit, so keep that in mind as you shop for your blender.

 A few things to pay attention to when choosing your blender:

1. Amazon and other website reviews: Always do your research. Amazon is a great place not just to shop, but also to do extensive research. My rule of thumb is to buy products that have an overwhelming number of four- and five-star reviews, with at least a few one- or two-star reviews. Note that I said with at least a few poor reviews—it always makes me think twice when a product has 100 five-star reviews; it’s possible some of those may have been endorsed. Skim the reviews for obvious patterns and learn the pros and cons of the product as you do. If someone got their shipment late or a random chipped product was shipped out, it’s likely an anomaly and not a pattern. But if ten people write about a motor breaking after the machine’s third use, I’d move on to the next brand fast.

 2. Warranty quality and extent: When you find a good brand that has a solid number of positive reviews and fits your price range, check on the warranty. The length and quality of the warranty is a big purchasing decision for me. I would gladly pay a little more for two or three more years of full coverage. The idea is to buy a machine that lasts you at least three to five years without breaking down, creates smooth and creamy blends, and fits your budget. Also note that if you pay a wee bit more for the blender than you feel comfortable spending, you will feel more obligated to use it. You know—it cost you so much, you have to use it. That can’t be a bad motivator. Just sayin’!

3. Plastic vs. glass: I used to think that I preferred glass—my Breville was glass—but glass containers can actually be very heavy and break easily. I love the BPA-free polycarbonate plastic that the Vitamix uses, which is also environment friendly. It is easy to wash either manually or with the dishwasher, and it is light. You don’t have to be a bodybuilder to lift it out and move it to the counter! So check the blender specification, read up on the quality of the plastic used, and make sure it is dishwasher-safe.

4. Variable speed settings on the motor: You ideally want control in the process of making your blends. Variable speed allows you to start on a slower speed, work your way up when your ingredients are mushy, and then bring the speed back down before you finish it. The on/off blenders don’t give you any versatility, and therefore zero control. You want different speed settings. This is different from the various settings like “blend,” “frothy,” “liquefy,” and “ice crush,” which are more marketing terms than functional terms. Essentially, you want to control the speed at which the blades turn. The Vitamix allows you to go from low to high with many stops along the way. A high-powered machine also allows you to throw everything at once into the blender instead of in stages because you have more control over the blending process.

5. A tamper to move the ingredients during blending process: The tamper is the genius part of the Vitamix. Even high-powered machines like the Vitamix need help. The tamper is what you use to help move the food around to make blending easier for your blender. Much, much easier. With my old Breville, I’d have to turn everything off, get a big spoon, swirl things around in the hopes that I got ingredients repositioned well enough, take out the spoon, put the lid back on, and start again. This process would repeat about three to five times for each smoothie. That factor alone would have sealed the deal for me with the Vitamix back then!

If you have your mind set on starting out with a simpler and cheaper blender—and I define cheap as anything under $100—then beware that it won’t stand the test of time and frequent pace that you put it through, and you will likely be replacing it soon. If you just want to dabble your toes into the smoothie world, then that’s a good place to start. In fact, go with the Nutri or Magic bullets, which are very reasonably priced. I personally loved using them when I was visiting my in-laws. Just beware that cheap may save you money, but it may also frustrate you to the point that you may lose interest in the whole thing. I wouldn’t want that to happen to you!