Best Blenders

Blenders for smoothies, drinks and pureeing soup

Blenders fall into three general classes. Basic budget models are capable of making smoothies and purees. Mid-range blenders are better at crushing ice and making icy drinks. Multifunction blenders can do all of the above plus more difficult tasks such as making baby food, grinding coffee beans and mixing nut butters.

One highly rated blender, the five-speed KitchenAid KSB560 (*Est. $90) , wins praise from professional testers and owners. The brushed nickel version of this blender is included in tests at Cook's Illustrated magazine, where it's noted for its ability to crush ice, whip up a smoothie of frozen berries and mango, and make a smooth, creamy hummus. Chow.com's Louise Chu recommends it as one of her top choices, saying it "crushes ice and blends consistently well." This model is also included in tests by ConsumerReports.org, and it earns a solid A grade from the expert editors at Good Housekeeping.

More than 500 user reviews on Amazon.com give the KitchenAid KSB560 an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars, making it one of the most frequently reviewed, higher-rated blenders on the site. Users praise its consistent performance in everything from pulverizing ice to pureeing soups. They also note that its 56-ounce polycarbonate jug is lighter than a glass jug, and testers say its teardrop design makes pouring easy. Although the blades are not removable, the entire jug can go into the dishwasher. We found complaints about an earlier version of the blender --users said the bottom of the polycarbonate jug may crack and leak after prolonged use -- but we've verified with KitchenAid's customer service department that the bottom of the container has been redesigned to eliminate this flaw; owner-written reviews at Amazon.com indicate that recent models seem more reliable in this respect.

This KitchenAid blender is also one of the highest-rated models at Buzzillions.com, earning an average 4.5 stars from more than 300 consumers. Target.com and Cooking.com reviewers praise its performance and ease of use. Perhaps most impressive, this blender has remained one of the top blender picks for several years now (we've found reviews which date back to 2006). The durability and performance of this KitchenAid blender has stood the test of time with both consumers and industry experts. The KitchenAid KSB560 blender comes with a one-year warranty, and it features five speeds plus a pulse function and an automatic ice-crushing button. This blender is available in 10 colors.

Another mid-range blender that gets consistently good reviews is the Oster Beehive Blender 4096 (*Est. $70) . It emerged as the top choice in a test of 38 blenders conducted by editors at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, where blenders were put though their paces making smoothies and frozen margaritas as well as grinding coffee beans and chopping onions. Editors say it excelled at most of those tasks and made "near perfect" margaritas; on the negative side, they report it is noisy and it lacks a pulse feature (you must flick the switch on and off).

Users at Amazon.com also praise the Oster Beehive Blender 4096 (*Est. $70) , saying it does an excellent job of crushing ice and pureeing fruit for smoothies. Many users say they find the blender's appearance attractive, with retro styling and a choice of colors for the base. However, the 4096 doesn't earn nearly the positive response that a previous Beehive model, the 4093 (*Est. $60) , earns. The Oster Class Beehive Blender 4096 has a tapered, dishwasher-safe 40-ounce glass jar that pours well, say reviewers. One drawback: Owners also say it's very noisy. The Oster Beehive Blender 4096 comes with a one-year warranty.

Inexpensive, basic blenders

The Kalorik BL-16909 (*Est. $40) is a budget-priced standout in professional testing. It has a stainless-steel base, two speeds and a 48-ounce graduated tapered glass jar. In addition, the Kalorik has a pulse function, which experts say is helpful for pulverizing ice. In contrast to the Oster Beehive Blender 4096, testers find the Kalorik blender to be quieter. The blender's six stainless-steel blades, two of which are serrated, make quick work of most foods. Good Housekeeping recommends the Kalorik BL-16911 (*Est. $40) model -- the same as the BL-16909 except in red -- for its value and performance.

Although both blenders get a recommendation in at least one professional test, owner reviews are more mixed. The Kalorik BL-16909 gets 2.6 out of 5 stars in more than 60 user reviews at Amazon.com, while the Kalorik BL-16911 earns  2.5 out of 5 stars in almost 10 reviews there. Some consumers say the company is not responsive to warranty claims; others complain that their blender broke within a few weeks. Many reviewers note that they purchased this blender based on the high "Best Buy" recommendation bestowed upon the blender by Cook's Illustrated. Many also note that they were mightily disappointed, saying the quality just didn't cut it. That said, most blenders in this price range have similar shortcomings.

One budget-friendly basic blender that fares better in consumer reviews is the Hamilton Beach 54615 Wave Station Express (*Est. $20) . The blender receives an average 4 out of 5 stars from more than 160 Amazon consumers, higher than any other blender in this price range. The blender performs as well with the more than 200 Walmart.com reviewers who give the blender an average 4 out of 5 stars. The 48-ounce jar is dishwasher safe and features a spigot, which is ideal for smoothie or shake enthusiasts. Users say that for the money, no other blender beats the Wave Station Express. The smoothness and the quality of icy drinks made with this blender are debatable, however. Some reviewers say that it "pulverizes" ice and creates a smooth, pourable drink. Others say the blades can't get through partially thawed fruit. Additionally, a handful of reviewers report that the blender has leaky gaskets. Plus, many note that the container doesn't latch securely onto the base, causing the entire blender to rattle.

Still, despite these criticisms, reviewers are generally pleased with their purchase. Professional reviewers are similarly impressed. The Wave Station Express garners an A- from the editors of Good Housekeeping (the same score earned by the Kalorik Blender 16911), who say that the "no-frills Hamilton Beach Wave Station Express 54615 blender whips up a wonderful smoothie or margarita -- and goes easy on the wallet."  They do note that the blender under-performed on chopping onions. Those looking for an economical blender for making drinks, however, should be quite pleased with this option.

Oster is another blender brand that puts out solid performers in the budget category. The least expensive blenders are in the Osterizer line. These models have varying speeds -- some have 10, others 12 or 14 -- and various designs. Some models have taller jugs, while others come with shorter containers. The Oster 12-Speed Blender (*Est. $40) gets a lot of positive owner feedback and is one of the highest-rated blenders at Amazon.com. Nearly 90 users give the Oster 12-Speed 4 out of 5 stars. Although most users say it's loud, they say it's a solid choice for the price. The happiest owners use it for basic tasks such as blending smoothies and pureeing soup. Those who aren't as happy with their purchase say it's not the best at making icy drinks, leaving large lumps behind.

The Oster 12-Speed Blender does not fare as well with editors at  Good Housekeeping as the Kalorik BL-16909 or the Hamilton Beach 54615 Wave Station Express. Still, the Oster 12-Speed does earn a solid B grade. Reviewers say that it performs well in smoothie-making, and it can easily grind coffee beans. The loud noise and durability issues, however, are major drawbacks. 

For couples or singles, the Hamilton Beach 51101 Single Serve (*Est. $20) does well in user reviews at Amazon.com, where owners praise it for its compact size and simplicity. This is one of the more popular models on the online retail giant's site, with feedback from roughly 500 users. Plus, more than 300 users at Walmart.com rate the blender an average 4.5 out of 5 stars. This blender takes up only 4 inches of counter space and comes with a 14-ounce single-serve jar. The Hamilton Beach 51101 blender has one speed, a pulse setting that must be held down while blending, but reviewers say that it's perfect for whipping up a quick smoothie or shake. The Hamilton Beach mini blender isn't as powerful as pricier models, and its single speed can't handle heavy-duty jobs. The jar for the Hamilton Beach Single Serve blender doubles as a drinking mug that users say easily fits into most cars' cupholders. It also comes with a travel lid for sipping drinks on the go.

Another small blender that gets quite a few good reviews is the Magic Bullet Blender , which originally gained popularity through TV infomercials. Faith Durand, a writer for TheKitchn.com, discusses the Magic Bullet Blender in detail. She says that it has a lot of extra plastic pieces that she has to store, but she loves how compact it is and reports that it whips through ice easily, creating a very finely textured icy drink. However, there are some consumer complaints; in more than 700 reviews at Amazon.com, the Magic Bullet gets 3 out of 5 stars on average. Owners complain that although the Magic Bullet initially works well, it breaks after a short time and getting replacement parts is a hassle. We discuss the Magic Bullet Blender more extensively in our As Seen On TV section.

Blenders costing more than $100 may look nice but aren't always better

Although expensive blenders often boast a lot of features, they aren't necessarily the best choice for all users. In formal tests, blenders such as the KitchenAid KSB560 (*Est. $90) outperform models that cost twice as much. In fact, even the KitchenAid KSB655 (*Est. $130) which features a slightly more powerful motor and a glass container than its sister model the KSB560 is trumped by the more budget-friendly version. Although we found some good reviews for the blenders below, we didn't think any of them were ultimately a better deal than the blenders already discussed. Some of them look awfully nice on a countertop, though.

Waring introduced the first commercially successful blender in the 1930s, but despite this history, their blenders are not usually top picks in recent professional reviews. One of the company's lines, the Waring Pro Series, includes several similar models with 390-watt motors. Two standouts, the Waring PBB201 (*Est. $130) and Waring MBB (*Est. $100) have the trademark cloverleaf-shaped glass jar and metal base. With two speeds and no pulse feature, the Waring Pro series blenders are easy to use, reviewers say. However, they also say it is difficult to remove processed food from the narrow jar. Good Housekeeping  found the Waring PBB212 (the same blender, but in green instead of white) performed very well making frozen cocktails, but testers say the jar is undersized and wobbly on the base. Waring, like other manufacturers, numbers blenders based on color. This can be a bit confusing for some consumers, particularly when they are trying to compare various models from the same manufacturer. The PBB201, PBB204, PBB209 and PBB212 are the same blender in different colors. Similarly, you'll often see consumer reviews separated by the MBB518 (copper) or the MBB520 (stainless steel). The Waring MBB521 (black) was discontinued.

The Pro line also includes the lower-priced Waring Professional Bar Blender WPB80 (*Est. $70) , which has a 500-watt motor, a 40-ounce glass jar and removable blade assembly. This blender does quite well with more than 30 Amazon reviewers and receives a B from the editors of Good Housekeeping. With only two speeds and a powerful 500-watt motor, this blender buzzes through smoothies and coffee beans. Reviewers note that the container does not lock tightly on to the base, resulting in some spills. All three Waring Pro blenders come with a five-year warranty on the motor and a one-year-warranty for the rest of the appliance.

Breville also offers two blender models which fall into this mid-range category and receive decent feedback from both users and professional reviewers, the Breville Ikon BBL600XL and the Breville Ikon BBL550XL. The Breville Ikon BBL600XL (*Est. $200) earns an A-rating from the editors of Good Housekeeping and is recommended by esters at ConsumerReports.org. This blender features user-friendly additions, like an LCD backlit timer and preprogrammed smoothie  and ice crushing options. User feedback is less enthusiastic. About 45 user reviews at ConsumerReports.org give the model just 2.2 stars out of 5. Several complain that the blender blades are very difficult to clean. Plus, users report that the jar is prone to leaking and the gaskets break down and wear out very quickly. The slightly less expensive Breville Ikon BBL550XL (*Est. $150) has fewer high-tech features but is very similar. It does not receive much attention from professional reviewers and is subject to the same issues as the BBL600XL.

Three versions of the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker -- the Bahamas (*Est. $160) , Key West (*Est. $220) and the Fiji (*Est. $330) -- garner praise in professional testing and from consumers. These blenders are geared toward making slushy frozen bar drinks such as margaritas and daiquiris. In their extensive blender testing, Good Housekeeping found that the Margaritaville Fiji -- a more substantial model than the basic Bahamas blender that has a larger ice bin and can make more kinds of drinks -- excelled at these tasks but failed to produce a good smoothie. Its main drawback is that it is a specialty blender made to do one thing only: make frozen cocktails. It's also bulky, taking up a large amount of counter space, and may not fit under upper cabinets. Owner reviews are generally positive, noting that for its intended purpose -- making frozen bar drinks -- the Margaritaville machines are worthwhile.