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In this report

See Also

Blender Rating Sources

Total of 20 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
June 2012
Blender Ratings
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentFor this report, the team of professional testers at ConsumerReports.org spent hours crushing ice, preparing frozen drinks, puréeing soups and grating Parmesan cheese in 48 blenders, ranging from $30 to $450. Using these test results and their ratings of each blender's noise level, durability and convenience the blenders are ranked from best to worst in an easy-to-read chart. Editors conclude that "you needn't spend a bundle to get a decent blender"; their list of 10 recommended blenders includes two under $100.
2. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Sept. 1, 2012
Blenders
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAmerica's Test Kitchen and Cook Illustrated editors put nine blenders through a variety of tests ranging from crushing ice to making hummus -- even blending fibrous frozen pineapple and stringy raw kale into smoothies every day for a month. The models are also rated on speed, noise and durability. The reviews are usually only available to subscribers, but Cook's Illustrated has made their updated blender test results public. The pricey Vitamix 5200 and much cheaper Breville Hemisphere Control both emerge as Highly Recommended.
3. Amazon.com
As of Oct. 2012
Blenders
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAmazon.com is an excellent source for owner reviews of blenders -- which often note durability problems that are missed by some professional tests. Costly blenders from Vitamix and Blendtec get stellar ratings with 175 or more reviews posted, but cheaper models from Ninja and Oster do well, too.
4. Good Housekeeping
As of Oct. 2012
Blender Reviews
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentGood Housekeeping editors test 42 blenders, considering ease of use, customer service and performance in grinding, chopping and smoothie-making. They discover that more complex controls, high wattages and price tags don't always correlate with blending performance. Each blender is given a letter grade and a list of pros and cons. Five current blenders -- from Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Oster, Blendtec and Vita-Mix -- earn an A. However, Good Housekeeping doesn't account for durability, and some of their top picks turn out to be duds in other reviews.
5. The Wall Street Journal
June 22, 2012
Blenders
by Laura Moser
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAfter "many months of testing," The Wall Street Journal lists the five best blenders. However, Laura Moser doesn't say how the blenders were tested, and she doesn't name any of the losers. She does provide a short description with pros and cons for each winner. Blenders from Vitamix, Blendtec, Breville, Oster and Ninja are recommended.
6. Real Simple
Not dated
The Best Blender for Your Kitchen
by Lindsay Hunt
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEditors test 52 blenders and choose a handful of winners, but don't explain their methods or which ones they tested. Among full-size blenders, the quiet, compact KitchenAid KSB560 wins the "best all-around" title, the much cheaper Oster 6812 is named best budget-buy (even though it's "a tad noisy") and the much pricier Vitamix 5200 earns the title of best superpower, for its ability to turn even whole apples into juice. For a single-serve blender, editors say you can't beat the Cuisinart SmartPower CPB-300, which blends directly in the included lidded travel cups or 32-ounce canister.
7. Men's Journal
July 10, 2012
Best Blenders to Step Up Your Culinary Game
by Damaris Colhoun
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentMen's Journal enlists chef and restaurant owner Jesse Schenker to test four blenders. He likes Breville's Hemisphere Control best – declaring that, "if it could grind spices, it'd be my dream blender." However, he also likes the built-in hot plate on the Cuisinart Blend and Cook. The Vitamix Professional Series 500 can crush peppercorns, but it's pricey and should have crushed ice better, Schenker concludes. The Omega BL480 "crushes ice like a beast," but it's not precise enough for other tasks like chopping herbs.
8. PopularMechanics.com
Oct. 1, 2009
5 Blender Show-Down: Abusive Lab Test
by S.E. Kramer
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe editors of Popular Mechanics put five blenders through the tough tests of blending whole fruit (bananas, apples and oranges) and ice. Of the five machines tested, editors say the Kitchen Aid 5-Speed Blender is the best value, coming in cheaper and out-performing all but the Vitamix 5200.
9. About.com
As of Aug. 2012
Top Budget Blenders
by Mariette Mifflin
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAbout.com's guide to housewares and appliances, Mariette Mifflin, tests and ranks the top six budget blenders. Although she likes them all, the Oster BRLY07-Z00 is her top pick. It crushes ice, blends smoothies and chops veggies well -- in fact, she says, "I haven't found anything I dislike about this blender." (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
10. Food & Wine Magazine
June 4, 2008
Test Kitchen Essential Tool, Part 3
by Grace Parisi
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAfter having gone through a dozen Hamilton Beach blenders because of the rigors of testing recipes, the editors choose the Blendtec for use in their test kitchen. With the exception of the Blendtec, Grace Parisi explains that the test kitchen seeks to use "residential" equipment, not industrial, noting that Blendtec carries a line of residential blenders.
11. TheKitchn.com
May 3, 2012
The Kitchn's Guide to Essential Small Electric Appliances
by Cambria Bold
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentTheKitchn.com managing editor Cambria Bold lists essential small appliances for setting up a kitchen. Based on "personal preferences, experience and editor and reader reviews," she recommends buying either an immersion or countertop blender. Among full-size blenders, her top two picks are an expensive Blendtec model and the midpriced KitchenAid KSB560.
12. About.com
Not Dated
Blender Reviews
by Colleen Graham
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentColleen Graham, About.com's guide to cocktails, tests three blenders and writes separate reviews for each. The Waring Pro Bar Blender earns the highest rating -- 4.5 out of 5 stars -- for making drinks; with only two speeds, Graham says it isn't really appropriate for general use. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
13. Cooking.com
As of Aug. 2012
Top Rated Bar Blenders
by Contributors to Cooking.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentOwners (mostly cooking enthusiasts) share their blender reviews here; editors then choose the top-rated models. To make the list, a blender must earn an overall 4 out of 5 stars in 20 or more reviews. A couple of costly Vitamix models earn 5 stars, but less expensive models from Waring, KitchenAid and Cuisinart receive 4.5 stars with more reviews.
14. Epinions.com
As of Aug. 2012
Blenders: Work Top
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEpinions.com is another source of owner reviews of blenders-including many models with only a handful of reviews for each.. Most current blenders receive mixed reviews here, but the Waring Pro MBB518 maintains a 4.5-star rating (out of 5) with about 20 reviews.
15. Wired
June 1, 2011
Electrolux's 'Silent' Blender Mixes Muted Margaritas
by Charlie Sorrel
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWired features several one-off reviews of various household appliances, including blenders. Charlie Sorrel reviews the Electrolux Powermix Silent here; noting that while the brand touts the "silence" of this appliance, it still makes as much noise as, say, an electric shaver.
16. Wired
July 4, 2011
You've Got Ice. But Will it Blend? Oster Ice-Shaving Blender
by Aaron Rowe
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWired magazine offers a brief review of the Oster Ice-Shaving Blender. The reviewer concludes that while this model shaves ice to perfection, it can't do smoothies and is very loud.
17. Wired
April 30, 2009
Bar Blender Blasts Out Drinks With 500-Watt Electric Assist
by Michael S. Lasky
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentMichael S. Lasky tests and reviews the Waring Professional Bar Blender WPB80, giving it an overall rating of 7 out of 10 points. He says the blender is powerful enough to recreate any drink made in restaurants or bars and crushes ice with ease. However, the carafe doesn't lock into the base, requiring the user to hold it in place while operating.
18. Chow.com
July 26, 2007
Crush Ice Without Burnout
by Louise Chu
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentLouisa Chu says the Blendtec Total Blender (which she likes except for the square jar shape) and Thermomix are high-end blenders she didn't consider in her review. Chu finds that the KitchenAid 5-Speed Blender is a consistent performer, and the Vita-Prep 3 is a "proven, durable workhorse" in pro kitchens.
19. Target.com
As of Aug. 2012
Blenders and Juicers
by Contributors to Target.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWith a wide array of models offered and owner reviews written for most of them, Target.com can be useful when you have a few choices in mind. However, the reviews here tend to be short. While a few models get only a handful of reviews, the Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Blender, Magic Bullet Baby Bullet, Ninja Master Prep, Ninja Master Prep Pro QB1004, Ninja Professional Blender NJ600 and Oster 7-Speed Reversing Motor Blender BVCB07-Z all maintain nearly perfect ratings with at least 20 reviews each.
20. Bon Appetit
April 2008
In the Kitchen tools: Blender
by Editors of BonAppetit.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentBon Appétit recommends two blenders: one standard (the Waring Pro Stainless Steel Blender) and one immersion, without explaining their methods.
     
 

This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.

Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
 
 
 
  
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