Blender is one of the most widely used kitchen appliances. Almost all the kitchens all over the world have a blender of different brands. The features and specifications of a blender have so many technicalities that it is difficult to understand for an average user with little technical knowledge. In this article, I will give you a complete buying guide for a blender. I will explain what size of blender you need, how powerful should the motor of the blender be, what features to consider when buying a blender, and so on.
What size blender should I get?
The size of the blender is determined by the capacity of the pitcher. The capacity or size is expressed as OZ or cups. 1 US fluid ounce or OZ is equal to 0.125 cup. The smallest blender you can find in the market is 3 cups and the largest blender you can find is 14 cups. In the OZ unit, a blender can be between 8 to 112 oz.
The choice of blender size depends on the space on the countertop and your personal preferences. For a smaller kitchen, a compact blender is preferable. But if you do not have any space constraints, then a standard size or larger blender will be a good option. Usually, 65 to 75 oz capacity of a blender is considered the standard size.
Motor Power: how much wattage for a blender?
A blender usually use at most 500 watts to crush the tuffest food items such as ice or frozen foods. However, the rated power of a modern blender can be as high as 1200W. This power rating means it is the maximum power at load. It does not mean that the blender will always run at the high power rating. It is a good idea to buy a blender with substantially higher wattage.
Speed
A blender speed has to be variable. Other wise, you can not blend food with different tuffness. For example, you may require higher speed for frozen food. The same food in normal condition may require less speed. Usually, a modern blender will have three basic speeds – high, low and medium. Some blender will have pulse speed which is a combination of high and low speed.
Control panel
Most of the blenders in the market have a manual control panel with push buttons. A few of them may have digital display. However, the number of preset buttons are important if you do not know what speed you need for a specific type of food. For example, some blenders may have separate preset button for smoothy, chop and so on.
Free accessories
The number of free accessories will vary for different brands and models. For example, Ninja BL610 comes up with no additional accessories. It will give you only the pitcher with the blender base. On the other hand, Ninja BL480D comes up with 2 additional nutri cups and seal lids. When you are making your decision, check whether the blender has adequate number of accessories with it.
Price
The price of a blender will vary for different factors. For example, a basic blender with no additional accessories will cost you around 50 dollars. On the other hand, if the same blender is sturdier with a powerful motor, then it may cost around 100. Some advanced blender with a good number of accessories may cost around 200 bucks.
Bottom line
Before you make your decision, you should have definitive answers to questions regarding all the decision-making factors such as power, speed, price, accessories, and control panel. Then you should shortlist the blenders you like and choose the best one.
Related article
- Difference between a blender and a food processor.