We have plenty of equipment decorating our kitchens including ovens, microwaves, and toasters. But there’s one thing that does not get enough recognition. What is it, we hear you ask? A blender.

These marvelous inventions provide a quick and easy way to blend, blitz, or puree ingredients to create just about anything you could ever want. This includes delicious soups during the winter or milkshakes during the warm summer months.

If you want to buy a blender but aren’t entirely sure what key features to look for when doing so, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s everything you need to know.

Types of Blenders

Finding a blender that works for you depends on your intended use of the blender, the functionality, and the features you are looking for. The easiest way to figure this out is to familiarize yourself with the different blenders available to you.

There are a few types of blenders available on the market today. Some of the most popular blenders include the following:

• Countertop blenders
• Personal blenders
• Immersion blenders
• Single-serve blenders
• Heavy-duty blenders
• Cake blenders
• Digital blenders

Some are more portable than others (digital and stick blenders), and some are suited for domestic use (countertop blenders), whereas others are primarily intended for professional and commercial use (heavy-duty blenders).

Storage Requirements

When buying a blender, making sure you have the space for it in your kitchen is essential. The debate always comes down to the following question: cupboard vs countertop?

Some blender models (regardless of size or type) are appealing enough that they look good when displayed on a bench or kitchen counter. However, these types of models might also take up a lot of valuable space in your kitchen and may need to be stored in a cupboard.

If you plan to primarily keep your blender stored in a cupboard, make sure you have the right amount of space for it. And remember: heavier blenders can be a bit awkward to lift out of those tight spaces!

General Performance

If you are planning to blitz lots of ingredients together to make some meals or beverages, you’ll want to look for a blender that performs well.

Super blenders are a lot more versatile than general blenders and can handle even the most arduous of tasks. They can crush or chop all types of ingredients, crush ice, and even make any type of dough — if that is something you are planning on doing!

However, if this is your sole intended purpose for your blender, you will struggle to achieve the same result with a stick blender, for example, as it will not offer the blending power needed to accomplish the job.

Speed Settings

A blender needs to have three separate settings to be truly effective. These settings are low, pulse, and high. This is because different ingredients require different settings to get to the desired consistency.

A lot of blenders currently on the market come with a graduated start-up feature that slowly begins to bring the blades to a desired speed. Some blenders will even come with some pre-programmed settings such as soup, smoothie, or sorbet, which makes the process of making food that bit easier!

We’d recommend taking a look at the best glass blender options available on the market.

Safety Precautions

If you’re prone to accidents in the kitchen or are a bit paranoid about a smoothie potentially exploding over your kitchen, buying a blender with some built-in safety additions may be your best option.

This might include a lid lock, a measuring cap lock, or a safety cut-out time, to name a few. To ensure you are making the most of these safety elements, ensure that you keep the lid on anything that you blend.

Easy to Clean

Another thing you should look for when buying a blender is whether the specific model is easy to clean.

If you’re planning to regularly use your blender, it’s probably best to find a blender that has removable blades. This allows you to clean the bottom of the jug more thoroughly and without any issues.

Blender lids can also be a bit irritating to clean, especially if different ingredients manage to get caught in the lid.

Summary

These are the main things that you must look for when you are actively buying (or planning to buy) a blender. You should also place a bit of focus on finding a blender that matches your kitchen decor or your preferred aesthetic so that it properly blends in.