Blender buying guide

Along with mixing, puréeing and chopping, crushing ice for drinks is a key attribute shoppers look for in a countertop blender, manufacturers say.

Containers are made of glass, plastic, or stainless steel, and have a capacity of about 4 to 8 cups. A glass container is heavier and more stable. Glass is also easier to keep clean. Plastic might scratch and can absorb the smell of whatever is inside. Stainless steel might be attractive, but it keeps you from seeing how the blending is going.

Three to 16 speeds are the norm, but more isn't necessarily better. Controls vary from programmable touchpads to push buttons, dials and flip switches.

Hamilton Beach and Oster account for more than 40 percent of countertop-blender sales. Other brands include Black & Decker, Breville, Cuisinart, GE, KitchenAid, Krups, Ninja, Proctor-Silex, Vita-Mix, and Waring, among others.

Handheld, or immersion, blenders are long, thin appliances that you hold in your hand and submerge in the food or drink you're preparing. The shaft has a long neck with blades at the end, so you can mix and chop food in the cooking container--say, purée soup vegetables right in the pot they simmer in.

Immersion blenders are also handy for mixing smoothies, milkshakes, and powdered drinks (although you do have to hold down a switch to keep the blades running, which can be tedious).

Handheld blenders are great for small tasks, typically include an assortment of blades and attachments and can fit in a drawer. But they tend to complement a countertop blender rather than replace one.

Blenders generally range from 300 to 1,000 watts. Manufacturers claim that higher wattage translates into better performance, but in our tests, lower-wattage models have outperformed some more powerful ones. Power has made more of a difference with immersion blenders than with countertop models.

Touchpad controls are easiest to clean, and some touchpad units have programmable controls to eliminate guesswork. But you have to press the button twice: once for on, once for off. Push buttons easily change from one speed to another with a single touch but are more difficult to clean. A dial control is easier to clean than push buttons, but you must dial through all the settings to reach your desired speed. A flip switch is simple but limits your options to one or two speeds and possibly a pulse setting.

Three to 16 speeds are the norm, but more are not necessarily better. Three well-differentiated speeds are adequate; a dozen or more that are hard to distinguish from one another may be too many.

This makes loading food and washing easier.

Look for easy-to-read notches and numbers on the container to help you measure more accurately.

This helps you to fine-tune blending time. There's no lag time between when you push the button and when the blender starts or stops.

It might seem that an attached blade makes a container sturdier, but in fact, it makes it harder to clean.

Another major brand that offers a wide range of low-to-mid-prices; most products are of the push-button type. Black & Decker is available through online retailers, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and other retailers. Prices range from $30 to $80.

Like Vita-Mix, this brand also offers a high-priced multifunction machine that acts as a blender and also produces dough, soups, and ice cream. It is sold online on Amazon.com and by specialty retailers. Price point is $400.

This mid-range-to-premium brand offers dual-purpose models that come with interchangeable parts, making the machine double as blender and food processor. Individual models include push-button and touchpad controls and LED displays. Cuisinart is widely available in department, specialty, and appliance stores, and through online retailers. Prices range from $50 to $150.

The other market-leading brand has long been known for its Wave Action System technology. Its upscale Eclectric line is available in six colors. In 2008, the company introduced the Dual Action Blender with two sets of blades featuring a double jar or two single jars. This offers the flexibility of blending or mixing different items at the same time. These products are widely available through department stores, appliances stores, and big-box retailers. Prices range from $20 to $100.

One of the category's premium brands whose products include die-cast metal base. Most models are available in various colors. Products are sold through department stores, specialty stores, appliance stores, online retailers, and big-box retailers. Prices range from $60 to $270.

The market-share leader offers a basic line and the upscale Fusion, Counterforms, and Classic Beehive lines. The flagship Fusion line includes touchpad controls and preprogrammed settings. Oster's products are sold through department stores, online retailers, Walmart, Target, appliance retailer, and many more outlets. Prices range from $20 to $100.

This lower-priced sister brand of Oster offers very basic models. They are sold through online retailers, hardware stores, and retailers such as Walmart. Prices range from $15 to $60.

Vita-Mix touts its high-priced machine as a multifunction product that includes some functions of a food processor. The machines are sold online and by specialty retailers. Price point is $400.

Offers include high-mid-range to premium-category products. Most of Waring's blenders incorporate die-cast-metal bases, two-speed operation, and the Waring toggle switch; its trademark metal jar is also available as an option. Products are available at department stores and specialty stores. Prices range from $60 to $400.