There are as many different
blenders out there as there are
things to put in them. The choices
can be overwhelming, and there are
some things to watch out for that
you might not consider as a firsttime
buyer. That’s why we’ve gone
to longtime smoothie makers to
find out what problems they’ve
encountered, to ensure that you
avoid those pitfalls on your journey
to the perfect smoothie. Here are a
few of the top tips that should help
you on your way:
• Try to stick with metal blades
and internal parts, avoiding
plastic, especially if you’re going
to be using your blender
frequently.
• Anything under 500 watts
probably won’t be effective.
• Choose a blender with at least
two different speed settings, plus
a pulse function, because it’s best
to start on low to chop, then work
your way up through the speeds to
get the finest consistency with the
least amount of nutrient-killing
heat.
• Look for products with
warranties, and buy your blender
from stores that stand behind their
products. It’s frustrating to invest
good money in a blender just to
have it break two weeks later,
only to find out that the company
or store won’t stand behind the
product.
Blenders range in price from
about $20 to well over $500, but
there’s really no need to go to the
top for a machine that meets your
needs. That being said, a $20
blender probably won’t do the job,
at least not for very long. If you’re
serious about making smoothies,
it’s best to invest in a good blender
that will last, rather than buying
several cheap blenders over time
that continue to break — and have
no warranty.
Some Good “Smoothie Blender”
Suggestions
A few excellent choices broken
down by price include:
$300+ Range: The best in form
and function
• Vitamix 5200: 1000 watts,
powerful 2 HP motor, 64-ounce
carafe, 7-year warranty, BPA-free
carafe, variable speed dial as well
as the ability to pulse, plus a
patented tamper so you can
quickly blend even thick
ingredients.
• Blendtec Home Pro Choice
Total Blender: 1500 watts, 3 HP
motor, 64-ounce carafe, lifetime
warranty on blade and coupling, 3-
year warranty on base, 29K RPM,
6 blending options plus pulse.
Features Smart-Touch Tecnology
© that automatically
speeds up and slows down as
necessary and shuts off at the end
of the cycle.
$200–$300 Range: Top quality
• Breville 800BLXL
Hemisphere: 1000 watts, 67-
ounce polycarbonate carafe,
uniquely shaped carafe, blades
that allow for zero dead space
around the edge of the carafe, 1-
year limited warranty, 2 speeds
plus pulse.
• Cuisinart CBT 100
PowerEdge: 1000 watts, 1.3 HP
motor, BPA-free carafe, 3-year
limited warranty, high and low
settings plus preprogrammed
smoothie, pulse, and ice-crush
settings that intermittently speed
up and slow down for best results.
$100–$200 Range: Very effective
• KitchenAid KSB560MC
Blender: 720 watts, 0.9 HP
motor, 56-ounce polycarbonate
carafe, 1-year replacement
warranty, 5 speeds plus pulse.
Under $100: Great value for the
price
• Oster Beehive: 600 watts, 40-
ounce glass carafe, 1-year
warranty, 2 speeds plus pulse.
More expensive isn’t always
better, but in the case of these
blenders, you really don’t want to
go with anything under $50. Most
likely you’ll just be wasting your
money on a product that’s not going
to work well and will only break
within a few months. Spend the
extra money and do it right!
