Buying a high-end blender is not a minor purchase. The top models from the best brands can run well over a thousand dollars. Have you ever asked yourself, are expensive, high-end blenders worth it? If you have, then keep reading, and we will try to clear up any confusion.
In this guide, we will look at:
- Are expensive blenders worth it?
- The main differences between expensive and cheap blenders.
- How much should you spend on a blender?
- What blender makes the smoothest smoothies?
- What blender do chefs recommend?
So Are Expensive Blenders Worth It?
Are expensive blenders worth the cost? In a word, yes.
That is if you will use them to their potential. Today’s best blenders have the power and features to make a host of kitchen tasks easier and faster than has ever been possible before.
Top-end blenders make it possible to:
- Create silky homemade sauces.
- Make nut butter.
- Mix your favorite frozen alcoholic drink.
- Make healthy salad dressings.
- Grind coffee beans.
- Create fluffier omelets.
- Grind whole-grain flour.
- Make ice cream shakes.
- Mix up pancake and waffle batter.
- Make creamy soups.
- Blend up smoothies.
- Mix protein shakes.
With ease.
Many of these jobs can now be performed by loading the pitcher and mashing a single button. This leaves you time to relax or perform other kitchen tasks while the blender performs the work under electronic controls.
Main Differences Between Expensive and Cheap Blenders
There are many differences between cheap blenders and expensive ones, and almost all of them affect performance and service life.
With blenders, power and speed equate to performance. As a general rule, the more power (wattage, hp) a blender has, the more capable it will be of performing tough tasks without suffering undue wear. Lower-priced models rarely supply the power that high-end models do.
One marketing trick you will often see is companies posting their blender’s “PEAK” output power. This number is of little use because it is what the motor produces on startup, not while working. A motor rated at 1200 peak watts may only operate at 900 sustained. The motor is one of the most expensive parts of the blender, and this practice reduces unit cost for the budget blender company.
Unfortunately, it can also lead to unsuspecting consumers overloading their blenders and significantly shortening the motor’s life.
More expensive blenders, as a rule, are also designed and built to higher quality standards. More economically priced blenders will often have plastic couplings and shafts instead of steel. The companies producing them will also often use bushings instead of bearings to reduce production costs.
High-end blenders will be built to last. They will use true-rated motors with steel shafts, couplings, and ball bearings to ensure minimum power loss, smooth operation, and long service life.
Lastly, but perhaps of the most importance, companies that build high-end blenders have invested years creating strong brands with sterling reputations. This means that it is in their best interest to take care of any problems that do arise quickly and efficiently.
No company stays at the top without providing quality customer care and support.
How Much Should I Spend on a Blender?
The short answer to how much you should spend on a blender is, how much can you afford?
Even if you just use your blender occasionally to mix drinks or make smoothies, it is still best to buy a high-end blender. Once you discover how practical a blender can be, you might want to expand your usage. At the least, a top-end blender will last you for many, many, many years if used infrequently.
You can get a quality personal blender for around $100 and a decent countertop blender without all the bells and whistles for $200. Of course, from there, the sky’s the limit, and you can spend over $1000 for a true do-all high-end blender.
What Blender Makes the Smoothest Smoothies?
While Blendtec, Nutribullet, and some others are known for making excellent smoothies, the undoubted king of the hill is Vitamix.
According to a recent article in Consumers Report, the two top-rated smoothie blenders in the United States were the:
Both blenders were found to deliver super creamy smoothies even when using leafy greens and little liquid.
What Blender Do Chefs Recommend?
When you consider the wide variety of cuisines and cooking styles in the world, professional chefs can hardly be expected to agree on the best blender model. But, if you ask them what brands they recommend, there is little argument.
Vitamix, Blendtec, and Waring are the top choices of the vast majority of culinary professionals across the U.S. and around the globe.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
