Making your own smoothies, nut butter, and salad dressing is all the rage right now. There are so many recipes that need you to finely chop ingredients for or mix food together. The best way to do all of these things is by using a blender.
However, with so many options, how do you know which one is best for you? Read through our simple steps to determine the key factors when choosing the ideal blender for your cooking needs.
Blending Capacity
Probably the most essential thing to consider is how much you want to whizz in one go. Blenders come in all shapes and sizes, so you’ll want to choose something suited to your purpose. For example, if you only need to whip up a smoothie or protein shake on-the-go, you might want to look at the smaller, portable units that also function as a bottle.
While blenders and food processors are two different kinds of appliances, there’s a crossover. You can buy blenders with a much higher capacity, so you can make large batches of sauce or mix baking ingredients. These will usually be countertop varieties that need to be plugged into the mains.
What Can You Blend?
You’ll also need to consider what you’re going to put into your machine, as not all blades will be able to cope with anything other than soft, wet ingredients. If you want to make breadcrumbs, flour, or nut butter, you’ll need a much more powerful model with more blades to chop the ingredients properly.
Blenders are generally designed to make wet mixtures, although you can use them to chop up items such as bread or oats. Food processors are a more appropriate appliance if you want to mix up thick mixtures and doughs.
Aesthetics Can Be Important
Some people will want the blender that functions the best, but many of us will be interested in how the appliance will look in our kitchen. Obviously, you have the option to store your unit away in a cupboard. However, this isn’t practical if you want to use it daily.
There are so many options out there that you can afford to be picky about what your blender looks like. You may want a sleek, metal finish in a more modern kitchen, or you might want one that fits in with a particular color scheme. The options are endless.
Value For Money
Another vital factor is your budget. Prices for blenders range from as low as £19.99 for a portable bottle blender to over £500 for large capacity units you might see in smoothie shops or juice bars.
The first thing to do is to work out how much you’re willing to spend. Once you’ve decided on the price range, then you can take a closer look at which models are the best value for what you’re paying. Always check for deals and offers, as you may be able to get a better quality appliance for the same price.
Read Customer Reviews
The best way to find out about any product is to read the reviews from other people who’ve bought them. Customers will always be brutally honest about their experiences, so if people have something positive to say, then it’s most likely reliable. Find out what they liked about a specific model, and narrow down your options further.
If you’re looking at a blender that’s not one of the leading brands or are considering buying it through an online site, then it’s worth double-checking if the site is trustworthy to ensure that you’re going to receive a genuine and quality product.
There You Have It
Hopefully, these key steps can help you work out what blender suits your needs best. Look at how much you can put in and how powerful it is; consider if you want a specific style and how much you want to spend.
If you’re still undecided and want to do some additional research, the Bill Lentis company recommends checking out a more extensive guide on how to shop around for the best blender.
Author Bio: Andrew is an NY-based writer who covers DIY home projects, cleaning, and organization. When not writing, he spends his time with his two rescue dogs, Jet and Rocket.
