An effective blender should be able to mix, crush, purée or emulsify food items properly. This will all be possible with the right blades and powerful motor. With this, it is important to check these specs when looking for one. However, there are still a lot of factors you need to consider if you are really looking for a perfect model that fits your needs. This includes the type and quality of the blender.
Blenders can be handheld, single-serve, or countertop. While the first two are only ideal for a very limited amount of content, countertop models can blend three to 6 cups in a single run. Nonetheless, that doesn’t make single-serve and handheld models less preferable as they have their own group of patrons. They are well-known among busy individuals who can’t afford to spend too much time dealing with big countertop models. For instance, the NutriBullet NBR-0601 is a single-serve type that has a blending jar that can be turned into a to-go mug. With this, you can bring it with you as soon as the blending process is over.
For family and commercial use, however, the capacity of single-serve models won’t be enough. This is where bigger countertop models excel just like the WantJoin WZ-K90 a pitcher capacity of 80 ounces. Besides its capacity, it also boasts incredible blending and cruising power with the aid of its 2200 W motor. The Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System is also another option we will confidently suggest due to the ability of its 1500-watt motor base to effectively handle blender and food processor blades.
To know more about them, our SolidSmack Household Appliance and Tool Research Team sought the Amazon for the best blenders for home and commercial kitchens. After our research and shortlisting a good number of possible candidates, we trimmed the list into 5 items and personally tested them. And to give you good insights about them, we will discuss their performance below, together with their main strengths and flaws. Let’s start:
Best Blenders Comparison & Rating
Blenders | Features |
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1. WantJoin WZ-K90
Brand | WantJoin |
Type | commercial |
Motor | 2200 W |
Jar Capacity | 80 ounces |
WantJoin WZ-K90 might not be at the same price bracket as other “professional” blenders that will costs you $800 to a thousand dollars, but it sure does deliver commercial-grade performance. At first, our team was also doubting if it really was a commercial-type model but after we had personally reviewed it, we realized we could recommend it to cafe and resto owners looking for an affordable unit.
It comes with a pitcher capacity of 80 ounces (2.2 L or 8 cups). Nonetheless, the real attraction here is its 2200 W motor that is extremely powerful. Offering a total of 15 speeds, you can reach up to 38000 RPM which gives you the full power to pulverize any food items you put in it. When we tried it, we were amazed at how it basically worked just like a food processor. Without the need for water, it had managed to crush everything! Even the chickpeas for hummus and the berries for smoothies! Most importantly, it crushed our ice cubes just in 10 seconds without fuss.
On the other hand, compared to others with digital controls, WZ-K90 sports a rather old mechanical control panel. It has 2 switches for the power and Pulse and a knob for the speed control. It is not the most attractive design out there, but it doesn’t really matter. It is not really built for aesthetics; instead, it is designed to withstand heavy demands in commercial environments. After all, the knobs and switches will allow users to make fast and accurate inputs, so we think it is a very practical decision from the brand.
Lastly, we need to say that despite its noise insulating shield, it’s still not quiet in any way. But you shouldn’t be bothered by this. That is the nature of blenders and no built-in shield can fix this. However, the good thing about this is that it minimizes the noise and decreases it to a more acceptable level with the aid of its buffer platform and shock pad. During our test, we got varied results depending on the speed setting ranging from 40 to 60 dB. Was it loud? Yes, it was. However, compared to other blenders we tested that reached 70 to 80 dB, the performance of WZ-K90 is unequaled.
2. Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System
Brand | Ninja |
Type | combo system |
Motor | 1500 W |
Jar Capacity | 72-ounce pitcher, 8-cup food processor bowl, and 16-ounce single-serve cup |
Ninja BL770 is extremely loud. We won’t deny that since we heard it ourselves when we tested it. It really is noisy but we didn’t hear the high-pitched whine you normally get in some cheap models. But the reason behind it is its powerful 1500-watt motor which is an utter beast in moving the blades. But that’s not just the main highlight of BL770: it has lots to offer! It starts with the number of jobs it can perform. It can serve both as a blender and a food processor!
Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System comes with a motor base that compliments a 72-ounce pitcher, an 8-cup food processor bowl, and two 16-ounce single-serve cups with to-go lids. The beauty about it is that despite being a multifunctional appliance, it can strive both as a blender or as a food processor.
It sports 4 dedicated blending speeds (Dough, Blend, Crush, and Single Serve). The buttons are specifically programmed to set the power and speed of the motor according to the function it needs to perform. To test it, we first tried its ability to work as a blender. What we first noticed was that compared to other blenders, its blender attachment doesn’t just come with bottom blades: it has an entire vertical column of blades. When it started to work, it managed to crush and pulverize ice cubes. Even with the single-serve cups, it delivered a great performance by blending the berries we threw in! No bits left and all that was left was a thick, smooth smoothie! With some nuts and soybeans, it also proved how powerful it is!
We also used the last ingredients mentioned in its food processor blade attachment. Then, we processed some chickpeas for hummus and we still got the same amazing results. Thick consistency with a smooth and uniform texture! Even better, the unit also comes with a dough blade which makes it more versatile! It can handle the dough with great stamina and in no time, you will be able to produce a well-mixed dough. In our test, it did a great job at achieving the right elasticity and consistency we need in the dough. Most of all, the wet and dry ingredients were equally incorporated, and no unmixed pockets of flour at all!
3. Hamilton Beach 58148A
Brand | Hamilton Beach |
Type | countertop |
Motor | 700 W |
Jar Capacity | 40 ounces |
Hamilton Beach 58148A is the perfect blender for each home kitchen. It has just the right capacity, right counter footprint, excellent performance and, most of all, a very affordable price tag. It’s even cheaper than the NutriBullet NBR-0601 but in terms of performance, you will be surprised at what it can do.
It has a 40-ounce jar that has a suggested maximum blending capacity of 710 ml. Its thick “ice sabre” blades are powered by a 700-watt motor and this is enough for most of your kitchen needs. When we tested the unit, it was almost as powerful as other bigger models. With the right amount of water to aid the food items we dropped, it produced a thick and uniform consistency of blended output. Excellently smooth. Even with greens like kale, it left almost no bit of leaves that will be visible enough for your eyes to see! It didn’t even stutter that within just 15 seconds, it produced a flawless output.
However, keep in mind that despite the “12 blending functions” being advertised in the product description, we realized that these functions are just divided or categorized into 4 buttons (one button for the power is excluded). On a positive note, it makes the unit pretty simple and intuitive since you can choose what you want to use it for
4. NutriBullet NBR-0601
Brand | NutriBullet |
Type | single-serve |
Motor | 600 W |
Jar Capacity | 24 ounces |
The NutriBullet NBR-0601 is another portable blender that will certainly fit the needs of busy individuals. It is a single-serve model that comes with a 24-ounce cup that you can transform into an instant to-go tumbler, thanks to the lid included in the package.
Nonetheless, what will really impress you about it is how powerful it is despite its size. It has a 600-watt motor that can work wonders once it starts the stainless steel extractor blades. During our test, it exceeded our expectations in literally blending food items. We tried it with strawberries, bananas, and different greens. Besides the perfect smoothie it produced with all the ingredients mentioned, what surprised us the most is that there were almost no seeds left from strawberries or visible chunks of kale after the process! Absolutely no bits of solid ingredient left. Everything was literally pulverized into nothing within just a minute! Not just that, when we tried it for ice cubes, it did manage to crush them with ease! With a decent amount of liquid, you can instantly see the results as the color of the food items start to merge. With all this, we were able to produce smoothies with one-of-a-kind consistency. Besides gym-goers who will find it a faster way of blending their protein shakes, mothers who constantly need to blend smoothies for their babies would love it.
On the other hand, its value is something to praise. We are pleased that despite its affordable price tag, it doesn’t lack all the accessories and quality you need for a long-lasting blender unit. The cup itself is thick and feels solid. It also locks tight when you twist it to the body of the blender. In relation to this, we also noticed that the base that holds the motor has a substantial weight on it which gives it a good balance when the blending process is happening.
The cleanup is also not a pain in any way! Unlike other single-serve blenders with the same design, the blade of NutriBullet NBR-0601 is not attached to the motor directly. Instead, it is found on the lid. This means you can detach it easily and wash it without problems in the dishwasher!
5. Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick
Brand | Mueller Austria |
Type | immersion |
Motor | 500 W |
Jar Capacity | N/A |
Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick is a handheld blender that is famous among those whose priority is convenience. It can be a good option for those who don’t have time to deal with using conventional blenders that need more preparation. With its portable design, Ultra-Stick can be used anywhere from beakers, bowls, and cups. That being said, you can blend anything as long as you have this tool.
With almost 16-inch height and a handle that of the right size, the lightweight Ultra-Stick feels comfortable in the hand. The power button and the button for the speed setting can be accessed in the handle with no problems. It gives you an option for 8 variable speeds and a Turbo setting. Besides this, you can also change the attachment of the unit easily. In the package, we got a total of three attachments: blender, whisk, and frother. Changing them, nonetheless, is almost effortless that with just a twist, they will detach from the handle. The same goes for the cleanup which really amazed us. All the detachable attachments are dishwasher safe. But the best way to clean them? Just let them spin in a tall glass of tall water and soap and they will come out squeaky clean.
Best Blenders - Buyer's Guide
Blenders have different types and it is important to determine which one you really need before you visit the market. You can choose from single-serve, handheld, or countertop models. The first two are commonly used at home, while the last is often seen in homes and even in some business establishments.
Their quality can also be categorized as commercial or home-grade. If you own a resto, a cafe, or any business, it is important to get the one that can tolerate heavy use so you better find a commercial-grade model.
The capacity of the blender is important, especially if you are planning to use it for commercial purposes. Countertop models are more ideal for this kind of work compared to single-serve models that have a very limited capacity. On the other hand, handheld blenders can also fit any kind of purpose but to make sure they can tolerate heavy works, it is better to have a commercial-grade unit.
The power of the motor will determine how equipped the unit is in handling heavy works. The more power it has, the better it will handle hard food items. On the other hand, it is also good to have a blender with a sufficient number of controls. While three to five buttons are enough to do the job, having more options for speed will allow you to have more control over the movement of the blades and the texture of the content.
While the specs of high-end blenders that cost hundreds of dollars might seem alluring, they won’t always assure you of a great performance. This is why reading reviews like this is important. And although the ones we tested can’t be compared to those kinds of blenders, we can confidently bet on their quality and performance after personally witnessing their strengths. Now, it is up to you to decide which one fits your needs the best.
Best Blenders - FAQs
In some cases, you can use blenders as an alternative for food processors. However, not all blenders can do the work efficiently. With this, try to use a high-powered blender. On the other hand, there are also models with a base that can be used with food processor bowls. One example is the Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System.
It is not suggested to blend hot foods in your blender as it can damage the unit. Also, it can cause the pressure to rise in the jar which can cause it to explode and create a mess in the kitchen.
No. The efficiency and performance of the blender will be affected. Ideally, you should only fill the jar one-third to one-half full to get the best results out of its blending power.
