Blenders are effective for all sorts of kitchen chores, from chopping nuts and spices to mixing soups and sauces, as well as preparing a myriad of beverages, such as milkshakes, smoothies, frozen cocktails and more. Blenders were originally designed for making soda-fountain drinks, and they are still the machine of choice for that task. However, today's blenders can do a lot more. The models below are all superior performers, so get ready to get blending!


Cuisinart BFP-10CH PowerBlend Duet Blender/Food Processor

The Cuisinart BFP-10CH PowerBlend Duet is a blender and a food processor. It comes with a 56-ounce glass carafe, plus a 3-cup food-processor attachment. The BFP-10CH has a shiny chrome exterior with black highlights, and the smooth touchpad panel controls six dedicated speeds and a handy pulse option. The 500 watts of power, superior performance, expanded versatility and reasonable $100 suggested price should put the Cuisinart BFP-10CH at the top of your "must-have" list.

Cuisinart BFP-10CH PowerBlend
Cuisinart BFP-10CH PowerBlend
Cuisinart SPB-6 SmartPower Classic Blender

At a bargain suggested price of just $50, the Cuisinart SPB-6 SmartPower Classic combines an attractive design with a powerful motor for quick, efficient blending. The white base houses a 500-watt motor, and the rounded 48-ounce glass carafe lets ingredients spread out for more effective mixing and less clumping. A simple, straightforward design and sensible control panel make the affordable Cuisinart SPB-6 a pleasure to own and use.


Hamilton Beach 53155 Wave Station Plus Blender

The Wave Station Plus Blender 53155 has all the equipment you need to make smooth, delicious drinks. It features Hamilton Beach's exclusive wave-action blending that actively pulls ingredients toward the blades to ensure even mixes. The Wave Station Plus comes with a sturdy base containing a powerful 700-watt motor, as well as a 48-ounce plastic carafe. There is a pulse control, and a convenient front spigot makes for mess-free drink dispensing. The Hamilton Beach Wave Station Plus Blender's excellent performance and low suggested price of $50 are a winning combination.


Oster BRLY07-BF0-000 Fusion Blender with Food Processor

The capable Fusion Blender BRLY07-BF0-000 combines a powerful motor with Oster's trademark Triple-Tech technology, which consists of a reversing blade action, a six-point blade and preprogrammed function buttons. The stainless-steel Star Blade is a fusion of a food processor blade and a blender blade; hence the product's name. This unit comes with a 600-watt motor housed in a black base, as well as a 48-ounce glass carafe. In addition to the traditional on/off and various speed controls, the Fusion Blender also sports two pulse options (Low and Max), as well as a pair of clever preprogrammed function buttons (Food Chop and Frozen Drinks) that have timed routines to optimize the blender's performance with those tasks. The Oster Fusion Blender can do a lot for its suggested price of $99.99.


Back to Basics Blender Solution 5000

The Back to Basics Blender Solution 5000 is a practical, affordable machine with several advanced features. This unit comes with a brushed stainless-steel base housing a 500-watt motor, a 48-ounce glass carafe and a choice of traditional and dispensing collars. The specially designed lid with removable stirring stick helps to keep things moving in the jar. We also like the smoothie-maker collar, which has a four-plane blade that proves extremely efficient at churning icy-cold drinks, thick shakes and smoothies. The 5000 even includes an attached spigot for the convenient dispensing of the blender's contents directly into a glass or pitcher for serving. With quality materials and construction, the Back to Basics Blender Solution 5000 is a bargain at its suggested price of $50.


Braun PowerMax 2050 Blender

The Braun PowerMax 2050 is a smartly designed and efficient machine that packs a vortex of power for smooth, dependable results. It includes a 525-watt motor and a 59-ounce glass jar with a triangular design that is very effective at producing smooth and chunk-free drinks, soups and batters. The PowerMax has five blending speeds, as well as a pulse/clean option. Even at the lowest speed, the strong motor pulls both liquids and solids into the blades' path for extremely thorough blending. When you consider that all of this comes at a suggested price of only $59.99, the Braun PowerMax 2050 is a steal.

Krups KB720 Blender
Krups KB720 Blender
Krups KB720 Blender

At a suggested $190, the Krups KB720 Blender is one of the more expensive blenders on the market, but it is well worth the investment. This unit has all the power and performance you'd expect from a high-end unit, and it is surprisingly quiet as well. The KB720 includes a heavy-duty die-cast metal base, a robust 1,000-watt motor and a 60-ounce glass jar. The exclusive Krups Motor Technik electronic motor control system is unlike any we've seen, with a slow start-up mechanism that enables the blades to engage at a slow pace before going full throttle. Individual touchpad controls operate the four dedicated speeds, as well as the handy Vari-pulse, Ice Crush and Slow options. For the ultimate in blending, take a look at the Krups KB720.