Although blenders are often associated with smoothie making, they’re versatile and handy tools in any chef’s kitchen. The best blenders can help with all sorts of recipes, from silky pureed soups and smoothies to spreads like nut butter and frozen drinks like slushies. If you make a lot of pureed soups and sauces, you probably want something that can process hot ingredients. Features like a two-part lid, a tamper, and a wide range of speed settings also help make a blender versatile enough for any recipe. Plus, good blenders aren’t extremely loud and don’t make clean-up difficult. Some even come with additional accessories, like extra personal jars for blending single-serve smoothies.
We’ve tested over 120 blenders, and below are our recommendations for the best models you can buy.