How to Shop for Blenders that Make the Best Smoothies

By Zeeman Haus

A smoothie is one of the easiest and healthiest meals you can make. It's also the perfect meal for someone on the go. However, if you want to make a great smoothie, you need a great blender. Many blenders are on the market, and choosing one may be daunting. How do you know which one is the best? Follow these guidelines when shopping for blenders.

Always choose a glass carafe over a plastic one. A carafe is the container that holds your ingredients. Although glass carafes may break if dropped, plastic ones have a much shorter lifespan. Dishwashers damage plastic carafes. Furthermore, plastic carafes tend to stain, especially if you blend dark colored ingredients like raspberries or strawberries. A glass carafe maintains its color and can survive countless trips through the dishwasher.

A blender's motor is the difference between a great smoothie and a smoothie full of ice chunks. A powerful motor breaks apart ice easily and quickly. Look for blenders that measure their motor's strength using horsepower. However, if you decide not to buy a blender with a horsepower rating, you can always microwave large chunks of ice to soften them - 10 to 15 seconds usually does the trick.

The blender's base is important. Unless you enjoy cleaning spilled smoothies, you need a sturdy base to keep the blender standing upright. For example, if you don't have to worry about spillage, you can do something else while your smoothie is blending. In addition, you need a rubber base. The rubber prevents the blender from sliding during blending, and it may help to dampen the noise.

Everyone knows blenders are noisy. An easy way to reduce noise is to place a rubber mat or thick towel between the blender and the counter. This method reduces rattling, especially if you have a blender without a rubber base. In addition, you can buy a sound enclosure to reduce noise. Only certain blenders have sound enclosure options. Therefore, if you think you may need noise reduction in the future, at least buy a blender with an option to add a sound enclosure later.

Many blenders advertise the number of buttons and settings they have. However, all you need is high speed, low speed, and pulse. Does a smoothie maker really need a dozen different speeds? Certainly not. The pulse option is necessary because it gives you short bursts of high speeds. Therefore, you can break apart tough pieces of ice before blending.

You need to protect your investment, so choose a blender with a great warranty. Some manufacturers offer a warranty up to three years or more. A longer warranty proves the manufacturer is dedicated to the blender's quality. Additionally, be sure to register your blender soon after you buy it. Otherwise, the manufacturer may not honor the warranty if your blender breaks. Save your original receipt too.

If you're in a hurry to make a meal, a smoothie is a great choice. However, don't rush your decision to buy a blender. Use our guidelines above to choose the right blender for you. - 32406

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