7 Different Types of Blender

Different types of blenders

It’s hard to imagine a world without blenders. This kitchen appliance is quite prevalent that almost every home has at least one of its seven main different types of blender. In 2019, roughly 25.8 million blenders were sold in the United States, according to Statista.  

Today, blenders have evolved in terms of design and versatility. Other than blend, it can even grind, chop, whip, and even heat ingredients. Moreover, they are now portable blenders that are powered by rechargeable batteries.

Different Types of Blenders

This article will look into the 7 different types of blenders and their uses, so make sure to read until the end.

Countertop Blender

Countertop Blender

Almost everyone is quite familiar with countertop blenders since many households have them. This blender usually has a powerful motor, a 64 oz or larger capacity pitcher, and several speed settings. This type of blender is used making a large batch of smoothies and other cold drinks.

The common design among countertop blenders is their ability to pulverize ice. These types of blenders can also chop, mix, puree, and even grind foodstuff. The jar’s lid also has an opening on top where you can insert a tamper to push down the ingredients towards the blades.

Most countertop blenders are designed to process cold and lukewarm ingredients. However, it can’t process hot liquids because the heat usually builds up from its tightly sealed jar. Additionally, many countertop blenders usually have pitchers made of plastic, known to have less heat resistance than glass containers.  

Additionally, most of the new countertop blenders on the market are dishwasher safe and easy to clean. You can easily clean them manually by filling the jar with water, adding liquid soap, and blending a few seconds before rinsing. Some of the popular brands in the countertop blender category include Vitamix, Blendtec, and Ninja. 

PROS
+ Large capacity pitcher for more servings
+ Features ability to crush ice and hard ingredients
+ A tight lid prevents leaks or splashes
+ Dishwasher safe and simple to clean
+ Beginner friendly ease of use
CONS
It can’t process hot soups
Bulky and hard to store in a kitchen cabinet
Quite noisy.

Immersion Blenders

Immersion Blenders

Commonly referred to as stick blenders, an immersion blender is used for blending hot liquids and soups. An immersion blender has a handle on one end and the stainless steel blades at the other with a blending arm on the middle. Immersion blenders are compact and are incredibly easy to use. A few immersion blenders also are wireless and operate using a rechargeable battery. 

Their long blending arm design allows hand blenders to work directly into any bowl or container, even those with a tall body design. Immersion blenders are used for making protein shakes, pudding, and even powdered milk. These types of blenders are used for whipping cream and beating eggs since they usually have attachments like a whisk.

Most hand blenders are easy to disassemble and dishwasher safe. However, one of the disadvantages of using immersion blenders is you always put pressure on the pulse/ power button. Your hand also has to absorb the vibration caused by the blending process, which can be exhausting.  

Thanks to their unique design, a hand blender can blend straight into the pot even when cooking. Unlike other blenders with a lid, this type of hand blender doesn’t suffer from pressure build-up brought by steam. Hamilton, Breville, and All-Clad are some of the leading hand blender brands in this category. 

PROS
+ Immersion blenders can process hot ingredients
+ Directly blends into almost any container
+ Blender has multiple attachments for versatility
+ Conveniently portable and easy to clean
+ Beginner friendly ease of use
CONS
Immersion blenders have low power to pulverize ice
Your hands have to absorb its vibration
Blenders immersion have no speed settings.

Personal Blender

Personal Blender

Some manufacturers refer to them as single-serve blenders since they are usually meant to blend drinks for just one person. This blender is smaller and lighter than your regular kitchen blenders. This blender has a portable design and can be taken almost anywhere from the gym and even on your trips.

Personal blenders are popular among health buffs and gym rats because this blender is perfect for preparing smoothies and protein shakes. These blenders usually go with travel cups with a tightly sealed lid and easy to drink spout. Aside from making smoothies and  healthy drinks, they can also mix pancake batter and even pureed food.  

While these blenders usually have lower wattage motors, this blender makes up for it with their fast-rotating sharp stainless steel blades. Although its jar is much smaller, they can still chop frozen fruits and other chunky ingredients. Some models also operate wirelessly using their rechargeable batteries, yet still have ample of power.

Leaking, however, is one of the most common issues with small single serve blenders. This problem is usually caused by a loosely screwed blade that leaves gaps at the container’s bottom. Cuisinart, Nutribullet, Blend Jet, and Hamilton Beach are some of the leading portable blenders in this space.

PROS
+ Portable and easy to store blender bottles
+ Single cup blenders create delicious smoothies fast
+ Cheaper than larger blenders
+ No need to transfer contents to another container
+ Blender usually comes in different colors
CONS
Can only blend up to two cups of ingredients
Lower power output than regular blenders
Prone to leaking and overheats much faster.

Food Processor Kitchen System

Food Processor Kitchen System

Blenders have come a long way since Stephen Poplawski invented them in 1922. Today, there is also a category wherein blenders use different attachments to become as versatile as a food processor. Unlike a small blender with just one pitcher, a kitchen system may have two or more containers designed for food processing.

Food processor kitchen system may use a separate jar with their own set of blades, such as:

  • Single-serve cups
  • Chopping jar
  • Large capacity blending pitcher
  • Mixing bowl

Thanks to its wide variety of containers and additional attachments, a kitchen system can do more than blend. You may want to use the chopping jarfor chopping onions, mushrooms, and leafy greens. Meanwhile, the mixer allows you to whisk eggs and even make dough for pastry pastries.

However, expect to pay a higher price for a kitchen system since this blender generally are multiple appliances in one package. On the flip side, buying a complete kitchen system means you won’t have to buy the kitchen tools above individually. Some of the big names in this category include Breville, Oster, Cuisinart, and KitchenAid.

PROS
+ Very versatile and can take on any food preparation
+ The blender offers excellent value for money
+ Often features additional attachments
+ Single-serve cups offer portability
+ Great for salsa, puree, and sauces
CONS
Containers hold fewer ingredients than regular blenders
Mediocre blending consistency
A bit more expensive than small blender.

Commercial Blender

Commercial Blender

Commercial blenders are marketed towards food establishments, diners, and professional chefs. These blenders use a powerful motor, sharp blades, and a full size pitcher that can quickly blend large amounts of ingredients. If you are going to blend frozen drinks and large amounts of food once a day, this is the type of blender you should invest in.

Moreover, commercial blenders offer a more robust build than your average blender. This blender also can operate longer without overheating and often have several safety features to address such issues. These full size blenders are also quite versatile, thanks to their multiple pre-programmed settings and variable speeds.

Because of their incredible power that often surpasses 1,000 watts, this blender can quickly grind coffee beans and make nut butter. Cleanblend and Vitamix are two of the leading brands in this category. Their commercial blenders are known for their large size and extra features like a noise-canceling cover. These brands are also known to offer more extended warranty periods.

Home cooks can also use these full-size blenders as there are semi-pro options that are more affordable but with fewer features. Some even feature glass jars where you may heat soups. Blendtec and Ninja are just some of the best brands that offer professional style blenders at a lower price range.

PROS
+ High power motor can blend hard ingredients
+ Made from heavy duty materials
+ Numerous safety features in place
+ Blender doesn’t overheat fast, allowing prolonged use
+ Multiple speed settings for accurate blending
CONS
Models without soundproof features are quite loud
Bulkier and harder to store in cabinets
More expensive than your small blender.

Stand Mixer

Stand Mixer

These blenders go by another name– cake mixers. From the name itself, you can already understand that this blender is best for baking and creating pastry products. They are quite similar to hand blenders but stand mixers often have a more powerful motor. There are also commercial models marketed primarily for bakeries.

Stand mixers often use variable speeds and pre-programmed settings that allow automatic and accurate blending. This blender also has a huge capacity bowl, which can hold up to a gallon of dough. However, these types of blenders are also quite bulky, with an average weight of 12 pounds.

While commercial stand mixers are best used for cake batter, this blender may also process other types of ingredients by swapping different attachments. Whisk attachment, for example, is used for making meringues. Meanwhile, the standard dough hook is pretty standard if you want to make decadent cookies or bread-doughs. 

Another common feature of the best hand mixer is their heavy duty metal body. Additionally, some stand mixers are similar to the kitchen system as this blender, too, uses different tools that widen its versatility. Some stand mixers even have food grinders and even pasta cutters if you want to do more than just bake.

This category is highly contested among the best commercial brands such as Hamilton Beach, Kenwood, KitchenAid, Sunbeam, and Cuisinart.

PROS
+ It comes with a large blending bowl
+ The brawny motor can carry out difficult blending jobs
+ Various attachments for different mixing tasks
+ Some models have timers and automatic turn off
+ You can leave it and get back after its operation is done
CONS
It’s bulky and hard to relocate
More expensive than hand mixers
Hard to clean and detach the attachments.

Frozen Drink Blender

Frozen Drink Blender

Nothing makes cold juices than frozen drink blenders. Think of it as a blender specializing in processing frozen mixed drinks that are perfect for parties and other gatherings.

Frozen drink makers often have durable blades and full size pitchers that can make large capacity cold refreshments in no time. You can even make margaritas and other tropical drinks at the comforts of your kitchen counter. These types of blenders may also turn cube ice into shave ice in just seconds.

Most commercial models often have a blending chamber that detaches from the base for easy cleaning. This blender also has speed control that helps you get the blending consistency you prefer. Consequently, some models also have an ice reservoir where enough ice is kept for later use.

Some frozen drink blenders also have single-serve cups instead of full size pitchers, such as the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO. Despite its small size, it has incredible ice crushing power thanks to its 1,100-watt motor. It also has a nifty self cleaning feature.

Frozen drink makers are also excellent for blending green smoothies. These types of blenders can quickly turn kale, spinach, bananas, and other common green smoothie ingredients into silky smooth cold drinks. Some of the well-known brands in this category are Blendtec, Nutri Ninja, Nutribullet, and Vitamix.

PROS
+ Designed for crushing ice regardless of size
+ High power motor allows easy smoothie creation
+ Often has heavy duty blades and huge capacity pitchers
+ Great for preparing protein shakes and frothy cocktails
+ Has tightly sealed lids and spout for easy pouring.
CONS
Not as versatile as your regular blender
Can’t blend soups and other hot liquids
Some models are a bit pricey.

Start Blending Today

Different types of blenders have been around for almost a century and have served countless homes and establishments. Blenders come at different designs and prices, and are sold by dozens of brands that manufacture. From bulky countertop models, they have also evolved into smaller and more portable models.

It’s essential to know the kinds of blenders and their uses, so you may assess which one will suit your needs. Moreover, familiarizing yourself with the different types of the blender will also help you evaluate if you need to upgrade your current blender or not. So, who’s up for another serving of smoothies?

Related Content

Table of Contents