Most guys use blenders to make smoothies. And the occasional mixed drink. What you may not know is that blender technology has advanced to the point where they have become one of the most versatile kitchen appliances you can own. The best blenders can now be used to not only crush ice but to make homemade ice cream. You can use your blender to pulverize nuts and grind steak. You can not only chop vegetables for soup, you can heat the soup using your blender. You can even knead bread dough with it.
Smoothies are not even the half of it, man.
There are blenders from two companies that stand head and shoulders above the rest. These are professional-grade blenders that will do a myriad blending and prep tasks, do them easily, and last a long time (7-year warranties). The best blenders are made by Vitamix and Blendtec. These professionally tested, top-rated blenders will surprise you with their versatility.
I am including both Vitamix and Blendtec blenders so you can have a couple of different pricing options. We’ll start with the Vitamix…
The Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender is the best blender you can get for the home kitchen
Vitamix has earned a sterling reputation among professional chefs — those who use blenders to their fullest capabilities. Owners of Vitamix blenders tend to highly value their mix (heh) of quality construction, ease of use, durability, and versatility. If you’re going to have a blender in your kitchen, why not own the best? You’ll find the Vitamix Pro Series 750 Blender on the counter-tops of gourmet restaurants as well as in the kitchens of serious home cooks. And, of course, it will totally make a kickass smoothie.
Is the Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender the most versatile kitchen appliance you can own? Quite possibly. It is certainly the best blender. Click to get it from Sur La Table.
When the manly appliance testers at Outside magazine recently tested blenders, they named the Vitamix 7500 (a precursor to the 750), the “most versatile” blender of the bunch. It scored highly for ease of use, power (the Pro 750 marshals 1,350 watts), and flexibility — including the capacity to turn tomatoes into nice chunks for making pico de gallo (fresh salsa).
The Vitamix Professional Series 750 is the upgraded version of the 7500. It features 10 speeds and 5 convenient pre-programmed settings, including a self-cleaning option. The 64-ounce container is big enough to make recipes to feed your family or a group. With it you get a DVD explaining its many uses, plus a cookbook featuring recipes from gourmet chefs. Everything about this blender is top-of-the-line.
When Consumer Reports tested blenders, they made the Vitamix 5200 a recommended buy. The Pro 750 is even more capable.
Click here to get the Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender from Sur La Table. Currently $649.
The Blendtec Total Blender Classic was top-rated by Outside’s testers
At the time Outside tested and reviewed blenders, they made the Blendtec Classic FourSide blender an “Editor’s Choice.” They liked its combination of power, versatility, and price. Since then, Blendtec has upgraded and renamed this classic blender: it is now the Total Blender Classic WildSide. The WildSide container is larger than the FourSide jar, which makes the blender capable of doing more. You can still get the Total Blender with the FourSide jar, however, along with the WildSide jar if you go for the Total Blender Classic Combo. See the options at the Blendtec site.
The Blendtec Total Blender Classic was Outside’s “Editor’s Choice” blender. Click to see product details and purchase from Blendtec.
Blendtec makes the blender that became famous for the videos showing Tom Dickson grinding up an iPad, glow sticks, tin cans, golf balls, and other unlikely things. You know it’s got plenty of power (1,560 watts). And that power is backed by a 7-year warranty.
The Blendtec Total Blender Classic WildSide is available direct from Blendtec here for $455. It’s not quite as versatile a blender as the Vitamix, but it’s also almost $200 less. As I mentioned above, I wanted to provide top-rated blenders for a couple of different prices to fit varying budgets. In that regard, you can save even more by getting a Factory Recertified Total Blender Classic ( they’re $385 and still come with a 7-year warranty).
You really can’t go wrong with either the Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender or the Total Blender Classic WildSide. They are the best blenders on the market.
For a head-to-head comparison of the Vitamix 750 versus the Blendtec (Designer Series, which is similar to the Total Blender Classic), see the video below. Then make your choice. And start preparing a bunch of delicious recipes… not to mention the best smoothies you’ve ever had.
