Choosing the Right Blender for Smoothies

Base. The blender must have a sturdy base. It must be wide enough to prevent vibration while blending at high speeds. Bases are made from either metal or plastic. Metal is preferred because it's more durable, more stable and heavier.

Wattage. The blender must have enough power! A wattage of 500 is good but 350 watts is good enough. Weak blenders won't cut it. When all the ingredients are added, a weak blender will slow down or stop. More power makes smoother smoothies.

Speed Setting. There are many speed settings in different products. Some have only two: high and low. Some have more. More variety in settings will enable you to achieve more kinds of smoothie textures. Look out for the "pulse button". Push it and the blender bursts into a quick pulse of power during blending.

Container. Containers are made of glass, metal or plastic. Each has its pros and cons. Plastic is lightweight and it doesn't break easily when you drop it, but it is more prone to scratches and the smell of the ingredients won't easily go away because the blender absorbs it. It's a devil to clean. Glass is easier to clean but its heavier and it breaks when dropped. Metals are lighter than glass but they can be dented.

Lid. Choose one that has a removable chute. You can open it and add ingredients while blending. No need to press Stop before adding more ingredients.

Capacity. Blenders commonly contain one up to three liters. If you're throwing a smoothie party, try finding a blender that can take really large containers.

Type. There are two types of blenders: countertop and immersion. You can find countertop types frequently. They're the ones with a base and a container to blend the ingredients in. Immersion blenders are hand-held. They're shaped like a stick and they have a blade at the bottom. Immersion types consume less power but it's limited. Cooks mainly use it for pureeing, mixing and chopping soft fruits and vegetables. However, its portability comes in handy in a number of times.