When beginning your blender research, first identify how you will be using your blender and how much versatility you will require. Will you want to use your blender as a food processor? Will you be blending soups and sauces or just whipping up a few drinks? If you’re a gourmet chef then you might require lots of blending controls and a large capacity container. The majority of users, however, can often get by with a fairly basic feature set. Take a minute to think it through and don’t get carried away paying for features you won’t use.

It will also be important for you to consider how much you value the appearance of your blender. Style is often important to most buyers since blenders are generally a counter piece. However, if you plan to stash yours away in a cabinet, then you might be able sacrifice some style elements for a more functional feature set.

There are two general classifications of blenders:

The traditional blender or basic blender consists of a jar with blades at the bottom (called a “carafe”) which sits on an electric motor base. The base contains and a set of speed controls which determine the blend consistency. It’s great for whipping smoothies, crushing ice and even works well as a basic food processor.

The immersion blender which is also called a hand blender or stick blender consists of mixing blade at the end of a wand which is powered by a slim base at the handle. The immersion blender is not as powerful as a jar blender, but is often preferred for mixing large volume ingredients such as cake batter or gravies.

Traditional blenders come with the most varying feature options and consequently range anywhere from $20 to $600 or more. The differences are found mostly in the carafe, base, controls, speeds and power.

Jar or Carafe
Low end models come equipped with a clear plastic carafe and a simple base with a few push button speed controls. Plastic is hardy, but it is also known to discolor and absorb odors over time. A glass carafe is considered an upgrade both in style and function. A Stainless steel carafe, however, is considered best due to its near unbreakable durability and sleek polished finish.

Base
When considering blenders, a wider, heavier base is generally better. Wider and heavier means more stable which is very important to prevent tipping. Depending on your taste, a stainless steel blender base can add a significant style element. Stainless steel base blenders generally start at a minimum of $40, but is often thought well worth it for the added aesthetics.

Controls
Most standard blender models come equipped with a set of push button controls with numerical or named order corresponding to the blend function. Push buttons are very simple to use, but can be difficult to clean. High end models can come fitted with a digital display which provides greater speed and function versatility as well as a serious modern style statement.

Speeds
Some blender models can come with up to 16 or more speed variations. Although it might seem great to have lots of options, it’s more likely that you won’t use more than three. Make sure it has pulse, ice crush and a few variations, and that should be sufficient regardless of your cooking prowess.

Power
Blenders generally range from 300 to 600 watts. Higher wattage is marketed as greater performance, and of course comes with a higher price tag to match. Although a bit of extra power can come in handy for blending through a batch of thick frozen drinks, a 350 watt blender is sufficient for most all users and uses.

Other blender options include cordless blenders and a recent innovation called the personal blender. Cordless blenders come in quite handy for outdoor use such as on a deck or patio. Personal blenders use a cup instead of a large carafe which can be used to both blend and drink a single serving. Based on your lifestyle, you may determine that a standard model and an additional specialized model will best suite your needs. Whatever you decide, remember to think through your needs, and be careful to avoid an array of features you won’t realistically use.