Kitchen Appliances / Jug Blenders

A great jug blender can be an excellent addition in your kitchen’s arsenal. Jug blenders can come in handy if you are entertaining – by whipping up the odd cocktail, for example – but they can also be great in everyday use for those focused on healthier living and eating. Getting your required “five-a-day” becomes a breeze when you can quickly and easily blend berries and fruits for a nutritious breakfast smoothie and whizz vegetables galore into nourishing and low-calorie soups that make for light lunches and simple starters.

Blenders on test

Often, blenders are left on display, making a stylish statement on the countertop, but appearance is not everything. If you are looking for a blender to deliver vitamin-rich smoothies to get your day off to an energizing start and to help produce a seasonal soup to warm you up after a hard day at work, you will need an appliance that quickly and efficiently blends to the desired consistency, that is easy to use and clean, and that preferably doesn’t make a loud and unpleasant noise while operating. Our test results below reveal how ten jug blenders fared in these areas when assessed in our labs. All the jug blenders on test are able to crush ice for those who want to use their appliance to mix drinks. However, performance here varied considerably and, generally speaking, only the more expensive appliances had sufficient oomph to score highly in our ice-crushing tests. Though our safety tests do not form part of the overall score, all the blenders tested have good safety features in place.

Choosing a blender

Beyond performance, ease of use and noise, here are some other aspects you might like to consider when shopping for a blender:

Base – A solid, heavy base with non-slip feet or suction grip holds the blender steady on the bench when it is in operation.

Controls – Sealed controls or touchpad controls are easiest to clean as food cannot become trapped in crevices.

Wattage – The blenders on test range in terms of wattage from 400W to 1200W but the higher power does not necessarily translate into improved performance.

Jug – A blender’s jug can be made out of glass or plastic. Glass jugs are heavier and very likely to break if dropped but they tend to be easier to clean. Plastic jugs are lighter but they can become stained with certain foods and can absorb the smell of whatever is inside.

Markings – Clear markings on the jug with easy-to-read numbers and maximum and minimum levels help you measure more accurately.

Chute – A good-sized chute enables you to add ingredients to the mixture without spills while the blender is working.

Pulse function – This feature provides a short burst of power and helps to fine-tune blending to your specific requirements as there is no lag time between when you push the button and when the blender starts or stops.

Lid – It is worth checking that the lid is easy to take off as the suction on some lids can make removal tricky.

Blades – Attached blades make cleaning awkward so a removable blade makes life much easier when it comes to washing the appliance after use.