Our Blender Performance Tests

Speed And Controls

We test the minimum speed of each blender using a tacheometer, a tool that counts the revolutions of the blades per minute. We use the main jar for this test. First, the blender is unplugged, and we cover the area behind the blades with black gaffer tape. We wrap reflective tape around the flattest one. If the rest of the blades are shiny, we may also color them black with the dry erase marker. This is because the tachometer uses a laser, and the reflective tape helps ensure that it can target one blade and count its revolutions.

Pointing the tacheometer at the black markings behind the blades, we run the blender for one minute at the lowest possible speed. The tachometer provides the revolutions per minute (RPM); we round the number down to the nearest 100 RPM for our results. The higher the value, the faster the blades spin, which corresponds with a higher blending speed.

You may be looking for a blender with a slow low-speed setting if you use your blender to emulsify ingredients like salad dressings or sauces, or if you want to be able to chop ingredients into smaller pieces without pureeing them. It can also be helpful to start blending at a lower speed when you're working with tough ingredients like nuts. For example, the Vitamix A3500 makes very smooth almond butter when you start at the lowest speed setting and gradually increase the blending speed.

The maximum speed test is performed the same way as the minimum speed test. Using the same markings and tape, we run the blender for one minute at top speed, then round the measurement down to the nearest 100 RPM. 

You may want a blender with a fast top speed if you make lots of smoothies with fibrous ingredients like kale, which can be harder to fully process at a lower speed. Similarly, a fast blending speed can help achieve smooth nut butter, sauces, and purees. Also, some blenders' blades spin quickly enough that the friction can heat cold ingredients, which can help make foods like soup or hot chocolate.

For this test, we check if the blending speed is controlled with a dial and record the results as Yes or No. This is important because a speed dial allows you to fine-tune the blending speed as you blend. It’s most common for full-size blenders, like the Vitamix Explorian E310, to have a speed dial, while personal blenders like the NutriBullet Pro are usually single-speed and don’t have one.

There doesn’t necessarily need to be a literal dial for a blender to be scored ‘Yes’ in this test. For example, the KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender blends faster the harder you push on the trigger button, which counts as a speed dial because it allows you to adjust the speed incrementally.

This test determines if the blender has a pulse or turbo mode that allows you to run the blender in short bursts. Some blenders have a dedicated pulse mode, but we also check if it’s possible to simulate a pulse mode by quickly turning the blender on and off. The result is recorded as a Yes or No since we don't test how the blender performs with pulse mode.

This feature helps break down big chunks of ingredients, like ice cubes and bigger frozen fruits like whole strawberries. The Ninja Blender Duo with Auto-iQ BL642 makes fantastic almond butter if you start with pulse mode before blending normally. You can also use pulse mode when making foods like hummus or salsa to avoid over-blending.

You may want to know your blender's noise level if you tend to make a lot of blended food or if you share the space with others. For this test, we use a decibel meter to measure how much noise the blender makes when set to its fastest speed setting, excluding turbo or pulse mode. After the blender has run continuously for one minute, we take the reading from roughly 15 inches (40 centimeters) away, which is about the distance between your ears and the blender in normal use.

Immersion blenders like the Bamix Mono M133 and the Bamix The Original are some of the quietest blenders we've tested. In contrast, full-size and personal blenders vary a lot in terms of how loud they are. Full-size models Blendtec Classic 575, as well as smaller personal blenders like the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO and the NutriBullet Pro+, are among the loudest we've tested. There are even some blenders that are equipped with a noise dome to help reduce the noise.

For this test, we record if the blender has an on/off button or switch that needs to be activated before the machine will start. Full-size blenders are more likely to have this extra safety feature, and personal blenders usually lack this feature altogether. However, some blenders have other design features that stop you from turning them on accidentally. The NutriBullet Pro doesn’t turn on until the jar twists into place, and the battery-powered BlendJet 2 has a locking mechanism. These features aren't counted as on/off toggles, however.