It might come as a shock to cocktail enthusiasts, but blenders can be used for more than just frozen margaritas. Surprising, right?

The possibilities are actually endless: hot soup without a hob, coffee without a coffee maker, and whipped cream without a hand mixer. Those are just a few of the tasks these multitasking blenders can tackle. Just like how the Instant Pot can replace a pan or slow cooker, blenders can expand your meal possibilities tenfold, without the clutter of multiple machines.

But where to start with actually choosing a blender? They’ve all got their own selection of features. Unless you’re a blending expert, it’s difficult to know what’s what and which machine suits you. Let us help out with next-to-know blender info. 

As a general rule, blenders are for liquids — juice, smoothies, shakes, soups, and purees — whereas food processors will slice, chop, grate, shred, and dice. However, you’ll find some blenders have attachments, such as detachable food mixing bowls, that allow them to double up as a blender/food processor combo.

The ability to make your own juice, smoothies, and protein shakes isn't the only reason to invest in a blender. These devices can also help you to establish healthy habits. Blenders simplify meeting your nutrient goal by squeezing everything into a 30-second meal replacement. With thousands of recipes online, you're bound to find a balanced combo of greens and fruits that you actually look forward to drinking.

Plus, being completely in charge of the contents of your drink lets you closely monitor portion size, stick to dietary restrictions like dairy or gluten, and track macronutrients to stay on track with diet goals. You'll never need to buy one of those sickeningly expensive juices again.

Blenders can be as basic or as advanced as you want (depending on what you’re willing to spend, of course). There are simple blenders that cost next to nothing and have a simple on/off switch, or tech-savvy blenders that connect to an app via Bluetooth. These apps might provide recipes or keep records of nutrition or health goals. There are other features to look out for, such as pre-set blending programs. These might be geared to specifically make soup, smoothies, or frozen desserts. Some blenders can automatically detect the load and adjust its motors and programs accordingly.

The capacity of a blender will vary. There are personal-use blenders, which have a container big enough for one person (maybe around 700ml), and multi-serve blenders, which have a much bigger container (up to 2 litres or even more). But many blenders come with different sized containers, allowing you to switch between sizes as required. We especially like blenders that have a sports bottle attachment, which can be used to make a smoothie or juice. Simply detach, pop a lid on, and off you go.

That’s up to you. We can’t make the decision on your behalf. What we can do, however, is draw up a list of the best blenders for everyone, to help you find something that's perfect for you.

These are the best blenders in 2023.