CONSUMER REPORTS Tests the Top Blenders For Summertime Soirees

More than 40 Models Serve Up Smoothies, Soups and More

Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck's Blenders Falter on Basic Blending

YONKERS, N.Y., July 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Reports' latest Ratings of 46 blenders have found that they not only blend, but will chop, juice, process food and even make soup. While some of the multitasking machines rose to the occasion, others could fail to impress at the next summer poolside party.  The full report on blenders appears in the August issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

"Shoppers can expect to see a wider variety of blender options with more speeds and settings to choose from including food chopper attachments and built-in heater," said Ed Perratore, Senior Editor, Home & Yard at Consumer Reports. "But they should be wary of choosing additional features over blending function. More choices don't necessarily mean better choices."  

For as little as $60, the Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004 delivered smooth and consistently icy drinks and topped the Consumer Reports Ratings of food choppers, making it the only CR Best Buy of the models tested. The Ninja also pureed and grated nearly as well as the $450 Vitamix 5200, our top-rated blender. Paying $200 for the Cuisinart SBC-1000 (Williams-Sonoma) buys superb pureeing and grating, along with the added bonus of a built-in heater that cooks soups right in the blender.

Consumer Reports tests revealed some blender models that didn't cut it, including a malfunctioning model, the DeLonghi 3-in-1 DFP-950, $300, and a model from celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, the Wolfgang Puck WPBLFP50, $90. Both have a separate bowl and blade so they can double as food processors, but had subpar performance as blenders. The Wolfgang Puck model was dead last in the overall ratings. Two samples failed during regular testing, and two more failed during Consumer Reports' durability test.

AUGUST 2011

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SOURCE Consumer Reports