Best blenders

Top pick: Vitamix 5200. It's the blender most people should buy once and keep for a decade: a simple variable-speed dial, a tall 64 oz jar, and the motor and blade geometry that made Vitamix the benchmark for silky smoothies, nut butters and hot soup. Fewer gadgets than the fancy models, but nothing it does badly.

Who the others suit:

• Breville Super Q — if you want presets, a big 68 oz jar and one-touch programs instead of a dial.
• Vitamix Ascent X4 — the newer, more compact Vitamix; pick it if counter space matters more than jar size.
• Cuisinart Hurricane Pro — the most raw power here, for heavy ice and frozen loads.
• Ninja Professional Plus / BL660 — the value route: big pitcher, strong motor, great for smoothies and margaritas, less refined on fine purées.
• Beast Mini 600 Plus — a personal blender for single servings and small kitchens.
• Budget glass-jar blenders — fine for light daily smoothies if you'd rather spend little and replace sooner.