Which blender do you actually need?

Blenders run from small personal cups to big jugs with motors that sound like a jet. The right one depends on what you will make and for how many people, not on the biggest number on the box. A single smoothie in a 2 litre jug is awkward to clean; a family soup in a small cup means three rounds.

Pick what you plan to make, and how many you cook for. The chooser works out how much a batch needs and what kind of blender fits.

Jug or personal: what is the difference?

A jug blender has a tall container fixed on the base. It holds more, copes with soups and sauces, and suits families. A personal blender uses a smaller cup that screws onto the blade unit, flips over and sits on the base. It makes one or two portions, goes straight to the table or your bag, and is quicker to wash.

A stick (immersion) blender is a third option: you put it into the pot. It is cheap, takes little space and is hard to beat for soup, but it does not crush ice well.

What goes in a blender, and what it does to the food

Blending breaks fruit and vegetables into small pieces. The NHS counts 150 ml of smoothie as one of your 5 a day, but only once a day, however much you drink. The reason is that crushing fruit releases the sugars from inside the cells, which can be hard on teeth, so the NHS suggests keeping smoothies to mealtimes rather than sipping them all day. Soups and sauces count as vegetables the usual way: an 80 g portion of fresh, canned or frozen vegetables is one portion.

A blender makes food easier to eat, not healthier by itself. It is worth it if it helps you eat more vegetables, beans or fruit that you would otherwise skip.

Safety and who should check first

This is general information, not medical advice. If you have a condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have or had an eating disorder, or take medication (especially for diabetes or blood pressure), talk to a doctor or dietitian before changing how you eat, including if you plan to replace meals with drinks. Always follow the manual for hot liquids, maximum fill lines and run times.

What to look for

• A size that matches your batch. Use the chooser above; most households do not need the largest jug.
• Parts that are easy to clean. Look for removable blades and parts the maker says are dishwasher-safe.
• Controls you will actually use. A pulse button and a simple dial cover most jobs; extra programs are a nice-to-have.
• A jug material you are happy with. Glass is heavier and scratch-resistant; plastic (such as Tritan) is lighter and less likely to break.

Sources

• NHS: 5 A Day, what counts (150 ml of juice or smoothie counts once a day; sugars released; keep to mealtimes; 80 g portion)
• Philips: 5000 Series Blender HR2767/00 (example of a personal blender; the maker says not for hot ingredients)
• Coolblue: Philips 7000 Series HR3760/10 (example of a 2 litre glass jug model)

The batch sizes and the 70% fill figure in the chooser are our own rules of thumb, not published standards. Makers give their own maximum fill lines, so follow the one on your jug.