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One of the most versatile devices to pop on your kitchen bench, a great blender is the ultimate smooth operator and will quickly become your family's MVP. 

When it comes to super-handy kitchen appliances, you'd be hard-pressed to go past the blender. It really is one of the most versatile additions to a kitchen. It'll blitz up some fruit for home-made icecream on a hot summer day or warm the cockles with a hearty soup when the temperatures plummet... and in between you can make healthy smoothies, chop nuts, even puree baby food. It's a great appliance and one you'll never regret buying... it can even get kids interested in cooking, as it's a super-easy way to get them enjoying their food, if they can whip up a milkshake anytime they feel like it. 

But there are a lot of different blenders out there - big, small, stick, even portable... we rounded up our faves. 

Nutri Ninja Nutrient Extractor, $275 at Amazon

Tefal Perfect Mix Blender, $229 at Myer

Breville Fresh and Furious, $249 at The Good Guys

Russell Hobbs Classic Blender, $38 at Catch

Nutribullet 900W Blender Megapack, $99 at Myer

Cafe 63 Portable Juice Blender, $33.14 at Amazon

Sansai Portable Blender, $28 at Catch

Kambrook Blitz Power Blender, $94.95 at Myer

Nutribullet Baby Blender, $99 at Myer

Philips Avent 2-in-1 baby food maker, $132 at Amazon

Cherub Baby Natriblend Food Maker & Processor, $219.99 at Cherub Baby

Tommee Tippee Quick Cook Baby Food Steamer Blender, $139.96 at Amazon

Kenwood Triblade Hand Blender, $109 at Amazon

Sunbeam Stickmaster Platinum Stick Mixer, $129 at The Good Guys

Kambrook Power Drive Stick Mixer, $49 at The Good Guys

Smeg Pastel Blue 50s Retro Style Stick Blender, $221 at Appliances Online

This highly-rated blender from cult fave brand Ninja packs a punch with 1500-watts of power. The Ninja Pro Extractor Blades can crush through ice, frozen fruit, seeds, skin and stems for the smoothest of smoothies, and it comes with three to-go cups - small, medium and large - with Sip & Seal lids. It has eight different speeds with Auto-iQ technology, featuring timed, intelligent blending programs that do the work for you, and if you're lacking inspiration, it even comes with a 75 recipe cookbook! "Love it. Works great. We use it every day. Smoothies in the morning and the food processor for dinner prep most nights. Can’t go wrong and good price."

This top-rated blender at Myer features 1200kw of power to blitz up healthy soups, stews, juices, smoothies and more in an instant. It has three pre-set functions - smoothie, ice crush and auto-clean - and is super powerful and long-lasting, with a 1.5L capacity to make enough for the whole family. "This blender works great especially for smoothies with nuts and seeds etc and so easy to use and wash after use. Use it every day with the kids too and they devour the juices!!"

Aside from having the best name of any blender (does Vin Diesel come with the blender because if so, I'm ALL in) Breville’s The Fresh and Furious is great for pretty much any task you might need done in the kitchen - from blending and crushing to chopping and aerating. The heavy-duty blades are engineered so they stay sharper for longer, plus they’re contoured to hug the bottom of the jug and catch every stray bit of food.

This super budget-friendly blender is a good size for one that is so inexpensive. It has a 1.5L glass jug with a lid to fit in smoothies for the whole household - and with 700w of power, it's pretty capable of smoothies for everyone. There’s a safety interlock system and non-slip feet to avoid any accidents, as well as stainless steel ice-crushing blades to effortlessly crush, blend, crumb, and puree ingredients.

This blender is packed with features and still looks slimline and gorgeous - your bench will love it. It has 900W of power to extract all the goodies from your fruit and veg, as well as a milling blade that blends up dry ingredients like nuts, coffee, seeds and spices.  It comes with two tall cups, one short cup and a flip-top lid so you can take your drinks to go. "NutriBullet is the best little blender", writes one reviewer. "Great blender with all the cup sizes you need for single or double smoothies. We also use it to make pesto and baby purées. This is the second NutriBullet I’ve bought, first one lasted for 8 years!"

A great portable blender for those with minimal space or the desire for smoothies at work, at the gym or on the go, this blender comes in three cute colours and is BPA free. It's USB chargeable, lightweight and user-friendly. "Portable, super easy to use it and nice design," says one reviewer. "This gadget helps keeping my lifestyle healthy; I just fill up the detachable cup with fresh ingredients and leave sitting in the fridge overnight. The next morning I take it with me to the office and blend it as I start craving."

Another portable blender that gets amazing reviews from those who love it, this one is USB rechargeable and has a USB rechargeable and has a 140-watt base. "Very handy I am able to have smoothies at work. Works well and is quieter than expected," writes one reviewer, another adding that they use it daily without having to recharge it- it should last about three hours on a single charge. 

This inexpensive high-intensity blender has a 700w motor for maximum blitz power. It comes with a blending cup, sports bottle and lid, so it's perfectly portable for taking on the go. "Super easy to use and clean," says one, adding "Looks good and is compact so easy to store. I bought this for my 12-year-old daughter who loves morning smoothies and she loves it."

Complete with a ridiculously cute design, the Nutribullet Baby Blender set comes with a 200 watt motor base, batch bowl with lid, blend blade, short cup, 6 date-dial cups with lids and tray, freezer tray with lid, storage lid, and even a recipe book. it allows you to prepare fresh and delicious food with wholesome ingredients, then store them away for throughout the week thanks to the perfectly portioned grab-and-go batch cups ideal for the fridge and freezer. All components are dishwasher safe (because who has time for handwashing?!) and the blades and cups are specifically designed to break down foods so you can get the most nutrients out of what you put in.

A reviewer said it's "very convenient for baby food preparation and storage. I couldn't be happier with the product".

Prep your baby's whole meal from start to finish in this all-in-one machine from Philips that allows you to steam, blend, defrost and reheat. Thanks to the spacious 1000ml capacity, you can prep up to four meals at a time - which you can freeze and then reheat in the device at a later date, to save you even more time.  A reviewer said "If you can spend the money definitely buy this steamer, it will save you so much time. All you need to do is to peel fruit or veggies and cut them to smaller cubes. The cubes will be steamed so quickly (timer is incorporated) and it beeps once done... and then you just turn the jar and mix it in like 5 seconds. Spoon and a storage container are included".

Steam, cook and blend food as well as sterilise bottles and accessories with the Cherub Baby machine. It has a LCD screen that gives you maximum control over how you prep the food - and you can steam two different meals simultaneously to save on time! It can also blend and defrost food, as well as warm and sterilise bottles, making it a super convenient and value-saving buy. A reviewer commented "I love that I can cut fruit and vegetables and leave it to steam while I play with my baby. I don't have to stress about leaving pots on the stove ...We have been steaming two fruit or vegetable at the same time. Just make sure they take the same time to cook.I'm not a confident cook so this was ideal for me".

The Tommee Tippee Steamer Baby Food Maker is easy to use: just pour water in the chamber, put food in the steamer basket, and choose whether to steam, blend or both. The smart memory function sets an automatic timer so you don't forget how long to cook for, and there's a handy spatula stored in the handle that makes it easy to scrape out every last nutritious bit.

A reviewer said "This machine has made baby food such a cake walk, just throw the cut fruits/veggies in & it comes out as you desire; purée, chunky or steamed. As a working mum, this has been a total lifesaver. This is one item all Mums must invest in, you will reap the benefits for years".

Amazon's top pick when it comes to stick blenders, this device gives you pretty much everything you need. Along with the blender itself, it has a 3L capacity bowl, metal wand, XL soup masher, balloon whisk, chopper and blade to prep herbs and veges with ease, and a beaker to keep it all together. It gives you several speed options, has an ergonomic handle, and is dishwasher safe so it's super easy to clean. "I have only had it for a week but have already used it to make a cake and frosting, purée cat food, make smoothies and chop veggies," one says, adding "Quick to set up and clean up."

Featuring beater, whisk, and chopper, this model is great for food prep. With 10 speeds, you can control exactly the power you need every time. "I whizz soups, make curry pastes, blitz nuts(!) make pesto, whisk eggs and the machine does it all on its ear (or would if it had one). Very happy with the purchase."

If you have a small kitchen but still want a top-quality machine, this inexpensive option from Kambrook might do the trick. With variable speeds, a measuring cup and a mixing bowl, it's hard-working and powerful, while still being compact and easy to clean. "Absolutely fabulous," writes one reviewer, "I have a small kitchen and it is fabulous for storing and bench space. It does most things."

If aesthetics are important to you - and if so, fair - this is a great buy. It's beautiful and will look stylish and classy on any kitchen bench. Featuring a potato masher, chopper bowl, beaker, and whisk, it will see you through pretty much every task you need. 

Glass is generally more scratch and stain-resistant, however most blenders with plastic cups or jugs are made from strong, durable plastic that is designed to be long-lasting. Plastic blenders that are BPA-free are an added bonus, as they're free from harmful chemicals. It's worth considering who might be using the blender the most in your family. Some people often buy a blender for their kids to make their own smoothies or juices - if it's going to be largely used by kids, plastic is both lighter and safer. 

There are a few practical factors to consider that will help to narrow down your options. How big is your household - will you be the only one using the machine, or is it smoothies all round? Do you have the countertop and storage space for a large model, or do you need a space-saving option? Consider what you'll be using the blender for, too - just smoothies? Maybe purees? Soups? Or do you fancy yourself some sort of Heston Blumenthal who will be using it to concoct all sorts of culinary creations? All of these questions can help you decide the size, style and features you'll need from your blender. 

Want more great home appliance buying guides? Here is our guide to the best toasters and the best kettles. Ready to go shopping? Check out our coupons page for the latest deals and steals.