Used for making everything from smoothies and soups to grinding nuts and ice, the blender is definitely one of the most versatile appliances you can have in your kitchen. You may be wondering how many watts you need for a good blender. We have thoroughly researched this matter and have some answers!
The number of watts a blender has will determine its power. To determine how many watts you need for a good blender, you will need to know the types of jobs you will be using the blender to do:
- Handheld immersion blenders are sufficient at 250 watts
- Small batch blenders perform well at 300 to 600 watts
- Casual use, normal size blenders do well at 500 to 750 watts
- Professional and heavy use blenders are most versatile at 1200 to 1500 watts
We know that's a wide range of blenders! We will break down this list and discuss the different types of blenders and the watts you would need for a good one. Keep reading for detailed information on how watts matter when you choose a blender!
Does Wattage Matter in Blenders?
Watts are, in simplified terms, the measurement of how much energy a device can use or draw to operate. This does not mean that the blender will utilize this power efficiently. Higher watts should but do not always mean more powerful blending.
Some argue that over a certain amount, watts do not matter; however, the majority of experts agree that watts do matter when it comes to what you are blending. For example, if you want to grind ice to a fine snow cone-like texture, you would want to start looking at a higher watt blender. If you are looking to just blend up a few soft non-frozen fruits, then any blender would likely do the trick.
Since wattage does reflect the potential for power provided to your blender, it is a good starting point when considering blenders. We do recommend taking other customer's experience into account with the item as well, and reading product descriptions to see how the device actually operates to get the whole picture of whether a blender will be a good fit for you.
Does a Higher Wattage Mean Stronger Motor?
Since higher wattage does mean the potential to draw more power, it should mean that the device has a stronger motor or at least a more powerful performance. This will not always be the case if the construction is poor or the parts are cheaply made, making utilization of the wattage less than optimal.
Higher wattage does mean that the motor will have to work less to blend some substances, which could mean less wear on the parts and blades. This will result in a longer-lasting motor.
Handheld Immersion Blenders
Since handheld immersion blenders are primarily used for soups and other foods that are already soft, around 150 watts is good enough for blending. At 250 watts, you would be able to blend anything you need to typically blend with an immersion blender, such as baby food or thick stews. Though over 300 is considered unnecessary for this type of blender, there are now 1000 watt hand blenders available.
Click here to see it on Amazon!
Small Batch Blenders
The most popular small-batch blenders are at least 600 watts, with some operating at 1000 watts. Since they are for blending small loads and personal drinks, you can get a good blender with lower wattage.
Due to giving a powerful blend, they can provide a superior texture to spice mixtures for stews and curries. Their power and convenience make this type of blender great to use as a grinder for coffee or nuts or personal drinks.
Click here to see it on Amazon!
Click here to see it on Amazon!
Casual Use Blenders
Maybe you just need a blender to be on hand in your kitchen for mixing slushy drinks for entertaining. Many households have a blender in their kitchen for mixing kid drinks or soups. A good household blender runs anywhere from 500 watts to 750 watts. This type of power is enough for the casual user.
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Professional Blenders
A good professional blender will be 1200 to 1500 watts. Professional grade blenders are for the true blending connoisseur. For some, blending is an important part of a particular lifestyle or diet plan that requires daily use, so textures become really important.
These high-powered blenders really shine, blending leafy greens into a smoothie. Users say there is a visibly superior result in texture and even fusion in the taste of the smoothies.
If bits and pieces in your smoothy are a deal-breaker for you, or you are looking to get the most out of leafy herbs, these blenders are for you. Their high wattage and power also make them the most versatile. They can do quick chop jobs, both dry and wet, and more difficult jobs such as turning out a nut butter or frozen sorbet made with little to no liquid.
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How Long Can You Keep a Blender Running?
You should always refer to your user manual before running the blender since different blenders are designed to accomplish different tasks. These days the amount of time a blender can and should run is quite a range! To avoid overheating and ruining your motor, never run your blender for longer than periods than the manual dictates. To read more about what to do if your blender overheats, click here.
Blenders that come with their own program buttons will turn off on their own after the allotted time. These blenders can take a few minutes to blend since they stop and start as they sense the load of the food that is being blended.
The typical household blender usually runs between a minute and a half to three minutes with no problem. A professional-grade blender can be designed to run longer. There are some that you can run as long as 10 minutes or longer to make a hot soup heated by the friction and speed alone!
This Vitamix blender is famous for being able to make hot soups and sauces by running up to 10 minutes!
Can a Blender Blow a Fuse?
A blender can blow a fuse in your blender or in your house. When using a blender, there are steps you can take to avoid this.
A blender can blow a fuse when too much power goes to the device at once. Avoid this by using higher speeds for heavy loads. Running the blender at a low speed for thicker substances can cause a blown fuse. Be sure to read the manual as most include instructions, warnings, and even recipes for different types of foods.
Avoid blowing a fuse in your house by using your blender on a different outlet or circuit than other bigger appliances. For example, using a blender at the same time and area of your kitchen as your microwave or air fryer can certainly blow a fuse.
Do Blenders Run on Batteries?
Though you wouldn't be able to get a professional-grade blender that runs on batteries, you can get smaller personal drink blenders that do!
This blender claims to be able to crush ice and perform most of the jobs that regular blenders do with the convenience of traveling with it! It charges with an included charger, and the battery will hold its charge for long periods of time. Most users report that they only charge theirs every couple of months.
Click here to see it on Amazon!
This blender runs on a rechargeable battery that uses a USB connection making a great choice when you don't have an outlet to recharge. It can be plugged into any laptop or recharge station that has a USB port. Though not as powerful as a regular plugin blender, users seem pretty happy with its performance. It also comes with its own ice tray to make suitable-sized ice for the machine to crush into your drinks!
Click here to see it on Amazon!
Use Watts As Just One of The Criteria For Choosing Your Blender
Now you know how many watts and type of blender you need to get the results you want. Use this information as a starting point for choosing your blender! Consider how often you will use it, how much texture matters, and what you will be blending! Choose a suitable powerful and sturdy blender to add versatility to your kitchen routine, and you will be able to enjoy blending your favorite recipes for years to come!
Read more about blenders below:
Where to Store a Blender in the Kitchen
Does a Blender Work as A Food Processor? (The answer might surprise you!)
Hi,
I am Wanting to make smoothies every day that are larger than a single person serving.
What should I use?
1200 watts looks great
1700 watt is too large wattage bit a small blender base.
Please advise.
Thank you,