If you know you could do with a new blender but you're not willing to splurge for a Vitamix, there are now a range of mid-priced blenders that can tackle a lot of food prep tasks, for much less than an entire paycheck.
Cuisinart is one of the better-known brands in that mid-priced blender category, and in this post, we've reviewed and compared their best value for money models, to help you decide whether they're the right choice for your kitchen.
Oh, and because we don't care whether you buy a Cuisinart blender or some other one, we've also compared those Cuisinart options to their closest competing brands so you can really see how they stack up.
Here goes...
What Should You Look for in a Cuisinart Blender?
To some extent, a blender is a blender. No matter what brand you're looking at, there are certain features you'll want to look for. We've broken down what you'll want in your new blender into a few criteria listed below.
Criteria #1: Motor Strength - It can't blend well if it doesn't have a good motor. The motor is what spins the blades at the bottom fo the pitcher, and the stronger the motor, the faster the blades will spin. The faster the blades spin, the smoother your blend will be. Depending on what you plan on making, you may not need the absolute strongest blender out there, but it is good to know that motors are measured in terms of watts, and most blender motors fall somewhere within the range of 1000-1500 watts, with anything under 1000 being very weak, and anything over 1500 is remarkably strong.
Criteria #2: Speed Settings - You want a strong motor, but you also don't want a blender that just goes full "beast mode" no matter what. Sometimes you're making a smoothie or a sauce that doesn't need such heavy-duty blending, and having the blades go too quickly might just make things messier. And it'll be pointlessly loud. A good blender will have several speed options so that you can pick the appropriate speed for whatever it is you're making. A good minimum to look for in terms of speed settings is 5, though some will have up to 10 and in rare cases more than that.
Criteria #3: Ease of Use - This ties into speed settings somewhat. Some blenders label their speeds by number, which doesn't really help you if you don't have a lot of experience using blenders, while other blenders have their speeds labeled by function - such as "mix" or "liquify" - which is much easier for everyone to understand. You don't even need to know which one is faster; you just need to know what you want to do.
On top of the way the speeds are labeled, some blenders will have separate preset options that are designed for a certain drink or recipe. (The Breville brand is particularly known for this.) For example, a blender will have a clearly labeled "green smoothie" button that gives you the optimal settings for a green smoothie. So all you have to do is throw your ingredients in and press a button.
Criteria #4: Price - This one's obvious for everyone. You don't want to spend money for no reason, and we don't want to suggest a product that isn't worth its price. While you get what you pay for, some blenders just completely overcharge for what you're getting, while others are twice as cheap as the blenders of comparable quality. We kept this in mind and prioritized blenders that give you your money's worth. We'll only suggest an expensive blender if it earned its high price tag.
Here Are the Best Cuisinart Blenders Right Now
In addition to the criteria above, there are other factors we took into account such as size and physical design which improve the quality of a blender. We also took the Cuisinart brand and what they're good at into account. You're here looking for the best Cuisinart blenders, so we want to make sure you get the Cuisinart blender experience.
#1: Hurricane Velocity 2.25 Peak HP Blender (Best Value - All-Purpose)
The Hurricane is the flagship Cuisinart blender, and the 2.25 horsepower version of this blender is the go-to for most customers. The 2.25 horsepower in this blender converts to about 1600 watts, already passing the high water mark we set in the criteria section of this article. The standard version of the Hurricane is stronger than most brands' top-of-the-line premium blender. It also has 4 sharp stainless steel blades which means you can be sure there won't be any bits of unblended food in your morning smoothie.
At 60 ounces, it also has a pretty big blender jar, so you shouldn't have to worry about running out of room in the pitcher unless you're preparing something for a lot of people. The Hurricane boasts load-sensing technology, so if you do overstuff this blender, you'll know immediately.
The big drawback of the Hurricane is that it only has two speeds, high and low, though this is somewhat counteracted by the preset options of "smoothie" and "crush ice." It also a pulse setting that will be useful for those really stubborn ingredients that just don't want to be blended.
The blender has a timer that you can set and save yourself the trouble of babysitting your mixture while it's blending. In terms of blending capacity, this blender is right up there with the best. Its motor isn't quite strong enough to completely double as a food processor (like a true combo model), but it will be able to handle some tougher ingredients.
The 2.5 HP version of the Cuisinart Hurricane falls into a very affordable price range and is much cheaper than products with similar motor power. On top of the price, the blender comes with a 3-year warranty, which is more or less average in terms of the warranties offered by other companies and will give you some peace of mind if you purchase this blender. The big flaw of this blender is that it's loud, but reviews have suggested that this could be fixed by placing a rubber mat underneath the motor base while you use it.
All in all, there's a clear reason that the Hurricane is Cuisinart's flagship product. It's a great blender at a great price that will do everything you need it to do. The load-sensing technology will keep your mind at ease.
#2: Hurricane Pro 3.5 Peak HP Blender (Best Blender)
As its name suggests, this 3.5 horsepower (or an insane 2600 watts) version of the Hurricane is the big brother of the 2.25 HP version. While it's stronger, it's much more expensive, and that's why we gave our number one spot to the 2.25 version. That being said, there are a few reasons you might decide to splurge and buy this heavy-hitting Hurricane blender.
Reason #1 to Choose This Product: Power
As I've already mentioned, this bigger version of the Hurricane has a ridiculous engine that runs on 2600 watts. At top speed, the stainless steel blades spin at a rate of 30,000 rotations per minute. That's really fast. No matter what you throw into this bad boy, it'll blend.
You can completely fine-tune the speed of this version of the Hurricane so you won't have to feel limited to just two speed options. It also has a soup preset in addition to the ice crushing and smoothie preset. Plus, you can adjust the timers on the preset options, and the blender will remember your choice until you change it again. Besides being stronger, this blender is much more versatile than its little brother, and that horsepower means it could double as a food processor.
Reason #2 to Choose This Product: Size
The Hurricane 3.5 has a 64-oz. pitcher, and that extra four ounces can make a pretty big difference. If you know you're going to be preparing smoothies for a lot of people, or want to try out that new cocktail recipe when you host one evening, this could be the blender for you. Plus, the extra horsepower in this blender compared to the 2.25 HP version means there won't be any drawback to putting in a bigger load of ingredients.
In terms of actual features, something the Hurricane Pro has that's missing from the Hurricane Velocity is a screen on the base which provides a countdown timer. Now here's the catch: This blender is very expensive. It's twice as much as the 2.25 HP version. It's worth it, but for most people, it's just not necessary. And, just like the smaller version, the 3.5 HP Hurricane comes with a 3-year warranty. My advice would be to only get this if you're a real blending aficionado and you need the absolute best Cuisinart blender in your kitchen. Otherwise, you're better off saving your money and buying the smaller and cheaper version of the Hurricane.
Last thing before leaving the Hurricane Pro: It's worth noting that at this price range you're in striking range of a refurbished Vitamix like the 5300 that you can see on Amazon here.
#3: Smart Stick Two-Speed Hand Blender (Best Low Cost)
If you don't have room in your kitchen for more kitchen appliances or want something small that's just for you, you'll want to go with one of Cuisinart's hand blenders. If you're looking at cheap hand blenders - also known as immersion blenders because you immerse them in a glass - the best choice is the Smart Stick Two-Speed Hand Blender. As the name suggests, this portable blender fits in your hand, and instead of a base on which you attach a pitcher, it's more of a wand that you stick into a jug or bottle.
It's to be expected that the tradeoff of such a convenient blender is that it has a much weaker motor. The Smart Stick motor only puts out 300 watts, so it's really only meant for smoothies and protein shakes. It does, however, have an 8-inch stainless steel blending shaft, and that extra surface area will make up for the weak motor somewhat. Plus, it has an ergonomically designed grip, so it won't feel awkward or uncomfortable holding it in your drink while you wait for it to finish.
The Smart Stick immersion blender also comes with a 24-oz. mixing cup, though if you want the full portable experience, you might want to buy some travel cups with lids to go with it so you can really prepare your smoothie on the run before heading to work.
Of course, the real selling point of the Smart Stick is its price. This blender is as cheap as they come. You can just go out and impulse buy this Cuisinart blender if you want. If you're trying to save space or money, or you only need something for your morning smoothie or post-gym protein shake, this immersion blender is definitely what you're looking for.
#4: The Velocity Blender (Cheapest Standard Blender)
If you're looking to save money but immersion blenders aren't really your thing, then this Cuisinart blender is probably what you're looking for. The Cuisinart Velocity Blender is more expensive than the Smart Stick, but still incredibly cheap. You won't find a cheaper countertop blender. Unfortunately, the Cuisinart Velocity is this cheap for a reason, and it's about as bare-bones as a blender could get.
The Velocity comes in with an underwhelming motor strength of 600 watts. Definitely don't try to use this blender as a food processor, or you'll be picking food out of the blades for weeks. There's really not much else to mention about this blender in terms of features. Its only sort of interface is the lone knob on the base which is used to select between "pulse," "off," "low," and "high," so that's all you're getting in terms of speed options. The pulse setting means that despite its weaker motor it could maybe crush ice for you.
This Cuisinart blender does have removable parts, so it'll be very easy to clean, and it comes with a lid that doubles as a two-ounce measuring cup, which could come in handy. At the end of the day, this fills the same niche as the Smart Stick, which is that you should mostly use it for simple smoothies. But, as it's a countertop blender, it of course packs more of a punch with a motor that's twice as strong.
What Sets Cuisinart Apart?
Besides their line of hand-held immersion blenders - a product you can't find from most other blender companies - Cuisinart has built its brand around strong and big blenders that are fast and efficient. The main drawback of Cuisinart blenders is that they're a little less accessible than Ninja or Breville and don't have much in the way of special features. But if you know you're way around a kitchen, that shouldn't be a problem.
If you don't need any fancy features and you just want a good blender, then Cuisinart is probably the brand for you. Cuisinart has all of the parts of their blenders for sale online individually, which is great if you ever need to replace the blades. With similar models, you should even be able to mix and match if you so desire. The Cuisinart blender brand comes down to cheap and powerful blenders for your kitchen.
Cuisinart Blenders on a Budget
Maybe all you're concerned with is saving money. I've definitely been there. We already provided two cheap options in the Smart Stick immersion blender and the Velocity blender, but just in case neither of those are quite what you're looking for, we've provided a few of the cheapest Cuisinart blenders so you can find your perfect budget blender. All of these Cuisinart blenders are affordable and high quality.
#1 Best on a Budget: Smart Stick 200W Hand Blender
It might seem expensive compared to the Smart Stick Two-Speed, but the Two-Speed relies on a plugin AC adapter to run, and, as the name implies, the Smart Stick Cordless is completely battery operated for the true handheld experience. Cuisinart designed this Smart Stick with a 20-minute charge, so it'll be sure to last through at least a few days if you're only using it for smoothies and shakes. It also boasts a fast charge feature and has five speeds instead of two. This Smart Stick is better than a cheaper countertop blender. This is the most expensive hand-held blender, but it's a steal considering what you're getting.
#2 Best on a Budget: Hurricane Hand Blender
If you want all of the features shoved into one convenient portable blender, you want the Hurricane Hand Blender. Besides for having an incredible 750-watt motor - stronger than the countertop Velocity - the handheld Hurricane comes with a 4-cup mixing beaker. It includes a potato masher for its 8-inch stainless steel shaft, so you can have some homemade mashed potatoes to go along with your smoothie.
This portable Hurricane Cuisinart blender has a knob for speed selection that gives you the full versatility of a countertop mixer. Plus, it's as easy to clean as you can imagine. No dipping your arm into a pitcher. Just take a sponge, wipe down the prong, and you're down. The handheld Hurricane is more expensive than the two-speed Smart Stick, but it's an amazing personal option for all your smoothie needs.
#3 Best on a Budget: Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender
It shouldn't be too much of a surprise that every option in this section of budget products is a handheld. Other than the Velocity, you can't really find countertop options in this price range. Our last choice - and the cheapest except for the two-speed Smart Stick - is the Smart Stick Variable Speed. It's basically just a small step up from the Two-Speed, and that could be exactly what you're looking for.
Besides the 3-year warranty, this Smart Stick activates with a push-button that gives it a de facto pulse option, and it has an adjustable knob for accurate speed selection. It also has a chopper/grinder attachment and a whisk attachment. This Smart Stick isn't just for drinks.
The big drawback of this product is the 300-watt motor, but the pulse can make up for that a little, and it's a great value buy for its cheap price. This Smart Stick gives you the full blending experience for the best price.
Verdict: Your Best Cuisinart Blenders
That might have been a lot of information at once. That's why we've broken everything down below, and given you a quick summary of the best Cuisinart blenders for whatever you need.
If you want the best value for money, pick the The Hurricane Velocity 2.25 Peak HP Blender.
If you want the best of the best, pick The Hurricane Pro 3.5 Peak HP Blender.
If you want the cheapest option, pick The Smart Stick Two-Speed Hand Blender.
From the Smart Stick to the Hurricane Pro 3.5 Peak HP, Cuisinart blenders really hit every part of the spectrum. They also sell the parts of their blenders separately on their website, so they're easy to replace or to mix and match a little.
Whether you're looking for a countertop mixer to prepare smoothies for everyone, or to entertain the guests with some cocktails, or if you're looking at the immersion blenders so you can have something personal, Cuisinart should have something for you. We hope you find what you're looking for.
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