Blenders consume quite a bit of electricity, and this is often measured in watts. But how many watts does a blender use exactly, and what does that mean for your blender? In this article, we will be answering these questions and more.
How Many Watts Does My Blender Use?
There is no simple way to answer the question of how many watts does a blender use. The wattage of a blender would often vary from blender to blender. Typically, this would be anywhere between 300 to 1,000 watts, although some blenders might use more or less power. Low-watt blenders, for example, use less than 300 watts, and while these blenders consume less energy and help you save on energy costs, they take longer to get the job done. There are also high-powered blenders that use more than 1,000 watts, although these are mostly used by professionals for commercial purposes.
Does Wattage Matter in Blenders?
Yes, the wattage of a blender matter. This is because it determines how fast the blender’s motor runs and how much energy it would cost to power it.
As a rule of thumb, the higher the wattage of the blender the faster the motor runs. This means a blender with high wattage would typically blend ingredients much easier and faster than one with low wattage. It will also be able to blend hard ingredients which a blender with low wattage will have problems blending properly. As a result of this increased speed though, a blender with higher wattage would also require more energy to run than one with lower wattage, hence the increased energy cost.
The watt of a blender isn’t the only thing that determines a blender’s blending power, however, and things like product quality and the blades that come with the blender also matter. A blender with high wattage but bad blades could still technically perform worse than a blender with lower wattage but better blades.
Different Blender Wattages
As stated earlier, different blenders come with different wattages. Typically though, blenders would often fall into one of the following categories in terms of wattage.
Less than 300 Watts
This range is typically dominated by handheld immersion blenders and mini blenders like this NutriBullet Baby Food-Making Blender. These blenders are suited for blending small amounts of soft ingredients and are not recommended for heavy-duty blending operations although there are handheld blenders with much higher wattage which can handle such heavy-duty operations.
300 to 600 Watts
This range features small-batch blenders like the La Reveuse Smoothies Blender. These blenders look just like your everyday blenders but are smaller. They can be used to carry out practically everything your regular blender can be used for, but would simply take more time to get the job done.
500 – 1,000 Watts
This is the domain of normal-sized casual-use household blenders. If you have a blender at home, chances are, that blender falls in this category. These blenders typically fall within the range of 500 and 750 watts, but it is not unusual to find some which exceed this wattage. Hardly do they ever cross the 1,000-watt mark though. These blenders can perfectly handle all your home blending, chopping, and pureeing activities, and some of them can even be used for heavy-duty work.
1000+ Watts
Typically, blenders with this wattage are heavy-duty high-performance blenders usually designed for professional use. They are the kinds of blenders you want to have if you would be using your blender for making slushies or making smoothies. Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender is a great blender in this category.
What Wattage of Blender Should I Use?
When choosing blender wattage, the first thing to consider is what you would be needing the blender for when you get it. Depending on that, you can easily choose the best blender for you.
Assuming you are a nursing mother who simply needs a blender to puree baby food, a simple handheld immersion blender (less than 300 watts) or a small blender (300 – 600 watts) would be just perfect for you. If you would be using your blender for more heavy-duty work like crushing nuts and hard ingredients or requires blending large quantities of ingredients, then purchasing a blender that runs on 750 watts or more might be your best bet.
What you would be using your blender for isn’t the only thing to consider before choosing the best blender wattage for you, however. It also helps to consider the electricity cost that comes with each wattage. Since the higher the wattage of an appliance, the more energy it consumes, blenders with higher wattage would cost you more in terms of electricity and gas bills. If this is something you will like to avoid, then you might want to choose blenders with lower wattage.
Can Low Wattage Blenders Do What High Wattage Blenders Do?
If you are choosing low-wattage blenders to save on energy costs, you might be wondering if your low-watt blender can perform the same activities higher-watt alternatives can. Well, the truth is there is no simple answer to that question.
Technically, a blender with a relatively lower wattage can still achieve the same result as a blender with a relatively higher wattage. It would just take more time to achieve the desired result. So if what you will be using your blender for is blending fruits, making soup or puree, and other such simple tasks, a low-wattage blender would typically do what a high-wattage blender would do. This is not always the case, however, since some activities require a minimum wattage. Take for example crushing ice which requires a minimum of 500 watts. A 250-watt blender is just NOT cut out for the job and would most likely get damaged in the process.
Can High Wattage Blender Be Used Instead of Low Wattage Blender?
Yes, a high-wattage blender can be used in place of a low-wattage blender, but this would technically be like using a nuke in place of a dynamite; overkill. That being said, it is advisable to have a higher-wattage blender than what you typically need and to use a lower-wattage blender for a process that requires higher wattage.
Conclusion
How many watts a blender uses depends on the type of blender and would affect how fast the blender’s motor runs and how easily it blends and how well it can crush hard ingredients. Before choosing what blender wattage to choose, you should consider what you need the blender for and the energy costs.