Buying guide for Best Oster blenders
If there’s one small kitchen appliance that gets its fair share of use, it’s the blender. Blenders aren’t just for making smoothies and soups. They stand out in terms of versatility, as they can also be used to make hummus, baby food, dips, and even chopped food. If you’re interested in a high-quality blender with some of these features, consider upgrading to an Oster blender.
Oster blenders focus on keeping cooking streamlined and enjoyable, even when it comes to complex blending and mixing tasks. The settings on an Oster blender aren’t simply numbered. Rather, the buttons are clearly marked with text (and occasionally with icons) to indicate their function. In addition to regular blending, some are designed to handle special blends, like drinks — definitely appealing if you like to sip homemade margaritas, milkshakes, or smoothies.
What to think about when buying an Oster blender
Blender vs. food processor
Oster blenders offer an impressive assortment of features, some of which overlap with those of the standard food processor. With that said, a blender and a food processor are separate appliances with distinct differences. More than anything, the differences boil down to the types of ingredients they can handle and the types of textures they can achieve.
With their powerful motors and blade attachments, food processors are designed to handle involved, arduous tasks: chopping, dicing, mincing, and shredding vegetables and fruits and mixing viscous ingredients like nut butter and dough.
Blenders are designed to mix liquids, softer foods, and ice. They’re most often used to make soups, smoothies, salad dressings, pureed baby food, and cocktails. Some people also use a blender to mix cake batter and certain types of textured sauces, like hollandaise and Alfredo.
Jar or bottle capacity
Before you begin comparing Oster blenders, assess your needs. If you only need a blender for personal use, you might be better served by one of Oster’s travel blenders with sports bottles that hold approximately 20 ounces. If you cook large amounts of food, it’s worth investing in an Oster blender with a large-capacity jar between 48 and 64 ounces.
Blending jar materials
The blending jars of Oster blenders are made of the company’s trademarked Boroclass Glass or BPA-free plastic. Each material has its pros and cons. Boroclass Glass jars are sturdy and resist scratching, thermal shock, and staining, but may break if dropped. Plastic jars are lightweight and typically found on more affordable models. However, the plastic may scratch, stain, or leach over time.
Wattage and power
As you compare Oster blenders, you’ll notice that watts are one of the first features discussed. This refers to motor speed, which ranges from 300 to 1,400 watts. The higher the wattage, the more powerful the blender. If you intend to use your blender on a regular basis, it’s recommended that you invest in no less than a 600-watt blender.
Ease of cleaning
Most Oster blenders feature dishwasher-safe glass and stainless steel components. Now, if you’re someone who doesn’t have a dishwasher, pay close attention to the design of the jug and stainless steel parts. While most designs are relatively easy to hand wash, the jugs of some Oster blenders have hard-to-reach crevices that require a bit more cleaning effort.
Expert Tip
Some manufacturers advertise an easy-to-clean method that involves putting hot water and liquid dish detergent in the jar and blending on medium for a short time. I’ve found that there are frequently remaining stuck-on bits or oils. A good scrub with a long thin brush is a great way to make sure the jar is as clean as possible.
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Popular Oster blender functions
Blending
Depending on the model, Oster blenders offer between one and eight intensity settings and various speed settings. Personal and travel blenders offer one to two settings, and most mid-range models have up to five settings. Oster’s expensive, pro-grade blenders often have an adjustable knob to provide customized blend intensity.
Pulse
The pulse feature, which is present on many but not all Oster blenders, operates your blender at its fastest speed. When you release the pulse button, blending comes to a halt. This is particularly helpful when you’re trying to achieve a certain consistency for a smoothie or soup in a controlled, incremental manner.
Ice crushing
Some Oster blenders are capable of blending ice. Others come equipped with an ice crushing button. The blades in an Oster blender that can crush ice tend to be sharper. If you choose a model that blends but doesn’t crush ice, consider crushing the ice prior to blending it to prolong the integrity of the blades.
Frozen drinks
If you’re a fan of frozen drinks, there are several Oster blenders on the market to suit your needs. These blenders have a dedicated button for mixing margaritas, smoothies, and chilled protein beverages. Oster blenders in this category often have a lid with a spout for easy, spill-free pouring.
Unique consistencies
If you’d like a well-rounded Oster blender that shoulders more responsibility than the average blender, invest in one that is capable of achieving specific consistencies. Certain models can blend dips, spreads, and baby food. There are some Oster blenders that have food processor attachments that can dice fruits and vegetables to make salsa and other dishes with finely chopped ingredients.
Expert Tip
There are several tools to help blend and retrieve all the goodies from the jar of your blender, like a tamper or silicone scraper. I have both of these and wouldn’t blend without them.
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Oster blender prices
Inexpensive
A modest assortment of Oster blenders cost between $15 and $60. At the low end of the bracket are single-speed personal blenders. At the high end are models with ice-crushing capabilities.
Mid-range
For $60 to $120, you’ll find more powerful Oster blenders with higher wattages. These tend to last longer and have sharper blades, and they are equipped with a diverse range of blending settings.
Expensive
The most expensive Oster blenders cost $120 to $200. These products offer virtually every blending capability Oster has to offer. Given their construction and design, these blenders are often used in coffee shops and small restaurants.
If your Oster blender has a soft button touch pad, wipe it down with a damp cloth or sponge after each use to keep dust and food particles at bay.
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Tips
- Find your favorite Oster blender. Popular retailers like Amazon have a wide selection to choose from.
- Practice blending ratios. If you’re still learning the ropes of using your Oster blender, experiment with the ratio of liquid to solid ingredients. Small adjustments can change the consistency, and with trial and error, you’ll find what you really love.
- Buy a travel blender for the office or RV. If you’re a fan of blended beverages and quick soups, invest in one of Oster’s personal travel blenders. They have a relatively small footprint and can handle most small tasks to quench your thirst or satisfy your hunger.
- Deep clean after using dairy ingredients. While it’s tempting to place the jug or bottle of your Oster blender in the dishwasher for a quick wash, make sure the cleaning is thorough. Otherwise, dairy sediment could linger and spoil, potentially making you sick.
- Sift through cookbooks. If you’d like to master blender techniques, turn to a blender cookbook. Not only will you learn new recipes, you’ll pick up tips and tricks to maximize your blender’s potential.
Expert tip
Don’t forget to wipe down often-neglected surfaces when cleaning, like the power cord, the flat plateau where the jar sits, and any control buttons.
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FAQ
Q. Do Oster blenders have any space-saving attributes?
A. The only space-saving attribute in some Oster blenders is the way the power cord wraps or folds into the base. In terms of design, Oster blenders aren’t as bulky as comparable blenders on the market.
Some Oster blenders come in as many as five colors. Others are available in black or stainless steel.
Q. What kind of warranty will I get with an Oster blender?
A. It depends on the product. Some have a limited warranty or three-year satisfaction guarantee. Others come with a 10-year warranty on the all-metal drive. If your blender has unique parts or attachments, each one may be subject to different warranty coverage. For a definitive answer, check the warranty information in your user manual.
Q. How do I decide between an Oster blender and an Oster food processor?
A. Blenders and food processors share some attributes, but you should lean toward a food processor if you intend to blend wet and dry ingredients and want an appliance that will save you time and effort in preparing a host of recipes. The reason: Unlike a blender, a food processor has more than a single blade. It comes with multiple blade attachments that will allow you to blend, shred, chop, grate, and more.
Q. How should I store my Oster blender when it’s not in use?
A. If you’d like to store it off the countertop, place it in a cabinet or pantry. Another option is to keep the blender on your countertop, but it may attract dirt or grease and need occasional wipedowns. Some consumers invest in a washable appliance cover to keep dust at bay.
