(MONEY Magazine) – GOOD $70 OSTER CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC BEEHIVE BLENDER This 500-watt blender with a 40-ounce carafe crushes ice (hello, margarita!) or blends soups using one high-powered setting and a pulse function. At cooking.com.

BETTER $100 KITCHENAID 5-SPEED ULTRA POWER BLENDER It stirs, chops, mixes, purees and liquefies. A nifty feature blends foods at a slow speed and gradually increases speed to prevent splattering. At chefscatalog.com.

BEST $115 CUISINART SMARTPOWER PREMIER BLENDER The 600-watt workhorse, with 50-ounce carafe, whips up smoothies in a snap. A timer keeps track of mixing time for recipes. At macys.com. --STEPHANIE D. SMITH