First conceived for soda fountain use in 1922, the humble blender has become a staple appliance in many kitchens. The blender does almost as many things as a food processor, and a cook should keep this in mind when choosing one.

Does the cook want a traditional blender or an immersion blender? Both have their uses. The traditional blender has a glass or plastic blending container, with a set of small blades at the bottom. It sits on a platform enclosing an electric motor and speed controls.

The immersion blender is hand-held. The blades are at the end of a column and are inserted into the food, to blend it in the pot. For instance, some cooks use an immersion blender in a pot of soup in order to make a smoother base.

A traditional blender is used for many kitchen tasks. It can mix drinks, make sauces or condiments such as mayonnaise, puree food and mix different kinds of soups. Add a plunger attachment, and it can be used to make smoothies. Many cooks who would never use a large food processor enough to justify the purchase price find that a traditional blender meets their needs.

When buying a blender, a cook should consider quality, power and price. Although a blender with a plastic blending pitcher can be purchased for about 15 US dollars (USD), the cook should go ahead and spend a little extra money for a glass pitcher. These are much more durable and are not as likely to be broken by something like ice flying around. An average blender of this kind usually costs about 20 to 25 USD. These blenders can be purchased anywhere small kitchen appliances are sold.

Power is another consideration. A blender should be powerful enough to blend drinks with ice and to puree most soft foods. A 10 to 12 speed blender is usually sufficient for most applications.

A blender meant especially for drinks or smoothies will probably cost about 20 USD more than a regular blender, but if this will be its primary use, then the cook should go ahead and spend the money. A commercial-grade blender will have a great deal of power, obviously. This type of blender can cost up to 400 USD, but again, a cook needs to consider what he or she will be using the blender for.

Quality, power and price are all intertwined with blenders. A good-quality, powerful blender is going to cost more than an eight-speed model with a plastic pitcher. Immersion blenders start at about 50 USD. These are also available wherever kitchen appliances are sold. Some cooks would not stock a kitchen without one.

The blender has come a long way since Stephen Poplawski invented it to mix shakes and sodas. It has since found pride of place in kitchens everywhere.