I went through three blenders under sixty dollars in a year before I found one worth keeping. Two of them died on frozen fruit, and one leaked smoothie all over the counter. The winner was not the most expensive one, and it is still going strong a year later.

What Separates the Good Ones

Cheap blenders all look similar, but the motor and the jar seal are where they differ. A weak motor stalls on ice and frozen fruit, and a bad seal means your smoothie ends up on the counter instead of in the glass. Those are the two things to check first.

What I Tested

• Blender one was the cheapest, and it stalled on frozen berries the first week.
• Blender two had a jar that leaked at the base after a month.
• Blender three had a stronger motor and a jar that locks on tight. It won.

What I Learned

You do not need a two hundred dollar blender for daily smoothies, but the absolute cheapest ones are a false economy. A slightly stronger motor and a jar that actually seals are worth the extra twenty bucks. I also learned to add liquid first, which stops frozen fruit from jamming the blades.

For anyone blending ice regularly, get one with at least a five hundred watt motor, and read the reviews about the seal.