Pricey Vitamix blender crushes competition

Whether you prefer a morning smoothie or a weekend margarita, a blender should be able to get the job done.

Whether you're crushing ice or pureeing ingredients for soup, you want a blender that can handle the task. They range in price from $40 to more than $600, and finding the right one can be tricky.

Consumer Reports' tested a number of blenders from all over the price range. Some price tags are big, and so are some of the blenders.

The $180 Dash might not even fit under your cabinet, and the $500 KitchenAid weighs 21 pounds. While both turn out an icy drink and perfectly puree soup, neither made Consumer Reports' recommended list. The Vitamix TurboBlend 3-speed blender didn't make the list, either.

Another Vitamix, though, is hard to beat.

"We've yet to see any of the blenders outperform the top-scoring Vitamix Professional, which has been at the top for quite some time," said Consumer Reports' Kimberly Janeway.

While it crushes and purees to perfection, the Professional is pricey: It costs $650.

For less, Consumer Reports says consider the Electrolux Expressionist. It costs $170, and it's excellent for icy drinks, it's durable and it whips up a smooth soup, too.

Another option, the $100 Ninja Professional NJ600. It didn't make Consumer Reports' recommended list because of its mediocre scores in pureeing soups, but it's easy to use, safe and excellent for crushing ice and making frozen drinks.