Waring PBB204 Professional Bar Blender, Chili Red
Bandleader and inventor Fred Waring introduced the first blender in 1936, and this model pays tribute to that early version in its retro styling. A tall, old-fashioned-looking blender in chili red, it will crush ice and blend frozen fruit beautifully in a few seconds. This blender feels sturdy: the lid, with a cap that doubles as a 1-ounce measurer, fits securely, and the pitcher, made of thick, ridged glass, won't wobble. Many chefs prefer a blender rather than a food processor for soups and creamy sauces--the blades of a good blender whirl more quickly than those of a food processor and will refine a thin liquid such as cream of tomato soup to an incomparably silky texture. This blender is definitely up to that task. The fixed, self-cleaning stainless-steel blades on the base of the pitcher mean the lid is the only separate part to wash.--Maria Dolan