Many new blenders feature a slew of buttons promising minute gradations in speed, and functions for specialized tasks like grating cheese and pulverizing nuts. Other models are claiming innovations in blade design, such as "dual wave action" and "reversible motion." Is all this just marketing hype or do some of these new blenders really work well? After testing 10 models, America's Test Kitchen concluded that the shape of blender jar and sheer power are what define the perfect blender.

Watch this video for more about their top picks, or read the full comparison on America's Test Kitchen (free registration required).