Chopper blender

The line between a chopper and a blender is thin: both spin blades in a bowl. The difference lies in the desired result, with the chopper stopping at chunks while the blender goes all the way to a liquid. The appliances in this selection are designed for blending, with some also offering light chopping.

Portable blender or immersion blender: two different uses

Portable blenders, with capacities of 400 to 700 ml, are rechargeable and can be carried with the drink inside: blend your smoothie and take it with you in the cup. Their power ranges from 40 W for soft fruit juices to 360 W for the 700 ml model, which can handle crushed ice according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Our guide to taking your smoothie to go compares batteries and capacities.

300 W immersion blenders work directly in the saucepan or bowl, so you don't have to transfer hot soup or wash an extra container. They are the most versatile for soups, sauces, and baby food. For an appliance that adds a chopping bowl and whisk to the immersion blender, see our multipurpose choppers.

Chopper blender: chop and blend with the same motor

A chopper blender combines a motor unit, a blade bowl, and an immersion blender attachment. The two attachments do not perform the same task:

• the bowl blade spins flat in a closed container and cuts in pulses: onions, garlic, parsley, or nuts, in three or four pulses;
• the immersion blender blade draws in liquid and pushes it out to the sides: it smooths soup or coulis, but spins empty without liquid.

It saves you one piece of washing up for recipes that require both tasks: vegetable soup that is chopped and then blended in the saucepan, hummus where the garlic is chopped before being blended smooth, or a tomato filling followed by its coulis. The trap is buying it for the secondary function: if you blend soups every week and chop ingredients three times a year, an immersion blender is what you need.

For raw meat, only the bowl is suitable, using short pulses and very cold meat cut into two-centimeter cubes. The immersion blender works with liquids, not fibers.

How much power does a blender need?

For fresh fruit and juices, 40 to 150 W is enough. For frozen fruit, ice, or thick preparations, aim for at least 300 W: anything less and the blades will really struggle. For citrus juices or cold-pressed juices, a juicer delivers better results than a blender, as explained in our comparison of juicers or blenders.

Frequently asked questions about chopper blenders

What is the difference between a blender and a chopper?

A chopper cuts into more or less finely chopped pieces while retaining texture, while a blender blends until the preparation is smooth or liquid. A blender that "chops" does so in short pulses, for herbs or soft fruit.

Can you chop meat with a blender?

Not with the blenders in this selection, which are designed for smoothies, soups, and purées. For raw meat, you need a chopping bowl with sturdy blades or a grinder with a grating plate: our meat choppers are made for this.

Blender or chopper: which should you choose?

If you mainly make smoothies, soups, and purées, get a blender. If you mainly prepare onions, herbs, meat, or nuts, get a chopper. Our article on the blender with a chopping function helps you decide.

Can a portable blender be charged via USB?

Most portable models in this selection are rechargeable via USB, including several with USB-C. The 700 ml model uses a round charging port: the product sheet specifies the type of cable.