Blenders are really good if you are trying to adhere to a special diet that might feature a great deal of shakes or if you want to eke as much nutritional value as possible from a given food source. For example, Vita-mix goes to great lengths to show the consumer how well its machine breaks down tomatoes compared to your teeth.

Patented in 1950, immersion blenders (or stick blenders) offer a new level of convenience over stationary blenders. The big difference here is that this appliance, which is fundamentally a wand with rotating blades at its base, can be used in the container in which foods are being prepared in, so there is less clean-up involved with stick blenders.

A person living alone and who is often blending and preparing single servings would get a great deal of use out of a stick blender. Having said that, a very busy cook might need one as an auxiliary piece of equipment if there are often two dishes going that require blending (i.e., the Stick Blender can be hauled out if the blender is full). They are also great to have on hand if you want to combine gravies or soups on the stovetop.

Finally, let us take a look at the machine that dates back the longest. Mixers are used for mixing, folding, whipping and beating ingredients. The motorized version of this appliance can either be hand-held or attached to a stand, with the stand mixers being the stronger of the two. The more elementary manually operated type, which was invented in 1870, is still in use today. Unlike blenders, mixers do not have blades per se (they are more like arms or sturdier whisks and are blunt), work at slower speeds and do not break down larger food items.

While food processors, stand mixers, blenders, hand blenders and stick blenders essentially do similar things, they each have their own pros and cons. Have a passion for your cocktails? Then a blender is right for you. Health conscious and want to whip up a quick protein shake? Then a stick blender will suffice. Preparing soups, stews or pot roasts in large quantities? Then a food processor is an absolute must. Enjoy baking? A stand mixer from KitchenAid or Cuisinart, who also design and produce electric kettles, is a great investment. The best advice would be to purchase 1 or 2 of the appliances, depending on your needs, and add to your collection at a later date if you find your cooking needs have changed.