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MIGHTY BLENDERS

(*) The blender long has had a reputation for wimpiness when compared to food processors, often regarded as a dilettante appliance useful merely for making foamy drinks. Owners of early models have memories of their blenders spraying liquid all over the kitchen because the lid wasn't seated properly or "skating" across the counter because they were too lightweight to stay put while the machine was vibrating. Well, those days are gone forever, thanks to a new generation of blenders that are rugged, versatile, and, as one user said tongue in cheek (we think), strong enough to mix cement.

Take one look at the Mega Pro (about $425) from Waring Products, Stamford, Conn., and it is readily apparent that this is a serious machine. Never mind pretty pastels, the base is a no-nonsense gunmetal gray, with squat legs that solidly grip the countertop. Combined with the heavy glass top, this baby isn't moving anywhere until you physically haul it away. Disdaining a keyboard full of controls, the Mega Pro operates with a simple single switch that, once you flick it on, activates the appliance with a growl, rather than a purr, Yet, for all its macho--admittedly a strange word to use for a kitchen appliance--manner, crushing ice cubes effortlessly, it purees vegetables delicately, though thoroughly, without changing their color because of engine heat the way food processors do.

The SmartPower 7-Speed Electronic Blender ($140) from Cuisinart, Stamford, Conn., provides a more decorative look without sacrificing outcome. A stylish chrome base comes with seven settings--stir, chop, mix, puree, liquefy, pulse, and ice crush--plus on and off buttons, handily arrayed on a touch pad a couple of inches above countertop level. All do exactly what they say they do, and they do it quickly and efficiently in the blender's widemouthed, drip-proof, high-capacity (40-ounce) glass jar. The press-on cover sports a most welcome feature--a two-ounce removable measuring cup that allows you to add liquid ingredients where necessary without having to remove the entire lid.

The Power Xtreme Premium model ($99.99) from Krups North America, Inc., Closter, N.J., stirs, whips, chops, mixes, purees, and liquefies as well as crushing ice, all run by an ergonomically designed touch-pad panel. A plethora of add-on features provide great versatility, from the Soft Start to avoid spattering to the Auto-Pulse for chopping to the Auto Speed Control, which varies the speed (obviously) to accommodate the different functions, amount of ingredients, and texture desired. Throw in a smart matte chrome base and a capacious (50-ounce), dishwater-safe glass jar, and you're ready for the toughest tasks.

Each of these blenders has stainless-steel blades that are designed to pull ingredients into the cutting zone instead of letting them jam up at the bottom of the jar. And, oh yeah, they will make the daintiest of drinks--alcoholic or nonalcoholic--if that's what you want them for. Look for these powerful blenders wherever kitchen appliances are sold.

COMPACT COMBO

(*) The marriage of the television set and the video cassette recorder has been a fortuitous one for the electronics industry. Like most marriages, though, there have been...