With its powerful 750-watt motor and sleek-looking die-cast base, this blender works great for everything from protein shakes to pureed soup or margaritas on the weekends. Its flat push-button control pad offers a backlit easy-to-read digital timer and five speed settings, which include mix, chop, blend, liquefy, and puree, as well as a pulse function and two preset programs for ice crushing and smoothies. The unit"s patented Hemisphere bowl/blade system uses a large, semicircle shredding blade positioned to hug the uniquely shaped bowl, leaving no inactive zones around the blades so that all ingredients get thoroughly blended. For added convenience, the blender"s 54-ounce engineering-grade borosilicate glass jar resists scratching, chipping, and fogginess, while baked-enamel measurement markings, in both cups and liters, make it easy to accurately measure out ingredients. The blending jar also provides a tight-fitting lid with a loop for simple removal, a generous handle, and a drip-free spout for graceful serving. The bowl/blade system locks into place with a leak-free seal, and the blade can easily be removed for safe cleaning of the jar and bowl/blade system. All parts, except for the base, are dishwasher-safe, and the control pad wipes clean quickly thanks to its crevice-free design.