The $40 Magic Bullet blender from infomercials of yore was one of the best purchases I've ever made - 10 years later, I'm still using it

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• There are plenty of great blenders out there, but most of them will run you a good amount of money.
• I've had the Magic Bullet Blender ($40) for over ten years, and I swear by it.
• While it's not the most powerful blender out there, this budget-buy is a great pick for anyone who is trying to save some space and money.

Growing up, I indulged in the simple pleasure of TV breakfasts, which meant eating sugary cereal on the couch and watching infomercials. To clarify, I didn't only watch infomercials, but as any '90s kid knows, the good stuff usually didn't come on until 8 AM. So, in the wee hours of the morning, before I could watch "30 Minute Meals" with Rachael Ray or "Even Stevens" (I had eclectic taste as a child) I learned about all of the latest and greatest gadgets like Moon Shoes and the Treadclimber by Bowflex

There was one device that always piqued my interest: the Magic Bullet blender. In the infomercial, the two hosts operated the blender with ease - in minutes they had churned raw almonds into a creamy nut butter, transformed chunks of tomatoes and avocados into delicious guacamole, and precisely grated blocks of Parmesan into the perfect pasta topping. Was it, dare I say, magic?

Whatever it was, I was hooked. I wanted this blender. No, I needed this blender. The problem was I didn't have any money of my own to buy it. So, I waited. And, when a $50 gift card to Walmart fell in my lap at age 12, well, you know what I bought.

Fast forward to 2019 and here I am patting my young self on the back for being oh-so wise, because I still own and use my Magic Bullet blender.

To be frank, this is by no means the best blender out there. But, that doesn't mean you should stop reading. I think there's a blender out there for everyone - one that fits your specific cooking needs, style and budget preferences. If you're looking for something that doesn't take up much counter space, is very affordable, and gets the job done - the Magic Bullet is a solid option.

What you get:

I have the most basic Magic Bullet bundle, which includes 11 pieces (most of which happen to be dishwasher-safe). For $39.99, you get the power base, one cross blade, three different sized cups, two comfort lip rings, two resealable lids, one to-go lid, and an additional recipe book. You can also buy bundles that come with more pieces, or choose to purchase upgrade kits if you realize you need more cups or blades.

Eleven pieces might seem like a lot for one blender, but I've found that the multiple pieces are one of the blenders biggest assets. Rather than one large cup and power base, the Magic Bullet gives you a few smaller ones. This makes prepping a breeze. If you want to make almond butter, for example, you can fill the small cup with all the ingredients you need, twist on the blade and blend. Then, once it's done, just screw on one of the resealable lids and store the cup in the fridge. The same goes for bringing smoothies on the go. Instead of having to transfer everything from the blender to a travel mug, you just twist on a to-go lid and your set. This makes the cleaning process a breeze, as there are significantly less dishes to deal with. It also saves lots of time since the cups function have multiple functions.

One downside of this system is that the cups are small. I find them to be perfect for single-serving smoothies, which is usually what I use them for. But, if you're trying to make a batch of smoothies for a family, a larger blender may be better for you.

How it works:

As I mentioned above, the Magic Bullet is definitely not the most powerful blender out there. If you're used to using a high-tech workhorse like a VitaMix, you may be underwhelmed, because when it comes to technology, it's usually safe to say that you get what you pay for. It would be unfair to judge this $40 blender against a $400 one. If you're cognizant of that, and if you're just looking for a gadget that can do simple things like blend and puree, the Magic Bullet is more than enough.

To use the blender, all you have to do is pop it into the base and push it down with a little pressure to get it started. It really is that simple. After some trail and error of my own, I now make sure to add some liquid to smoothies to help the blades crush all of the frozen fruit. More expensive blenders have tamper tools to help you get all of the ingredients close to the blades, but the Magic Bullet doesn't. Instead, you can take the cup off the base and shake it up to redistribute ingredients and get a more even blend.

What's impressed me most about how this blender works though is how long it's lasted. I've had it for over ten years and it's still working just fine. Considering that's longer than I've had any laptop, phone, or other tech gadget, I'm shocked that this still works and think that speaks to the quality of the product.

Bottom line:

For $40, the Magic Bullet is a great buy. It's an average blender with some above-average specs. The cup system makes taking food on the go easier than ever. The dishwasher-safe attachments make cleaning a breeze, and the small size makes storing the base and attachments simple, taking up barely any space on your counter or in the cupboard. One day, I'd like to think that I'll invest in a nice blender like a VitaMix on my own, but until the time comes, I'll be sticking with my trusty Magic Bullet.

Buy the Magic Bullet Blender for $39.99 on Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond.