If all you want from a blender is food-mincing muscle and premium build quality, then KitchenAid's $630 Pro Series (£489 in the UK, roughly AU$848 in Australia) should certainly be on your short list.

For $500, you might believe a toaster could fly. The KitchenAid Pro Line 4-Slice Toaster looks the part. Metallic sliders accent the bulky white exterior. A row of lights that could be running down ...