Blenders are used both in home and commercial kitchens for various purposes -to mix and crush ice in cocktails, mocktails and other drinks, to emulsify mixtures, to make smooth purées of semi-solid ingredients, such as cooked vegetables and meat, to reduce small solids such as spices and seeds to powder or nut butters, to blend mixtures of powders, granules, and/or liquids thoroughly and to help dissolve solids into liquids. With the rising popularity of smoothies, frappucinos and other frozen drinks prepared in front of the customer, new models of commercial blenders often include a sound-reducing enclosures and computerized controls. Specialized blenders for making smoothies are becoming popular, chiefly resembling an ordinary model with a spigot added for quick serving. Some models also feature a gimbaled stirring rod mounted on the lid, constructed so that mixtures can be stirred whilst the machine is running with no chance of the stirrer fouling the blades. The blending container can be made of glass, plastic, stainless steel, or porcelain, and often has graduated markings for approximate measuring purposes.