Focus On Blade Design
After testing, we went back to figure out what separated the good blenders from the rest of the mixer for smoothies. All of our top performing smoothie blenders had two things in common: They had blades aimed horizontally and blades angled upward.
- The blades pointing upward, form and shape the vortex, which pulls down the mixture sitting on top. This determines how effective the blender will be at churning ingredients.
- The blades aimed horizontally cut through the mixture swirling around them.
Having both sets of blades allowed these blenders to produce a finer texture.
Its also important to look at how close the blades get to the inside edge of the pitcher. The blades of the best-performing blenders were all less than a centimeter away from the edge.
These short gaps meant that the blades could reach more of the ingredients and cut through larger amounts of smoothie at a time than those with large gaps.
Whats The Best Blender For Making Smoothies
Blenders have gotten so advanced in the past few years, that its hard to pick one that wont blend up a great smoothie! If youre blender shopping, here are the three blenders we recommend for daily smoothie-making:
- MOST AFFORDABLE: Cuisinart Immersion/Stick BlenderDont let its small size fool you, this tiny handheld blender is packed full of power, and will easily make a smoothie for you every day! Its perfect if youre limited on counter space.
- MEDIUM: Ninja Professional BlenderFor under $100, you get an incredibly powerful blender that makes a dreamy, creamy smoothie. This was the blender we used in the Wholefully test kitchen for years, and its a great starter-level, but still high-powered, blender.
- SPLURGE: Vitamix Professional BlenderA Vitamix is the top of the line when it comes to blenders, and its what we use every day in the Wholefully test kitchen. It comes with a hefty price tag , so if youre just blending a smoothie every now and again, there is no need to make the splurge. But if you do a lot of cooking or make a lot of smoothies or blended drinks, you might want to start saving your pennies for a Vitamix. Its a lifetime appliance that is a dream to use!
Are Smoothies Healthy For You
Before we dive into the quest of how to make a fruit smoothie, lets dive into the why. Our philosophy here at Wholefully is that smoothies can be an incredibly nourishing part of your diet. Just like with our juicing recipes, we say its always better to eat whole fruits and veggies where possible. But its not always possible! Smoothies do make it easy to pack in all the nutrients of your favorite produce into one drinkable cupwhich is great when youre on the go or short on time.
And lets be honest, smoothies are just freaking delicious! We are big believers that you also need to nourish your soul with your food, and if drinking a perfectly tangy and sweet smoothie brings a smile to your face, then thats healthy as healthy can be.
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Whats The Best Liquid For Making Smoothies
We like to use milk of choice. If youre a fan of coconut milk, use it. Like cows milk? Go for it. A fan of almond milk? Cool. Use whatever milk you like in your smoothiesyou cant go wrong. I just recommend you stick to unsweetened and unflavored versions. That gives you the most control over the smoothie.
The Best Blenders For Smoothies According To A Dietitian
The Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro with Auto-IQ is powerful, durable, and easy to use
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Verywell Fit / Lecia Landis
Smoothies are a quick and easy way to increase your daily servings of fruits and veggies. They offer many health benefits, including decreased mortality risk and reduced risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. When made with a combination of produce, protein, and fat, smoothies offer a boost of fiber and essential nutrients that can be enjoyed on the go, but, without a reliable, easy-to-use blender, youre unlikely to make smoothies a part of your routine. Thats why weve done the hard work for you by reviewing the markets top blenders for smoothies.
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Verywell Fit Approved Blenders For Smoothies
- The Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro with Auto-IQ is our top pick, because its a high-powered blender with a simple, compact design and is easy to clean and store.
- If youre a more serious home cook, we recommend the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender, since it’s both durable and versatile. Plus, it’s $60 off for Cyber Week!
- More Cyber Week Deals: Magic Bullet Blender is 25% off with coupon
Laura Geraty, MS, RDN, LDN, and culinary dietitian says, When choosing a blender, keep in mind your budget, what youll be using it for, and the amount of storage space you have to house it. It also helps to know what to avoid when looking for a home blender. Most blenders come with multiple settings like smoothie, soup, or puree. Dont be fooled. All you really need is a low setting to get things started and a high setting to finish the work.
Our dietitian, who has extensive experience working in the culinary field, reviewed blenders that are the best for smoothies. While some have additional features that may appeal to those who are looking for a multifunctional blender, the majority listed are based solely on their ability to easily blend a creamy smoothie at home. Deciding how you plan to use your blender can help you make the best choice.
These are the best smoothie blenders on the market today.
Blender Care And Maintenance
If you find that your blender is having a difficult time processing ingredients, dont be afraid to be aggressive with the tamper to get the mixture moving around the blades. Also, make sure the blender jar is at least 25% full. Although high speeds will help process smoother mixtures, a lower speed may also help ingredients start circulating if they just arent moving. When youre following a recipe, its also good to add ingredients in the order listed blender recipe books tend to be specific with the order . When making a smoothie without a recipe, the general blender-loading protocol is as follows: greens first, then raw fruits and veggies, frozen food, ice, and liquid last.
To limit the risk of hot liquids shooting out the top of a blending jar, always start on a low setting and slowly increase the speed . Never fill the jar past the hot-liquid fill line. And for good measure, to limit the risk of the lid popping off, place a dish towel over the lid, with your hand firmly holding the lid down, while you blend.
Its best to never put blender components in the dishwasher. Youll extend the life of the jar, lid, and tamper by washing them with warm water and mild dish soap. If hand-washing seems like a daunting task, dont worry. We have some tips on how to quickly clean your blender bits so you can get on with your day.
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The Best Overall Blender: Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender
The next blender on the list is the all-powerful Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender. The only reason this blender is not at the top of the list is because of how expensive it is. Don’t let the price tag deter you from purchasing this blender though because it is totally worth the money. Not everyone can afford a Vitamix blender but if you have a chance to use one, you will fall in love immediately.
This blender can really do it all. It has one of the most powerful motors at 2HP. It can literally do anything you throw in it. From emulsifying sauces and dressings to pulverizing nuts and seeds. It is so powerful and can blend at such a high speed that it will even heat up fluids and in some cases, cook foods like soups and purees.
Reason #1 to Choose a Vitamix Instead: More Power
The Vitamix E310 blender is perfect for a small to medium-sized family with a 48-ounce pitcher that will blend up several nice-sized smoothies. Since it has 10 different variable blending speeds, it can take on tasks at lower speeds like making chunky salsa or finely chopped vegetables. The higher speeds are used to create creamy and smooth drinks, purees, and smoothies. It will also be able to crush ice which the Nutribullet just can’t accomplish.
Reason #2 to Choose a Vitamix Instead: Works for Longer
Should I Use A Blender Or A Juicer
Use a juicer if you have trouble digesting fiber. Blending a smoothie uses every part of the fruit you put into it, including the fiber, which makes it a healthier option for most people.Avoid juicers for avocado, bananas, pineapple, yogurt and protein powder. Either add these ingredients to your juice or reach for your blender. Since these ingredients do not have a high volume of water content compared to their pulp, they may not be able to break your juicer, but most of the fruit will be thrown away with the rest of the pulp.
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Measurements And Capability For Storage
There are a variety of high-quality tiny and personal blenders that are capable of executing tough jobs wonderfully while occupying much less room, making them suitable for kitchens with restricted space.
With a high-capacity blender, it is considerably simpler to mix huge quantities of food at once, such as soup. Blenders with variable pitcher sizes make it simple for the user to tailor the blending process to their particular needs.
The amount of storage space needed for a blender may be affected by its frequency of usage. If you frequently prepare smoothies, it might be beneficial to designate a special counter area for that purpose.
If you only use the blender sometimes, you should seek for a tiny, lightweight model. In households with limited counter space, a compact stick blender that can be put in a cupboard or drawer may be the most practical option. Although having a few extra blender jars, to-go cups, and other accessories might be useful, they need additional storage space when not in use.
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Why You Should Trust Us
As a senior staff writer for Wirecutter, Ive covered everything from chefs knives to stand mixers, and Ive tested every blender worth testing since 2014. I also have a breadth of cooking and entertaining knowledge from decades of working in restaurants and magazine test kitchens. This guide builds on the work of Christine Cyr Clisset, now a deputy editor at Wirecutter.
We reached out to Jonathan Cochran, a former blender salesperson who now runs the site Blender Dude, for his take on the best Vitamix and Blendtec models to test . For our original guide, authored by Seamus Bellamy, we consulted with Lisa McManus, an executive editor in charge of equipment testing at Cooks Illustrated and Cooks Country magazines.
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What Are Some Common Problems With Hand Blender That You May Encounter
Many hand blenders have components that can wear out over time, resulting in common problems such as:
1.Cord Shortages: Occasionally, the cord that connects the hand blender to its power source may become worn or frayed, resulting in a loss of electricity flow and potential safety risks.
2. Blade Dulling or Damage: The blades on a hand blender can become dull or damaged over time, either through regular use or mishandling when in storage. This can lead to an inability to blend food effectively, as well as possible risk of injury due to sharp edges.
3. Motor Wear: The motor in a hand blender is one of the most essential parts, and it can become damaged over time due to age and continuous exposure to moisture. If the motor is damaged, it may not be able to blend food effectively or may stop working altogether.
4.Leaking: If the hand blender is not properly cleaned and stored, it may develop leaks over time. This can lead to a loss of liquid during blending and create an unsanitary mess.
5.Clogging: With prolonged use, the small parts of a hand blenders accessories can become clogged with food particles, preventing them from blending efficiently.
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Can A Ninja Blender Juice
Ninja high-power blender is best for juicing. It has a very powerful motor. This motor can make juice of almost any fruit with its high power. The sharp blades will turn any frozen fruit into liquid in a few seconds. It can also make vegetable juice. You can make juice for the whole family at once using the large pitcher.
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How Do I Make A Strawberry Banana Smoothie
For the best results, youll want to add the ingredients to the blender in this order:
Then blend away, slowly ramping up to full speed! When the smoothie looks silky, take a taste test and decide if you want to add any sweetener. If you do, add the honey or maple syrup and blend for a few more seconds. If not, pour and enjoy!
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Start With Frozen Ingredients And Blend On Low
Place the frozen fruit in the blender and use the lowest speed to chop them up. Use no more than 1 fresh ingredient and place on the bottom before the frozen fruit. If you use any soft fruit you will need LESS liquid in step 2.
Use the tamper if you have one, or stop the machine and scrape ingredients down into the blade and repeat. Doing this first helps to ensure you end up with a smooth mixture when you continue to blend in the next steps.
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Is It Better To Juice Or Blend Greens
The answer to this question depends on what you hope to gain from juicing or blending greens. Juicing involves extracting the juice of the fruits or vegetables, while blending the entire fruit or vegetable is generally the method used to make smoothies.
If youre looking to get a large amount of nutrients in quickly and easily, juicing is a great option. Juicing extracts only the juice, leaving behind the fibrous parts of the vegetables and fruits. This makes it easier to consume a large amount of vegetables and fruits without having to chew them.
In addition, juicing helps make the nutrients more easily absorbed by the body.
On the other hand, blending the entire fruit or vegetable is a great way to get a wide variety of nutrients and fiber. Blending the whole fruit or vegetable helps to retain its fiber content, which aids in digestion.
Additionally, blending can help retain more of the important vitamins and minerals in the fruits or vegetables.
Ultimately, the choice between juicing or blending greens depends on what your goals are. If youre looking for a quick and easy way to get a lot of nutrients, then juicing is the best option. However, if youre aiming for more fiber and vitamins, then blending is the way to go.
Both options are great ways to get more greens into your diet and can work together to create a balanced and nutritious diet.
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Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
We know that for many people, the biggest issue with the Vitamix 5200 is its steep price. At around $400 or so, its at least twice the price of our runner-up, the Oster Versa Pro Series Blender. In the past, weve even made the Oster our top pick because of its comparatively affordable price. But after years of testing the Vitamix and using it in our test kitchen, we think its truly worth the investment. Its more durable and all-around more effective than any other blender weve found, and if you plan on using a blender regularly, it will make your life a lot easier. Plus, consider the cost of buying a smoothie rather than making it at home: A morning smoothie can run from about $5 to $13, so in two to four months you will have paid the same amount as for a 5200. A Vitamix, by contrast, will last you at least seven years .
At more than 20 inches tall, the Vitamix 5200 is a big appliancetoo big to fit under some kitchen cabinets. But none of the other high-powered blenders we tested were much smaller. Though the Oster is a couple of inches shorter, it also has a beefier base. If size is an issue for you, Vitamix makes other lines of blenders that have a shorter profile. But weve found that the tall, narrow shape of the 5200s blending jar is one of the components that help this machine create such an effective vortex.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Vitamix 5200 comes in three different color variants: Red, White, and Black. We tested the Black variant, but we expect the other models to have a similar performance.
This blender is compatible with other containers in Vitamix’s C-Series line of products. For example, you can purchase a 48-ounce container, a 32-ounce container, a 32-ounce Dry Grains container for blending flour and other grains, a 20-ounce cup container, and a scraper attachment, all sold separately. As these containers are different sizes, they may perform differently.
If you come across another variant, let us know in the discussion section below and we’ll update our review.