Best Blenders For Making Smoothies
A handful of models stand out for blending the smoothest smoothies
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Making your own smoothies is an easy way to front-load your day with fruits and vegetables. But with a blender that’s not up to the task, you might be left with chunks of frozen strawberries or stringy kale leaves. No thanks.
In the lab, we put each blender through a battery of tests, including two that evaluate a blenders ability to make smooth smoothies. In our icy-drinks tests, we make batches of nonalcoholic piña coladas and use sieves of various mesh sizes to evaluate smoothness and thickness. If a blender rates Excellent in this test, you can expect a smooth, consistent texture, especially when blending strawberries, bananas, and other soft ingredients, says Cindy Fisher, CRs chief blender tester. A rating of Very Good means there are tiny bits in the mix.
If youre going to be blending apples, carrots, and other hard items, or adding greens to your smoothies, check the results of our puréeing test. An Excellent rating indicates the blender serves up smooth smoothies and soups, with no stringy greens, Fisher says.
Check out our complete blender ratings for all of the details plus more options, and our blender buying guide for more shopping considerations.
Should I Get A Blender Or A Food Processor
Blenders are typically designed for mixing liquids and soft foods together , although higher-end models are powerful enough to crush ice, grind up nuts, and puree tough ingredients. Food processors usually have a circular blade cutter that can chop, slice, grate, emulsify , and shred. Many blenders are designed with a feeding tube that allows you to add ingredients throughout the process. Some blenders actually come with food processor attachments, but they’re usually not as efficient as the appliance on its own. Decide what to buy based on what your needs in the kitchen are versus the specific gadgets functions and purpose. Most households that cook a lot like to have two separate units or one comprehensive blender that is generally on the higher price range.
What About Other Vitamix Models
The 5200 isnt the only blender in Vitamixs selectionif you want the blending power of the 5200 but strongly prefer presets, or if you need a shorter jar that will fit your space, consider looking into other models.
That said, the original 5200 remains our favorite because every new blender from Vitamix comes with a squat jar that doesnt blend small amounts as well as the 5200s tall and tapered pitcher. We tested the 5300, for example, and found that the base of its short jar was too wide to develop and maintain a vortex for making, say, a thick smoothie for one or two people. Check out the Competition section for more detailed testing notes on the 5300.
We havent tested any models from the new Vitamix Ascent Series, but we suspect wed have the same issue with the shorter, squatter jars. According to owner reviews, the Ascent blenders seem to suffer from some other problems, too, such as a complicated adapter for the personal blending cup and a sensor that shuts off the machine if it detects that the mixture in the jar is too thick. Our favorite feature of the 5200 is its ability to blend absurdly thick concoctions!
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Best Blender For Smoothie Bowls
Smoothies are popular among health-conscious people and thats why every day new recipes come up. Preparing smoothies need a quality blender and this article is all about the best blender for smoothie bowls.
Smoothie bowls like Acai have been trending due to their health benefits and healing capabilities.
Acai berries are purple in color and they are full of nutrients and also fatty acids like omega 6 and 9.
What is the best blender for making acai bowls? Acai berries are thicker than most ingredients used for smoothies or juices hence the need for a powerful blender. This power enables the blades to totally crush the seeds, ice, and flesh into a creamy texture free from chunks.
Just like other berries, Acai contains antioxidants that help to prevent diseases, skin health, and also heart-related problems.
The challenging part is blending acai bowls because they are small and the seeds are hard to completely blend just like most berries.
Its time to start blending acai bowls with your blender and if you dont have a great blender, I have the best and powerful blenders that can handle smoothie bowls with precision.
Ninja Smoothie Bowl Blender Ninja Foodi Ss101 Smoothie Bowl Maker
This is the perfect blender for smoothie bowls and nutrient extractors at your home.
The blender is equipped with a powerful motor of 1200 watts that provides power to blend thick smoothies and hard ingredients.
Ninja blenders always have a special feature to make the blending process smooth. This blender has smartTORQUE features which help the blender power through the heavy loads of ingredients without stalling.
It comes with a 14-ounce smoothie bowl and 24-ounce nutrient extraction cup that can handle even frozen drinks.
The 14-ounce bowl is designed with a built-in tamper to boost the blender crushing the tough ingredients into smooth blends.
Ninja Foodi SS101 has 4 preset Auto-iQ settings for automated one-touch blending of smoothies, spreads, extractions, and bowls.
The blades, cups, bowl, and lids are easy to clean up with all being dishwasher safe.
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The Best Blenders For Smoothies At Every Budget
Filed under:Guides
I hear it all the time: what blender is best?
Its a big decision. The fate of your smoothies texture lies in your blenders blades. If you get the wrong one, you could be staring down a chunky smoothie. If you overpay, youve wasted valuable money.
Heres the thing: Blenders are a little like cars. Like cars, there are a million things to know if you want to get good value. And, like cars, they are made for many different uses.
Some blenders make great soups. Some make great chopped carrots. And yes, some make great smoothies. Do you really want to do all the work to know which is which?
Probably not.
Ive got good news: Im your personal smoothie blender buying expert. Ive research dozens of blenders and found the one thats best, specifically for smoothies, for every budget. Ive also listed a couple blenders not to get at each budget, to help you avoid blender remorse.
Read on to see the blender for you!
Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender
Amazon
- Customer Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
- Power: 700 watts
- Dimensions: 8.66 x 8.5 x 14.69 inches
Coming in at under $50, the Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender is an excellent budget-friendly option. It has five buttons that allow you to cycle between 12 different blending functions that run the gamut from milkshakes to smoothies to salsa. While it doesnt include a tamper, the 700-watt motor operates on a Wave Action system that pulls the pitchers contents down into the blades, so you get peak performance every time. In addition to a 40-ounce pitcher, you also get a 3-cup food processor thats perfect for chopping, grinding and other cooking tasks.
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Are Glass Blenders Better Than Plastic
Most blenders come with a hardened plastic pitcher, but youll find the odd model that has a glass one. Strictly speaking, glass is harder wearing and wont scratch as easily as plastic. This can make a difference if you regularly crush ice, as the sharp edges can scratch cheaper plastics. Plastic can also get tainted by ingredients, staining.
The downside of glass is that its much heavier and if you drop it, youre likely to end up cracking or breaking thepitcher.
Modern plastics are much better, particularly on the high-end machine, so you shouldnt notice scratching. And, plastic is lighter and less likely to break if you drop it.
Are These Good For All Vegetable Smoothies
Yes! Greens are the toughest thing to blend so if it handles greens it can handle all the other vegetables too. Even hard vegetables like carrots or sweet potatoes get blended up really easily in the blenders Ive talked about above. And the same goes for fruit too, if it can handle vegetables it can definitely handle making a fruit smoothies.
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Kitchenaid K400 Blender With Tamper
Sleek Design
OK, so its a little more expensive than the others on our list. But were willing to shell out a little more so our blender matches our stand mixer . The asymmetrical blade pulls all your ingredients right into the center and blends them at four different angles. Use the Ice Crush, Icy Drinks and Smoothie presets or adjust the five-speed dial for more control. But you wont have to do much at all on your own: The blenders Soft Start feature and Intelli-Speed motor allow it to sense the best speed at all times and adjust accordingly while it blends. So smart.
Premium : Vitamix Total Nutrition Centre
All three of The Good Stuffs founders use this blender. That alone should say enough about its quality. Why do we love it? Peace of mind. We know it has the blades and engine to blend anything wed ever put in a smoothie, and we know if it breaks they stand by their 10-year warranty. At almost $500 its not cheap, but its a worthy investment for any smoothie enthusiast.
Runner-up: Blendtec Total with Wildside Jar
Blenders to avoid: HealthMaster Elite Food Emulsifier by Montel Williams, Cleanblend Commercial, any food processor
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Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender
Blendtec blender is a multipurpose machine for perfect smoothies, cocktail drinks, crushing ice, shakes, margaritas, and more.
It comes with a large 75 ounces 4 sided container and a 32-ounce blending capacity for wet and dry blending. The container contains 80% thicker stainless steel blades that can warm soups through blade frictions and also crush tough ingredients.
When blending with a Blendtec blender, you wont need a tamper since the blender uses its patented technology that can pull ingredients towards the blades.
Ninja Mega Kitchen Bl770
Looking for a blender that can handle everything, from chopping vegetables to making smoothies to blending hummus? Then the Ninja Mega Kitchen smoothie blender may be what you need.
A powerful 1500 watt motor drives this blender through the most strenuous blending tasks. Youll be able to pulverize ice to powder, and blend frozen fruit and veggies.
A uniquely designed stacked, offset blade arrangement enhances the blending effectiveness of the Ninja Mega Kitchen smoothie blender. There are 4 pre-programmed speed settings that you can choose from through buttons on the front panel.
Its interchangeable power pod is compatible with several attachments, like a 48 ounce pitcher that can be used to make delicious smoothies, a 40 ounce bowl that serves food processing needs, and a smaller 16 ounce chopper bowl for mincing herbs and nuts.
Each attachment comes with storage lids and all components are dishwasher safe. This makes disassembly and cleaning after use easy and fast.
The only drawback with the Ninja Mega Kitchen smoothie blender is the lack of a hole on top that might allow additional ingredients to be tossed in while blending.
Pros:
#8 Best Blender For Smoothies In 2020
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Hamilton Beach Personal Smoothie Blender
Is it even possible for a smoothie blender that costs 20 bucks to merit inclusion on a list of best blenders for smoothies? Yes. And its called the Hamilton Beach Personal blender!
If you dont really need a monster blender that can crush ice and blend wheatgrass, then why pay more for features you wont use? Thats what makes this budget blender great for everyday smoothie drinkers.
A great device for whipping up single-serve smoothies, the Hamilton Beach smoothie blender is a compact, effective, lightweight solution for personal use and is especially handy to carry along when you travel.
Not only can it be quickly and easily cleaned manually, all the parts are dishwasher friendly as well. You can use this personal blender to make smoothies as well as to blend soups and chia pudding, sauces and salad dressings.
Pros:
#7 Best Blender For Smoothies In 2020
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.
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Braun Multiquick 5 Vario Hand Blender Mq5025
Best budget hand blender
Reasons to avoid
While its less than half the price of our winning hand blender, the Braun MQ5025 still comes with a chopper attachment, a whisk and a 600ml beaker in addition to the main blender head. It offers 21 speeds to choose from, as well as a turbo setting, and features dishwasher safe attachments, meaning its quick to clean up after.
The speed is controlled via the dial on the top of the device so you can puree to a smooth paste or leave more texture when you blend. While it doesnt come with a storage case, this hand blender is a bargain considering all of the attachments it comes with. Its a great choice whether youre pureeing baby food or whisking egg whites.
Vitamix E310 Blender Best Overall
Vitamixs Explorian places super-sharp stainless steel blades atop one of the most powerful motors of any blender for cutting action that practically liquifies greens. With just a little bit of liquid, youll plop in fibrous kale and spinach and think youre blending mushy strawberries, bananas, and yogurt.
For all that power, its quiet. Itll give you no stress making a bunch of racket blending up a breakfast smoothie. Its simple to clean, despite the fact that the blade column isnt removable. Just pour some warm water into the basin with a drop or two of dish soap and turn it on. It self-cleans in a minute.
The other thing that makes this a great blender for greens is that green smoothies help strengthen your heart, which youre going to need once you look at the price. Its super expensive.
All in all, we think this is the best blender for green smoothies out there.
- Prepare for sticker shock
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Vitamix 750 Pro Heritage Blender
Best Vitamix Blender Smoothie
When it comes to high performance blending, Vitamix blenders are the Rolls-Royce of smoothie blenders. Although this one doesnt come cheap, it has ALL the nice bells and whistles of a high end blender such as 2.2 horsepower motor, sound dampening, laser cut stainless steel blades, and more. It even has a low profile design so it fits under kitchen cabinets easier.
So if youre interested in making a serious investment in your health, this professional quality Vitamix blender is a good choice for you.
Can An Immersion Blender Replace A Blender
This is perhaps the most important question for a small apartment owner. Our kitchens tend to not be the most accommodating for big hefty appliances. Swapping out one big appliance for a smaller one is a satisfying achievement.
So, can an immersion blender replace a blender?
An immersion blender can replace a blender depending on what you use it for. If your focus is creativity in the kitchen, an immersion blender can really assist you greatly. It can really transform whole ingredients into a range of sauces, condiments, soups, etc.
In comparison, a countertop blender should be kept when making more heavy-duty concoctions. Things like, blended cocktails
An immersion blender is less effective at heavy duty blending and tends to act more as a device for pureeing. This includes soups, whipping cream, finely chopping vegetables, blending liquid batters, pasta sauces pesto, etc.
Not only does an immersion blender act as a very effective puree-er but it’s very effective when trying to save on storage space. For me personally, this is the biggest factor that I’d consider.
Even though I might be losing out on the ability to blend one or two extra recipes – storage is at a premium for me. And the fact that I can still make smoothies is very reassuring.
Overall, an immersion blender is one very handy kitchen tool. It really encapsulates the theme of little home appliances – devices that save time and space for those that don’t have either.
Mime Petit
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Other Affordable Blenders We Tested
This five-speed model did exceptionally well in our chopping and mixing tests. It obliterated ice cubes into a fine slush, made creamy nut butter, and liquefied fruit and yogurt into a delicious smoothie. It makes for a great, affordable blender.
Our testers liked the easy-to-read and intuitive controls, and each button has enough resistance that you shouldnt worry about accidentally engaging the wrong setting. The components are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, and KitchenAid’s five-year warranty is almost as good as the seven years offered by Vitamix.
The KitchenAid Diamond comes with a 60-ounce BPA-free jar, and is available in over 15 colors, including Boysenberry, Tangerine, Espresso, and the classic Empire Red.
Pros
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Great at chopping and crushing
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Intuitive controls
Ninja Bl480d Nutri 1000
My parents have a one-serving Ninja blender, which I love using when I visit them. My parents love it, too, for the same reason personal trainer Jaime Morocco recommends it. It doesnt take up much space on the counter, she said, adding you can also eat right out of the cup that it comes with. I do the same thing when Im visiting my parents . Also, I swear it has a magical way of making the perfect smoothie consistency, Morocco added. Personal Trainer Brooke Taylor said she loves her Ninja blender given its three different speeds and that it blends virtually everything in a matter of seconds . I use it to blend everything from my favorite protein shakes and my favorite cold soups to dips and dressings for my salads and vegetables.
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