Kitchenaid K150 Ice Crushing Blender
Amazon
- Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
- Power: 670 Watts
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.1 x 14.8 inches
While most of the best blenders can handle crushing ice, the KitchenAid K150 was made for it. The 48-ounce pitcher was designed with unique asymmetric blades that bend at four different angles to pull ice into the center of the machine for optimal crushing. The 670-watt motor may be one of the least powerful on this list, but it can crush a half a try of ice in less than 10 seconds. Of course, you can use this blender for other pulverizing needs too. In addition to the ice crushing setting, it also has three different speeds and Intelli-Speed Motor Control, which senses the contents of the pitcher and maintains the right speed to properly handle the job.
Our Key Considerations When Reviewing Blenders
While price and brand are essential components when choosing a product, we also focused on things that directly impact the overall performance. They include the machines functionalities, construction, ease of use, and safety.
Plus, remember that some models will give you a polished finish and proper performance, but lesser convenience compared to premium ones. So we confirmed that buying the best blender is not just a matter of preference, but also of need and budget.
Below are some points that weve always kept in mind when looking for a blender.
Whats The Best Smoothie Blender On The Market
Year on year, smoothie makers continue to grow in popularity every good coffee shop has one, theres barely a high street or festival without a dedicated smoothie outlet. Along with the kettle, they have become commonplace in most homes.
Their ability to create a tasty drink packed with all the vitamins and minerals we need to live a long and healthy life means the best smoothie blenders reign supreme. Theres no other way to cram in so much goodness. But as you are here already, you probably knew that?
With such an awesome product comes lots of competition. Big brands can afford to woo or blind you with clever advertising. Youve probably got a crazy, busy life and really just need to find out which are the top rated blenders, right?
Because they all look and sound so impressive, the only way to know which is the best blender for smoothies is to test them all which youd probably love to do but isnt practical or possible.
To save you time, money and hassle, weve rounded up a selection of the best blenders based on performance and value. Youll probably agree that nothing else really matters.
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Homgeek Ice Crushing Blender
Homgeeks offering, the H22259US Blender Smoothie Maker, is reasonably-priced and offers a range of good features but doesnt work especially well with ice and has a complicated interface.
The 1,450-watt motor is strong but seizes easily and cant cut through full-size ice cubes. This 9.9-pound machine offers eight speeds and four presets, including dedicated ice crush and smoothie buttons, through a complicated but attractive interface. The large 68-ounce pitcher is made of extra-thick BPA-free Tritan plastic and can blend hot liquids up to 228° F.
The motor cant be used for more than 10 minutes at a time, so you may have to spend extra time if youre blending large quantities. Homgeek offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year quality guarantee.
COSORIs C700-PRO Blender is attractively-priced and comes with an effective blender but has a cheaper feel and isnt very durable.
This heavy 13-pound model has a powerful 1,500-watt motor and a six-tip stainless steel blade assembly. Its not aesthetically pleasing, but the switch and dial interface is fairly easy to use, and the large 70-ounce BPA-free pitcher feels very durable. The package includes a recipe book, a 27-ounce travel bottle with a lid, and a cleaning brush. The built-in tamper works through the lid, so you can easily use it while blending.
- Heavy, with a cheaper feel
- Less durable motor and blades
Which Ninja Kitchen System Is Best
Top 5 Best Ninja Blenders #1 Best All-in-One: Ninja BN801 Professional Plus Kitchen System. #2 Newest Flagship Blender: Ninja HB152 Foodi Hot & Cold Blender. #3 Best for Smoothies: Ninja SS101 Foodi Power Nutri Duo. #4 Best Nutri Blender: NEW Nutri Ninja Pro with Auto-iQ. #5 Most Powerful: Ninja Mega Kitchen System.
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Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender
Celebrity trainer Erin Oprea and personal trainer Autumn Calabrese are among those fans. “It’s super easy to clean and I love how it circulates the food so everything on top gets blended plus, lots of power, said Oprea. Bodybuilder Ronnie Lubischer, CSCS, is also a proponent of the Vitamix. Absolutely, hands down my Vitamix has changed my life. As a bodybuilder, I’m always always looking to add size while keeping a very close eye on a healthy heart and boosted immune system, said Lubischer, who owns Lubischer’s Burn and Blast Body Lab. Heres how to make one Lubischers Green and Mean Protein Shake, which is chock-full of protein, healthy fats, energizing carbs, vitamins and minerals, he said, adding this is typically a breakfast on-the-go for him or a post-workout shake.
- 12 ounces of egg whites
- 1 scoop of ultra filtered, cold-pressed whey isolates
- 4 to 6 ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons of almond butter
- 1 banana
- 1 cup of preferred berries
- 2 servings of greens: Cucumbers, celery, spinach or kale are Lubischers go tos but you can mix it up
Can I Put A Hot Almost Boiling Liquid Or Soup Into The Container What Units Are Suitable For The Hot Drinks
Most units are suitable for hot or boiling liquids, like soups that need to get just a bit creamier. However, some blenders are designed to handle the heat, like Vitamix E310. With this choice, you can put together your healthiest soups for your nutritious diet as well as your green smoothies. These blenders are optimized for heated drinks, where you can pour in the hottest liquids, like boiling coffee or soup right into the container. Even though our topic here is giving advice on green smoothies, soups are a great way to heat or drink healthily and blend the most nutritious foods and veggies into one easy-to-eat soup.
Read Also: Vegetable Fruit Smoothie Recipes Weight Loss
Best Portable: Popbabies Portable Blender
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Good battery life and easy to recharge
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Dishwasher safe
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Have to cut fruit into small pieces
If you want to make smoothies at your desk, blend baby food while traveling, or fuel up on protein shakes during your next camping trip, then this rechargeable blender from PopBabies is a solid choice. It looks like a travel bottle, and you can drink directly from the blending jar to cut down on dishesplus, it’s dishwasher safe. Its 16-ounce capacity is suited to the portable design, and it can be fully charged with the included USB cable in about three hours. As a bonus, the blender comes with a funnel and a miniature ice tray that makes cubes small enough for the blender to handle. That also hints at the main downside of the device: Because its so small, this blender isnt as powerful as a full-sized model. Some reviewers complain that it struggles to blend large chunks of fruit or ice.
The Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender is our top pick for top high-powered blender because of its power, durability, and versatility . However, if you’re looking to save a little money, the budget-friendly Oster Classic Series Accurate Blend is a decent, inexpensive optionand it comes with a convenient to-go cup .
The Spruce / Cara Cormack
How Do You Maintain A Blender
Blenders are usually pretty easy to clean with a sponge, brush, and soapy water. Oftentimes, containers, lids, and blades can go directly into the dishwasher. Some blender models have a self-clean function that saves you the hassle of taking the machine apart at all. Always check your instruction manual for best practices to clean and maintain your blender.
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Best Blenders For Protein Shakes And Smoothies In 2021
Select is editorially independent. Our editors selected these deals and items because we think you will enjoy them at these prices. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
Protein smoothies can be a refreshing treat thats quick to prepare and makes for healthy food, whether for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up. And while the mechanism behind those smoothies, the fundamental blender, is simple enough in its operations, there are many types and models to choose from. As the effects of coronavirus are still making it less-than-optimal to head off to your favorite smoothie shop, you might be considering picking up the habit at home or looking to upgrade your existing blender. Either way, youll likely come up against a large variety. So which blender is right for you? Plainly speaking, the best blender is the one youll use, but there are some different features that elevate some over others. To help you find the best blender for you, we asked personal trainers for their favorite blenders and smoothie recipes to keep you nourished this year.
How To Choose A Blender For Protein Shakes That Is Right For You
Willow Jarosh is a registered dietitian and nutrition coach specializing in intuitive eating. She is the author of Healthy, Happy Pregnancy Cookbook.
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the bestproducts, and articles are reviewed by healthcare professionals for medical accuracy. Youcan learn more about ourreview process here.We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
Verywell / Chloe Jeong
A great blender is the perfect addition to any kitchen but is particularly helpful for those who enjoy smoothies or protein shakes. If you frequently enjoy a protein shake from a smoothie bar after the gym, then you likely already know this can take a considerable chunk out of your monthly budget.
Blending your own smoothie or protein shake at home has many benefits. If you typically purchase a protein shake, smoothie, or cold-pressed juice a few times per week, you could easily rack up a hefty monthly bill. DIY versions are typically more affordable, and you get to choose the exact flavor combo you’re craving. If this is you, there’s good news. Investing in a quality blender eventually pays for itself and allows you to create your own blends. Start saving money and supercharging your nutrition by shopping our top blender picks.
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Jar Shape And Motor Strength
A great blender should be able to smoothly process tough items like fibrous kale, frozen berries, and ice without burning out the motor. How efficiently a blender does this depends on a combination of the blade length and position, the shape of the mixing jar, and the motor strength. All three of those elements combine to create a vortex that pulls food down around the blade.
In our testing, weve found that tall, tapered jars with a curved bottom develop a more consistent vortex than short, wide ones with a flat bottom. But the better blending that you get from a taller, tapered jar comes with a trade-off: A fully assembled blender might be too tall to fit under low-hanging cabinets. Blenders with wide, short jars are better for countertop storage, but youre sacrificing performance for that convenience.
Weve found that tall, tapered jars with a curved bottom develop a more consistent vortex than short, wide ones with a flat bottom.
Blender Vs Food Processor: Which One Should You Get
Although theres some overlap in what they can do, blenders and food processors arent interchangeable appliances. A countertop blender is a better tool for making purees, quick sauces, and emulsifications , and its the only appliance that can whip berries and fibrous veggies into a silky-smooth texture. Because a blenders jar is narrow and usually angled at the base, it creates a vortex that helps pass ingredients through the blades more frequently than in a food processor, yielding smoother textures.
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Also Great: Cleanblend Blender
*At the time of publishing, the price was $180.
If youre willing to take a chance on a shorter warranty from a newer company, the 1,800-watt Cleanblend Blender costs about the same as the Oster Versa and produces finer purees. In our tests, it blended silkier smoothies and piña coladas than many blenders that cost more than twice as much. This model comes with a durable Tritan-plastic jar and a tamper for you to help move thick mixtures while its blending. The Cleanblend doesnt have any preset buttons, and its variable speeds arent as nuanced as those of the Vitamix, but its interface is simple and intuitive to use. Judging from our long-term testing, the Cleanblends motor is durable and able to handle tough jobs like nut butter better than the Oster. Its also backed by a complete five-year warranty.
The Cleanblend made some of the smoothest smoothies in our tests, performing better than the Oster and even the Vitamix in that regard. When we strained the Cleanblends kale and berry smoothie, barely any raspberry seeds remained in our fine-mesh sieve the only blender that did better was the Blendtec. The Cleanblend also came in second, behind the Blendtec, in blending a silky-smooth piña colada. Were talking restaurant-worthy blended drinks here.
The Cleanblend made some of the smoothest smoothies in our tests.
Best Bang For Your Buck
- Senses thickness and auto-adjusts speed
- Digital interface
- Hundreds of recipes on the app
- Compact size is easy to store
- Comes in SO many colors
- Crushes quickly at the touch of a button
The Bad
- Pretty loud for how small it is
- No pre-programmed settings
The Bottom Line
- Motor adjusts to container size
The Bad
- Super expensive
The Bottom Line
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How Will You Choose From The Top Rated Blenders
We can only recommend the best blenders based on merit, helping you avoid buying something which looks good in the brochure or is being promoted as part of an affiliate program.
So, now you know which genuinely work best, really its going to come down to hard cash and aesthetics what does your budget allow, will it look nice in your kitchen? How often you make them, how fast you want them, and if you want them out of the box with serving cups and a choice of fancy attachments will also be buying factors. If you dont plan on blitzing tough ingredients, a low-end model might be good enough, it might even last a year or so.
Otherwise, if your purse allows, its worth spending a little extra. The main thing is that you dont miss out on nourishing yourself and your family with delicious, healthy smoothies.
Which Blender Is The Best
The Best Blender Our pick. Vitamix 5200. The best blender. Runner-up. Oster Versa Pro Series Blender. A more affordable but less durable blender. Also great. Cleanblend Blender. Powerful blender motor, shorter warranty. Budget pick. KitchenAid K150 3 Speed Ice Crushing Blender. For occasional blending.
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What We Don’t Recommend And Why:
Cuisinart Hurricane Pro/CBT-2000: Perfectly sufficient for making smoothies, the jar for this model was too wide for other applications, and we found bits of food tended to clump together around the edges and evade the blades.
Ninja Foodi: While this machine is affordable and offers an impressive interface, we found the basin of the jar too large for the blades, and we also found out the hard way that the blades are not affixed to the jar, so when you pour something out, the blade comes with it. We think that by and large, this needs to be addressed by the manufacturer. That aside, it obliterated ice with the best of the blenders we tested.
Vitamix A3300: This is clearly a very powerful machine, but the electronics on it were puzzling, and while we’re aware of the initial error in our ways when first loading it , we received a series of error messages with no option to resolve, even after turning it on and off again. This is far too complex for most people who just want to turn a blender on and get on with their food or drink preparation.
Oster Versa: This is a heavy-duty piece of machinery, and it’s priced competitively. We just found that it didn’t blend particularly well due to the shape of the jar. If you have short storage space either in or under your cabinets, though, this one is much squatter than most other models.
Best Personal Blender: Nutribullet Znbf30500z Blender Combo
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Easy to use and clean
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Loud
The NutriBullet should be your top choice if you make a lot of single-serving drinks, have a small household, or want to preserve your limited counter space. In addition to the base, extractor blade, and tamper, this combo includes a 24-ounce handled cup, a 32-ounce cup, and a 64-ounce pitcher . Besides making drinks, it can also be used with heated foods such as soups and sauces. Customers warn that this blender is extremely loud. However, most agree that its quality and performance are worth the noise.
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Why Do I Need A Blender
A blender could be the key to helping you unlock your culinary potential by creating meals that are more fun and exciting.
Theyre also so much more than a way to conveniently chop or mix wet and dry ingredients. Jug blenders allow you to make a whole range of dishes, from soup to smoothies, silky purees, cocktails and even pancakes.