The 6 Best Blenders For Smoothies – Fall 2023 Reviews
Personal blenders are designed for blending up individual-sized smoothies. If you don’t need a large capacity jar and mainly use your blender for smoothies, the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO is a fantastic option. Its short, compact motor base makes it easy to bring in and out of a cupboard or store on your counter. The pair of 24-ounce personal jars can create a velvety blend with smoothie ingredients like leafy greens and berries. Like the Vitamix 5200, it can produce a nearly perfectly smooth mixture quickly. You can take your smoothie in the same jar since each has a matching spout lid. While its smaller capacity limits you, it’s versatile. The 14-ounce ‘Smoothie Bowl Maker’ jar has rotating arms that help a lot with thick mixtures, which is nice if you like making spoonable smoothie bowls with frozen fruits. It also easily crushes ice, meaning you can add a few ice cubes to your smoothie with no worries. However, it’s very loud. If you’re looking for a quiet personal blender for smoothies, the Beast Health Blender makes much less noise and similarly fantastic smoothies. Not all of its components are dishwasher-safe, and most variants only come with one jar, but it’s better built and has a modern aesthetic you might prefer.
Best Blender for Smoothies and Smoothie Maker
Best Smoothie Maker, Smoothie Machine, Smoothie Maker Blender and Blender for Smoothie
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The 6 Best Blenders For Smoothies – Fall 2023 Reviews
If a smoothie is part of your morning routine or a typical post-workout snack, you’ll want a blender that makes quick work of ingredients like chunks of frozen fruit and leafy greens like kale. A good smoothie blender can handle large and small amounts of fibrous ingredients and help with a wider variety of kitchen chores. Many full-size blenders come with personal-sized jars to blend single-serve smoothies.
The best blenders make it easy to whip up a silky, delicious drink and are simple to clean afterward. Depending on your preferences, you may also want something with preset modes for simple one-press smoothie blending or even a battery-powered model so you can make a fresh drink during your lunch break.
We’ve tested over 90 blenders, and below are our recommendations for the best smoothie makers. This list focuses on the best full-size blenders for smoothies, but most personal and bullet blenders are intended for smoothie making, so you can also find some great options on our lists of the best personal blenders and best bullet blenders. For more, check out the best blenders.
Βest Βlender For Smoothies
The Vitamix 5200 is the best blender for smoothies we’ve tested. This sturdy, premium blender might be overkill if you want a blender for simple smoothies, but it’s worth considering if you’re looking for a durable machine and the smoothest blends. It comes with a 64-ounce jar to accommodate big batches and smoothly blends difficult, fibrous ingredients like leafy greens and fruit skin. Unlike many full-size blenders, it processes small batches for single-serves just as well as bigger batches. If you want a smaller jar for single-serve smoothies, you can purchase a personal-sized blending jar separately from Vitamix, although that is an added expense. It’s very well-built and has a long seven-year warranty (depending on where you buy it). The controls are simple, consisting of a speed dial and a switch for pulsing. That’s all you need for any recipe, but it means you stop the blender manually when it’s done, so you may find it less convenient than a blender with automatic blending programs. If you want blending programs, some other full-size models from Vitamix are strong choices, like the Vitamix A3500. As part of Vitamix’s ‘Ascent’ Series, it’s a more expensive option, but it’s packed with extra features, including five blending programs and a companion app that you can use to access more. The pricier A3500 is much quieter, and its jar is also dishwasher-safe, unlike the 5200’s. If you’re willing to spend more on additional jars, you can purchase a smaller pitcher or personal jars for single-serves.
Best Upper Mid-Range Blender For Smoothies
The KitchenAid K400 is a cheaper option with a similar performance when blending common smoothie ingredients, like fruit, leafy greens, and ice cubes. It’s not as well-built as the Vitamix 5200 and has a much shorter, one-year warranty (again, depending on where you buy it). Still, it blends fibrous ingredients like fruit and leafy greens into a smooth puree, whether you’re blending small volumes for single-serves or using the jar’s full 56oz capacity for multiple servings. Like the Vitamix, it only comes with its main jar, but KitchenAid sells personal jars for single-serve smoothies separately. Its controls also include a few blending programs, so the blender can stop automatically when it’s done. It’s more challenging to clean by hand than the Vitamix since it can be difficult to reach under the blades. However, that’s most noticeable with sticky ingredients, and it’s less of an issue if you’re mostly making liquidy recipes like smoothies. Similarly, it doesn’t include a tamper and isn’t easy to use for thicker mixtures like hummus or nut butter. Again, that’s fine if you only use your blender for smoothies, but if you care about overall versatility, it’s worth keeping in mind.
Best Mid-Range Blender For Smoothies
If you’re looking for a cheaper blender for smoothies (with an arguably more entertaining name), you might prefer the Breville the Fresh and Furious. It’s less versatile than the KitchenAid K400 and Vitamix 5200 since it’s not meant for blending hot ingredients, but it can make an equally well-blended smoothie, even with stubborn elements like leafy greens. It has no difficulty crushing ice cubes, and its controls include ‘Smoothie’ and ‘Green Smoothie’ blending programs. It’s also quieter than the KitchenAid and easier to clean by hand since its design makes it easier to reach the bottom of the jar and clean around the blades. While it’s well-built overall, it doesn’t feel as sturdy as previous picks. It has a slightly smaller capacity than the K400 and takes more blending time to produce similar results. Also, Breville doesn’t sell personal jars for single-serve smoothies. This blender is well-suited for blending small batches in its main jar, but if you want personal jars, you might prefer the Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher System. It comes with a 72oz main pitcher, a 24oz personal jar, and a 14oz ‘Smoothie Bowl Maker’ that’s helpful for thicker recipes. It has a lower maximum blending speed and doesn’t match the Breville blender’s performance in processing fibrous ingredients, so smoothies with kale will have more grains left over.
Best Budget Blender For Smoothies
The Oster Pro 1200 is the best blender for smoothies in the budget range that we’ve tested. As you might expect from a cheaper machine, it feels less well-built than the other blenders recommended here. Its 48oz main jar is also the smallest, which might be an issue if you usually blend multiple servings. That said, it comes with a 24oz jar and to-go lid, so you don’t need to spend extra if you want a personal blending jar that doubles as a travel cup. When it comes to making smoothies, it doesn’t quite match the virtually perfectly smooth texture you get with all of the previous picks, but it’ll still do a fantastic job with most recipes. It easily crushes ice, but the manufacturer says not to add more than six ice cubes at once, while most full-size blenders can handle twice that. You can remove the blade assembly from the main jar, making it easy to clean by hand. However, it only comes with one blade assembly instead of one for each jar, so you need to disassemble and reassemble it when you switch jars. Some parts of the blender feel flimsy and not very sturdy, but you can get it with a three-year U.S. warranty (depending on where you buy it), which is long for a blender. If you’d like to see more inexpensive blenders, you might find what you’re looking for on our list of the best budget blenders.
Βest Quiet Βlender For Smoothies
You can’t avoid the fact that blenders make noise, but you can avoid the loudest models if your roommates or family are usually asleep when you’re blending. The best quiet blender for smoothies that we’ve tested is the Hamilton Beach Professional Quiet Blender. It uses a plastic dome to muffle noise, making it much quieter than most blenders we’ve tested. It’s also well-built, easy to clean by hand, and has an automatic program for smoothies. Like all the blenders listed here, it’s superb for making silky-smooth drinks with ingredients like leafy greens and ice. However, it has a smaller capacity than the similarly-priced Breville the Fresh and Furious since its jar only holds 32 ounces. You can use the noise dome as a serving pitcher but not for blending. If you’re concerned with versatility, you might prefer the much pricier Wolf Gourmet Pro-Performance Blender. It doesn’t have a noise dome and isn’t as quiet as the Hamilton Beach, but it’s still very quiet for a full-size blender. It’s better suited for multiple servings since it has a 64oz jar. This premium option is sturdier and works better for multi-purpose use since it can smoothly blend thick recipes like nut butter. If the noise level is a priority, check our recommendations for the best quiet blenders.
Best Personal Blender For Smoothies
Personal blenders are designed for blending up individual-sized smoothies. If you don’t need a large capacity jar and mainly use your blender for smoothies, the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO is a fantastic option. Its short, compact motor base makes it easy to bring in and out of a cupboard or store on your counter. The pair of 24-ounce personal jars can create a velvety blend with smoothie ingredients like leafy greens and berries. Like the Vitamix 5200, it can produce a nearly perfectly smooth mixture quickly. You can take your smoothie in the same jar since each has a matching spout lid. While its smaller capacity limits you, it’s versatile. The 14-ounce ‘Smoothie Bowl Maker’ jar has rotating arms that help a lot with thick mixtures, which is nice if you like making spoonable smoothie bowls with frozen fruits. It also easily crushes ice, meaning you can add a few ice cubes to your smoothie with no worries. However, it’s very loud. If you’re looking for a quiet personal blender for smoothies, the Beast Health Blender makes much less noise and similarly fantastic smoothies. Not all of its components are dishwasher-safe, and most variants only come with one jar, but it’s better built and has a modern aesthetic you might prefer.
Notable Mentions
- Vitamix Propel 750: The Vitamix Propel 750 performs similarly to the Vitamix 5200 for smoothies but has automatic blending programs on its dial, which you may prefer. It also has a simpler design than the Vitamix A3500 since it lacks extras like Bluetooth connectivity and a display screen. However, it’s more expensive, and the blender is unsuitable for blending small batches of fibrous ingredients. See our review
- NutriBullet Pro 900: The NutriBullet Pro 900 is a personal blender that does a fantastic job of blending fibrous ingredients. It’s much quieter than the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO, and it comes with cup rings that you can use to drink from the jars at home. However, you can’t use it to crush ice without liquid in the jar, and if you like spoonable smoothies, you’ll find Ninja’s ‘Smoothie Bowl Maker’ jar easier to use. See our review
Recent Updates
- Nov 01, 2023: We’ve checked that the picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.
- Oct 03, 2023: Added a new ‘FAQ’ section. No changes made to the picks.
- Sep 12, 2023: Made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock.
- Aug 15, 2023: Added the Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher System [CO351B, SS351] as alternative to the Breville the Fresh and Furious. Also added the NutriBullet 900 to Notable Mentions.
- Jul 19, 2023: Checked that the picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.
FAQ
What size blender do I need for smoothies?
It depends if you want to blend multiple servings at once or just enough for one person. Personal blenders are smaller and usually have a resealable lid, so you can use the jar as a travel cup. Full-size blenders are better for blending multiple servings at once. If you want both, look for a full-size blender with personal jars so you can blend up smoothies for a crowd or make a personal blend for yourself.
How do I choose a good blender for smoothies?
For ingredients like leafy greens and fruit, it’s important that a blender can process fibrous ingredients smoothly. The blade speed is a factor -higher blade speeds are helpful for making a silky-smooth blend with fibrous elements like kale. If you’re looking for a full-size blender that can blend single-serves, a narrower jar can help prevent splashing. However, a lot of variables can affect a blender’s performance, so it depends on the model.
How many watts is good for a smoothie blender? Is 600 watts enough for smoothies?
Generally, more power is better for any kind of recipe, but you can’t assume more power will equal a better performance in all cases. The KitchenAid K150 has a relatively low motor power (650W) but does a much better job of blending fibrous ingredients compared to some higher-power blenders, like the Ninja Smart Screen and Ninja Professional Blender NJ601AMZ (1000W). The Magic Bullet Mini does a good job of smoothly blending fibrous ingredients, and it has a much lower blending power (250W), although it has a much smaller capacity.
Blade speed and jar shape are big factors in blending performance, so it’s hard to judge a blender based on motor power alone. Faster blending speeds are better for smooth blends with fruits and veggies, while narrow or small jars often work best for smaller batches. Blending programs don’t necessarily produce better results, but if your recipe includes a lot of ice cubes or frozen fruit, you may want a blender with pulse mode since it helps break up bigger chunks.
When making a smoothie, what goes first?
Adding liquid first, followed by ice, frozen fruit, and other ingredients, helps reduce the effort it takes for the blender to get going. Adding heavy ingredients last, like ice cubes, can also be helpful since they can help weigh down lighter stuff like leafy greens and push everything toward the blades.
Can you make milkshakes in a smoothie maker?
Sure! Many milkshake recipes simply include ice cream and milk, and a good blender won’t have an issue blending that combination. If you want milkshakes that you can eat with a spoon, a blender that does a good job with thick mixtures like nut butter will have an easier time keeping the ingredients moving. Of course, if your blender struggles, you can add more liquid.
How long should you blend a smoothie?
The very best blenders for smoothies can blend a single-serve or full batch in 1-2 minutes, even if it includes difficult ingredients like fruit and leafy greens. Of course, it depends on your recipe, so you just blend until you get the results you want or until you notice that it’s not getting any smoother from more blending. However, blending for several minutes can heat the ingredients.
All Reviews
Our above recommendations are what we think are currently the best smoothie makers for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper blender wins over a pricier one if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no blenders that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you want to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our blender reviews for smoothies. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no blender is perfect, most blenders are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you look for them.