The best blenders for green smoothies have to be powerful, efficient, easy to use, and versatile. Unfortunately, you can’t use just any type of blender to make a green smoothie. Green leafy veggies are very fibrous, which can make it difficult for low-powered blenders to chop and blend. Because of this, high-performance or bullet blenders are often needed. These are the models that come with top of the line stainless steel blade designs, high wattage motors, and a variety of attachments, blending programs, and extra features.
But finding a model that can handle making a green smoothie isn’t as easy as you’d think. Which is why I’ve reviewed several of the leading models on the market. I’ve narrowed down my choices to the top five blenders and included a couple of different styles of blenders that have a reputation for being up to the task. This includes high-performance and bullet blenders. These machines can handle chopping, grinding, pureeing, and blending pretty much anything, so they can be used for more than just your favorite smoothie-making recipes.
Below, you’ll find a comparison chart for each of the blenders I’ve included on my top five list. You’ll notice some similarities and differences between each model while learning what each blender has to offer in terms of power and blending efficiency.
Table of Contents
- Green Smoothie Blenders Comparison Chart
- Best Overall-NutriBullet NBR-1201 High-Speed Blender
- Most Versatile-Ninja Mega Kitchen System
- Best Countertop Blender-Oster Blender Pro 1200 Blender
- Best Value-Blender By Cleanblend: Smoothie Blender
- Highly Portable-Nutri Ninja Personal and Countertop Blender
- Blenders Buyer’s Guide
- Final Thoughts on Selecting Best Blenders for Green Smoothies
Green Smoothie Blenders Comparison Chart
Product | Type | Watts | Cost | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
NutriBullet NBR-1201![]() | Bullet | 600 | $ | |
Ninja Mega Kitchen![]() | High-performance | 1500 | $$ | |
Oster Blender Pro 1200![]() | Countertop blender | 1200 | $$ | |
Blender By Cleanblend![]() | high-performance | 1800 | $$ | |
Nutri Ninja Blender![]() | Bullet | 1200 | $$ |
Best Overall-NutriBullet NBR-1201 High-Speed Blender
Our Rating:
If you know anything about blenders, then you’re probably familiar with the NutriBullet brand. Their latest model is loaded with some great features and offers a lightweight design that makes it highly portable and easy to store. It’s also known as one of the quietest running models on the market, so you’ll be free to make your favorite type of green smoothie any time of the night or day.
Not only can this blender handle green smoothies, green juice, and milkshakes, but it will also quickly become your go-to appliance if you enjoy icy drinks, such as margaritas. It doesn’t have the type of motor power that some of the other top blenders I’ve reviewed do, but it offers a very intuitive setup that makes this model beginner-friendly and simple to use and maintain. The price is also right, so if you’re looking for a model you can really depend on, then take a closer look at the NBR 1201. To learn more about how to use this model to make green juice, click here to read my article on juicing tips for beginners.
Most Versatile-Ninja Mega Kitchen System
Our Rating:
Introducing the Mega Kitchen System by Ninja. If you’re looking for a model that packs some serious power, then be prepared to fall in love with what this model can do. This is a feature-heavy blender that can blend and puree anything you throw at it. Its beginner-friendly design allows you to really get creative in the kitchen and try your hand at a variety of smoothie and juicing recipes. This model comes with several extras including a mini prep bowl, which you can use to dice up ingredients, make crumbs for toppings or crust, or grate cheese. The food processor bowl attaches to the base and comes with its own dedicated blade. There’s another attachment you can use when the blender is in the food processor mode, and that’s the dough blade. This attachment will expertly mix and knead dough for you, in a matter of minutes.
As you can see, this model is incredibly versatile and offers the functions of four different appliances in one. While it can take up quite a bit of counter space due to its bulky design, if you’re using it to replace four appliances, you’ll end up saving both counter space and money.
Best Countertop Blender-Oster Blender Pro 1200 Blender
Our Rating:
This twelve hundred watt high-performance blender is all class. It can whip up a well-blended green smoothie in under a minute and can blend up coffee beans, crush ice, and chop of your fruits and veggies. Basically, it will make cooking a meal that much easier. This is a versatile blender that comes with some great features, such as three preset programs that allow even beginners to use their new blender like pros. The setting options will also give you more control over the blending process, while the forward and reverse blending action can be used in place of a tamper, so you can blend even the toughest fruits and veggies, effortlessly.
Best Value-Blender By Cleanblend: Smoothie Blender
Our Rating:
This is affordable, high-powered countertop blender can handle green smoothies, nut butters, ice, and even the toughest fruits and veggies. It comes equipped with an eighteen hundred watt motor, which is pretty impressive. Aside from specializing in smoothies, this blender can mill flour, make soups, salsas, and milkshakes. This model doesn’t come with any fancy presets, instead it features a large control dial that you can use to adjust the blending speed and power.
The simple setup and controls make it very beginner-friendly, however, you won’t have precise control over the blending process like you will with models that come with variable speed buttons.
Overall, this is a very efficient, durable blender that you can really rely on to turn out a perfect green smoothie. Additionally, the included five-year warranty will give potential buyers every reason to buy since it’s clear that the manufacturer stands behind this product.
Highly Portable-Nutri Ninja Personal and Countertop Blender
Our Rating:
The Nutri Ninja is a tough little bullet blender that comes complete with a couple of different blending cups and lids, so you can whip up a smoothie in the morning, add a lid to the blending cup and take your smoothie to go. This is another blender that’s very beginner-friendly, since it doesn’t come with controls. Instead, the motor will automatically roar to life once you screw on a blending cup and apply pressure to the top of the cup. It can handle green smoothies, nut butters, salsas, milkshakes, hummus dip, chopping up fresh fruits and veggies, and much more. It’s also available at a price that won’t break the bank so it’s perfect for families on a tight budget.
Blenders Buyer’s Guide
Most blenders can easily handle making a smoothie, but not all blenders can handle making green smoothies. But why?
Green smoothies consist of leafy green veggies. These veggies can easily make a low-powered blender struggle. If the veggies prevent the blades from turning, the motor will go into overdrive, attempting to continue to spin. This can cause the blender to overheat, which may or may not cause permanent damage.
So, what are the top blenders for green smoothies? There are a few different types of blenders to choose from, including high-performance, bullet, and immersion.
Immersion
These are handheld blenders that often come with a variety of attachments. These attachments make this style of blender very versatile, allowing you to make green smoothies, soup, pudding, and marinades. Size is the biggest advantage this type of blender offers. If your kitchen is small and you just don’t have the counter space to leave a blender out, or the cupboard space to store a blender, then an immersion blender is a great option. Their size also makes them highly portable.
Additionally, due to their smaller design, these blenders are usually much easier to clean and maintain. However, if you’re looking for a model that’s quiet-running, then an immersion-style blender is not the best option. They also tend to struggle when it comes to handling leafy greens, so if your goal is to make green smoothies, you should pass this style of blender on by in favor of a more powerful model.
Countertop
This type of blender is full-sized and much more powerful than an immersion blender. However, some models will not be able to handle some types of smoothie ingredients like a high-performance or bullet blender can. While they’re powerful enough to handle most types of fruits and veggies, they tend to struggle with ice and harder produce. They can also be a hassle to clean and tend to take up a lot of counter space.
Bullet Blender
If you’ve never used this type of blender before, then be prepared to fall in love. This style of blender is perfect for making one to two servings of shakes or smoothies. In terms of size, they’re a bit smaller than a traditional blender and feature a bullet-shaped cup that makes pouring a breeze.
Bullet models don’t take up much cupboard space or counter space, so they’re a great choice for smaller kitchens. Additionally, they can crush ice, handle leafy green veggies, and the cup size is perfect for smaller servings. They’re also more affordable compared to high-performance blenders so they a good option if you’re on a tight budget. One big drawback is their potential for leaking because of the upside-down cup design. Because of this, you’ll have to be extra careful not to overfill the blending cups and screw the blade attachments on carefully.
High-Performance Blender
Considered the most powerful type of blender you can buy, a high-performance blender can handle even the most challenging fruits and veggies. They can provide the ultimate smoothie consistency and texture, and can even allow you to make several smoothie servings in one shot. They can also handle challenging smoothie recipes without burning out. But considering their large, rather bulky design, they require plenty of storage space. Additionally, they’re also pretty expensive, especially when compared to immersion blenders.
Consider Serving Size of a Blender
Once you’ve decided on the type of blender you want, there are other important factors to consider before you make your final decision. This includes serving size options. Some blenders can make several smoothies at once, while others can only handle making one to two. Make sure the model you choose matches your family’s needs, especially if you have several smoothie drinkers in the home.
Storage Space in a Blender
The blender’s design will also matter. Do you have plenty of storage space for your new blender, in addition to its jars and accessories? A model with a smaller profile will allow you to store it in a kitchen cabinet or right on the counter.
Ease of Use
Some blenders are easier to clean than others. If you want a low-maintenance model, make sure it’s dishwasher safe.
Blending Controls
More speed options can mean you’ll have more control over the smoothie making process. Look for a model that has at least five speed options, in addition to pulse. Pulse can be an important feature to have and will come in handy when you’re dealing with tough or frozen ingredients. It can also help if you have to chop up ingredients and don’t want to puree or over-process them.
Power
Motor power really matters. This is one of the biggest factors that will determine the quality of a blender. Low-powered models are unable to handle ice or leafy green veggies. Models that are over five hundred watts can easily manage a variety of smoothie ingredients.
Pitcher/Jar
A blender jar can be made out of stainless steel, glass, or plastic. Plastic is usually the best option since it’s easy to handle and lightweight. However, it can also absorb and hold onto certain odors, or it can get scratched and stained. If you decide to go with a model that is equipped with a plastic jar or pitcher, then make sure it’s BPA-free.
Glass pitchers are breakable and heavier, however, they don’t scratch as easily and won’t hold onto odors like plastic pitchers will.
However, they can also be less safe to use with a high-performance blender because if a metal object is accidentally left inside the pitcher it can cause it to break or shatter, which can lead to a serious injury.
If you don’t want a jar or pitcher that’s made out of glass or plastic, then stainless steel can be a great alternative. But since you can’t view the contents in the jar or pitcher, it’s a much less popular option.
Frequency of Use
If you don’t plan on making smoothies daily, then you’ll probably be tempted to purchase a low-priced blender. But don’t make that mistake. If you’ve never used a high-powered blender before, once you do, you’ll never go back to a standard low-powered model. A high-powered model can provide the type of results most people are looking for. In fact, they work so well that you’ll find yourself using it more often. A low-powered model will struggle with cutting up fruits and veggies and can easily overheat, even if it’s brand new.
Durability of a Blender
If you’re going to use the blender to chop up or puree tough ingredients or crush a lot of ice, then will a low-powered blender even last? Make sure the blender you buy has the type of power you need and an overload shut off feature that works. A cheaper blender will wear out quickly, even after just a month or two of use. If you don’t want to deal with constantly replacing your blender, then go with a model you know is going to last. In the end, you will save both time and money.
Accessories
Some models will come with a tamper, which will help the ingredients blend much better. Handheld models will come with a variety of attachments that you can use based on what you’re making.
Attachments can include personal cups, which allow you to blend up a single serving smoothie for a fast grab and go drink.
Mixing and chopping bowls feature sharper blades that will allow you to blend the tough stuff and work just like a food processor.
A coffee grinder attachment will allow you to grind up coffee beans, so you can enjoy the taste of freshly roasted coffee in the morning.
Warranty
A model that comes with a warranty is a clear indication that you’re buying a blender that was designed to last. Higher-priced models will come with a warranty that ranges from one to five years. Lower-priced models will come with a warranty that usually covers the blender for six to twelve months.
Blenders Price
You can easily find a blender for under thirty dollars. You can also find models that are priced in the hundreds. Price is usually a reflection of the blender’s overall quality. However, you can find a moderately priced bullet style blender for under one hundred dollars, some of which pack enough power that you won’t ever go back to a traditional countertop blender.
Functions
If you’re looking for a blender, mainly to make frozen drinks, smoothies, and shakes, then make sure you choose a model that has at least five hundred to eight hundred watts of power. High-performance blenders have the type of ice crushing power you need. Of course, many higher-priced bullet blenders are also up to the task. But if you want a model that can handle making green smoothies, you need to be careful in terms of researching a blender that’s up to the task, even if the model is categorized as high-performance.
Smoothie Making Tips
You can easily make a green smoothie using a bullet or high-powered blender, so you won’t need to use other equipment to enjoy a nutrient-packed smoothie in the comfort of your own home.
How to Make a Green Smoothie
- If you want to make a green smoothie, the first step is choosing the fruit and greens you’ll use. For a green smoothie, you want a ratio of sixty percent greens and forty percent fruit. The fruit is added simply to balance the bitterness of the leafy green veggies. The other ingredients you throw in include liquid such as almond milk or water. You can also add a texture booster such as chia seeds or flax seeds. Some people prefer to enhance the flavor of the smoothie by adding important superfoods including minced ginger root or spirulina.
When you’re picking ingredients for a smoothie, make sure you avoid mixing deep green and red ingredients, otherwise, you’ll end up with a brown smoothie.
- To get started, prepare the veggies and fruits by rinsing them off thoroughly. Only peel the fruit if necessary. Most types of smoothies incorporate the whole fruit or veggie, which can minimize the amount of time you spend preparing the produce. After you’ve cleaned and peeled the fruits and veggies, chop them up roughly if they’re too big for the blender. Smaller fruits such as blueberries and blackberries can just be tossed right into the pitcher.
- Next, you’ll add the liquids, then the fruits, followed by the greens. You will need to use the pulse button in order to mix the ingredients. If you’re using a high-performance blender or a bullet blender, you can add most of the ingredients at the same time, however, if you’re adding a lot of leafy greens, these should be added gradually.
There’s no single recipe for making the perfect smoothie, however, most recipes will call for more veggies than fruit. If you’re wondering how much liquid or water to add, it should equal the amount of chopped greens you use. However, feel free to experiment with ratios. In some cases, you may need to add more fruit than veggies, especially if you’re using a lot of kale, which has a very bitter taste.
- Once you’ve made your smoothie, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and rinse the pitcher immediately after pouring your smoothie into its awaiting glass. This can help to prevent the pitcher from absorbing any odors.
- Allow the pitcher to air dry and wipe down the base of the machine using a damp sponge or cloth.
Final Thoughts on Selecting Best Blenders for Green Smoothies
This guide and my in-depth reviews of the best blenders for green smoothies will set you on the right path to finding the perfect model that’s up to the task. Remember, paying close attention to a model’s power rating, versatility and durability will be important, especially if your goal is to eat healthier and make green smoothies on a daily basis. By following the tips I’ve included here, you can find the perfect blender, one that’s affordable, easy to use and maintain, and designed to last.