Best Blenders: Ultimate 2021 Buyer’s Guide

The ability to make your own blended drinks at home can be an easy, fun, and healthy way to enjoy your favorite drinks. Yet, if you’re not using the best blenders, you’ll soon find that blending fruits and veggies can be a time-consuming process. Why? Because low-quality models tend to jam or overheat easily.

If you’ve decided to make healthier food choices, or if you simply want to spend a fun night with the kids and make your famous chocolate shakes, then you need a blender that’s powerful, versatile, and reliable. I’ve put together this buyer’s guide, which is designed to help you find the perfect blender based on the types of drinks you want to create. I’ve included all of the important features to look for that will indicate power, durability, and a fast and efficient blending process. I’ve also spent a significant amount of time testing out many of the best-selling models, narrowing it down to eight blenders that offer the type of power and versatility that most buyers are looking for.

Below, you’ll find a comparison chart that includes each blender, their top features, and their rating.

Blenders Comparison Chart

Product	Type	Power	Blending Programs	Rating
Vitamix A2500 Ascent Series Smart Blender Shop On Amazon!	Countertop	1440 Watts	3
Cuisinart Hurricane Pro Blender Shop On Amazon!	Commercial	1170 Watts	5
Ninja Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender Shop On Amazon!	Countertop	1000 Watts	0
Ninja Foodi Blender Shop On Amazon!	Commercial	400 Watts	12
NutriBullet ZNBF30500Z Blender Combo Shop On Amazon!	Bullet	1200 Watts	1
Nutribullet Nutrient Extractor Blender Shop On Amazon!	Bullet	600 Watts	0
Oster Blender Pro 1200 Blender Shop On Amazon!	Countertop	1200 Watts	3
Want Join Professional Blender Shop On Amazon!	Countertop	2200 Watts	0

Vitamix A2500 Ascent Series Smart Blender

Our Rating: (5/5)

Considered one of the best blender of all-time, the Vitamix A2500 can do so much more than make milkshakes and smoothies, although it does an excellent job of whipping up your favorite icy drinks. This blender features a total of three program settings to choose from:

• Frozen desserts
• Hot soups
• Smoothies

The blender’s variable speed control, in addition to the standard pulse feature allows users to create the perfect texture, based on the recipe. This model also features wireless connectivity. The motor can determine the volume of ingredients the user chooses and will adjust the program settings automatically, which results in a final product that’s blended to perfection. The included digital timer will take the guesswork out of creating any drink, dessert, smoothie, and more. The timer is designed to help improve texture, so you’ll get the perfect results each time. The blender features 120 volts of power, so it’s tough enough to take on more challenging ingredients such as potatoes, carrots, and leafy green veggies.

Conclusion

This model by Vitamix is unlike any blender you’ve ever used before. The included program settings will allow you to add ingredients and hit the appropriate program button and wait until your food is blended to perfection. The self-detect technology recognizes the container size automatically, adjusting the max blending time and program settings for a fool proof way to create your favorite drink, dessert, or soup. The high-performance motor can handle it all. Unlike lower powered blenders, this model will not stall out or overheat, so you can blend up even the most challenging ingredients to perfection, each and every time.

Cuisinart Hurricane Pro Blender

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This model is a commercial-grade blender that offers 3.5 HPs. The large pitcher measures in at sixty-four ounces and is made out of BPA-free materials. The handle features a soft grip coating that makes it more comfortable to pour. The blender uses Blend Logix operating technology, which automatically detects the load size, adjusting to the contents in the pitcher for a perfect blending experience. The variable speed controls range from 1500-25000 RPMs, with turbo boost coming in at 30,000 for max power. The included memory function allows you to adjust the preset times, saving them for the next blending session. This blender is so powerful you can create the perfect green juice in a matter of seconds. The blender can also be used to make baby food, dips, sauces, salsa, smoothies, milkshakes, hummus, and more.

Conclusion

This blender has it all including five blending programs, a large pitcher capacity so you can make smoothies for the whole family in one shot, and a turbo boost function that you can use for the toughest fruits and veggies. The variable speed controls, Blend Logix technology, and 3.5 HP motor makes this a must-have model for the cook who loves to whip up delicious shakes, smoothies, iced coffee, and more.

Ninja Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This model features a one-thousand-watt motor and a large pitcher with a sixty-four-ounce capacity. This blender is perfect for making large batches of smoothies, milkshakes, and any type of creamy frozen dessert. The six-blade design will perfectly blend any ingredients and will make short work of ice, so you can make your own iced coffee drinks, snow cones, and other popular frozen desserts. The blender lacks any preset programs, which may be a drawback for some potential buyers. Instead, it allows you to choose from three setting options. In terms of cleanup, maintaining this model is a breeze. The higher capacity pitcher will be a huge selling point for most buyers who want to whip up a large batch of milkshakes, margaritas, iced coffee, and other popular drinks.

Conclusion

While the blender lacks any fancy bells and whistles, it does offer a solid, powerful performance. It’s one of the toughest models in my lineup and it’s definitely a blender that can handle preparing food for a large party and works great for regular daily use. Basically, if you’re looking for a blender that can handle making your daily pitcher of smoothies, green juice, or other favorite drinks, then this is definitely the blender you’ve been looking for.

Ninja Foodi Blender

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

The Foodi, by Ninja, features a sixty-four-ounce pitcher made out of glass, a fourteen hundred peak watt motor, an eight-hundred-watt heating element that can be used for soups and infused drinks, and an impressive twelve auto IQ programs.

This is a versatile blender that will allow you to crush ice for smoothies and iced coffee, make margaritas, and it can also liquefy whole fruits and veggies. You can use the blender to cook veggies and proteins to create a smooth or hearty soup, dips, salsa, sauces, and more. The blender can even be used to melt cheese or chocolate for fondue. The heating feature can also be used to infuse drinks, such as sodas, craft cocktails, or fruit waters. The blender’s impressive high-speed extraction blade offers total crushing power and is able to handle even the toughest ingredients, thanks to the appliance’s fourteen-hundred-watt motor and the stainless-steel blade design. If you’re new to blender use and you want a fail proof way to create your favorite drinks or dishes, then you can take advantage of the twelve intelligent programs. These programs use automated patterns of pausing and pulsing with precision temperature control, delivering a wide range of cooking and blending possibilities.

Conclusion

This blender has it all. It comes with several blending programs to choose from, a dedicated cleaning program, a high capacity glass pitcher, and a powerful motor that can cut through pretty much anything. This model is commercial quality all the way and will be a great fit in a home kitchen or a commercial one.

NutriBullet ZNBF30500Z Blender Combo

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This blender combo features a twelve-hundred-watt motor base, three precision speeds to choose from, in addition to pulse action, and an extract program that allows you to make fresh green juice with just the push of a button. This combo includes a sixty-four-ounce pitcher, a thirty-two-ounce cup, a twenty-four-ounce cup, a couple of to-go lids, recipe book, and an extractor blade. The blender’s powerful extraction technology, coupled with its versatile functionality will allow users to make a wide variety of drinks, desserts, nut butters, sauces, dips, soups, and more. The variable speed control is a big deal. You can choose from three precision speeds, and the pulse function, or you can use the extraction program and create juice or smoothies, in a matter of seconds.

The included cups allow you to pour your drink and head off to the office, so you’ll no longer throw money away on expensive smoothies, iced coffees, or fresh squeezed juice at your local fast food chain.

Conclusion

This feature-packed blender combo is perfect for anyone who wants to make healthier lifestyle choices and create their own juices or smoothies, right in the comfort of their own kitchen. The included to-go cups allow you to whip up your favorite morning beverage and take it with you to the office or for a day of running errands. The blender’s powerful motor allows you to truly get creative in the kitchen as it makes short work of tougher fruits and veggies. Overall, this is a very versatile, powerful blender combo and a must-have for the smoothie lover.

Nutribullet Nutrient Extractor Blender

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This latest model from Nutribullet is designed to make nutrient loaded smoothies. This blender can handle whole foods including spinach, berries, and nuts. To make a smoothie, fill up the cup with your favorite smoothie ingredients, twist the jar and blend your food in a matter of seconds. The motor offers six hundred watts of power and features nutrient extraction blades that are designed to blend whole foods in a matter of seconds. The blades utilize cyclonic action that’s designed to break down even the toughest ingredients. The cups are made from BPA-free plastic and are a cinch to clean. This set includes one to-go lid and one twenty-four-ounce cup. This allows you to blend up a smoothie and take it with you in the same blending jar, adding the to-go lid, for a fast and efficient way to make your morning smoothie.

Conclusion

The blender’s basic design makes it more beginner friendly. Now, you can enjoy a fresh smoothie in under one minute, just push, twist, and the blender will roar to life. This is one powerful little blender, but it doesn’t offer much in terms of extra features such as variable speed options or blending programs to choose from. However, if you’re looking for a powerful, durable blender that can handle making your morning smoothie, then you’ll love what this model by Nutribullet has to offer.

Oster Blender Pro 1200 Blender

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This little blender is packing some serious power, featuring seven speed options and three blending programs. The blender’s dual direction blade provides extra blending power to grind and chop more efficiently. This model’s twelve hundred watts of power can handle a wide range of ingredients including leafy greens, nuts, tough fruits and veggies, and ice. The manufacturer claims this blender’s blade is fifty percent larger compared to models produced by Oster in the past, which is what makes this model so tough and one of Oster’s best-sellers.

Conclusion

This compact blender features a six-cup all-glass jar, a larger than average blade system, seven speed options in addition to pulse and a durable design that can handle heavy-duty use. The included blending presets will allow you to create your favorite icy drinks with just the push of a button, while the variable speed controls add to the blender’s versatility, so you can create a wide variety of icy drinks, salsa, dips, hummus, nut butters, baby food, and more.

Want Join Professional Blender

Our Rating: (4/5)

This blender from Want Join features 2200 watts of power, with three peak HPs. The large two-liter capacity pitcher makes it easy to whip up a pitcher of smoothies for the entire family, in a single shot. The pitcher can handle both hot and cold beverages, so you can make bulletproof coffee, soups, frozen desserts, shakes, smoothies, and more. However, despite the blender’s powerful motor, this model struggles and can overheat when dealing with leafy green veggies. This may be a deal-breaker for the buyer who is looking for a blender that can handle this type of produce. Additionally, the blades can also jam up with softer fruits such as papaya or banana. While the blender is pretty versatile and able to handle a variety of frozen desserts, salsa, and dip, the fact that it can overheat when blending leafy greens such as spinach or kale, can be reason enough for some buyers to pass this model on by.

Conclusion

This model may have a powerful motor, but its blade system is seriously lacking. While this can be a great multipurpose blender for the home, if you’re mainly looking to upgrade your old blender for one that is able to blend up your favorite leafy green veggies to a smoother consistency, then you’ll need to keep looking.

Blenders Buyer’s Guide

With the right blender, you can create a variety of tasty drinks right in your kitchen, with just the push of a button or two. In fact, you can get more use out of your blender than you realize. Below, I’ll touch on some of the many benefits that come with owning one of the best blender on the market.

Benefits of Blenders

• A blender can easily turn veggies and fruits into a smoothie-like consistency using high-speed rotating blades that won’t separate the liquid from the pulpy parts of the fruits and veggies. The entire fruit or veggie will simply be transformed into a semi-liquid or liquid form that can be spooned from a soup bowl or drunk from a cup.
• If you have a hard time eating enough fruits and veggies daily, then you need a blender in your life. A blender will make fruits and veggies more enticing, allowing you to blend nutrient dense produce into tasty desserts or drinks.
• Blenders are great for families with kids who refuse to eat their veggies. Most kids will enjoy the combination of sweet fruits with bland tasting veggies because the sweetness of the fruit is able to easily mask the bitterness or blandness of veggies.
• In some cases, a blender can be a better choice than a juicer since a blender is more versatile and will allow you to create juice, soup, sauces, salsa, dips, desserts, shakes, and smoothies.
• The ability to turn whole fruits and veggies into food that’s easily consumed is a huge plus. A juicer will extract juice from fruit, but it will discard the fiber and minerals such as iron and calcium. Basically, with a blender, there’s no waste. You’ll get all the healthy fiber and important nutrients that are needed for a healthy diet.
• The sugar content found in pure juice is usually much higher compared to whole fruit. As an example, a serving of orange juice comes from several oranges, combining a high level of fructose. Additionally, juice is absorbed more quickly than if the whole fruit were consumed. Many nutritionists recommend limiting juice to no more than one eight-ounce glass daily since many types of juice are very high in fructose. This isn’t as big of an issue for veggies and fruits that are processed using a blender since the whole food will be consumed. The whole fruit or veggie is considered more nutritionally valuable compared to extracted juice. Additionally, since the whole food contains fiber, it will be digested at a slower rate, leaving you feeling full longer, while also aiding in bowel health.
• Blenders are much easier to clean and maintain compared to juicers since they don’t contain as many moving parts. With the blender, all you have to clean is the pitcher and the lid.

Types of Blenders

While a blender may look a lot like a food processor, they’re not specifically designed to help with cooking. Blenders are mainly designed to blend and cut up ingredients in order to make liquid mixtures and drinks. There are dozens of models of blenders on the market that can be categorized into five main types:

• Single-serve
• Portable
• Commercial
• Conventional
• Countertop/Personal

Conventional

A conventional blender is designed to handle most blending needs and tends to be larger than portable models. Because of their design they usually take up more counter space compared to a personal blender. However, they also come equipped with a tough motor and are designed to handle heavy-duty blending tasks. While they’re considered the most expensive type of blender, there are also affordable options out there.

Personal/Countertop

Personal or countertop blenders are a better choice for specific uses, such as preparing a fast meal. They don’t offer much in terms of power when compared to conventional models, but they do offer a great space-saving design and are a more affordable option.

Single Serve

These blenders are also referred to as bullet blenders and have been popular for a few years. They’re available in a variety of sizes, but most models have a low capacity that’s designed to blend enough fruits and veggies for a double or single serving.

The way these blenders work is pretty unique. You’ll fit the bullet-shaped pitcher over the ingredients, screw on the chopping blade on top of the pitcher, then turn it upside down and insert it into the base to blend. These blenders are a great choice for making smoothies. They do an excellent job of chopping up nuts, ice, fruits, and more. They’re also a great choice for salsa, making pancake batter, or prepping ingredients for an omelet. Speed is by far one of the biggest advantages a single serve model has to offer. They’re really fast at turning chunky ingredients into a smooth, creamy liquid. Although, if you end up purchasing a low-quality model then you may run into an issue with the pitcher leaking. This is often caused by the blade unit not attaching firmly to the container.

Portable

This type of blender is fairly new and should not be confused with a personal blender. These blenders consist of a clear glass tube, with one end that will screw into the blade base. The base is what contains the motor. The other end will screw into a lid. These models are compact and lightweight, making them highly portable. This style is a great choice for office use, gym use, or making baby food on the go. Obviously, their biggest advantage is their portable design. The motor and blade unit operate on a rechargeable battery that’s charged via a USB charger.

Commercial

If you’re looking for the toughest blender on the market, one that offers the highest level of power possible, then you need a commercial blender. These models are all about power and designed to withstand heavy-duty use. They are also able to handle blending tougher ingredients. A commercial model is perfect for making big batches of dips or hummus. Their larger motor and heavy-duty design make them a better option for the daily user. Some models feature a self-cleaning mode, requiring you to just add water and dish detergent, making these models very low maintenance.

Other Important Features

When you’re shopping for a blender, you should begin your search by considering exactly how you plan to use it. Do you need a model that can make salsa? Protein shakes? Dip? Smoothies? Also consider how often you need to use your blender, and whether counter space or portability is important.

Like with all kitchen appliances, not all blenders are created equal. As I went over earlier, there are many different types available, each offering a variety of features. Some models can handle making a huge batch of smoothies, while others are designed to make enough for just one or two smoothies. Others will struggle with certain types of produce, such as root veggies, or leafy green veggies. Low priced models may not be able to handle daily use, while a large commercial blender may be overkill for someone who enjoys making a shake every once in a while.

Below, I’ll go over the many different features available and how to choose a blender that can meet your needs, whether you’re looking for a model that’s a solid performer, one that can handle daily use, or a blender that’s beginner friendly.

Motor

One of the biggest things that will set each model apart is the motor size. A commercial model will come with a motor that offers 1400 watts or more. Low-priced models tend to offer around 500 watts. A higher-powered motor means that you’ll get the right type of power to create a creamier blend, especially if you’re dealing with nuts, herbs, or fibrous veggies and fruits. To play it safe, make sure you go with a model that offers the highest number of watts that will work with your budget.

Pitchers

Most models will come with a pitcher or jar that’s made out of plastic. High-quality models will come with a pitch that uses Tritan plastic, which is a heavy-duty material that’s lightweight and shatterproof. Other pitchers may be made out of glass, which will not absorb food odors or stains, however, glass pitchers are not shatterproof.

Many containers will come with a capacity of sixty-four ounces or higher, which will allow you to blend up several servings at once.

Preprogrammed Settings

If you want a blender that you can set and forget, then a model that comes loaded with a variety of blending programs will be a great choice. Many higher priced models will come with one touch buttons that you can use to make spreads, dips, crush ice, make soups or salsa, or smoothies and shakes. A pulse button is found on most models and it allows you to stop or start the blending process as needed. Other models will come with timers that will help when it comes to taking the guesswork out of blending times.

If you love soup, then you’ll be overjoyed with models that come equipped with a heating element. All you have to do is add ingredients, set a timer or choose a soup preset button and once the program is over, your soup will be nice, hot and perfectly cooked.

Attachments and Extras

Some blenders will also come with attachments. If you’re not planning on using your blender very often, then you may not be interested in any add-ons. However, if you enjoy a smoothie every morning and want to take one with you, then models that come with attachments or smaller cups for on the go use will be very convenient.

Tampers are a common extra and they consist of a plastic tool that you’ll insert through the lid of the blender in order to break up jams or air bubbles while the machine is still in use. These tampers are perfectly sized so you won’t have to worry about hitting the blades. If there’s no vortex while the blades are spinning, instead of shutting the blender off and using a spoon or pouring in more liquid in order to get the blending process going again, all you have to do is use the included tamper to tamp down the ingredients and the blender will get back to work.

Space

Conventional blenders are large and much bulkier compared to personal blenders. Some are also very tall, measuring a little over twenty inches. They offer more power and volume, however, they may not fit in your cupboards, so they’ll need to be stored on the counter.

A personal blender is much shorter and doesn’t take up much space. In terms of height, they usually measure in at thirteen to sixteen inches.

Cleaning

Conventional blenders can self-clean easily and effectively. All you have to do is pour some dish soap and water into the pitcher, then run it for a couple minutes at the highest speed setting. This process will clean the inside of the container and the blades without all the hassle. Personal blenders don’t support self-cleaning. Fortunately, most models have parts that are dishwasher safe.

Price

Blenders that are under $100 will often offer low to medium powered motors. Under $50, you’ll find many affordable immersion or personal blenders. Over the $100 mark, you’ll come across many higher-quality models that offer the type of versatility, durability, and power that the daily blender user is looking for. At $200 there are a wide variety of conventional and commercial blenders that are designed for home and commercial kitchen use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Blenders Destroy Nutrients?

Blending will change the texture and appearance of foods by turning them into a liquid. However, it doesn’t cause them to lose any nutrients. During the blending process, fibers that are found in veggies and fruits will not get destroyed.

Is Blending Vegetables Good for You?

Blending can be more beneficial since the body can absorb more nutrients. This is because the blender has the power to break up a plant’s cell walls. This will result in the release of antioxidants. Blending also aids in digestion.

Is Blending Food Better Than Chewing?

Blending is easier on digestion and allows the body to get a head start on the breakdown process, which can be beneficial for anyone with digestion issues. When you blend food, you’re eliminating the need for the stomach to do all the hard work that comes with breaking down the food.

What are Good Blended Foods?

Simply choose any food you want and blend it with water and monitor how your body tolerates it. Some foods you should consider blending include beef, turkey, peas, squash, green beans, sweet potatoes, rice, oats, avocados, plums, pears, peaches, apples, and bananas.

What Foods Should You Avoid Putting in a Blender?

Unless your blender has a soup feature, avoid putting any extra-hot liquids in your blender. Additionally, avoid blending foods that are starchy and thick, such as potatoes. Foods that can cause blender performance issues include whole spices, cubed ice, dried fruit, coffee beans, bones, and frozen foods.

Final Thoughts on Best Blenders

The models I’ve included on my best blender list are equipped with the latest in blending technology and are made out of high-quality materials designed for longevity and an optimal performance. While brand and price will factor into what type of blender you end up purchasing, you should also focus on factors that will directly impact the blender’s overall performance. This includes safety features, design, and functionality. If you’re a beginner and searching for a model that’s budget-friendly, then a personal or portable blender may be right up your alley. However, if you find yourself using your blender several times a week, then a conventional or commercial model will be a great investment.