We tested the top blenders for soups and smoothies.
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This guide includes:
1Artisan Blender View Price (opens new tab)4
Editor’s note: August 2022
Our #1 blender, the Vitamix A3500, continues to be. The blender is versatile and can be set to create delicious smoothies. It is not cheap, but we recognize that. We have moved the Breville blender up to number 2 so that you can quickly get to it, even if your budget is tight.
We have also included the Zwilling Enfinigy, which we reviewed at July 2022’s end, in this guide. This blender is great and has safety features like the ability to not operate until the lid is completely closed.
Jennifer Oksien, Editor – Homes
Blenders aren’t only for summer drinks and smoothies. These blenders can also make it easier to cook. These versatile and easy-to-use appliances can make it easier to cook a great meal or order take-out when you’re with friends.
There are many types of blenders. There are standard blenders with large pitchers, blenders designed for single-serve drinks and handheld immersion blenders for those who have limited kitchen space. These immersion blenders allow you to use your saucepan to make soups and sauces, without having to add another appliance to your kitchen. You can read more about the differences in our article on immersion blenders.
Some blenders have attachments that can be used as food processors, juicers and other multi-functional functions. These are often extra features so consider the best foods processors.
In our kitchen, we’ve tried many of the most popular blenders. They’ve been used to make smoothies and crush ice. It’s not difficult to choose one, but the guide below, which features excellent blenders that were handpicked by us, should make it easier.
Blenders are great for creating delicious recipes, such as smooth soups, sauces, and salsas. If you don’t know where to begin, this guide on how you can use a blender as well as the five best recipes to make in a blender will help you get started.
The Best Blender 2022
1. Vitamix A3500
The ultimate blender
Specifications
Type: Jug blenderCapacity 2.1-quarts/2 LiterSpeed settings: 10Presets are: 5 Today’s Top Deals
View at Macy’s. (opens in a new tab).
View at Macy’s. (opens in a new tab).
View at Amazon
There are many reasons to buy
+Powerful blades can smash ice, nuts, and blend fruits+Array of speed settings +Dishwasher safe parts
Avoidable reasons
-Takes up much space. -Expensive in comparison to the rest.
Vitamix A3500 blender is serious business. It made it easy to combine ingredients in our tests, leaving no chunks. It can quickly blend ice cubes and create deliciously smooth smoothies.
The Vitamix blender features a staggering ten speed settings, pulse function, five pre-set programs, and predetermined speeds and durations for everything, from smoothies to dips, spreads, and more. The blender can be set to start automatically when the timer expires.
The A3500 is heavy, so it’s worth considering if you have limited space. This blender is heavy and expensive. It costs twice as much, or even triple, than other blenders in this list.
View our Viamix A3500 review
2. Breville, the freshest and most furious
The best high-power blender at an affordable price
Specifications
Type: Jug blenderCapacity 1.6-quarts / 1.5 LiterSpeed settings: 5Presets available: 3 Today’s Top Deals
View at Amazon
There are many reasons to buy
+Compact+Affordable for a Breville appliance+Effectively blends and crushes
Avoidable reasons
Small blending jug -Some leaking from inner measuring lid
Breville has a variety of powerful, stylish and durable blenders. Despite the fact that the prices of the Breville The Fresh and Furious are not prohibitive, many consumers may find it difficult to afford them. The brand’s entry-level blender blends power and sleek styling to make it more affordable than the other models. However, the base is made of plastic.
The Breville The Fresh and Furious were easy to use. It could liquidize leafy spinach and pineapple into a smooth, lightly aerated drink with no bits.
The blender comes with a 1.5-liter jug that holds 1.6-quarts of liquid. This is smaller than other Breville blenders. The blender also had a little leakage, although this was not enough to cause serious concern.
View our Breville The Fresh and Furious review
3. KitchenAid Artisan K400
A good looking sturdy blender
Specifications
Type: Jug blenderCapacity 1.5-quarts/1.4-literSpeed settings 5Presets 4 Today’s Top Deals
View at Kitchen Aid (opens in new tab)
View at Macy’s. (opens in a new tab).
Check Amazon
There are many reasons to buy
+Stylish design +Powerful +Easy-to-use
Avoidable reasons
No additional accessories. -Does not work with nuts.
The KitchenAid Artisan K400 blender is a classic in design, but it’s also very functional. You have seven color options, four preset blending programmes, pulse function and five speed settings. The dial on the K400’s front allows you to select all programs. This keeps things simple.
It produced smooth, grit-free smoothies, and thick glossy mayo in our tests. The ice crush program is quick to blitz through ice cubes. The KitchenAid blender does not come with any additional accessories or blending cups. It also struggled to evenly chop nuts. This blender will arrive in a plastic container if you order it in the USA or Australia. It comes with a glass pitcher in Britain.
Read our full KitchenAid Artisan K400 blender review
4. Breville, the Super Q
Blender with large capacity and power
Specifications
Type: Jug blenderCapacity 2.1-quarts/2 LiterSpeed settings: 12Presets 5 Today’s Top Deals
View at Amazon
There are many reasons to buy
+Large capacity +Easy use +Comes along with an extra smoothie cup
Avoidable reasons
-Takes up lots of space. -Can’t handle small quantities.
Breville the Super Q, also known as Sage the Q in the UK, is the best option for professional-quality smoothies. This blender would look great in a professional kitchen. The blender also comes with a portable blending cup and lid that can be used to make smoothies on-the-go.
It was impressive during our tests, with its 12-speed settings as well as the preset programs to create crushed ices and smoothies. Smoothie settings created a smooth mixture and the green smoothie setting mixed in vegetables. It was easy to use.
Breville Super Q machines were designed to produce larger amounts. However, it was unable to mix small mayonnaise recipes. The blender works well when full and there are no leaks.
If you have a large family or need to mix large amounts of ingredients in one go, this blender is a great choice. It measures 18.1 inches/ 46 cm high.
Read the Breville Super Q review
5. Ninja Personal Blender, Smoothie Maker QB3001
The best blender to make smoothies anywhere you go
Specifications
Type: Smoothie makerCapacity: 0.5-quarts / 0.47-literSpeed settings: 1Presets: n/a Today’s Top Deals
View at Amazon
There are many reasons to buy
+Effectively blends and crushes fruits and nuts evenly+Comes in two 16 fl oz/470ml canisters+Compact
Avoidable reasons
No need to add ingredients during blending
The Ninja Personal Blender or Smoothie Maker QB3001 will make delicious smoothies. The blender made smooth, creamy drinks from tough fibrous fruits and vegetables like spinach and pineapple, and we were able to test it.
The Ninja Personal Blender & Smoothie Maker QB3001 are easy to use. They come with two single-serve 0.5-quart / 0.47 liter cups and to-go lids. You can make a smoothie or protein drink by pulverizing ingredients and taking it with you.
The blender also crushed ice and ground hazelnuts well. Although it’s more versatile than a jug blender you cannot use it to make condiments like mayonnaise or other ingredients that need emulsifying. It was also one the most delicious blenders we tried.
View our Ninja Personal Mixer and Smoothie Maker QB3001 Review
6. KitchenAid K150
KitchenAid blenders are the best value
Specifications
Type: Jug blenderCapacity: 1.5-quart / 1.4-literSpeed settings: 3Prsets: n/a Today’s Top Deals
View at Kitchen Aid (opens in new tab)
View at Amazon
View at Best Buy. (opens in new window)
There are many reasons to buy
+Improves the ability to blend and crush ice.
Avoidable reasons
Only three speeds settings – No preset programs
The KitchenAid K150 is worthy of a spot on your kitchen countertop. This is KitchenAid’s entry level blender. However, it doesn’t sacrifice on power. It was able to quickly make mayo and pulverize vegetables and fruits. This model is perfect for cocktail lovers who want a blender that can crush ice and lasts. This blender is a great all-rounder.
The blender includes a 1.5-quart/1.4-liter plastic pitcher as well as three speed settings. Although there are no presets to make different types of sauces or smoothies, this blender will be appealing to those who want a simple blender that also looks great.
The blender does not come with any accessories such as individual blending cups. We think this is acceptable, considering that it’s the most affordable blender KitchenAid has to offer.
Read our full KitchenAid K150 Blender review
7. Smeg BLF01PBUK
Retro style blenders:
Specifications
Type: Jug blenderCapacity 1.6-quarts / 1.5 LiterSpeed settings: 4Presets available: 2 Today’s Top Deals
View at Wayfair
Check Amazon
There are many reasons to buy
+Compact +Matching Appliances in the Range + Attractive Design
Avoidable reasons
-Can get noisy-No cleaning program
The Smeg BLF01 blender is a striking design with its aluminum die-cast frame. It comes in eight glossy colors including cream (pictured), pastel blue, red, and pink. The blender features a control dial and two preset programs for making smoothies and ice crushing. It also has four speed settings. The Smeg BLF01PBUK blender was one of our loudest. It reached 103 decibels during testing. It produces smooth smoothies but it’s not the best.
The Smeg BLF01PBUK blender does not have a pre-set cleaning option. Instead, you can use warm soapy water to clean the jug. Turn it on to loosen any stuck ingredients. Finally, wash it by hand. The measuring cup at the top of the jar can double as a key for removing the blade if needed.
Read Our HTML3_ Smeg Blender Review
(Image credit: Zwilling)
8. Zwilling Enfinigy
Best blender to make batch servings
Specifications
Type: Jug blenderCapacity 2 quarts/1.9-literSpeed settings 12Presets 6 Today’s Top Deals
View at Amazon
View at Lowe’s (opens in new tab)
View at Bed Bath & Beyond. (opens in a new tab).
There are many reasons to buy
+Lightweight pitcher+Easy use+Fast on high-speed settings
Avoidable reasons
-Low-quality knife for mixing small amounts.
- Shopping in the UK The Zwilling Enfinigy is available for PS349 on zwilling.com/uk (opens in new tab)
During our testing, we were impressed by how simple the Zwilling Enfinigy was and how well it blended. There are 12 speed settings, five auto programs and a pulse to choose from.
It looks great on the counter top. This blender is not only beautiful, but it is also one of the most safe we have ever reviewed. The lid must be fully pushed in to the position it is supposed to operate. It will stop blending mid-way through if it is removed. The Zwilling Enfinigy’s pitcher is lighter than glass, which we love.
We were slightly disappointed that the ice was not crushed as efficiently as we expected and that the price is high.
View our Zwilling HTML3_ HTML4_ HTML5_ HTML5_ HTML6_ HTML7_ HTML8_ HTML9_ HTML8_ HTML3_ HTML5_ HTML5_ HTML8_ (opens new tab)
(Image credit: Nutribullet)
9. Nutribullet Magic Bullet Kitchen Express
This is especially useful for small kitchens
Specifications
Type: Smoothie makerCapacity: 0.5-quart / 0.47-literSpeed settings: Presets: Today’s Top Deals
View at Best Buy. (opens in new window)
View at Wayfair
View at Amazon
There are many reasons to buy
+Mini-blender/food processor in one+Comes standard with 2 0.5-quart/ 0.47-liter cups+Compact
Avoidable reasons
-Not suitable to large quantities – Nuts and ice were not evenly chopped
This blender and food processor combined make it a great choice if you have limited space. The Nutribullet Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is compact and easy to use. It comes with two 0.5-quart/ 0.47-liter single serve cups that can be used for making smoothies, and a 0.9 quart/ 830ml bowl that can be used as a food processor bowl. This allows you to grate, chop and slice food as long as it is in small quantities.
The blender was able to pulverize fibrous pineapple well, but it had trouble with leafy spinach. This resulted in a smoothie that was very gritty. The blender was also not able to produce uniform consistency when it came to chopping nuts or crushing ice. We were nevertheless impressed by its ability to grate carrots and slice cucumbers, chop onions, and make breadcrumbs.
Similar blenders that are smoothie-maker-style, this blender is not suitable for making condiments such as mayonnaise. There’s no way to add ingredients to the blender while it spins to ensure they emulsify. We found it to be one of our noisiest blenders.
View our review
How to select the right blender
Before you start looking for the right blender, identify the type of blender that you require. Jug blenders have a blade in the glass or plastic receptacle that spins when it is connected to the motor at the base units. They can be used in large quantities, but they are often bulky.
Personal blenders come with a smaller plastic cup than a jug. Attach the blade to the cup, fill the cup with ingredients, and then flip it upside down. Finally, connect the cup to the base. Once you have mixed your ingredients to your satisfaction, take the cup out of the base and remove the blade. Then, screw on a lid to hold your drink.
There are also immersion blenders that you should consider. These blenders are also known as stick blenders or hand blenders. They can be used to blend ingredients in a container or saucepan. To ensure uniform mixing, these compact appliances can be used to swirl the liquid with the blade spinning. The blade can be detached from the main unit that contains the motor to make it easier to clean.
Consider the speed and power settings of the blender. A blender with more speed and power settings is a good choice if you need to grind coffee beans or crush ice.
Consider any accessories that the blender may come with. These include additional containers, a tamper for pushing down food during blending and a brush to clean underneath the blades. Also, make sure to check if the parts are safe to use in the dishwasher and easy to clean.
How to test blenders
We spent hours in the kitchen making mayonnaise and blending Greek yogurt, pineapple, and spinach into smoothies to compare the blenders. We also look for ingredients that have been well combined, without curdling, and whether any residue has collected under the blade.
We also assess how well and evenly blenders chop nuts and ice, and how easy they are for beginners to use. We also rate each model on how loud they are, how durable they are and how easy it is to clean their parts. Finally, we evaluate the useful accessories that come with each model. These include a tamper to move ingredients closer to the blade, additional jugs or containers, as well as recipe booklets to help you get inspired.
Which blender is best to make smoothies?
We recommend a dedicated blender for making smoothies, rather than an immersion or jug blender. These have a cup that is screwed onto the blade assembly before it attaches to the base. After blending is completed, you can switch the blade assembly for a to go lid with a spout. This allows you to sip your drink immediately without needing to pour it. The Ninja Personal Blender/Smoothie Maker QB3001 is our favorite, because it offers the perfect balance between price and ability to blend fresh produce into a smooth, grit free drink.
It is not possible to add liquid to the blender during blending. This means that you cannot use it to emulsify ingredients such as mayonnaise. We recommend the Breville Super Q because it includes a pitcher that allows you to add liquid while you blend. The blender is powerful enough to crush ice or pulverize nuts. It also comes with a cup to make smoothies, although the jug will need to be emptied into the cup.
Juicers vs blenders
Although blenders and juicers may look the same, their functions are quite different. Blenders use sharp blades that break down the contents in the blending bowl. The contents of the jug are then combined into a smooth mixture. However, juicers extract liquid from the juice and keep the rest of your fruits and vegetables. Juicers are, as you might guess, used to make fresh juice. Blenders, however, can make it easy to make everything, from smoothies to dips.
You can find all the pros and cons about these appliances in our full article Blenders Vs. Juicers: What’s the Difference?
How do you clean a blender?
If you want your blender to last for as long as possible, and to prevent any unpleasant odors from building up, it is important to keep clean. While you can put many blender jugs in the dishwasher, you can also wash them with warm water and dish soap. Then, close the lid and blend the soapy solution.
Make a paste with 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon white vinegar if you have trouble getting rid of stubborn stains. This solution can be used to remove stains with a clean toothbrush or a toothbru.
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