When it comes to nourishment, most people are getting more concerned about building a constant routine that they can actually stick to rather than building the perfect diet chart.
I’m no exception. I’m also looking for ways to cut down the effort, time, and energy required to follow a good food habit. And what I’ve found over the past few years is that making a healthy and delicious smoothie every morning is a great way to stay in that eating habit.
It’s no surprise that Vitamix and Ninja are two of the most well-known blender producers. But there are other brands that also make great portable smoothie blenders. I’ve compiled a list of top-rated smoothie blenders to narrow down your search.
Best Blenders for Smoothies and Ice List
- Ninja Professional 72 Oz – Best Overall Blender
- Vitamix 5200 64 Oz – Best Professional Blender
- NutriBullet NB9 – Best Value Blender
- Breville BBL620SIL – Best High-Performance Blender
- Ninja BL770 Mega – Best Blender for Milkshakes
- Blendtec Total Classic – Best Personal Blender
- Hamilton Beach Personal – Best Blender for Crushing Ice
- Oster Blender Pro 1200 – Best Blender for Hot Soup
- Cuisinart CBT-2000 – Best Blender for Green Smoothies
- Magic Bullet Blender – Best for Frozen Fruit
Top 10 Best Blenders For Smoothies Reviews
According to smoothie fanatics and chefs, here are ten of the best-rated smoothie blenders on the market that can quickly process your ingredients into smooth, creamy perfection.
1. Ninja Professional 72 Oz – Best Overall Blender
The Ninja Professional is a high-quality countertop blender that is perfect for whirling up your favorite ingredients into delicious smoothies. This sleek-looking blender boasts a powerful 1000-watt motor that offers outstanding performance.
In addition, it has a large 72-ounce jar made using BPA-free plastic, which is ideal for making smoothies and frozen drinks for the whole family. Also, this blender uses Ninja Total Crushing Technology which crushes ice into snow in seconds.
It has a unique six-blade assembly that can blend any ingredients smoother than most other blenders at this price range. Speaking of price, this is one of the most affordable options for budget smoothie fanatics.
The blender itself isn’t that big, which means it won’t take too much of your countertop space. Last but not least, it has four manual speeds and four automatic programs to give you total control over your blending.
2. Vitamix 5200 64 Oz- Best Professional Blender
If you are looking for the absolutely best blender for smoothies and ice, look no further than the Vitamix 5200. Vitamix blenders are known throughout the world for their durability and efficient designs.
The Vitamix 5200 is no exception. It is engineered and assembled in the USA and is built to last if properly maintained. This one uses laser-cut stainless-steel blades that are designed to provide quality blends throughout their lifetime.
Powering this blender is a high-performance motor that will last longer and run longer without giving you any troubles along the way. You will also get full control over the speed with its variable-speed function.
For smoother and faster blends, it comes with a patented 64-ounce container that is designed to fold all the ingredients back into the blade. In addition, it also has a specially designed tamper to process thick, stubborn blends.
3. NutriBullet NB9 – Best Value Blender
The NutriBullet NB9, also known as the NutriBullet Pro, is a powerhouse for power users. It looks small, but don’t let the look fool you. This one is a compact and optimized personal blender ideal for those with active lifestyles.
The powerful 900-watt motor ensures you get the most out of every ingredient. From spinach to strawberries, this small blender will turn any ingredient into creamy nutrition. The intuitive blade design makes the whole process much easier.
It’s also very fast. No matter what you put inside this blender, it will blend under 60 seconds. This means, in less than a minute, you will have a cup of smoothie ready to drink or take with you.
This compact blender is also very easy to clean. Once you are done with blending, twist off the blades and rinse them with soapy water. The cup is top-rack dishwasher safe. In short, if you are looking for a personal blender, this is the one.
4. Breville BBL620SIL – Best High-Performance Blender
The Breville BBL620SIL is a premium blender that has a beautiful design and looks great on the countertop. If you want the best blender for milkshakes and smoothies, go with this one.
This quiet and efficient blender comes with nine task controls and a timer. You can use it to crush ice and make a green smoothie. It also has settings to mix, chop, blend, puree, and liquefy your ingredients.
The high-torque motor and unique blade design provide efficient blending performance. For convenience and versatility, this blender can also do some food processing tasks with the same blade design.
These are sharp blades that stay sharp for longer. The lid of this blender has an easy-to-pull ring design that is easy to remove and stays sealed tight while blending. This blender also features an auto-clean function for easy cleanup.
5. Ninja BL770 Mega – Best Blender for Milkshakes
The Ninja BL770 is known as the Mega Kitchen System. This is a blender and food processor combined in a neat little package that brings versatility into your kitchen. It’s perfect for food processing, nutrient extraction, and blending.
The extra-large 72-ounce pitcher is perfect for making large batches of margaritas, smoothies, and resort-style frozen drinks. This large jar is made using BPA-free plastic, which is also known as the total crushing pitcher.
The pitcher can turn ice into snow within seconds. It’s also powerful enough to blast through whole veggies and fruits for smoothies and creamy frozen drinks. This kit also comes with a 64-ounce food processing bowl for mixing and chopping.
In addition to that, you will also get a 16-ounce Nutri Ninja cup for a single-serve blending of your favorite drink. This makes it very easy to bring your smoothie on the go. Take advantage of its five manual programs to control the blending speed.
6. Blendtec Total Classic – Best Personal Blender
Blendtec is a family-owned company that engineers and assembles products in the USA. The Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender has a powerful engine that can blend any fruits and vegetables you throw into it.
The square jar design makes it easy to use, easy to pour, and clean. Using the preset modes, you can set your desired blend mode, and the blender will automatically select the correct speed for blending.
Although it’s a bit noisy, just like any other blender, it has amazing speed and power. In addition to its awesome build quality, the patented square-shaped jar pulls all the ingredients into the blade for better blending and mixing.
Blendtec is also the company behind one-touch blending technology, and this blender has that iconic feature. One thing I really like about this blender is the blade. They aren’t sharp but blunt and ideal for pulverizing thick ingredients.
7. Hamilton Beach Personal – Best for Crushing Ice
If you’re seeking the best personal smoothie blender, Hamilton Beach’s Personal, Compact-Sized Budget Blender is it. It comes with a compact travel cup that you can blend and drink from.
You also have the option to buy the two-jar variant. These plastic jars have a portable design that lets your blend and go. It’s as simple as a blender gets. No fancy controls, no fancy design, simple one-touch blending.
Even though it’s a small blender, it has ice-crushing power that provides smooth results. It’s fast and easy to use thanks to its one-touch blending technology. Simply put all the ingredients in and press the button.
With this personal blender, you can create beverages of every kind. The stainless-steel blades are durable and fast and also conveniently designed to cut through ice and frozen fruit. Last but not least, both the lid and jar are easy to clean.
8. Oster Blender Pro 1200 – Best Blender for Hot Soup
Enjoy expert smoothies at home every time with the Oster Blender Pro 1200’s pre-programmed smoothie function. It’s also the only blender on this list that comes with a glass jar instead of a plastic jar.
It also comes with two other settings for your everyday blender creations, as well as seven-speed settings. You can also use this blender to grind and chop thanks to its dual-direction blade technology that provides extra blending power.
For convenience, it features dual power options. You will get 900 watts of crushing power and 1200 watts of total blending power. The Boroclass glass jar has a 24-ounce capacity, which is sufficient for a whole day’s worth of smoothies.
The blades are not only 50% larger, but they can also rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise. Whether you want to turn frozen fruit into sorbet, pulverize greens or crush ice, you can rely on this blender to get the job done.
9. Cuisinart CBT-2000 – Best Blender for Green Smoothies
Add the Cuisinart CBT-2000 to your countertop and take your smoothie blending experience to the next level. It comes with a commercial-grade and powerful 3.5-peak horsepower motor, which is the most powerful motor on this list.
Combine its one-touch function and commercial-grade power, and you have a blender that is powerful enough to create creamy nut butter, blend consistent smoothies and crush ice. It also comes with a large BPA-free Tritan jar.
It also provides comfort and stability when you are blending large batches of tough ingredients. It has automatic load-sensing technology that allows the blender to automatically adjust the preset functions.
This blender comes with preset programs to make smoothies, crush ice, and prepare hot soups. You can make and heat up soup at the same time with this blender, which makes it one of the best blenders for smoothies and soups.
10. Magic Bullet Blender – Best for Frozen Fruit
Make a quick, healthy, and delicious smoothie with the original Magic Bullet blender. This small blender is powered by a 250-watt high-torque motor that allows you to effortlessly create your favorite snacks and meals.
With the Magic Bullet, you can quickly make sauces, omelets, dips, and smoothies and drink straight from the jar. The high-impact plastic cups are durable and longer-lasting. They are also easy to clean.
It’s a small yet versatile blender that lets your blend, mix, chop, grind, whip, and more. With purchase, you will get blender cups, lids, blades, and a recipe book. Also, you will notice that it doesn’t have a start button.
So, how does it work? You simply twist the jar with your wrist, and it will start blending. Although it’s not super powerful, it is what it is. It’s versatile, good for the price, and better than most cheap drink blenders.
The Winner
It's time to declare the winner of our best smoothie blender 2021 roundup. I'm sure you have already guessed it by now. The winner is Vitamix 5200 64 Oz Blender. There is nothing to dislike about this product. It makes perfect restaurant-quality smoothies and is also versatile enough to do all your kitchen tasks. You can even soup using the blender. Also, it has a large pitcher that is perfect for family use. And that concludes our article on the top 7 best blenders for smoothies for this year.
Buyer’s Guide: Choose the best blenders for smoothies
Even if you have all the best ingredients for making a healthy smoothie, if you don’t have the right blender to pulverize those ingredients, you are out of luck. With the best smoothie blender, you can get consistent results every time, no matter what ingredients you put into it.
With that being said, there are a couple of factors that you need to look into if you want to buy a blender for making smoothies. Smooth, delicious, and creamy smoothies can only be achieved with a blender that has all the necessary features.
The blade must be durable, strong, and sharp in most cases. Also, the blender has to be powerful and feature a motor that runs longer without heating up. As for the jar, you can go with hard plastic or glass. Lastly, you also need to look at how easy it is to clean.
With all that in mind, let’s take a deeper look at exactly what features you should be looking for when buying a good blender for smoothie making.
Blade
Let’s talk about the blade first. If I were you, I would go with a blade that is not sharp. Instead, a blunt blade will be my top priority. Why?
Because sharp blades tend to lose their sharpness over the years, a blunt blade won’t have any of that problem. Since we are making smoothies here, our top priority is to crush the ingredients and not slice them up.
That’s why the blades of a blender should be sturdy, thick, durable, and rugged. In short, you should look for a blender that has stainless steel blades that won’t rust, deform, and can retain its durability for longer.
Blending Performance
The blending performance of a blender mostly depends on how the blade is designed. For example, some blades have a shorter wingspan while some have a larger design. To create an effective vortex and push all the ingredients back to the blade, the sides of the blade should come close to the sides of the jar.
If your primary concern is to make smoothies out of frozen fruit or crush ice into snow, make sure to check the blending performance of the blender and see how it holds up against tough-to-crush ingredients.
Most of the blenders in this list will come with a strong BPA-free Tritan jar, which is technically a plastic jar but very strong to withstand impacts. However, you also have the option to go with glass jar variants. Beyond the material, you should also consider the size of the pitcher.
It’s very likely that the pitcher is the first thing you will be looking at. To be more precise, you will need to look at the size/capacity of the jar. On most mid-sized blenders, the jar will have a capacity of 64-ounce or 72-ounce.
On bullet blenders, it will only have the capacity to make smoothies for one to two persons. It’s better to go with a standard-size blender with a larger jar.
Glass Vs. Plastic Jars
Plastic jars and glass jars both have their specific pros and cons. For example, glass is heavier, and plastic is lighter. In terms of cleanup, plastic is easier to clean and dishwasher safe compared to its glass counterpart.
However, both of these materials are rugged and thick enough to withstand daily abuse. On a side note, plastic jars are more comfortable to carry but not scratch-proof. This makes glass jars better because they are usually scratch-resistant and better suited for harder ingredients.
Construction
Blenders aren’t all about sleek designs. The construction also matters. If possible, go with a blender that has a durable construction with a metal base and strong footing. This will offer more durability, control, and stability while blending.
Variable Speed & Presets
Even if you have the fastest and the most powerful blender on the market, if you can’t control that speed, you won’t be able to get the desired texture on your smoothie. That’s why, on a big and powerful blender, you have to consider the pre-programmed cycles and speed settings.
Cleanup
When it comes to cleaning a blender, you can only clean the parts that are removable. For example, the pitcher/jar and the blades. As for the front panel, a simple wipe should be enough to clean the base and control buttons.
Types Of Blenders For Smoothies
Blenders come in all different sizes. While there isn’t much of a difference between their types, however, some are more suited for portability while some are better suited for professional use. Let’s start with the smallest one.
1. Stick Blenders
The first kind is generally known as immersion blenders. These are suited for people with limited kitchen space. Stick blenders are smaller in size, and you can easily store them in a kitchen drawer.
2. Personal Blenders
While immersion blenders are considered very small, personal blenders are slightly bigger but still small compared to standard blender sizes. They are ideal for quickly whipping up a single cup of smoothie.
Personal blenders are stylish, sleek, and lightweight. They also take up less space on the countertop. The jars have a small capacity, which is usually two to four cups. Personal blenders are designed to be portable and less powerful.
3. Conventional Blenders
Conventional blenders are designed for versatility. They are bigger than personal blenders and also more powerful. These blenders will often come with more accessories for more than just making smoothies.
You can make batters or doughs with these blenders as well as blend, emulsify, puree, and crush ice. In short, these units are long-lasting and bigger and even come with a large jar or pitcher for family use.
4. High-Performance Blenders
Last but not least, we have high-performance blenders. For smoothies, you don’t necessarily need this type of blender. They are more suited for restaurants and juice shops and overkill for personal use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best blender to make smoothies?
The best one is the Vitamix 5200. It’s a professional-grade blender that is perfect for making smoothies. It’s large, powerful, and easy to use. You can check out the reviews to find out more information about this blender.
2. What blender setting do you use for a smoothie?
While you can use a normal blender to make smoothies, you won’t get consistent results. This is where you will need a powerful blender to get the job done.
On most high-end blenders, you will see a smoothie function that automatically sets the optimal speed to crush frozen fruits and ice.
3. Can I use a normal blender to make smoothies?
Yes, as long as you have a powerful motor and durable blades, that is. Also, you have to look at the speed settings. Too fast, and you will end up with a less creamy and juicier smoothie.
That’s why having the option to set the right speed to make smoothies on a normal blender is needed.
4. What is the best way to blend a smoothie?
The best way to blend smoothies is to use one or two cups of water and add a mix of soft and hard produce. Make sure to put ice later on. Also, if your blender comes with a smoothie function, make sure to use that. This will set the optimal speed to make a delicious and creamy smoothie.
5. What is the difference between a blender and a smoothie maker?
Smoothie makers and blenders might look the same, but they have a slight difference in terms of capabilities. You see, a smoothie maker is great at making smoothies, but you cannot use it to chop or grind ingredients. On the other hand, a blender can do all of them.
6. How do you get a creamy smoothie?
Step #1: You need to set the right speed on your blender.
Step #2: Make sure to add enough liquid for it to properly blend up all ingredients.
Step #3: Use frozen fruit instead of fresh one if possible. This will help with the consistency of your smoothie.
Step #4: Make sure to shake or stir well before sipping for optimal results!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
Conclusion
For most people, a smoothie maker and blender serve the same purpose. But if you want to make one with ease and get consistent results, a high-end blender is the only way to go.
It doesn’t matter if your budget is tight or not, there’s a perfect blender for you on this list! All of these units are durable, easy to use, and will make your smoothies taste amazing. All you have to do now is pick one up!
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