The 5 Best Blenders 2023 Review

Top 5 Blenders

Best Container: Ninja Professional Countertop Blender Best Accessories: NutriBullet Blender Combo Best Speed Control: Vitamix Explorian Blender Most Customizable: KitchenAid Blender Best Personal Blender: Hamilton Beach Personal Blender

Best Container: Ninja Professional Countertop Blender

Pros and Cons

✔ Includes two single-serve containers and one 72-ounce pitcher✔ Has nutrient-extracting blades that break down fruits and leafy greens easily✔ Crushes ice in seconds ✘ Only available in one color and one style✘ Doesn’t have automatic programs

What Customers Are Saying

Positive reviews praised the Ninja blender for how easy it was to clean and use. Many customers liked its versatility, stating that it could make smoothies, shakes, desserts, energy drinks, puddings, and more. Customers who were less satisfied with their purchase had trouble with leaks and cracks after a few uses.

Best Accessories: NutriBullet Blender Combo

Pros and Cons

✔ Features a sturdy, robust motor base✔ Comes with a vented lid cap that’s useful for making hot drinks and soups✔ Almost every component is dishwasher-safe ✘ Customers complained about a burning smell during use✘ Offers less speed control than some blender models

What Customers Are Saying

Positive reviews praised the NutriBullet for its powerful and quiet operation. Many customers noted that the blender was sturdier than other models that they had owned in the past. Less satisfied customers criticized the company for having poor customer service and the blender for producing a burning smell during use.

Best Speed Control: Vitamix Explorian Blender

Pros and Cons

✔ Available in multiple colors and styles✔ Has a pulse feature to make chunky or thick sauces with ease✔ Has aircraft-grade stainless steel blades ✘ Makes a loud noise while it’s blending✘ Customers complained about it not crushing ice well

What Customers Are Saying

Many customers reported that they enjoyed the self-cleaning feature of the Vitamix model because it saved them time and made cleanup easier. Additionally, many customers enjoyed how sharp the blender’s blades were, as the blender easily pureed ingredients for a variety of drinks and dishes. Criticism of the Vitamix blender included that it broke quickly and produced a burning plastic smell.

Most Customizable: KitchenAid Blender

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes with a convenient personal blender jar for on-the-go drinks✔ Has an ice-crushing feature that blends ice in less than 10 seconds✔ Built with a soft-start feature that reduces splatter ✘ Doesn’t mention being dishwasher-safe✘ Not listed as BPA-free

What Customers Are Saying

Customers raved about the KitchenAid Blender’s quiet and smooth operation and slow-start feature. On top of this, many customers praised this blender’s sleek appearance. Some negative reviews criticized the KitchenAid Blender for arriving without all of its parts.

Best Personal Blender: Hamilton Beach Personal Blender

Pros and Cons

✔ Has an affordable price✔ Ideal for individual smoothies and shakes✔ Takes up little counter space ✘ Not idea for families or larger recipes✘ Can only blend a limited number of ingredients without jamming the blade

What Customers Are Saying

Satisfied customers highlighted that the Hamilton blender’s compact design ensured it didn’t take up too much counter space, and its container lid made traveling with drinks easy. Many also reported that this personal blender made smooth cold beverages. However, some customers stated that the blender lid was difficult to remove.

Buyer’s Guide

Power, speed control, and size are among the most important factors to consider when purchasing a blender. Read on for details on these factors and others.

Type/Size

There are three main types of blenders: countertop, hand, and personal.

Countertop: Countertop blenders have a removable container filled with food positioned on top of a base that rests on the counter. These tend to be more powerful than the other two types of blenders, mixing everything from fruit to ice. They can also blend more than one serving of food at a time. However, they take up more space in your kitchen and are more expensive. Hand: Hand blenders have beaters that fit directly into the bowl you’re using to hold your food. This means you don’t have to transfer your ingredients to a container for blending. Hand blenders usually come with several attachments that break up different foods, but they’re typically not as powerful as countertop models. Personal: This type of blender isn’t very powerful. It makes one serving of food and uses a to-go cup instead of a large container, which makes it best for blending smoothies or shakes and taking them with you.

Blades

The best blender blades are made of stainless steel, which is durable and rust-resistant. For an easier cleanup process, look for a model with removable blades.

Wattage

The power of your blender is measured by the motor’s wattage. Here are three categories of power and what they can blend:

300–400 watts: This power range is best at making milkshakes or mixing soft ingredients. 500–700 watts: This power range can blend frozen fruits to make smoothies or cocktails. 1,000+ watts: Blenders with this much power can blend a variety of soft and hard foods, including ice.

Control

Your blender will have one of three control panels: a push button, digital touchpad, or dial.

Push button: This is the most common type of blender control. You can easily switch speeds or turn the blender on and off with the push of a button. However, the buttons may be difficult to clean because debris can get trapped in the cracks around them. Digital touchpad: This type of blender control is easy to clean because there aren’t any indentations where gunk can get stuck. However, it’s more difficult to use because you have to press several buttons to get the blender to do what you want. Dial: Dials are easy to clean, but you have to go through every speed setting before you get to the one you want.

Speed

The best blenders have several speeds that allow you to blend soft and hard foods. Countertop blenders will usually have the most speed settings with at least low-speed, high-speed, and pulsing options.

Container Material

With countertop and personal blenders, the container you fill will be made of glass or plastic.

Plastic: Plastic is lightweight and doesn’t crack or chip like glass. However, it’s more prone to absorbing stains and smells, so you’ll want to clean the container as soon as you’re done blending. Glass: Glass containers don’t absorb odors or stains, but they’ll crack or chip at high speeds. Because of this, you won’t find powerful blenders that have a glass container.

How long do blenders last?

In general, less-powerful blenders will last three to five years, while more expensive models with a powerful motor will last about 10 years. However, how often you use your blender will impact its lifespan. For example, if you make a smoothie daily, your blender will likely die quicker than if you only use your blender a few times a month.

Is horsepower used to describe a blender’s power?

Most manufacturers use wattage to describe how powerful their blender is, but you’ll occasionally see power described in peak or rated horsepower. Peak horsepower measures the initial surge when the blender is first turned on, while rated horsepower describes the blender’s state after the initial surge wears off. Rated horsepower is a better indicator of power than peak horsepower.

What blender is best for liquidizing food?

Typically, more powerful blender models with a higher wattage will make it easier to liquidize your food. Additionally, larger blenders tend to liquidize or puree different foods better than personal-sized models, similar to that of a food processor. Look for a blender with a 1,500-watt motor or higher.

What do I do if my blender’s blades get stuck?

Occasionally, your blender’s blades will get stuck because of air bubbles. When this happens, you’ll want to use the pulse function to disperse the bubbles and get the blades moving again. If you have a weaker blender, the blades might stick because they’re not capable of slicing through your food. If that’s the case, we recommend cutting your food into smaller pieces to make the blades’ job easier.

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