Best blender for soup and smoothies


Best blender 2022: expert tests and the best holiday sales

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

Whether you need a post-workout protein shake or a frozen margarita for an evening with friends, the best blender can do it all. 

We've compiled this guide to the best blenders after months of hands-on testing, comparing each great buy against another from top brands, including Ninja, NutriBullet, Vitamix, and KitchenAid. Our testing process covered more than an easy summer berry smoothie; we blended tough, fibrous kale, frozen fruits, nuts, ice, and much more, and with blenders that can handle hot ingredients, we made soups out of skin-on vegetables and chunky onions in order to see how creamy and smooth our finished results would be. 

Some these blenders are compact enough to be stored in your kitchen cabinet between uses; others are countertop models that are good looking enough to show off. 

Just like in our listing of the best food processors on the market, we point out the pros and cons of each.  

The best blender holiday sales

Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, but there's still some great deals for the holidays. 

Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ| was $219.99, now $149.99 at Amazon
Our pick for the best blender for multiple functions, the Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System comes with a 72 oz. pitcher as well as a 64 oz. food processor bowl (this has chopping and dough) and two 24 oz. blending cups for single-serve drinks to take away. It can easily crush ice and it blends delicious smoothies.

KitchenAid® K400 Blender with Tamper| was $299, now $219. 99 at Bed Bath & Beyond
Our pick for the best blender for professional results, the heavy duty K400 has a sophisticated 3-part blending system. Its 1200W motor powers through ice, hard vegetables and dry ingredients.

Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender | was $649.95, now $574.95
Th unbelievable Vitamix A3500 is our pick for the best blender overall. Not only does it easily crush ice and hard vegetables thanks to a powerful 10-speed motor, but it can even cook a perfect tomato soup.

The best blenders 2022, according to our experts

(Image credit: Vitamix)

1. Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender

Best blender overall

Specifications

Capacity: 64 oz.

Pitcher: Plastic

Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 17 inches

Power: 1500W

RRP: $649 / £699

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Makes impeccable soups

+

Self-heating blades

+

Incredible power

+

Five presets 

+

Ten+ speeds

Reasons to avoid

-

Very noisy

With five presets to choose from, the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender is as high-tech as a blender can be. It also has a manual dial that can go up to ten different (noisy) speeds, and we love that the pitcher simply lifts away from the base with no twisting, meaning it can favor both left and right-handed users. 

The powerful blades not only blend but also cook out soups and sauces. We made an incredible tomato soup completely from scratch using the ten-minute preset soup mode. You should be aware that it can't cook firmer ingredients like potato or carrot, but it's still a suitable substitute for the best immersion blenders if you're willing to cook your ingredients before adding them to the jug. 

Included with the blender is an excellent recipe book, a quick start guide, and a tamper to reach down and make sure that more solid ingredients like dips are incorporated fully into the blades while the Vitamix works. The jug isn't dishwasher-safe, but it does have a self-clean mode that can finish the job in just 30 seconds. 

Our full Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender review has more details

(Image credit: Nutribullet)

2.

NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender

Best bullet blender

Specifications

Capacity: 32 oz.

Pitcher: Plastic

Dimensions: 12.01 x 7.72 x 15.94 inches

Power: 900W

RRP: $119.99/ £90

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Makes creamy shakes and smoothies

+

Very easy controls

+

Perfect for taking on the go

Reasons to avoid

-

Not suitable for large servings

Available in a range of colors and with various attachments for drinking on the go or around the house, the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender is perfect for smaller, individual servings. It's a brilliant personal blender that impressed us when we tried it for ourselves. 

We found that the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender made fantastic smoothies and shakes. They came out very green with no seeds or fibers left un-blended. Even kale and berries were pulverized. Although simple to operate, the bullet-style blender shape is perfect for reaching everything inside the cup. Simply twist on the lid and lock it into the powerful blending base to start your smoothie. 

The blender comes with a screw-on handle and lids for sipping. Everything but the blades themselves can go through the dishwasher, and it's easy enough to clean the blades under running water after your drink is finished. 

Our full NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender review has more details

(Image credit: Zwilling)

3. Zwilling Enfinigy 64-oz. Countertop Power Blender

Best blender for multiple servings

Specifications

Capacity: 64 oz.

Pitcher: Tritan

Dimensions: 17 x 7.5 x 8.5 inches

Power: 1400W

RRP: $300/ £349

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Four presets and ten manual settings

+

Self-cleaning

+

Safety locking system

+

Vacuum-seal attachment for freshness

Reasons to avoid

-

Not particularly compact

Tried and enjoyed by us, the Zwilling Enfinigy 64-oz. Countertop Power Blender has a very attractive design that's modern but still classic, with a ribbed pitcher for an elevated finish. Lock the Tritan pitcher onto the smart backlit base to choose from five presets or 12 powerful manual blending settings. Zwilling is known to make some of the top kitchen knives you can buy, so it's no surprise the winglet blades are incredibly sharp, as well as made in Germany. 

You do not need to lock the Efinigy Countertop Power Blender onto the base, simply slot it in and press down the lid to light up the control panel. It won't blend unless the lid is attached, and it does so firmly. This is because you can buy a vacuum-sealing insert to keep smoothies and soups fresh in the refrigerator. 

The five modes are Pulse, Smoothie, Cocktail, Ice Cream, Ice Crushing, and Cleaning. It is very powerful, with preset speeds and pulsing modes for making drinks and even sauces and dips. Should you struggle to blend everything, you can use the pusher insert that goes into the top of the lid to stir safely.  

Our full Zwilling Enfinigy Countertop Power Blender review has more details

(Image credit: Beast)

4. Beast Blender + Hydration System

Best personal blender

Specifications

Capacity: 33.8 oz.

Pitcher: Tritan

Dimensions: 4.92 x 4.92 x 15.75 inches

Power: 1000W

RRP: $195

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Sleek design

+

Very powerful 

+

Great with ice

+

Comes with handy accessories

+

Dishwasher-safe parts

Reasons to avoid

-

Only one button

-

Grooves make removing drinks tricky

With both a half and full liter capacity, the Beast Blender comes fully equipped for making drinks to-go or home blending. There's a carry lid, a removable blending lid (like that of the NutriBullet), and a diffuser insert that can be used to make fruit or cucumber-infused drinks, or even iced teas. Our smoothies were faultless, but we also made impressive crushed ice and delicious dips with this versatile blender. The removable parts are also dishwasher-safe. 

Designed for complete hydration, the Beast Blender + Hydration System has a secure seal that keeps drinks fresh for up to a week. We tried this out on pancake batter and it really impressed us. No skin formed on the top of our batter and we were able to get the same results for breakfast two days after we blended the mix.

We liked the ribbed vessel, which looks lovely when not in use. However, it can make scraping dips and thicker liquids away from the inside tricky. The controls are very minimal, with one button that automatically adjusts to achieve the desired consistency. Of course, you may want a specific consistency if you're making a chunky dip or crushed ice so a manual mode may have been useful. We enjoyed the internal temperature monitoring, which came in very helpful when it came to warm mixtures and soups. 

Our full Beast Blender review has more details

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

5. KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed Blender

Best blender for professional results

Specifications

Capacity: 1.4 ltrs / 56 oz.

Pitcher: Glass

Dimensions : 9.02 x 7.59 x 15.8 inches

Power: 1200W

RRP: $299.99/ £299

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Choice of colors

+

Tough glass pitcher

+

Great for crushing ice

+

Very powerful

+

Made excellent soups

Reasons to avoid

-

Heavy

-

The lid is tricky to remove

Available in a smart range of colors to match the company’s best stand mixers, the KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed Blender makes a statement. However, it also has a very powerful blender that doesn't shy away from tough ingredients. It comes with a large 56 oz. jar, made out of robust and extremely thick glass. It may be a touch on the heavy side, but this gives you an impression of how long this blender will last.

A single dial on the front lets you choose from the five-speed settings and pulse, plus the special modes: smoothie, ice crush, frozen drink, and clean. In testing, we found that this was almost too smooth to turn, and it was easy to knock your setting out of place and accidentally set the blender off. 

The pitcher's weight means there’s no need for a locking mechanism: drop the pitcher and integrated blades onto the base and you’re ready to go. The pitcher is also dishwasher-safe, and so is the lid. However, the lid does stick so firmly into place that we felt it needed some muscle to remove. 

Nothing is a problem for this blender: ice is crushed into fine snow, hard fruits and vegetables are blended into smooth drinks, and you can whizz through dry ingredients thanks to the powerful 1200W motor.

Our KitchenAid K400 blender review has more details

(Image credit: Breville)

6. Breville The 3x Bluicer

Best blender and juicer combo

Specifications

Capacity: 50 oz.

Pitcher: Plastic

Dimensions: 16.9 x 12.3 x 10.9 inches

Power: 1000W

RRP: $299.95/ £299

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Powerful blending and juicing in one

+

All the modes you need

+

Capable ice crushing 

Reasons to avoid

-

No manual option

We love the Breville The 3x Bluicer for its blending and juicing attachments, which double up to make a very capable machine for just about any drink you could wish for. The blender has three modes: Smoothie, Ice Crush, and Cocktail. It also has a self-clean setting that allows you to simply add water and dish soap for it to automatically clean in under one minute.  

It makes a delicious smoothie bowl and could power through soup and sauces too. It's got a large capacity and the lid clamps on with a twist-out top to add more ingredients as you blend. 

The idea is that you can then use the blender pitcher to catch the juice that comes out of your juicer and even add in strawberry or milk to then blend up fresh ingredients with your juice for an added kick of flavor. While it's expensive it's actually an efficient way to double down on the combined power of the best juicer and an excellent blender. 

Our full Breville The 3x Bluicer review has more details

(Image credit: Ninja)

7. Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ

Best blender for multiple functions

Specifications

Capacity: 2.1 ltrs / 72 oz.

Pitcher: Plastic

Dimensions: 17.64 x 9.96 x 7.52 inches

Power: 1400W

RRP: $219.99/ £199.99

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Can be used as a food processor

+

Good safety features

+

Dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning

Reasons to avoid

-

Will take up a lot of space

-

Quite loud

Many blenders just come with a standard pitcher, with accessories costing extra. If you want to expand the repertoire of what you can do, then the Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ makes sense. As well as the 72 oz. pitcher, you get a 64 oz. food processor bowl (this has chopping and dough) and two 24 oz. blending cups for single-serve drinks to take away.

There are five Auto-IQ programs: smoothie, ice crush, extract, chop, and dough, but which ones are available depends on the accessory attached: you can’t crush ice, for example, when the food processor is connected, but you can with the single-serve cup and the pitcher.

Outside of the Auto-IQ programs, there are Low, Medium, High, and Pulse settings. With a powerful motor, the Ninja Professional can easily crush ice and blend smooth smoothies. However, we found it quite loud, though. Safety features are neat, and the accessories and lids have to be in place for the blender to operate. Every part is dishwasher-safe, for easy cleaning.

Our Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ review has more details

(Image credit: kitchenaid)

8.

KitchenAid K150 3 Speed Ice Crushing Blender

Best blender for everyday use

Specifications

Capacity: 48 oz.

Pitcher: Plastic

Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.1 x 14.8 inches

Power: 650 watts

RRP: $99 / £229

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Lift-out design

+

Lightweight

+

Straightforward to use

+

Easy to clean

Reasons to avoid

-

The lid is a bit stiff

The KitchenAid K150 3 Speed Ice Crushing Blender is seriously good value. It has three speeds, a pulse setting, and a generous 48oz plastic pitcher. The price is great for the value for money with this blender. It's got three speeds, which are surprisingly powerful for the motor size, and a pulse mode that's designed to crush ice and offer complete control.

We were able to make a thick and creamy smoothie bowl in the KitchenAid K150, with even frozen chunks of spinach and frozen strawberries. It worked through slices of lemon (skin, seeds, and all) with no trouble, although it took some pulsing and stirring to get every little piece of fruit. 

While it comes with only one pitcher, you can buy add-on personal blender cups, and even citrus juicers to expand the functions of your KitchenAid K150. There is a removable insert in the lid that can allow you to add a stream of liquid or some extra ingredients to your smoothie or soup, and the pitcher slots in and out of the base with no need to screw it in.

Our full KitchenAid K150 3 Speed Ice Crushing Blender review has more details

(Image credit: Smeg)

9. Smeg BLF01 50s Blender

Best blender for smart features (and looks)

Specifications

Capacity: 1.5 ltr / 48oz

Pitcher: Tritan

Dimensions : 13.65 x 7.75 x 6.4inches

Power: 800W

RRP: $300 / £179

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Smart features

+

Stylish design

+

Multiple modes, including one for ice

Reasons to avoid

-

Only one pitcher

-

Can't handle hot things

We can attest that the Smeg BLF01 50s blender is not only a joy to look at, but it's also lovely to use. For a start, a range of colors are available, from red to baby blue, and all come with the same high-quality Tritan jug and die-cast aluminum base. 

While the look may be retro, it's all modern regarding how the Smeg BLF01 50s Blender works. We used it to make a light and lump-free smoothie using frozen ingredients, where the frozen setting came in very helpful.

The pitcher is not advised to use hot ingredients so we had to wait for our soup to cool before use, but we were impressed with just how creamy the result was. It was also easy to pour in the cream while the blender worked thanks to the lid, which has a stopper for measuring and adding as you blend. 

Not all parts can be placed in the dishwasher, but the pitcher can. It cleans a treat and doesn't require screwing into the base, instead just slots into place. Not the best blender for versatility, but it certainly delivers on aesthetics and delicious results. 

Our full Smeg Blender review has more details

Where to buy the best blenders

How we review the best blenders

(Image credit: Future)

Every blender in our best blender guide has been tested hands-on and reviewed by members of the Homes & Gardens team. When we test blenders, we crushed ice, blended frozen fruit into thick smoothie bowls, and made green smoothies from fibrous kale and spinach. 

Where a blender claims to be safe for use with hot ingredients, we also made soups to put this to the test. When making soups we typically include ingredients that are prone to staining such as turmeric, taking into account if the pitcher was left stained by this. 

Cleaning a blender is a very important part of the user process, so we give props to blenders that can be cleaned in a dishwasher. However, some also come with self-cleaning settings that can prevent ingredients from sticking to the blades of the pitcher. We cleaned every blender by hand to see how easy this was, and if it felt safe. 

Our review and testing guidelines provide more insight into our process. 

Our testers and reviewers

Reviews Editor

Millie is our Reviews Editor, and has been testing product and writing for Homes & Gardens since the beginning of 2021. Millie specializes in small appliances, but as a lover of al fresco dining, she's also always on the hunt for the best grills and pizza ovens for entertaining friends and family.

Product Tester and Writer

Midwestern product tester and writer Courtney Irwin is a working mom of three who loves nothing more than a good deal. Equal parts entrepreneur and family-gal, she can often be caught in her kitchen testing products for Homes & Gardens. Courtney has spent years curating home content and loves trying the latest and greatest things for home. For this blenders buyer's guide, she tested the Beast Blender.

How to choose a blender

A blender is a great tool for cooking and making drinks, such as smoothies, keeping the pulp of fruit and vegetables as well as the juice.

The type of blender you buy really depends on how often you want to use it and what you mostly want to use it for. All blenders are capable of making smoothies, particularly blending softer fruits.

Motor
If you want to make frozen fruits or desserts or deal with harder fruits or vegetables, then you may need a machine with a more powerful motor, so that it can crush ice into fine snow. 

Programs
Look out for a blender that has automatic programs for the kinds of drink or action that you want, as this takes the guesswork out of using a blender.

That said, manual controls are important if you want finer control over the results, say blending a soup that still has some chunks in it.

A pulse function is a great way to get fine control: the blender runs while you press the button but stops the second that you release it. 

Features
Move up the price scale and you’ll find that you get additional features. Some of the most powerful blenders, for example, can use friction to heat raw ingredients, delivering hot soup in just a few minutes.

Capacity
Look out for the total capacity of the blender: go for a larger one if you’ve got a big family to feed. Accessories can also be important, either in the box or as additional extras: self-serve cups let you take a drink on the move, and grinding cups can be a handy way of dealing with herbs and spices in smaller volumes.

If you want something that can blend directly into a pot or pan, one of the best immersion blenders we've reviewed will be more appropriate. 

How much does a blender cost?

Budget really comes down to how much you’ll use the blender. If you’re only an occasional user, then a budget model ($100 to $150) makes sense. At this price, you’ll get decent controls but you may find that your results aren’t quite as smooth.

If you use a blender every day, then you need to move up the scale. Spend over $200 and you’re likely to get more accessories and programs. 

If you want the best results then you’re looking at spending $400 or more. At this price, you’ll get the fastest motors, more control, and, often, a wider range of automatic programs to make your job easier.

For those who just want a personal-sized blender, one of the best portable blenders we have reviewed will suit you better. 

Who makes the best blender?

Vitamix is well known for its high-end, powerful blenders. These machines are a great choice for those that blend daily and that want the absolute best results. Controls can be rather basic on some models, so these choices are ideal for experienced users.

Ninja products tend to be cheaper, and may not produce quite as smooth results. However, you’ll generally get more automatic programs and the overall value is usually very good, with many sets coming with a lot of accessories to expand what the blender is capable of. We have a complete Vitamix vs Ninja guide that goes into more detail, and you can also take a look at Ninja vs NutriBullet and Vitamix vs Blendtec for more comparisons. 

Are glass pitchers better than plastic?

Most blenders come with a hardened plastic pitcher, but you’ll find the odd model that has a glass one. Strictly speaking, glass is harder wearing and won’t scratch as easily as plastic. This can make a difference if you regularly crush ice, as the sharp edges can scratch cheaper plastics. Plastic can also get tainted by ingredients staining.

The downside of glass is that it’s much heavier and if you drop it, you’re likely to end up cracking or breaking the pitcher. 

Modern plastics are much better, particularly on high-end machines, so you shouldn’t notice scratching. And, plastic is lighter and less likely to break if you drop it.

Which blender is best for smoothies?

In our testing process, all our blenders performed well on smoothies. However, our top pick, the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender, our second pick, the NutriBullet Pro 900, made particularly faultless smoothies.

Which blender is best for juicing?

We found that the Breville The 3x Bluicer, which has been designed as a blender and juicer in one was the best blender for juicing.

Which blender is best for crushing ice?

We found the best blender for crushing ice was the KitchenAid K150 3 Speed Ice Crushing Blender.

Which blender is the quietest?

Typically, the smaller, less powerful blenders we featured on our list are quieter than larger or more powerful blenders. Also, the ingredients you are blending will affect noise. So, while our best blender, the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender is judged to be very noisy, it does produce the best results, so you may need to sacrifice peace and quiet for those few seconds your blender is in action.

 What are after Christmas sales? 

The short answer is, well, a sales period after Christmas. There’s discounts on a wide range of homeware and appliances like blenders that will save you money going into the New Year. 

This is because big retailers make sure to have plenty of stock in the runup to Christmas, so they don’t sell out of products in the rush over the holidays. However, when demand drops after Christmas they have a lot of extra stock they don't need. Retailers therefore lower their prices so they can sell this surplus stock and reduce the cost of storing it all. The result is discounts on popular products, saving you money.

 When do after Christmas sales start? 

There's deals throughout the holidays, but the big savings start on the 26th. You'll probably find flash sales on specific products between the 26th-31st, and bigger sitewide promotions for a couple of weeks into January. 

Round up of today's best deals

Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Blender

£908

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Reduced Price

NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender Set

£94

£82

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Beast Blender

£185

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See all prices

KitchenAid K400

£289. 95

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Breville The 3x Bluicer

£359

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See all prices

Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System

£125

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See all prices

KitchenAid K150 Blender

£358.48

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Smeg BLF01PBUK blender

£169

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Millie Fender is Head of Reviews on the Homes and Gardens Ecommerce team. She specializes in cooking appliances, such as the best kettles, and also reviews outdoor grills and pizza ovens. Millie loves to bake, so she will take any excuse to review stand mixers and other baking essentials. When she's not putting products through their paces in our dedicated testing kitchen, Millie's reviews are conducted at home, meaning she uses these products in her own day-to-day life. 

Top 13 appliances, tested and ranked |

(Image credit: Zwilling | Dualit | KitchenAid)

The best blenders offer a good mix of performance and programs as well as an assortment of extras you can buy later which allow you to increase the functionality of your machine. 

We’ve selected and tested models at a range of price points to give you a better idea of which ones are worth the space in your kitchen. These machines help make light work of whizzing up ice, sauces, smoothies and soups.

If you're looking for an appliance that performs a wider variety of food preparation tasks - such as grinding and mixing up coarser ingredients - you might want to see our guide to the best food processors, although several high-end blenders can also easily assume the role of a food processor.

To test the best blenders on the market, we used them to create everything from icy cocktails to vegetable-packed soups and even pancake batter. We looked at how quickly each model blended, how smooth the finished product was and what kind of functions they had to make the task even easier. 

Below are 13 of the best blenders you can buy right now, ranging from budget-friendly smoothie machines to premium models with an abundance of functions and exciting accessories. 

How we tested the best blenders

Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

To judge each of the blenders we compared how each model tackled blending ice and frozen and fresh fruit. We also looked at how smooth the final results were for smoothies and sauces and how long each model took.

These were the areas we looked at in particular:

Ease of use—how simple were they to set up and put together? We also looked at how easy each machine was to pack down and clean.

Functions—pricier models tend to come with more attachments and modes. We evaluated how useful they actually were and whether or not they justified the higher price point.

Performance—most importantly, we assessed how well each blender performed at blending brittle, hard ice, as well as soft fruits and smoothies, both in terms of the time taken and the final product. In addition, we looked at how noisy they were.

Value for money—we tested a range of blenders, spanning a range of price points. We examined whether or not the more expensive models were worth it.

Design—we looked at how much space the blenders required in the kitchen and how they actually looked.

The best blenders as reviewed by our experts

(Image credit: Vitamix)

1. Vitamix Ascent A2300i

The best blender for doing it all

Specifications

RRP: $499. 95 / £499

Speeds: 10

Programs: Soup only

Guarantee: 10 years

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Heats soup to piping-hot temperatures

+

Built to last and easy to use

+

Capable of any blending task

Reasons to avoid

-

Heavy with a large footprint

-

No pre-programmed settings

The Vitamix Ascent A2300i (known as the A2300 in the U.S.) does it all - soup, smoothies, frozen desserts and even grinding -  making it one of the best blenders you can buy right now. It also has excellent capacity in its deceptively lightweight two-liter jug. We loved how quick it was to get blending, too. Simply drop the jug onto its 1400W base, clip on the lid, choose one of 10 speeds and hit start. 

In our tests, no task was too difficult for the Vitamix: it made faultless smoothies, piping-hot soup and crushed ice without skipping a beat. There’s even a recipe book to inspire you with frozen desserts, baby food and nut butter ideas, which tells you which settings to use for which recipes. Admittedly, there are no pre-programmed settings on this model but, as it’s so easy to use, you may find you don’t miss them. The Vitamix Ascent A2300i is our top pick for serving up fuss-free food, and also one of the best gifts for couples who are settling into a new home.

See our full Vitamix A2300i blender review

(Image credit: Sage)

2. Sage Super Q (Breville Super Q)

The best luxury blender

Specifications

RRP: $549.95 / £429.95

Speeds: 12

Programs: Five

Guarantee: 10 years

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Broad range of settings

+

Powerful yet rather quiet operation

+

Includes personal blending cup

Reasons to avoid

-

More of a splurge buy

-

Accessories need to be stored

Sage (known as Breville in the States) is known for offering a range of the very best coffee machines on the market, and they have a stellar blender in their collection too. One of the priciest in our guide, the ultra-powerful two-liter 2400W Super Q justifies its cost by blitzing quickly and using noise-suppression technology. It's far from whisper-quiet, but the sounds it makes are less obtrusive than many other blenders with a larger motor. 

The LCD display is a notable feature, allowing you to easily see what speed you’ve selected, set a timer or keep an eye on how long a program will be running for. The Super Q performed well on all our blending tasks, producing fiber-free smoothies, efficiently crushing ice, and blending soup that was heated to hot—if not quite as hot as in the Vitamix above. 

See our full Sage the Super Q blender review

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

3. KitchenAid Artisan K400 blender

The best blender to give as a gift

Specifications

RRP: $372.88 / £249

Speeds: Five

Programs: Three

Guarantee: Five years

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Stunning design with 11 colors

+

Suitable for hot liquids

+

Blends well in seconds

Reasons to avoid

-

Glass jug is heavy

-

Limited jug capacity for the price

Having a KitchenAid mixer has become something of a status symbol, but if you don't have much use for their stand mixer, you can still buy into the brand with the Artisan K400 blender. It’s available in a range of glossy colors and looks impressive, which means it's one of the best engagement gifts or best wedding gifts you could give to a couple that love cooking. 

Beyond its good looks, this blender performs well too, delivering smooth smoothies and evenly crushed ice in seconds. It also offers a whole host of functions and speeds so you can make soups, sauces, doughs, and frozen desserts. While the weighty glass jug is more limited in capacity than some (it's 1.6 liters), this 1200W machine can be easily accessorized with extra containers, one of which is a lighter plastic jug. The heavier jug can be tricky to clean by hand, but there’s a self-cleaning program on the dial. Overall, this blender works hard and looks fabulous in any kitchen. It is on the pricey side but there are often KitchenAid deals to be found.

See our full KitchenAid Artisan K400 blender review

(Image credit: NutriBullet)

4.

NutriBullet Blender Combo

The best budget blender

Specifications

RRP: $127.50/ £89

Speeds: Three

Programs: One

Guarantee: One year

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Good capacity for a budget model

+

Can blend hot soup

+

Brilliant value-for-money

Reasons to avoid

-

Only offers one program

-

Has three cups but only two lids

The NutriBullet Blender Combo delivers a lot in terms of value. It's got a full-sized 1.8-liter blender that can handle hot liquids; three cups that can be used for blending and storing; a tamper for making frozen desserts and a powerful 1200W motor. It’s louder than some other models but delivered consistently in our tests, producing evenly blended smoothies, chunk-free soup and snowy ice which was perfect for cocktails.  

For everything this NutriBullet is capable of making, you can rest easy knowing all components are dishwasher-safe, making for an easy kitchen clean-up. In an ideal world, it would have more choice of speeds or programs, but as an affordable all-rounder, you’d be hard-pressed to find one that ticks as many boxes. If you're debating a NutriBullet vs Vitamix, price is an important consideration. And if you opt for a NutriBullet, make the most of it by checking out our guide on how to use a NutriBullet.

See our full NutriBullet Blender Combo review

(Image credit: Nutribullet)

5. NutriBullet 600W Personal Blender

The best blender for smoothies

Specifications

RRP: $62.50 / £59.99

Speeds: One

Programs: One

Guarantee: One year

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Doesn't take up a lot of room

+

Powerful blades

+

Quick and easy to use

Reasons to avoid

-

Limited speeds and functions

-

Blades not very long-lasting

We couldn't help it. We've included another NutriBullet. But when it comes to personal blenders, there's no brand that does it better. If you're looking for something compact, reasonably-priced and the right size to make a smoothie for one, then this is it. Admittedly, there are no bells and whistles or nifty programs, but all the magic is in the blend. 

The sturdy blades and high-speed blend function reduce even the toughest of fruits and vegetables to a smooth liquid in just seconds and with the push and blend and function it's quick and easy to use. However, the lack of buttons does mean that you have to be present during the whole blending process, so it can cost you a few seconds and it's worth making sure when you twist the beaker off the base that you're not simply unscrewing the lid or you could be left in a bit of a mess. We'd also recommend changing your blades every year or so because they can become a bit stiff after long periods of repeated use. 

This could make a great 18th birthday gift or Christmas gift for teenagers who are heading off to uni and want something compact for whizzing up cocktails.  

(Image credit: Ninja)

6. Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender (Ninja Foodi Blender & Soup Maker)

The best blender for soup

Specifications

RRP: $199.89 / £129

Speeds: Three

Programs: 10 automatic and three manual

Guarantee: One year

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Variety of programs to choose from

+

Blends quickly

+

Self-cleaning function

Reasons to avoid

-

Glass pitcher is heavy to handle

-

Tends to be very loud

If you love your soup maker but want to save cupboard space, then find yourself a Ninja, which is one of the best hot and cold blenders. While many blenders can't cope with hot vegetables when cooking soup, this one has a built-in heating element so you can make all your favorite recipes without the worry that it will crack or overheat. Add your ingredients along with your choice of liquid and at the click of a button, your soup will be ready in minutes. 

While some like to use the best hand blenders when cooking soup, we loved being able to do everything in one big jug. This made the silkiest soup we've ever cooked, despite having a top-of-the-range soup maker in our repertoire of kitchen essentials. And this is just one of its tricks. There are several different programs that let us whizz up smoothies and cocktails (with a load of ice) in seconds. We even chopped up some onions and carrots using the Chop setting, following up with the Sauté program to start our cooking off. In addition, there's a frozen desserts section where you can make ice cream alternatives. But possibly our favorite part of this blender (other than the self-cleaning function), is the way that it just sits on top of the base without the need for any awkward twisting or clicking in.

And, if you love a Ninja blender, it's worth looking to find out where you can get Ninja blenders on sale throughout the year too.

(Image credit: Smeg)

7. Smeg 50's Style Blender

The best stylish blender

Specifications

RRP: $299.95 / £169

Speeds: Four

Programs: Three

Guarantee: Two years

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Specialized ice crush function

+

Doesn't take up much space

+

Lots of fun colors available

Reasons to avoid

-

Limited speeds and functions

-

Jug is on the small side

There are kitchen appliances that come with all the technical bells and whistles and then there are the ones that make your space look smart. While the bells and whistles can be fun to play around with, most of us usually end up falling back on the basic functions our blender offers. Which makes this fancy Smeg offering well worth your attention.  

This retro-style offering is one of the best blenders for crushing ice in seconds with its specialized function, while the smoothie function gave us the kind of silky drinks we'd expect from a Californian wellness bar. It only has four speeds but it still packs in a heap of power, though maybe not as much as the Vitamix option. We also found the pulse function handy for chopping up veg. Our only niggle is that the jug has a slightly smaller capacity than we're used to with other models, however, this means it's lightweight but still sturdy, which makes it more comfortable to use than some of the other blenders we've tested. 

It's a beautiful, compact package available in a number of lovely shades including, black, cream, and a trio of pastels: pink, blue and green. 

(Image credit: Ninja)

The best blender for smoothie bowls

Specifications

RRP: $89.99 / £94

Speeds: One

Programs: Four

Guarantee: One year

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Various attachments for convenience

+

Strong motor and not too loud

+

Four versatile programs

Reasons to avoid

-

Not suitable for big quantities

-

Doesn't handle nut butters well

If you're someone who's constantly trying to prove how smoothies are good for you by making up smoothie bowls for breakfast in the morning, then this one's for you. In the last decade or so, smoothie bowls have become a big healthy breakfast trend—hence the Ninja Smoothie Bowl Maker was born. 

This particular model from the popular brand is specifically designed to make smoothie bowls and comes with a personal bowl attachment for convenience and so that you can get your quantities exactly right. You can also make spreads and nut butters, as the different programs on the machine allow you to blend up your ingredients into a smooth liquid or a thick paste, so you can make the most out of your appliance.

(Image credit: Magic Blender)

9. Magic Bullet Blender

The best compact blender

Specifications

RRP: $39.98 / £39.70

Speeds: One

Programs: N/A

Guarantee: One year

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Takes up minimal space

+

Includes multiple cups and lids

+

Great for protein shakes

+

Accessories are all dishwasher-safe

Reasons to avoid

-

Not great at crushing ice

-

Need storage for accessories

-

Only good for single portions

The Magic Bullet is the best blender for those who live solo and in small quarters. This 120V machine boasts an admirable 250W of power to help it blend, whip, chop and dice. Although the Magic Bullet itself has a small footprint, it does come with multiple accessories you'll need to find storage for. It includes a tall cup, a short cup, a party mug, two lip rings, two resealable lids, and a to-go lid — all of which are dishwasher-safe.

If protein shakes are your forte, the Magic Bullet excels at whipping those up, no problem. It's also quite good for making baby food, although smoothies may present some issues as we found it wasn't as adept at chopping ice and frozen fruit to a fine consistency. Still, for a solo-use blender, you're getting fairly decent value here, especially if you like to take your drinks on the go.

(Image credit: Kenwood)

10. Kenwood BLP41.A0CT Blend-X Fresh Blender

Best blender for crushing ice

Specifications

RPP: $46.33 / £34.97

Speeds: Three

Programs: None

Guarantee: One year

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Has an ice crush button

+

Detachable blades for easy cleanup

+

Lightweight and stylish build

Reasons to avoid

-

No presets included

-

Noisy, even on the lowest setting

Compact enough to tuck into a corner of a tiny kitchen, the Kenwood Blend-X Fresh is a neat, nimble blender that can handle everyday tasks, such as batter and milkshakes without any issues. There aren’t any pre-set programs, but this model has some tricks up its sleeve. The ice-crush button works well, turning cubes to snow, and detachable blades mean it’s easy to wash by hand. 

As the jug is tall, the capacity hasn’t been reduced too much despite its smaller footprint—there’s still 1.5 liters of working space in the 2-liter pitcher. However, its 650W motor can be limited, meaning you’ll need to spend a bit more time chopping food into smaller pieces to circulate correctly. We also found it to be quite noisy, even when operating at lower speeds. 

See our full Kenwood Blend-X Fresh blender review

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

11. KitchenAid K150

Best blender for KitchenAid-fans on a budget

Specifications

RRP: $99.99 / £229

Speeds: Three

Programs: Three

Guarantee: Two years

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Attractive choice of five colours

+

Effective ice-crushing setting

+

Lightweight BPA-free plastic jug

+

Easy to slot on and off the base 

Reasons to avoid

-

Limited functionality (only three speeds)

-

No cord tidy under the blender base

-

Expensive considering limited functionality

This blender has a timeless modern design that would look attractive on your counter no matter the season. Its main function is as an ice blender or smoothie maker, so it's one of the most basic models we tested.

Compared to the KitchenAid K400 this blender only has three-speed settings but it still produces good results. Although it is less powerful than the K400, with only 650W, we were immensely impressed with the ice-crushing function. There are four blades angled in two directions which means ingredients are pulled and crushed into contact with the blades at different points. Ice was blitzed to an even snow-like consistency with no large pieces remaining in less than half the time of the others we tested.  It was also one of the quietest models we tested.

The capacity of the K150 jar is the same as the more expensive K400 model but it is made of BPA-free plastic, not glass. We liked that it was lightweight and easy to slot on and off the base. Unlike the metal base of the K400 the base of this model is plastic which looks less premium but this is reflected in the price. 

This model is cheaper than the K400 and would make a good option as a gift. It's also a good choice for those who love the KitchenAid brand and want to match other appliances in their kitchen but don't need a bulky blender and have a limited budget. 

To maximize the use of the blender it's worth considering investing in some of the accessories you can buy to use with it. For example the 200ml small batch jars would be useful if making small portions of pesto, hummus or salsa. If you tend to drink smoothies on the go then the 500ml personal blender jar is a great option. 

(Image credit: ZWILLING)

12. ZWILLING Enfinigy Power Blender

Best blender for a modern kitchen

Specifications

RRP: £349 (UK Only)

Speeds: 12

Programs: Six

Guarantee: Five years (if registered online)

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Stylish design with attractive matte base and minimal branding

+

Lots of functions including pre-sets for cocktails, ice and smoothies 

+

Suitable for hot liquids

+

Effective cleaning setting 

+

Illuminated timer display is very useful 

Reasons to avoid

-

Ridged design on jug makes it more difficult to see inside 

-

Takes up more space compared to other models 

Unlike other models we tested, the Zwilling Enfinigy power blender only has two blades. These stainless steel blades are specially designed with serrated piranha-like teeth to enable optimised blending. Despite only having the two blades, we thought the results were some of the best.

It is one of the most powerful blenders we tested at 1600W but this also meant that while on the maximum speed setting it was rather loud. The extra power and noise comes with capacity, though - this model has one of the largest capacity jugs at 1.8 litres which is good if you often make more than two servings. 

The settings for ice, cocktails, ice creams, smoothies and cleaning are programmed with pre-calculated timings which are shown on the digital display which was a unique and useful feature compared to other models - we found the smoothie setting, in particular, especially effective. 

When the jug is on the base it stands at 42.6cm (16.8in) tall, around 2cm (0.8in) taller than the KitchenAid K400, which might be an issue for those with low kitchen cabinets on the wall. We thought the design was very attractive and loved the matte black base and the illuminated dial. This also meant it was easier to clean as there is only one button on the base. Twinned with a cleaning setting that worked perfectly, this machine is a great choice for those that like to keep a clean and tidy kitchen. It had minimal branding which we thought looked premium and would blend in very well with modern, chic kitchen trends.

Unlike other models, the blender comes with a stamper which is useful to help safely move ingredients around in the jug, although questionably this is an expectation, given the price point.

(Image credit: Dualit)

13. Dualit VortecS® Blender & Smoothie Maker

Best blender for large jug capacity and small counter footprint

Specifications

RRP: $176.20 / £149

Speeds: Four

Programs: Seven

Guarantee: One year

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Robust shatter-proof jar

+

Six blades for effective blitzing

+

Small footprint on counter surface, thin width but tall

+

Safety-tool provided to remove blade and allow thorough cleaning 

Reasons to avoid

-

Shiny plastic base looks less modern 

-

Not compatible with ingredients over 60C

-

No in-built cleaning setting

-

Ineffective ice setting 

The Dualit VORTECs blender is more affordable compared to the KitchenAid models we tasted, more space efficient, and has more speed settings - but its design lets it down. So if you're short on space but less concerned with aesthetics this is the blender for you.

Compared to other models we tested, we felt the design of this blender looked outdated due to the blue-tinted jug and the very shiny silver base. The buttons also felt cheap and didn't have a satisfying click or mechanism.  

Practically, though, the blender was good because it was more space-efficient on the counter side with a width of around 16cm (6.3in) compared to the much larger Zwilling Enfinigy which is 21.4cm (8.4in) wide. It has six blades, four of which have a unique design that targets the contents of the jug at different angles. 

This blender uses a soft-start motion which reduces the amount the ingredients inside the jug bounce around and ensures a constant level of contact with the blades. However, we found the ice pre-set was not effective and that we had to instead use it on maximum speed for considerably longer than other blenders we tested for the same task. 

Unlike other blenders, the VortecS uses a  BPA-free Tritan jar instead of glass or plastic, which is safer and lighter than glass but with the convenience and peace of mind that plastic provides.

Overall this blender functioned well and was space efficient however we felt the design of this blender was less competitive in terms of both mechanism and aesthetics.

Best blender deals:

Vitamix A2300i blender

£499

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Sage Super Q

£629

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NutriBullet Blender Combo

£99.99

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£299

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NutriBullet 600 Series

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Russell Hobbs Desire 3-in-1

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£34

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Why buy a blender over a hand blender? 

A countertop blender is a good option if you often make soup or smoothies for more than one person and you’ve got the kitchen storage space.

A hand blender is convenient if you prefer minimal washing up. However, they often only have one setting and speed so those seeking silky perfection might be left disappointed. 

The benefit of a stand blender is that many models have several useful settings like in the Vitamix Ascent A2300i which can heat soup, blend nuts, ice, and much more - so if you need it for multiple functions and will use it regularly, it could be a sage investment.

What to consider when buying a blender

There are various things you’ll want to take into account before investing in a blender.

How much should I spend on a blender?

Your budget will depend on what you intend to use your blender for. If you need something quick and easy for smoothies or shakes, a budget model that costs $50 / £50 or below may suffice. However, these less expensive models don't always have the strongest motors or the most precise blades, so your smoothies or soups may not always have the consistency you want.

For more heavy-duty usage - like making soups, dips and cocktails for parties - consider graduating to a mid-range model starting from $100 / £100. Blenders in this range will usually have more powerful motors, more speeds and perhaps a few nifty presets. They'll also provide a greater capacity than most cheaper blenders so you can make large batches for friends and family to enjoy.

Consider a premium blender (like a Vitamix) if you'll be frequently making big quantities and/or working with dry ingredients like grains, coffee beans or spices. Top-of-the-line models feature the most powerful motors, excellent build quality (to drown out the noise of said motors), and an array of pre-programmed features. But unless you plan to use your blender regularly for a multitude of tasks, there's no reason to spend a lot of money for one.

Fortunately, major shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday boast plenty of deals on small appliances, including blenders. If you have your eye on a top-tier blender, taking advantage of one of those sales could help you save a good chunk of change.

Are glass blenders better than plastic?

When it comes to glass versus plastic, it's all a matter of preference. Plastic blenders tend to be cheaper, so they're the budget-friendly choice. They're also more lightweight so if you like to take your smoothies with you to the office or gym, a plastic blender will be your best bet. Nowadays, most plastic blenders are BPA-free so they're not as harmful to your body or the environment. 

Glass blenders are pricier and give off that "high-end" aesthetic. Since glass is heavier than plastic, glass blenders won't always be the easiest to handle — especially when it comes to cleaning. (And let's not forget how easy glass can shatter!) But glass blenders won't retain odors or stain as easily as their plastic counterparts. And if you intend to make soups, glass is the way to go since it's heat-resistant.

Which blender is best for smoothies?

We think the best blender for making smoothies is the NutriBullet Personal Blender, since it has a high-speed blend function plus sturdy blades that allow it to liquefy frozen fruits and veggies with relative ease. We're also fans of the Sage/Breville Super Q Blender for its efficient-yet-powerful ice crush program and dedicated green smoothie button that removes any trace of fiber and spinach specks.

Generally speaking, you'll want to find a smoothie blender with blades that can pulverize ice and frozen fruits and veg into silky smooth liquids with minimal grit. Also, seek a model with a travel cup and lid so you can take your drinks on the go. In the case of personal blenders, you should be able to remove the cup right from the base as soon as you're done blending. For larger-scale models, seek a container that doubles as a pitcher so you can pour your drinks straight away.

Need some insspiration for your healthy drinks? Here are some easy smoothie recipes that you can make in no time.

Rachel Ogden is a UK-based freelance journalist with more than 20 years’ experience of writing, editing and sub-editing. For the last 13 years, she has worked exclusively in interiors, writing about everything from extending your home to kitchen worktops, flooring, storage and more.  

She has worked for a huge swathe of brands, including Woman & Home, Ideal Home, Elle Decoration, Real Homes, Grand Designs, Living Etc25 Beautiful Homes, The Evening Standard, The Independent and many many more. She was also shortlisted for Lifestyle & Interiors Journalist of the Year in the 2018 Property Press Awards.

TOP 18 best models and tips for choosing

Blender is a popular device for making smoothies and cocktails today. It must be remembered that not every model is suitable for this purpose. To simplify the choice of the right device, we reviewed the models presented in online stores, studied their technical characteristics and features in order to collect the best and most reliable models in this article. Blenders are divided into groups according to the most popular request categories.

Best Smoothie & Shake Blender Ranking 2022-2023

Location Designation Price Description
Best Smoothie & Shake Blenders Price/Quality 2022-2023
1 Silanga BL550 Ask for price The Ultimate Smoothie & Shake Blender
2 Bosch MSM 67165 Ask for a price Best Smoothie & Shake Blender According to Experts
3 Philips HR3655/00 Ask for price Powerful and reliable stationary blender for shakes and smoothies
4 REDMOND RSB-3402 Ask for price A versatile kitchen appliance that can chop, blend and whip a variety of foods
Best Immersion Blenders for Smoothies and Shakes
1 Silanga BL800 Universal Ask for price The best quality/price immersion blender for smoothies and shakes
2 Bosch MSM66110 Ask for price The best immersion blender for smoothies and shakes according to users
3 REDMOND RHB-2964 Ask for price Good immersion blender for smoothies and shakes
Best Stand Blenders for Smoothies and Shakes
1 Silanga BL1500 PRO Ask for price The Ultimate Stand Blender
2 Philips HR2604 Ask for price Best stand mixer for smoothies and shakes today
3 Kitfort KT-1361-4 Ask for a price Fine and powerful blender for shakes and smoothies
Best Portable Smoothie & Shake Blenders
1 REDMOND RSB-3460 Ask for price The best model for 2022-2023, it allows you to make smoothies anywhere
2 Polaris PTB 0435 Cordless Ask for price Table top cordless blender with 5 modes
High Power Professional Smoothie & Shake Blenders
1 Kitfort KT-1399 Ask for price Best Professional Smoothie & Shake Blender with Button Control
2 RAWMID Future RFB-02 Ask for price High Power Professional Vacuum Blender
Best smoothie blenders with 9 cup0011
1 REDMOND RHB-2944 Ask for price Best smoothie blender with glass today
2 Polaris PHB 1384 Silent Ask for price Quality immersion blender with smoothie glass
Best Inexpensive Smoothie & Shake Blenders
1 Kitfort KT-3039-1 Ask for a price The best budget blender for smoothies and shakes, which will become an indispensable tool in your kitchen
2 LUMME LU-1836 NEW Ask for price Inexpensive, powerful and lightweight immersion blender with good functionality

Contents

  • Which company select
  • Useful video
  • How to choose a blender for darkness and cocktails