After extensive research, we confidently believe that the Ninja Professional (BL610) to be the best blender you can buy today. The Professional sports a 1000-watt motor can power through smoothies, margaritas, and other favorites. You’ll be able to prepare a monster batch, thanks to the included 72-ounce jar. With four different program modes, the Ninja is ready for what you throw at it.
To find the best blender, we began looking into the essential factors that would make it great for your kitchen, including each blender’s capacity, motor power, speed control, and included extras. If you’re looking for a new home blender, a medium-sized capacity with ample power and some great accessories might be all you need. Otherwise, if you’re running a commercial kitchen, you’ll need a bit more power, an increased holding capacity, and precision speed control. No matter what your cooking situation, we’ve got a perfect option for your home or restaurant. To learn more about the Ninja, and other best blender options, continue reading.
Top 7 Best Blenders
#1 Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This blender includes a large 72-ounce jar, perfect for serving up a large quantity of drinks when friends and family are around; it doesn’t lack power either, thanks to the included 1000-watt motor.
Read Full Review: Ninja BL610 Professional Blender Review
- Very durable and large jar
- Four different program modes
- Six blade assembly for ice crushing
- Customer service isn’t great
Ninja offers up a functional blender that’s great for home kitchens. With a large 72-ounce jar, you can blend large batches of your favorite drinks, or any recipes, when friends and family visit. The four different programming modes automatically help to combine your ingredients properly with Ninja’s Auto-iQ technology, making adjustments during the blending process as needed with the built-in 1000-watt motor — we don’t believe you’ll find the Ninja Professional as underpowered.
Related: Check high-powered home blenders.
The included six-blade assembly helps to crush ice faster and offer a smoother drink blending experience. While some blenders struggle with breaking up ice, the Ninja blender seems to have everything down to an exact science. The one thing Ninja doesn’t have in its arsenal is a solid customer service team, so if your blender breaks, it might be a bit of a headache getting it fixed. If this blender doesn’t have you sold, take a look at the best immersion blender to compare. Ninja also sells processor bowls that serve as food processor attachments in case a bowl-shaped blender would work better for your recipe.
#2 Vitamix 5200 Blender
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: With nearly a 1400-watt motor, the ability to handle large 64-ounce batches, and durable industrial design, this Vitamix blender was designed for commercial and professional kitchens; that also makes it the best home blender you’ll ever use.
Read Full Review: Vitamix 5200 Blender
- Precise adjustable speed control
- Includes specially designed tamper
- Ability to self-clean with soap
- Very expensive purchase
If you need the best for your kitchen or restaurant, the Vitamix 5200 blender is happy to play the role. With a motor reaching nearly 1400-watts, the Vitamix can tear through anything you need blended. The controls allow for precise variable adjustments so that you can select the perfect speed, mastering the texture of your recipes. The included specially designed tamper also helps scrape down the sides, without needing to turn the machine off in the process. The speed controls and included tamper overall make a great difference in the functionality and convenience of this product.
Need to clean the Vitamix 5200? Just add water, a squirt of dish soap, and turn the unit on — it will heat the water and clean your blender jar with ease. The 5200 is a commercial product, so while it will work in home kitchens, you may find it to be a bit loud and bulky — not to mention very expensive. That being said, you may not go back to regular blenders ever again after trying high end blenders; it’s essentially the best blender for everything. Ascent produces other fantastic high-performance models with adjustable speed for your workout smoothies, like the Vitamix A2500 64 Ounce Container. This professional grade blender is a useful tool with wireless functionality with the Perfect Blend app and a speed dial for simple controls and smooth results. Though it doesn’t come with a true digital display screen interface, it still uses a neat digital timer when blending. This excellent value blender also comes with a five year warranty. If you’re just looking for the best blender for green smoothies, click here to compare models.
#3 Oster Blender Pro 1200 Blender
Award: BEST FOR VERSATILITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This blender has a powerful 1200-watt motor, featuring one-touch preset controls for your favorites, including smoothies and milkshakes. The company even throws in a free blending cup, alongside the 24-ounce jar.
Read Full Review: Oster Versa Pro
- Best on a budget
- One-touch present controls
- Includes blending cup
- Replacement parts are scarce
The Oster Blender Pro 1200 offers a powerful 1200-watt motor, perfect for chopping, blending, mixing, and crushing. The unit’s one-touch controls allow for smooth operation with modes dedicated to smoothies, milkshakes, and salsa. You can also choose from standard, low, medium, high, and pulse settings. What’s most interesting is the Dual Direction Blade technology that can blend in both directions for improved operation.
We also like that Oster includes a blending cup to go alongside the large jar; this way, you can easily blend your morning smoothie for on the go — no need to transfer anything to another cup. This feature makes this one of the most attractive options for personal blenders that you can get. The one complaint is that replacement parts seem to be scarce with Oster customer support telling purchasers that components such as the blending cup are no longer available.
#4 NutriBullet Blender Combo Blender
Award: BEST FOR SMOOTHIES
WHY WE LIKE IT: NutriBullet includes everything you need in this blender combination set, including a 64oz blending jar, 21oz blending cup, and 24oz blending cup. The kit also includes an easy-twist extractor blade which makes cleaning a bit easier.
Read Full Review: NutriBullet NBR-1201
- Powerful and durable motor
- Easy-twist extractor blade for cleaning
- Dishwasher-safe BPA-free materials
- Base unit is quite heavy
NutriBullet has been on TV as long as we can remember, reminding us about the benefits of smoothies. After taking a closer look at the NutriBullet Blender Combo, we think they might be the right company to dive into with a new smoothie addiction. The Combo Set includes the blender base and jar, as well as two on-the-go cups. You can easily blend your smoothie, or margarita in your new personal blender— we aren’t judging, and grab it the next time you head out the door. Whatever you’re wanting to blend in a personal blender, this quality conventional blender is a great kitchen appliance to use on a daily basis for all your blending needs.
The easy-twist extractor blade makes it easy to clean, and the dishwasher-safe containers are also all BPA-free. If you have a bad back, this might not be the blender for you, however, as the base unit is quite heavy and takes some strength to move around your countertop. The NutriBullets included cups make it the best blender for smoothies. This easy-to-use NutriBullet Balance premium blender combo would overall make a great addition to your kitchen space. Another famous food processor of the same manufacturer as the NutriBullets is the Magic Bullet, which you should check out if you may be interested in a smaller food processing appliance. Following research and long term test runs on the Magic Bullet and NutriBullets, the manufacturer has designed two noteworthy products for your kitchen. If you want a budget pick instead, take a look at the best blenders under $100.
#5 Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender
Award: BEST FOR SOUP
WHY WE LIKE IT: This Blendtec option provides professional-level blending, as well as a massive four-sided 75oz jar that can tackle your biggest challenges. The Blendtec can even warm soup and trinks with blade friction heat in under 6-minutes.
Read Full Review: Blendtec Original Professional Grade Pre programmed 10 speeds
- Largest pitcher capacity
- Ability to warm soup & drinks
- Durable stainless-steel blade & BPA free
- Poor product quality control
Blendtec first caught our attention with its extreme commercials that showcased electronic devices, such as iPhones, being blended. But, the company kept our attention with the Total Classic Original; this blender provides a powerful and high-capacity option to kitchens everywhere. The large 75oz four-sided jar can hold more substantial quantities of ingredients so that you don’t need to blend in multiple batches.
The powerful motor can also spin up to fast enough speeds to heat soup and drinks in less than six minutes, while the stainless-steel blade has no problem chopping through food — these factors combined make it the best blender for soup. We have heard of a few quality control reports with the Blendtec, but it wasn’t significant enough for us to consider it a serious issue. This blender isn’t one of the best blenders for crushing ice, so if you’re looking for the perfect margarita, look elsewhere.
#6 Cleanblend Commercial Blender
Award: MOST POWERFUL
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Cleanblend delivers 1800-watts of power, delivering one of the most high-powered blender options in our lineup. Due to its power, the Cleanblend can crush, blend, chop, grind, heat, process, purée, and liquify.
- Able to easily heat & liquify food
- Powerful 1800-watt base motor
- Includes money-back protection
- Very large for a home kitchen
If you need the power, Cleanblend delivers with its Commercial Blender. This powerful blender offers up 1800-watts of high-speed control from its included base. You can use the unit to crush ice, blend drinks, chop nuts, grind pastes, heat soups, process vegetables, purée carrots, and liquefy due to the high speed at which the blades can spin. This isn’t your standard kitchen blender; it stands up to professional, commercial, and heavy-duty cooking needs.
What we love most about the Cleanblend is that it offers a money-back guarantee for up to 30-days — don’t like it, return it without any questions asked. We will say that the Commercial Blender is impressive, but it is large and might be a tight fit for some home countertops. But, if you have space, you won’t regret your choice and it’s the best blender for frozen fruit thanks to its powerful motor.
#7 KitchenAid Diamond Blender
Award: BEST KITCHEN STYLING
WHY WE LIKE IT: We know that kitchen appliances are all about performance, but KitchenAid shows us that blenders can look great too, offering its product in over two-dozen different colors. The KitchenAid even includes a shatter-resistant jar.
Read Full Review: KitchenAid Diamond Blender Review
- Available in over two-dozen colors
- Shatter & scratch-resistant jar
- Sturdy die-cast metal base
- Motor-rating isn’t the highest
The KitchenAid Diamond Blender makes a statement in your kitchen thanks to its overwhelming two-dozen color options — you’ll find this blender in every color from pistachio to gloss cinnamon. It doesn’t just look beautiful; it works well, stirring, chopping, mixing, and blending. The included 60oz BPA-Free jar is shatter, scratch, and stain-resistant, allowing it to stand up to the rigors of the kitchen; it’s even dishwasher safe for a quick cleanup.
The base of the unit is a sturdy die-cast metal base, so you don’t need to worry about it vibrating across your countertop. You can even clean off the control panel with wipes, thanks to its design. While the motor-rating isn’t the highest, the blender performs well thanks to its Intelli-Speed Motor Control technology.
Beginner’s Guide To Blenders
When buying a blender, you should consider several factors, including the motor’s power, the volume of the blender, and the blade design. You can find several variations for each of these features. For example, blender motors vary depending on brand and price range, which come in low-powered and high-powered models. Additionally, you may need multiple speed settings.
Understanding How Blenders Work
You may be wondering how blenders work. Conventional blenders contain several different parts that each do something different in making it work, including the housing, motor, metal blades, and blending jar. The motor turns the blades within the blending jar, creating forces that reduce solid ingredients to a liquid. Immersion blenders have blades located at the tip of the unit itself instead of within a food container. They must be immersed in the ingredients to start blending.
Did You Know?
What Year Was The Blender Invented? The blender was patented in 1922 by Stephen Poplawski after working on the design for three years.
What Are the Uses Of A Blender?
Blenders are used for a variety of recipes, and are ideal for making all sorts of drinks, including juices, smoothies, milkshakes and frozen cocktails. They can also be used to chop, grind, emulsify, and blend ingredients to create a variety of foods, such as hot soup, nut butters, and smoothie bowls. Immersion blenders are particularly good for mixing hot soups, which is harder to do using a conventional blender.
Insider Tip
Don’t just let your blender run unsupervised. It won’t explode, but the lid might pop off and leave you a terrible mess to clean up.
How Much Should You Expect To Spend On A Blender?
Blenders have a price range of about $20 for budget blenders to about $600 for expensive models, varying greatly between personal and high-speed blenders. Immersion blenders tend to have a slightly higher floor for price, starting at around $30, but can still rocket up in price when you start looking at high-end models. Most commercial blenders cost around $250 or less, but if you need a high-performance blender for a restaurant or blending things at scale, expect to spend much more. These are expensive blenders that are usually great at tough tasks like turning peanuts into peanut butter or getting the smoothest smoothies. These models will usually also have more pre-programmed settings and preset speeds than a budget model.
Did You Know?
How Long Does A Blender Last? The lifespan of a blender depends largely on the usage of the appliance. The average countertop blender lasts about six years when used regularly. However, some brands offer longer warranties on their products based on the idea that they have longer lifespans.
Choosing A Blender
When it comes to choosing a blender, there’s a ton of different types to choose from, which can make the process a little overwhelming. Fortunately, we can help you narrow down your options to something more manageable and offer up useful information that will let you make comparisons between blenders more easily. Whether you are wanting to make a daily smoothie from frozen berries, turn nuts into nut butter, blend hot ingredients, or make baby food, there is a type of blender for everyone’s needs. Using the steps that follow, we can help you make a decision on a blender with confidence.
1. What Are You Planning To Do With Your Blender?
Some blenders are better suited for certain recipes than others. Many personal portable blenders are designed with smoothie-making in mind, and they also work for other frozen drinks. Likewise, some blenders may be used for hot foods, like soups and sauces, like immersion blenders, especially when compared with standard blenders. However, many blenders designed for pureed soup or creamy smoothies making can be used to prepare other recipes, such as juices, though the key differences in a juicer over a blender may make one or the other the ideal choice for you.
2. How Large Do You Need Your Blender Jar?
You may want to consider how many people you are trying to make food for when selecting a blender. A personal blender is ideal for small amounts, while a full-size blender should feed several more. Personal blending cups are also attractive for anyone that likes to make a single drink for just themselves regularly. Ultimately, when you choose a blender, you’ll want to pick a jar that will suit your needs most often. It’s better to have to blend in multiple batches rarely than to have a much larger jar that doesn’t fit in the limited space you have on your kitchen counter, for instance. Your countertop space is important when considering a blender, as you need to make sure it won’t take up too much space and will fit under your kitchen cabinets if you plan to leave it out for convenience.
STAT: More than 90% of US households own a full-size or personal blender.
3. How Powerful Do You Need Your Blender To Be?
If you blend on a regular basis, you’ll want a blender with a powerful motor. However, if you’re looking for a basic blender for smoothies, you may be able to get away with a less powerful blender. Power is generally measured through wattage, though you can also perform a quick conversion to horsepower if it matters to you. A 746-watt blender is 1 horsepower, for example, so you can keep that in mind when you’re looking at blenders and their wattages. Blenders with wattages that push past 1000W (some go as high as 1500W) usually are attractive if you’re going to try blending very hard or frozen ingredients on a regular basis.
4. What Features Does Your Blender Need?
When buying a blender, consider which features you want to be included, such as preset functions, soup settings, detachable blades, and manual controls. For example, consider how many speed settings you would like or whether you want a pulse option. A 3-speed blender cannot offer the same power a variable speed will. Variable speeds are far more expensive and are considered a professional-grade option, and usually are controlled through a variable speed dial, or with a touchscreen control that offers you speed options. The blender’s pulse function, on the other hand, allows the user to blend for short periods of time at the highest speed. This feature can provide the user with more control through the use of a pulse switch or pulse button.
5. Is Blender Noise A Problem For You?
Several blenders have been designed to reduce the noise caused by the blender. However, noise reduction is not noise elimination, and the high-speed and high-power motors that are in blenders will produce audible noise as they work, and as they cut through and blend the contents of the jar.While it may sound counter-productive, if you’re looking for the quietest blenders, you’ll need to look at less powerful models.
6. What Kind Of Blender Blades Do You Need?
There are several blade types to choose from, including milling, S-blade, and X-blades. Each of these options specializes in blending different things. Read on to find out more about the blade options. A blender with six blades offers more points of contact with the food on behalf of the blades, though most blenders come with only four blades. Milling blades, meanwhile, are flatter and arranged in a straight line, making them ideal to grind grains, coffee beans, and seeds. X-blades and S-blades are self-explanatory, coming in the shape of an X or S. X-blades are useful for chopping up foods and creating sauces and dressings, while S-blades are great for making smooth smoothies, milkshakes and juices.
Insider Tip
Cut food down into smaller sizes. Nothing should be larger than half the jar’s height when you start blending. This reduces wear on the motor and cuts down on blending time!
Types of Blenders
Blenders By Feature
Blenders By Size And Shape
Blenders For Specific Recipes
- Blenders For Frozen Drinks
- Blenders For Protein Shakes
- Blenders For Milkshakes
- Blenders For Smoothies
- Blenders for Nut Butters
- Blenders For Margaritas
Insider Tip
Load your blender from lightest to heaviest, liquids and light material at the bottom, heaviest stuff up top. It’ll help ease the blending process. If you’re making a green smoothie, leafy greens are good to put in first, as they’re light and not very dense.
Top Blender Brands
- Vitamix Blenders
- Nutribullet Blenders
- Ninja Blenders
- Oster Blenders
- Kitchenaid Brand Blenders
- Braun Brand Blenders
- Blendtec Blenders
- Breville Brand Blenders
- Cuisinart Brand Blenders
- Hamilton Blenders
Insider Tip
No matter what brand of blender you buy, never place any utensils into a blender when it is running. Even silicone utensils can catch the blades and create a massive mess.
Owning A Blender
After purchasing a blender, you should consider how often and how to clean your blender. Additionally, you likely will want to register your blender and look at the blender warranty. If you misplace the user’s manual of your blender, you may be able to find it on the manufacturer’s website through a brief search of your model. These manuals are useful for understanding preset programs, such as smoothie settings, and for giving tips on how to better blend tough ingredients or dry ingredients.
Did You Know?
Are blender extended warranties worth it? Americans are familiar with extended warranties for technology and some bigger home appliances. However, these warranties may help if you have trouble with your blender prior to the expected end of its life. Some brands offer extended warranties because they expect their blenders to last longer than another brand’s blender. There are some restrictions on warranty claims, so you might want to check these before submitting a claim.
Cleaning Your Blender
You can clean any blender with some soapy water, and a sponge or cloth. Disassemble the blender for the most thorough cleaning but be careful of the sharp blades when handling them. If you have especially difficult to remove residue in your blender, you can use a mixture of half warm water and half baking soda to soak the blender. Make sure the water is warm and let it sit for thirty or so seconds. Also, remember to clean plastic blender jars immediately after use so they don’t become stained with whatever it was you blended in them. Some blenders have a self-clean function that is also useful, but it’s still worth it to scrub things down by hand. Things like creamy soups, peanut butter, pancake batter, and brownie batter can stick to places that a self-clean might not get to.
Insider Tip
Take care with what materials you put into a glass pitcher blender. Sudden changes in temperature can cause the jar to shatter when the blender is on. Tossing frozen ingredients into something hot, for example, is not the best idea.
Common Blender Maintenance
You should unplug your blender after each use. Then, wipe down your blender with a cloth and soap, and water after each use. If your blender’s blades are beginning to dull and won’t blend up food like they used to, you can sharpen blender blades by tossing eggshells into the blender and running it until the shells are totally pulverized. If you find that your blender is running too loud for your tastes, you can make your blender quieter by placing it on a silicone mat and covering it with a towel. It won’t eliminate the noise, but it will help reduce it. If you find your blender’s motor is running slowly, you could be overworking the blender, which usually happens if you’re placing an excess amount of very hard ingredients into the blender.
Insider Tip
Don’t blend thick foods for longer than three minutes at a time. You might overheat the blender.
