The best blenders for making smoothies, soups, sauces and desserts

Using one of the best blenders is an easy way to get in your five-a-day, use up a fridge full of ingredients, and add some variety into mealtimes. That’s because it transforms fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds into tasty blended combinations that the whole family will enjoy. 

These days, the best blenders need to live up to some critical criteria: they should offer a good mix of performance and programs, as well as be easy to keep clean and maintain for everyday use. And of course, they need to look good displayed in our homes.

If you’re in the market for a new blender, we’ve selected and tested models at a range of price points to help you whittle down the options. These machines will whizz up your chosen ingredients into a healthy and delicious blend, helping you to make sauces, smoothies, and soups. Alternatively, 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 to buy.

Among the best blenders that will cover your every blending need are our top recommended buys—the Sage Super Q and Vitamix A2300i—as well as the more affordable NutriBullet Blender Combo. The Sage is ultra-powerful, and has a great range of settings, while the Vitamix is our pick for the best blender overall—being incredibly versatile and easy to use. And the Nutribullet is a great-value option that’s still packed full of handy features.

How to choose the best blender for you

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

• Programs and speeds: The best blenders will be able to pulverize your ingredients with ease, even on the standard settings. A few basic speeds are fine for most, but more expensive options will have a few more—decide whether these are necessary for you. Some blenders have programs like a pulse mode, a puree mode, a soup mode, and a smoothie mode, too. Dedicated programs provide convenience for these specific tasks, so can be very handy. But, if you’re likely to use your blender for one specific function, go for a more targeted, cheaper option. 
• Capacity: Capacity is another consideration—larger jugs are useful in family households, or for those who batch-cook, while smaller models are ideal for compact kitchens. As a specific guide though, a 2-liter jug should be more than enough for all uses. The compact sizes available in some blenders are also one of the reasons why the best blenders win in the food processors vs blenders debate, as food processors are less likely to be offered in smaller sizes.
• Cleaning capabilities: Many (but not all) blenders come with self-cleaning functions—although learning how to clean a blender isn't too difficult without them. These self-cleaning functions use a high-speed mechanism to whisk away stubborn debris (when filled with water and washing-up liquid). Similarly, some blenders have dishwasher-safe parts, where others don't. So if easy care is important to you, be sure to check these two things.
• Power: Generally, the higher the wattage the better—it’ll provide faster blending and reduce your food prep time. Do note, however, that while higher wattage gives a rough idea as to how powerful the motor is, it doesn’t always equate to a blender being a better all-round model. 500 watts is generally powerful enough for a blender that's expected to do the typical tasks.
• Blender material: Decide whether you're after a blender with a glass jug or a plastic jug—both have their pros and cons. Most good plastic blenders will use a high-quality BPA-free plastic. Glass blenders are generally more scratch-resistant, and are less likely to become dulled, damaged or discolored, meaning they maintain their (visual) quality more over time. On the other hand, glass blenders can be heavy to lift, and of course, more likely to break if dropped or knocked. In this regard, plastic blenders are more resilient.
• Any extras: Does the lid have a feeder cap, which you can remove to allow for airflow when blending hot liquids? Does it come with any additional accessories (such as cups to hold your smoothie) that will make using it easier? Does it have a tamper (a tool to help push ingredients down towards the blade), to speed up blending and prevent any chunks being missed? These are all helpful extras for a blender so it's good to work if which, if any, are essential for you. 

The best blenders as reviewed by our experts

The Vitamix A2300i is a blender that 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 durable yet deceptively lightweight two-liter jug, plus it’s quick to get blending—the jug drops onto the 1400W base, the lid clips on, you choose one of 10 speeds and hit start. In tests, no task was too difficult: 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 in case you're not super confident about how to use a blender. 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. Our best pick for or serving up fuss-free food.

See our full Vitamix A2300i blender review

One of the priciest blenders in our guide, the ultra-powerful two-liter 2400W Sage Super Q justifies its cost by blitzing both quickly and using noise-suppression technology. This means that while it’s far from whisper-quiet, the sounds it makes are less obtrusive than many, and certainly those with a larger motor. What is also notable is the LCD display—enabling you to see at a glance what speed you’ve selected, set a blending timer or keep an eye on how long is left on a program. 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 as piping as the Vitamix above. 

See our full Sage the Super Q blender review

There's no doubt that the NutriBullet Blender Combo will deliver a lot for you in terms of value. It's got a full-sized 1.8-liter blender that can handle hot liquids, three cups that can be blended into and used to store the contents, a tamper for making frozen desserts and a powerful 1200W motor that works the same way as the original to create speedy smoothies. It’s louder than some, but delivered consistently in our tests, producing evenly blended smoothies, chunk-free soup and snowy ice perfect for cocktails. But if you're unsure about how to use a Nutribullet, take a look our simple guide to making the most of yours. Plus, it’s all dishwasher-safe when you’re done, making for an easy kitchen cleanup. In an ideal world it’d 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. And if you're debating a Nutribullet vs Vitamix, price is an important consideration.

See our full NutriBullet Blender Combo review

If your idea of a great blender is one that works hard and looks stunning, the KitchenAid Artisan K400 is for you; it’s available in a range of glossy colors, so it can take pride of place on the worktop. It looks impressive, which means it'll make for a great gift too. 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, this 1200W machine can be easily accessorized with extra containers, one of which is a lighter 1.6-liter plastic jug. As the heavier jug can also present problems when cleaning by hand, it’s a good thing that there’s a self-cleaning program on the dial too. Overall, this blender works hard and looks fabulous in any kitchen.

See our full KitchenAid Artisan K400 blender review

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 (or cocktails!) without any issues. There aren’t any pre-set programs, but this model does have a couple of neat tricks going for it. There’s an ice-crush button that works well to turn cubes to snow, and detachable blades mean it’s easy to wash by hand. Considering that the jug is tall, the capacity hasn’t been reduced too much—there’s still 1.5 liters of working space in the 2-liter pitcher. However, its 650W motor can be limiting, meaning you’ll need to spend a bit more time chopping food into smaller pieces to circulate properly. It’s also especially noisy, even when operating on the lower speeds. 

See our full Kenwood Blend-X Fresh blender review

We couldn't help but include another NutriBullet option in this list, as when it comes to personal blenders, there's no brand that does it better. We all have NutriBullet to thank for making personal blenders accessible and, let's face it, pretty cool. So if you're looking for something compact, reasonably-priced and big enough to make a smoothie for one, then this is it. Admittedly, there are no bells and whistles or nifty programs with this one, but all the magic is simply 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.

If you're addicted to your soup maker but want to save cupboard space, then find yourself one of the best blenders that can do both hot and cold—enter Ninja. While many blenders can't take the heat from hot vegetables when cooking soup, this one actually has a built-in heating element so you can make all your favorite soup recipes in it without the worry that it will crack or overheat. Add your ingredients in along with your choice of liquid and at the click of a button your soup will be ready in literally minutes. While some like to use the best hand blenders when cooking soup, we loved being able to do everything in one big jug. And we have to say, 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 and we even chopped up some onions and carrots using the Chop setting, while using the Sauté program to start our cooking off. There's even a frozen desserts section where you can make ice cream alternatives—just chuck in your frozen ingredients with a little yogurt or liquid and turn the program on. But possibly our favorite part of this blender (other than the self-cleaning function obviously), is the way that it just sits on top of the base without the need for any awkward twisting or clicking in—a true must-have in the kitchen!

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, with our handy guide.

There are kitchen appliances that come with all the technical bells and whistles and then there are the ones that make your space look almost catalog-worthy. And while the bells and whistles can be fun to play around with, most of us blender users usually end up falling back on the basic functions that our blender offers. So if you're one of those people then this fancy Smeg offering is well worth your attention—especially if you're on a crusade to make your kitchen look as beautiful as possible. A worthy contender against the rest, this retro-style offering is one of the best blenders for crushing ice in seconds with its specialized function, while the smoothie function gives us the kind of silky drinks we'd expect from a Californian wellness bar. It does only come with four speeds but they do pack 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 does lend itself to a lovely lightweight but still sturdy feel, which makes it a lot more comfortable to use than some other blenders we've tested. And all of this, wrapped up in a beautiful compact little package that won't take up much room on your countertop and will look good while it's doing it. We are obsessed with the pastel green option thanks to the current sage green interiors craze, but there are a number of other shades available including, black, cream, pastel pink and pastel blue.

The Desire 3-in-1 Hand Blender is one of the best blenders out there for quick cooking as it makes things easier by doing everything in one so that you don't need loads of appliances. This 500W hand blender spins at 12,000rpm, so its stainless-steel blades can crush ice in just seconds. It has two speeds, comes with a mini chopper, whisk and a 700ml beaker, plus a detachable blending arm, which is a really useful feature. This versatile appliance will save you both time and storage space, at the same time as letting you create yummy dishes. We also like the black color of this, which makes it seem slightly sleeker than the more common white and metal looks. And the detachable parts are all dishwasher safe—win! 

What can you use a blender for?

In our opinion, blenders are actually one of the most underrated pieces of kitchen equipment, as there are so many different recipes they can lend a hand in creating. Much like owning the best induction pans money can buy, we reckon a good blender is a kitchen essential. There are obviously the popular blender recipe options like soup and easy smoothie recipes, but the best blenders can also make other recipes a lot easier to create.

If you like to make your own sauces, then we'd suggest opting for a hand blender to quickly whizz up your favorite sauce recipes, while a Vitamix, Ninja or something specifically designed for hot liquids would be best for making soups. Look for something that blends ice well, like our Smeg or Kitchenaid picks if you want to use your blender to make cocktails or something with multiple attachments, like the Sage blender, if you're looking for an all-rounder. We also love to use our blender to make pancake and dessert recipes, or take the time out of whisking up freshly whipped cream - but for these you'll usually need a blender that that features a bigger capacity jug like the Vitamix or NutriBullet Combo, so that you have enough room for all your ingredients. Smoothie recipes will work fine in most of the best blenders, so if that's what you're shelling out for then your decision will mostly be about what kind of capacity you want. However, our top picks for blitzing up smoothies are the two NutriBullet options, as they have been specifically designed to work with fruit and vegetables.

What can you not put in a blender?

While most of the best blenders can handle a wide variety of ingredients, there are some things that can be damaging to the appliance when used. The main ingredients we would avoid when using a blender are:

• Boiling or very hot water: This is because very hot liquids will give off steam that can put pressure on the blender's mechanisms or even cause the jug to crack or smash. If you're hoping to blend hot liquids, for example to make soup, it's best to use an immersion or hand blender. Alternatively, you could opt for a blender that is designed to handle hot liquids, like the Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender—our best blender for soup.
• Potatoes: If you were hoping to take some time and effort out of making mashed potatoes, using even one of the best blenders around is probably not the best idea. Blending the ingredient will cause the starches to release and you'll end up with more of a grainy paste than the fluffy mash you were probably hoping for. Plus if they're not cooked enough they may damage the blades of your blender.
• Dried fruit: While fresh and frozen fruits are ripe for blending, it's probably best to stay away from dried fruits as they tend to be sticky on the inside and can jam your blender's blades. If you're hoping to blend dried fruits, it's best to mash them up a little first and make sure you have other ingredients in the blender as well to avoid sticking.
• Hard substances like bones or fruit pits: These will damage your blender blades and can cause your jug to crack too, so be sure not to throw in any whole pitted fruits like peaches, nectarines or plums.
• Smelly foods: We all love our garlic, ginger and spices to add flavor to food, but when using large amounts of these ingredients in a blender you'll be left with a lingering smell that can transfer onto future blends. So if you make a flavor-packed soup straight before a fruity smoothie you may be left with an odd-smelling drink. We'd suggest only using small amounts of these ingredients or even keeping aside a separate blender for when using these if you tend to blend them a lot.

What smoothie ingredients can I use in my blender?

All of the best blenders will be able to deal well with most common smoothie ingredients. We love to use berries, celery and leafy greens for a healthy base and fruits like apples, grapes, pineapple and citruses for a refreshing finish. Bananas (especially when frozen) and avocadoes are great for adding a touch of creaminess and if you like your drinks a bit sweeter, try including mango or pitted cherries too.

When it comes to making the best smoothies, we would also suggest balancing a mixture of fruit and vegetables with a good amount of liquid to stop blades getting stuck and ensuring that you have a smoother finish. Filtered water, coconut water and plant-based milks are our go-to options for a healthier drink. But if you're feeling a little indulgent, you could always pop in a glug of chocolate milk or up the creaminess factor with Greek or coconut yogurt.

We also love to top up our smoothies with nuts or seeds for some extra nutrition and maybe a touch of syrup for a little extra flavor. There are so many options to choose from for this stage of your smoothie. Nut butters are always a reliable choice for packing in flavor or syrups like maple, agave, carob or even honey for some extra sweetness. We love to sprinkle in a few seeds, like pumpkin, sunflower or chia, for a touch of crunch too.

Is blending fruit bad for you?

Most of us think of smoothies as a quick healthy fix, but recent conflicting studies have left a lot of us asking the question—are smoothies good for you? And there are a few ways to address that. On the one hand, blending fruit into a drink is a quick and easy way to work your way towards your five-a-day goal and enjoy a refreshing and usually tasty drink. However, it's easy to make a smoothie a bit of a sugar bomb, as with the fruits' natural sugars mixed with sweeteners and usually some type of liquid it all adds up.

While delicious, bananas, grapes and mangoes are up there with some of the most sugary of fruits, so if you're looking to watch your sugar intake we'd recommend sticking to less sugary fruits like berries, melons or citruses. It's best to mix them with leafy greens like spinach or kale for an extra nutrition hit or even other vegetables like broccoli or avocado. Try to avoid using juices as your liquid and instead opt for an unsweetened milk or even water. And if using extra sweeteners, try to use natural options like honey, maple or agave and add them sparingly. You could even nix the sweeteners altogether and opt for a sugar-free nut butter instead. We'd also recommend drinking smoothies through a straw, as any sugars—even the natural ones—can affect your teeth and make your next trip to the dentist a problematic one.