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A solid blender is a must for any kitchen. Whether you're craving a revitalizing smoothie, seeking a soul-soothing frozen cocktail, or aiming to impress your dinner guests with a perfect puree, you'll want a blender that can quickly take care of the task at hand.
We've tested more than 50 models since 2016, and in this update, we've stacked 16 of today's best against one another. Our team blended through countless frozen berries, ice cubes, fibrous veggies, chunky nuts, and more to evaluate the quality of the resulting smoothies, frozen drinks, and purees. Taste and texture played key roles in our evaluations, as did usability factors like each blender's controls and ease of cleaning.
We found the best overall blender to be the Breville Super Q for its sheer power, silky blends, and intuitive controls. Its blades are unstoppable, and every mix of ingredients we threw at it was blended to perfection.
If budget is a concern, the Nutribullet Combo creates satisfying drinks at a more affordable price. Plus, it can switch between a large-capacity pitcher and a personal-sized blending cup.
But if all you really need is a small blender for making a quick drink that you can walk out the door with, consider the Ninja Fit Compact to be the ideal smoothie sidekick.
Editor's Note: We updated this blender review on July 22nd, 2025, to test five new blenders from Breville, Ninja, Nutribullet, and Vitamix.
Superb smoothies, frozen cocktails, and nut butter
Food processing capabilities
Includes a to-go cup
CONS
Slightly fickle lid
Pricey
SPECIFICATIONS
Power
1800 watts
Pitcher Capacity
68 oz
Presets
Smoothie, Green Smoothie, Ice Crush, Frozen Desserts, Soup, Clean
Meant for Heating?
Yes
Soup Temperature
160
How the Breville Super Q performed in our taste testing: The Breville Super Q delighted our taste testers. After tasting a leafy-green loaded smoothie, lead tester Lesely Robinson said, “I can't believe it's so smooth.” Likewise, contributor Arthur McMahon said of his berry smoothie, “This is the creamiest smoothie I've ever had.”
Its pureeing prowess is unmatched. It produced some of the silkiest, creamiest nut butter of any blender we tested. Using its Soup preset, this blender turned out a batch of rich homemade tomato soup in under six minutes, heating the family-sized batch to a steamy 145°F. As for frozen cocktails, the results were smooth and creamy, with an even texture throughout.
Breville's Super Q is a versatile, premium blender. The combination of thoughtfully designed presets and convenient accessories makes this a nearly perfect blender, not to mention a fantastic substitute for a food processor. The Super Q's strong 1800-watt motor powers through piles of ice and frozen berries, creating the smoothest smoothies among the blenders we tested.
In addition to its helpful preset programs, there are also six manual settings to choose from that allow you to mill, puree, blend, chop, mix, or stir with complete control over the speed settings and timing. The buttons are well-labeled in plain language, and all info is displayed on a large, easy-to-read digital screen.
The downside (as with all blenders) is how loud this Super Q is. We measured an average decibel reading of 82.4 dB, which places it on par with other blenders we tested, despite Breville's claim that this blender features “noise suppression technology.” If you prefer more manual control over the blending process, we suggest directly comparing the Super Q with the similarly rated Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5. The Super Q has an edge over the Hurricane in every blending test, but only by a slight margin, and the Hurricane achieves delicious drinks at a lower price. However, one member of our testing team says, “I would say the Super Q is worth every penny, particularly for folks who want something that can pull double duty as a food processor.” Due to the versatility, we stand behind our recommendation of the Super Q.
How the Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5 performed in our taste testing: The Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5 made delicious drinks and purees, with several exceptionally high notes. It blended a green smoothie so pure that there were no detectable traces of any veggie or fruit flecks, and one tester said, “I can't get over how great it tastes! Yum!” The berry smoothie was nearly as good, but a few non-pulverized seeds made it through, giving it a bit of a crunch. However, the blended margarita had a “smooth texture throughout” that our testers loved. The nut butter was a bit of a hassle to make, but it did turn out moderately creamy, if on the thick side. The tomato soup was a crowd favorite. It was utterly lucious to sip.
Utilizing a jaw-dropping 2000 watts of power to pump 3.5HP through its spinning blades, the Hurricane Pro is a blending force to be reckoned with. This became clear with the green smoothie and tomato soup we made, where the Hurricane absolutely demolished fibrous leafy greens and hearty vegetables, liquefying them to sumptuously delicious drinks.
The Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5 makes creamy and delicious smoothies just as well as the Super Q for $100 less.
The user interface has a clean layout, and the presets are highly adjustable. It features four presets (Smoothie, Ice Crush, Soup, and Clean), for each of which the time and power can be adjusted to fine-tune your favorite recipes to your exact preferences. It's also pleasantly easy to clean, with most parts being dishwasher safe, including the removable lid gasket, and its own Clean preset can do most of the work itself, much of the time.
This unit is also pretty darn loud, thanks to that crazy strong motor, measuring 86.4 decibels when we tested it. That's the price of power, though. It's also fairly expensive, although slightly less so than the Breville Super Q. That said, the Breville is able to puree nut butter very quickly in 1 minute and 30 seconds, whereas the Cuisinart Hurricane Pro took much longer at 8 minutes. All told, if you're looking for a premium and powerful blender for under $500 and are fine with waiting a little longer to make nut butter, this is the best option.
How the Nutribullet Combo performed in our taste testing: Our taste testers thought the Nutribullet Combo had good quality taste and texture in most of the drinks we made, but the purees were a little hit and miss. Of the green smoothie, one taste-tester said, “I like the flavor, though the spinach and kale are more noticeable. That said, it has an extremely smooth texture.” And for the berry smoothie, aside from one unblended berry chunk, it was “smooth and dreamy.” Similarly, the blended margarita turned out to be surprisingly tasty, though it had a few larger flecks of ice that didn't get beaten apart as finely as the rest. The Combo struggled to produce a smooth nut butter—it was rather thick and sticky. The tomato soup turned out creamy but a bit thin.
The interface is straightforward, with three speed settings, a pulse feature, and a single preset: the Extract program, which is specifically designed to process fresh fruit and vegetables. But what truly sets this blender apart from other award-winning options is the price tag. The Combo offers nearly the same level of overall performance as blenders that cost two to three times as much. While the Nutribullet doesn't quite reach the bar set by the absolute best, like the aforementioned Super Q and Hurricane, it still blends smoothies and frozen drinks that you'll enjoy. And, in a pinch, it's a decent food processor to boot.
While we love the Combo, the price difference between this blender and the top-tier options does come with compromises. It foregoes many convenience-related features like beverage-specific presets and easy disassembly for cleaning. It also struggles to crush ice at times, especially when the ice has melted and refrozen into larger clumps. If you mostly use your blender for frozen cocktails, check out the KitchenAid K400, which we found makes exceptional margaritas. But, considering what you're paying, the Combo still makes a great smoothie and a good frozen cocktail. All told, if the Breville Super Q, Cuisinart Hurricane Pro, or KitchenAid are out of your price range, the Nutribullet Combo is a great, affordable option that still makes delicious on-the-go beverages.
Takes slightly longer to blend smoothies and nut butter
SPECIFICATIONS
Power
1000 watts
Pitcher Capacity
72 oz
Presets
Pulse
Meant for Heating?
No
Soup Temperature
73
How the Ninja Professional BL610 performed in our taste testing: For such a wallet-friendly appliance, the Ninja Professional BL610 performed surprisingly well in several of our blending tests. It made a berry smoothie with “great texture” and a green veggie smoothie that “tasted great,” though both were a little chunky and required some chewing. Our blended margaritas were excellent, with a smooth, creamy texture that reminded us of a 7-Eleven slushie. This low-wattage unit was shockingly good at breaking down peanuts and almonds into a smooth, high-quality nut butter. It was easily spreadable on bread, and our tasters enjoyed the flavor. However, the soup we blended was a bit gritty.
For folks shopping on a tight budget, the Ninja Professional BL610 is an affordable alternative with impressive capabilities. It's even a good deal less costly than the Nutribullet Combo. According to our tester, Gena Bradshaw, “The BL610 should be on the radar of any blended cocktail enthusiasts.” With a powerful pulse feature, this blender easily pulverizes ice into snow. The smoothie preset whips up batches of creamy, blended margaritas in no time, and the oversized 72-ounce pitcher means you'll have enough on hand to serve the whole party.
The BL610 is simple to use, easy to clean, and capable of producing decent smoothies and delicious frozen cocktails. It's a straightforward, no-nonsense blender. That said, it requires a lot more blending to achieve a truly silky smoothie, and it's not powerful enough to quickly blend up nut butter. But, if you're just looking to make yummy pina coladas or strawberry daiquiris on a budget, we recommend the Ninja Pro.
Smoothie, Batters, Hot Soup, Whole Juice, Ice Cream, Mixed Drinks
Meant for Heating?
Yes
Soup Temperature
129
How the Blendtec Total Classic performed in our taste testing: The Blendtec Total Classic is one smooth operator, making a green smoothie with a balanced flavor profile and “really satisfying consistency,” as one taste tester put it. The berry smoothie was “really yummy” with only a smattering of crushed seed remnants remaining that didn't detract from the quality of the drink. Our frozen margarita had a remarkably creamy texture. The nut butter was “so smooth—creamy to the point of almost being liquid-y.” The tomato soup was processed down until it was like liquid velvet without a single mince of garlic or shallot.
The Blendtec Total Classic is as reliable as they come. Through multiple cycles of in-house testing and many years of use as one of our testers' personal blenders, we're confident the Blendtec Total Classic is a blender that's built to last. This small but mighty blender has a 1560-watt motor base that provides ample power to pulverize everything from hearty breakfast smoothies to ice for frozen beverages. Standing only 15.3 inches tall, it's shorter than many others, like the Super Q and Ninja Professional, which are both 18 inches tall, making the Blendtec an appropriate choice for anyone with low-hanging cabinets over their kitchen counterspace.
The Blendtec can handle the toughest of ingredients, whether it's crushing ice into a snow-like consistency or grinding corn kernels into flour.
As great as it is, a couple of oversights kept the Blendtec from achieving even more perfect results. For one, it has a Soup preset that lasts for 3 minutes and is designed to blend and heat soup, but it didn't warm the soup enough to our liking. The highest we recorded was 129°F, which falls short of the ideal serving temperature. The Vitamix Ascent X2, by comparison, raised its soup to 147°F in a single cycle. The Blendtec also lacks an Auto Clean feature entirely, and its pitcher and lid are only safe in the top rack of the dishwasher, despite the pitcher being too large for most top racks. It's these small inconveniences that keep it from being a true top-spot rival. Otherwise, it's still a fantastic blender that will last for many years to come.
Green Smoothie, Smoothie, Pulse/Ice Crush, Frozen Cocktail, Auto Clean
Meant for Heating?
No
Soup Temperature
111
How the Breville 3X Bluicer Pro performed in our taste testing: The Breville 3X Bluicer Pro spun up thick and creamy smoothies and a slushy-like frozen cocktail that our testers said were “mouthwatering to look at and refreshing to drink.” The food processing impressions weren't quite at the same level. The nut butter was tasty, and our testers were “surprised by the general lack of graininess,” but it took a lot of finagling and stirring to get it there. The soup results were worse—it was fraught with chunks that made it look like a marinara sauce. And as a result, the remaining liquid tasted thin and watery.
What sets the Breville 3X Bluicer Pro apart is that it combines the power of a blender and juicer in one compact unit. It excels at making drinks like smoothies, frozen cocktails, and fresh juices, making it ideal for juice-lovers wanting to streamline their countertop setup. This, combined with its large 68-ounce pitcher, places it in a unique spot as an amazing party machine where you can extract fresh juice and then use that to make a large amount of fresh frozen cocktails or mocktails for a crowd.
The Bluicer Pro has a fantastic interface with useful presets and intuitive manual controls. Even though this is a multipurpose machine with different blending and juicing functions and parts, Breville's engineers were able to make using the machine a joy. Its Auto Clean preset is effective for quick cleaning, and everything aside from the motor and one juicer component is dishwasher safe.
One feature that's both a blessing and a curse is that it doesn't operate for longer than 60 seconds on manual mode, which is inconvenient for longer blending tasks, like making nut butter, which took us over five minutes of blending to accomplish. But, if you don't plan to use this blender for making nut butter, this is a non-issue. All in all, this is a sensational blender/juicer that will save you the cost of purchasing multiple bulky appliances.
How the Ninja Fit Compact performed in our taste testing: For such a tiny blender, the Ninja Fit Compact excelled at making smooth and easy-to-drink beverages. It blended the spinach and kale in our smoothie so well that our testers said they couldn't detect them in their mouth, and the resulting drink's flavor was fruit-forward, with the frozen fruit mix shining through. “It's tasty!” raved one of our testers. It also didn't struggle to break down the berries in the berry smoothie we made, though it didn't pulverize the seeds at all, which made it a bit crunchy. We were happy to see that this little blender crushed all of the ice evenly when we made a frozen margarita. However, our nut butter turned out grainy.
The Ninja Fit Compact is an efficient personal blender designed for individuals who want quick, on-the-go smoothies. Despite its small footprint and affordable price, it delivers yummy smoothies and frozen drinks, handling ice and fibrous ingredients with ease despite its 700-watt motor. It didn't need any help at all in making any of the drinks—no tapping or shaking was required, unlike other personal blenders like the Nutribullet Magic Bullet or Nutribullet 600W. It's truly meant for making blended beverages, and at that, it's great. We also love that the blending cups come with spout lids so you can take them on the move and drink straight from them.
We have a few gripes with this machine. While cleaning is relatively hassle-free, with all removable parts being dishwasher safe, there's no self-clean function. And, if you have to hand wash, the tight spaces around the blade assembly and narrow blending cups require some maneuvering to scrub. We also didn't appreciate having to continuously apply pressure to the machine throughout the blending process. We don't recommend this unit, or any personal blender, for pureeing. When making the nut butter, we had to tamp down the mix and shake it a few times to make sure everything was incorporated. All told, if you're in the market for a budget-friendly, low-footprint blender for taking your smoothies on the go, this is the best machine.
How the Vitamix Ascent X2 performed in our taste testing: The Vitamix Ascent X2 whipped up some tastebud-tingling blends. “The green smoothie is delicious! I can barely taste the kale,” said taste tester Lesley Robinson. The berry smoothie was fantastic as well, though some berries made it through unscathed, which lent the drink some slight grittiness. Our frozen cocktail turned out thick like a sorbet, but the texture was very smooth and consistent. The nut butter was a little thin since we had to add extra oil to get it spinning properly, but it thickened in the fridge and turned out quite nice. The Ascent X2 turned a chunky tomato soup into liquid gold—super silky, steamy, and hot!
The Vitamix Ascent X2 is a high-performance blender that combines powerful functionality with user-friendly features. With a robust 1440-watt motor and a 48-ounce pitcher, it excels in blending all sorts of drinks and purees. “It didn't struggle at all,” said Robinson. The Vitamix name has earned its stripes as a top-tier blender brand, and that legacy continues with the Ascent X2. The Vitamix 5200 and Vitamix Explorian E310 are also solid blenders, but the Ascent X2 proved to be the most efficient and consistent Vitamix blender across our tests. While it's the lowest tier model in the Ascent X2 lineup, we believe it provides everything you could want from a Vitamix and thus is the best value of the line.
Accessible for beginners and packed with plenty of power for the pros, the Ascent X2 is a great choice for anyone who can afford its hefty price. Its controls strike a balance between simplicity and versatility, offering four intuitive presets (Smoothies, Frozen Desserts, Hot Soup, Auto Clean) along with a manual speed dial and pulse function. The interface is as clean and easy to understand, and the digital timer is a welcome bonus. It comes with dishwasher-safe components and a built-in self-cleaning mode, though the tamper and base still require handwashing. The non-removable blades may need occasional manual scrubbing, but overall maintenance is minimal. Of note, prolonged blending did cause a faint burning smell during our soup test, but the motor never showed any sign of struggle.
While this unit is exceptional across the board, it falls slightly short of the Super Q, Cuisinart, and Blendtec (which all cost slightly less) when making berry smoothies. For such a wildly expensive blender, we'd hope not to detect any seeds in our smoothie. All told, if you're sold on a Vitamix or can find this one on sale, we highly recommend it.
32oz Cup with blade attachment , 24oz Cup with blade attachment, 2 To-Go lids, Tamper, Recipe book
Yes: Juicing cone
No
No
No
2 blending cups, spout lids
2 Blending cups
1 lip ring
1 Flip Top Lid
3 Blending Cups of various sizes
2 Lids
1 Flip Top Lid
2 lip rings
Horse Power
2.4 HP
Peak 3.5 HP
Peak 3.0 HP
Peak 2 HP
2 HP
1.3 HP
Peak 2 HP
Peak 1.5 HP
Peak 1.6 HP
Peak 1.5 HP
Peak 1.9 HP
Peak 1.3 HP
Peak .94 HP
.94 HP
.8 HP
.34 HP
Our testing team tasted an entire rainbow of blended beverages and purees.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
How We Tested
Since we first began testing blenders in 2016, we've purchased and tested more than 55 of the best blenders on the market. Our testing protocol for blenders is extensive. We blended a green smoothie to test how well each blender handled fibrous vegetables, and then blended berry smoothies to evaluate how effectively they could crush seeds. We also test their ability to crush ice by blending frozen cocktails and mocktails, then assessing the texture to see how smoothly the ice was crushed, its consistency, and if any liquid separation is present. Additionally, we use each blender for less common but more demanding tasks, like pureeing nut butter and tomato soup. We tasted each beverage, soup, and nut butter produced by each blender to assess the taste and consistency. This helps us better judge each model's versatility, as well as gives us a good idea of their power and durability. Each of these tests was timed to assess how efficiently each blender could perform these tasks. Finally, we assess how easy they are to clean and the usefulness of their controls or presets.
Smoothies, frozen drinks, and purees - we prepared many recipes across the blenders we bought.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Blender testing is divided across five rating metrics:
Smoothies (35% of total score weighting)
Pureeing (20% weighting)
Frozen Drinks (20% weighting)
Controls (15% weighting)
Ease of Cleaning (10% weighting)
We tasted all of our creations to find the best blender.
Why Trust GearLab
Our blender review team is headed up by lead kitchen appliance tester Lesley Robinson, who has been leading methodical, data-driven testing for years, where her work spans from ingredient science to commercial baking. She brings a powerful blend of academic credentials and hands‑on experience that makes her a trusted voice on at‑home blenders. With a degree in Food Science from Cal Poly, she has a formal foundation in the nutritional and physical properties of food. She's not just crunching numbers—Lesley actively puts each gadget through real-world trials of taste-testing and logging detailed notes on performance, convenience, and user frustration or delight.
Our head chef and kitchen appliance tester, Lesley Robinson.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Arthur McMahon is a review editor who brings a wealth of real-world blender testing experience, kitchen knowledge, and a genuine zeal for hands-on product evaluation to the table. He's managed multiple bustling cafes and delis where he and his teams used high-powered blenders on the daily to craft everything from coffee-infused frozen frappes to savory and spicy soups. Plus, homemade protein-filled smoothies are his go-to quick meal.
Genaveve Bradshaw is a seasoned tester, foodie, and pro-taste tester who brings over four years of hands-on kitchen appliance testing to the table.
Between them, our team has tested more than 500 kitchen appliances and conducted more than 1,100 individual tests on the best blenders on the market.
Our blind taste-testing panel rated each smoothie.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Analysis and Test Results
The following sections detail the results of our review, highlighting which blenders stood out for their performance, both positive and negative, in each of our tests. We've identified the most important characteristics of a great blender, and break down each metric individually to dissect the differences between each product. It's important to note that we compared and ranked these blenders relative to one another and purchased only the best blenders on the market for this review. So, even low-scoring models are still worthy of your consideration.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
While the price of modern blenders can be discouraging, there are plenty of other options in our review that offer a more reasonable balance of price and blending performance. The Nutribullet Combo is an excellent option for folks who just want to make smoothies and frozen drinks, and retails for a fraction of the cost while still holding its own against premium models. It makes creamy smoothies and soft, delicious frozen cocktails. It can even process and heat homemade soups. It offers plenty of power to make nut butter or mill flour. Even though it lacks many of the presets that make premium models more convenient, the Combo still represents an incredible value.
This affordable blender features a strong 1200-watt motor that is powerful enough to crush ice and puree almonds. Best of all, it makes a refreshing and flavorful smoothie.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
If you're looking for a blender for under $100 and only want to use it to make frozen cocktails for entertaining, the Ninja Professional BL610 is the best value. Or, if you want a small blender that can easily be stored in a cabinet and makes good smoothies and blissful frozen beverages on the go, we recommend the Ninja Fit Compact.
If your budget is tight, the Ninja Professional BL610 does a lot for a little.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Smoothies
We followed the manufacturer's instructions for blending a smoothie with each machine, taking into account the ease and speed at which each machine blends. Points are subtracted from the total Smoothie score if it takes more than one cycle or if the process is particularly difficult. We tasted each smoothie immediately after making it—just as you would at home—judging the consistency, texture, and anything that is remarkably outstanding or off-putting about each blend. We challenge each model to a series of tests blending two popular types of smoothies:
Berry smoothie (50% of Smoothie score weighting)
Green smoothie (50% weighting)
Whether shredding greens or blasting berries, each blender should be able to pulverize ingredients into a smooth, creamy texture.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The most impressive scores in our smoothie-making metric come from the pricier, higher-end models like the Breville Super Q, Blendtec, Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5, and Vitamix models. The lower-priced blenders we tested will generally get the job done, but they didn't always make the silkiest smoothies in which the kale and seeds were completely pulverized.
The best blenders for making smoothies can quickly chop frozen fruit and incorporate the bits into a vortex for efficient blending.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Berry Smoothie
This is the most straightforward recipe: mixed frozen berries, plain Greek yogurt, and apple juice. We ensure that the berry mix includes strawberries and strain the final mixture to check if a blender can successfully destroy those small and notoriously difficult-to-blend seeds. Our ideal smoothie is soft and creamy, with little to no detectable berry seeds.
Nutribullet Magic BulletBreville the Super Q
Here, you can see how well each different blender broke apart and destroyed the berry seeds. This was what was left behind in the sieve for each.
Even small blenders can make good smoothies. The Ninja Fit Compact couldn't crush the seeds, but it broke down the rest of the frozen berries well.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The Vitamix products are amazing in this test. While the pricier 5200 produced perfectly creamy smoothies and obliterated any semblance of seeds, we noticed that the less-expensive Explorian E310 regularly left a few seeds unblended. We were also able to detect some light graininess in Ascent X2, but most sips were smooth and pleasant.
The Nutribullet Magic Bullet was also unable to pulverize the berry seeds. A common result with small bullet blenders.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Other top models like the Super Q and Hurricane Pro 3.5 cruise effortlessly through this test, with robustly blended ingredients and creamy textures thanks to their optimized Smoothie presets. We were surprised when the powerful Blendtec Total Classic got off to a slow start, but its Smoothie preset is designed to pulse for a few moments to better develop an efficient vortex. Even though the KitchenAid K400 has a Smoothie preset, we had better success with a manual increase in speed—the result was a smoothie with a thin, velvety texture and a colorful flavor profile.
Just tap the Smoothie preset on the Super Q and you'll have an ultra-creamy berry smoothie in no time.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Green Smoothie
Here we evaluate how the blenders handle frozen mixed fruit and a handful of kale and spinach to produce a green smoothie. We examine how well each model broke down the ingredients and then strain the mixture to verify consistency.
Nutribullet Magic BulletBreville the Super Q
The photos above compare the Magic Bullet versus the Breville Super Q in our Green Smoothie sieve test. Most blenders struggled to finely blend the kale and spinach into a fluffy, creamy consistency like the Super Q.
This test is a close evaluation of blending efficiency based on blade speed, as the potently earthy flavor and fibrous makeup of kale is a proven challenge for many blenders. Top-scoring blenders produce a smooth, uniformly liquid smoothie with no discernible flakes of greens or chunks of fruit, with an enjoyably fresh flavor profile where no one ingredient is too prominent. Smoothies from poorly performing blenders have an inconsistent, chewable texture, a wildly unbalanced flavor profile, or, at their worst, both.
The Super Q only took 45 seconds to completely blend our green smoothie.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Once again, all of the Vitamix blenders produce nearly perfect green smoothies. The Ascent X2 features a Smoothie preset, while manual speed control of the 5200 and Explorian E310 closely mimics the results of the preset functions. Even though the E310 requires a bit more “babysitting” for its manual control, the green smoothies we turned out from this blender were remarkably creamy, with testers raving about the “fluffy texture.”
The Super Q and Hurricane Pro 3.5 createst the perfect, creamy, silky green smoothie, likely attributed to their optimized Green Smoothie presets, which run for 45 seconds on both. The Blendtec Total Classic also produced one of the most uniformly blended green shakes in our test, with no foam and zero separation. We were blown away by the texture of this smoothie.
The Breville 3X Bluicer Pro produced a stunningly beautiful, bright green smoothie.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
While we expect this level of performance from top-tier models, we were also pleasantly surprised by the performance of the more reasonably priced Breville Fresh & Furious. Featuring a Green Smoothie preset like its more powerful cousin, the Super Q, the Fresh & Furious produced green shakes with a fresh flavor and consistent texture, with the exception of a few tiny flecks of kale.
The little Nutribullet Magic Bullet made a decent smoothie, but didn't fully break down the greens.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The affordable Nutribullet Combo pleasantly surprised us with a tasty green smoothie. Using the 60-second Extract preset, this powerful blender chewed through all of the fresh greens to produce an incredibly smooth green smoothie. Although the hearty taste of the greens dominated the flavor profile, and there was a bit of foamy separation, this is extraordinary considering the price point of this blender.
If you don't mind putting in a little work, the Explorian E310 whips up a deliciously smooth green smoothie.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Overall Smoothie Taste
Even though the ingredients of the green and berry smoothies were consistent in all of our tests, each blender produced different results for taste and texture. See how our taste-testing panel rated the taste of each smoothie in the chart below.
Smoothie Taste Scores
Product
Green Smoothie
Berry Smoothie
Vitamix 5200
10
10
Blendtec Total Classic
10
9
Breville the Super Q
10
9
Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5
10
9
Vitamix Explorian E310
9
9
Vitamix Ascent X2
9
8
Breville Fresh & Furious
9
7
Kitchen Aid K400
7
9
Breville 3X Bluicer Pro
9
7
Nutribullet Combo
7
8
Hamilton Beach Power Elite
5
8
Ninja Professional Plus BN701
6
7
Nutribullet 600W
8
5
Ninja Fit Compact
7
5
Ninja Professional BL610
4
7
Nutribullet Magic Bullet
5
3
Our expert panel thoughtfully scrutinized each green and berry smoothie we made and rated them against one another.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Pureeing
Here we test each blender's power for chopping and mixing ingredients, which are two essential actions of making a puree. Our rankings for this metric come from two very different tests: nut butter and soup, and the Breville Super Q and Blendtec pureed all of our ingredients into a silky smooth consistency that tasted delicious.
We rated these blenders on their ability to turn dry almonds, roasted peanuts, and a minimal amount of additional oil into a palatable, smooth, and creamy nut butter. The second half of our test focused on the much more common task of pureeing a batch of homemade tomato soup from whole, fresh ingredients. One of the hallmarks of a modern, premium blender is the ability to make soup and heat it to a desirable serving temperature. So we also measured soup temperature with an infrared thermometer during the process and multiple stick thermometers after it was poured into the bowl.
It took about four minutes of processing for the Bluicer Pro made to make a decently creamy nut butter.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Nut Butter
While a few other models came close in terms of nut butter quality—notably the blunt-bladed Blendtec Total Classic and Ninja Professional BL610—no other blender could match the efficiency of the Super Q. This top-tier model turned out a delectable nut butter in a remarkable 90 seconds, with only a minimal amount of tamping required.
You can see the varying levels of peanut chunks that made it through each of the following blenders: the Nutribullet 600w, Breville Bluicer Pro, and Vitamix Ascent X2.
Soup
For this test, we either used a soup preset (if it was available) or if it was absent, we ran the blenders on a high-speed manual setting for just over six minutes. We then tasted the soup, looking for a smooth, velvety texture with evenly distributed seasoning. We also passed each batch through a sieve to check that there were no leftover chunks of vegetables.
The Vitamix Ascent X2 made a gorgeous, smooth, and savory tomato soup, but it took a while to heat up.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What makes pureeing soup so strenuous is the extended amount of time you're running these appliances at max speed. It wasn't uncommon for a blender to turn itself off halfway through the process to cool the motor. This extended high-speed processing is also what generates the friction necessary to heat soup to ideal serving temperatures, which averages around 153°F.
The Vitamix Ascent X2 blended a beautiful soup with a silky texture, and heated it to a steamy 147°F,
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Most models featuring a Soup preset—like the Breville Super Q and
Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5—produce excellent, creamy, and perfectly warmed soup. Vitamix blenders are renowned for their ability to heat soup, and while most of the models we tested proved this to be true, the Explorian E310 did a particularly poor job, reaching a maximum temperature of only 112°F. Premium models aside, we were particularly impressed by the performance of the price-point Nutribullet Combo. Even though the user manual explains that it isn't designed for pureeing soup, it produced a creamy (albeit thin) tomato soup and even warmed it to a respectable temperature of 145°F.
After pouring through a sieve, it's plain to see that the Vitamix Ascent X2 completely blended and married the soup ingredients down to a velvety liquid. No remnant garlic or shallots to see here.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
Overall Taste for Nut Butter and Soup
See the results of our pureeing taste and temperature tests below.
Pureeing Taste Scores
Product
Nut Butter
Tomato Soup
Breville the Super Q
10
10
Blendtec Total Classic
9
10
Vitamix Ascent X2
8
10
Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5
6
10
Kitchen Aid K400
6
9
Nutribullet Combo
7
8
Vitamix 5200
6
9
Vitamix Explorian E310
8
7
Breville 3X Bluicer Pro
7
8
Ninja Professional BL610
9
5
Ninja Professional Plus BN701
8
5
Breville Fresh & Furious
4
5
Hamilton Beach Power Elite
4
2
Ninja Fit Compact
5
1
Nutribullet 600W
4
1
Nutribullet Magic Bullet
3
1
Frozen Drinks
While we love a nutritious smoothie before work, we want to ensure that a blender can satisfy the craving for a blended cocktail after a long week. For this metric, we compare how well each machine crushes ice for making frozen cocktails. We tasted and assessed each cocktail for uniformity of texture, subtracting points for any flecks of ice shards or large chunks of ice. The Super Q and the KitchenAid K400 made the most mouthwatering, restaurant-quality frozen margaritas, which had the perfect pour and went down smoothly.
The Vitamix Ascent made thick and luscious frozen cocktails.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The Explorian E310 also made smooth, well-blended frozen drinks. In under 15 seconds, this blender produced one of the creamiest blended margaritas we've ever enjoyed. Any of these models should be at the top of the list for the blended cocktail enthusiast.
Some of the smaller bullet-style blenders struggled with thick icy mixtures, but they can get the job done with a little help.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Also notable are the Vitamix Ascent X2 and Breville 3X Bluicer Pro, which produced deliciously thick, sorbet-like cocktails. The Blendtec Total Classic is a surprising standout here as well. Despite its uniquely blunted blades, this blender received perfect scores for ice-crushing and whipped up one of the best margaritas we tasted during our testing. Of course, the other blenders with perfect scores in this metric also produced velvety-smooth blended margaritas.
The Ninja Fit Compact produced the smoothest, tastiest frozen margaritas among the smaller, personal blenders in this test.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
With the exception of the Breville Fresh & Furious—whose blended marg was more slurpee-like than any other—the other low-scoring models produced cocktails with more of a slushy-like consistency than the creamy perfection of the highest-scoring blenders. The two surprise standouts in this metric were the Ninja Professional BL610 and Professional Plus BN701. The central blade stack pulverized ice cubes into snow with little effort, and although they were a tad on the slushy side, the blended margaritas were smooth and creamy. Considering their oversized, 72-ounce pitchers, if you like to entertain parties with frozen cocktails, these models should be at the top of your list.
The Bluicer Pro's marg had a consistent texture throughout, but the ice crystals were a slight bit bigger than those that topped out charts for this test.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Frozen Drink Taste
Product
Margarita
Blendtec Total Classic
10
Breville the Super Q
10
Kitchen Aid K400
10
Vitamix Explorian E310
10
Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5
9
Vitamix Ascent X2
9
Ninja Professional Plus BN701
8
Nutribullet Combo
8
Vitamix 5200
8
Breville 3X Bluicer Pro
8
Ninja Fit Compact
8
Ninja Professional BL610
7
Breville Fresh & Furious
6
Hamilton Beach Power Elite
6
Nutribullet 600W
6
Nutribullet Magic Bullet
5
Controls
In this test, we considered the design of the front panel, the clarity of the labeling, and whether the blender includes a digital timer. We considered the pragmatism of the preset programs, whether they're intuitive, and whether or not included accessories add to the overall convenience of each blender.
Presets Table
Presets
Variable Speed Control
Blendtec Total Classic
Smoothie
Batters
Hot Soup
Whole Juice
Ice Cream
Ice Crush
Breville Fresh & Furious
Auto Clean
Green Smoothie
Ice Crush
Smoothie
Mix
Chop
Blend
Puree
Liquify
Green Smoothie
Smoothie
Pulse/Ice Crush
Auto Clean
Frozen Cocktail
Ninja Fit Compact
None
✖
Nutribullet 600W
None
✖
Nutribullet Magic Bullet
None
✖
Vitamix Ascent X2
Auto Clean
Smoothie
Frozen Dessert
Soup
A blender's presets and buttons should be simple to use and easy to understand from the get-go. While uber-convenient models like the Super Q and Hurricane Pro 3.5 are loaded with convenient presets like Auto Clean or Soup, some other otherwise high-end blenders like the Vitamix 5200 don't have a single one.
The Nutribullet Combo has straightforward presets.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Presets aren't everything, though. Sometimes simplicity is for the best. While the Vitamix 5200 lacks presets, it does have simple knobs and switches to manually control the activation and speed of the blender. Similarly, the Ninja Fit Compact doesn't have a single button or preset — the only control you have is pushing down on the blending cup to activate the blender. Some workhorse models like the Blendtec Total Classic and the KitchenAid K400 offer a mix of many great features but provide a simple interface.
Suitable presets, easy to see and read buttons, and a clean design are hallmarks of Breville product design, which is why the Super Q is so enjoyable to use.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Ease of Cleaning
To assess ease of cleaning, we looked at whether all or any of the parts are dishwasher safe, how difficult they are to hand wash, and if the blender has a self-cleaning function, as well as how effective it is.
Cleaning
Dishwasher Safe Parts
Auto-Clean Preset
Blendtec Total Classic
Pitcher
Breville Fresh & Furious
Pitcher, lid
Breville the Super Q
Pitcher, personal blender cup, personal blender blade system, all lids, tamper, scraper
Cuisinart Hurricane Pro 3.5
Pitcher, Lid, Blade assembly
Hamilton Beach Power Elite
Pitcher, Lid, Blade assembly
✖
Kitchen Aid K400
Pitcher, Lid
Ninja Professional BL610
Pitcher, Lid, blade assembly
Ninja Professional Plus BN701
Pitcher, Lid, blade assembly
Nutribullet Combo
Pitcher, to-go cup, lid, blade assembly
Vitamix 5200
None
✖
Vitamix Explorian E310
Lid, Lid Plug, Centering Pad, Tamper, Tamper Holder and Blade Scraper
Breville 3X Bluicer Pro
Container, lid, blade base, seal, pulp collector,
Ninja Fit Compact
Blending Cups
✖
Nutribullet 600W
Blending Cups
✖
Nutribullet Magic Bullet
Blending Cups
✖
Vitamix Ascent X2
Container, lid, blade base, seal
As you can see in the table above, most of the blenders we tested are dishwasher-safe. Some user manuals indicate that parts should be placed on the top rack only, so it's important to take note of the specifics of the blender you're considering. Essentially everything except the motor itself is safe to toss in the dishwasher for the Super Q and Hurricane Pro, and most parts can be placed anywhere in the washer. However, while the Nutribullet Combo's parts are dishwasher safe, they're only suitable for the top rack. How are you supposed to fit a 64-ounce pitcher up there? And the Vitamix 5200 has no dishwasher-safe components.
It's a good thing the Ninja Professional BL610 has dishwasher safe parts and can auto-clean pretty well, because scrubbing it is a bit of work.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Handwashing is another story entirely. Some parts and pieces have nooks and crannies that are difficult to even see, nevermind scrub. But certain models, like the Breville 3X Bluicer Pro, have been designed with ease of cleaning in mind. The round jar makes it so there are no hidden corners, and there is plenty of room under the blades to scrub as needed. Likewise, the Hurricane Pro features a square pitcher with rounded corners, making manual cleaning quick and easy. On the other end of that spectrum are the Ninja Professional BL610 and Professional Plus BN701. Both of these blenders tend to accumulate gunk in hard-to-reach areas, and although their blades are removable, pulling the central blade stack out of the blender jug can feel precarious.
Different designs make hand-washing some lids easier than others. While the straightforward designs of the Breville Bluicer (now discontinued) and Vitamix Explorian are super easy to clean, the gasket on the NutriBullet Combo and smaller openings on the Hamilton Beach Power Elite require closer attention.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
The Breville models feature auto-clean functions, as do the Hurricane Pro 3.5 and KitchenAid K400, among others. But even if a blender doesn't include a specific auto-clean function, those that have timed presets can often be used similarly. The Super Q's Clean preset “works awesomely,” according to lead tester Robinson. And for the Bluicer Pro she noted, “Wow! It has an impressive auto-cleaning program. [It] runs for a minute and goes from speed 1 to 10 in pulses to really clean the lid too.” An appliance is likely to be used more frequently if it's easy to clean, so be sure to consider this when weighing your options.
It couldn't be any easier to clean the Breville Bluicer. It does all the work for you most of the time.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
How to Pick the Best Blender
The essential job of a blender is to thoroughly mix ingredients with speed and efficiency, saving you time and energy to devote to other points of meal preparation. While you can use a blender to process many different recipes—from sauces to soups—they have become culturally tied to a single beverage: smoothies. That is because smoothies and other blended beverages are incredibly difficult to make without the support of a blender.
The Differences Between a Blender and a Food Processor
Even though blenders and food processors both have quickly spinning blades at their bases, traditionally, they're used for different purposes. While premium food processors come with an array of attachments, at their core, they're great at “dry” processing — like chopping and grating — because the ingredients bounce around in the oversized container. Blenders, on the other hand, excel at “wet” processing — like emulsifying or pureeing — because of the vortex that the blades create. While there's some overlap between the two (especially when it comes to processing dry ingredients, like nuts, into an emulsified mix, like nut butter), it's important to understand that blenders are better suited for liquid-based recipes.
When choosing a blender, size matters because it directly impacts both convenience and performance. A larger blender jar—typically 64 ounces or more—may be ideal for families or blending large volumes of soups and smoothies. However, it may take up more counter space and can be cumbersome to clean or store. On the other hand, compact personal blenders are perfect for single servings and small kitchens, offering grab-and-go functionality but often lacking the power or capacity needed for tougher tasks like crushing ice or making nut butter. Matching the size of your blender to your lifestyle ensures you won't overbuy or underpower your kitchen needs.
Pitcher and blade materials affect their durability, safety, and ease of use. Glass jars are sturdy and resist staining or odor retention, but they're heavier and more prone to shattering. Plastic jars are lightweight and less likely to break, making them a good choice for everyday use, though they can scratch or discolor over time. It's worth checking that the materials are dishwasher safe, and if so, see if they require special placement (such as on the top rack), which can be a challenging task for larger blenders. Additionally, the quality of the blade material (usually stainless steel) plays a major role in performance. Sharper, high-grade metal blades handle tough ingredients more efficiently and last longer. Ultimately, choosing the right materials ensures a longer-lasting, more enjoyable blending experience.
A primary reason for most people to buy a blender is an affinity for making smoothies at home, which is why we devote our most heavily weighted metric to that process alone. While you can use a blender to make a variety of treats from milkshakes to agua frescas to classic cocktails, the same design principles that make a great smoothie translate well to making other high-quality blended beverages. Though if you enjoy blended cocktails, you'll want to focus on the scores in our margarita test, where we investigated a blender's ability to crush and blend ice.
Do you want to be an integral part of the process? Or would you rather set a blender to work and walk away? Even among high-end models we tested, the operation of a blender greatly varies. If you want to have total control over blending, then we suggest considering blenders with variable speed dials. If you're in the latter category and would rather have a more “hands-off” experience, consider the number and type of presets a blender features and whether or not it includes a digital countdown timer.
Features and presets matter because they eliminate the guesswork of blending and expand the capabilities of your blender. Preset programs—like for smoothies, soups, frozen desserts, or self-cleaning—offer convenience by automatically adjusting speed and duration for consistent results. Variable speed controls and pulse functions offer more precision, letting you fine-tune textures from chunky salsas to ultra-smooth purees. The right features can save time, reduce effort, and ensure your blender matches your cooking style.
Wattage is a key factor that determines a blender's performance and versatility. Higher wattage (1000 watts or more) means the motor can handle tougher tasks like crushing ice, blending frozen fruits, or pureeing fibrous vegetables without overheating or stalling. Lower-wattage blenders (600 watts and under) may work well for simple smoothies but can struggle with thicker blends or harder ingredients. More power also often translates to smoother textures, faster blending, and greater overall efficiency. If you plan to use your blender frequently or for a wide variety of recipes, choosing a model with sufficient wattage ensures better results and longer-lasting performance.
As we noted before, blenders excel at efficiently processing liquid-based recipes, including soups. With improved motor power and increased blade speed, many premium blenders can turn fresh vegetables into soup, then heat it through friction to serve it steaming straight from the pitcher.
But in recent years, the line between blender and food processor has, for lack of a better term, blended even more. In many cases, especially among higher-end models, blenders are a reasonable substitute for food processors. While pureeing soup is a more traditional task, the heavy-duty process of emulsifying nut butter goes beyond the capabilities of many basic blenders, as do more non-traditional tasks like grinding cheese or milling flour. Although they're significantly more expensive, it's worth considering investing in a blender that can tackle all of the above, as it may save you from having to purchase an additional appliance down the road.
Blenders come in all sorts of shapes and sizes with various features and power outputs. That's why we subjected them to so many tests to help you select the best fit for your kitchen.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Conclusion
Whether you are looking for a top-tier model that can do it all or a budget option that can easily handle your daily smoothie, we hope you now feel confident selecting a blender that fits your needs and budget. Although the enormous spread of prices and features can make picking the perfect blender a seemingly daunting task, hopefully, this review will help you decide which capabilities define your perfect blender.
This review covers a range of full-size and personal-size blenders, but if you only desire to blend one drink at a time, bullet blenders can be convenient. And if you mainly want to blend soups and dressings, consider an immersion blender, which has minimal parts to clean and fits in a drawer.
