Alexandra Ramirez
We spent over 39 hours researching and testing 15 different types of smoothie makers and found that performance, speed settings, and ease of cleaning were most important. The Breville BJE200XL Compact Blender scored high marks in all categories and is our top pick. This powerful blender is popular for making various types of smoothies with ease. We loved the variable speed option that allowed the smoothie maker to be set for the best setting for the different types of smoothies we made. We also liked that is was dishwasher safe and was very easy to clean.
1. Breville
Best Overall Smoothie Maker
5/5 Product Rating
If you are looking for a high quality, efficient smoothie maker Breville has just what you’re looking for. This compact blender has a stainless steel micromesh filter that separates the non-grinded food particles from the rest of the smoothie. You will not need to filter the juice any other way when you use this smoothie maker.
The 700 watt powerful motor provides users with the maximum extraction of juice and prevents food waste which is a big problem with smoothie makers that are lower in quality.
Cleanup is super easy thanks to the fact that this appliance is dishwasher safe, There is a brush that is included with the device so thorough cleaning can be done after use for the parts that aren’t dishwasher safe.
The controllable speed options allow users to set the smoothie maker at whatever setting is best for the type of smoothie they are making. This enables you to make many different kinds of smoothies with the same appliance which is very convenient.
– Sarah Lytle
2. NutriBullet
Best Overall Smoothie Maker – Runner Up
4.9/5 Product Rating
Nutribullet is a popular smoothie maker that has many features that make it great. These features include strong blades that have been designed to get the maximum amount of nutrition from every ingredient.
It is very safe to use and can even be used by kids. The different attachments the Nutribullet comes with allow users to create a variety of different kinds of smoothies and it can be used to create other types of foods as well.
The plastic this appliance contains is BPA-free for maximum safety. There are several removable, dishwasher safe parts that make it easy to clean after use.
The strength of the blades is even strong enough to shred the most difficult ingredients and can burst seeds open as well. In just 10 seconds or so, you will have a completely smooth smoothie that is delicious and full of healthy ingredients.
This smoothie maker has a 600 watt motor that is powerful enough to create any type of smoothie you crave. Included with this smoothie maker are two short cups, one tall cup, two blades, and two lids. The smoothie maker comes with a limited 1 year warranty as well.
– Sarah Lytle
3. Ninja
4.8/5 Product Rating
Ninja Master Prep Blender is another excellent smoothie maker that has a lot of great features. The stainless steel blades are tough and durable and cut through fresh or frozen fruit easily.
Users can choose to use 4 or 6 blades for the maximum amount of chopping and blending that will create smooth smoothies for you to enjoy whenever you crave them. The plastic is BPA-free and the removable parts are all dishwasher safe. The rest of the appliance can be cleaned up with a damp rag.
There are two different cups with lids to choose from which makes storing any leftover smoothie mixture very convenient and easy. The non-slip base ensures that the smoothie maker stays in one place while you are using it. This is the perfect smoothie maker but you can use it to make other foods as well like nut butters and hummus. This product comes with a one year warranty.
– Sarah Lytle
Smoothie Maker Buying Guide
Types of Smoothie Makers
There are two different types of smoothie makers available to choose from. We have listed each type below with a little bit of information about each so you can see which type appeals to you.
Manual Smoothie Makers – Manual smoothie makers don’t require electricity. They are designed with a crank or plunger that will blend and chop the produce into a delicious smoothie. If you want to have smoothies while you are at the office or out camping, a manual smoothie maker is a good choice but it is not as easy or convenient to use as an electric smoothie maker will be.
Electric Smoothie Makers – This is the most popular type of smoothie maker due to the convenience the electricity provides. Electric smoothie makers come in a variety of sizes and styles. They come in many different sizes and capacities as well so you can choose one according to the size of your family and your smoothie needs. Manual smoothie makers are a good type to take into consideration if you are on the go a lot and need something that doesn’t require power to run.
Overall Benefits of a Best Smoothie Maker
There are many benefits to using a high quality smoothie maker. If you’re on the fence at all as to whether you really want one, read about these benefits and see if it clears up any confusion or hesitancy you might be having. Once you understand the benefits a smoothie maker will provide for you, you can make a decision as to the best one for your smoothie needs.
- Fast and Efficient Meals and Snacks – Helps you create delicious and healthy smoothies in minutes. The power of these smoothie makers allows the user to chop and blend the fruits and vegetables to the right consistency. Having a good quality smoothie maker on hand can help you stick to a more restricted eating plan and helps users make “snacks” easily.
- Variety of Juicing Choices – Depending on the manufacturer of the smoothie maker, it will have different juicing capacities. For this reason you will be able to choose from many different features that will make smoothie making much easier and faster too. Some may want a compact model; some may not be interested in taking the smoothie maker with them on trips and are just fine with a full sized smoothie maker that can be left on the counter.
- Less Food Waste – Traditional smoothie making usually results in a lot of wasted fruit and vegetables but by choosing a high quality smoothie maker that has a powerful motor, you can get the highest amount of juice from the fruits and vegetables you use including extracting juice from the seeds and kinds of the produce. This prevents food waste and utilizes more of the produce you choose for the different kinds of smoothies you will make.
- Hygienic and Healthy – Using a powered smoothie maker provides users with a fast, easy way to create smoothies without worrying about anything getting into the mixture that you don’t want in there. This is due to the design of the newer smoothie makers in comparison to older juicer jugs or manual methods.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Smoothie Blender
There are several things you will need to keep in mind before you purchase a smoothie maker. We have listed these considerations below.
Capacity – This is an important factor to consider when looking at different smoothie makers. You want to be sure that you choose one that will fit the usage you will need. Some smoothie makers can have a capacity of only 15 ounces while others can make as much as 70 ounces. What will determine the best size for your needs are how many smoothies you plan on making and how often you will be making them.
Cost – Prices will vary from one smoothie maker to another. There are models that are as low as $30 dollars and others that are more high end can be well over $300. A good, high quality smoothie maker that will produce enough for a family will usually run in the neighborhood of $100 to $150 but you may find something lower depending on the model you choose.
Convenience – One of the biggest hassles in owning a smoothie maker is cleaning it up. Ideally you want to choose one that has removable parts that can be washed in the sink or placed in the top of the dishwasher. Other convenience factors may include containers that the smoothie can be made in that you can take on the go with you and ease of operation.
Power – As a rule of thumb, a motor that provides 1500 watts will be able to take care of harder, larger produce than one that has a 300 watt motor. The higher the wattage the more power the appliance will have. If you are just going to be blending soft fruits and vegetables, you will not need a super high powered model with a lot of bells and whistles. On the other hand, if you want to be able to utilize ALL of the fruit or vegetable you are making a smoothie with and want to be able to pulverize nuts and seeds as well, power will definitely be a factor.
Versatility – It is a better value for you to choose a smoothie maker that can do more than just make smoothies. You want to be able to grind, chop, blend, and crush the produce easily so look for models that have several speed levels and blending options.
Easy to Use – No one wants a smoothie maker that is difficult to use. Look for smoothie makers that are easy to take apart and put back together and that are easy to clean. Struggling with the appliance every time you want to make a smoothie can be a real hassle.
Durability – A good way of finding out how durable a smoothie maker is is to check with consumers who have already purchased and used the smoothie maker. Customers are happy to talk about their experiences, good and bad so check out the customer comments and reviews to see what they have to say about any smoothie makers you are considering purchasing. Durability, especially if you will be crushing ice, grinding up coffee beans and pulverizing seeds and produce skins, is very important.
Brand Reputation – This is an important step in choosing the right smoothie maker. The more well known a brand is the more you can find out about it and see how it is performing for others. Look for companies that are not afraid to list credentials.
Overall Size – There are many different sizes of smoothie makers available to choose from. Choose according to your lifestyle and where you will be making your smoothies. If you are an outdoorsy person that camps, hunts, and fishes a lot, you will want to choose a compact, on-the-go style smoothie maker as opposed to one that cannot be taken with you. The same applies if you travel a lot for business. The compact sized smoothie makers fit into suitcases nicely. If you do all of your smoothie making at home in your own kitchen, the larger varieties are going to work out well for you.
Style/Color – Smoothie makers come in a variety of styles and colors. A lot of the models on the market are made from stainless steel with plastic cups but some are quite fancy with colors available or even steel cups that you mix the foods up in. Style and color are personal preferences so it is okay to choose one based on these factors if everything else has checked out. Don’t opt for style or color over performance or you could have a really great looking smoothie maker that doesn’t have the performance you desire.
Warranties – A warranty of some kind on your smoothie maker is extremely important for several reasons. First of all, a good warranty shows that a company has confidence in their product. If they KNOW that the product is sub-standard, a company will not provide a warranty because they know that the majority of consumers that purchase their product will use that warranty. Secondly, a warranty protects you from getting a smoothie maker that arrives damaged. Most companies provide a one year warranty so look for the products that have that at the very least. Anything more than one year is icing on the cake. Don’t forget to read the warranty carefully to know exactly what it includes and what you need to do to prevent the warranty from being voided. This can include registering the item online, sending in registration cards through the mail and other requirements.
Return/Satisfaction Policy – It is important to check out the company’s return policy in case you get the product and don’t like it. The return policy is not the same as the warranty. A return policy protects consumers that get a specific product and simply don’t like it for one reason or another. Perhaps they thought it was smaller than it actually is, or that the power is not sufficient enough. A 30 or 60 day satisfaction guarantee is perfect for those who purchase a specific product and don’t like it.
Customer Comments and Reviews – What other consumers have to say about a product you are interested in purchasing can be very valuable to you. While not all reviews and comments can be trusted, it is easy to tell when a product has sincere, honest reviews and comments. Look for products that have good ratings and higher numbers or reviews and read those reviews. You don’t have to read every one of them, but read enough to see if there is a pattern of negative ones or a specific problem that most consumers are mentioning. These customer reviews and comments provide you with an inside look that the manufacturer’s website or advertising doesn’t provide.
Conclusion
There are good smoothie makers on the market and there are smoothie makers that you are better off staying away from. There are ways to tell the difference and as long as you follow the guidelines that can help you sort through the dozens of smoothie makers available, you will be very unlikely to purchase one that is a complete disappointment or that is defective.
This guide has provided you with three excellent, top of the line choices that consumers love, that come from reputable companies, and that provide the kind of performance that you are looking for. In addition to these valuable reviews, you have learned the benefits of purchasing a smoothie maker as well as the points of interest that you should look at when sorting through all of the choices available.
Researching and arming yourself with the proper knowledge will prevent you from purchasing a low quality smoothie maker that won’t stand up to the smoothie needs you have.
References
- Breville – https://www.brevilleusa.com/
- Nutribullet – https://www.nutribullet.com
- Ninja – https://www.ninjakitchen.com/
