We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. As a Health-Conscious Professional Chef, These Are My 4 Top Blenders These blenders will give you fantastic new options if you want to add puréed soups and smoothies to your diet. By Tiffany Vickers Davis Tiffany Vickers Davis Tiffany Vickers Davis was raised in North Carolina by an excellent cook, her German-born mother Heide. She was exposed to a great variety of foods, enjoying made-from-scratch meals most nights. It wasn't until she moved to Los Angeles after completing her journalism degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that Tiffany began taking an interest in cooking herself. Once she started, she was hooked. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 30, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Top Picks Reviews The Bottom Line: The Best Blender Choosing a Blender Our Blender Tests We Also Considered Our Trusted Expertise Credit: See More EatingWell When I was growing up, a countertop blender was used only for fun drinks (think margaritas and piña coladas). That single-use concept was burned into my brain, and I could never see a point in having a full-sized blender. As my culinary knowledge has grown, so has the overall food world. Fresh is a fashion that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, and getting vegetables and fruits in your diet is the real reason for “#goals.” A solid blender is now a must-have, especially in a healthy kitchen. Velvety soups loaded with fiber, silky smoothies full of berries and crushed ice, nut butter and emulsified sauces and dressings can be quick and simple, and with the right tool, you can get beautiful results. Also, I find it’s one of the fastest ways to inch closer toward my lofty veggie intake goals. To find the best blenders, I spent over 24 hours testing six top models, putting each to the test with various tasks. I made an avocado chocolate recipe, peach slush and a coffee banana smoothie. I crushed icy fruit, hoping for a refreshing beverage; I also blended dense ingredients seeking a silky-smooth dessert and made a “dump” recipe to really work the blades. Here are my picks. Top Picks Best Overall: KitchenAid K400 Blender at Amazon $300 Jump to Review Best Budget: Breville Fresh & Furious Blender at Amazon $200 Jump to Review Best High-Powered Blender: Blendtec Total Blender Classic 75-oz. at Amazon $380 Jump to Review Most Versatile Blender: Breville Blender & Juicer at Amazon $460 Jump to Review Best Overall KitchenAid K400 Blender Credit: Amazon $300 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma $290 at Wayfair What we like: The K400 is a winning combination of a powerful motor and simple design. What to know: Thicky, icy beverages can be challenging to pour. The KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed Blender was the first blender I tested, and I liked everything about it. The avocado dessert, which later challenged several blenders, came together so quickly I was blown away. I used the preset for the smoothie and was impressed by how easy it was to blend my ingredients into a smooth, delicious beverage. When blending a peach slush, I did need to use the included tamper to move the hard, frozen fruit through the blades. The finished slush was tasty but too dense for easy pouring, so I had to spoon it from the pitcher. As a previous winner for best design, I agree that the overall look is sleek, clean and attractive for a countertop appliance. Beyond the aesthetics, the K400's technical design is also superior, making each test an elementary task for this blender. The four multidirectional blades, coupled with indentations in the blending pitcher, helped create a vortex that easily crushed and blended the contents while keeping them moving efficiently toward the blade. The diecast metal base of the KitchenAid is solid and heavy and stays put even while blending challenging ingredients. The single-dial operation requires no instructions, making this machine out-of-the-box ready. Preset functions for smoothies, icy drinks, and crushing ice allow you to set the speed and time with a single touch. For all other blending, the five speed settings and pulse cover the full range of power and timing. The BPA-free plastic pitcher is amply sized for a large batch of soup or smoothies, and the lid has a removable centerpiece, allowing steam to vent from hot liquids. The Auto Clean preset makes arguably the worst part of using a blender—cleaning it—an almost painless task. It calls for adding dish soap and warm water to the pitcher, after which the blender cycles through a series of speeds and timed stops to move the warm, soapy water over the whole interior of the pitcher, including the underside of the lid. Once complete, a simple rinse is all it takes to leave the unit sparkling clean. Speeds: 5 + Pulse | Wattage: 1200 | Blending Capacity: 56 oz. | Material of Jar: BPA-free plastic Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Credit: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Credit: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore Best Budget Breville Fresh & Furious Blender Credit: Amazon $200 at Amazon $200 at Target View on Williams Sonoma What we like: The Breville Fresh and Furious is plug-and-play out of the box. What to know: When blending denser items it can hop around on the counter a bit. The Fresh and Furious impressed me from the first blend, which is no surprise, given it has been a previous winner in past tests. Its operation had no learning curve, and the functionality put it on par with blenders that cost twice as much. I loved the timer that counted up once the blender started, even on the preset functions. I appreciated that each of the five speed control buttons featured a correlating function, such as purée or liquefy, to inform me which would best accomplish my goals. In addition to speed settings, a preset button for crushing ice doubles as the pulse function. As a big greens eater, I was thrilled Breville created presets to differentiate fruit smoothies from green smoothies, allowing the machine to whip through tougher green vegetables. While making my smoothie, I learned that the preset for standard smoothies is a one-minute cycle that sets the motor on high for about 10 seconds, then reduces the speed for a steady blend the remainder of the time. It produced a velvety texture without affecting the smoothie’s temperature. When the speed settings to blend the avocado dessert, it was completely smooth and well incorporated in only 10 seconds, much to my surprise and delight. However, while blending frozen peaches, the Breville vibrated quite a bit, causing it to scoot across the counter despite its silicone feet. Though a tamper is helpful in these situations, Fresh and Furious does not come with one. Still, the final product was a flavorful crushed icy beverage, which was precisely what I wanted. I like the overall look of the Fresh and Furious blender. It is large, with a 48-ounce capacity, but at just under 18 inches tall it would fit under most upper cabinets or shelving. If storing, the cord wraps under the base for storage. The clear plastic pitcher is very well marked with measurements, and the clear plastic lid has the standard removable centerpiece for blending hot liquids. The Breville also comes with an Auto Clean setting that blends soapy water to clean the pitcher and blades quickly. Though the price is higher than I usually recommend for a “budget” choice, it was the least expensive model I tested that I genuinely liked, and I think it does live up to its pricing with great features and a strong motor that can tackle tough blending tasks. Speeds: 5 + Pulse | Wattage: 1100 | Blending Capacity: 48 oz. | Material of Jar: BPA-free plastic Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Best High-Powered Blender Blendtec Total Blender Classic 75-oz. Credit: Amazon $380 at Amazon View on Walmart What we like: The Blendtec is a professional-level blender that produces consistently excellent results. What to know: It is loud while blending. I was instantly a fan of the Blendtec Total Blender Classic (another past winner) and its boxy yet clean design. With its very square pitcher and smaller footprint, it looks like blenders I have used in commercial kitchens; tough, but with a simplicity I respect. The base looks very utilitarian, with a “+” and “-” to move between speeds. Six preset options for batters, mixed drinks, smoothies, frozen treats, whole juices and hot soup are represented with playful symbols, including the Pulse function, indicated with a heart rate symbol. Clever and clear, the Blendtec is immediately simple to operate. Like the Breville, the Blendtec would have benefited from a tamper to help move tougher items through the blending process, such as the avocado in the dessert. Without it, the mixture stalled above the blade, which could not circulate to complete the task. However, the smoothie and peach slush processed quickly and easily, coming out exactly as intended. The counter on the face of the blender is helpful, counting up as you blend and stopping any cycles after one minute, which can save the motor if you walk away. The noise level was more pronounced than the other blenders I tested, especially as I increased the speed. The lid has the standard opening for hot liquids, and the handle, though larger than other blenders I have used, is remarkably comfortable and easy to hold, even with heavier liquids in the pitcher. The Blendtec is not dishwasher-safe, but cleaning it is quick and straightforward. The auto-clean cycle made cleaning the inside of the blender a snap, and the outside can be wiped clean with a soft, damp cloth. If you have to reach in to scrub away particularly stubborn food, the two blunt blades are designed to safely clean without causing painful cuts. Although it is pricey, I think the Blendtec is an excellent investment for cooks who often blend vegetable soups, tougher smoothies and emulsified sauces. Speeds: 10 + Pulse | Wattage: 1560 | Blending Capacity: 36 oz. | Material of Jar: Plastic Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Most Versatile Blender Breville Blender & Juicer Credit: Amazon $460 at Amazon View on Breville.com What we like: The Bluicer is a unique combination of blender and juicer. What to know: It comes with a lot of accessories, which can be cumbersome to store. The newest Breville model, the 3x Bluicer Pro Blender and Juicer, totally delivered with an impressive ten speeds and a frozen cocktail preset. The Bluicer is controlled by a dial that allows you to move quickly between power levels. I also loved that Breville kept the Smoothie and Green Smoothie presets I loved in the Fresh and Furious model but added an Ice Crush/Pulse function and a convenient timer. This model also features a Cancel/Pause button that lets you control preset cycles with a simple touch. The model's base, housed in a brushed stainless exterior with internal cord storage, is heavy and sits well on the counter. With two significant functions, blending and juicing, Breville was wise to add a locking bar that fits over the pitcher to keep it securely in place. The pitcher has a round spout instead of a “U”- or “V”-shaped indentation for pouring, and it did very well for thinner liquids like my smoothie. Of all the blenders, the Bluicer produced the most ideal texture for the peach slush, and it poured out perfectly. The smoothie was a snap for the Bluicer, but the avocado dessert came out lumpy. A tamper would have been a nice addition to aid in processing this dessert. With the Auto Clean preset, cleaning the Bluicer took no time. Combined with a quick wipe with a damp cloth to the outside, the job was done. If you like the dual functionality, the extra accessories take less space than two separate appliances, creating more value to match the Bluicer's heftier price tag. Speeds: 10 + Pulse | Wattage: 1100 | Blending Capacity: 48 oz. | Material of Jar: BPA- free plastic Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell Credit: EatingWell The Bottom Line: The Best Blender The KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed Blender with Tamper (view at Amazon) is my can't-miss choice on every level. Its design is intuitive, simple and sleek enough to sit on your counter full-time. The four-blade design circulates the ingredients well, allowing the blender to perform at a high level in every scenario. It also comes with a tamper, an item that really pays off when you have chunkier ingredients to process. EatingWell Choosing a Blender Power and Speed Settings Choosing a blender with multiple speed options is a must. Multiple speed settings allow you to start slow and build speed and power. This way, build a base to circulate the more challenging items back to the blade. The combination of a higher speed and the vortex created by blended materials helps to grind up hard items to produce a smooth final product. The blender's power is essential, especially if you are processing challenging ingredients like ice, frozen fruits, fibrous fruits like mangoes and raw greens like kale. If you process softer ingredients most often, like yogurt, milks and fresh fruits, you may find that a less powerful motor is adequate. When faced with the decision, I always recommend the most robust motor so your blender is ready for any recipe you want to tackle. High speeds and strong motors can produce a lot of noise in appliances, and blenders are often quite loud. To mitigate this issue, look for a blender with an insulated motor housing designed for noise reduction. Blender Blades Blender blades have two key features that contribute to blending success: the number of blades and the design. Having more than two blades keeps the ingredients in constant contact, ensuring that food breaks down quickly to blend smoothly. Multidirectional blades, like two upward-facing and two downward-facing, are a design feature that allows the blades to blend foods and still provide enough space between cuts to prohibit ingredients from catching under the blades or sticking between the blades and the wall of the pitcher. Pitcher Design and Tampers Pitchers with more than four sides or indentations are designed to help circulate ingredients and are a key feature in a good blender. Ridges, indentations and additional sides help create a continuous funnel to pull ingredients back to the blades. This helps circulate ingredients better for smooth blends. Tampers are accessories that look like plastic tubes with a handle on one end. They fit into the blender's pitcher with a rim to stop the tamper from reaching the blades. Tampers are exceptionally helpful in moving tough ingredients toward the blades when the mixture is especially thick. It is important to note that you should never stick anything but a dedicated tamper into a blender to manipulate ingredients. It can be very dangerous if a spoon or other object catches on the blade. Any good blender must have a removable center in the lid. This piece locks into place and is removed to blend hot liquids. The opening allows steam to release, not build up, which could pop the lid off the blender and cause burns. Additionally, this opening is essential for emulsification and allowing liquids to be added while actively blending. Our Blender Tests I performed a series of four tests for each of the six blenders. I made a chocolate avocado dessert to assess the blenders’ performance with chunky ingredients, like the avocado, in a dryer recipe. I made an easy smoothie by dumping in the ingredients to test their ability to blend ingredients in any configuration to a smooth texture. Testing their motor strength, the peach slush introduced hard frozen peaches, challenging their blades and circulation ability. My final test was cleaning each blender and determining whether it was challenging or straightforward. I evaluated the design, ease of use, performance, convenience, value and overall quality of each blender during the tests to find the best for every kitchen, budget and cook. EatingWell We Also Considered Ninja BL610 Professional Blender ($80 at Amazon): I am a fan of the Ninja brand and find most of its products to be well priced and high performers, but this model, while struggling to blend the avocado dessert, produced a burning smell from the motor. Vitamix 5200 ($386 at Amazon): The Vitamix is a well-designed, high-powered blender that performed admirably in all the tests. I loved the tamper and used it to make blending the avocado dessert and peach slush easier, but it also emitted a burning smell during the processing of the peach slush and hopped significantly on the countertop, both of which were disappointing for such a pricey model. Common Questions How do I clean a blender? Many of the blenders I tested had an auto-clean button that ran a specific cycle for cleaning the interior of the pitcher, blades and inner lid. This technique is not unique to those models; it is just preprogrammed, and any blender can be run with warm, soapy water to clean the interior. This method works best when the blender contents have not dried on the surface. Some pitchers and lids are listed as dishwasher-safe; however, as an appliance with an exposed blade, I suggest always hand-washing your blender to ensure the water flow and detergent of the dishwasher does not wear down the blade. The pitcher's exterior should be cleaned with a damp cloth or warm, soapy water and dried immediately to mitigate water spots. The base of each unit should never be submerged in water and is best cleaned with a damp, soft cloth. Can blenders crush ice? In my opinion, all good blenders should be able to crush ice. One of the primary challenges in any test I have conducted with blenders is to blend ice or frozen fruits to test the motor and integrity of the blades. I have only recommended blenders that can perform this task well, as I feel it’s an essential function. What’s the difference between a blender and a food processor? Though some tasks can overlap for a food processor and a blender, they have some significant differences. For one, the blades: The blades on a blender are thicker and designed for tough jobs like crushing ice, whereas the blades on a food processor are typically thinner and not suited for such challenging ingredients. The blades on food processors are usually sharp and intended for chopping vegetables and blending different mixtures, both wet and dry. Blender blades are typically blunt, thick and angled, but not sharp enough to cut skin easily. These blades cut well in wet applications, harnessing the motor's power and rapid movement of the blades to simultaneously cut ingredients and create circulation. The design of a good blender pitcher and blades ensures that ingredients circulate toward the blades, thus the “vortex” during blending. This, along with the strong motor and fast-spinning blades, allow blenders to produce smooth mixtures like velvety puréed soups or fiber-filled juice, where their food processor counterparts would fall short in these tasks. To that point, the blender motors are typically much more robust than those of a food processor. Though food processors can push through dough and thick vegetables, they are intended to mix more than blend. The 5 Best Centrifugal Juicers, Tested and Dietitian-Approved EatingWell Our Trusted Expertise Tiffany Vickers Davis tested each of the blenders featured in this article. She is a chef, writer and food entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. Having started in high-profile restaurant kitchens, Tiffany now owns and operates a fresh-prepared meal company that ships nationally. Before starting her company, she was the test kitchen director at Cooking Light magazine, testing hundreds of products during her 14-year tenure with the brand. She uses a blender on soups all winter and works through the summer with smoothies. A previous version of this article was written by Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD. Some of her original testing insights were used to inform our updated tests for this piece. This article was edited by Katie Tuttle, an editor and contributor to publications such as Food & Wine and The Spruce Eats. EatingWell’s Spinach, Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie recipe is her go-to for busy mornings. Explore more: Healthy Lifestyle Kitchen Essentials Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit