Your desire to live a super healthy lifestyle and love for smoothies is what has brought you to this page. Whenever your smoothies require less sipping and more chewing, some things have to change, one of them is the type of blender you are using. For sure, any smoothie must be smooth. Not every best smoothie blender for the money has the jar capacity or the power to whip any delicious meal smoothie.
A blender is a good investment that helps you in getting more than what you put in. Before you consider making this important addition to your kitchen appliances, it is important to know what some of the best smoothie blenders are for money. Never invite just any old blender into your kitchen. You have to get one with a good blade that is capable of handling frozen food and has decent power and construction to suit your travel requirements and space.
We have reviewed the five best smoothie blenders for money according to their different features.
Ninja Professional Countertop Blender
Considered to be one of the best smoothie blenders for money in the market, the Ninja Professional Countertop Blender is well equipped with an 1100 watt motor. It is among the most powerful blenders in the countertop category.
It consists of a 72-ounce pitcher that helps in making larger quantities that are enough for the whole family. You can also use the 16-ounce pitcher to blend smoothies enough for you and your partner. It also comes with a total crushing technology blade which is capable of blending almost everything. It makes it possible to make any frozen dessert or drink that one might want. Both the 72-ounce pitcher and the stacked blade have been designed to help turn ice into snow within seconds.
Its cup and pitcher are BPA free while all its parts except the motor base are dishwater safe to ensure easy and faster cleanup. It is recommended that one puts the blade and lid assemblies onto the top rack.
In case you are hand washing, ensure you wash it in warm and soapy water using a dishwashing utensil that comes with a handle to help you avoid direct contact with blades which are sharp.
The Ninja Professional Countertop Blender also has plus pulse, 3-speeds and a powerful 1100-watt motor.
Pros
- It is BPA free.
- Comes with a one year warranty.
- Has a lock on the lid with a pour spout.
- Capable of holding up to 72-ounces.
- Comes with suction cups at the base bottom that helps in adding stability when in use.
- The stacked blade, cups, lids are all dishwater safe.
- Its parts can easily be replaced. Instead of having to purchase a new blender, one can replace the blender container, cups or blades.
Cons
- It is noisy.
- It is not microwave safe hence sauces and soups have to be heated on separate pans or pots after blending.
- Its lid is hard to remove.
- Has an extremely sharp stack blade.
Ninja BL456 Nutri Edge, Gray
The Ninja BL456 Nutri Edge, Gray belongs to the Pro Nutri Ninja blenders 450/451/456 series which are known to share the same blades, motor, and base. The difference in the series is the cup capacity and recipe books. The Ninja BL456 Nutri Edge, Gray comprises two Nutri Ninja cups and a book consisting of 75 delicious recipes.
Considered to be one of the best smoothie blenders for money in the market, it has a single speed which is easier to operate. Just press on the top of the cup after assembling it on the motor base to turn it on and stop pressing the cup to turn it off.
This personalized sized bullet blender also pulverizes vegetables and fruits including stems, skins and seeds into a smooth texture. The tough and leafy ingredients blend easily as well as the oats and nuts. However, some nuts will have to be presoaked to be blended in this best smoothie blender for money.
The Ninja BL456 crushing ability is one of its best features. Several personal blenders are known to be underpowered for this task and will need liquid for them to be able to crush ice. The blade design and power of this blender are capable of turning ice into the snow without adding any liquid.
Its motor is overload protected and can shut down by itself when operated beyond capacity. Whenever you find yourself in such a situation, unplug it and let it cool for around 30-50 minutes. After that, plug it bag and restart it. Overload can be prevented by using shorter pulses whenever you are operating it and it is advisable that you do not run the Ninja BL456 continuously for more than 60 seconds.
The Ninja BL456 is considered to be a great smoothie blender for the money which is capable of mixing and chopping a variety of dishes.
Pros
- It comes with a 75 recipe guidebook.
- It is a very powerful 900-watt smoothie blender that comes in a small package.
- It is small in size hence one can easily travel with it.
- Available at lower price making it a greater gift or a secondary blender.
- It is a great blender for making protein shakes and smoothies on the go.
Cons
- It produces a lot of sounds.
- Has smaller capacity cups making it unsuitable for larger meals and drinks.
Magic Bullet Blender
Are you looking for an expert level blender on a budget?
The Magic Bullet Blender, Small, Silver, 11 Piece Set is your perfect choice. This Magic Bullet Blender is considered to be another great option for the best smoothie blender for the money. Just like its Magic Bullet MBR-1701 17 counterpart, this blender has 250 watts of power that ensures quick and smooth blend. It comprises 18oz and 32 oz cups just like the Magic Bullet MBR-1701 17. This blender also comes with a single mug and a few lid options. It also comprises of a recipe guidebook that helps one to get started. Its parts are dishwasher safe.
Using this blender is very simple since one just needs to push down on the cup in order to get the blades whirring making it an excellent addition to any kitchen. It also comes with a second recipe book.
However, this blender is at times considered to be a bit too powerful for certain tasks. For example, in case you are interested in a chunky salad or soup, you will definitely need to get a different mixer. Its larger container can also make it a bit difficult in moving food to the center blades for chopping.
Considered to be one of the smallest blenders among most of the Magic Bullets blenders, it is simple and affordable making it a budget-friendly blender for people who are interested in exploring blending, mixing and juicing for the first time. Although it might not offer a similar type of versatility as the other expensive blenders, it is a great blender to start off with.
Pros
- It is excellent for juicing and smoothies.
- Its lids and cups are dishwasher safe.
- Excellent for whipping up sauces and desserts.
- It is capable of carrying out both blending, mixing and chopping functions.
- Comes with a set of three cups, a 10-second recipe book and portable lids.
- A very affordable blender.
Cons
- It is not the best blender for salads and chunky soups.
- It is not good at blending frozen fruits or ice.
Vitamix 5200 Blender, Professional-Grade, 64 oz. Container, Black
Considered to be a legend in the Vitamix family, the Vitamix 5200 is one blender you can never afford to miss in your kitchen especially if you are on a tight budget. Despite being one of the blenders with the simplest design in the Vitamix family, the Vitamix 5200 still has a power capable of crushing the toughest ingredients. Its design is patent and powerful making it able to pulverize every type of ingredient. Its base does house a 2.0 horsepower motor which is very efficient. When using the Vitamix 5200 Blender, you should never worry about it overheating thanks to its efficient radial cooling fan.
Its blades rotate at very high speeds thereby creating heat through friction when preparing hot soups hence able to get steaming hot ingredients within six minutes. The blades of the Vitamix 5200 blender measure 3- inches in diameter and are laser-cut made from high-grade stainless steel ensuring consistent blend. It is possible to pulverize ice cream, coffee beans, grind nuts and some of the smallest seeds using this blender.
You can use this blender in making smooth baby food for the infants who lack teeth and also cheeky baby food for the toddlers who have weak or few teeth. Its plastic pitcher is BPA free and durable. Measuring 20.5- x 8.75- x 7.25 inches and 10 pounds and 9 ounces in weight, the Vitamix 5200 blender comes with a radial cooling fan and thermal overload protection ensuring safety.
It is possible to use this blender to blend both the dry and wet ingredients. However, for the dry ingredients, it is advisable that you use the 32 ounce counter while when blending wet ingredients always go for the 64-ounce container. Its blending process has been made simply by the pulse function together with its 10-variable speed control knob which you can use to help change the blending speed to achieve the right blend consistency and texture.
Pros
- It is durable and cost-effective.
- Cleaning it is very easy since it cleans itself by running in warm water.
- Has automatic overload protection that helps in protecting it from overheating.
- It is very powerful making it capable of blending almost everything.
Cons
- Produces lots of sound during blending.
- Its fixed blades make the process of removing food residues a bit complex.
NutriBullet NBR-1201 12-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer System
NutriBullet is known for making some of the best smoothie blenders in the market. Most of their blenders are known to be pretty good despite the variety of models they have. One blender that ranks top among the NutriBullet company list of models is the NutriBullet NBR-1201 12-Piece High-Speed Blender. In case you are interested in a portable, easy to use, affordable, safe a feature-rich smoothie blender? Then the NutriBullet NBR-1201 is the best option for you. This blender can grind, chop and shred.
Its container system is more individualized when compare to the other smoothie blender models. You do not have to rinse or clean in between. In case you are in a family where each of you prefers a different smoothie or shake, you do not have to get extra cups or glasses, each of its blending cups fits well. It is a versatile and convenient model.
Using the NutriBullet NBR-1201 is very easy as it takes little countertop space although its blade cannot be controlled. This blender comes with two different blades one for purifying and liquefying while the other is for milling nuts, seeds and oats into a fine powder. It is capable of pulverizing whole foods like kale, fruits, berries, beets and spinach extracting all the nutrition the food has. It is also considered to the best smoothie blender for the money in case you are interested in grinding, shredding, chopping and blending.
The NutriBullet NBR-1201 measures 8 inches tall and 5.375 inches in diameter and weighs 3.6 pounds. Its plastic is BPA free and phthalate while its blade is made from stainless steel. Its parts are all dishwater safe apart from its base.
Pros
- It is of smart and minimalist design.
- Using it is very easy and works fast hence best for people who have little time.
- Offers one with the smoothest consistency while still maintaining the goodness of the whole ingredients.
- Capable of grinding flax seeds and coffee beans easily.
- It is not that wasteful as other smoothie blenders.
Cons
- Its blades are not that strong to crush ice. Hence one can only add frozen foods to make an iced smoothie.
- Can easily leak if you cross the liquid line or fail to screw it properly.
- There are times when the greens can get stuck in the cup.
Buying guide for the Best Smoothie Blender for the Money
It is advisable that you first consider some factors whenever you are shopping for the best smoothie blender for the money. The requirements you need will help you get the right blender. Here are some of the main factors you need to consider before buying any smoothie blender.
Power
Some people are known to complain about their blenders’ power. Such people are known to use a lower-powered blender for heavy-duty blending which will not provide them with the results they want.
Before you buy a new smoothie blender, it is appropriate that you first think of what you will be blending and the total amount of power you will need to get the job done successfully. Most blenders do list the type of things they can handle depending on the amount of power it can offer.
Size
It is advisable that you consider the number of people who will be using the best smoothie blender for the money you are about to purchase. In case you will be using it alone, going for a single-serve blender will be a great idea. However, in case the blender will be used by a larger group of people or an entire family, then it is advisable that you go for a larger capacity blender.
Speed Settings
Different smoothie blenders are known to have different speed settings. The speed settings do provide one with control over perfect smoothie preparation. There are blenders that comprise of single fixed speeds while others do have dual speed settings for both low and high power operations. Some blenders do have a pulse function that is important when chopping whole ingredients.
Cleaning and Ease of Use
No one likes spending lots of time cleaning dishes. It, therefore, makes sense to go for a smoothie blender that does not require lots of assemblies when cleaning. In case you do not mind cleaning, you can feel free to go for blenders that have several parts to disassemble. Most people prefer going for blenders that can be cleaned using dishwashing liquid and warm water.
Amount of Noise Produced
Blending harder ingredients will mean more power which will, in turn, mean louder noise. Some people opt to use construction level ear protection whenever they are using their blenders. For sure, all blenders will be producing sound. However, you can consider the level of noise being produced by a blender. In case you will be using your blender on the go, it is not advisable to go for blenders producing lots of noise since it will be disrupting other people.
Cost
In case you will be performing heavy-duty blending, it is appropriate to spend more money and get a sturdier blender. There have been lots of complaints from different users that have been directed towards using cheaper smoothie blenders in performing sizeable duties. Such blenders will never be up to the task and as compared to someone who will invest more money in getting a sturdier blender.
In case you are using the blender on a frequent basis, you need to prioritize the features instead of the cost. After getting a list of blenders capable of performing the task, only then will it make sense if you start considering their prices. Never make a mistake of comparing the cost of different models and going for the cheaper one. It might not be able to perform up to the standards you require.
Type of Material Used (Glass or Plastic Jug)
It is important that you get to understand the type of container that will best suit your blender. It is advisable that you research on the advantages and disadvantages associated with using glass jug blenders and plastic jug blenders. For instance, most hardcore users opt for glass jugs since they do not get scratched easily and have a heavy and high-quality feel. However, you will have to pay more for blenders with glass jugs. However, the glass might not survive when the bender falls on the floor. Hence, you need to consider who will be using the blender before you decide on the type of material.
Conclusion
Best smoothie blender for the money is a great addition to any kitchen and a worthy investment in good health. It, therefore, makes a lot of sense to go for a product that will offer you the best service. The several models of smoothie blenders have made it difficult for buyers to get the best blender in the market.
However, the above list has provided you with an in-depth review of the best five smoothie blenders currently available in the market.