The Ninja Detect Power Blender and Processor is a reminder of quite how far things have come from old-school blenders and food processors, combining them all into one gadget and offering up 20 functions in one go.

As good-looking as all the other Ninja gadgets, it’s not a cheap purchase, but for what you get I think it’s worth it. From slicing veg to blending smoothies, it’s not only easy to use without needing a degree in Ninja instructions, but also does the job well in speedy time. And on top of that, it’s easy to clean, which is always a winner.

During a week of testing, I find myself gleefully swapping between chopping, slicing, blending and more, and by the end am happy to ditch my previous blender and food processor and embrace a long-term relationship with the Ninja. Here's why I think this new release from the brand earns the title of one of the best blenders.

Ninja Detect Power Blender Pro & Single Serve TB301UK specs

• Size, Dimensions: H: 44.5 cm x W: 21 cm x D: 17.5 cm
• Weight: 6.3 kg
• Colour: Black,
• Power: 1200W,
• Modes: 20 functions - 14 manual & 6 automatic
• Includes: Motor base, 2.1L jug, 1.8 Food Processor Bowl, 3x 700ml Single-serve cups, Ninja Detect Total Crushing & Chopping Blade, Chopping Blade, Dough Blade, Slicing/Shredding Blade, Hybrid Edge Blades & Recipe Guide

Who tested this blender?

Unboxing the product

Opening a Ninja box is always an event, with all the right blurb on the outside to get you excited for the product you’re about to get your hands on. The Ninja Detect Power Blender & Processor is a hefty bit of kit, and you might spend a while unboxing it thanks to its various functions, attachments and bits of kit.

All carefully wrapped in sustainable packaging, you’ll find the motor base itself, along with the food processor jug, the blender bit and what they call a ‘personal blender’ that has a Nutribullet feel.

There are extra single-serve cups and various blades for its many functions. You’ll definitely need a bit of space to store it, along with all these bits, but that’s the price you pay for something that has 20 functions and does all sorts for you. In all honesty, it’s the kind of gadget you’re likely to be quite happy to leave out on the counter, because it definitely looks the part, all sleek and black and space-age.

Setting it up is fairly easy thanks to the quick start guide, and I’m overjoyed to find that it has big suckers on the bottom to ensure it sticks down firmly and won’t move around.

Testing

Making a smoothie

The first test is a basic smoothie using fresh fruit. I choose my ‘personal blender’ for this one as it’s not too bulky, and chuck in raspberries, blueberries and kiwi with a splash of water for a simple fruit juice/smoothie.

I’m eager to try the ‘BlendSense’ function, which basically auto-senses the ingredients inside and adjusts the settings. It’s super intuitive to use - just put it in the BlendSense mode then hit start and off it goes. Within what feels like seconds I’ve got a smooth juice that I can guzzle straight out of the cup.

Perfect for a morning juice or smoothie, and easy to use. The ‘liquid detect’ element of the Ninja - designed to kick in if I haven’t got enough liquid in the blender - doesn’t interfere because I’ve picked juicy fruit and a bit of water, but it’s reassuring to know that it would.

Making a coarser smoothie

I go for something a bit more challenging next, using the blender jug and opting for some smoothie ingredients that might be a bit more challenging. Frozen berries, celery, oat milk and more kiwi, plus a few fresh berries for bulk. Again, I go for BlendSense and in response to the tougher ingredients it takes a bit longer, but still makes light work of them.

It’s not a quiet machine, and a decibel meter registers up to 100dB at some points, but I’m not sure we’d expect a blender to be particularly quiet - and it’s not a problem when it goes on for less than a minute. It certainly feels more aggressively noisy than my old school blender, and does the job in far less time.

The lid of the blender jug has an easy pouring spout so I can get my smoothie into a glass to enjoy. The fact it makes light work of frozen berries - and indeed ice - means it’s also advertised as being the gadget to go to for frozen cocktails, and that combined with the pouring spout means it’s going to get some regular use for cocktail hour in my house.

Food processor

Next up is the food processor function. I’m keen to make a soup, but am a bit sad to discover that I’m not supposed to blend hot liquids in my food processor.

So instead, I decide to use the Ninja’s chopping and slicing functions, so use this to prepare my soup instead. First up is onion, which I chop with the blade. It’s a revelation. I’m not particularly averse to chopping onions the conventional way with a knife, but may never do it again after experiencing how easy this is.

In it goes, I simply select the chopping function, then decide the size I want (I go for large), and let the Ninja do its thing. It runs for a few seconds, pauses, runs again, pauses, and runs a final time and there it is - my chopped onion. I’m impressed.

I’m so excited I try leeks too. It takes a bit longer, and I have to be careful not to put them in too long, but cut them into manageable chunks, but it still makes light work of them.

I’m so excited I swap the chopping blade for the slicing blade and feed a carrot through the spout at the top. Lo and behold, neatly sliced carrot in seconds. It’s a time-saving dream, and could be a real game-changer for busy people, or if you’re prepping food for big meals and lots of people. Like Christmas, for example.

There’s a dough blade, too, which again will no doubt be a time-saving dream. Again, it’s super intuitive, with automatic programmes for different doughs and batters, so you can almost leave it to it.

What's it like to clean?

If the ease of use wasn’t delightful enough, the fact that the jug, cups, food processor bowl, lids and blades are all dishwasher safe is the cherry on the cake.

No messing around with hard-to-clean accessories and attachments - it’s just a case of chucking it all in the dishwasher and knowing it’s ready for the next use.

Should you buy the Ninja Detect Power Blender & Processor Pro?

The Ninja Detect is the blender and food processor I really didn’t know I needed in my life, but am overjoyed to have found. Yes, it’s not small, but the sheer number of functions it can do, and the easy and intuitive way it does them, is a revelation compared to old school food processors and blenders.

Not just that, it does what it says on the tin - and does it well. Chops, slices, blend and more without a pause, and all quickly and efficiently. Add to that the fact it looks good and is easy to clean, and I’m sold.

Yes, at £229.99, it’s not a cheap gadget. But it’s worth remembering that it’s almost three good quality gadgets in one, so with that in mind, if you’re someone who does a fair bit of cooking, prepping, blending and more, it’s worth the money. I’m converted.

Along with all other types of kitchen appliances, I’ve been reviewing blenders for well over a decade and I’ve learnt that not all blenders are built the same. While on the surface you might think of a blender as a pretty straightforward appliance, there are huge differences in the power, features, and performance when you start comparing different models.

Both Vitamix and Nutribullet are big, well known blender brands.They both regularly feature on best blender lists, but if you’re not familiar with them and you don’t know how to choose between them, it’s not necessarily easy to figure out which you should choose and why. I’ve tried several models from both these household names and they are very different on a number of fronts.

I’ve broken it down and will compare both brands in terms of their ranges, price, features and functions as well as performance. So once you get to the end, you should have a pretty good idea of the brand that’ll suit your needs as well as your budget.

Vitamix vs Nutribullet - Range

It’s probably no surprise that as one of the leading brands in personal blenders, Nutribullet has a big range of these single serve, blend-it-all-in-one-cup blenders. At the time of writing, including the ones under their Magic Bullet brand, you can choose between about six different models.

Nutribullet’s range of personal blenders might all look similar, but they vary in power. The more expensive the Nutribullet personal blender, the more powerful it’ll be. And then each model comes with different accessories bundled in. For on-the-go there’s also a cordless, rechargeable personal blender, the Nutribullet Portable Blender.

In contrast, Vitamix does not sell standalone personal blenders. However, for most models you have the option to buy a personal blender cup as an additional accessory. Or choose a package with a personal blending accessory bundled in from the get-go.

Vitamix full size blenders are divided into two distinct ranges. The Explorian range consists of three models and this is considered the more entry-level range. Meanwhile the Ascent series also consists of three models and this premium range offers smarter features and added functionality.

Not to be outdone, Nutribullet also makes full size blenders, there are four models in total including the Magic Bullet model. One of them - the Nutribullet Blender Combo - is a hybrid style blender that comes with all the accessories to be used as both a full size, as well as a personal blender.

Vitamix vs Nutribullet - Price

If budget is your main priority, this will make the decision very easy. Because, quite honestly, there is a chasm between the cost of any Nutribullet blender and even the cheapest blender from Vitamix. Without exception, Nutribullet is the more affordable brand.

Nutribullet personal blenders range from £35-£150 and their full size blenders sit at £50-£150. In comparison, the cheapest Vitamix blender is £429 and they go up to £850 for the all-bells-and-whistles Vitamix A3500i bundle that includes all the optional accessories.

It’s worth pointing out here that when you buy them directly from the brands website, most Nutribullets come with a two year warranty. Vitamix blenders on the other hand come with seven or 10 years depending on the model. So while Vitamix is a bigger investment, you do get that extra warranty cover as peace of mind.

Vitamix vs Nutribullet - Features and functions

First of all let’s compare the full size blenders. One of the biggest differences is in the settings. Nutribullet full size blenders offer a maximum of three blending speeds, whereas Vitamix blenders have ten speeds, allowing you to really fine tune your blend.

If you want some preset blending programmes for things like smoothies, only the most premium Nutribullet blender - the Nutribullet Smart Touch - includes four blending programmes. The Nutribullet Combo includes one preset programme, but on the whole, Nutribullet blender settings are pretty basic.

Vitamix blenders stand out for having multiple speeds, but like Nutribullet the brand doesn’t include preset blending programmes in all its blender designs. The top-of-the-range Exlporian 520 offers three presets. In the Ascent range, the 2500i also has three and the Vitamix A3500i includes five.

Some Vitamix blenders include a soup programme. This programme doesn’t cook food, but utilises the heat created by the blades to produce a smooth, hot soup that’s ready to eat.

Capacity matters if you’re blending big batches and virtually all (bar one) Vitamix blenders come with a 2 litre blending jug. In contrast, Nutribullet full size blenders range from 1.5-1.85 litre jugs depending on the model.

As I already mentioned, the huge range of personal blenders on offer from Nutribullet is one of the marked differences between the two brands. These bullet style blenders are offered with a wide range of cup sizes ranging from 300ml to 900ml.

The cup blenders you can buy for Vitamix blenders are all 600ml and the ones for the Explorian series have to be used with a clunky adaptor. Not to mention the fact that even the most expensive Nutribullet personal blender costs less than this cup accessory package.

Vitamix vs Nutribullet - Performance

Comparing them in terms of performance isn’t straightforward. Not least because of the vast difference in price. Most people’s expectations will be wildly different for a £100 blender compared to a £600 blender.

What I would say is that based on my experience, a full size Nutribullet blender will be sufficient for most day-to-day blending tasks like soups, sauces, and basic smoothies. But if you want to get into homemade nut butters, nut milks and frozen desserts. A Vitamix blender should definitely be on your wish-list.

Vitamix full size blenders are some of the most powerful and capable blenders I’ve ever used. I recently reviewed the Vitamix A2500i and was seriously impressed with its ability to pulverise pretty much any ingredient. What’s more, it does this in seconds. The downside is that when blending for longer periods, most Vitamix blenders create heat and warm the ingredients in the jug.

For smoothies, a Vitamix blender can liquidise virtually anything you might want to make into a blended drink, and the big capacity means you can make enough portions for the whole family.

For single serve smoothies and protein shakes Nutribullet has to be the go-to brand, there’s a reason these blenders are so popular. The more powerful ones are more capable of pulverising tougher ingredients. And there’s no denying the convenience of blitzing up your drink in the cup you intend to drink it from.

Which should you buy?

It goes without saying that for the budget conscious Nutribullet will win out. For budding chefs, you can’t beat the level of control you’ll get from a Vitamix. That said, if all you’re doing is pureeing baby food and making the odd milkshake or simple smoothie, forking out for a powerful Vitamix probably isn’t worth it. At the end of the day, it comes down to budget and what you expect to use it for.

Vitamix is an upscale US blender brand that offers two blender ranges in the UK. The simpler and more cost-effective is the Explorian range. Meanwhile, the more premium Ascent range of blenders combine high-performance motors with clever technology for an upgraded experience.

The Vitamix A2500i sits in the middle of the Ascent range, so while it’s cheaper than the top-of-the-range model, it’s still a whopping £600. And I get it, for most people, even if I said it was the best blender in the world, it would still be impossible to justify spending this much on a blender. So it’s worth taking a look at our best blenders guide for alternative suggestions.

But if you’re still reading and you’re looking for a next-level blender that you’re willing to invest in, read on to see how I got on when I tried it at home. I made soup, smoothies, even veggie burger mix, frozen fruit-based ice cream and much more, to figure out whether the performance was flawless enough to justify the price tag.

Vitamix A2500i product specs

• Capacity: 2 litres
• Speeds: 10 plus pulse button
• Auto programmes: smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts
• Accessories: tamper, recipe book

Unboxing and first impressions

Once I’d removed the blender from the recyclable cardboard packaging, my first impression was that the base of the blender has a solid chunky quality to it. And with its somewhat angular shape, its appearance straddles the line between domestic and commercial blenders.

Despite being a high-performance blender, Vitamix has kept the controls simple and straightforward. Turning the central dial to the right allows you to increase the speed up through the ten levels. And you can access the three auto programs simply by turning it to the left.

To the right of the dial is a start/ stop switch and to the left is the pulse switch. Above the dial is a digital timer. It counts down when you’re using an auto program, or it counts up when you’ve selected one of the manual speeds.

There are a couple of great features about the blender that make it super user-friendly. The first is that there’s no complicated twist or locking action required when you put the blender jug on the base. It simply slots onto the little feet that stick up.

The second is that you can blend with the jug handle on either side, so no matter if you’re right or left-handed, you can set it up to suit you. And the third thing I think is really important is the safety feature. It won’t start blending unless the lid is securely in place.

The jug itself has measurement markers in litres, millilitres, ounces and cups. Plus the lid plug - which is the bit in the top of the lid that you remove to insert the tamper - also has measuring lines for smaller quantities.

There is quite a comprehensive hardback recipe book included in the box to get you started, as well as a lot of recipes on the Vitamix website, the wide range of recipes gives a real insight into what it might be capable of.

Despite the price, you don’t get any additional accessories in the box, just the jug with lid and the tamper. There are several compatible accessories available to buy separately and the clever SELF-DETECT technology means the blender will instantly recognise any accessory and adjust its settings accordingly.

What is it like to use?

Smoothie programme

I followed a recipe for a post workout smoothie that I saw on the Vitamix website. The ingredients are water, oats, whole pitted dates, cocoa powder, frozen banana, whole peanuts, and protein powder. It was a large recipe though so I cut it in half, then I added the ingredients to the jug and selected the smoothie programme.

Despite having some pretty robust ingredients such as the whole peanuts, frozen banana, and whole dates. The smoothie was completely liquidised in just one cycle of the 50 second smoothie programme. Impressively, there was no grittiness from the peanuts or oats, the powders were well mixed and the dates were completely broken down.

The next smoothie I tried was the strawberry, apple, citrus ginger smoothie, again from the Vitamix website. I peeled and halved two oranges, quartered two apples, added a peeled slice of lime, a chunk of fresh ginger, and then a whole 400g bag of frozen strawberries. It was a full jug.

I selected the smoothie programme, but also inserted the tamper into the lid to help push the ingredients towards the blade, because blitzing that amount of fresh and frozen fruit in just 50 seconds felt like a big ask.

When it finished blending, I was beyond impressed. There was not a hint of apple skin or even a small chunk of frozen strawberry that had not been completely liquified. The flavour was clean, fresh, and zingy. I couldn’t quite believe that it had blended to such a smooth consistency in such a short blending cycle.

Frozen desserts programme

The frozen desserts programme is particularly suited to blitzing frozen fruits into healthy homemade desserts. The recipe book has plenty of recipes for these, but also suggests that as long as you stick to the ratio of 240g frozen fruit to 60ml liquid, you can’t go too far wrong.

Sticking to the suggested ratio, I decided to make up my own frozen dessert recipe with frozen cherries, frozen bananas and almond milk. After the 55 second blend had finished, I gave it a good scrape down and ran the programme again because there was still a lot of unblended fruit.

During both blends I continually pushed the fruit towards the blade with the tamper. And at the end of the second cycle it was perfect, deliciously smooth and creamy. It’s no mean feat to blend 360g frozen fruit to such a creamy consistency in under two minutes, and it just shows the power of this blender.

Soups programme

When I was browsing through the recipes on the Vitamix website I saw one for hot chocolate. And while I had no doubt that the soup preset could be used to warm and mix chunks of dark chocolate into milk, this felt like a good excuse for a hot chocolate on a chilly autumn evening.

For two hot chocolates, I added 85g dark chocolate that I had barely broken into chunks, 400ml of milk, a splash of vanilla extract and a good glug of maple syrup. Then I started the soup programme and let it do its thing while I finished cleaning up the kitchen after dinner.

It blended for almost six minutes and the hot chocolate was perfectly warmed to around 83C. To my surprise it had been whipped into an aerated, yet rich and creamy drink that was almost certainly the best hot chocolate I’ve ever made.

You might want to avoid this late night indulgence if you’ve got children in bed though, since it blends continuously and is not quiet. Standing close by, my noise meter hit 90dB, and while this is a pretty standard noise level for a high powered blender, it’s the opposite of calming.

I tried out the soup preset again to make the Moroccan spiced sweet potato soup from the Vitamix website. It’s worth pointing out that since the soup preset only warms and blends the ingredients, you do have to pre-cook most vegetables for the right flavour and texture.

As per the recipe I pre-cooked all the ingredients but I allowed them to cool to almost room temperature before adding to the blender and running the soup programme. It blends for 5 minutes 45 seconds and the finished soup was smooth and creamy and ready to eat, with a temperature around 85C.

The soup preset is ideal if you have a load of pre-cooked leftover vegetables that you want to turn into a quick and tasty soup for lunch the next day. But because everything needs to be pre-cooked it has its limitations.

Manual speeds and pulse

To see how well it could process quite a dry mixture I used it to make vegetarian black bean burgers, another recipe from the Vitamix website. I added the black beans, onion, garlic, fresh coriander, soy sauce, egg and breadcrumbs directly to the jug.

It required a few extra pulses than the 8-10 suggested in the recipe and I did blitz it for a further 25 seconds whilst using the tamper to push all the ingredients towards the blades. But in under a minute the mixture was blended to the consistency I was hoping for. Which was mostly smooth but with a few chunks of bean to add a bit of texture. I was impressed at how well it coped with a very dry mix.

To serve with my burgers I also used it to make a speedy salsa. I threw in 2 spring onions, a handful of coriander, one chilli chopped in half, and a good squeeze of lime, it took just a few pulses to chop down these ingredients. I then added two large tomatoes cut into quarters and pulsed a few more times to create a chunky salsa. It was easy, fast, and super tasty.

Lastly, I attempted to make peanut butter. I added 300g roasted peanuts to the blender and started it on a slow speed, increasing to the highest speed. Using the tamper constantly, which is essential for a mix like this to ensure it blends properly.

In the end I blended for a total of 2 ½ minutes but stopped it three times to scrape down the sides and check the texture. In the past when I’ve tried to make various nut butters, I’ve never quite managed to create a spreadable nut butter texture comparable with what you might buy in the shops. However, this is the closest I’ve come to creating the perfect texture.

The peanut butter was spreadable and creamy. It wasn’t 100% smooth, there were still some tiny unblended specks of peanut, but for me, that just added to the homemade quality. And I was happy with the overall creamy texture. I didn’t want to blend it further as I could feel it was being warmed by the blades and I didn’t want to create any more heat.

What's it like to clean?

Thankfully the jug, lid and tamper are all dishwasher safe and when I cleaned them in my dishwasher they came out looking pristine. Furthermore, the instruction manual includes details on how to sanitise the jug with either bleach or vinegar, should you need to.

I tended to follow the instructions for cleaning it by adding warm water and washing up liquid to the jug and then running the blender to dislodge all the residues. When followed with a rinse and a quick wipe this was a fast and effective way of cleaning the jug and lid. Admittedly, the peanut butter required more of a scrub.

How does it compare to other blenders?

If you have money to burn and you want the best Vitamix available, check out the Vitamix A3500i . This super premium blender has five auto blend programmes as well as digital controls. You can buy it on its own or with a range of accessories bundled in. But if you think the A2500i has an eye watering price tag, this one may induce tears.

Alternatively, if you’re on a budget but you still want a reliable blender that can also make soup, the Ninja Foodi Blender and Soup Maker is the answer. It only offers three main blending speeds, but it makes up for this with four auto-cook programmes along with four blend programmes and two pre-cook programmes. It can make smooth or chunky soups, sauces, smoothies, and more. All without a heart stopping price tag.

Should you buy the Vitamix 12500i blender?

It’s impossible to answer this question without first addressing the price. There’s no denying that the cost of this blender puts it out of reach for most people. But, to put it into context, some people will happily spend double this on a coffee machine. And if smoothies are your thing, maybe like coffee drinkers, you see the value in owning a high performance appliance to create the best possible blends.

It’s undeniably powerful, yet effortlessly simple to use. Plus there’s a reassuring 10 year warranty which might make the investment feel less daunting. However, the downside is that the blades create heat, which for some blends is less than ideal. That said, for most foods it’s so speedy that this is rarely a problem.

In summary, it’s an excellent blender, plus there are lots of accessories available that give you the option to widen the scope of what it can be used for. If you’re willing to pay more for an efficient and powerful blender, this one’s a good call.

About this review and the reviewer

After completing a Home Economics degree, Helen went on to work for the Good Housekeeping Institute and has been reviewing home appliances ever since. She lives in a small village in Buckinghamshire in the UK, where she reviews all sorts of home and garden appliances using her wealth of experience.

Helen had the blender on loan from Vitamix for a week. She blitzed her way through several recipes from the Vitamix website while she tried it out in her kitchen at home. And now it’s gone she can’t stop thinking about the dreamy hot chocolate she made in it.

Nutribullet is a household name, a brand that needs no introduction. And out of the many blenders you can choose from, the Nutribullet 600 Series is the brand's most popular personal blender. That being said, it’s far from the most powerful bullet blender they make, so can its performance rival the best blenders on the market?

Whether you’re looking to make fruit and vegetable smoothies, milkshakes, or post-gym protein packed drinks, a personal blender is a convenient solution. Also known as bullet style blenders, they mix your ingredients directly in the cup, saving on the washing up.

I’m no stranger to a breakfast smoothie and I love a milkshake, so I’ll give this Nutribullet a thorough test. And because it’s the least powerful Nutribullet in their line-up of plug-in personal blenders, I’m particularly interested to see how it copes with small seeds, hard nuts, and leafy greens. Scroll on to see how it fared.

Nutribullet 600 Series product specs

• Height with tall cup installed: 35cm
• Accessories: 680ml tall cup, 511ml short cup, handled lip ring, solid lid, extractor blade
• Watts: 600
• Dishwasher safe? Yes

Unboxing and first impressions

As you’d expect, the Nutribullet 600 comes in a compact box, and the packaging is mostly cardboard. However, all the components are individually wrapped in plastic bags, which does seem somewhat unnecessary to me.

In addition to the motor, there are two different size cups, a screw on blade attachment, a solid lid, and a screw on handle for drinking directly from the cup. Assembling the various parts is straightforward, as is the operation of the blender.

To get blending, all you have to do is fill the cup, not exceeding the MAX line, attach the blades and then upend it and sit it on the motor. Blending will start when you press down on the cup and twist to lock it in place. Then to stop blending, simply twist it anti-clockwise.

It doesn’t come with a to-go lid for the cups. But if you like to take your smoothies out of the house, you can buy one of these separately for around £4 on the Nutribullet website.

There are some recipes included in the box and the instruction manual contains helpful hints on using the Nutribullet. Some things I noticed when reading through it, that are worth pointing out, are that you can’t use it to crush ice or blend hot foods.

Furthermore, it says you shouldn’t blend for more than one minute at a time. And that if you need to blend for longer, you should leave at least a one minute gap between each blending cycle to allow it to cool. So given that there isn’t a timer on the blender, presumably I’m going to have to set a timer on my phone to make sure I don’t exceed the one minute limit.

Additionally, you can’t use the extractor blade for grinding dry ingredients like grains, cereal, or coffee. Essentially, there always needs to be some liquid in the mix.

The manual also advises replacing the blades after 6 months of use. But I think you can use a bit of common sense here. The frequency will very much depend on how often you use the blender. At the time of writing a new extractor blade costs just £9.99 so it’s not a huge investment if you notice the blade starting to dull.

Aside from the cost though, it does feel quite wasteful and not the most environmentally conscious practice. So I don’t feel great about having to replace it this frequently.

What is it like to use?

For my first smoothie I blitzed up a sliced frozen banana with a small handful of cashew nuts, a scoop of protein powder, and a tablespoon of cocoa powder, topped up with almond milk. After blending for one minute, it looked smooth, so I left it there.

There was a bit of cocoa powder stuck to the bottom of the cup, but on the whole the drink was smooth and well liquidised with a slightly aerated texture.

There wasn’t any grittiness from the nuts, but when I got to the last few sips of the drink, I discovered a few chunks of unblended cashew nut lurking at the bottom. So it may have benefitted from a little extra blending time.

Next I used the smaller cup to blitz up a quick salsa mix. I threw in a roughly chopped spring onion with whole cherry tomatoes, a handful of coriander, a good squeeze of lime juice and a chunk of chilli.

I didn’t want it completely liquidised so I blended the salsa mix for just 15 seconds. This was plenty of time to finely chop and mix all the ingredients into a speedy, tasty salsa. I then used the solid lid to store it in the fridge for a couple of hours until I needed it. I was super happy with the result and it took only a few seconds.

The recipe leaflet recommends making what it calls a NutriBlast. This is 50% leafy greens and 50% fruits. I used spinach and frozen mixed berries, I also added a couple of spoonfuls of mixed seeds and topped up with almond milk.

After the first one minute blend, the green spinach leaves had been completely obliterated. And though there were no whole seeds left, the drink had an overly gritty texture, so I blended it for a second minute.

The second blend didn’t manage to make the drink completely smooth, there were still some tiny gritty seeds from the frozen berries. That said, it was vastly improved and thankfully there were no stray berries or leaves that hadn’t been blitzed. Overall it was pleasant to drink.

Pancake batter was next on the agenda and I made a banana pancake batter with an overripe banana, egg, milk, and flour. I popped all the ingredients into the blender for 45 seconds and then used a spatula to scrape down the sides as it was a very thick batter and I could see some flour was sticking.

I gave it another 30 seconds or so to make sure it blended to a super smooth batter and then poured it straight from the cup into the frying pan. It was easy and convenient and my pancakes were light and fluffy.

This blender is strictly for cold ingredients. So when I wanted to make a homemade turmeric latte, I added all my spices and milk to the small cup and blitzed for a full minute so they were well mixed, then all I had to do was heat the mixture in the microwave. Job done.

Lastly, I made a carrot cake smoothie. For this I added sliced raw carrot, vanilla protein powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, oats, Greek yogurt, milk and some ice. After the first 60 second blend I could still see some chunks of raisin, so after leaving it for 60 seconds for the Nutribullet to cool, I switched it on for a second full 60 second blend.

I’ve made this particular smoothie a lot, and due to the hard, fibrous nature of the carrot, it can be quite a gritty, fibrous drink, especially in lesser quality blenders. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth this drink was, not at all gritty or pulpy.

Unfortunately when I got to the end of the smoothie, I discovered all the raisins. They were barely chopped and had sunk to the base of the cup. This was a bit of a shame, and next time I’d just leave them out altogether. Aside from the raisins though, I was very impressed with the quality and texture of this smoothie.

Like most blenders it’s noisy when in use. My noise meter registered around 90dB when standing right beside it. But since it’s only recommended to be used in short one minute bursts, the noise is never a big issue, in my opinion.

Cleaning

The cups, solid lid and handled lip ring can all be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher. It’s best to clean them soon after use, and if you do that, then often a quick rinse is all that’s needed. I tended to wash them by hand but they cleaned well in my dishwasher too.

The blade assembly can’t go in the dishwasher, and again, as long as you rinse it immediately after use, then cleaning needn’t be tricky. I found that the power of the water from my tap was usually enough to dislodge all residues. But as it’s a blade you do have to be careful and I recommend tackling anything stubborn with a long-handled brush rather than a cloth.

How does it compare to similar blenders?

If you want a personal blender with more in the way of functionality and settings, take a look at the Ninja Auto-IQ BN495UK. It’s slightly more expensive, but offers preset blending cycles that vary the blending pattern to ensure all ingredients are pulverised. Its 1000W motor means it’s incredibly powerful and the two 700ml cups come with handy to-go lids.

Alternatively, if you want to blend your protein shakes while you’re still at the gym, I recently tried the cordless rechargeable Nutribullet Portable Blender. It won’t compete in terms of power but it’s an affordable blender for making simple drinks on-the-go.

Should you buy the Nutribullet 600 series blender?

There’s a reason this is Nutribullet’s most popular personal blender. It combines an affordable price tag with enough blending power to satisfy most people's smoothie making needs. Of course you can spend more on a Nutribullet with more power, and that’s probably advisable if you want to pulverise lots of hard ingredients regularly. But for the majority of people, the 600 series will get the job done.

The tall cup is the ideal size for a filling breakfast smoothie for one, or a smaller tasty nutritious drink for two. Admittedly, I don’t love how frequently they advise replacing the blades. And as I mentioned earlier, if you want to make smoothies to-go, you’ll have to purchase an additional lid.

Blending performance is generally very good. Some harder ingredients required a second blend to ensure they were properly blitzed. But on the whole it’ll create tasty, smooth drinks in 60 seconds. Plus it can be used for batters, sauces and even cocktails, so it's more versatile than you might think.

About this review, and the reviewer:

After completing a Home Economics degree, Helen went on to work for the Good Housekeeping Institute and has been reviewing home appliances ever since. She lives in a small village in Buckinghamshire in the UK, where she reviews all sorts of home and garden appliances using her wealth of experience.

Helen used the Nutribullet 600 Series in her own home for several days. She put it to the test pulverising a range of ingredients into delicious smoothies and drinks.

When you think of KitchenAid, your mind might immediately dream of beautiful colourful stand mixers, mine certainly does. But in a departure from the vibrant colours you might expect, the new KitchenAid Go Cordless range is all matte black.

But that doesn’t mean this range is boring or run-of-the-mill. The KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender with accessories is one of several small battery operated appliances in the range. And the big selling point is that they all use the same removable, swappable battery. So once you’ve bought one with a battery included, you can save some cash on the next appliance from the range by buying it without a battery.

A few years ago I thought battery operated appliances were a gimmick, but I’m coming round to them. And actually, there’s a huge benefit to being able to blend hot soup without trailing a power cable across my gas hob. But this range comes at a premium price, so read on to see if I think it’s worth a spot on our list of the best hand blenders and mini choppers.

KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender with accessories product specs

• Hand blender weight: 870g (including battery)
• Size: (hand blender with blending arm attached) (H)40.5 x (W) 7 x (D)7.8cm
• Variable speed: yes
• Accessories: 1 litre jug with lid, 590ml mini chopper, blending arm, whisk, pan guard

Unboxing and first impressions of the KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender

Removing everything from the compact box was quick and easy, and thankfully the majority of the packaging was cardboard, so could go straight into the recycling.

The first thing to do once I’d unboxed everything was to get the battery on charge. This palm sized battery comes with a USB-C charging cable, but you don’t get a plug, so you’ll have to supply your own.

There are four lights on the battery and once they’re all illuminated, it’s fully charged and ready to go. To check the battery status at any time, you simply have to press a button on the side to illuminate the lights. Each of the four lights equals 25%, so you get a rough idea of how much charge is left.

The battery slots onto the top of the hand blender, which did have me worried that once in place it would feel heavy or unbalanced. Thankfully though that wasn’t the case.

There are two buttons on the blender, the power button, that also controls the speed - the more you press it, the faster the blending speed. And there’s a lock button, which must be pressed simultaneously, otherwise the blender won’t work.

Getting your hand correctly placed to comfortably press both buttons at once takes a few minutes to get used to. But, this is a worthwhile safety feature and one that's often lacking in hand blenders, so I don’t mind.

Everything else in the box was pretty straightforward to figure out. The main blender body is attached to either the blending arm, whisk, or the chopper bowl. And when using the blending arm or whisk, you can make use of the large jug that comes in the box.

Or the blades can be used directly in a hot pan, which is easier than putting all of your hot ingredients into one of the best blenders. And with the addition of the plastic pan guard, you can even use it in delicate pans, without scratching the non-stick coatings.

What is it like to use?

Blending arm

I filled the jug with milk, chunks of banana, protein powder, and a generous spoon of chocolate hazelnut butter. It took just 30 seconds of full power blending with the hand blender to blitz these ingredients into a smooth morning protein shake.

I should note that I had to keep hold of the jug with my spare hand, as it tended to vibrate around a bit. I also had the lid on, with the central part removed so I could insert the blender. But the lid didn’t stay in place and vibrated itself free, so I wouldn’t bother adding it next time. Instead I’ll just use it for when I want to store foods in the jug.

I made use of the pan guard when blending a broccoli and stilton soup directly in the pan. It’s a bit fiddly to attach and doesn’t feel as secure as I’d like, but it stayed in place for the duration of the 2 minute blend.

Personally I really appreciate a metal blending arm that allows me to blend hot foods. The soup was smooth and creamy and there’s far less washing up than if I’d tipped it into a full size blender.

I also used it to create a homemade tomato pizza sauce. Again, I blended the hot tomato mixture directly in the pan to create a sauce. It took around 1 ½ minutes to liquidise all the chunks of onion and tomato into a smooth sauce for my pizzas.

At 88dB when blending the shake, it’s about average in terms of noise levels for a blender. And though the power button allows you to control the speed of blending, I must admit that for the most part, I automatically pushed it all the way in. But it’s good to know you can blend at a lower speed.

Whisk

The whisk is very effective and I whisked up four egg whites into stiff peaks in a little over a minute. Although adding the whisk accessory does make it very tall, which meant I felt my arm fatiguing faster when whisking.

Chopper

I added a couple of generous handfuls of mint leaves to the chopper, then I pressed the power button repeatedly to pulse the leaves so that I didn’t over chop them. After about 15 pulses the leaves were all evenly chopped.

I was pleased that I didn’t have to open it up and encourage any rogue leaves towards the blades.

Next, I had a glut of chillies on my chilli plant, so decided to chop these for the freezer. I cut all the tops off and then cut the larger ones into 2-3 chunks so they were roughly the equivalent size of the smaller ones.

I chopped 50g chillies in total, seeds and all, and it took just 10 seconds. Which saved me a lot of time, not to mention potential agony of wiping chilli in my eye, or some other such mishap.

Battery

Given that the battery life will vary depending on whether you’re whisking, chopping, or blending, I couldn’t time it and give you an exact number of minutes that you’ll get from one charge. Although I should point out that KitchenAid reckons you’ll get up to 30 minutes.

To give you a rough idea, I did all of the above tests without having to recharge. What’s more, I managed a further 4 minutes of full speed blending before the battery lights were indicating it was at 50%, so you get a lot of use from it between charges.

A second battery, should you wish to get a back up, will set you back £69. Though if you invest in another appliance from the range and buy it with a battery included, you’ll have the freedom to keep one fully charged and swap them over as needed.

Cleaning

Most of the accessories are dishwasher safe, with the exclusion of the blender arm and chopper blade. But in reality, I found that most of the time, a quick rinse under the hot tap was enough to remove residues.

Though if you’re doing something particularly messy, like blending an oily mayonnaise, it’ll be much easier to clean the jug in the dishwasher, even if you do have to hand wash the blender arm.

How does it compare to similar cordless sets?

The Ninja Professional Stackable (available for just £29.99 from Ninja) chopper is a great alternative to the mini chopper accessory. It’s the one that came out on top when I tried several for our guide to the top-rated mini choppers. What’s more, it has remained in my kitchen ever since, which is high praise. It does have to be plugged into a power socket, but if you can work with that, you’ll get a great chopper for a bargain price.

If it’s the hand blender with accessories that you’re after and you don’t mind plugging it in, I’d recommend taking a look at the Braun Multiquick 9 range. With several accessory options to choose from, this is a capable hand blender. And I believe the current model is a new and improved version of the one that came out top in our hand blender roundup.

Alternatively, if you don’t need the mini chopper or whisk, the KitchenAid Go Hand Blender is available without the accessories. It’s £40 cheaper, so definitely worth considering if you don’t think you’ll use all the accessories.

Should you buy the KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender?

Don’t get me wrong, this is a good hand blender with useful accessories. But whether it’s worth the steep price tag will depend on your requirement to blitz up foods away from a power socket, not to mention if your budget stretches to it.

If you’re super frustrated by a lack of power sockets, or you want to be able to blend at an island or kitchen table where there isn’t a socket, this battery operated blender opens up all those possibilities.

But a word of caution, if you’re the type of person who’ll forget to charge it when needed, instead of solving your frustrations, it could add to them - unless you have a second battery of course.

About this review, and the reviewer

After completing a Home Economics degree, Helen went on to work for the Good Housekeeping Institute and has been reviewing home appliances ever since. She lives in a small village in Buckinghamshire in the UK, where she reviews all sorts of home and garden appliances using her wealth of experience.

Helen used the hand blender and all of its accessories in her own kitchen for a week. She kept an eye on the battery to see how long it lasted while she used the hand blender to create tasty soups, sauces, and made use of the chopper and whisk accessories for other ingredients.

Juice is a universally favoured beverage. But that sweet nectar can be incredibly expensive to buy and is near impossible to keep stocked in a busy family home (I would know, I'm the culprit making it disappear).

If you, like me, are a juice fiend, you're probably wondering how to make your own juice at home, and whether you can use your trusty blender as a stand-in juicer, to save from buying another yet appliance.

In theory, it's a good plan. Most of us already own one of the best blenders, so if you can use one to make juice, then you could save money and combine two space-hogging appliances in one.

Genius, except for the fact that you cannot, in fact, easily use a blender to make juice. Here's why you'll need one of the best juicers if you want to make delicious juice at home easily due to the difference in blenders vs juicers, as well as ways you can technically make juice with a blender if you're prepared to invest your time.

Can you use a blender to make juice?

No. You can't use a blender on its own to make a liquid of the right smooth consistency to be classified as a juice.

You can however, first use a blender to pulverise your chose ingredients, and then employ various tactics in order to extract juice from that mix. It's not a straighforward way to make juice, but it is technically possible.

David Rees, a kitchen expert from HomeSupply explains, saying 'Although blenders are much more versatile appliances than juicers, they do not have the ability to produce as smooth of a liquid.'

He adds 'However, it is still possible to use your blender to make juice, but there will be more work required than if you were just using a juicer.'

So how can you use a blender as a juicer?

David Rees has the know-how. He says: 'To make juice using your blender you should try to remove as much of the insoluble fibre as possible, such as seeds, skin and stems. For example, core apples and remove the peel and pith from citrus fruits.'

He continues 'Cut the ingredients to a small size, as this will make it easier to blend. After you have blended the ingredients together, strain the mixture through a sieve or a cheesecloth to remove the pulp and release the juice.'

As David mentions, there are products that are far more helpful than others if you are set on using your blender to make juice.

All in all then, it's not a straightforward procedure to use a blender to make juice, and you cannot use a blender in isolation to get the right consistency you need. If you can afford it, a standalone juicer is far and away a better choice for dedicated juice making at home, especially if you want to drink homemade juice every single day.

You don't have to seriously splash the cash to have juice at home either. If orange juice is your drink of choice, then a simple handheld citrus juicer will do the job you need, giving you freshly squeezed OJ whenever you want it.

After testing dozens of them, our favourite entry-level juicer is the Sage Nutri Juicer Cold Plus, which is available from Lakeland for £199.95. It's easy to put together, and can accomodate apples whole too, so there's no need to endlessly peel, core and chop the things. It also has entirely dishwasher safe parts, making daily juicing a doddle. Though you can technically make juice in a blender, we know which option we'd prefer day to day.

When it comes to single serve smoothie makers and blenders, Nutribullet is one of the go-to brands. And though the brand needs little-to-no introduction, the concept of a portable blender might be one you’re less familiar with.

The Nutribullet Portable Blender is the second rechargeable blender on offer from the brand. The older Nutribullet GO had a somewhat less convenient design that required you to remove the blades before drinking, which isn’t ideal when you’re out and about. With this newer design, the blades are integrated into the base of the cup, so once blended you can immediately start drinking.

As a fan of smoothies and protein shakes I’m always up for trying a new version of the best blenders. Although I did wonder how effective this small rechargeable blender would be, especially when it comes to blitzing tougher ingredients. On the whole though, it coped well with most foods I tried to blend. Read on for more details on what I used it for.

Nutribullet Portable Blender product specs

• Cup capacity: 475ml (Max fill line at 350ml)
• Weight: 0.71kg
• Size: 27.2 x 8 x 9.5cm
• Watts: 100W

Unboxing and first impressions

There were no big surprises when I unpacked this portable blender. In the box you get the motor base, cup, to-go lid and a USB-C charging cable. There’s no plug for the charging cable though, so you’ll have to supply your own.

One thing that I wasn’t expecting initially, was that the blade assembly and motor can’t be removed from the cup after blending. Together they form the base of the cup, so have to stay in position until the cup is empty.

The charging cable plugs into the front of the motor base, just below the power button. The button itself is surrounded by a ring of six LEDs. These illuminate in sequence when charging and when they’re all illuminated, you know it’s fully charged.

You can check the battery level by pressing the power button for two seconds to see how many lights illuminate. The lights also turn red and flash in a variety of sequences to indicate various problems. And the errors section in the manual gives you the lowdown on what lights equate to what problem.

Pressing the power button initiates a 20 second blending cycle and the product information says it should be able to perform 15 blend cycles from one charge. So that translates to 5 minutes worth of blending.

It’s important to note though that the manual advises against blending for more than one minute and not more than nine blending cycles within a six minute period.

Despite the advertised 475ml cup capacity, the MAX fill line is actually 350ml, so if you like to make big gulpable drinks, you might be disappointed.

The lid screws on tightly and the big drinking hole is accessed by flipping a catch and then pressing a release button. This two stage process gives me faith that it won’t accidentally open itself in my gym bag.

What is it like to use?

The first drink I made in the Nutribullet Portable Blender was a carrot protein shake. I added coconut milk, grated carrot, cinnamon, nutmeg, protein powder and four ice cubes to the blender. However, every time I started blending, it stopped before the end of the 20 second cycle.

The first time it lasted 12 seconds, then 17 seconds, then 10 seconds, and finally 11 seconds. After this I realised that I had filled it beyond the MAX line, which is why it wasn’t happy. But here’s the thing, the ml/ oz volume lines go all the way to the top of the cup. So at first glance, it looks like you can fill it up to the top marker. It wasn’t until I paid more attention that I noticed the MAX line is actually about ⅔ up the cup.

So I drank the somewhat gritty drink down to the max line and pressed start again. This time it blended for the full 20 second cycle. The drink was nicely mixed, the ice had been pulverised and the carrot was broken down to create a pulpy texture.

Next I made a chocolate banana protein shake with coconut milk, greek yogurt, sliced banana, protein powder and chocolate hazelnut butter. This time I was careful to only fill it up to the MAX mark, but this meant I couldn't fit in a whole banana if I wanted space for all the other ingredients too.

After the first 20 second blend there was a visible lump of protein powder stuck to the side of the cup, so did a second blend, which dislodged most of it. The drink was nicely mixed, the banana wasn’t completely pulverised. It wasn’t lumpy, but the drink had a pulpy, slightly fibrous texture, which I actually quite like.

It can’t be used for hot liquids, so when I wanted to make a turmeric latte, I blended the cold milk and spices together. Then I just poured the mixture into a mug and heated it in the microwave. This method worked well. And I was surprised that the turmeric didn’t stain the plastic cup.

I was sceptical about how it would cope with big frozen berries, so I made a frozen berry smoothie to find out. It was simply frozen mixed berries, protein powder and milk. The frozen berry mix included blackberries, redcurrants, raspberries, blackcurrants, and a couple of quite big, whole strawberries.

The first couple of blends stopped short of the 20 second blend time, and the light flashed red to indicate a problem. I think it was a little over filled, so tipped out a small amount to get it back to the max fill line. Then blended it one more time.

The finished smoothie had a gritty texture because none of the seeds had been liquidised. This didn’t surprise me though, even some of the best blenders don’t blitz up small seeds. And the main thing was that all the berries, including the big strawberries that I was particularly concerned about, had all been blended into the drink.

The final smoothie I made was a green smoothie. It included coconut milk, a handful of spinach, a whole chopped kiwi, and half an avocado. After one 20 second blend everything looked pretty well mixed so I left it at that.

The smoothie was very thick, but apart from some tiny kiwi seeds, everything had been liquidised. And given that leaves can be tricky to blend, I was pleased that I didn’t come across any whole unblended spinach leaves. Though there was a 2cm piece of stalk right at the end of the drink which I can forgive considering it was only a 20 second blend.

I also made a pancake batter using the pancake recipe in the instruction manual. The recipe says to blend oats into oat flour. This took two blend cycles and I gave it a bit of a shake during the second cycle to ensure all the oats got broken down.

Then I added the rest of the ingredients including banana, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and flaxseed. It took a couple of 20 second blend cycles to create a thick pancake batter. And while I won’t be switching from my usual pancake recipe, the nutribullet did a great job at combining all the ingredients.

Finally I made a quick basil and chilli oil to drizzle over pasta. I added olive oil, a handful of basil leaves and a small red chilli that I’d just chopped in half. And after just one quick 20 second blitz I had a tasty, fresh dressing.

The battery lasted for around 15 blend cycles, which is exactly what Nutribullet claims. And a full recharge took just 70 minutes.

I measured the sound at 80dB when blending the turmeric latte. But this will vary depending on the ingredients you’re blitzing, obviously it’ll be louder if blending hard frozen ingredients.

Cleaning

After most uses, I found that as long as I cleaned them immediately, the cup and lid came clean with just a quick rinse. Thankfully though, they are also dishwasher safe, and after the greasy basil oil, I was more than happy to clean them in the dishwasher.

The blade is permanently attached to the motor base, so it has to be cleaned carefully. The manual says to rinse the blade but not to run the motor base under water, which is pretty tricky given that they are one and the same. I did my best to clean it without getting the base too wet. But it is a shame the blade section can’t be removed to make cleaning easier.

How does it compare to similar blenders?

If you don’t really need to blend on the go, the Nutribullet Pro 900 Series blender is a firm favourite at Ideal Home. The catch is that it’s double the price. But for that you get two larger capacity cups and 900W of blending power instead of the 100W offered by the Portable blender.

However, if the portable aspect is what you’re looking for, you should also consider the Ninja Blast from our best cheap blenders list. It has a slightly higher 470ml max capacity and the blend cycles are longer at 30 seconds. That said, you’ll only get 10 blend cycles before it needs a recharge.

Should you buy the Nutribullet Portable Blender?

I’m used to blitzing up huge smoothies in a big jug blender, and I found it tough to scale back. For me the drinks were just a bit too small. However, if you’re not greedy like me and you want the convenience of a battery powered personal blender, I was impressed with its ability to tackle most ingredients.

But it’s not just for smoothies, I love that it can make dressings and batters too, so it’d be great in a campervan or camping, allowing you to whip up a feast, but without taking up much space, or needing a constant power supply.

It won’t completely liquify all ingredients like some of the most powerful blenders you can buy, but for a small rechargeable blender, that’s to be expected. All-in-all for an affordable compact blender on the go, it’s a great option.

About this review, and the reviewer

After completing a Home Economics degree, Helen went on to work for the Good Housekeeping Institute and has been reviewing home appliances ever since. She lives in a small village in Buckinghamshire in the UK, where she reviews all sorts of home and garden appliances using her wealth of experience.

Helen used this blender at home for a week, making a variety of breakfast style smoothies, protein shakes and more. She tried to use a varied mix of ingredients to see how well it coped with everything from frozen berries, to spinach leaves and seeds.

If your kitchen is a case of 'too many appliances, too little time', then you're not alone. In a world where every kitchen gadget is marketed as a must-have, there's only a finite amount of worktop space. So do you need an expensive blender? Or is it a splurge you can skip?

As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, I know my Vitamixes from my Nutribullets, and I've even seen blenders in action that cost over £1000. Our guide to the best blenders combines affordability with functionality, but it's the expensive blenders that professional chefs and even celebrity names (I'm looking at you, Gordon Ramsay) seem to turn to again and again.

Consider this an investigation into whether you really do need the exact blender they use at Starbucks or on Masterchef, or whether a less affordable alternative will do the same job, bolstered by the first-hand experience of a bunch of professional chefs.

Is an expensive blender worth it?

It feels like there are a billion different blenders on the market. While there's not quite that many, it is true this appliance is part of a billion-pound market, which makes it tricky to know whether big-ticket items, like a Blentec or a Vitamix are actually worth the big bucks, or whether brands are just hoping you'll cash out all the same.

We've tried the big boys in the blender game, including in our Vitamix Ascent Series A3500i Blender review, and in our Sage Super Q review, with the latter being described as 'commercial-grade' by the brand.

Rumour has it that Vitamix blenders are the appliance of choice in Starbucks, which means that you might have enjoyed the fruits of one of these products without even knowing it. Similarly, Blendtec is a luxury brand that garners a lot of attention, notably for its 'Will it Blend' series on YouTube.

So what do you get from expensive blenders that you don't get from cheap ones?

After testing swathes of blenders, the main differences that we've found fall into two categories: quality of blending and quality of use.

The first category is all the things you'd expect: the quality of blending you get is noticeably higher, with finer textures, whether you're blitzing up a nut butter or just putting together a smoothie. When we tried a Vitamix, we found it took next to no power to pulverise ingredients into a smoothie mix.

The soup setting on the Vitamix A3500i also left our tester with a consistency that she's never beaten since. It slowly works through the increasing blending speeds, leaving you with a perfectly formulated liquid.

We love a bargain blender at Ideal Home, as our guide to the best cheap blenders shows, but there are also user experience drawbacks that you can skip if you splash out on a pricier blender. In short, you won't have to reckon with a super loud, hard to clean appliance that doesn't last.

It's not just our testing experience that we're drawing on here. After quizzing top chefs on their appliances of choice, Dylan James, Head Chef at Cambium Restaurant at Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa, voiced his preference for a higher quality blender.

Dylan says 'I have worked with Thermomix a lot in my career. It can blend, it can be a mixer for baking, you can cook in a Thermomix such as making a risotto, you can even weigh ingredients straight into it, so it is a very useful appliance.'

He goes on to note the exact blenders he uses in professional settings, saying 'At work we have a blender called a Vitamix which is very powerful perfect for sauces, soups, and purees. We also have a Robot Coupe which is perfect for pasta dough making, pastry making and comes with grating and slicing attachments.'

Dylan isn't the only chef to name check Vitamix in particular. Simon Hulstone, a Michelin starred chef and regular guest chef on James Martin’s Saturday Kitchen also uses the brand's blenders in his restaurant The Elephant.

'I've had the Vitamix for four years without any issues. Its main advantage is its durability. When we were using cheaper options their engines would burn out regularly and we were having to replace far too frequently.'

He goes onto say that 'the Vitamix is capable of doing a lot more. We use it back of house for purées, soups, emulsions, powders and front of house for cocktails and ice crushing. It was well worth the investment.'

And while an expensive blender might be commonplace in a professional kitchen that has everything to hand, I was keen to find out if it would make it onto a desert island list of appliances for a chef. Upon asking for his top three appliances, Dylan James (of Cambium Restaurant) said 'the Vitamix and Robot Coupe for sure' would be his picks, 'as they are well used in the day-to-day running of the kitchen.'

He went on to say that 'Both are very versatile, especially the robot with all its attachments. It’s almost like having an extra chef! Also, a Vac pack machine. They are seriously useful for preserving, marinading, and retaining the flavours and textures of ingredients, which also allows us to get the most out of seasonal ingredients for example by pickling/curing, so that we can use the ingredient even if it is out of season.'

Our verdict on whether you need an expensive blender

If you find yourself reaching for your blender several times a day, then upgrading to an expensive model will prove a return on investment for your kitchen. You'll appreciate the increase in quality, and the smoother user experience.

Dylan James, Head Chef at Cambium Restaurant at Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa agrees, saying 'If you want a blender that can produce quality soups, sauces, or purees for a dinner party or because you are a keen foodie then definitely go for a more upmarket blender. If you just want to use for smoothie for example, then an average one will be fine.'

We couldn't agree more.

Should you invest in a juicer or a blender for your kitchen? If worktop space is at a premium in your home, it can be a difficult question to answer.

Both the best blenders and the best juicers can make a bang average morning into a fruiter one, with the chance to add apples, bananas and berries bursting with vitamins and fibre into your diet. But while smoothies and juices might seem like similar end products, blenders and juicers actually provide vastly different functionality in a kitchen.

To help you sort the Nutribullets from the Ninjas, we're putting these appliances head to head to see which is best for giving you the wellness boost you want.

Blender vs juicer - the big difference

The basic facts, provided by Eran Tibi, Executive Chef at Bala Baya & Kapara, are this 'Whether you're blending up a storm or joyfully juicing, both tools are valuable for home cooks and chefs alike and process fruits and vegetables into tasty and nourishing drinkable forms.'

He goes onto say 'A blender takes the whole foods and pulverises everything to make into a smoothie-like consistency, whilst retaining the fibre. On the other hand, juicers extract the liquid from the fruit and vegetables, separating it from the solid fibre, pulp and seeds to leave a very smooth liquid.'

To be more specific, blenders use a high-powered motor to rotate a blade, with a shape that helps to push whatever you put inside (within reason - we've all seen Blendtec's Will It Blend series) towards that element.

The created vortex will pull everything in and puree fruit, vegetables and more. Usually, but not always, you'll want a liquid element in your blender along with solid ingredients, in order to help along the process of breaking down.

With a blender, though the texture of your fruit or veg will change, the nutritional value stays the same, whether you're making a sauce or a smoothie.

Juicers are a little more complex. A juicer, unlike a blender, involves extraction, leaving you with a thinner liquid after the mechanisms of the appliance have squeezed all of the moisture possible out of fruits and veg.

There are plenty of different types of juicer on the market. Centrifugal juicers, as evidenced in our Phillips Viva Centrifugal Juicer review, chop the fruit and veg with sharp blades before straining the mix through a fine spinning sieve.

Masticating juicers, also known as cold press juicers, use an auger that squeezes ingredients to produce juice, leaving a byproduct of pulp behind. Our Ninja Cold Press Juicer review provides insight into this type of appliance.

Citrus juicers are a pretty 'does what it says on the tin' appliance, giving you freshly squeezed OJ whenever you fancy, or helping take the fuss out of juicing limes, grapefruit, mandarins, pomelos and more.

Why pick a blender over a juicer?

Buy a blender if you want more of an all-rounder kitchen appliance. Plenty of blenders we've tested, like the Ninja Foodi Blender and Soup Maker, have cold and hot functions, aiding you in so many different cooking scenarios. Soups, sauces, dips, drinks, protein shakes - you name it, you can probably blend it.

ZWILLING’s Resident Chef, Paul Bough, is inclined to agree, saying 'A blender is more versatile than a juicer, and can be used for making smoothies, cocktails, soups, sauces and even nut butters.'

Of course, a blender is also what you want if you're looking to become a certified smoothie drinker. The arrival of new portable blenders like the Smeg Personal Blender, allow you to finish the process on the go too, which is welcome news for gym-goers.

There can be added health benefits for opting for a blender too. Pavel Baranvos, Head Chef at UBA, says 'Blenders retain all the ingredients’ fibre, whereas in a centrifugal or even a slow juicer, much of this will be lost. Fibre is important for gut health and digestion, and with juicers there’s a chance that a lot of the goodness in these fruits and vegetables won’t pass through.'

If you're short on space, a blender also has the edge, as multi-functional models or hand models offer versatility without taking over your kitchen. The Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK is the perfect example, with the ability to chop and blend all in one.

Why pick a juicer over a blender?

You should buy a juicer over a blender if juice is your main priority. Resident Chef at ZWILLING Paul Bough says 'If someone is primarily interested in making thin consistency, concentrated and vitamin-rich fruit and vegetable juices at home, a juicer will be a better option than a blender.'

Whether that's citrus or green juice, mixed up with a range of veg as well as fruit, a juicer is its own star appliance for a reason. And the taste in difference that a top class juicer can provide will prove to be immediately worth it.

If you're a more experimental chef, then juicers can help with getting a certain consistency needed for certain recipes too. Eran Tibi, Executive Chef at Bala Baya and Kapara, says 'Juicers might be a preferred choice for those looking for a quick nutrient uptake or for cooks who are creating which demand a clear, smooth juice or intense, concentrated flavours – juicers create the perfect liquids that can be folded into bread, snuck into cakes or even folded into fritters for an extra flavour kick!'

Which is more affordable?

A blender is likely a more cost-effective option thanks to the often multi-functional designs of these appliances, giving you more to work with for your money. That's not to say that you can't find an affordable juicer out there. Our top-rated juicer in our buying guide is the nutribullet Centrifugal Juicer, which you can pick up for less than £100 on Amazon.

Which should you buy?

Juicers, while incredibly useful and great for boosting nutrition at home, are fundamentally a bit of a one-trick pony. David Rees, a kitchen expert from Home Supply, agrees saying 'While neither of the appliances will make something that is healthier than the other, a blender may be a better option for most people as they can be used for many other functions, whereas juicers can only be used to make juice.'

If you're in the market for one over the other then, whether that's due to space or cost, a blender will probably be your best bet, and prove to be a worthwhile kitchen addition immediately.

If you’ve bitten the (Nutri) bullet and have added a blender to your kitchen, we can only assume that you want to use this nifty kitchen appliance in a way that benefits your life. For that to happen, you must know what you should never put in a blender. 

Whether you were gifted one of the best blenders for Christmas or you managed to pick up one of the best cheap blenders on sale, there’s no doubt that this kitchen appliance can change how you eat. From making healthy smoothies to vegetable-packed soups, you can even use blenders to make home-cooked pasta and curry sauces. All in all, a blender is a great addition to any kitchen. 

But as with all kitchen appliances, you need to be cautious. While blenders open up a world of cooking opportunities, there are also many things that you should never put in a blender. To explain why, we’ve consulted with the experts. 

Things you shouldn’t put in a blender 

‘There are many little-known things that you should never put into your blender,’ explains Thea Whyte, small appliances expert at AO.com. This ranges from food to kitchen utensils, and below, we’ve outlined all of the things you shouldn’t put in a blender. 

1. Hot liquids

Whether you want to use your homegrown vegetables to whip up a hearty winter soup or you’re looking to make purees for your little ones, you might assume that a blender is the best appliance for the job. However, you should never put hot liquids in a blender. 

Gabrielle Marie Yap, Senior Editor & Culinary Entrepreneur at CarnivoreStyle says, ‘I've learned the hard way that blending hot liquids can turn into a messy and potentially perilous situation. You see, the heat generates pressure, and if you don't allow it to escape properly, the lid might just decide to take an unexpected leap.’

‘To avoid any kitchen disasters, it's always best to let those soups or sauces cool down a bit before hitting the blender button.’

Alternatively, you could use one of the best soup makers to make a mean minestrone. 

2. Nuts, coffee beans, or cocoa beans

The best blenders open up the door to make your own plant milk and other food items that you’d typically buy from the supermarket. And while we’re all about that DIY life, you need to be careful when using a blender. 

Ideally, you should steer clear of adding anything hard like nuts, coffee beans, or cocoa beans into a blender. Not only will it take longer to grind these small nuts and beans into the powder you’re after, but you could also damage your appliance in the process. 

Anna Batten, product manager at Smeg, says, ‘We wouldn’t suggest using a Smeg blender for coffee. Although you can if you choose to, it isn’t designed to, so the blades could wear down over time.’

So, it’s just not worth the risk. Just use one of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines or a specific coffee grinder like this Lakeland 2 Jar Grind and Chop or this Smeg CGF01BLUK Coffee Grinder instead. 

In terms of nuts, Thea says, ‘It’s much better to chop these roughly beforehand or use a food processor.’

3. Utensils

The best blenders can certainly help to speed up your cooking process, but it's important to take your time and be cautious when using these kinds of appliances - especially when your food inevitably sticks to the inside of the blender. 

While you can use a utensil like a wooden spoon or a spatula to loosen this food, it’s essential that you turn the blender off before doing so. If you stick any utensils into the spinning blades, you run the risk of damaging the blender beyond repair. 

Plus, you might hurt yourself in the process. 

4. Bread dough

If you're still on the lockdown-inspired bread-making bandwagon, you’ve probably tried to find different tips and tricks to make this process even easier. However, a blender isn’t the hack you’re looking for. 

‘In regards to food, you should avoid putting bread dough into your blender at all costs, as attempting to blend this can strain the motor and potentially damage the blades,’ explains Thea.

A food processor or one of the best bread makers will be far better suited to helping get your dough started.

5. Potatoes

If you’ve grown your own potatoes or bought them from the supermarket, you might assume that you can’t go wrong with mashed potatoes. However, you can go wrong if you choose to mash your potatoes in a blender. 

While a blender will certainly blend your potatoes into something that looks like mash, it certainly won’t feel or taste like mash. That’s because the power of the blender blades will force too much starch out of the potatoes, making them way too sticky and gloopy.

Instead, opt for an old-fashioned masher or a “game-changer” potato ricer for perfectly creamy mash.

6. Ice cubes

Margarita Monday wouldn’t be the same without crushed ice, right? You need to be careful when putting ice cubes in a blender, though. While some blenders claim to be sturdy enough to deal with ice, it’s best to be cautious. 

Gabrielle explains, ‘Most blenders are equipped to handle the crushing of ice, but moderation is key. Chucking in too many ice cubes at once can exert undue pressure on the blender motor or even result in damaged blades.’

‘To prevent overwhelming your trusty blending companion, consider adding ice gradually or opt for pre-crushed ice. This way, you'll be cooling down your beverages without putting unnecessary strain on your blender.’

You could also swap out half of the ice for cold water instead. As long as the amount of water covers the ice in the blender, you shouldn’t have any problems with broken blades or overheated motors. 

7. Foods that stain

Most of the best blenders on the market have plastic jugs, and we all know the struggle when it comes to food stains and plastic. In fact, we have the stained Tupperware to prove it. 

Because of this, you should try and avoid putting foods that stain into a blender. They won’t affect the integrity of the appliance in any way, but they will affect the aesthetics - and this can be annoying. 

Of course, you could try cleaning with vinegar to get rid of these stains, but this will normally take you multiple cleaning sessions and a lot of time. If you don’t have time that time to spare, keep your beetroot, turmeric, and tomatoes out of the blender. 

8. Foods with seeds and pits

If you grow your own fruit and veg and want to make use of them, it’s always a good idea to separate them into two categories: those that are blender-safe and those that aren’t. 

In general, you should avoid putting any foods with hard seeds and pits (like avocados, dates, or cherries) in a blender, as this could damage your appliance. 

‘Whether it's the stubborn avocado pit or the unsuspecting peach stone, tossing these tough elements into the blender is a recipe for potential disaster. Those hard bits can wreak havoc on the blender blades or, worst-case scenario, lead to the motor throwing in the towel,’ explains Gabrielle. 

So, either keep them away from your blender or remove the hard seeds and pits before popping them in for a blitz. 

9. Too much food or liquid

You know when you go a little too hard at the all-you-can-eat buffet and end up feeling like you’re going to explode? Well, that’s how a blender feels when it’s overloaded with too much food or liquid. The only difference is that your blender can actually explode. 

So, always take a look at the manufacturer’s specifications of your blender before you start blending anything. This should tell you the maximum amount of food or liquid you should put in there at once. 

Most of the time, there will also be markings on the blender to show you the maximum fill line. If in doubt, always go lower! 

FAQs

What would you not put in a blender?

You should never put anything in a blender that could damage the blade, cause the appliance to overheat, or potentially cause harm to yourself. This includes:

• Ice or frozen fruit
• Foods with seeds
• Nuts or beans
• Hot liquids
• Utensils

Will ice cubes break my blender?

Potentially, yes. The blades inside a blender can often struggle to break down ice, which can result in broken or blunt blades. Because of this, most experts would advise you to steer clear of using ice in a blender - unless your particular model specifically says that you can blend ice in it. 

So, make sure you’re avoiding these things you shouldn’t put in a blender to make the most out of your appliance. 

Most people have seen the rather iconic Smeg 50s style fridges, but fewer people are aware of the matching range of small kitchen appliances. These super cute, curvy vintage-style appliances come in a range of colours and can add instant impact to a kitchen. 

There’s already a full-size blender in the range (you can read more about that in our best blenders guide), but this personal blender is a new addition. It comes in the same great colours so you can coordinate it with any other Smeg 50s style appliances you already own.

As a big smoothie and protein shake fan, I often swap my usual lunch or breakfast for a smoothie. And I’m no stranger to weird and wonderful combinations of ingredients - I’ll add anything I can find laying around the kitchen - which means I’ve made some pretty gross smoothies in my time! I was interested to see how this blender could cope with a variety of ingredients, especially as it’s pretty expensive in comparison to market leaders like Nutribullet and Ninja. Here's how I got on.

Smeg Personal Blender specs

• RRP: £109.95
• Watts: 300
• Power cord: 1m
• Blending capacity: 600ml (per cup)
• Dimensions: 33.5 x 14.2 x 13.6cm
• Blending speeds: 2
• Accessories: 2 Tritan blending cups, blade assembly

Who tested this blender?

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

As is typical for a personal cup blender, this Smeg blender arrived in a neat little box. And when I pulled it out of the recyclable packaging, I was immediately struck by the bold red colour that I’d been sent for the review. The base comes in a range of colours including cream, black and white, just like the matching Smeg toaster set. But for the more adventurous it also comes in pastel pink, pastel blue and pastel green. I’d say these are the more love-it or hate-it statement colours.

Regardless of the colour you choose, the silver accents and streamlined curvy base give a look that’s distinctly recognisable as part of the Smeg 50’s style range. And if you like everything coordinated, you’ll be pleased to know there are plenty of other kitchen appliances in the range, from kettles to juicers and even coffee machines.

On the front of the blender there’s a dial to switch between the two blending speeds. But, notably it lacks an on/off switch. That’s because you have to push down on the cup to start blending. You then have to keep pushing down until you want it to stop, at which point you can let go. It’s worth bearing in mind that this won’t suit everyone, those who are particularly short or people with hand, wrist, or arm issues may struggle to keep it pushed down.

There are two cups included in the box and they share one blade assembly. The cups are made of a clear plastic called Tritan Renew, which is dishwasher safe and made from 50% recycled content. Both cups come with a two part lid; the drinking spout, and the top cover that has a looped handle as well as a silicone seal to stop any potential leaks.

Everything is very straightforward and it’s immediately obvious how it all goes together. You simply fill a cup with your ingredients, screw on the blades, invert the cup and push it down on the base. However, a quick flick through the instruction manual alerted me to some restrictions that I wasn’t expecting.

Firstly, I was surprised to read that the manual advises adding no more than four ice cubes to any one drink. It also states that hard ingredients should be a maximum of 1cm x 1cm. Oddly, there’s no mention of frozen ingredients, so I’m going to assume I can load it up with frozen berries. But there’s no chance of making pesto or using it to crush nuts, as it needs to be at least 50% liquid to blend effectively.

The other big restriction is that it says you can only blend for 60 seconds at a time and you must wait for 60 seconds before using it again. And since there’s not a timer on the blender, I’m going to have to keep an eye on the clock to make sure I don’t go over.

What’s it like to use?

For my first drink, I blended a breakfast smoothie from frozen banana chunks, almond milk, 3 tbsp oats and a scoop of vanilla protein powder. I blended it for 60 seconds on the higher of the two speeds to make sure the oats got completely broken down. The texture was like a lightly aerated milkshake, but there were some small gritty pieces of oat in the drink. So if you want a grit-free smoothie, you’d need to blitz it again.

The drinking spout is large, so you can glug even the thickest smoothies with ease. But when the outer lid is removed, I can’t help thinking it looks a bit like a baby's bottle - but maybe that’s just me!

Next I tried a carrot cake style smoothie that included a large grated carrot, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, a scoop of protein powder, 1 tbsp flax seeds, ice, and almond milk. I blended it for 60 seconds, but at the end I could still see flecks of unblended raisin and flax seed. However, as I mentioned above, the manual says that after 60 seconds of blending you have to leave it for 60 seconds, before you can blend again - which is super frustrating. 

Anyway, I followed the rules and waited 60 seconds before blitzing it again for another 60 seconds. At the end of this second blending cycle, I could still see unblended bits, but in all honesty I was too hungry and too impatient to go through the whole process of waiting 60 seconds before I could blend again. 

The smoothie had a thick, pulpy and fibrous texture from the carrot and flax seed. But it wasn’t until I got to the last few mouthfuls that I realised that virtually all of the raisins remained whole. They weren’t even cut in half! I can’t quite fathom how everything else got blitzed apart from the raisins, but it’s safe to say I won’t be adding whole raisins to any other drinks I make in this blender.

My next blend was a super thick spoonable smoothie bowl style smoothie. In fact, it ended up being too thick to comfortably drink out of the cup, so I did pour it into a bowl and eat it with a spoon. The ingredients were a whole avocado, 1 tbsp chocolate powder, 2 generous dessert spoons of peanut butter, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tbsp protein powder, 4 ice cubes and I topped it up with milk to the max line.

Once again I had to blend it on the higher speed for two 60 second bursts with a 60 second rest between them. And at the end, some chocolate powder remained stuck to the base of the cup, but it looked worse than it was. And aside from a hint of grittiness from the chia seeds, it was well mixed, thick and very creamy.

My final smoothie was a combination of frozen cherries, whole almonds, whole cashews, desiccated coconut, vanilla protein powder and coconut milk. And by this point I was generally blending all smoothies on the higher setting for two 60 second bursts.

The smoothie looked well blended, there were some pieces of cherry skin suspended in the drink, but otherwise it looked quite creamy. The texture was gritty though, I could feel lots of pieces of coconut that hadn’t been broken down and when I got to the bottom of the drink, there were some chunks of cashew and almond. But it was only really the last mouthful, so I wasn’t too bothered.

To check for leakage, I left the full cup on its side for a few hours and not a drop leaked out of the lid, so it should be safe in your gym bag or work bag. But the looped handle on top can be attached to the outside of your bag, with a carabiner or similar style clip, if you’d prefer to keep it upright.

Cleaning

The cups and lids can go in the dishwasher, which makes it easy to give them a thorough clean. Although as long as you wash them out soon after using, they’re not tricky to clean by hand either. The blade assembly is the only removable part that can’t go in the dishwasher, but I found that a quick rinse under the hot tap was enough to get it clean as long as I did it immediately after blending.

The base doesn’t tend to get dirty so it just needs a bit of wipe now and then to buff it up and keep it looking shiny. And while it adds a fun pop of colour to your kitchen, if you are planning to store it away, it won’t take up much space in a cupboard or a deep drawer.

How does it compare to other blenders?

At around £70 the Nutribullet 600 Series is a significantly cheaper alternative. Granted, it doesn’t add a colourful retro vibe to your kitchen, but if you can live without that, you’ll get a more powerful 600W motor. It only offers one blending speed though and you’ll still have to push down on the cup to blend.

The Ninja Blender with Auto IQ is currently the best personal blender in our round-up of the top-rated blenders. The RRP is £99 but it’s often discounted and at the time of writing it was available for £79, which makes it more like one of the best cheap blenders. Its 1000W motor is more than three times more powerful than the Smeg, meaning it’s a better choice for hard and frozen ingredients. Plus, with an on/off switch you don’t have to push down on the cup during blending, so it’s easier on your arms.

Should you buy the Smeg Personal Blender?

If you want to make pretty simple milkshakes or smoothies that don’t include tough or challenging ingredients, you’ll be fine with this blender. But if you like to make drinks with lots of ice, or if you’re looking for a high power blender capable of crushing nuts, seeds and creating the silkiest of smooth smoothies, then this won’t be the model for you.

Its colourful base and retro styling will be more appealing to some people than others. But it’s worth pointing out that this is an expensive personal blender and you’re paying for how it looks. So if you’re planning on keeping it in a cupboard, you could probably save some cash and get a more generic looking model that’s more powerful.

For many of us, blenders are no longer seen as a luxury kitchen appliance, and instead are part of our essential culinary staples. Modern blenders boast a range of modes and capabilities, enabling us to make smoothies, soups and sorbets with the same device. 

Magimix is a brand that already has a solid reputation when it comes to best blenders. The original Magimix Power Blender is up there with the top-rated blenders on the market, meaning there are high hopes for the Blender Power 3. Making smoothies, soup, and a range of desserts is supposedly made easy by the blender’s one touch buttons. It’s a device that does it all, and has a capacity ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 and 2 litres. The later models - the Power 4 and Power 5XL - have a further bump in size, and an increase in power from the 3’s 1000W.

But the Magimix Blender Power 3 comes with a high price tag of £180. This is steep even for a blender of this quality, so we wanted to see how it performs and whether it’s worth splurging on. I’m a keen smoothie drinker, but I’ve previously been limited to an old Breville blender that’s sat in my cupboard for years, so I jumped at the chance to review the Blender Power 3. In this review I put the product through its paces so you can make a well-informed decision about whether this blender is worth your cash.

Magimix Blender Power 3 product specs

• Size: 1.2 litres (also available in 1.8 and 2 litres)
• Dimensions: (H)385 x (L)165 x (D)165 mm
• Power: 1000W
• Settings: Stop, Auto, Pulse
• What’s in the box: Motor unit, glass jug, blade assembly and holder, watertight seal, safe-stir spatula, 70ml measuring cup
• Blending modes: Smoothie, Soup, Dessert, Ice, Cleaning

Who wrote this review?

First impressions 

The Magimix Blender Power 3 arrives in a box that can be lifted easily enough by one person. Alongside the blender’s components, there was also a Magimix recipe book. The book definitely elevates the experience of using the blender; aside from soup, smoothie, juice, and even milk recipes, it’s packed full of nutritional information, and each recipe comes with symbols to signify its health benefits. You can also download a free Magimix app that comes with plenty more recipes to boot.

Most of the packaging materials in the box unfortunately couldn’t be recycled; there were two polystyrene cutouts, and plastic wrapping for some of the blender’s parts. I also received the Blender Kit, which contains two BlendCups (700ml and 400ml), and a glass mill attachment for grinding spices and making purees. The manual indicates that certain foods and recipes will blend better with these attachments, but they are completely optional. 

Setting up the Blender Power 3 was relatively straightforward. No assembly was required other than to attach the jug to the motor unit and plug it in. The hard part was removing the blade assembly from the jug so it could be used with the other attachments. It seemed to be screwed so tightly in place I didn’t think I’d be able to get it off. One of the online Magimix tutorials showed that the blade holder could easily be moved if one hand was placed on the handle of the glass jug whilst the other hand twisted the blade off the top. After learning this trick I haven’t had trouble removing the blade attachment since.

Once the Blender Power 3 was sitting on my kitchen countertop, I was pretty pleased with how it looked. It is quite large, so might not be suitable for smaller culinary spaces, but it didn’t feel overly bulky or like an eyesore at all. The neutral silver and black colours blended nicely with the surroundings and I didn’t feel the need to put it away in a cupboard when it wasn’t being used.

What is the Magimix Blender Power 3 like to use? 

Using the Blender Power 3 couldn’t be easier. The pre-set programmes are smoothie, soup, ice, dessert, and cleaning, and there’s also the expert modes, which range in speed from 1 to 4. I mainly stuck to the pre-set programmes, as they took the guesswork out of using the blender; no need to figure out how long to blend ingredients for and how much power to use for different recipes, I could simply press the appropriate button with the assurance that the blender was doing everything for me.

Like most blenders, the Magimix Power 3 likes to make a din when it’s working. The faster and harder it blends, the more noise it makes, but I personally quite like knowing that the blender is doing its thing, and it doesn’t last more than a couple of minutes. It’s also not as noisy as other blenders I’ve used previously. 

 Making smoothies 

For me, a good smoothie is one in which all the ingredients have blended seamlessly together and I can’t taste any lumps and chunks when drinking it. I had hopes that the Blender Power 3 would be able to do this, and I wasn’t disappointed. All the smoothies I made were smooth and delicious, and as many as 7 or 8 ingredients were blended to an even consistency. 

The first couple of smoothies I made were my own recipes, as I wanted to know that I could combine multiple random ingredients together in the blender and get the desired effect every time. I used a mixture of frozen, refrigerated, wet and dry ingredients, and a lump-free, drinkable smoothie was created every time. I tried a recipe from the Magimix book as well, which was delicious. The smoothie mode of the blender makes everything very easy; it’s just a case of putting the ingredients in and pressing one button, and voila! One delicious smoothie coming right up. 

Making soup

I was probably most excited to try out the soup mode on the Blender Power 3, as previous blenders I’ve used weren’t large enough to make soup in. This wasn’t going to be a problem with the 1.2 litre capacity of the Power 3 though, and I liked that I could batch make soup to have for lunch throughout the week. I tried the Mum’s Soup recipe from the Magimix book first, followed by the Parsnip and Apple Soup recipe. Both were delicious, and I definitely plan on making them again in the future. 

The soup recipes in the Magimix book are easy to follow, consisting of only 4-5 steps in total. The ingredients do have to be prepped and then cooked on the hob before they can be blended, so it’s not a process that can be rushed through, but once the ingredients are ready to go in the blender, the soup is made in a couple of minutes. The soup mode blended the ingredients together perfectly, and didn’t leave behind any chunks of food, which was a concern considering how little time it took to blend. I’d recommend leaving the spatula in the jug whilst the ingredients blend. Aside from helping to create a completely even consistency, it prevents liquid from splashing out the top.

The only downside with making soup in the Blender Power 3 was that by the time I’d served the soup into bowls, it had cooled and needed reheating in the microwave. I like my soups to be piping hot, but the process of transferring the ingredients from the hob to the blender didn’t manage to maintain a high temperature. This is a minor issue though, and overall I was really impressed with how the soups turned out.

Using the Blender Kit attachments

The big plus of using the attachments from the Blender Kit is not having to use the big 1.2 litre jug every time I wanted to make something in the blender. The glass jug is heavy, and if it’s being washed by hand, it takes longer to clean. Though personally this isn’t enough of an inconvenience to warrant spending extra money on the attachments. The BlendCups are £50 and the glass mill attachment is £60, or they can be purchased together for £100, which isn’t cheap when you add it to the £180 spent on the blender.

In terms of using the attachments compared to the jug, the only difference is that they need to be held down when the machine is working. Thanks to the power of the blender, this isn’t required for long at all. The recipes in the Magimix book recommend a specific attachment for best results, but a few of them suggest either the BlendCup or the glass jug, and personally I couldn’t notice a difference between the two in terms of taste or texture.

I was impressed with the glass mill attachment, which is recommended for grinding whole foods like nuts. My almonds were chopped and ground to dust in as little as 15 seconds. This attachment is also recommended for making purées and baby food, but again, I wouldn’t say it’s necessary at all, as the glass jug is capable of blending whatever you put in there. 

Cleaning the Magimix Blender Power 3 

Cleaning the Blender Power 3 is really easy because all of the parts are dishwasher safe. I remove the rubber seal from the blade assembly and wash this by hand, as it’s not recommended to put rubber in the dishwasher. Just don’t make the mistake of forgetting to put the seal back on before you next use the blender - I did this once and the liquids in my smoothie dripped out the bottom of the jug. 

If you don’t have a dishwasher, cleaning the blender isn’t a huge chore still. The parts detach from each other easily, and the soup or smoothie ingredients soon rinse away with hot water and washing up liquid. Exercise a little caution when washing the blade assembly, as this is quite sharp. 

There’s also a cleaning mode, which the manual recommends using after each time you’ve made something in the blender. You simply need to fill the jug half full with warm water and a few drops of washing up liquid, and then set the automatic cleaning programme off. This will rinse the blender jug, but you may find you still need to go in with a cloth and clean off some leftover remnants of your smoothie or soup afterwards. 

 Should you buy the Magimix Blender Power 3?   

The Magimix Blender Power 3 could be well worth your cash if you’re looking for an appliance that blends just about anything you put in it. Whether you want to make a power smoothie with an unlimited number of ingredients, or a deliciously warming soup from an array of cooked vegetables, you can throw it all into the Blender Power 3 and rest assured it will create the consistency you’re looking for. My favourite thing about this blender is the one touch buttons. They make the blending process simple and uncomplicated. Just select your chosen mode, wait a couple of minutes, and job done - smoothie, soup, or dessert has been blended to the perfect consistency. 

The only caveat with this product is the price, but if you’re in the market to spend a few pennies on a good quality device that will serve you for years to come, the Blender Power 3 could be for you. I didn’t experience any issues when using it, other than the minor struggle of figuring out how to detach the blade assembly from the jug at first. Overall the blender is a good investment and will make living a healthier lifestyle much easier, and what better reason is there to make a purchase! 

A blender is a staple piece of kitchen kit, whether you’re a fair-weather home cook or seasoned enthusiast.

But the fact of the matter is the best blenders come with hefty price tags, easily reaching the £200 mark. Regardless of the longer-term price per use you might get out of it, that’s a fair whack of an upfront investment for what is undoubtedly a kitchen essential.

That's why, in a bid to find the gadgets that land in that sweet spot between expensive food processors and labour-intensive stick blenders, I’ve put several cheap blenders through their paces. Cheap is not usually a word with a good reputation, but in this case I've used it to mean affordable and still worthwhile, rather than throwaway tat.

Whizzing up smoothies, soups, sauces and dips at home, I paid special attention not only to the texture of the results but also how practical each was in terms of ease of use, cleaning and storage.

My top performing affordable blender after testing was the Russell Hobbs Desire Jug Blender (£59.99 at Amazon) but my full rundown of need-to-know products is below.

Quick list - the best cheap blenders

Best cheap blender overall

The large and robust glass jug makes this blender as great for soups as smoothies, I found – especially as it can handle large batches easily. It has really decent power for its relatively modest price tag too, with a 650W motor and durable-feeling stainless steel blades.

This one was really easy to clean – while the blade isn’t dishwasher safe (most other parts are) it does unscrew from the base, which was really helpful not only for washing, but also for collecting any food that had clung to it. Simple to use, it has two speed settings and a pulse function which are controlled by a dial. It saw to my smoothie with little effort, and a handy opening in the lid allowed us to add more liquid to the mix when things were looking too thick.

Best cheap blender for smoothies

Perhaps the best known smoothie-making brand out there, Nutribullet has a huge range of blenders. The 600 series remains one of the best value options because its motor-to-cup ratio offers identical torque to newer, more expensive iterations, without forcing consumers to pay for redundant speed presets.

The no-frills appliance is sleek and compact (although it’s not the smallest on this list) and is button-free. It only has one function – to blend at a speed of 20,000 rpm – but safe to say it carries out its sole duty effectively. I whizzed up ice and frozen ingredients easily, pouring out velvety smooth mixtures in less than a minute.

The blades are specially designed to extract all the goodness from each ingredient for smoothies (not leaving chunks behind in the cup), but because they’re so low to the base, I struggled to scrape out thicker mixtures like pesto from underneath them. That said, it still did a decent job on those nuts and herbs.

Best cheap blender for single portions

I loved how compact this blender is. It’s very unimposing to keep out on the worktop but will likely find a home for itself in even a crowded cupboard. Don’t mistake small for feeble, though: the 700W motor has real brawn. It comes with two blending cups – each with a single serve capacity, give or take – so if you’re usually whizzing up drinks or blending sauces pour une then it’s ideal.

So intuitive is this blender to use that I was drinking my first smoothie before I’d even thought to look at the instructions. There are no buttons here: just push the cup down into the base to blend. This did mean I couldn’t get on with anything else while I was blending, but as the blades are sharp and motor punchy, it only took a few seconds to get smooth results. Plus, this makes pulsing easy, if you’re going for a chunkier texture.

Best cheap blender for hot blending

This blender’s thick glass jug is quite heavy but feels very robust. Large enough to hold several portions of food or drink, it’s designed be used with hot and cold ingredients without danger of cracking. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe, along with the blades and lid. So there was no need to be concerned when I was pouring in hot stock and veg to make soup.

Given the generous capacity of this two-speed blender, it’s still relatively petit and looks sleek too. I was impressed with the noise levels and lack of vibration when it was blending – there was no movement at all in the base as the blades rotated. That said, it didn’t work quite as well with thicker mixtures as it did with smoothies – my large batch of hummus took some encouragement and I needed to scrape the sides of the jug down a few times, but I was happy with the final texture. The blade component can be unscrewed from the bottom of the jug too, which helps with cleaning. This is one of the chunkiest appliances on this list, which is something to consider if you struggle for space in your kitchen.

Best cheap compact blender

If you’re not keen to commit to a chunky investment or aren’t sure how much you’ll realistically use your blender, this Breville model is a great way to test the waters. At just £23, you get more than you pay for here, I think.

I was impressed at just how small the blender is, and found it really easy to use. There’s one button which needs to be held down to blend, and while that makes it a bit more hands-on to use with than some other models, it does the job pretty quickly. Fruit and ice cubes were blended into a smooth consistency with no complaints from the relatively small 350W motor, and given that none of the blades sit flush with the base, thicker mixtures were easy to scrape out, too.

Best cheap blender under £30

For £30, you can’t really go wrong with this no-frills, hardworking blender. It might not have the most powerful motor of all the options on this list, but it turned frozen fruit into a silky smoothie with no visible effort. The unit stays pretty still while the blades are running, and although the motor is less powerful than others on this list, I didn’t notice a stark difference in terms of blending time or noise.

I found this blender, like the others on this list, works best for liquids but can still be used for more dense mixtures too. I used it to pulse some lemony mushy peas for my Friday night fish and chips and it did a good job – although it was tricky to collect the food from underneath the blades, as they sit very close to the base. It has one of the largest footprints of the blenders on this list, but that’s a fair trade-off for the wallet-friendly price tag, I think.

How I tested the best cheap blenders

As part of our commitment to how we test at Ideal Home, I assessed these blenders by using them at home over the course of several weeks. They were put to the test with fruit and vegetable smoothies – which is one of the most common uses for compact and affordable blenders like these – as well as coarser substances like hummus and pesto. Everything that was dishwasher safe was flung in my machine for a cycle or two as well, to make sure it emerged in good nick.

During testing, I considered factors such as each blender's size, looks, ease of use, and efficacy. You can read more about exactly who tested these blenders below.

FAQs

How to choose the best cheap blender

Although all of these blenders rep solid value for money, there are a few things to consider when choosing which one to fork out for.

Cost per use

Firstly, it makes sense that the more you’ll use it, the more of an investment it’s worth. So if you’ll be employing its service on the regular, don’t be put off by a slighly higher price tag – think about the cost per use to get the best value. The more costly models often have the more powerful and robust motors.

Intended uses

What you intend to use it for is another key question. Are you all about the smoothies? And are you whizzing them up just for you, or for the whole family? For drinks, the more compact blenders will do the job perfectly – there’s no need for multiple functions or to find room for a hefty appliance. But if you want to make silky smooth soups in big batches, or chunky sauces and dressings, you might want a model with larger blending jugs and multiple speeds.

Size

It’s also important to think about the size of your blender. Worktop space often comes at a premium, but if your kit won’t fit in a cupboard or is used so regularly it’d be going in and out like it’s doing the Hokey Cokey, that’s where it’ll end up living. So consider whether you can make space somewhere for a larger appliance, or if a smaller model would better suit.

Is it worth investing in a cheap blender?

At Ideal Home, we very much believe you get what you pay for when it comes to kitchen appliances. That being said, we know that not everyone's budget is big and buying a cheap blender might be the only option available.

In short, I think that a cheap blender will be perfectly serviceable if you want to produce liquids without being too fussed on getting a very specific texture. Very expensive blender brands such as Vitamix can give very specific control over the finished product while blenders around the £50 mark cannot.

What a cheap blender should be able to do is break down soft non-coarse foods (like bananas and avocados) with a liquid. But if it's blitzing up something as delicate as a nut butter you're after, you will need to spend more.

Are you tempted to invest in any of the best cheap blenders for your kitchen? With these picks, you can spend less and still get quality.

The best blender is the kitchen appliance that can help you add more fruit and vegetables to your diet. Available in a variety of sizes, including those with single-serve cups as well as traditional jug designs, a good blender is invaluable for providing different textures in the food you eat and drink at home.

Not sure which blender is right for you? Worry not, as every one of the best blenders in our guide has been tried, tested and extensively reviewed by the Ideal Home team to aid you on your journey. By reviewing how each blender fares when making smoothies, soup, sauces and even frozen treats, we've got the insights you need into which one to buy, including the low down on which is best for hot mixes, which is the best value, and which will suit a family kitchen.

While our top-rated blender on this list is the very pricey Vitamix Ascent Series A2500i Blender (which is heavily commended by professional chefs), there are plenty of affordable options to browse on this list too, all of which won't cost the earth to run, as well as a dedicated guide we've curated to the best cheap blenders under £100. To see the top-rated blenders on the market, just keep reading.

Best blender overall

If you ask a professional chef which blender brand they love, chances are they'll say the brand Vitamix. It's a staple of restaurants and smoothie bars, but it's also suitable for home use. And when our expert reviewer Helen tried it, she found that it definitely had the power to match its huge price tag.

The first thing to know is that although this blender packs a serious punch, it's not going to cause you a headache to use. The controls are simple despite this product's huge amount of ability.

Helen's first test of this blender was a smoothie with some coarse ingredients chucked in (including whole pitted dates frozen banana and peanuts). In just 50 seconds everything was adequately liquidised without the need to rearrange the jug. Her second full jug smoothie of frozen fruits went similarly swimmingly.

Other highlights from Helen's testing included whizzing up a delectable hot chocolate, a soup using the hot blending setting, burgers and peanut butter (which she said was as close to the perfect texture as she's ever achieved). Helen's final verdict was that this Vitamix is 'undeniably powerful, yet effortlessly simple'.

The one downside that knocked half a star off here was that the blending process is so powerful that it can create excess heat even on blends you'd prefer cold. This is usually avoided by just how quickly this blender works, but it's something to bear in mind before investing.

Our Vitamix 2500i review has the full details.

Best affordable blender

It's fair to say that Nutribullet is probably the nation's favourite blender provider and this, the 600 series, is the brand's bestseller. Used by uni students and busy parents alike, there's a simple charm to the design of this single-serve cup blender that gets the job done.

Our reviewer and resident home economist Helen McCue saw many upsides to picking this as your blender of choice. She used it to blend salsa, a berry smoothie and a carrot cake smoothie, pancake batter and the mix for a turmeric latte. Her take, after all of those tests, was that this is a good choice with 'enough blending power to satify most people's smoothie making needs.'

It lost marks during more complex blending jobs - jobs that the Vitamix in #1 would definitely excel at. This Nutribullet struggled with the fibrous nature of carrots in a smoothie, and also failed to properly slice away at raisins meaning that they ended up sinking to the bottom of the cup almost whole.

So, for very challenging blends it probably won't be sufficient. But for everyday smoothies and sauces for cooking, it can put on a very passable performance. The design, which features two interchangeable single-serve cups (though these are puzzlingly lacking lids) is also unbelievably convenient for using in a kitchen. Plus, with a price tag of around the £60 mark, it's affordability can't be overlooked.

Our Nutribullet series 600 blender review has the full details.

Best blender for hot liquids

If you're on the hunt for a blender that can do more than just smoothies, then the Ninja Foodi HB150UK Blender and Soup Maker has the versatile edge you're looking for. It's a multipurpose blender that can make - you guessed it - soups, sauces and more. Even our hard-to-please expert reviewer Helen was seriously impressed – and she's always looking out for where appliances might not be delivering on their promise of value for money. Ninja is a brand know for its capable, easy to use appliances, and this star blender is no exception.

Though there are definitely cheaper iterations of the best soup makers on the market, our expert reviewer and in-house home economist Helen found that the Ninja Foodi could move from task to task with unparalleled ease, from crushing ice to making nut butter from scratch. Her soup-making test was a standout highlight, with a 30-minute program on this blender which chops, blends, stirs and heats for you. Helen found her resulting butternut squash soup was absolutely delicious, and it could be kept warm for up to 60 minutes in the Foodi.

Helen's biggest downside to using this blender was that the capacity makes just three portions of soup at a time. Lovers of sticking a mucky blender jug into their dishwasher will also be disappointed, as the blades need to be washed by hand. Plus, if it's affordability you need, checking out Ninja Kitchen discount codes may also make the deal a little sweeter.

Our Ninja Foodi Blender and Soup Maker review has the full details.

Best quiet blender

Putting off making your morning smoothie for fear of waking the whole household, or even the neighbours? The Super Q is here to save the day. While blending is never going to be a quiet activity we found that during testing this speedy, commercial-grade machine did its best to dampen the usual racket, and, importantly, the sound it does make is less of a jarring whine – because it’s often the pitch that’s a blender bugbear as much as the volume.

However, it’s not just noise suppression that made this blender an asset when we reviewed it– it’s also the breadth of programmes, versatility and efficiency. In the box you’ll find a good-sized two-litre jug with a lid that clips firmly into place, a 700ml cup with removable blades and a lid that you can use to blend shakes or smoothies, tamper, spatula, and a sleek silver base unit.

The controls are devilishly simple to get the hang of – there are five programmes at the push of a button, such as green smoothie, frozen dessert or soup (designed to heat up ingredients rather than blend already hot soup), plus a manual dial for ramping up through 12 speed settings and an LCD screen showing count up or count down times.

What’s especially clever though, is that the jug is compatible with the separate Vac Q pump, which enables you to suck the air out before blending. In our tests, this resulted in far less froth in a fruit and veg smoothie and noticeably velvety butternut squash soup, heated in less than six minutes (although this was noisy).

A final reason to love it is its frozen food and ice-crushing abilities – it transformed cubes into snow in about 30 seconds (the programme lasts a minute), which was easily scraped out. The only downside is the price – but if other blenders are leaving you disappointed or deafened, the Super Q is a superhero solution.

Our Sage the Super Q blender review has the full details.

Best professional grade blender

Vitamix is undoubtedly the blender brand of the pros, a fact we consolidated in our feature on whether you need an expensive blender (according to chefs, the answer is yes).

So, you know the brand has a pros seal of approval. Within that, the Ascent 2300i is a trailblazing Vitamix, which is how you know it's the real deal. It can be used to make your own butter (no churning by hand, yet all of the wow factor at your next dinner party), dips, nut butters, mayonnaise, non-dairy milks, hot soup from scratch without a pan in sight, bread and pasta dough, wholegrain flours, baby food and frozen desserts – essentially, almost anything you could make in one of the best food processors.

When our reviewer tried it out, she found that it was built with a more durable construction than you’d find with any other blender brand. There’s a large base to find space for in your kitchen, plus a two-litre plastic jug with a wide spout that manages to be both lightweight yet sturdy and a secure push-on lid that prevents leaks.

And while there aren’t any programmes, the Ascent 2300i doesn’t lack options – 10 speeds plus a pulse button mean you can scroll between gentle liquefying and pulverisation.

Other points of difference are a comprehensive recipe book, a tamper to nudge frozen ingredients towards its blades and an on-off switch so it’s not accidentally flicked into life. In testing, it made a smoothie that was completely lump and fleck-free in about a minute, staying steady on the worktop even at the highest speed. Its count-up timer on the front came in especially handy for keeping an eye on blending times.

Similarly, it took a minute to blend cooked ingredients into smooth soup and 6 mins 30 to blend and heat the result using the friction of its blades. A few pulses were all that was required to crush ice, and it cleaned easily after messy jobs by using water and washing-up liquid, with the mixture even reaching the lid for a thorough clean. The Vitamix Ascent scored a rare 5 stars during testing, and is worth every penny if you want the best of the best.

Our Vitamix Ascent Series A3500i Blender review has the full details.

Best portable blender

The clue is in the name with the Nutribullet Portable Blender, which won't quite cut it in a family home, but will excel for one person to use for breakfast smoothies or before the gym. It may be the smallest option on this list, but our expert reviewer and home economist Helen McCue found that it was certainly mighty, with the ability to deal with almost all of the ingredients she threw at it.

Helen blitzed up tasty, and well textured smoothies in this blennder, as well as dressings and batters for cooking. The impressive results of those tests mean that she thought that this blender would also work well in a campervan or camping setting. The small size of it means that it's certainly an easy addition to your home, or car.

Performance wise, the bottom line with this blender after testing is that it won't entirely liquify tougher ingredients, like hard nuts, but for easier blends and small drinks portions, this blender will impress. It's affordable, compact and well-made, which means it very much has our seal of approval.

Our Nutribullet Portable Blender review has the full details.

Best blender for families

How much blending is too much? If you’re the sort of person who feels like you’re always second-guessing your appliance or over-processing, meet the Power Blender.

It comes with five auto programmes (one of which is a time-saving self-cleaning setting) that help take the effort out of blitzing ice, smoothies, desserts and soups, alongside four speeds plus pulse for when you want more control.

During testing, our reviewer Helen thought that the Magimix Power Blender was a little pricey given that it didn't come equipped with any accessories like personal blending cups.

On the whole during the review process she did find the blender to be of a high quality however, with a thick glass jug that felt like it might have a longer life in your home compared to other options on the market.

Helen did find that this blender struggled to perfectly liquidize on occasion and that tiny seeds may get caught in your final product. But on the whole, she was impressed with the calibre of blender on offer from Magimix here and thought it was adept at churning out soups of a good consistency as well as ice and unseeded frozen fruit with ease. All in all, it's a solid option if you need an all-rounder and you're picky about quality.

Our Magimix Power Blender review has the full details.

Best personal blender

Our reviewer Helen was skeptical that the Smeg Personal Blender might be all looks and no substance and was pleasantly surprised to find that it's a perfectly capable blender, with easy-to-use controls and a passable amount of power.

Fundamentally, this blender wasn't quite tough enough to blitz up super tough ingredients, as Helen found when she blended a cherry and coconut smoothie. Helen reported 'The texture was gritty though, I could feel lots of pieces of coconut that hadn’t been broken down and when I got to the bottom of the drink, there were some chunks of cashew and almond.'

However, in other less challenging tests, Helen found that this blender performed well as with her creation of a super thick spoonable smoothie bowl. While the chia seeds in this one weren't perfectly dealt with, she reported the end result was 'well mixed, thick and very creamy.'

We think this is the prettiest blender out there, and if you do too, you'll be glad to know you can pick it up in an array of different colours, with the retro-style base matching in design to all of the other sought-after Smeg appliances out there. With an RRP of £109.95 there's no getting away from the fact that this blender is expensive, but if it's about to be pride of place on your countertop, and you don't mind steering clear of very fibrous ingredients, then you might just find that it's worth it.

Our Smeg Personal Blender review has the full details.

Best small blender

If you're looking for the best blender for smoothies, it's a good idea to consider a personal blender. Personal blenders are designed for taking drinks on the go, and can blitz up ice, frozen fruit and protein powder into smooth and creamy drinks.

The Ninja Blender with Auto-IQ BN495UK is a smart choice. During testing our reviewer loved how it has two smart settings that use Auto-IQ to tackle even the toughest ingredients, it can chop through chunks of frozen spinach, banana, and ice to make thick milkshakes and creamy smoothies.

Personal blenders are far from versatile. This option comes with two 700ml cups that have lids for taking on the go, but nothing larger for blending family-sized dishes. What they do offer though is some seriously high powered blending power and a smaller footprint for your kitchen counter. We loved this model when we put it to the test, so if you're after a personal blender, take a look. Plus, if you make use of Ninja Kitchen discount codes you should be able to pick this up for a song.

Our Ninja Auto-IQ BN495UK Blender review has the full details.

How we test blenders

As part of our commitment to how we test products at Ideal Home, we reviewed each and every one of these blenders by using them at home over the course of several weeks, or sometimes months.

The testing process begins when each blender arrives at the door, with our reviewers judging the packaging (and eco-friendly credentials) of every product.

Then, we get onto assembly and working out the standout features of each one. When it gets down to the most important bit (putting recipes to the test) we make sure every member of our test team tries out a smoothie or soup (if possible) in each one, as well as trying out any other special functions (like the ability to make nut butter in the Vitamix). The use and ease of cleaning also played an important part in our overall rankings.

When scoring, we took into account each item’s look and size, as well as ease of use and how quick and effective we found it. Price was another consideration, as was the cleaning process. We’re not about the false economy either, so we were looking for blenders that looked and felt robust and like they’d last the distance. You can read more about exactly who tested these blenders below.

How to choose the right blender

1. Check how powerful your blender is

The wattage can work as a guide but higher doesn’t always mean a better blender. Take into account additional features that it uses to process food thoroughly, such as jug and blade design. A blender’s power can sometimes be displayed in horsepower (746W = 1hp) instead of watts. While basic liquidisers sufficed with two blades, most modern jug blenders will have at least four, sometimes with mini blades nestled around the stack. They’re usually angled, which helps them to whisk up pieces from the bottom of the jug and create a vortex to drag blender contents down from the top.

2. Check blender settings and speeds

Basic models tend to have just a few speeds while more feature-packed models will have several. Both will usually feature a pulse option for quick bursts of speed. You can also find blenders with programmes for blitzing specific foods, such as soup, ice crushing, smoothie, pureé and frozen desserts. A cleaning programme is another handy option, allowing you to clean the jug in-situ by running it filled with water and washing-up liquid.

3. Check blender materials

The blender jug itself will be made from either glass or plastic. Glass tends to be sturdier and less likely to become scratched but a good quality BPA-free plastic, such as Tritan, is a smart choice. This is because it’s strong yet lighter than glass, which can make all the difference if you’re lifting a heavy jug of soup. Jugs vary in total capacity and working capacity (ie how much they can safely blend without the contents trying to escape). This is usually lower for hot liquids. A 1.6-litre jug should cover most everyday blending but to be able to get the most of out of your blender, look for around two litres.

5. Check for extras

The lids may include small measuring cups. Some blenders have additional milling and grinding blades (which can be used for seeds, nuts and sometimes coffee beans), mini containers for mincing smaller amounts of food, personal blender cups and even food processor bowls. Another useful blender accessory is a tamper. This fits through the lid of the blender so you can move solid chunks of food, such as frozen fruit, towards the blades.

FAQs

Are blenders easy to clean?

You’ll get more use out of a blender that’s easy to clean, so look for those where all the removable parts are dishwasher safe. Some blender jugs will split apart so that the blades can be safely cleaned separately and more thoroughly. If the jug has fixed blades, it can be difficult to clean around them by hand, so always use a brush. Our how to clean a blender guide has more tips.

Are blenders noisy?

All blenders will be noisy, though some more than most. The pitch can differ from blender to blender, too, meaning that some noises, while not louder, are more annoying than others. If possible, try before you buy.

Will my small kitchen accommodate a blender?

Blender cables can be substantial, so look for machines with built-in storage to prevent the flex getting out of hand. Unless you’re buying a machine that you’re happy to have on display on the worktop, your blender will probably live in a cupboard. If so, choose one that can be easily dismantled, is light enough for you to lift in and out and won’t take up too much storage room.