Pros: Usually simpler to use. Blending cup is ideally sized for one portion, and doubles up as a travel mug - saving hassle and washing up.

The best full-size blender brands consistently make well-built, convenient-to-use, and versatile products, meaning they can handle a variety of recipes, including smoothies, shakes, soups, and dips. Vitamix, Wolf Gourmet, and Breville are good high-end blender brands. Ninja and KitchenAid are among our most recommended brands for full-size blenders in the mid and budget price ranges. For personal blenders, it's important that the design and performance work well for smoothies. Ninja is also among the best personal blender brands, and so is NutriBullet. If you're looking for a budget-friendly blender, you can find more recommendations on our list of the best budget blenders.

Customer reviews

Appliances that are still working can be reused. If your old blender is still working, donate it to charity (many offer collections), sell it, or take it to your local council recycling/reuse centre. Ice crushing More advanced models sometimes have an ice crush setting for making cold smoothies or frozen drinks. If your blender isn’t suitable for crushing ice, it can blunt the blades.

If you’re struggling to get rid of any stubborn stains, create your cleaning paste using one tablespoon of baking soda and mix it with one teaspoon of white vinegar. You can add this solution to the stains using a clean scrubbing brush or a clean toothbrush. Insulated containers Some models come with insulated drinks containers designed to keep soups warm - and smoothies cool - on the go. A handy extra, but they are usually found on more expensive models only. Functions: How many speed settings? On top of blending, are there any other functions, such as pulse, crushing ice etc? Any pre-set functions to make things such as soups and smoothies? Auto-clean?If you're strapped for countertop space then a blender can sometimes even be used as a food processor. When we investigated whether or not can a blender be used a food processor we found that hybrid blenders that come with a food processor attachment could be a solution to most food you'd be wanted to make. Which blender is best for smoothies? As with similar smoothie-maker style blenders, it's not suited to making condiments like mayonnaise, as there's no way to add ingredients while the blades are spinning to ensure they emulsify together. It was also one of the noisiest blenders we've tested too. Our expert guide to choosing a jug blender, juicer or smoothie maker explains the pros and cons of each in more detail. Blenders vs soup makers Large pulse and start/stop buttons make for uncomplicated control, and Hamilton Beach simplifies additional options by dividing its control dial into two halves: the left half dedicated to the aforementioned programmed modes and the right half for adjusting variable speeds. A large red LED display takes the guesswork out of keeping tabs on elapsed time or time remaining, depending on selected setting. There’s a measuring cap for incorporating ingredients while mixing at lower speeds, and the lid includes an ergonomic grip that improves the chances you’ll remove it smoothly without splatter.

But do you need a traditional jug blender or would a mini blender such as the Nutribullet suit you better? And what features are really useful to have?

FAQ

Whether you opt for a personal blender or a traditional jug blender, you shouldn't need to compromise on quality of blending, as long as you choose a good model. Below, we explain the pros and cons of each type to help you to decide which is best for you. Mini blenders When shopping for a new blender, you'll want to take several factors into account, from the type of blender and specific features you need to the size of the blender and the counterspace you have available. It depends on what you want a blender for. Deciding on what type of blender you need is a good place to start—we have a guide for that purpose here. Some important considerations include whether you usually blend single or multiple servings, if you make a variety of recipes or mostly blend smoothies and other drinks, and whether or not you want to blend hot ingredients.

Personal/Smoothie blenders are perfect for fruit smoothies, milkshakes and powdered drinks. The mixing container doubles as a travel jar, so they're excellent for athletes and commuters alike. They're also smaller (and less expensive) than conventional and premium blenders. Sports lids These fit onto personal blending cups once you've made your smoothie, transforming them into travel mugs. Useful if you want to take your smoothie into work or to the gym. The most common sign it’s time to replace your blender is that it stops working. You may also notice that your blender is slowing down, taking longer to blend or food is not coming out with as smoothly as they used to. If you bring it in for a repair and are quoted a price that’s more than 50% of the cost of a new unit, you’re better off buying a replacement. Blender jug Plastic is lighter but can absorb odours and get scratched over time. Glass jugs are sturdier and look more upmarket, but can be very heavy when full. You'll pay more for high-quality plastics such as BPA-free Tritan, which is extra strong, light and looks like glass, but offers the best of both worlds.

All Reviews

All blenders make some noise, but the roar of a super loud blender can make it much less appealing to use. The Wolf Gourmet Pro-Performance is quieter than the quietest Vitamix blender we've tested (the Vitamix A3500), so it's a great option if the noise level is a priority. It's not as well-built and produces worse results when crushing ice or making nut butter. Still, overall, it offers a versatile performance. It's fantastic at processing fibrous ingredients like kale, broccoli, and fruit for recipes like smoothies, soups, and sauces. The Magimix Power Blender surrounded by ingredients to make a smoothie (Image credit: TechRadar) How to choose the best blender for you To compare each blender, we’ve spent hours in the kitchen preparing bowlfuls of mayonnaise while blending pineapple, spinach, and Greek yogurt into a smoothie. As well as assessing how smooth the sauce and smoothie are, we’re also looking for ingredients that are well-combined without any curdling and whether there is residue trapped under the blade or if the elements have leaked from the base lid during blending. For all the pros and cons of these appliances, head to our full feature on Blenders vs. juicers: what’s the difference? How do I clean a blender? Milling/grinding blade Some models will have an extra jug and blades for drier jobs, such as grinding coffee beans or nuts.