Nothing affects your health more than what you eat. Yoga and exercise are great, but if you’re not eating healthy foods, you will not be healthy. The problem everyone inevitably runs into is that wholesome foods don’t taste very good without time-consuming preparation. Having a high-performance blender in your home totally changes all of that.
Imagine spending two minutes throwing fresh fruits and vegetables into your blender in the morning, pressing a button, and seconds later having a delicious and highly nutritious smoothie ready to go. With some models you don’t even need to pour it into a glass; just turn the jar over, screw off the blade, screw on a to-go lid and you’re ready to walk out the door with a healthy breakfast in hand.
Protein shakes and superfood smoothies are great, but a high-performance blender can do much more. They can replace so many of your counter-top appliances that they’re often worth the cost just to reduce the clutter of your kitchen.
A great blender is a boon to the home cook. Guests at your dinner parties will be wowed by the creaminess of your soups. More serious cooks and bakers can grind meat, mill flour, make pesto and other sauces, and make healthy and delicious nut butters.
Home bartenders and mixologists will be amazed at the difference in their daiquiris and margaritas. High-performance blenders can literally turn ice into snow, meaning no more chunks of ice at the bottom of your cocktail. And kids can enjoy snow-cones in the summer with sweetened syrup or healthy juices.
What to look for in a blender?
Shopping for a high-performance blender can seem overwhelming. While the health and convenience are certainly worth the cost, the high price tag makes it a significant investment and you’ll want to be sure you make the right decision for your needs before you buy. Here’s what to keep in mind when shopping for a blender and comparing models:
- Price. This is obviously the first concern. You’ve got to decide on your budget. Once you’ve narrowed it down to what’s in your price range, you’ll be ready to look at some of the specs.
- Warranty. Another major factor is what kind of warranty the manufacturer gives. This can range from less than one year for the less expensive models, to up to eight years for the top-of-the-line products. This can also affect your budget decision. For example, $500 for a blender can seem outrageous, but if there are multiple years covered by the warranty, you’re getting a great product for the equivalent of cents per day!
- Look. While blenders will fit in your kitchen cabinets, most people find themselves using their blender so much that they never leave the counter-top. Make sure the look of the blender goes with your kitchen design. You’re most likely used to a glass jarred blender. The products we recommend all have BPA-free plastic jars which are actually more durable over the long term than glass.
- Power. Generally, the more power you need, the more you’ll need to pay. If you’re mostly making smoothies, you won’t need as much power as if you will be doing nut butters or milling almonds into flour.
- Easy-to-clean. If cleaning up after your superfood smoothie is a huge chore, you’ll quickly stop making them, therefore it’s essential to choose a blender that’s easy to clean. All five of the models we’ve selected for this list make cleanup a breeze.
It’s best to keep your blender’s jar out of the dishwasher, but that doesn’t mean hand washing is necessary: just fill your blender halfway with water, add a few drops of dish soap and blend for ten seconds. Then rinse and drain. Some models even have a dedicated cleaning mode.
We’ve selected what we feel are the five best high-performance blender models. No matter your needs, one of these should fit the bill.
Blendtec Total Blender
Blendtec Total BlenderOur Rating: 5/5
The Total Blender’s 1560 watt motor offers some serious mixing power. Six pre-programmed cycles tell the blender when to speed up, slow down, and stop, giving you consistent results every time for all of your recipes.
The jar is the WildSide Jar, a square edged pitcher with a fifth side that gives the blender a total blending vortex, meaning no more dry protein powder stuck to the sides.
It also comes with the Twister Jar, a smaller jar whose lid scrapes the sides when you turn it while blending – great for thick hummus or nut butter. A spatula and cookbook round out the package, and it comes with an industry-leading manufacturer’s limited warranty.
There are no real cons with this model. It is quite loud but that’s only to be expected with a motor this powerful. See our full Blendtec review for more information. Some consumers don’t like how the blade is fixed to the bottom of the jars.
Cleaning should be quick and easy if you just blend some water and dish soap after use, but if you allow the contents to dry inside, you’ll need to reach in and clean under the blades. The Total Blender is an all around solid buy that anyone will be happy with.
See more reviews and current price…
Ninja Ultima Blender (BL810)
Ninja Ultima Blender (BL810)Our Rating: 4/5
At around half the price of the high-end models, the Ninja offers a surprising amount of blending bang for your buck. The dial gives 10 speed options and the switch allows you to switch it on or manually pulse at all 10 speeds.
The 72 oz blender pitcher features their Dual Stage Blending technology, like a traditional blender but with a cylinder in the middle with extra blades higher up that ensure your ingredients will be totally crushed and blended.
Smoothie fans will love the Nutri Ninja Cups with Sip and Seal lids. Simply add your ingredients to the 16 oz cup, screw on the blade, blend, flip it over, remove the blade and screw on the lid and you have a delicious smoothie to go.
The Ninja can keep up with blenders that are double the price and match them task for task. The drawback is the inner workings, which feature some cheaper plastic parts that will wear down over time. The warranty reflects this fact. For anyone looking for an entry-level high-performance blender, the Ninja is perfect. Those who plan on using theirs for years to come should look to higher-end models.
See more reviews and current price…
Vitamix 5200 Series
Vitamix 5200 SeriesOur Rating: 5/5
If there’s a Rolls-Royce for this appliance, many would argue this is the brand. It seems to be the most cited, even more so than Blendtec.
The Vitamix is the perfect blender for serious home chefs. The primary jar is a 64 oz. Wet Blade Container, and it also includes a 32 oz. Dry Blade jar. Anyone looking to grind grains, nuts or beans into flour will love this feature.
Also included are various cookbooks and a cooking class on DVD. The Vitamix is a serious high-performance blender comparable to what you’d find in professional kitchens, in fact you may even see this actual model in restaurant kitchens.
The Vitamix is the top-of-the-line model in high-performance blenders for home use, and the price tag reflects it. It is one of the most expensive products on this list, still, for serious home cooks the price will be worth it.
If you plan on mostly making smoothies with an occasional sauce or soup, the Vitamix may be too much blender for your needs. Last we checked, the warranty was shorter than Blendtec. Confirm current length prior to purchase.
See more reviews and current price…
Magic Bullet NutriBullet Pro 900
Magic Bullet NutriBullet Pro 900Our Rating: 3.5/5
Lots of consumers are looking for a blender almost exclusively for smoothies, but find that regular blenders leave them chewing their green smoothies.
They don’t need to spend over $400 on a high-performance blender, but want enough power to liquify their kale leaves and crush their frozen blackberries. The NutriBullet is the perfect middle ground for these consumers.
The jar is a travel cup with a convenient travel lid that makes smoothies on the go a breeze.
The 900 watt motor is powerful enough to crush ice, but the NutriBullet will come up short when trying some of the tougher jobs that other high-performance blenders can do.
Still, for smoothie lovers and protein shake drinkers, the NutriBullet offers the perfect amount of blending power at a great price. The one drawback is the warranty, which is rather short.
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Breville BBL910XL Boss
Breville BBL910XL BossOur Rating: 5/5
Another great all around model, the Boss will get any job done. Five pre-programmed functions allow one touch blending modes for smoothie, green smoothie, frozen dessert, soup, and pulse/ice crush.
Like the other blenders near this high price point, the Boss can do any simple task you’d expect of your blender, plus the heavy duty work to mill grains, grind meat and make nut butters.
The Boss comes with a flexible spatula and a cookbook, and like the Vitamix, it features one of the best manufacturer warranties in the space. Anyone looking for a high-performance blender for any job will not be disappointed by the Boss.
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Buying
All five of these models offer great value for the money. Eating healthy doesn’t need to be a chore. With a great blender, it actually becomes easier than snacking on junk food.
Green smoothies, superfood smoothies, protein shakes and so much more will be so easy to make anytime. Find out for yourself how easy it is to eat delicious and nutritious meals when you have a high-performance blender in your kitchen.