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Best Blender for Smoothies and Milkshakes in 2023
If you’re looking for the best blender for smoothies and milkshakes, then you’ve come to the right place. Our team of experts has tested a variety of blenders and compiled a list of the 10 best blenders for milkshakes and smoothies.
We’ve taken into account factors such as power, speed settings, durability, design, ease of use, and price. We want to make sure that these blenders will be able to handle any task you throw at them.
Whether you’re a smoothie enthusiast or a milkshake lover, these blenders will surely satisfy your needs. So, if you’re searching for the best blender that is suitable for milkshakes, smoothies, and other tasks, look no further than our list of the 10 best blenders.
Our Top Picks
We have researched and compiled a list of the top-rated blenders for milkshakes and smoothies. So, you can be sure you’re getting the best value for your money. We are excited to share our top picks with you and help you find the perfect blender for your smoothies and milkshakes.
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How We Tested and Picked
We pride ourselves on providing you with reliable and accurate information, which is why we put each blender through a rigorous testing process.
To test each blender, we put them to the ultimate test by blending a variety of smoothies and milkshakes. During the blending process, we noted the consistency and uniformity of each blend and tested how well they blended frozen fruit and handled solid ingredients like ice. Also, we noticed the speed, power, blending time as well as their ease of use and cleaning.
In addition to our testing, we also considered customer reviews and feedback. Just because we want to make sure that our top picks are not only loved by us but also by other users who have experienced them firsthand. We only looked for blenders that consistently received positive reviews and had a track record of satisfied customers.
With all this information, we were able to confidently choose our top picks for the best blenders for smoothies and milkshakes. These blenders stood out from the rest in terms of performance, quality, and value.
Best Budget Portable Blender: Hamilton Beach
This Hamilton Beach Budget Portable Blender is perfect for those who are on the go but still want to enjoy their favorite milkshakes and smoothies wherever they are.
One of the standout features of this blender is its 14 oz. BPA-free travel jar. It is the perfect size for single servings and fits most cup holders. So, you can take your blended creations with you on the road. The included travel lid ensures that there are no spills or messes along the way.
This blender is equipped with durable stainless steel blades that can blend through ice, frozen fruits, and even leafy greens. It delivers smooth and creamy results every time, giving you the perfect texture for your milkshakes and smoothies.
Cleanup of the blender is a breeze as the blending jar, blades, and travel lid are all dishwasher safe. With an easy one-touch blending button, this blender is incredibly simple to use. Just load up your ingredients, press the button, and let the blender do its magic.
But one thing to mention is that the blade assembly is fixed to the blender jar and cannot be disassembled for cleaning. So, if the blade or blender jar breaks, there’s no choice but to throw the whole thing in the trash. Moreover, the motor base is unlikely to survive being knocked off the counter as it is made of rather lightweight plastic.
However, in our opinion, it is still the best compact blender for smoothies and shakes. And if you’re looking for an affordable, portable blender that doesn’t compromise on performance, you can go with this.
Best for Smoothies and Milkshakes: Vitamix Explorian
Vitamix Explorian is the perfect blender for milkshake enthusiasts and smoothie lovers alike. One of the standout features of the Vitamix Explorian is its ten Variable Speed Control. Whether you want a smooth and creamy milkshake or a chunkier smoothie with bits of fruit, this blender can do it all.
The Pulse Feature is another great addition, especially for those who love heartier recipes. With just a quick burst of power, you can blend tougher ingredients like nuts or seeds, giving your milkshakes and smoothies that extra texture and flavor.
Despite its powerful performance, the Vitamix Explorian is designed to fit comfortably under most kitchen cabinets. Its Low-Profile 64-ounce container ensures that you can make big batches of your favorite frozen drinks without any hassle.
Speaking of durability, the hardened stainless-steel blades of the blender are built to handle even the toughest ingredients. Cleaning up after your smoothie-making adventures is a breeze with the self-cleaning feature.
In the box, you’ll find a low-profile tamper, and a cookbook filled with delicious recipes to try. Its container and lid are dishwasher-safe and made of BPA-free Eastman Tritan. Plus, the blender is backed by a 3-year full warranty, so you can blend with confidence.
With all these pros this Vitamix blender has some cons too. We noticed that this blender makes a bit more noise than other machines. Moreover, some have complained that this blender is not suitable for making baby foods.
But we think noise is not a big issue for a blender as it is a natural tendency of high-powered blenders. So, if you don’t use a blender to make baby food or you don’t need to make baby food, this Vitamix model may be worth considering for your needs.
Best Full Size Blender: Oster Pro 1200
When it comes to finding a full-size blender that can handle all your smoothie and milkshake needs, the Oster Pro 1200 can be a clear choice. This blender tops the wish list of smoothie enthusiasts and milkshake lovers.
With 1200 power watts and 900 watts of ice-crushing power, it’s perfect for blending up any of the toughest ingredients. One of the standout features of the Oster Pro 1200 is its Smart Settings Technology, which allows you to choose from 7 speeds and 3 pre-programmed settings. The blender also features dual-direction blade technology and an extra wide 3.5″ blade system.
The 6-cup dishwasher-safe Boroclass glass jar is not only durable but also large enough to make big batches of your favorite frozen drinks. Moreover, it doesn’t absorb odors or stains like plastic.
With the pulse feature, you can easily create a chunkier texture for smoothie bowls. This blender also offers a 24-ounce smoothie cup, perfect for taking your drinks on the go.
And let’s not forget about the warranty. We are certain that it will last because it is said to have a 10-year Duralast all-metal drive limited warranty. So, you can blend with confidence.
With having all of these pros there are some noise complaints with this blender. But, we found it to be a little noisy at higher speeds. And at low speeds, it’s actually one of the quietest blenders we’ve used. Furthermore, you may encounter leakage problems with this blender if the gasket isn’t inserted correctly and completely in the right place.
Keeping aside these negligible issues, you can consider this blender, if you’re in need of a full-size blender that can handle anything from smoothies to milkshakes. For its powerful performance and versatile features, it’s highly recommended by all its happy users!
Best Personal Smoothie Blender: Beast Blender
The Beast Blender is mostly known as the best personal smoothie blender on the market. This blender is meticulously designed to provide the ultimate blending experience for your favorite shakes, protein shakes, and frozen drinks.
What sets the Beast Blender apart is its best-in-class blade with a brain. This blade assembly is not only incredibly sharp but also intelligently designed to increase longevity and reduce vibrations and noise. You can blend your ingredients with ease and without disturbing the peace in your kitchen.
But that’s not all – the Beast Blender comes with a glass water bottle for infusions, allowing you to add extra flavor and nutrients to your smoothies. Plus, the blender is designed to be taken on the go.
One of the standout features of this Blender is its advanced technology. The blender actually monitors the internal temperature to avoid overheating and the blending of hot liquids, ensuring safe and efficient blending every time.
With just the push of a button, the Beast Blender cycles through a perfectly-timed 1-minute blend.
The Beast Blender also comes with a removable stainless steel infusion chamber and a food-safe silicone chamber mount. And when you’re ready to take your blend on the go, the drinking lid and carry cap can be securely screwed onto any blending vessel or hydration vessel.
This blender is impressively quiet but not powerful enough for tough vegetables like kale. Additionally, some users have complained about its longevity. They said it doesn’t last more than 2 or 2.5 years.
In summary, if you’re looking for the best blender for shakes, protein shakes, and frozen fruits, the Beast Blender can fulfill your needs. So, if using different kitchen appliances at different times is a passion of yours then you can go with this blender.
Best Premium Blender: Vitamix 5200
When it comes to premium blenders, the Vitamix 5200 is truly in a league of its own. This blender has been thoroughly tested and proven to be the best option for creating every course of a home-cooked meal, from smoothies to desserts. While it may be overkill for simple smoothies, the Vitamix 5200’s sturdy build and powerful motor ensure durability and excellent blending capabilities.
Its 64-ounce jar is perfect for handling large batches and can effortlessly blend tough ingredients like ice, leafy greens, and fruit skin. Even when processing small batches for single-serves, the Vitamix 5200 performs flawlessly. For those who prefer personal-sized smoothies, a separate blending jar can be purchased.
One of the standout features of the Vitamix 5200 is its strong build, backed by a long seven-year warranty. The blender offers 10 different speeds to choose from, allowing you to achieve a variety of textures for your recipes. Another standout feature of the Vitamix 5200 is its ability to create hot soup. Thanks to the blades that create friction heat. This means you can turn cold ingredients into steaming hot soup in just 6 minutes.
If you’re looking for the best premium blender that can handle anything from smoothies to hot soups the Vitamix 5200 is the perfect choice. Its versatility, variable speed control, and self-cleaning features make it worth every penny. It’s best of all and highly recommended!
Best Countertop Blender: Ninja BL610
Introducing the Ninja BL610 countertop blender, a powerhouse appliance that will revolutionize your blending experience. This blender features a unique blade structure with three sharp blades, strategically separated by a few inches. The stacked design of the blades allows for efficient ice crushing, blending, and pureeing like no other blender on the market.
Not only does the Ninja BL610 have a powerful motor with 1000 watts of professional power, but it also operates using corded electricity for reliable and consistent performance. The Ninja BL610 is equipped with Total Crushing Technology, an intelligent feature that can crush ice into snow in a matter of seconds.
With an XL capacity 72 oz professional blender pitcher, you can blend large batches of smoothies and milkshakes with ease. The max liquid capacity of 64 oz ensures you can make enough for the whole family.
Cleanup is a breeze with the Ninja BL610. The pitcher is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, allowing for easy and convenient cleaning. Plus, the pitcher features a handy pour-spout for serving smoothies and frozen drinks directly from the blender.
If you’re in the market for a countertop blender that delivers power, versatility, and easy cleanup, look no further than the Ninja BL610. With its unique blade structure, powerful motor, and XL capacity pitcher, it’s the perfect addition to any kitchen.
Best Personal Compact Blender: Ninja BN301
If you want something compact to make shakes & smoothies then Ninja BN30 is perfect for you. This little powerhouse is perfect for those who want a versatile blender that won’t take up too much space on the countertop. With its 900-watt motor, it can easily blend smoothies with fresh and frozen fruit, and veggies, and even crush ice without any odor.
What sets this blender apart is its compact size. The base is only 7 inches tall and 4½ inches wide, making it ideal for small kitchens or even taking on the go. The Ninja BN301 comes with three 20-ounce cups, two ready-to-drink lids, and one storage lid. The cups are tall and narrow, making them easy to fit in a car’s cupholder.
While it may not be the best for making nut butter, it still offers great value for its versatility and convenience. Plus, the cups, lids, and blade assembly are all top-rack dishwasher safe, making clean-up a breeze. Just keep in mind that a brush may be needed for hand washing, as the tall, narrow cups may be a bit tricky to clean.
The Ninja BN301 is the perfect personal blender for those who want a compact and powerful blending solution without compromising on quality. So, if you are a smoothie enthusiasts or a milkshake lover this blender can fulfill all your needs.
Best Versatile Blender: Ninja BL660
The Ninja BL660 is the ultimate versatile blender for all your blending needs. With its powerful 1100-watt motor, it can easily pulverize ice to snow in seconds, creating creamy frozen drinks, smoothies, sauces, and more. Additionally, it works well for grinding Quaker Oats to add to protein drinks and coffee for a fuller flavor.
And don’t worry about clean-up – all parts are BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. Plus, you’ll get recipe inspiration with the included 28-recipe guide.
The stainless steel design ensures long-lasting use, while the 72-oz. total Crushing Pitcher is perfect for making drinks for the whole family or entertaining guests. This blender also comes with special features like 3 manual speeds, a pulse, and a single-serve function for on-the-go convenience. But, the 16oz just seems a little bit small, when trying to make a smoothie with multiple components. Moreover, it’s super shaky and loud.
However, Ninja BL660 works great and good value for the price. So, If you are looking for a professional compact smoothie & food Processing Blender, Ninja BL660 can be the right choice to buy.
Best High-end Blender: Ninja AMZ493BRN
The Ninja AMZ493BRN high-end blender is a powerhouse when it comes to crushing and processing. With its Stacked Blade Assembly and high-performance Pro Extractor blade assembly, it can effortlessly pulverize tough ingredients.
This blender comes with a 5-cup Precision Processor Bowl and Chopping and Dough Blade Assembly for all your food processing needs. With 1200 watts of performance power, it can handle blending, ice crushing, and food processing tasks with ease. But it’s not suitable for kale, or seed. Moreover, it’s quite noisier and not for the casual smoothie drinker.
However, the Auto-iQ Technology makes drink making a breeze, and the included 18-oz. single-serve cup and spout lid offer on-the-go convenience. The package also includes different blades for different tasks – the Stacked Blade Assembly for the pitcher, the Dough Blade and Chopping Blade for the processor bowl, and the Pro Extractor blade assembly for the single-serve cups. And with the dough blade assembly, you can even make dough for pizzas and breads.
Plus, the blender comes with a 15-recipe Inspiration Guide to help you create delicious smoothies and frozen drinks. Cleaning is a breeze too, as all the BPA-free parts are dishwasher safe.
So, if you’re not a casual smoothie drinker and want something versatile that can handle all your blending needs, this model of Ninja can be your favorite appliance.
Best Value Smoothie Blender: Hamilton Beach Power Elite Wave Action blender
After using the Hamilton Beach Power Elite Wave Action Blender, we think this Hamilton model might just be made specifically for smoothie lovers. With 700 watts of peak blending power, this blender can handle all your smoothie and milkshake needs.
The stainless steel Ice Sabre blades ensure smooth blending every time. And the patented Wave Action system ensures that all your ingredients are thoroughly blended. From smoothies to milkshakes, frozen drinks to protein shakes, this blender can do it all.
The spout makes for easy serving, and the dishwasher-safe glass jar, lid, and blades simplify the cleanup. With a 40-ounce capacity, you can make plenty of delicious drinks for the whole family. Plus, the 12 blending functions controlled by 5 buttons on the control panel give you ultimate control over your blending experience.
Whether you’re blending, crushing ice, pureeing, dicing, chopping, or more, this blender has you covered. If you are on a low budget and want to buy a high-quality smoothie blender, this Hamilton model can be a perfect choice.
Table Overview
| Product Name | Customer Rating | Price During Punlication |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Beach Portable Blender | 4.2 / 5 | $19 |
| Hamilton Beach Power Elite Wave Action blender | 4.3 / 5 | $39 |
| Oster Blender Pro 1200 | 4.5 / 5 | $69 |
| Ninja BN301 Nutri-Blender Plus | 4.7 / 5 | $79 |
| Ninja BL610 Professional Blender | 4.7 / 5 | $81 |
| Ninja BL660 Professional Blender | 4.7 / 5 | $129 |
| Ninja AMZ493BRN Compact Kitchen System | 4.8 / 5 | $159 |
| Beast Blender + Hydration System | 4.1 / 5 | $194 |
| Vitamix Explorian Blender | 4.7 / 5 | $289 |
| Vitamix 5200 Blender | 4.7 / 5 | $389 |
Our Recommendation
All the above blenders are really worth buying. However, after careful consideration and extensive testing, we found the Ninja AMZ493BRN to be a versatile blender that is undoubtedly perfect for smoothies and milkshakes.
This blender not only delivers outstanding performance but also offers excellent value for your money. With its powerful motor and versatile features, it can effortlessly blend your favorite fruits and create the creamiest smoothies, milkshakes, protein shakes, frozen drinks, nut milk, or even soups.
So, we can confidently say that you can’t go wrong with Ninja AMZ493BRN model. For its sharp blade, powerful motor, versatility, and ability to blend fresh and frozen fruits and veggies into a smooth, sippable beverage, we highly recommend this Ninja!
Buying Guide: Factors to Consider Before Buy a Blender for Smoothies and Milkshakes
When it comes to buying a blender for smoothies and milkshakes, there are a few factors to consider that can make all the difference in your blending experience.
1. Capacity
Capacity is key. Think about how much you’ll be blending at a time. If you’re making smoothies for the whole family, a larger blender like the Ninja BL660 with its 72-oz. Total Crushing Pitcher might be the way to go. However, if you’re only making single servings, a blender with a smaller capacity, like the Hamilton Beach Power Elite Wave Action blender with its 40-ounce jar, might be more suitable.
2. Features
Another important factor to consider is the features of the blender. Some blenders, like the Ninja AMZ493BRN, come with a wide range of accessories and functions, perfect for those who want more versatility. On the other hand, if you prefer a simpler blender, the Hamilton Beach Power Elite Wave Action blender offers 12 blending functions with easy-to-use buttons.
Additionally, consider the material of the blender’s pitcher. Some blenders come with a glass pitcher, like the Hamilton Beach Power Elite Wave Action blender, while others, like the Ninja BL660, have a BPA-free plastic pitcher. If you’re looking for a dishwasher-safe or plastic-free option, the material of the pitcher is an important factor to consider.
3. Motor power
Lastly, don’t forget to pay attention to the motor power of the blender. The Ninja AMZ493BRN, with its 1200 watts of performance power, is perfect for crushing tough ingredients, while the Ninja BL660’s 1100-watt motor is ideal for everyday blending needs. Keep in mind that different motor powers can result in different noise levels. If you’ll be using your blender early in the morning or in a shared living space, it might be worth checking the decibel level of each model before making a decision.
By considering factors like capacity, features, pitcher material, and motor power, you’ll be able to find the perfect blender for your smoothies and milkshake needs. Happy blending!
Conclusion
In summary, when it comes to finding the best blender for smoothies and milkshakes, the above-mentioned blenders are top contenders. The Vitamix 5200 offers versatility and power, while the Ninja AMZ493BRN is perfect for high-end blending and food processing. For those on a budget, the Hamilton Beach Power Elite Wave Action blender provides great value without compromising performance. Consider factors such as capacity, features, pitcher material, and motor power to find the perfect blender for your needs. So, whether you’re looking for versatility, high performance, or value, these blenders are the best options for delicious smoothies and milkshakes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What size blender do I need for smoothies and milkshakes?
The size of the blender you need for smoothies and milkshakes depends on your specific needs. If you’re making smoothies or milkshakes for yourself or a small household, a personal blender with a 16 to 24-ounce capacity would be sufficient. These compact blenders are convenient and take up less counter space. However, if you’re making smoothies and milkshakes for a larger family or frequently entertaining guests, a full-size blender with a capacity of 48 ounces or more would be more suitable.
Is 600 watts enough for shakes and smoothies?
Yes, 600 watts is generally enough for making shakes and smoothies. Blenders with 600 watts of power can handle most blending tasks, including crushing ice and blending frozen fruits. However, if you plan on using tougher ingredients like nuts or leafy greens, you may want to consider a more powerful blender with higher wattage.
How long should you blend a smoothie?
The blending time for a smoothie can vary depending on the ingredients and the desired consistency. In general, blending a smoothie for 30 to 60 seconds should be sufficient to achieve a smooth and creamy texture. However, if you’re using ingredients that are more difficult to blend, such as frozen fruits or fibrous vegetables, you may need to blend for a longer period of time. It’s also important to note that over-blending can lead to a thinner consistency, so it’s best to start with shorter blending times and gradually increase if needed.
What type of blender is best for making smoothies and milkshakes?
When it comes to making smoothies and milkshakes, a high-powered blender with strong blades is ideal. Look for a blender with a powerful motor, at least 500 watts or more, to ensure that it can handle tough ingredients like frozen fruits and ice. Additionally, blenders with sharp, stainless steel blades are effective at blending and creating smooth textures. Choose a blender with variable speeds or preset functions specifically designed for smoothies and milkshakes for the best results.
Can I make juice with a blender?
While blenders are primarily designed for blending and pulverizing ingredients, they can be used to make juice as well. However, the texture of the juice will be different from that of a traditional juicer. Blenders retain the pulp and fiber from fruits and vegetables, resulting in a thicker and more filling beverage.