Crush Ice, Puree Fruit, and Whip-up Smoothies with the Best Personal Blenders

While countertop blenders are certainly a worthwhile investment for their volume capabilities alone, a personal blender is a worthwhile kitchen addition in terms of price and convenience. It’s also a step up from handheld immersion blenders that lack a travel cup, require manual effort, and tend to burn out after prolonged use. (Though it’s true that immersion blenders do a great job of breaking down solids, especially for soups and sauces, directly in large pans or Dutch ovens.)

Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist with a focus on plant-based eating, often recommends that clients obtain a personal blender to help stick to a comprehensive nutrition plan. So we chatted with Gorin, the owner of Plant-Based Eats in Stamford, Connecticut, to learn what she believes makes the best personal blender, considering crucial features like power, size, and accessories. Here are her personal picks in six distinct categories: 

Capacity: 18 and 24 ounces | Wattage: 1,000

Why we chose it: It sets the bar for personal blenders by delivering consistently smooth results.

With its impressive combination of performance, power, and size, this personal blender has maintained a five-star rating on Amazon with over 13,000 reviews. The two snap-lid, dishwasher-safe cups hold an ideal 18 or 24 ounces, the motor is a reliable 1,000 watts, and—perhaps most importantly—its blade and cup shapes blend ingredients better than anything else on the market. No more grit or unpalatable chunks, just smooth, velvety perfection. Another plus: The Ninja isn’t obnoxiously loud, so starting your morning with a healthy habit won’t rattle your nerves or wake others who might be sleeping in. 

Capacity: 20 ounces | Wattage: 250

Why we chose it: A value pick that doesn't scrimp on the job.

Anybody blending on a budget should look into this Oster model for less than $25. Sure, this personal blender is unabashedly no-frills, but it gets the job done—crushing ice and frozen fruit with 400 watts of power, and blending ingredients with 250 watts. The blade is made of stainless steel and the BPA-free plastic cup holds an ample 20 ounces. Its slim design won’t hog counter space, and it boasts a bright pop of color, so you may just want to leave it out rather than stow it away in the kitchen cabinet.  

Capacity: 12 and 22 ounces | Wattage: 250

Why we chose it: It's not just for smoothies—this workhorse can chop, whip, and more.

A personal blender that goes way beyond smoothies, the multi-purpose Magic Bullet was an instant hit when it was introduced nearly 20 years ago. The latest incarnation proves it to be as popular as ever. The do-it-all, 11-piece set relies on two blade options and a 250-watt high-torque power base to chop, mix, blend, whip, and grind. One of the included high-impact plastic cups features a convenient handle for perfect pouring without spilling. 

Capacity: 24 and 32 ounces  | Wattage: 1,200

Why we chose it: A powerful personal blender that features hands-free blending.

Consider the NutriBullet Pro Plus the Ferrari of personal blenders. With its whopping 1,200-watt motor, it hasn’t met a fibrous stalk of celery or a tough bunch of kale it couldn't quickly and smoothly pulverize. Equally desirable is its convenient hands-free blending: No more holding a button or pushing down a cup until your smoothie reaches creamy perfection. Simply lock everything into place, press, and go about your business while the NutriBullet does the work for you, then shuts off automatically. 

Capacity: 32 ounces | Wattage: 120

Why we chose it: This personal blender is the best of both worlds.

Got a Goldilocks complex about personal blenders? Size-wise, this Vitamix with a 32-ounce Tritan BPA-free container is bigger than most personal blenders but smaller than typical countertop models. Plus, it offers many of the coveted features of its larger, more high-tech cousins at a significantly lower price point. While online product info doesn’t mention wattage or blade material, it’s powerful and versatile enough to make sauces, dips, butters, frozen desserts, and even baby food. The One also features an ergonomic handle and comes with a tamper to push ingredients towards the blades to ensure uniform blending.

Capacity: 14 ounces | Wattage: 175

Why we chose it: This bright and colorful personal blender is well-designed for that on-the-go smoothie or frozen coffee. 

Looking for a canister you can take and sip on the go? Look no further than this BPA plastic-free model with a pouted lid to avoid any messes and mishaps. It’s a no-frills appliance designed for any consumer who doesn’t want to think twice as they start their day and nourish their body with a fruit and vegetable smoothie. It’s also quite easy to clean with blades built directly into the base of the cup.

Personal blenders have become a kitchen appliance staple for most chefs and amateur cooks. After polling a handful of industry experts, we rounded up nearly a dozen of their most popular recommendations. From there, we tested these devices by making fruit and vegetable smoothies with ice to determine which were most effective and efficient at breaking down ingredients to create a beverage with uniform consistency.

Ample power is important if you want to crush ice and pulverize veggies like kale and celery, and some personal blenders can process even the toughest customers. “Look for ‘high-speed’ on the packaging,” advises Gorin. “These blenders have more powerful motors and faster-spinning blades, which means they will crush ice faster and make it easier to whip up a smooth smoothie. You can also use them to make nut butter, soups, and purees.”  

The higher the motor's wattage, the easier it will be to chop fruits, vegetables, and more (most professional blenders will start at 1,200 watts, as a reference). But don’t rule out less expensive options with lower numbers, especially if you're only making smoothies. It may take longer, but it will still get the job done for anyone on a tighter budget. 

Size matters, but bigger isn’t necessarily better. The volume of travel cups can vary, so invest in something that suits your lifestyle best. For example, if you’re keeping calories in check, a typical smoothie recipe will yield 8-12 ounces of liquid. And that’s after all of the solid ingredients (which take up more space in the cup) have been added. You do not want to purchase something smaller than this base amount unless it is part of a bundle that offers multiple cup options. 

Standard countertop blenders will usually be no less than 40 ounces, so keep that in mind if you’re making the majority of your smoothies in bulk for a hungry family. “Some blenders marry a regular blender container with a single-serve, on-the-go one so that you have multiple options,” Gorin notes. 

Today’s personal blenders can be much more than smoothie machines. Many kits offer attachments to concoct things like soups, zoodles, and even dough. “This will depend on your budget, but I like blenders that have a base that houses different attachments, such as a food processor, spiralizer, and/or juicer,” says Gorin. “This [also] cuts down so much on how much storage space you will need.”

If you’re looking to puree ingredients and prepare sauces or salsas, look for a more powerful X-style blade. To crush ice and create a frozen drink, look for a wing-style blade. Most blenders will have stainless steel blades, which ensure years of durability and sharpness, though higher-end models will boast titanium-coated stainless steel or cold-forged varieties for an even stronger surface. 

Every canister on this list is dishwasher-safe. To clean the machine itself, simply wipe away food particles or smudge marks with a damp rag or paper towel. Avoid getting any water or moisture near the motor or where your electrical cord connects. 

Yes, most quality personal blenders can work with frozen ingredients. But you can extend the life of the blender’s motor if frozen ingredients are first chopped or sliced into smaller pieces. Then, most models should cut through and break down whatever you toss in with less wear and tear.

For a quick pop of protein, Gorin suggests adding some frozen edamame to any smoothie. It won’t noticeably affect the flavor, and it can impart a creamier texture without the addition of a dairy product. 

“It definitely will,” Gorin assures. “Some high-speed blenders even have a ‘frozen drink’ setting.” But be sure to pulse on this setting, being mindful of the power button’s sensitivity, to crush ice to your desired consistency. If you overdo it, you’ll have a watery mess rather than a thick frozen treat. 

“No, you do not,” Gorin says. “But I do recommend purchasing a blender with a removable blade and hand-washing that blade so that it doesn’t dull.”

This is completely dependent upon how often you use it, though an average lifespan is 3 to 5 years for less-powerful models and 10-plus years for more expensive options with heavy-duty motors. 

Yes. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that has been used to make plastics and resins since the 1950s. According to Mayo Clinic, exposure has been linked to possible negative health effects. It is best to simply avoid it, as many major companies have been doing for the past few years. 

Whether you’re making a fruit smoothie or hoping to save time with ingredient blending, a personal blender is a wise investment. And with so many makes and models touting different sizes and features, there is certainly one that will work for you and your individual needs. Don’t settle for anything less—it’s called a personal blender for a reason.