The best blenders to level up your sauces, smoothies and dips

CNN

4 days ago

The best blenders we tested
Best blender: Vitamix 5200
Best budget blender: Ninja Professional Plus Blender Duo The best blenders can help you unlock your inner home chef. Even though takeout can almost always hit the spot, whipping up a meal from scratch can be one of the most rewarding (and delicious) experiences. With the right ingredients, a carefully chosen recipe and, of course, time, love and care, a homemade sauce, soup or dip almost always tastes better than something prepared in a rush. That is, if you have the right appliance.
Take it from someone who tests and reviews all sorts of kitchen devices for a living: A high-powered blender can make or break your next frozen treat, cocktail or dip. But with so many options on the market, choosing the right blend of features can feel overwhelming.
To settle the debate, I tested six popular blenders to find the best one for your kitchen. After plenty of mixing, tamping, taste-testing, cleaning and dodging noise complaints, I narrowed it down to two of the best blenders I'd recommend to anyone. Here's what I whipped up.
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Vitamix 5200 Blender
The Vitamix 5200 is a standout blender for many reasons. It tackled every kind of ingredient, including ice, frozen fruits and even peanuts in just a few pulses. Although pricey, it's a long-lasting appliance worth the investment. Read our review
Ninja Professional Plus Blender Duo With Auto-IQ
With a similar build to the Vitamix 5200 but for a fraction of the cost, the Ninja Professional Plus Duo delivered on power, speed and design. The easy-to-follow presets and handy programming made the blender a breeze to use. The locking lid was a standout feature too. It's easy to see why the Vitamix 5200 is a staple in smoothie shops and professional kitchens (even fictional ones like 'The Bear') as well as a favorite among home cooks. Frequently recommended in Reddit threads and by chefs across the industry, the high-performance blender lives up to its reputation for power, precision and durability.
In my testing, the 5200 handled everything I threw at it: smoothies, nut butters, sauces, cocktails and even thick frozen desserts. Its aircraft-grade stainless steel blades and high-powered motor were especially effective at breaking down tough ingredients like carrots and frozen fruit, creating ultrasmooth blends without the need to stop and stir. The variable speed control was a standout feature, offering fine-tuned control over texture mid-blend, which was something that felt especially helpful when adjusting consistency on a whim.
The 64-ounce pitcher is large enough for family-size portions or meal prep but still manageable for smaller batches. I liked it tall profile too, as it took up less space than a short, squat blender. The Vitamix 5200 also is relatively lightweight (just over 10 pounds), and the wraparound cord storage under the base makes it more compact and kitchen-friendly than it looks at first glance. Cleanup was also quick and painless: A drop of dish soap and warm water was all it took for the blender to clean itself in under a minute.
One feature that sets the 5200 apart is its ability to heat ingredients through friction alone. Running the blender at high speeds for several minutes brought soup to steaming hot temperatures without ever touching the stove, just adding to the blender's versatility.
With a price tag of around $500, the Vitamix 5200 is a significant investment, but it's one backed by a generous seven-year full warranty. Given its stellar performance, capacity and ability to replace multiple appliances — including food processors and immersion blenders — it's a worthwhile upgrade for anyone serious about blending.
A post shared by CNN Underscored (@cnnunderscored) While the Ninja Professional Plus Blender Duo may not be the sleekest model on the market, its power and performance quickly won me over. At $170, it offers a lot for the price, including a high-capacity 72-ounce pitcher, a 1,400W motor and four straightforward manual programs. It also comes with two 24-ounce single-serve blending cups with travel lids and two interchangeable blade systems, which provides range that not all similarly priced models have.
In my initial blending tests, the Ninja's build quality immediately stood out. The pitcher clicks securely into the base, and the lid locks firmly in place with a built-in safety mechanism that prevents the motor from running unless everything is aligned, unlike the Vitamix 5200. It gave me peace of mind when blending hot soup or thick mixtures, knowing nothing would come loose or spill mid-blend. The base also stayed solid on the counter, thanks to its weight and suction cup feet that kept it from rattling around.
Performance-wise, this blender is a powerhouse. It crushed ice in seconds, smoothly blended frozen fruit into thick smoothies (with dry protein powder too) and puréed vegetables into dips with minimal effort. I was especially impressed by how well it handled firmer ingredients. Homemade hummus turned out creamier than I expected, with no unblended pieces of chickpea or garlic left behind. Even mango chunks were no match for the high-speed blades, which consistently broke down fibrous textures without overheating or needing to be stirred between cycles.
The manual controls are simple and easy to use, though less precise than a model with variable speed options. Still, for most kitchen tasks, I found the preset modes more than capable. Cleanup was also pretty straightforward. The pitcher and blade assemblies are dishwasher-safe, though I usually just rinse everything with warm water and dish soap right after use. I appreciated the removable blade, which made cleaning ten times easier than with some other blenders.
While the design is a bit bulky and utilitarian, and it may not blend in as seamlessly with a minimalist kitchen, those are small trade-offs for such solid performance. If you're looking for a powerful, affordable blender that can handle daily use and a wide variety of recipes, the Ninja Professional Plus Duo is a strong contender.
I ran each blender in our testing pool, ranging in price from an affordable $60 to a splurge-worthy $750, through the same food tests to evaluate performance. I blended a smoothie, crushed ice and mixed ingredients for hummus. When available, I used the applicable preset programs, such as smoothie, soup or ice functions. I used the same recipes across all tests and models to stay consistent. Then I evaluated each blender on the following criteria.
Functionality: I compared how well each blender tackled the food tests, considered noise levels (spoiler: they're all loud) and how easy they were to clean.
Build: I ranked the blenders on their capacity, ease of use, controls, the number of settings included, how easily the blender fits into the base and how secure the lid was. I also factored in the overall quality of materials and counter appeal, including overall aesthetics (yes, this is important!).
Durability: After daily use, it's only natural for appliances to wear down. I looked at the quality of the pitchers, susceptibility for stains, cracks and nicks on the blades, its ability to hold up to frequent washing cycles, and motor power, especially when running for longer periods.
Warranty: I took into account the length of each model's warranty, with more points scored for longer, extended plans that offered wider coverage.
From compact personal models to high-powered machines that cost more than a week's worth of groceries, the wide range of blenders available — and their varied quality — is dizzying. But if you blend daily, a high-performance blender can be a game changer and well worth the investment.
Motor power is the main factor that separates basic blenders from high-end ones. Budget models typically max out around 500W, while premium machines pack 1,400W or more. That power creates the vortex needed to blend fibrous vegetables, crush ice and emulsify dressings into silky-smooth perfection. My advice? Buy the most wattage your budget can handle.
Blades and containers also matter. When it comes to blades, stainless steel is where it's at because stainless steel blades, especially those used in brands like Vitamix, stay sharp through countless uses. For pitchers, BPA-free plastic is lightweight, durable and shatterproof, and is what most modern blenders use. Although glass pitchers look sleek and resist stains, glass is heavier and less compatible with high-speed blending. Then there's a matter of size. Maybe you only need a small personal blender, but for larger households or batch cooking, a 64-ounce container is ideal, and bonus points if it comes with to-go cups or smaller attachments.
I also found that preset programs and tampers make a big difference. One-touch settings for soups, smoothies and ice help take out the guesswork, and sometimes a tamper is essential for thick blends (it lets you push ingredients toward the blades without stopping the machine). If you blend often and want consistent, mess-free results, I would consider these details that elevate the blending experience.
Oster Extreme Mix Blender
The Oster Extreme Mix Blender is a powerful, reliable kitchen tool that made my meal prep faster and easier. While it's not perfect, its performance and features make it a strong contender in its price range. Plus, it comes with a three-year limited warranty. I put the Oster Extreme Mix Blender to the test, and its power immediately stood out. With a turbocharged 2-horsepower motor delivering up to 1,500W, this blender crushed ice, frozen fruit and tougher ingredients without slowing down. It does more than blend smoothies and frozen drinks too, as it whipped up hummus with impressive ease. What really sets it apart, though, is its 10-blade stack. The four titanium-coated blades are positioned at four different levels throughout the 8-cup pitcher, meaning the blender can process whole fruits and vegetables in seconds.
The pitcher is made from BPA-free Tritan plastic, which is dishwasher-safe as well as scratch-resistant and shatterproof, making cleanup simple and safe. However, to me, it felt like it lacked the premium feel of more luxurious blenders. The Oster is also a bit noisy, especially on the highest settings, which might be a consideration if you live in a shared space or blend early in the morning. But I did appreciate the intuitive iBlend auto-programs that automatically adjusted speed and timing for smoothies, salsas and more at the touch of a button.
Vitamix Ascent X5 Blender
I couldn't resist testing another Vitamix blender after getting my hands on the impressive 5200. I tested the Ascent X5 in Graphite and found it to be as smart and powerful as it is stylish. It features 10 built-in programs for everything from smoothies and frozen desserts to nut butters and spice grinding, but it didn't perform much better than our budget pick, and at a whopping $750, it's too pricey for what you get. At 17 inches tall and weighing just under 12 pounds, the Ascent X5 felt sturdy but not bulky on my counter. The variable speed control and pulse settings of the Ascent X5 gave me full control over texture, whether I was blending a hearty soup or preparing silky-smooth dips, and the digital timer was a helpful tool for manual blending, too, taking the guesswork out of recipes. When I needed just a little more time, the 'Add 15' Seconds button made it easy to fine-tune the results without starting over.
The 48-ounce pitcher is made from BPA-free, shatter-resistant Tritan plastic and includes a soft-grip handle for easy pouring. During testing, the tamper indicator let me know when to use the tamper to keep thick mixtures like frozen smoothie bowls or nut butters moving efficiently, and I appreciated not having to stop and scrape down the sides. The tamper itself is conveniently stored in a holder that attaches to the motor base, keeping it within reach.
Cleanup also felt straightforward. The blender features a self-cleaning program that only requires warm water and a drop of dish soap (the removable parts are dishwasher-safe too, which is a plus). The intuitive touchscreen interface was easy to use, and the built-in wireless connectivity automatically adjusted blend times based on the container or attachment I was. using. I found the hardened stainless steel blades performed consistently well throughout testing, easily breaking down tough ingredients.
With a combination of thoughtful design, durable materials and intelligent features, it proved to be a reliable, high-performance blender that made food prep easier and more precise. While there's a lot to love here, for the price, I wasn't completely sold, especially since the Ninja blender actually performs a bit better for a fraction of the cost.
Breville Q Blender
When I tested the Breville Q, I could tell it was built for serious blending. Though it's commercial grade, it fit seamlessly into my home kitchen. With 1,800W of power behind it and a blade-tip speed of up to 186 mph, this blender handled everything I threw at it. I liked that the Breville offers four one-touch programs, including settings for dairy and smoothies, an ice crush function that turned cubes into crushed ice and even a soup program. It also includes five manual speed settings, which gave me the control I needed to blend everything from smoothies to chickpeas in only a few seconds. The 68-ounce, copolyester pitcher felt extremely durable and never stained or absorbed odors during testing. I also loved the red measurements on the container, which felt like a proper measuring cup.
The lid design was another highlight. It clips in securely to prevent splatter at high speeds and features a built-in vent for steam release when blending hot ingredients. It also has a ring pull that made removing the lid simple, even after intense blending sessions.
As with many of the other blenders I tested, it does have an 'Auto Clean' function, which saves time and effort by cleaning the jug and blades with just water and a drop of soap. The included tamper also came in handy for thicker blends and gave me more control without having to stop the motor.
While I didn't test it with Breville's Vac Q attachment, which removes air before blending for smoother textures and brighter flavors, it's an intriguing optional add-on. Priced at the premium end of the market, the Breville Q justifies its cost with power, versatility and smart features. It also comes with a seven-year limited warranty, which adds peace of mind to an already high-performing machine. The only downside? The design felt a bit more old-school, but that's a minor grievance given all the perks of this machine.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore PowerExact Blender System
I wanted to love the Beautiful PowerExact Blender System. With its sleek design, gold accents and touch-activated controls, it looked great on my kitchen counter. But despite its smart features and stylish appearance, I was disappointed by its performance. While the 700W motor and PrecisionSense technology sounded promising, I repeatedly ran into the same frustrating issue when testing the Beautiful PowerExact blender: Food kept getting stuck at the bottom of the pitcher.
Whether I was blending smoothies, butters or dips, the blades struggled to pull ingredients down, especially with thicker mixtures. I had to stop frequently to stir or shake it, which took away from the ease I expected from the preset functions.
The 50-ounce Tritan jar was also a pain to clean, especially after making hummus. But the to-go cup with its no-spill lid was a nice touch, although not enough to make up for the inconsistent blending. In the end, the blender's looks didn't match its performance.
What can you make with a blender?
What can you make with a blender?
You can make smoothies, soups, sauces, dips and even nut butters or frozen desserts with a blender — the possibilities are endless! It's also great for whipping up pancake batter, grinding oats or whirring up dressings in seconds.
How powerful should a blender be?
How powerful should a blender be?
For most tasks like smoothies and soups, a blender with 500W to 700W of power is solid. If you plan to crush ice, make nut butters or blend tough ingredients, look for a high-performance model of at least 1,000W.
Does every blender come with a tamper?
Does every blender come with a tamper?
No, not every blender comes with a tamper. Tampers are usually included with high-powered or professional-grade blenders to help push thick or stubborn ingredients toward the bottom blades.
Can you use a blender as a food processor?
Can you use a blender as a food processor?
You can use a blender for some food processor tasks, like pureeing, blending or making sauces, but it's less effective for chopping, shredding or kneading dough. A blender works best with liquids, while a food processor is better at handling dry or chunky ingredients.
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors with many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
Associate testing writer Carolina Gazal has tested all types of kitchen appliances for Underscored, from the best coffee grinders to the best ice molds for cocktails.