14 Best Blenders 2023

Blenders can purée vegetables into soup, crush nuts into butter, whir dressings and sauces into silky emulsifications, chop ingredients into salsas, and, of course, make smoothies. They’re truly so useful, as much of a staple for many people as a stove or microwave. But there are also a lot to choose from, and in an attempt to narrow down the wide and overwhelming field, I asked a bunch of pros and avid cooks about the ones they rely on in their own kitchens.

First things first: Vitamix reigns supreme in the blender universe. Many of the people I spoke with own various models — it is, hands down, the most lauded brand across the board, making the kinds of pieces that will last you an actual lifetime. That being said, if you don't use a blender with a ton of regularity, can't splurge on something so pricey, or are living in a small space that doesn't accommodate big appliances, there are plenty of other options with ringing endorsements to back them up.

For this category, I’ve listed the maximum capacity for each blender. The size you want will be determined by what you plan to use it for most (different if you primarily intend to emulsify salad dressings versus blend smoothies for a few people at a time, for example).

Some blenders on this list are automatic, meaning they have pre-determined settings that allow you just to click and walk away. Others are manual, so you have to monitor the blending process the whole time.

These machines can get bulky, so when choosing one, you want to make sure you’re considering where you’re going to store it and plug it in. Here, I’ve noted the exact dimensions of each model.

Capacity: 64 ounces | Function: Automatic | Size: 8.5" x 8.5" x 17.25"

Vitamix has a lot of blender options. On the lowest end, there's the Vitamix One for $250 — a no-frills-but-still-powerful option if you don't need or want a bunch of settings, buttons, and attachments. On the highest end, there's this model. Despite the name, it is beloved by professionals and regular cooks alike. It's expensive, yes, but according to everyone who owns one, well worth the investment. It comes with five pre-determined settings for smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts, purées, and a self-cleaning option (more on that below). And unlike the One, it can easily handle tougher ingredients like nuts and grains (which means it's also extra-efficient at crushing ice for smoothies). Plus, as with all Vitamix blenders, it comes with a great warranty — something noted by Green Kitchen Stories co-founder David Frenkiel and recipe developer Sophia Roe. "If any piece of it gets run down or stops functioning properly, they take care of it," Frenkiel says. Nisha Vora, creator of Rainbow Plant Life, points out that you can buy additional compatible parts, too. "It comes with a 64-ounce container, but a few months ago I got a 32-ounce one, too, to make things like curry paste and hummus without having to triple the volume." Finally, it's got a lower profile that can sit underneath most regular kitchen cabinets.

"This blender is industry-standard and used across most professional kitchens. When I was head of product at Daily Harvest, I used it every day for research and development," says Jessica Young, former fine-dining chef and current founder and CEO of Bubble. Moon Juice founder Amanda Chantal Bacon also employs the Vitamix at her shops but has one at home, as well. "I love using it because of its ability to whip air into ice cream or tonics or even coconut milk — it gives the fluffiest mouthfeel that no other blender can replicate," she says. Nutritionist and wellness coach Molly Alliman told us she uses hers "every single day" and that "it works for blending big chunks of frozen fruits, heartier vegetables like kale, whole nuts, and anything else that would leave chunks in other blenders." Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang has owned hers for nearly a decade and uses it a couple of times a month, mostly for pureed soups, because of the supremely smooth consistency she gets from the blades. Jewish Food Society founder Naama Shefi turns to her 750 for pasta sauces, among other things. "It's a great way to sneak in protein like almonds for my kid because it blends right in," she says. And while I’ve been testing one for a relatively short time, I can see with even a handful of uses what all the hype is about. It's powerful, making quick work of hummus, broccoli-cheddar soup, and a big-batch salad dressing to keep in the fridge all week.

And the self-cleaning option really works. You simply add a drop of soap and some water, the machine whirrs for about a minute, and then you rinse it out. One of my biggest hesitations with adding appliances to my kitchen is the space they take up, including in the sink and dishwasher. But this function means as soon as I’m done, it's a breeze to wash and put away. Vora says her old blender always dried with water spots, but this one has stayed untarnished in the year since she bought it.

Capacity: 36 ounces | Function: Automatic | Size: 8" x 7" x 15"

The Blendtec Classic comes enthusiastically endorsed by Christine Sahadi, owner of New York City's Middle Eastern market and restaurant, Sahadi's. She told me about it for this story a while back, noting in our interview that both Blendtec and Vitamix make very good quality units. "I just personally like the Blendtec," she says. She has owned hers for more than a decade and finds that its super-powerful blades, which operate at five preset speeds, emulsify sauces, dressings, and aioli handily. It also, perhaps most importantly for Sahadi, makes the perfect hummus. "If you don't have a really good blender, you have to add a lot of ice water or cooking liquid to help smooth things out," she explains. "By the time you get there, the hummus has become too drippy." The Blendtec, it's important to note, has just a bit more than half the capacity of the Vitamix 750, so you won't be able batches that are quite as big.

Capacity: 68 ounces | Function: Automatic | Size: 17" x 13" x 9"

If you want a high-speed blender on the larger side — and one that's less expensive than both the Vitamix 750 and the Blendtec — Strategist writer Kat Gillespie recommends this Hurom. She notes the plastic container's sturdiness and says the base "has a nice weight to it," though she warns that the appliance is definitely "pretty hefty and takes up space." The machine has both automatic controls (for smoothies, ice crushing, and soup) and manual ones; Gillespie uses hers mostly for smoothies. "It makes the perfect consistency — very smooth, no lumps, even if you don't measure out a good ratio of liquids to solids — and is very convenient as you go about your morning and do other things," she says, referring to the automatic button you can simply press and walk away from.

Capacity: 48 ounces | Function: Manual | Size: 11" x 8" x 18"

A more affordable Vitamix model is this Explorian Series E310. If you don't care about the automatic settings on the 750 or the smaller container size of this one, Ksenia Avdulova, founder of Breakfast Criminals, thinks it's a sure bet, even with daily use. "I personally prefer the manual-switch experience versus touchscreen," she says. Chef Seamus Mullen — who has been using Vitamix blenders for 25 years — is also a fan, noting that even the smaller models have "a powerful motor."

Capacity: 64 ounces | Function: Automatic | Size: 11" x 8" x 17"

On the other end of the Vitamix spectrum, with even more adjustability and customization than the 750, is the A3500 Ascent Series model. This one comes recommended by Gaby Dalkin, the cookbook author and blogger behind What's Gaby Cooking (she used to own and love the 750, but as someone who uses a blender multiple times a day for recipe testing, she has since upgraded to this version). She's a particular fan of the touchscreen, which boasts a timer display that you can also set to blend for exactly the amount of time you want before it automatically shuts off. (Brandon Jew, chef and owner of Mister Jiu's in San Francisco, has also told us that he loves this particular feature, along with the "great" auto functions.) Dalkin says the A3500 is even easy enough for her 2-year-old daughter to turn on, allowing her to help make smoothies and "feel invested in the process."

Capacity: 24 ounces | Function: Manual | Size: 5" x 5" x 14"

If you’re looking for something distinctly more affordable, or that will take up less counter or cabinet space, several experts raved about the NutriBullet. The machine comes with two cup sizes: 24 and 18 ounces. Both work for single-portion smoothies, of course (which, conveniently, you can detach from the bottom of the unit and take to go), as well as dressings and smaller-volume sauces. Bacon is a fan, calling it "the mightiest little blender." Caitlin Sullivan, co-founder of Los Angeles restaurant Honey Hi agrees, saying "it's affordable, so compact, and easy to clean — but it still has great blending ability."

Capacity: 72 ounces | Function: Manual | Size: 18" x 12" x 13"

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Ninja is very big — not to mention the cheapest full-size option on this list. With 1,000 watts of power, it's particularly great for juice- and smoothie-making, with an extra-large 72-ounce plastic pitcher and blades that easily crush ice and liquefy frozen fruits and vegetables. New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff has one and loves it. "This thing is powerful," she says. "It's super-easy to use and to clean."

Capacity: 64 ounces | Function: Manual | Size: 20.5" x 8.75" x 7.25"

The First Mess's Laura Wright swears that the Vitamix 5200 model makes the best smoothies. And she should know — not only does the writer and recipe developer make the drink every single day, but she's tried a good handful of other machines before (Vitamixes and non-Vitamixes alike) for that job specifically. "They always come out thinner, or with foam or bubbles," she says. "It's almost like the blades are too powerful on some of the newer Vitamixes." Her 5200, on the other hand, creates the optimal thick-and-creamy texture — and has done so even after a decade of use.

Capacity: 25 ounces | Function: Manual | Size: 4.9" x 4.9" x 15.75"

Strategist associate editor Louis Cheslaw was sent the Beast Blender last spring and has been turning out protein shakes consistently ever since. "Unlike the Ninja blender I was using before, it's quiet enough that I feel comfortable using it at all hours of the day," he says. "And even then, it's so powerful that I rarely have it going for more than ten seconds. And while this is slightly less critical, it's also incredibly pleasant in your hands — from the stately fluting on the portable, rinsable glass vessels to the magnetic lock when you connect it to the engine." (For what it's worth, Halle Berry is also a big fan.)

Capacity: 61 ounces | Function: Automatic | Size: 7.6" x 7.6" x 16.7

Zwilling's full-size blender is one of the sleekest-looking on the market. For a generally bulky product, it has clean lines and a satisfyingly geometric shape, with a chic fluted design on the jar. It's not all in the appearance, though: In the several months I’ve been using it, it's also performed beautifully. The pre-programmed settings are nice to have (recently, I’ve been making use of the frozen-cocktail one, and I am also a fan of the wash button). But you can also manually control the blades with a turn of the dial and a push of the button — this feature lets me keep an eye on consistency so my emulsified dips get to the exact texture I want.

Capcity: Various | Function: Manual | Size: 3" x 4.5" x 15.3"

Although the functionality of an immersion blender is different, "for me, this is the best one — and the best blender in general," says Richard Rea, the executive chef at the Butcher's Daughter, who has been using one at home and one in his professional kitchen for several years. "Quite frankly, whenever people ask me what blender to use, I always push them towards this." His reasoning is that it takes up much less space and is usually much less expensive while still doing everything you need. Indeed, Rea uses his for creamy soups, cashew ricotta, hummus, and all types of salsa. "It's very strong," he says of its powerful motor and sharp blades. "It breaks through nuts, and even some big, bulky blenders don't do that."

• Molly Alliman, nutritionist and wellness coach• Ksenia Avdulova, founder of Breakfast Criminals• Amanda Chantal Bacon, founder of Moon Juice• Louis Cheslaw, Strategist associate editor• Gaby Dalkin, cookbook author and blogger at What's Gaby Cooking• David Frenkiel, co-founder of Green Kitchen Stories• Kat Gillespie, Strategist writer• Seamus Mullen, chef• Richard Rea, executive chef at The Butcher's Daughter• Sophia Roe, recipe developer• Christine Sahadi, owner of Sahadi's• Naama Shefi, founder of Jewish Food Society• Caitlin Sullivan, co-founder of Honey Hi• Alexis Swerdloff, New York deputy editor• Nisha Vora, creator of Rainbow Plant Life• Laura Wright, author of The First Mess• Jessica Young, founder and CEO of Bubble

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