After Days of Testing and Countless Smoothies, 5 Blenders Outperformed the Competition

In this era of smart technology, you’d be forgiven for assuming the best cooking products are always the ones with techy upgrades and sleek interfaces. And while we do love intuitive features and multitasking appliances—like an air fryer toaster oven—there’s one highly useful kitchen appliance that needs no fancy bells or whistles: the blender. 

After 50 hours of testing 12 blenders across a variety of price points, our favorites were simple to operate, powerful, and designed for near-effortless efficiency. The oomph behind the motor matters, of course, but a lot more than that goes into creating a winning blender.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Vitamix 5200 outperforms every other blender time and time again. It excels at every task, turning hard, sticky, and fibrous ingredients into creamy purées. It’s powerful and can handle extended blending sessions without overheating. The 5200 features our favorite tall and tapered design that creates an optimal vortex, pulling ingredients into its blades. Its interface is refreshingly uncomplicated, too. It’s a true workhorse, lasting in our test and personal kitchens for years and years. 

Although similar to the Vitamix 5200 in many respects, the 7500 breaks the mold with its short, squat jar that fits nicely underneath an upper cabinet. It costs more than the 5200 and doesn’t have a turbo-charged “high speed” option, but it was a solid performer in every test, producing some of the silkiest soup and frothiest margaritas of the bunch.

This blender’s jar capacity is a petite 48 ounces, but the motor is still mighty powerful. In addition to the 10 analog speeds offered in the 7500 and 5200, there are three presets: for smoothies, hot soups, and frozen desserts. The Propel 510 was an above-average performer at almost every task, and some cooks will appreciate the option to choose from four different colored bases.

With six presets, the Total Blender Classic offers convenience. A digital display shows the countdown time, and you can always override the programs in favor of analog controls. Although we’d prefer a larger jar (this one is just 32 ounces), we did like the ergonomic design of the handle and spout. The Total Blender Classic excels at puréeing, making it a good choice for habitual smoothie drinkers.

While it’s unlikely we’d ever describe a blender as “whisper soft,” this one did rank the best on our decibel test. It also has a generous amount of luxurious upgrades, including five presets (with two smoothie options) and 12 variable speeds. The wide-bottomed jar caused the Super Q to struggle a bit with creating a vortex, but the autoclean function and sleek-looking base were consolations.

The Tests

• Volume and Key Specs Test: To determine how loud each blender was, we used a decibel meter to record the blender at low, medium, and high speeds when blending eight ounces of water and 16 ounces of ice. We made notes of how the blender sounded when operating, too. At this point, we also took key measurements, including the cord length (and any included storage), height of the blender and blender jar, and overall weight. 
• Almond Milk Test: This test was designed to evaluate a blender’s efficiency at puréeing both hard (almonds) and sticky (Medjool dates) ingredients. We combined almonds that had been soaked overnight with pitted dates and water. When a manufacturer provided settings or instructions on processing nut milk, we followed that guidance. For machines without instructions, we blended for three total minutes, starting at a low speed and ending on high. We then poured the mixture over a fine-mesh strainer covered with cheesecloth and allowed it to strain. We documented the remaining pulp, taking note of its coarseness and texture.
• Smoothie Test: To test the blenders’ efficiency at creating creamy smoothies, we added the almond milk from the previous test, along with frozen blueberries, chopped kale, and peanut butter (in that order). We blended the smoothies using a smoothie preset when available. In the case of no specific guidance from the manufacturer, we processed at high speed for one minute. After blending, we passed the smoothie through a sieve and documented the residual pulp, as well as the texture of the smoothie.
• Frozen Margarita Test: A tough job, but somebody had to do it. We used this test to evaluate how well each blender could handle frozen drinks and crush ice. We combined 16 ounces of ice with eight ounces of a premade margarita mix and blended on low speed, gradually working our way up to high. We used a stopwatch to document the time it took to produce a slushy texture with no chunks, then tasted it for overall consistency and temperature.
• Mayonnaise Test: A high-quality blender should be able to emulsify ingredients. To test this, we made mayonnaise using this technique. We noted how long it took to create a creamy, smooth mayonnaise, and how well each blender was able to produce a vigorous vortex when in motion—crucial for a properly emulsified sauce.
• Soup Test: This test was used to evaluate how well a blender could handle ingredients of varying textures. We added raw apple, onion, carrot, butternut squash, and water, and processed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, or with the soup preset when available. (Alternatively, we began on low, then gradually increased the speed to high over one minute. We then stopped the machine, scraped down the sides, and processed it on high for six more minutes.) We recorded the soup’s temperature using an instant-read thermometer, then strained it through a mesh sieve and observed any remaining pulp, as well as the soup’s texture and consistency.

What We Learned

A Blender’s Jar Design Was Crucial to Performance

Jars with extra sides, ridges, or indentations are better at creating turbulence—a necessary ingredient to the all-important vortex that pulls ingredients down toward the blade and cycles them back upwards. A tall jar with a tapered bottom is even better at creating a vortex, and it will reduce unnecessary and inefficient splashing. On the flip side, a wide, shallow jar is easier to clean and scrape, and if you don’t plan on emulsifying sauces regularly, you may find that sufficient. A jar’s design matters when pouring, as well. Jars with long and trenched spouts were easier to pour from; wide, square-shaped spouts caused drips and spatters. We also considered how well the jar’s shape and size complemented the blade design.

The Best Blenders Had Four Blunt Blades, Ideally Oriented in Different Directions

Sharp blender blades may sound like a good selling point, but they’re actually a cause for concern. Not only do they present the potential for cuts during cleanup, but they also become dull quickly. Just one use with a hard ingredient, like frozen fruit, can cause the blades’ sharpness to be compromised. The blades on all Vitamix models are dull when compared to many other blenders (like the Breville on this list), but they’re hard to beat when it comes to performance and longevity.

Also worth noting: All our winners had a four-blade configuration except the Blendtec. The optimal blade design features at least two blades that point upwards—even better if two point up, and the other two down. This allows food to cycle through the blades rapidly, with maximum blade contact. Ample space between each blade ensures that large pieces won’t get stuck or clog the works.

Variable Speeds Were More Important Than Fancy Controls or Preprogrammed Settings

We’ve appreciated presets since the dawn of the microwave popcorn button, but they’re not our main concern when it comes to blenders. Sure, a smoothie or hot soup setting is nice to have, but more important is the ability to choose from a wide variety of speeds. We prefer blenders that offer the ability to start slowly, and gradually work up to a rollickingly fast pace. It may take a little trial and error to dial in your blender’s most efficient speed/time combinations, but we think the learning curve is worth the greater control. Happily, even the preprogrammed blenders on our winners list all have analog speed settings.

Clever Design Elements Went a Long Way

Here’s where the smart design features come into play. Although these elements didn’t make or break a model, they do make a difference in overall useability. We were excited by jars with clear lids that allow you to peer into the blender from above, and especially appreciated lids that lock for safe puréeing when working with hot ingredients. Tidy cord storage matters, and don’t underestimate the power of a flat-sided tamper that won’t ever roll off your counter onto the floor.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Blender

The best blenders have tall, tapered jars that create a vortex with ingredients when in use. Even better are jars with fluted edges or ridges, to increase the turbulence. Look for blenders with at least four blunt-edged blades: They will excel at crushing, pulverizing, and puréeing food. All high-quality blenders should have an analog control dial with at least 10 speeds. Preprogrammed settings for things like smoothies and hot soups are nice to have, especially if they align with how you most often use your blender. Although no blender operates silently, we favor blenders that don’t have grating, ear-shattering sound: Generally, anything under 88 decibels will be tolerable (although it’s worth noting that two of our winners do rank higher than that; it’s a tradeoff we were willing to make). Finally, consider size and weight. Heavy blenders offer greater stability but can be unwieldy to carry or move. Blenders with the tall jars we favor may be too tall to fit under some cabinets, so measure your storage and usage space before investing in one.

Our Favorite High-Speed Blenders

What we liked: This blender is easy to use straight out of the box with just an on/off switch and a 10-speed dial. The lowest settings are peacefully quiet; in fact, it was the second quietest blender according to our decibel test. The jar, which is tall, narrow, and tapered, has four blades, and although they’re not oriented in the optimal up/down configuration, they’re spaced far enough away from each other to efficiently cycle ingredients. The wide base of this blender gives it a sturdy, stable feeling on the counter; we never feared it would tip or rock, even at high speeds. There is storage underneath the blender to wrap up the cord.

The 5200 is powerful when blending hard and sticky ingredients. There was almost no pulp left behind during the almond milk test, and it blew the competition away in the smoothie test, with a beautifully smooth texture in just 30 seconds. It was also one of the most successful models at blending and cooking hot soup, with no signs of motor fatigue, even after six minutes at high speed. We especially liked that the “High” setting is a little more powerful than the tenth-speed setting, which allowed us to really juice up the motor for tough tasks. This blender is an incredible buy: An all-around solid performer for hundreds less than some we tested.

What we didn’t like: Other models performed better during the frozen margarita test. The 5200 left behind a large chunk of ice after blending. The rubber lid is opaque, and there is no locking mechanism (although it is a snug fit when clicked into place). At almost 10 pounds, the 5200 is heavy—but that does contribute to its stability.

Key Specs

• Jar capacity: 64 ounces
• Weight: 9.5 pounds
• Type of interface: Analog
• Speed settings: 10
• Warranty: 7 years 

What we liked: This powerful blender was a solid performer in both the almond milk and smoothie tests, producing smooth liquids with little to no pulp left behind. The soup was creamy and sufficiently hot. We were blown away by the 7500’s ability to turn ice cubes into a frothy, slushy margarita in under 15 seconds.

The pour spout is surrounded by a channel, which cuts back on drips and splashes. The jar is shorter and wider than that of the 5200, which gives it an edge for cooks who want to store their blenders underneath or inside a cabinet. The jar’s edges are curved; which makes scraping around the sides easy. 

What we didn’t like: The 7500 was the eighth-loudest blender we tested, with an average decibel rating of 89.7. The base and jar combined weigh a whopping 12 pounds. The lid is similar to the 5200: opaque, without a locking mechanism (that said, it’s worth noting that neither model leaked during testing). Unlike the 5200, there is no turbo-charged “high” setting.

Key Specs

• Jar capacity: 64 ounces
• Weight: 12 pounds
• Type of interface: Analog
• Speed settings: 10
• Warranty: 7 years

What we liked: The Propel 510 features 10 analog speed settings and three presets for common recipes: hot soups, smoothies, and frozen desserts. We especially liked the smoothie setting, which starts on low power for 10 seconds and then dials it up to high speed for another 45. The result was a very well-blended smoothie, with no visible flecks of kale at all. The four-pronged blade features two horizontal blades and two upwards-facing blades for maximum ingredient cycling. We enjoyed the texture of the frozen margarita, which was just slushy enough to melt on the tongue like cotton candy.

At around nine pounds, this blender is easier to lift and carry than many on our list. There’s a handy cord storage, and the base is available in four colors: black, red, white, or gray.

What we didn’t like: The Propel 510 is a pretty loud blender. Ranking in eleventh place, it just eked out of the top ten loudest models we tested. Although the almond milk we made in the Propel 510 was creamy and smooth, there was more pulp left behind than in the 7500 and 5200. It didn’t emulsify mayonnaise as well as other blenders: the texture was slightly runny. The thoroughly blended texture of the hot soup came at a price: we noticed a burnt rubber scent after seven minutes of running the motor nonstop. The square-ish spout made pouring a little dicey.

Key Specs

• Jar capacity: 48 ounces
• Weight: 7.4 pounds
• Type of interface: Analog
• Speed settings: 10, with three presets
• Warranty: 5 years

What we liked: This blender is a steal for cooks who want expertly blended food at the touch of a button. There are six unique presets: smoothies, hot soups, whole juice, batters, ice crush, and even ice cream. The digital display shows which setting is currently in use, as well as a countdown timer. There’s also an analog setting, which runs for 50 seconds at a time unless manually stopped.

The lid features a locking mechanism, although it did leak a bit during the hot soup test. Rounded corners made the jar easy to clean, and we felt confident pouring from the funneled spout. The tapered handle also added to the overall ease of maneuvering. The Total Blender Classic retails for a moderate price, but we’d quickly snap it up if we found it on sale.

What we didn’t like: Cover your ears: at 91.1 decibels, the Total Blender Classic was the third loudest we tested. (One of our testers noted it sounded like “a leaf blower.”) The blade is just two-pronged, although the U shape rectifies some of the inefficiency. The jar, at 32 ounces, borders on being inefficient, especially if you like to batch cook. There’s no cord storage, and the base has a wide bottom, which could take up valuable countertop real estate. After making a runny mayonnaise with plenty of splatter, we determined this blender is better at puréeing and pulverizing than it is at emulsifying. The warranty is only two years.

Key Specs

• Jar capacity: 32 ounces
• Weight: 7.5 pounds
• Type of interface: Analog, with digital timer
• Speed settings: 10, with pulse feature and six presets
• Warranty: 2 years

What we liked: With a decibel value of 82.1, this blender is as quiet as they come, and our top performer in that category. There are some luxe upgrades on the Super Q, including five presets. Soup, ice crush, and frozen dessert didn’t surprise us, although the option to differentiate between “smoothie” and “green smoothie” was an unexpected feature. The presence of both Cancel and Pause buttons is a helpful touch, and the LCD screen is clear and easy to read. This Super Q has an auto-clean function, which works very well.

The 68-ounce jar is the largest of any we tested: It’s very useful for batch-cooking. A personal blender cup is included, and you can also choose to upgrade your package with Breville’s Vac Q, a vacuum attachment that sits on top of the jar and removes air for a smoother blend.

What we didn’t like: All that power and finesse come at a cost: This blender is both pricey and heavy. The extra-wide base of this blender meant that the vortex motion was hard to achieve. We noticed this during the mayonnaise test, which came out runny and watery. Scraping the fluted ridges was difficult and the serrated blades present a greater potential for injury while cleaning and will get dull quicker.

Key Specs

• Jar capacity: 68 ounces
• Weight: 13 pounds
• Type of interface: Analog, with digital timer
• Speed settings: 12, with five presets
• Warranty: 10 years

The Competition

• Vitamix V1200 Super Pack: We loved this blender, but it’s no longer available.
• KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed Blender: This blender is a looker with the familiar KitchenAid “keep it on the counter” aesthetic. Beyond the various pastel base color options, it produced superior margaritas and soup. There are a handful of presets, although we wished for more than five speed settings, and thought the knob on the interface could have been more secure.
• Zwilling Enfinigy Power Blender: The ribbed jar of this blender is unique looking, which could be an asset if you want to keep it on your counter—the sleek, minimalist base is also attractive. We liked the presets and the Self Clean button, but the blender struggled to produce truly smooth, creamy recipes. There was a full quarter-cup of pulp left after straining the soup, the smoothie contained chunks of nuts, and (like many blenders we tested), failed at making mayonnaise.
• Waring Commercial Xtreme Hi-Power Blender: Although pleasingly quiet when in use, the Waring Xtreme blender is excessive in most ways. It’s a commercial-grade model, which explains the hulking 14.5-pound weight. There are only three speed settings and no presets. It performs well, creating smooth, creamy purées, but we were disturbed by the fact one of our testers burned their hand on the extremely hot metal portion of the base after making almond milk. While it produced the second-hottest soup of any model, we feel this blender offers more than the average cook needs or wants.
• Hurom Hexa Power High Speed Blender: This blender features six blades, although whether that’s really an upgrade remains questionable. The Hurom produced a chunky, unappealing frozen margarita—despite having an “ice crush” preset. The machine runs very hot. The soup was 154 degrees, and, like the Waring blender, the Hurom got uncomfortably hot to the touch after making almond milk. 
• Wolf Gourmet High-Performance Blender: This blender has that iconic “Wolf look,” with a red knob that matches its popular range. It also has a high price tag befitting the brand’s lineup. We appreciated the rounded corners of the jar and the funneled pour spout. The lid was secure, and never leaked once during testing. Unfortunately, it didn’t perform with the power we expected from a Wolf appliance. The almond milk produced a lot of unprocessed skins, the soup left behind a cup of pulp, and even the lowest speed was too fast to make a proper mayonnaise. 
• Oster Versa Professional Power Blender: This blender looks and performs like it belongs in a restaurant kitchen, with a powerful motor and burly profile. The 64-ounce capacity jar is sturdy, with a hefty handle and thick pour spout. We liked the large amount of speeds in manual mode. But it failed to emulsify mayonnaise and turned out tepid soup. The serrated blades will, as with all blades of that style, get dull with use.

FAQs

What are the smoothie blenders?

Although not common, some full-sized blenders are sold under the moniker “smoothie blender;” these are designed to pulverize frozen fruit and leafy greens, and don’t have other features that make blenders versatile. More common are blenders with a setting or two specifically for smoothies. To throw another term into the mix, personal blenders are sometimes called smoothie blenders or smoothie makers; these are designed for single-serve smoothies you can take on the go. They’re typically less powerful, with streamlined interfaces. Our favorite personal blender is the Zwilling Enfingy.

Are blender jars dishwasher-safe? 

Some manufacturers say their blender jars are dishwasher-safe, but we advise against it. Vitamix cautions against the practice, too. The prolonged exposure to water and soap could damage the gasket or loosen the internal components. Some blenders feature self-clean settings, but you can achieve the same result by blending warm, soapy water, and then running a few cycles of fresh water through the blender.

What brand of blender is good? 

Vitamix has great name recognition and a solid brand reputation—and for good reason. Our favorite blender is the Vitamix 5200, and after testing just about every model they make, we’re impressed with their quality and power. We also really like certain models from Blendtec and Breville, two of which were included on this list.

How do I choose the best blender?

The first factor you’ll need to consider is price. If it’s within your budget to spend three or four hundred dollars, we recommend investing in a high-speed blender, which has a powerful motor, plenty of speeds to choose from, and clever design features. But there are still plenty of quality mid-priced and budget blenders. If you tend to make lots of smoothies, soups, or frozen drinks, you may value a model with presets. But if you’re already comfortable with using a blender and want greater control over the texture and temperature, a blender with just a variable speed dial will work just fine.

What’s the best way to clean a blender?

We recommend rinsing the container with warm, not hot, water after each use. Add a couple of drops of dish soap to the jar and fill it halfway. Then, secure the lid and start the machine on variable speed 1, slowly increasing to variable speed 10. Run on High for 30-60 seconds. Pour the contents out, rinse thoroughly, and air dry the canister upside down. The base can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.

Why We’re the Experts

• Serious Eats maintains rigorous testing standards whenever reviewing kitchen equipment, and, as in the case of this article, we regularly retest top-performing equipment to maintain an up-to-date evaluation.
• For this article, we tested 12 different blenders across a wide variety of price points. We conducted six standardized tests, which took us over two full days to complete.
• Rochelle Bilow is Serious Eats’ commerce editor. She’s a professional writer, former line cook, and graduate of the French Culinary Institute. She has been writing about food professionally for over a decade, and reviewing kitchen equipment since 2021, including anti-fatigue mats, kitchen towels, and sous vide machines.