Best Blender: The Best Smoothi Makers

LOOKING TO JUMPSTART A NEW HEALTHY LIFESTYLE? THEN CHOOSE THE BEST SMOOTHIE MAKERS

If you're trying to introduce a new, healthy regimen, a blender or blender could be the perfect addition to your kitchen. Pair it with a basket regularly filled with fruits and vegetables, and it's easy to make low-fat smoothies in a jiffy - which is just what you need when you're trying to resist the temptation to eat these cookies. cabinet.

Smoothies may be all the rage among health-conscious types right now, but a blender is a great addition to every home. If you're struggling to get your five a day from food alone, making a smoothie filled with fresh fruits and vegetables is a quick and easy way to add a punch of needed nutrients to your daily diet. A blender can also be used to gather healthy soups and sauces throughout the year, making it twice as easy to get all the vitamins your body craves – and also twice as easy to justify the counter space your new blender will use

. See Related Best Food Processors: Save time preparing meals with these food processors from £45 Best Ice Cream Maker: Coolest Ice Cream Makers for £23

If you're not so worried about space, but worried about the extra wash you think a smoothie maker will create, there are now plenty of smart blenders that were designed with your struggles in mind. Many models now blend directly into a glass or bottle, often with a lid attached, so you can savor it right away or even save it for later, without having to deal with any additional washing.

While they all serve the same purpose — to liquefy fruits, vegetables and other solid foods into tasty soups and smoothies — there are dozens of blenders out there, each with slightly different characteristics. A good smoothie maker will make you want to use it, which in turn will help you reap all the benefits of having one, so it's worth buying a blender that you really enjoy. If you love the whole family with a smoothie habit, it's worth looking for a bigger blender that not only makes fruit and vegetable drinks, but also supports your healthy eating habits ​​and adds variety to your diet. The most powerful blenders usually prepare non-milk milk, nut butter, sauces, soups and frozen fruit desserts for the whole family. If that's what you're looking for, look for options that come with tampers or heatproof jars, as well as higher capacity and specific settings or programs.

READ NEXT: The best kitchen utensils you can buy

Not sure what features you need to look for? Scroll down and you'll find a helpful guide to what you need and what you don't need, followed by a regularly updated list of the best blenders and smoothies you can buy right now.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST BLENDER FOR YOU

What do the power numbers mean?

If you see pictures in the blender's product name, it is most likely a reference to the power of the internal motor. With high-end models tending to scream about their 1,000 W motors, you'll be forgiven for thinking power is everything - but it isn't. Often, cheap smoothie makers with low horsepower engines can produce very respectable results.

Do I need a smoothie maker with multiple speed settings?

Various speed settings give you more control when mixing. In our research, many blenders have at least two speeds, while some have programs designed for specific tasks, such as milkshakes or ice crushing. However, if your blender doesn't have an ice crusher setting, we don't recommend trying it - it can dull the blades.

What kind of jar do I need?

Plastic jars are lighter in weight, but they can also scratch and absorb odors with use. Glass jars, on the other hand, are more durable and aesthetically pleasing, but can be very heavy when filled. You'll pay a premium for high-quality, BPA-free plastics like Tritan, which are strong, light and look like glass, but offer the best of both worlds.

And cleaning?

Many blenders provide sealable, single-serving cups that you can drink directly from—this is often in addition to larger containers for making smoothies to share with others. The benefit of smaller, portable cups is that it creates less clutter. Just add the ingredients, mix them and take the cup to the gym or store it in the fridge. If you really hate the idea of ​​hand washing your blender, look for one where the items can be washed in the dishwasher and remember that it's useful if the blade is removable, as it makes thorough cleaning easier.

READ NEXT: Check out our guide to the best slow cookers you can buy

HOW DO WE TEST BLENDERS?

The main test for any smoothie maker is how well it can turn healthy, hard-to-mix ingredients into a pleasing smoothie. For this reason, we make two smoothies with each machine. The first contains kale, banana and mixed fruits. Kale, in particular, is difficult to break effectively. If the pieces of cabbage leaves left in your smoothie are too large, they will lead to an unpleasant texture and stick to your teeth.

The second smoothie is a little less healthy, but markedly tastier. There is an apple, cut into eight pieces, but with nourishing skin, an orange divided into eight segments and a chopped banana. It also has four ice cubes to thicken the smoothie (most blenders tend to handle more cubes) and is topped off with freshly squeezed orange juice. The tricky part here is dealing with the apple peel; hopefully there are a few bits left, but nothing too big and certainly (yuck) no pieces of string. If a blender can produce palatable, smooth-textured results with these ingredients, it's likely to get our seal of approval.

THE BEST BLENDERS YOU CAN BUY

1. BREVILLE BLEND ACTIVE PERSONAL: THE BEST BLENDER UNDER £30

You really don't have to spend a lot to get a blender that does a great job. With a choice of lime green, pink and orange models, the Breville Active Personal is more neon running shoes than stylish kitchen appliances - although it's also a more elegant blue - but at this price, the Breville Blend Active Personal is something a robbery.

It may not scale the perfect smoothie-making heights of Sage The Boss to Go (see below), but it consistently produces good smoothies again and again. It comes with two plastic bottles with easy-to-seal flaps, so you can create your fruit-based creations without having to pick up a glass. Sure, you might have to blend your creations for a little more than some of their more expensive rivals, but if you just want tasty smoothies without the expense, this is your blender. Read our full personal review of Breville Blend Active

2. SAGE FROM HESTON BLUMENTHAL THE CHIEF: THE BEST BLENDER UNDER £100

If you really love your smoothies, you owe it to yourself to save for Boss To Go. According to the rest of Sage's Heston Blumenthal-approved cookware range, this extravagant-looking blender is an above-average cut - and also its price.

However, for your money, you get a very elegant and well-built blender. The brushed aluminum looks smart and elegant, and the two thick plastic cups are as tough and tough as you could ask for. However, activate the Boss to Go 1000W motor, which cycles through fruits and vegetables to create delicious, smooth smoothies in a matter of seconds - this is a very fast blender.

There are much cheaper blenders here, but if you want the best, it's worth a try. Read our full Sage by Heston Blumenthal the Boss To Go review

3. SALTER NUTRI PRO 1000: THE BEST BLENDER UNDER 50LBS

You know a blender means business when the manual proudly claims it has 'Super Charged 25,000 RPM 1000W Power' and the Salter doesn't disappoint. This smart-looking blender really hits the mark.

Thanks to a substantial price cut since launch, you're getting a £150 blender. It also looks expensive, with a big, heavy base that houses the 1,000W super motor. You also get three mixing cups: two 800ml thick cups and a third taller one liter cup for when you really want a frenzy of fruit smoothies.

The blend's performance puts Nutri Pro not far from the best we've tested. It struggles a bit with tough leaves like kale, and requires a little more than a few to create a perfect texture if you use the larger one-quart cup, but give it an extra twist and the results are worth the wait. The only downside? This is a noisy blender. If you can find a song, you will be advised to buy it over the other models here.