January, with its triple threat of the dreary Ds: diets, dankness and darkness, can feel like it lasts for ever. Believe it or not, a decent blender can help offset the misery of two of those Ds, by blitzing up nutritious smoothies to keep you off the booze and wholesome soups that can help you eat more healthily without resorting to freezing-cold salads.
Unlike many other kitchen appliances, most blenders are incredibly economical to run – useful post-Christmas – while some can even heat your soup for tuppence. However, the difference in functions, versatility and maintenance can be startling. That is why I put nine blenders from some of the most well-known manufacturers through their paces to separate the smooth operators from the far-from-brilliant buys.
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At a glance
Best blender overall:
Braun PowerBlend 9 jug blender JB9040BK
£124 at AmazonBest budget blender:
Kenwood Blend-X Fresh blender BLP41.A0GO
£44.99 at KenwoodBest stick blender:
KitchenAid Go cordless hand blender
£219 at KitchenAidBest investment blender:
Vitamix Explorian E520
£444.46 at Donaghy Bros
Why you should trust me
I’ve spent decades testing appliances: my kitchen has hosted hundreds. So unsurprisingly, I know what I like in a blender. I’m looking for frighteningly sharp blades. All the parts that come into contact with food should be simple to handwash or dunk in the dishwasher because I have minimal patience for cleaning. My ideal blender should be able to tackle frozen chunks of fruit or veg (for when I haven’t had time to shop for fresh) and be easy to scrape out or, in the case of personal blenders, be easy to drink from.
How I tested
I’m something of a smoothie convert. I’ve been on the green stuff daily ever since I tested my first blender. For me, the average smoothie consists of whatever fruit I have, spinach, a dash of ginger and flaxseed (I’ve tried broccoli, but even the smallest floret makes the smoothie taste funky). Sometimes, when I feel like living dangerously, I throw in a dollop of yoghurt too.
To test the blenders, I made my usual drink, substituting fresh spinach for frozen to test the sharpness of the blades, and adding apple to detect fruit skin, orange for any remaining pith, kiwi for its many seeds and banana. I used whole flaxseed to assess the ability to grind and turmeric to assess the potential risk of staining, plus enough water to fill the containers at least halfway. All while casually Googling whether you can overdose on vitamin C (answer: you can but it’s hard), because I’m fairly certain you’re not meant to drink smoothies in pints.
Each blender was also tested on its ability to turn chunky soup into smooth, taking on a mix of cooked veg including red pepper, beans and pasta. For those that heated soup, this was done from chilled and the resulting temperature was taken at the end of the cycle. A power meter measured the running cost of each on the highest setting for a minute, using the average electricity cost of 25p a kWh. I tested nine blenders in total (causing a ton of washing-up, if you’re interested). The blenders sourced for this article will either be returned to their sources or donated to the British Heart Foundation.
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The best blenders in 2025
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Best blender overall:
Braun PowerBlend 9 jug blender JB9040BK
If you’d told me a blender that cost less than £200 would impress me most during testing I might have choked on my smoothie. Yet, the PowerBlend 9 did just that. It has a great mix of programs, including a cleaning setting that was good at flushing out debris from around the blades, and a smoothie program that gave a choice of different textures.
Why we love it
The PowerBlend 9 excels in most areas. It has a large enough jug to be useful when whipping up soup for a family, a count-up/down timer and enough auto settings for keen cooks. The performance was excellent when making smoothies: in less than a minute all traces of the spinach were gone and the drink was free of seeds, skin or lumps. It comes with a tamper so you can make frozen desserts easily, too.
As well as blitzing soup, the blender heats it using the friction of the blades. In just five minutes and 45 seconds, I heated it to 94C (if anything, this is slightly too hot, but it would cool down rapidly if poured into a cold bowl). This used 0.106kWh, costing about 2p.
Unlike when testing the other blenders, my power meter detected that the PowerBlend 9 was drawing a small amount of electricity when the screen was on but the blender wasn’t in use. Always remember to turn it off at the switch. Only some parts are dishwasher safe: the lid, measuring cap and detachable blades. But the Clean program, plus a quick rinse afterwards, helps keep the jug clean.
It’s a shame that … it emits an ear-splitting whine on the highest settings that can clear a room of people in seconds.
Running cost an hour on maximum: 24p (0.016p a minute = 0.96kWh)
Maximum capacity: 3 litres (working capacity 2 litres)
Auto functions: smoothie, soup, chop, ice crush, frozen dessert, spread, clean
Dishwasher safe: lid, measuring cap and detachable blades only (but no mention of this in instructions yet online listing says yes)
Spare parts: available at 4 Braun Household
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Best budget blender:
Kenwood Blend-X Fresh blender BLP41.A0GO
While this may not be the best blender you can buy, the Blend-X Fresh is excellent value for money. It has three speeds, as well as a pulse setting, and a dedicated ice-crush button. The jug has a good family-size capacity and the running costs are low.
Why we love it
The Blend-X Fresh is surprisingly easy to keep clean for a budget model – so much so that it’s the main reason it made our selection. Its blades unscrew, so you can make sure there’s no food residue hiding underneath them. They’re easily reattached, screwing in the opposite direction to which you twist the jug into the base, meaning you won’t accidentally leave them behind after blending. The jug is quite light, too – meaning it’s not too heavy to carry around even when it’s full.
Its performance was solid during testing: after a minute’s blending, most seeds vanished into the smoothie. While there were slight flecks of fruit skin, all the frozen spinach was incorporated. The soup was blended in only 30 seconds and was beautifully smooth, with just a little remaining pepper skin that had escaped the blades. It was quite noisy on the higher speeds.
It’s a shame that … its lid feels flimsier than the rest; used regularly, this is probably the part you’ll end up replacing.
Running cost an hour on maximum: 8p (0.005p a minute = 0.3kWh)
Maximum capacity: two litres (working capacity 1.5 litres)
Auto functions: none
Dishwasher safe: yes, but blades detach to be cleaned by hand
Spare parts: available at 4 Kenwood
£44.99 at Kenwood
£44.99 at Currys
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Best stick blender:
KitchenAid Go cordless hand blender plus accessories with battery
It’s expensive for a stick blender, but KitchenAid’s Go justifies the price tag by being seriously versatile. Cordless – so there’s no need to be tied to a socket when blending – and immersible, it’s ideal for blitzing soup that’s still in the pot (a pan guard ensures it won’t scratch the base), as well as multiple other processing tasks. If you already have the compatible battery, you can subtract £30 from the price.
Why we love it
This one made the list for its flexibility and ease of storage. Not only can it be used anywhere in your kitchen but it can also whisk, chop and mix as well as blend. I was impressed that it could tackle frozen and fresh ingredients, as hand blenders rarely have the power to do so. The smoothie had a little residue remaining, with the kiwi seeds mostly escaping the blades, and it was frothier than I like, but overall the performance was good for a stick blender. It excelled at blending soup: there were no lumps remaining and no pepper skin, and it took only about 15 seconds to puree it.
There are a couple of downsides. There’s only one speed – meaning it can be tricky to control consistency at first – and having the battery on top makes it weighty: not something you’d want to hold upright for a long time.
It’s a shame that … it’s awkward to depress two buttons at once – the unlock and power buttons – so it takes some getting used to.
Running cost an hour on maximum: cordless so unavailable (three-hour recharge estimated to be just under 2p)
Maximum capacity: one litre (supplied jug)
Auto functions: none
Dishwasher safe: yes, most parts (blender arm is handwash only)
Spare parts: extra and spare parts are available at KitchenAid online (contact the company directly for smaller parts), and it can arrange repairs
£219 at KitchenAid
£149.95 without battery at Harts of Stur
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Best investment blender:
Vitamix Explorian E520
There’s no getting away from it, Vitamix blenders are pricey. The Explorian E520 I reviewed is the most expensive blender in this roundup – but the brand’s machines offer a lot in return. The E520, for example, has 10 speeds, a pulse and three settings that will heat soup and deliver silky-smooth smoothies. Its seven-year warranty adds confidence that this blender will keep performing efficiently.
Why we love it
The Explorian E520 is made for smoothies: its dedicated setting resulted in the best smoothie overall, starting at a slow speed before ramping up to a noisy whirl. In 50 seconds it created a flawlessly smooth drink – no lumps, no skin, no seeds. It also performed excellently when heating and blending soup using the dedicated setting. This lasted for five minutes and 49 seconds – using 0.094kWh, which would cost about 2p, the same cost as the Braun reviewed above. Unlike the Braun blender, though, the resulting soup was a little cooler, at 82C from chilled, so you won’t have to wait too long for it to be a suitable consumption temperature.
It’s a shame that … buying the Explorian E520 will dent your small appliance budget. But just think of all the money you’ll save on frozen yoghurt.
Running cost an hour on maximum: 21p (0.014p a minute = 0.84kWh)
Maximum capacity: 2 litres
Auto functions: smoothie, frozen dessert, hot soup
Dishwasher safe: yes, all parts, but can also run self clean on the base
Spare parts: compatible lids are available as spare parts, as are extra jugs with lids, plus repairs are available via authorised centres. If under warranty, they can be repaired or replaced without cost. Spare parts can be found on the Vitamix site
£444.46 at Donaghy Bros
£449 at Juicers.co.uk
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The best of the rest
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Russell Hobbs Desire matte charcoal jug blender
Best for: blending newbies
If you’re not sure how much use you’ll get out of a full-sized blender, the Russell Hobbs Desire is a good one to start with. That’s because it’s affordable and has a good working capacity (1.5 litres), along with a choice of two speeds and pulse. It can be cleaned in the dishwasher – although handwashing is recommended – and it performs reasonably well.
In testing, the smoothie it made wasn’t entirely smooth after a minute of blending, but it did well with cooled soup: 30 seconds on the top speed was enough for a fairly consistent result.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it has a heavy glass jug and isn’t suitable for hot liquid blending.
Running cost an hour on maximum: 11p (0.007p a minute = 0.42kWh); maximum capacity: 1.5 litres; auto functions: none; dishwasher safe: yes but handwashing recommended
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Cuisinart Cordless On The Go blender
Best for: taking to the office
Cordless, compact and convenient, Cuisinart’s Cordless On The Go blender has a lot you’ll love, from a handy recipe book in the box to the useful carry handle on the cup’s lid. A two-hour charge is enough for eight smoothies, so you can go more than a week without thinking about a socket, and it’ll switch off automatically after blending for a minute.
However, unlike the KitchenAid Go blender I tested, this cordless design lacks power: the smoothie still had fruit residue and kiwi seeds, and the soup was smooth but had visible herbs after a minute’s blitz.
It didn’t make the final cut because … its cup is fairly large for a personal blender, but the maximum fill line is low, so you’ll only be able to blitz a smaller amount of liquid at a time – it’s on the small side for a standard smoothie. Even the Ninja Blast had a bigger capacity and it’s a smaller machine.
Running cost an hour on maximum: cordless so unavailable; maximum capacity: 450ml working capacity; auto functions: none; dishwasher safe: yes but blades are handwash only
£60 at Cuisinart
£19.99 at Amazon
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ProCook blender and smoothie maker
Best for: busy families
For those who like the Vitamix but not the price tag, ProCook’s blender is a good choice. There’s a tamper to nudge frozen food towards the blades, 10 speeds and a juice program that also works for smoothies. The smoothie I made was perfectly smooth with only a little texture remaining, and I had the same result for soup.
The blender feels robust, and I liked the illuminated dial when selecting a program. The vented lid allows you to blend hot liquids, although it won’t heat soup, and it has a two-litre jug that’s relatively lightweight when full. It is, however, noisy on the top speeds, and handwash-only, so keep it out of your dishwasher.
It didn’t make the final cut because … three programs felt skimpy compared with other models, especially as pulse and ice crush are similar processes. And dishwasher devotees will be disappointed.
Running cost an hour on maximum: 18p (0.015p a minute = 0.9kWh); maximum capacity: 2 litres; auto functions: juice, ice crush, pulse; dishwasher safe: no, handwash only
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Nutribullet Magic Bullet starter kit
Best for: small kitchens
Affordable and easy to store, the latest version of the Magic Bullet combines everything that made the original appealing with a more pocket-friendly price tag. However, it lags behind more advanced personal blenders somewhat. I was disappointed with how little guidance there was for making smoothies, and that both of the cups in this set are quite small: the tallest is only 680ml, with a smaller working capacity.
The smoothie I made had some visible apple skin and seeds after a minute of blending, and the lid was awkward to drink from because the cover had to be held open. Soup was smooth, though, and I liked that food could be blended for as long as required by locking the cup in place.
It didn’t make the final cut because … the instructions recommended replacing the blades every six months, which doesn’t inspire much confidence in their longevity.
Running cost an hour on maximum: 5p (0.003p a minute = 0.18kWh); maximum capacity: 680ml; auto functions: none; dishwasher safe: yes but the power base that holds the blades is handwash only
£24.99 at Nutribullet
£24.99 at Amazon
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Ninja Blast cordless portable blender BC151UKNV
Best for: gym workouts
Taking the title of Ninja’s most compact and quietest blender, this mini marvel is definitely one to pop in your gym bag. It’s an on-the-go blender rather than a kitchen workhorse, offering 30-second bursts of shake and smoothie making for a pre- or post-workout boost. That does mean its capacity is fairly limited – about 450ml max – but there’s enough power to tackle frozen lumps.
The smoothie I made had some fruit skin and seeds left behind, but all traces of the frozen spinach had gone. It was less suitable for soup: a minute of blending worked through all the lumps but there was more texture than with other blenders, and the cup size was limiting. I liked that the vessel and lid were dishwasher-safe, though, and it was easy to drink from.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it doesn’t have quite enough power to blitz seeds and different types of fruit to a silky-smooth consistency.
Running cost an hour on maximum: cordless so unavailable; maximum capacity: 470ml working capacity; auto functions: none; dishwasher safe: yes, but the motor base (blades are integral) must be rinsed/cleaned by hand
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What you need to know
Blenders all do roughly the same thing – blend – but their capacity, power and how they do it vary. This means that finding the blender that’s best for you depends on what you’re most likely to use it for and how often.
Blenders v food processors
If you have room for only one appliance on your worktop, and it’s between a food processor and a blender, think about the tasks you’ll need it to tackle.
Food processors are geared towards chopping, slicing, mixing and whipping, as well as processing dry food, such as bread into breadcrumbs, whereas blenders are better for liquids, including batters, drinks, smoothies and soups.
There may be some crossover: food processors with blender attachments, or blenders with a chopping container. However, these can lack power or not possess the same versatility as a dedicated appliance (for example, there may be only one speed on a blender attachment).
What type of blender do you need?
Blenders usually fit into one of three categories:
Jug-style blenders are good for keen cooks and those who batch cook or make smoothie bowls, milkshakes or smoothies for a family or crowd. A full-sized jug blender is ideal for whipping up sauces, pancake batter, soups, nut butter, non-dairy milk, ice-cream, cocktails or mocktails and desserts.
Personal blenders are usually smaller, with on-the-go cups. They’re best for smoothies and other drinks, with enough capacity for one or two people. Smaller households may be able to use one for most everyday blending. Most aren’t suitable for hot liquids, and they tend not to have enough capacity to blend a batch of soup.
Stick blenders are best for blending directly in a pan, bowl or jug without having to transfer the contents into a full-sized blender. They’re great for speedy blending of soups, stews and desserts, but less suitable for convenient daily smoothies.
How much should you spend, and what are the key features to look for?
You can pick up a basic jug-style blender for as little as £25, but it may lack power. You may also find that blades and other removable parts may not last as long if it’s in use every day. Thinner plastic jugs and lids tend to be more prone to breakage, so it’s worth investing in a blender with a robust thick plastic or glass jug if you can, and a snugly fitting lid. For a longer lifespan, clean the parts by hand rather than in the dishwasher. A combination of hot temperatures and the slightly abrasive nature of dishwasher detergents tend to wear away at parts faster than if you wash them by hand.
Personal blenders tend to be cheaper, starting from £20. Affordable options can be low power, though, so check the wattage. From £50 upwards, the price is usually dictated by the number of accessories. The same goes for stick blenders: as little as £15 will buy you one, but you’ll need to spend more like £30-60 if you need a lot of power or accessories.
If you’re keen to save and don’t need a box-fresh appliance, a refurbished or returned blender could be a good option. Try Amazon’s Second Chance store; direct from the retailer, such as Vitamix’s reconditioned blenders; or a specialist refurbished retailer, such as Back Market.
For any refurbished appliance, check that it comes with a warranty and customer support in case of any problems (a phone number or chat facility is good; a form or email address less so). Also, check the product is in good order before you start to use it: don’t worry about minor scratches on parts that aren’t in contact with food, but return appliances if the jug or containers have chips or cracks. Likewise, if power cables show any damage, return the item without using it.
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Rachel Ogden has worked as a consumer journalist for decades, becoming an expert unboxer before it was a thing, although she’s much less successful at repacking. Her home has hosted hundreds of small appliances from blenders and air fryers to robot vacuums. Outside you’ll find her messing about with pizza ovens, barbecues and heaters. Unsurprisingly, it takes a lot to impress her – many have tried and failed
