The best blenders

A solid blender makes all the difference in the kitchen. A go-to for sauces, smoothies, purees, and other meal needs, a quality blender can help whip, pulverize, and portion the necessary ingredients for your next entree. It should also do so quietly and efficiently. High-end or budget, you can find the perfect blender for your needs. From the personal models, which whip up small batches in a to-go cup, to versatile all-around units, there’s something for everyone on our list. But make sure you know the differences between blenders and food processors before you buy.

We’ve also found some of the best blender deals going on right now from a variety of Cyber Monday sales across the web.

The best overall: Blendtec Designer Series

Sure, there are fancier blenders out there, but few people want or need to spend their entire paycheck on a glorified smoothie and protein shake machine. Thankfully, Blendtec’s Designer Series offers a ton of awesome features and add-ons. The Designer’s custom, carbon-steel bearings keep the motor running quietly and efficiently, reducing wear and tear so you won’t have to get a replacement anytime soon. Cold-forged, stainless-steel blades with vertical wingtips whip around at dizzying speed, and the digital display features a timer to tell you exactly how long your blend will take.

Blendtec’s unique Wildside jar prevents thicker blends from getting clumped up at the bottom, while capacitive, ultra-responsive touch controls allow you to adjust speeds on the fly with a mere touch of your finger. The Designer — this version, anyway — is also fairly compact, so it should fit underneath most wall-mounted cabinets, even with the jar attached. It even comes with a handy-dandy cookbook.

The best quiet blender: Breville Super Q Blender

Breville is known for its sleek, high-tech products, and the Super Q Blender is no exception. It sports an attractive exterior, an 1,800-watt motor (some models have a 2,400-watt motor), and a blade that can reach 186 mph (300 mph for higher-tier models) without breaking a sweat. Somehow, it can do all that while still being one of the quietest blenders on our list.

The extra-easy controls include 12-speed settings and “texture” controls for creating various concoctions (your own butter, for example), and several one-touch programs for smoothies, soups, crushing ice, and other common tasks. If you opt for the vacuum pump accessory, it will make your drink creations with better textures, brighter colors, and fresher flavor profiles. We also found the blender and parts easy to clean.

The kit that comes with the Breville Q is also ideal for all kinds of personal uses. There is a personal mug that you can use as a blender cup to mix in favorite ingredients for a quick smoothie, plus a variety of tamping and cleaning tools — and an intelligent base that is smart enough to know what receptacle you’re using and adjusts itself accordingly.

The best budget blender: Ninja Master Prep Professional

Ninja’s Master Prep Professional is cool, compact, and cost-conscious — great for college students or those who just don’t want to splurge on a blender. The 450-watt power pod holds up to 48 ounces of material, and the 40-ounce food processing bowl is perfect for dicing veggies or making chunky dips and sauces. There’s also a 16-ounce chopping bowl for salads. Convenient storage lids snap onto the Master Prep’s chambers for safe refrigeration, and all the containers are both BPA-free and dishwasher safe. This isn’t a heavy-duty blender, so don’t buy it expecting to puree root vegetables or blend for several minutes on end, but it’s an excellent value for those that just want the occasional milkshake or hummus spread.

Other than the Ninja Master Prep Professional, you can also take a look at some of the best Ninja deals we’ve found going on right now for a discount.

The best high-end blender: Vitamix Professional 750

Unfortunately, top-of-the-line appliances often command a top-of-the-line price. Vitamix is one of the world’s most respected blender manufacturers, and the Professional 750 is just about the best of the best. The 64-ounce jar is big enough to hold several smoothies’ worth of ingredients at once, and the blender has several pre-programmed settings for different purposes, all of which can be adjusted for speed (the dial runs from 1 to 10). Sound-dampening technology also ensures that the 750 won’t blow your eardrums out during use, and the self-cleaning feature is a godsend; simply drop in some water and dish soap, run the sucker for a minute, and it will be ready for whatever comes next. The 750 even includes a seven-year warranty, but it’s unlikely you’ll need it given the device’s durability.

Aside from the Professional 750, we’ve found some of the best Vitamix deals from across the web to help you save on one of these great kitchen appliances.

As featured in Money.com’s “Best Blenders List”

The best personal blender: Magic Bullet NutriBullet

Maybe you don’t want to sacrifice counter space for your new blender, or you don’t need to make complex recipes for multiple people. Maybe you just want a capable blender that can whip up a smoothie in a couple of seconds before you walk out the door in the morning.

The Magic Bullet is a hassle-free contraption that can satisfy your basic blending needs. While 250 watts may not sound like much, this very capable blender can whip up insanely good batches of hummus, creams, juices, and sauces alongside your typical fruit smoothie. Clean-up is as easy as rinsing the pitcher with soap and water, and the blender also comes with a couple of extra cups, so you can take your drinks to go.

The most versatile blender: Ninja Mega Kitchen System

If you don’t want to make a choice between a food processor and a blender, then the Ninja’s Mega Kitchen System might be for you. It comes with a gigantic 72-ounce pitcher, two 16-ounce blend cups, and a food processor bowl, all of which fits onto the 1,500-watt blend base (though not all at the same time).

The Ninja only takes seconds to pulverize ingredients for soup purees, make salad dressing, or chop vegetables. The impressive 2-horsepower motor is loud, but it allows you to pump out a party’s-worth of frozen margaritas in record time.

The Ninja Mega Kitchen System comes with individual blend cups that make it easy to clean, but you’ll want to reach for the pitcher if you have a big party to feed. It’s also big enough for a batch of homemade cookie dough.

The best hand blender: Mueller Austria Immersion Hand Blender

If you’re not happy unless you have complete control of your sauces and spreads, this 500-watt immersion hand blender has what you’re looking for. It has a handle with an ergonomic grip, so you won’t get any cramps while you blend everything you need for the perfect dish.

The blender sports two main speeds, with up to eight different variable adjustments for each of the two presets. The S blade made of stainless steel is the perfect solution to your mincing and dicing needs. Its motor is encased in copper, so your Mueller is sure to last at least three times longer than other hand blenders on the market.

TheMueller blender is ideal for cooks who aren’t interested in lugging around a massive blender. Due to its size, it’s perfect even when you’re using a few select ingredients to whip up a simple recipe. Mueller Austria made a simple, efficient blender with this model.