The best smoothie makers for creating fruity drinks at home, because every kitchen needs one
The best smoothie makers are, without a doubt, a saving grace in any kitchen if you're after a quick and healthy fix. Ideal for sipping alongside your breakfast or lunch (or even just as a nutritious snack), smoothies are the perfect way to cram in your five a day.
I can’t be the only one who turns to my blender after overindulging at the weekend? Especially when I realise the several takeaways I’ve consumed were all the same colour (beige) and I’m in need of some nutrients. A good ol’ smoothie is sure to set me right... and while you might not feel the need to invest in one of those industrial – and rather scary – looking food processors, your life can be enhanced in seconds with the help of a nifty smoothie maker. Luckily, there are a whole plethora of styles on the market.
Owning a top-rated smoothie maker is a non-negotiable in any modern kitchen, so if you’re bumbling through life with one that gives up halfway through blending – or that sprays more of the contents on your walls – now is the time to invest. Why? Summer is the best time for smoothies, especially when it’s too hot to consume anything warmer than ice. If you want to impress your friends, too, a fancy smoothie bowl with all the trimmings would go down a treat on your Instagram feed.
While munching on a banana or picking at some strawberries is obviously delicious, actually blending them together and drinking them is a whole other story. It’ll open your eyes to a brand new world of ingredients and combinations – once you start making smoothies you won’t be able to stop. Trust me. The great thing is that you can make a big batch and keep it in your fridge for a few days too, so you won’t have to worry about your apples going mushy before you’ve had time to eat them.
What is the best smoothie maker on the market? And is Ninja or NutriBullet better?!
NutriBullet has reigned supreme for a while now – a simple way to introduce blended fruits and vegetables into your diet without spending a fortune. Amazon stocks the PRO 900-series NutriBullet at the moment, a smoothie maker which generates 50% more power than previous NutriBullet models, thanks to the 900-watt motor. The powerful extractor blades and cyclonic action bursts open seeds, crack through stems, and shred tough fruit skins with ease to get the most out of your fruit and vegetables. The slimline design is ideal for smaller kitchens as it won’t take up too much space on your countertop or in your cupboard, plus you can drink straight out of one of two different sized cups that everything is blended into to save on washing up! Ideal. It’s perfect for making other cool beverages such as juices, protein shakes or sports drinks, too.
Elsewhere, Ninja is another force to be reckoned with. The Ninja Auto IQ Food Processor and Blender from Argos is bulkier than a NutriBullet but is capable of producing much larger smoothie batches. Three appliances in one, it chops, slices, grates and mixes everything you could ever dream of with its interchangeable attachments. Plus, it comes with a cup you can blend straight into to enjoy a smoothie on the go.
After more kitchen content? Take a look at our round-ups of juicers and cookware sets to upgrade your home with, plus we’ve got kettles, drinking glasses, non-stick frying pans and coffee machines to add to cart. While you’re here, there’s also reusable products to be more sustainable, the best BBQs and the best dinnerware sets to spruce up your dinner parties.
For more from GLAMOUR UK's Associate Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.
Scroll down for our selection of the best smoothie makers money can buy.
Smoothie makers: Cuisinart Cordless
Cuisinart Cordless On The Go Blender, £100, Selfridges
Why we love it: Whether you’re partial to a smoothie first thing in the morning or a post-workout protein shake, Cuisinart is on hand with its Cordless On The Go blender to keep you fuelled up. Complete with a handy drinking lid – so you can enjoy your freshly blitzed snack on the go – it’s designed to sit neatly on your kitchen surface without a lead in sight. The best part? When it’s time for a charge, the battery indicators will light up – clever, right?
Pros: Great for kitchens with minimal outlets and for travelling abroad with a USB lead.
Cons: Only 450ml capacity for twice than the price of some similar, more budget models.
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Smoothie makers: NutriBullet
NutriBullet PRO 900-series, £89.99, Amazon
Why we love it: NutriBullet has reigned supreme for a while now – a simple way to introduce blended fruits and vegetables into your diet without spending a fortune. The PRO 900-series completely breaks down your food, liquefying and mixing together all the essential nutrition. It’s perfect for making other cool beverages such as juices, protein shakes or sports drinks too. The slimline design is ideal for smaller kitchens as it won’t take up too much space on your countertop or in your cupboard, plus you can drink straight out of the cup everything is blended into to save on washing up! Ideal.
Pros: This 900-series bullet blender has 50% more power than previous models for smooth drinks on the go in minimal time.
Cons: Some reviews claim that it's hard to clean all of the smoothie out of certain parts of the cup.
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Best portable smoothie maker
Nutribullet GO Cordless Blender, WAS £49.99 NOW £29.99, Nutribullet
Why we love it: With only 2,000 RPM less than the original 600W Nutribullet (at 20k RPM), the Nutribullet GO is a powerful piece of kit, promising to make “silky smooth” drinks for you on the move.
Pros: Tritan casing means it's practically unbreakable and it'll blend for up to 20 sessions before it needs recharging.
Cons: Can't crush ice.
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Smoothie makers: Vitamix
Vitamix Explorian E310 Blender, £399, Selfridges
Why we love it: Small in size but super potent, you can use this style to blend soups, whip up ice cream or mix fruits into smoothies. We love a multi-tasker. It has a 1.4 litre container and ten different speeds to refine every texture, from chunky salsas to smooth deserts.
Pros: Is able to clean itself with a drop of washing up liquid, some water and a quick whizz in the mixer itself.
Cons: Clunky design.
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Smoothie makers: Magimix
Magimix Le Blender 11610, £159, Amazon
Why we love it: This retro-looking blender is a great addition to any kitchen. With its heat resistant glass jug and its special BlenderMix system, it's a versatile machine that can be used to blend a variety of things from smoothies to soups.
Pros: A great power blender that can crush ice and make ice cream, and has a pulse setting for bigger chunks.
Cons: Doesn't work as well with peanut and other nut butter.
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Smoothie makers: Breville
Breville Blend Active Compact Food Processor and Smoothie Maker, £35, Amazon
Why we love it: As well as blending scrumptious smoothies, this Breville design is also capable of making fresh dips and sauces, chopping vegetables, and even making cake mix! You wouldn't think this small gadget would be so capable, but it is.
Pros: Works great with protein shakes and leafy greens, for those just in need of a relatively simple function on a budget.
Cons: No measurement markings.
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Smoothie makers: Vitamix
Vitamix Ascent 2300i Multipurpose Blender, £499, Selfridges
Why we love it: Small in size but super potent, you can use this style to blend soups, whip up ice cream or mix fruits into smoothies. We love a multi-tasker. It has a 1.4 litre container and ten different speeds to refine every texture, from chunky salsas to smooth deserts.
Pros: In-built safety features ideal for families with small children and a timer to allow buyers to monitor their food and drink. Plus, it can successfully make ice cream.
Cons: An expensive gadget and, with a big base, one that will take up quite a lot of space on your worktop.
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Smoothie makers: Ninja
Ninja BN800UK Auto IQ Food Processor and Blender, £200, Argos
Why we love it: Ninja is a force to be reckoned with. This Auto IQ Food Processor and Blender from Argos is bulkier than a NutriBullet but is capable of producing a lot more too. Three appliances in one, it chops, slices, grates and mixes everything you could ever dream of with its interchangeable attachments, plus it comes with a cup you can blend straight into to enjoy a smoothie on the go.
Pros: Great for those tight on countertop space, the Ninja Auto IQ won't struggle to pulse, blend, process, chop, slice – you name it, it can do it (yes, including crushing ice). Plus, it's great for buyers who want to blend their own nut butter, as the Ninja is comfortable working without any liquids.
Cons: Can't make ice cream, like some similar hi-tech models.
We have Argos discount codes and Amazon discount codes to use before you checkout the best smoothie makers.
Smoothie makers: Ninja
Ninja QB3001UKS Slim Blender and Smoothie Maker, £50, Argos
Why we love it: Ninja's QB3001UKS Blender pulses and blends super-smooth, delicious drinks and smoothies in seconds. Easily blend whole fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and even ice, with a powerful 700-watt motor. You can blend straight into the travel cup, add the Sip & Seal lid and enjoy your drink on the go.
Pros: One of the best blenders in terms of the blending cup itself being leakproof and, for the price, it does a lot, including crushing ice and being dishwasher safe.
Cons: Not suitable for hot liquids and some reviews claim it doesn't work as well with tough ingredients.
We have Argos discount codes and Amazon discount codes to use before you checkout the best smoothie makers.
Smoothie makers: Russell Hobbs
Russell Hobbs 25960 Go Create 1.5L Jug Blender, £34, Argos
Why we love it: Robust, easy to assemble and simple to use, this blender is a must in any kitchen. Developed for optimum blending, the large 1.5-litre plastic jug is lightweight and resilient. It features a removable stainless-steel blade which, combined with a 500w motor, two variable speed settings and a pulse function, can deal with a multitude of blending tasks. Create delicious smoothies and sauces in minutes.
Pros: With blades designed to blitz and two different speed settings for thicker and silkier blends, the Go Create is a top pick for veg gazpacho lovers, protein smoothie makes and those looking to get their 5-a-day through smoothies. Plus, it has a three-year warranty and the ease of use is incomparable compared to some of the heftier machines.
Cons: Not suitable for hot liquids.
We have Argos discount codes and Amazon discount codes to use before you checkout the best smoothie makers.
Smoothie makers: Tefal
Tefal Perfect Mix+ 2L Glass Jug Blender, £64, Argos
Why we love it: Whether it's preparing smoothies or crushing ice for cocktails with friends, the Tefal Perfect Mix+ is powerful enough to tackle it all. Powelix Blade Technology gives you super-smooth results in a super speedy time. It also features an air cooling system to prevent over heating.
Pros: Higher RPM than the Nutribullet blender for a fraction of the price and is dishwasher safe, thermoresistant for hot liquids and can crush ice cubes.
Cons: Some reviews claim it's quite heavy.
We have Argos discount codes and Amazon discount codes to use before you checkout the best smoothie maker.
Smoothie makers: Sage
Sage SBL920BSS Super Q Food Blender, £599, Currys
Why we love it: A commercial-grade blender designed for the home kitchen. The Super Q delivers an advanced texture optimisation for smoother and softer textures courtesy of a powerful motor, pitcher recognition and noise suppression technology. The 2400-watt output can tackle the coarsest ingredients and the 186mph blade tip speed makes it possible to stir, mix, chop, blend, puree and mill to help you achieve the right consistency for your makings.
Pros: Has a whopping 12 speed settings and preset programmes so you don't have to faff around.
Cons: Sometimes wobbles a little on your countertops due to the oscillation function.
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Smoothie makers: Smeg
Smeg BLF01PBUK '50s Retro Style Food Blender, £179, John Lewis
Why we love it: The powerful 800-watt motor makes easy work of blending frozen fruit and vegetables while the crushed ice and smoothie function make the task of producing your morning juice a breeze. This model is perfect for making soups and salsas as well as purees and smoothies, and with four different speed settings plus an extra pulse mode you can choose the consistency of your meal. Winning.
Pros: Has a handy pour spout to minimise spillages and you can claim a free bottle-to-go through the brand's current promotion.
Cons: The jug is made of plastic.
Check out our John Lewis discount codes and Amazon discount codes before you buy a smoothie maker!
Smoothie makers: Dunelm
500W Grey Table Blender, £26.50, Dunelm
Why we love it: Designed with a 1.5 litre capacity and 500w power output, this blender features modern chrome detailing and comes complete with two speed settings, a pulse function and a full copper motor and thermo fuse.
Pros: One of the best smoothie makers for making soups and sauces as it has integrated safety features to shut off if it overheats.
Cons: Some reviews claim it's slightly noisy when whizzing.
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Smoothie makers: Dunelm
300W Grey Table Blend and Go Blender, £20, Dunelm
Why we love it: The perfect alternative to pricier styles, this nifty little smoothie maker from Dunelm will still provide you with the fresh goods. It features a 500ml tritan cup too, so you can pour your smoothie straight in and get going.
Pros: One of our top picks as a personal blender, the Dunelm Blend and Go blender is very accessibly priced and, for that budget price, features quite durable bottles so you can carry your green smoothie on the go at ease.
Cons: Quite a mini blender, so has a minimal maximum capacity at 500ml and only has one speed setting, with no pulse function either.
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