This Portable Blender Lets You Prepare Smoothies and Shakes Practically Anywhere
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It really is a blast to use.
AllRecipes / David Hattan
If you want to enjoy your breakfast smoothie on the way to work or drink your post-workout protein shake at the gym, you’re going to need a portable blender. These machines may be mini, but they are mighty. We tested 19 different personal blenders to find the best options you can take with you on the go. One stood out above all the rest. About Our TestsIn order to find the very best portable blender, we thoroughly researched popular models and selected several for testing. We made a variety of recipes with these portable machines, including smoothies, hummus, sauces, pesto, and salsas. Additionally, each blender was evaluated in a number of critical categories: Design: Is the blender streamlined? Bulky? Do the materials seem high-quality, or on the cheap and flimsy side?Ease of Use: How intuitive are the controls? How easy is it to pour from? Is it easy or difficult to remove the lid?Performance: Does the motor sound strained? How effectively and quickly does the blender integrate ingredients?Convenience: How many times are you able to use the blender on a single charge? Is it easy to travel with and use outside the home?Ease of Cleaning: Is the jar difficult to clean? Does it have ridges that trap materials? If the blender has an auto-clean function, how effective is it?Our Top Pick: Ninja Blast Portable Blender
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"Why It’s Great: Intuitive controls; includes sippable travel lid; surprisingly quiet; can run several times on a single charge"Grain of Salt: May struggle with larger ingredient pieces
Of all the portable blenders we tested, the gold medal goes to the Ninja Blast. This slim machine has a lot going for it, beyond just the attractive and sleek build. First: let’s talk about the construction. The Ninja Blast is on the larger side of portable blenders, able to hold up to 18 ounces. The blending cup has convenient measurement markings on the side so you can control your recipes. There are six stainless steel blades—four facing upward and two facing downward. The sides of the blender cup are ribbed to help funnel ingredients down towards the blades for smoother results, so there’s no need to constantly open the lid and poke the contents down with a spatula. Though the blender cup is removable and screws onto the motor base, it doesn’t have a bottom. This means when you take the blender on the go, you take the whole thing—base and all. Fortunately, the base isn’t that heavy and still fits within a car’s cupholder. Time to talk about function. We appreciate the simple and straightforward controls on the Ninja Blast. There are only two buttons: power and blend. Press the blending button, and the machine will run for thirty seconds. It produced a drinkable smoothie with just one button press during tests, though you can certainly run it once or twice more for an even smoother experience. That said, we do recommend cutting up any ingredients into smaller pieces for the best results. Like most portable blenders, the Ninja Blast is cordless. After charging for less than two hours, we were able to use it 10 times without recharging. Since it uses a USB-C cord, you can charge it just about anywhere—even via your car or laptop. Another major highlight of the Ninja Blast is how quiet the machine is. You could make an early morning breakfast smoothie while other people are still sleeping. Or, you could blend a protein shake at the gym without disturbing the other guests. The Ninja Blast is the king of convenience, with a plethora of features that make it simple to take with you. It’s lightweight, slim, and even has a carrying handle. You could place it in your bag or just carry it to your destination. The lid has a flip-top sipping lid that is easy to drink from and prevents any spillage. In tests, the Ninja Blast never once leaked from the sipping lid or the blender base. Finally, we come to cleaning. While the detachable blades, blending cup, and lid are all dishwasher safe, it’s just as easy to add water and soap to the cup before hitting the blend button. The water and suds will clean the blender from the inside. The Ninja Blast is a fantastic option for people who want to make smoothies and shakes on the go. It’s also capable of making small servings of salsa, hummus, and simple sauces quickly. What’s more, the Ninja Blast comes in an array of eye-catching colors, so you can find one that matches your style. The Details: 18-ounce capacity; 7.4-volt motor; 6 blades; 3.54 x 3.54 x 10.71 inches
Related: We Tested 21 Personal Blenders to Find the Ideal Single-Serve Machine
Other Portable Blenders to ConsiderWhile the Ninja Blast won our top spot, it’s worthwhile to consider other portable blender options. After all, there’s a lot of variety between models; some are smaller, some have travel cups, and others have additional features. Beautiful By Drew Barrymore Portable To-Go Blender 2 0
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"Why It’s Great: Fully incorporates ingredients; fairly quiet; includes strainer; streamlined and attractive design"Grain of Salt: Base does not detach for traveling
Drew Barrymore’s collection of pastel-colored kitchen appliances is candy for the eye, and the Beautiful Portable To-Go Blender 2.0 is as pretty as the name implies. It’s also available in seven different colors. Ok, so it looks great, but how well does it work?In tests, the To-Go Blender incorporated fruits and powders seamlessly for some tasty smoothies. It also handled kale leaves, chopped garlic, and walnut pieces when making a pesto. Very few ingredients stuck to the sides of the durable plastic cup, but if they did, a couple of gentle shakes brought everything back together.It has a single button that blends as long as you hold it down, which means there won’t be any accidental blending while it sits inside your purse or gym bag. Like the Ninja Blast, the blending cup doesn’t have a bottom, so you’ll take the whole blending base with you while traveling. Luckily, there’s a handy carrying wrist strap hanging off the cap. Some folks might like the simplicity of keeping everything in one piece, though others might prefer a model where you can take the travel cup without the motor. The Details: 16-ounce capacity; 70-watt motor; 6 blades; 3.26 x 3.26 x 10.64 inchesDash Personal Portable USB Blender
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"Why It’s Great: Slim yet sturdy build; motor base detaches for easy traveling; includes convenient carrying strap"Grain of Salt: Minor leakage in tests; frozen ingredients should be slightly defrosted
Speaking of travel cups, let’s look at the Dash Personal Portable USB Blender. This set comes with two main pieces: the blending cup and the motor base. After blending up a delicious milkshake or smoothie, you can screw on a bottom cap and take your drink to go. The cup has a secure flip-top lid that’s easy to drink from. In tests, the screw-top lids and screw-on motor base both felt incredibly secure. With only four blades and a lower-powered motor, the machine took a bit longer to fully blend ingredients and struggled a little with frozen berries. However, letting cold ingredients defrost for a few minutes helped significantly. The Dash was one of the quietest machines we tested, which is another big win. The Details: 12.8-ounce capacity; 50-watt motor; 4 blades; 9.25 x 3.25 x 3.25 inches
Related: We Blasted Through Pounds of Blueberries To Find the Best Blenders for Smoothies
Magic Bullet Portable Blender MBPB50100
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"Why It’s Great: Includes a removable infuser; straightforward controls; clever indicator light"Grain of Salt: Fairly loud; not ideal for frozen ingredients or ice
Magic Bullet is known for personal blenders, so it comes as no surprise that the brand also makes a terrific portable version. Like the other blenders on this list, we found the Magic Bullet wonderfully straightforward. There’s only one button, and it will blend with a single push. One thing that really impressed us was the smart indicator light around that button. It shines blue while in use, lights up in a full circle once fully charged, and can even flash red if there’s an issue. Ok, so, speaking of issues, we ran into a few while using the Magic Bullet. For one thing, this blender is startlingly loud for its minuscule size. It also struggled with frozen ingredients and ice, leaving fair-sized chunks. If you want to make frappes and milkshakes, you may want to look for a different model. However, another unique feature of the Magic Bullet is the removable infusion basket. Place herbs or fruit in the basket and blend—water will rush through the basket and infuse flavor into your drink. The Details: 16-ounce capacity; 100-watt motor; 4 blades; 3.3 x 3.74 x 10.63Hamilton Beach Blend Now 51180
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"Why It’s Great: Budget-conscious; quiet motor; secure flip-and-sip lid"Grain of Salt: Takes longer than others to fully incorporate ingredients; requires flipping
Last but certainly not least is the Hamilton Beach Blend Now. The blending cup detaches from the motor base and comes with a screw-on flip-top lid for on-the-go drinking. However, since the cup only has one opening, you’ll need to do a bit of flipping. Since everything is lightweight, it isn't too difficult to do. It’s a more affordable option than similar models and has a standard 16-ounce capacity. Like the other portable blenders on this list, it can be charged with a USB-C cable, and Hamilton Beach claims it can run 28 times on a single charge. We appreciated how quietly the Blend Now ran during tests, which was especially nice because we found it took a bit longer to fully incorporate all the ingredients of a protein smoothie and a yogurt-based sauce. The Details: 16-ounce capacity; 7.4-volt motor; 6 blades; 9.1 x 3.3 x 3.3 inches
Related: We Tested the Best Quiet Blenders for Recipes Without the Racket
Common QuestionsHow can you get the most out of your portable blender?Portable blenders are smaller machines that don't have as much power as bigger, full-sized options. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to get the most out of your portable blender. If you plan on using frozen fruit or other ingredients, let them defrost for a little while so they’re softer on the blades. Additionally, cut up bigger items into smaller chunks. Another important element to blending is properly layering your ingredients—this goes for large blenders, too. Here’s the ideal order:Liquids (juice, water, milk, coconut water)Dry ingredients (sugar, cocoa, protein powder)Leafy greens (kale, spinach, celery)Soft ingredients (yogurt, honey, fresh fruit, tofu)Nuts and seeds (chia, flax, sunflower seeds)Frozen ingredients (frozen fruit, ice)What makes a blender portable?There are a few features that make a personal blender a portable option. Size is a big factor. Most portable blenders hover around 16 ounces, though some can get up to 18 or even 20. Being lightweight is also important (nobody wants to lug around a heavy machine).Having a secure lid is paramount to avoid any messy leaks. Speaking of lids, you’ll need one that’s easy to drink from. Some models will have raised circular lips, while others have a sloping ramp. It’s worth clicking through product photos to see what style different models have. If you don’t want to leave your blender or travel cup loose in a bag, a carrying handle or strap gives you a bit more control and convenience. How do you clean a portable blender?Many portable blenders will have dishwasher-safe parts, such as lids, blending cups, and sometimes blades. Others will require more delicate handwashing instead. Luckily, you can “auto-clean” blenders by adding water and soap to the jar and then blending. This will whip up some suds and ensure the water hits every angle of the cup. It’s a quick and easy way to clean up after you’ve enjoyed your smoothie or shake. What are some recipes for portable blenders?Smoothies and Shakes:Peanut Butter Banana SmoothieB & L’s Strawberry SmoothieIced Mocha Fusion ShakeOrange Creamsicle Protein ShakeSauces and Spreads:Real HummusCilantro Lime Salad DressingPestoD’s Famous SalsaWhy Take Our Word for It?Allison Wignall loves a good tropical smoothie, especially if it’s made fresh and has pineapple in it. To write this article, she used the thorough testing insights of the Allrecipes team. Her work has been featured in the Spruce Eats, Food & Wine, Southern Living, and more.
Related: After 10 Years, This Immersion Blender Is Still One of My Most-Used Kitchen Tools
Read the original article on All Recipes.We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
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