Best Bullet Blenders
Eating well never had much appeal until we discovered the smoothie – an overnight health-food sensation, right? More nutritious than a milk-shake, they became our go-to solution for getting our daily dose of vitamins and minerals in a tasty, non-pill format. And over time, they became healthier. Spinach, kale, almond milk, protein shots. So, no surprise the world went totally crazy when the personal blender was introduced. Fast, single portions that were self-contained and eliminated the need for an oversized blender or even a separate glass. But since that first bullet blender hit the market back around 2003, the flood gates have opened to new and improved designs, features, power levels, and accessories. So, who does it best? Find out why we ranked these bullet blenders as our top picks.
Our Top Picks for Bullet Blenders
NutriBullet Pro 900-watt Personal Blender with Recipe Book: For the Superfood Smoothie Drinker
Overview:
Material: BPA-Free Plastic
No. of Cups: 2 – 32-ounce
Wattage: 900 watts
Unique Feature: Super-Charged Nutrient Extractor
Warranty: 1-year
We all know the name, so it’s time to catch up on their lingo. Yes, the NutriBullet Pro is one of the original bullet blenders to enter this burgeoning market and as such, they’ve laid claim to a number of terms that describe their product and what it can do. Terms such as the NutriBlast smoothie – a blend that incorporates loads of fruits and veg all known for being anti-oxidants. Or the Super-Charged Nutrient Extractor, which is how they describe the process of breaking down healthy foods to draw out their nutritional benefits – which essentially turns them into super foods. Whether you buy in to the terminology or not, truth is, this is a pretty great little blender. At 900 watts, they’ve made it more powerful than the original, so it’s able to break down denser foods such as nuts and hard fruits. I love that it comes with 2 decent sized cups (32 ounces), to-go lids and lip-rings with handles for easier gripping. And because their focus is on super-foods and nutrition, the Blasting for Optimum Health recipe book is much appreciated. Cups and blades can be rinsed with warm water for quick turn-around or tossed into the dishwasher.
Pros:
- Easy to use, press-and-blend, format
- Precision Nutrient Extraction for maximum health benefits
- Large, BPA-free plastic cups
- Accessories include a variety of to-go lids
Cons:
- Doesn’t include smaller storage cups
- No auto-pulse feature
If you’d love help understanding how to maximize the health benefits of your home-made smoothies, this is the blender you’ve been looking for.
Ninja Nutri Pro 900-watt Bullet Blender with 75-Recipe Book: For Those New to the World of Smoothies
Overview:
Material: BPA-Free Plastic
No. of Cups: 2 – 18-ounce and 24-ounce
Wattage: 900 watts
Unique Feature: Nutrient and Vitamin Extraction of Hidden Nutrition
Warranty: 1-year
Originally known for their blenders and food processors, it’s no surprise that Ninja expanded their catalogue to include a pretty powerful bullet blender – the Ninja Nutri Pro. With 900 watts of power, it makes short work of breaking down the densest fruits and vegetables, and can even crush ice or chop veggies (short pulses) so it really morphs a little into a multi-purpose appliance. But back to its bullet blender capabilities. It claims to be able to extract the hidden nutrition from fruits and vegetables, and what this actually refers to is its ability to process full pieces of produce (including the nutritious skin and seeds) versus just pieces of soft flesh. Now, I love the fact that it offers up 2 different cup sizes – 18-ounces for when you want a quick, nutritious beverage, and a full 24-ounces for those times when your blend is actually replacing a meal. Plus, handy sip and seal lids make it easy to pack up your bevvie and take it with you. Now, if you’re not sure where to even begin, this Ninja comes with a 75-recipe booklet to help get you on the way to blending smoothies that meet your individual lifestyle needs.
Pros:
- Includes 75 recipes for healthy smoothies
- Nutrient and Vitamin Extraction performance
- 2 sizes of BPA-free plastic cups
- Easy to use, press-and-blend, format
- Accessories include to-go lids
Cons:
- Doesn’t include two of each accessory
- No auto-pulse feature
If you want a super-powerful personal blender that can tackle denser fruits and vegetables, the Nutri-Pro is definitely up to the job.
CHULUX 1000-watt Bullet Blender with 2 Blades: For Those Who Need a Multi-Purpose Blender
Overview:
Material: Tritan, BPA-Free Plastic
No. of Cups: 2 – 15-ounce and 32-ounce
Wattage: 1000 watts
Unique Feature: 2 blades for grinding or blending
Warranty: 1-year
You’ll wonder how you ever got by without this bullet blender. Seriously, the CHULUX has the processing power to tackle almost any food you can think of. And you have to know that with 1000 watts of blending power, it’s no slouch when it comes to getting the job done. Now, because no one blade can do it all, this personal blender comes with 2 blades. One that grinds everything from coffee beans to spices to nuts and more, while the other blends perfect smoothies, baby food and even juices. And it’s really fast – typically just 30 seconds to your perfect smoothie. What I appreciate is the heavier cast aluminum base with suction cup feet that keep it from dancing across the counter as you work. Also unique to this blender’s design is that unlike most other brands that use a push-down start mechanism, this one uses a single-touch button for instant activation. It comes with 2 BPA-free plastic cups that are sized at 15-ounces for the smaller portions such as baby food, ground coffee, or maybe spices. While the larger, 32-ounce cup is the perfect size for smoothies and even comes with a flip-top lid for easy travel.
Pros:
- 1000 watts chops most dense foods
- 2 Blades for Grinding or Blending
- 2 sizes of BPA-free plastic cups
- Heavy base and suction feet prevent movement when in use
- One-touch operation
Cons:
- Only one smoothie-sized cup
If you’re looking for a personal blender that can take on many of the same functions as your full-sized unit, this 1000-watt, 2-blade option is definitely a contender.
Ginsu 1000-watt Single-Serve Blender with 3 Power Speeds: For Those Who Want More Than Just Smoothies
Overview:
Material: Tritan, BPA-Free Plastic
No. of Cups: 1 – 20-ounce
Wattage: 1000 watts
Unique Feature: 3 different power speeds
Warranty: 1-year
You probably know the Ginsu name from those 70’s commercials that promoted knives so sharp they could slice through a tin can. Ring a bell? Well, if they can produce a knife that sharp, their Ginsu GKE single-serving blender deserves we take a look-see to check out its smoothie-making capabilities. So, let’s start with the impressive 1,000-watts of power that can rapidly blend, puree or chop any mix of fruits and vegetables you may throw its way. Did you notice my reference to 3 separate actions? Yes, it offers 3 different speed controls that allow you to choose high-power blending, mixed-speed, or pulse, for controlled blending. Now, this last feature is pretty unique and not typical of most bullet blenders that use the standard push-down on/off option. And it means that in addition to blending smoothies to perfection or pureeing produce for baby foods, you can chop nuts, grind coffee, and more without having to manually press/release to mimic the pulse action. Now, because it comes with just one 20-ounce cup (plus lids), its not ideal for couples or families. However, if you love a bonus, their iconic Ginsu knife is included – great for slicing your fruits and veggies (no cans, please).
Pros:
- One-touch control panel
- 3 blending speeds including pulse
- 1000 watts chops most dense foods
- Tritan, BPA-free plastic cups
- Includes double-serrated Ginsu knife bonus
Cons:
- Only one 20-ounce cup
If your dream bullet blender does more than just puree fruits, this powerful, 3-speed model with auto pulse, is definitely your dream come true.
G-Ting USB-Charged Personal Blender with One-Touch Control: For Those On the Go
Overview:
Material: Food-grade glass
No. of Cups: 1- 14-ounces
Wattage: USB-charge
Unique Feature: Re-chargeable built-in battery
Warranty: info n/a
While most bullet-style personal blenders tend to operate within the same parameters – self-contained cup, quick to blend, one portion serving – this one is a little different. First off, the G-Ting single-serve blender includes a food-grade glass cup versus the typical plastic ones used on most bullet blenders. And while its only 150-watts versus the usual 900-1000 we’ve profiled it does pack a definite punch. To be sure, it isn’t suitable for grinding nuts or breaking down denser fruits and vegetables, however it will blend up the perfect smoothie or shake in under a minute. Best of all, it uses a USB charged battery, so no electrical outlet needed. You can whip up your bevvie of choice anywhere, anytime. Now, convenience can sometimes come at a cost and with this one, it requires a little more than just throwing your favorite fruits and veggies into the cup. They need to be cut into smaller portions, you do need to add a little water to help the process, and vigorous shaking is needed before you power on. But for this little extra effort, you can whip up a healthy smoothie after your work out or as a mid-day snack at the office.
Pros:
- USB-charged so great for travel
- 150-watts ideal for smoothies and shakes
- One-touch control panel
- Food-grade glass cup
- Weights less than 2 pounds
Cons:
- Only one 20-ounce cup
- Contents can’t reach blades unless repeatedly flipped upside down
If you travel with kids, or just want to prepare a healthy, nutritious beverage while away from home, this personal blender is ideal
Blend Your Way to Better Health
Today’s bullet-style blenders have already anticipated your need for a little guidance on how to build a super-healthy smoothie that incorporates all your favorite anti-oxidant foods, but still tastes great. In fact, many brands now include a sizeable recipe book with dozens of recipes to help you discover which combinations deliver the nutritional punch you’re looking for. If your new purchase doesn’t come with this sort of help, just go on-line and discover a world of tried-and-true personal blender recipes.
You May Be Surprised at How Powerful One Little Blender Can Be
Bullet blenders have a reputation for making delicious smoothies quickly and easily. But if you’re looking for a personal blender that can do a little bit more, a couple of the models we profiled can deliver in spades. Some feature extra blades designed to grind everything from spices to coffee grounds. Others offer an auto-pulse option that makes it ideal for chopping vegetables (think salsa or soup bases) and others can whip up a perfect smoothie with just a batter charge.
Save a Bundle and Get the Smoothie You Want
If you sat down to tally how much you spent on decent quality smoothies over the past year, would you be shocked? I mean, a true smoothie made with quality ingredients runs about $5 to $7 per and if you add that up, well you could probably have paid for your bullet blender, all the fruits and veggies you ran through it, and still have money to spare. But it’s not just about cost-savings, it’s also about convenience and customization. Save money, save time, and enjoy the right smoothie for your nutritional needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Advantage Over a Regular Blender?
There are a few advantages if what you’re looking for is something to blend a quick, delicious smoothie. For one thing, it’s less cumbersome than a full-sized blender which makes assembly and use quicker and easier. It’s also an all-in-one format which means you drink from the same container your smoothie was blended. So less clean up. And because of its smaller container size, it blends more quickly and efficiently than the larger unit.
What is BPA-Free Plastic?
BPA stands for bisphenol A and it’s an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics for over 50 years. Recent research has found it came be harmful to our health, which is why many manufacturers have opted to use only BPA-free plastics in their products. This is particularly important if its a plastic that will come in contact with foodstuffs and that’s why the personal blenders and cups profiled are all made using BPA-free plastic.
Is There a Difference Between a Bullet Blender and a Personal Blender?
Not really. The term “bullet” refers to the shape of the cup in which the fruits and vegetables are blended. The original Magic Bullet personal blender (same company as the NutriBullet) owns the name, but other manufacturers often use it to describe their single-serve, or personal blender models.
What Should I Look for in a Personal Blender?
Consider how you’ll use it. If primarily for smoothies, then a basic design will do. If more than one person will be enjoying these drinks, you’ll want to be sure it comes with twice the number of accessories (e.g. 2 to-go cups). Do you need it to do more than blend? Then look for a design such as the CHULUX that comes with 2 separate blades that can grind or blend. Power is also important because it dictates what you can blend – are you into denser vegetables or the softer fruits? Consider the blender’s weight – will it stay in place or be lifted down and stored when not in use? And of course, the unit’s price will factor in to your decision. There are a wide range of price points so be sure to shop around before you buy.
Can It Be Used to Process Hot Foods Like Soup?
No, hot foods should not be placed in a personal blender and even a full-sized blender can be challenged with a hot liquid. Once sealed, the heat can cause a build-up of steam in the container. When you open the container and release the pressure, your liquid can “explode” out. If you want to make soup, blend it first, then heat.
Conclusion
With our growing use of personal trainers, gym memberships, and studios specializing in everything from Pilates, to yoga, to kick-boxing its clear that we’re interested in taking better care of ourselves. And this extends to eating healthier. That’s why bullet-style blenders have been around for almost 20 years and show no signs of letting up. They make cramming a day’s worth of vitamins and minerals into a deliciously healthy smoothie, quick and easy. And because the concept has mass appeal, manufacturers continue to improve on the original design. More power, more features, and more capabilities that make this simple, multi-purpose kitchen appliance a must-have for the health-conscious consumer. The 5 designs we’ve showcased were specifically chosen because they cover a range of features often unique to the brand and model. Your job is now choosing which works best for you.
Photo credit: Arina P Habich/Shutterstock