10 Easy Pieces: The Best Blenders

We first featured our selection of the 10 best blenders back in 2016. At the time, the market was essentially defined by Vitamix and the usual standbys. Fast forward nearly a decade and the blender scene has drastically improved. So we thought we’d take a moment to update our list with the latest models.

At any given time, half the people I know are on a juice fast or blending smoothies as though it were a religious practice, mixing in handfuls of kale, nutrient powders, and you name it. Selecting the right blender for your alchemic practice isn’t easy. You could invest in the industry standard Vitamix (in fact, it’s listed here as a top-reviewed blender), but you don’t have to. We’ve sifted through the current options and narrowed the field down to our 10 favorites, chosen for functionality, yes, but since we’re Remodelista, looks matter too.

N.B.: Looking for juicers? See our post 10 Easy Pieces: Juicers.

Above: Designed by Michele de Lucchi for Alessi in 2020, the Plisse Blender, shown in grey, features a simple blending dial and is made from BPA-free plastic with a graduated pitcher; $250 at Lumens. Above: Julie swears by the Waring Professional Bar Blender with a glass jar and just two straightforward speed settings; $258.36 at Amazon. Above: The Smeg Professional Blender, shown in matte white, features 1250W of power with nine adjustable speed levels; $349.95 at Williams-Sonoma. Above: The Bosch Series 4 Blender Vitapower Serie in black has two simple speed settings and 1200W of power, available through Bosch dealers. Above: The design-forward Beast Mega 1200 Plus Blender, is good-looking and high functional in equal measure; shown in Sand for $199 at Beast. Above: I have the Vitamix Ascent X4 Blender, shown in Graphite, and while there are plenty of preprogrammed settings, the classic speed levels function well on their own. The Ascent X4 has five programs including smoothie, frozen dessert, hot soup, frozen cocktail, and dips and spreads; $599.95 at Williams-Sonoma. Above: The Breville Super Q Blender has an ultra-powerful 1800W motor but designed with noise suppression technology. It’s been a longstanding top blender selection of Good Housekeeping surveys; $499.95 at Williams-Sonoma. Above: A stalwart blender with vintage appeal is the Oster Classic Series Heritage Blender with 6-Cup Glass Jar; $121.06 at Amazon. Above: The Zwilling Enfinigy Blender features a high-carbon steel blade and 1400W motor; $249.95 at Williams-Sonoma. Above: Consistently voted as the best blender by Consumer Reports year after year, the Vitamix 5200 Standard Blender is a simplified version of the Ascent X4. It does not have preprogrammed settings but does have the option of full high speed or variable speed; $449.95 through Vitamix stockists.

Ready to get electric in the kitchen? Browse food processors, induction ranges, and more Kitchen Appliances in our Shop section.

N.B.: This story originally appeared on March 16, 2016 and has been updated with new links and pricing.