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Brandt Ranj / Popular Science
Portable blenders are an essential tool for home cooks with small kitchens, creative car campers, or travelers who want to ensure they have all their essential kitchen tools during a long stay at an Airbnb. While smaller than their full-sized countertop contemporaries, portable blenders are still powerful enough to crush up fresh roots and roughage to make pastes, smoothies, and sauces. Once you’re done, these blenders can be easily cleaned with a little dish soap and water and then stored inside a cabinet or drawer until the next time you’d like to use them. Many of our recommendations—like the best overall, the Nutribullet Flip—run on battery power, allowing you to take and use them out of your home. The best portable blenders will allow you to enjoy your smoothies, crushed ice, or other diced-up delights on the go.
Best overall: Nutribullet Flip
Best splurge: Beast Mini Blender Plus
Best all-in-one: Ninja BC51NV Blast Portable Blender
Best set: NutriBullet NBR-1201 12-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer System
Best budget: Hamilton Beach Portable Blender
How we chose the best portable blenders
Choosing the best portable blenders meant finding the models that balanced power, size, and cost. All of our recommendations are powerful enough for common tasks, like making Erewhon smoothies at home, but don’t expect to use them to make hot soup like a full-sized model can. We also made sure to include smaller blenders—ones that require an AC outlet but are nonetheless small enough to store or take from place to place easily—and battery-powered models that are truly portable. Our recommendations also cover a wide price range, so you can find a portable blender that is well within your budget.
The best portable blenders: Reviews & Recommendations
Ready to make a milkshake from your yard? We can teach you, and we won’t charge. The best portable blenders are accessible appliances for anyone who wants to reduce chopping and other manual kitchen tasks but can’t commit the space or budget to a larger, more powerful model.
Best overall: Nutribullet Flip
Specs
Size: 3.87 x 4.25 x 9.12 inches
Capacity: 20 ounces
Power source: Battery
Price: $99.99
Pros
Up to 14 uses per charge
11.1 Volt motor
Doubles as a tumbler
Cons
Larger and heavier than other battery-powered blenders
Nutributllet’s Flip is one of the few two-in-one portable appliances that both make sense and work properly. The battery-powered blender’s 11.1V motor is significantly more powerful than the ones you’ll find in other models, which justifies its 1.3-pound weight and thicker frame. Another big contributor to the Flip’s size is the fact that it’s also an insulated tumbler that’s capable of keeping your smoothies cold for up to 24 hours. In our tests, the blender did keep our drinks cold for several hours, although we needed to use frozen fruits to achieve the best results.
The Flip gets its name from the way it’s designed to be used. After loading ingredients into the tumbler and screwing on its top, you need to flip it over before pressing the power button. After its 30-second cycle is complete, you flip the tumbler over and either unscrew its top or open the tab up top to start drinking. In our tests, the blender worked very well and was capable of crushing up fresh and frozen ingredients—though not fully pulverizing full-sized ice cubes—without leaving a lot of lumps. If you’re using all frozen ingredients, two 30-second cycles will get the job done.
Ultimately, this flipping system is an easy way to make, store, and drink your beverages without a glass or any other accessories. Nutribullet includes a metal straw (and straw cleaner) if you’d prefer to drink through one. Nutribullet says you can get up to 14 cycles before topping up the Flip’s battery, and we found that to be the case.
We mentioned the Nutribullet Flip’s size because it does feel significant to carry around, so much so that there’s a handle attached to the top. This makes taking the Flip from place to place easier, but it’s still a commitment. You can always pour the contents from the Flip into a smaller glass when home, but your options are more limited when you’re on the go. Still, if you want a truly portable blender whose power is closer to the appliance you use at home, this is the one to get.
Best splurge: Beast Mini Blender Plus
Specs
Size: 4.92 x 4.92 x 15.75 inches
Capacity: 33.81 ounces
Power source: AC
Price: $119
Pros
Large capacity
Svelte design
More powerful
Cons
Price
If you don’t mind being tethered to an outlet, the Beast Mini Blender Plus is a sleek-looking, ultra-powerful 1000W blender still small enough to keep in a backpack when traveling. Beast further increased this Blender’s portable-friendly design by allowing you to use its container as a grab-and-go glass, complete with a lid and straw. This is possible because the blender blade isn’t attached to the base; it gets screwed onto the container and then attached to the motor base. Once you’ve made your beverage—a process that consists of pushing a single button—you flip the container over, unscrew the blades, and can attach a lid or drink your beverage without grabbing another glass.
This system works well, particularly if your grab-and-go breakfast each morning is a smoothie. In our tests, the Beast Mini Blender Plus tore through leafy greens and frozen fruits—including larger chunks of mango—in a single cycle. It did an okay job at pulverizing full ice cubes, but you’ll have a better experience when starting with crushed ice. This is the benefit of choosing a portable blender that needs to be connected to an AC outlet, what you sacrifice in portability is made up for by raw power. If you’re a meal prepper, Beast offers additional blending vessels with storage lids in multiple sizes. This is especially helpful if you live in a multi-family household with habitual smoothie drinkers.
You may initially be drawn to the Beast Mini Blender Plus due to its unique, modern look, and admittedly, it’s a nice addition to a minimalist kitchen, but it’s what’s under the hood that counts. Don’t skip this one if you’ve wanted a powerful portable blender but thought you couldn’t justify the counter space. Plus, you can still use this when you’re far away from an outlet by plugging it into a portable generator or AC-compatible power bank, which you should have on hand for camping trips and emergencies.
Best all-in-one: Ninja BC51NV Blast Portable Blender
Specs
Size: 3.54 x 3.54 x 10.71 inches
Capacity: 18 ounces
Power source: Battery
Price: $59.99
Pros
Battery powered
Leak-proof design
Large capacity for a battery-powered blender
Cons
Requires charging
Ninja’s BC51NV Blast is a modern-looking battery-powered portable blender that was designed to be used and taken with you everywhere. The blender is perfect for smoothies and protein shakes. When you’re done making them, you can drink directly from its container without detaching it from its base. Yes, the blender’s top is actually a flip-up sipping lid with a handle that makes it easy to carry when you’re not drinking. Every part of this portable blender is dishwasher-safe, ready for the next day’s smoothie. A single-button design makes the BC51NV Blast easy to use, too, and its BlastBlade has blades pointed upward and downward to ensure you get a proper blend.
Ninja doesn’t state its portable blender’s runtime, but you can recharge it using a USB-C power adapter. This portable blender has a truly grab-and-go design and is a powerful all-in-one solution. Blending a beverage and immediately drinking it without having to attach a separate lid or pour it into another glass is very helpful when you’re making it in a hurry before heading out for the day.
Best set: NutriBullet NBR-1201 12-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer System
Specs
Size: 7.4 x 17.8 x 14.25 inches
Capacity: 24 fluid ounces
Power source: AC
Price: $69.87
Pros
Powerful for a portable blender
Includes two blades
Comes with two mugs
Cons
Larger size
Nutribullet’s NBR-1201 12-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer System is the most comprehensive solution to any portable blending problems—but it’s also the largest model we’re recommending and requires an AC outlet. Neither of those attributes are dealbreakers, as this is still smaller than a typical full-sized blender, but they’re worth keeping in mind. As is suggested by its name, this is a 12-piece set that includes a blender, multiple blades, two 18-ounce glasses, and a pair of lids. Thanks to the size of its vessel, you can make the equivalent of two medium-sized smoothies simultaneously, then pop it off and pour it directly into Nutribullet’s included cups to take them on the go.
The inclusion of an “extraction blade,” where multiple blades are pointed upward and downward, is especially helpful when making smoothies as it’s designed especially for finely pulverizing. The separate flat blade can be used to crush ice or smooth sauces. We understand that the appeal of a portable blender is to take it anywhere, but feel the accessories included with the NBR-1201 make it the best value and will earn their keep in your cabinets or on top of your counter before being packed away for a trip.
Best budget: Hamilton Beach Portable Blender
Specs
Size: 3.9 x 3.9 x 11.9 inches
Capacity: 14 fluid ounces
Power source: AC
Price: $20.85
Pros
Battery-powered
Designed to fit in a cup holder
Price
Cons
Smaller container capacity
Hamilton Beach has you covered if you’d like an ultra-compact portable blender that won’t break the bank. Its single-button portable blender comes with a screw-on flip-top sipping lid, so you can sip directly from it after making a drink. The blender and vessel have a concave shape, making it easier to grab and hold in one hand. The vessel is a little smaller than the ones found in other portable blenders we’re recommending, but it’s not immediately noticeable. What does stand out is this portable blender’s $21 price tag.
This is an AC-powered blender, but its power cord can be neatly tucked away inside a cutout around its base, so you won’t have a cord dangling around in a bag. This design choice also makes Hamilton Beach’s Portable Blender a solid choice for those who want a blend-grab-and-go style solution. If you’re eyeing a portable blender on a budget, you won’t find a better choice than this one from Hamilton Beach.
There are many factors to consider when deciding which portable blender is right for you. Below are the factors we considered most important when writing this guide.
Size
Size is the chief characteristic of a portable blender, and we had strict requirements when deciding which models made the cut. None of our recommendations are over 18 inches tall, and most fall below 12 inches. This means you’ll be able to stash them easily into a backpack or duffel while traveling and may even be able to keep them on your kitchen counter indefinitely without taking up too much room.
Container capacity
One of the tradeoffs when choosing a portable blender is that it can hold fewer ingredients than a full-sized model, so in most cases, you’ll be making single-serving smoothies rather than a multi-person batch. Our recommendations can hold between 14 and 33 fluid ounces of material, so be mindful of how many people you typically cook for before choosing.
Power source
Our portable blender recommendations run on either AC power (which means they need to be plugged into an outlet) or a built-in battery. Battery-powered blenders are more portable but aren’t as powerful and will wear down more quickly. AC-powered blenders can draw more power but can’t be used in as many places. There’s no wrong answer, but seriously consider where you’re going to be using your portable blender before deciding which one to get.
FAQs
Q: Can portable blenders crush ice?
Yes. Portable blenders are powerful enough to crush ice. If you’re trying to make a frozen margarita or smoothie with frozen fruit, you generally won’t have a problem doing so with a portable blender.
Q: Can portable blenders blend vegetables?
Yes. Portable blenders can blend vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries, and viscous liquids. If the aforementioned viscous liquid happens to be a hot soup, check with the manufacturer to ensure its cups can handle higher temperatures.
Q: What are the disadvantages of portable blenders?
The disadvantages of a portable blender can vary by model. Some may be too large to comfortably carry around, while others may not have a large enough capacity to make as many smoothies or icy frozen treats as you’d like in a single batch. Battery-powered models are ultra-portable, but you must remember to charge them frequently.
Q: How long do portable blenders last?
If you keep your portable blender clean and don’t overload it, you’ll be able to keep it in top shape for five years or more. Battery-powered models will begin to lose their ability to hold a charge over time and may need to be replaced more frequently.
Final thoughts on the best portable blenders
Best overall: Nutribullet Flip
Best splurge: Beast Mini Blender Plus
Best all-in-one: Ninja BC51NV Blast Portable Blender
Best set: NutriBullet NBR-1201 12-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer System
Best budget: Hamilton Beach Portable Blender
Portable blenders—especially battery-powered models—have become a viable option for anyone looking to work more smoothies into their diet on a tight schedule. A small blender will be powerful enough to make thousands of recipes you can find online in a minute or less. Many portable blenders allow you to drink either directly from their vessel or from glasses that are included as part of a set. A blender is a very helpful multi-use tool in the kitchen, and these smaller models are great if you don’t have a lot of room on your counter or want to take a battery-powered model anywhere.
Source : Popular Science