There are summer mornings when it feels too hot to even think about breakfast, let alone cook one. On days like that, a quick smoothie becomes the easiest way to stay nourished without turning on the stove or forcing down a heavy meal.

I don’t want to deal with anything overly complicated first thing in the morning, which is why the nutribullet PowerCore XL Blender has caught my attention, especially with its current $30 Prime Day discount.

According to our expert tester, this best blender delivers smooth results in seconds with simple, no-fuss presets, which is exactly what I need to uncomplicate my mornings.

If you have ever wondered which food prep appliance you need, a blender is probably the best place to start. From morning till night, they can blitz everything from pancake batter and smoothies to soups and sauces.

The nutribullet PowerCore Blender makes it even easier. With a generous 72 oz pitcher, six-point blade, and a 1400-watt motor, it makes light work of seeded fruits and tough rolled oats to create a super smooth mix.

We recently reviewed the PowerCore and loved just how easy it was to use. Nowadays, choosing the best kitchen appliances can be overcomplicated by the sheer number of functions a single tool offers. The PowerCore does one thing and does it well. With three variable speeds, a dedicated smoothie setting, and a pulse option, it keeps the morning routine streamlined and fuss-free while still delivering consistently smooth results.

Our only complaint is that when blending a pitcher full of ice and lemonade, it struggled and veered toward being too loud. In smoothies with cubes or frozen fruit, however, it posed no issue. If you are looking to create cooling slush-style drinks, a dedicated tool such as the Ninja Slushi Max, also available at Amazon, will always be my recommendation.

Being easy to clean and dishwasher-safe makes this an investment shoppers love, too. For instance, verified shopper Nicola Lannone shared in their five-star review, 'I was looking for a blender that can handle frozen fruit, ice, and nuts without struggling, and this turned out to be a great option. The motor is strong and creates a good vortex that pulls ingredients down into the blades, so you don’t have to constantly stop and stir.

'The texture is honestly comparable to much more expensive blenders (I owned a Vitamix for a while). Smoothies come out creamy, ice gets crushed evenly, and even tougher ingredients like almonds blend without much effort.'

It might finally be the thing to make me a morning person in summer.

What Else to Shop

To help you make the most of your new appliance, I have curated a selection of my must-have accessories to help clean a blender, and serve and store in style.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Short on space at home? Consider one of the best blender food processor combos to double the functionality without the storage space.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

It’s no secret that ice cream makers are the fastest-selling small kitchen appliances every summer. This year, however, one model is standing out: The nutribullet Chill, a compact countertop machine that’s quickly winning us over.

Traditional ice cream makers have a reputation for being bulky, unattractive, and expensive. The new launch from NutriBullet flips that expectation. Priced just shy of $200, the Chill is a charming, space-saving alternative that nestles as neatly on your counter as it does into your cabinets.

Reportedly 47% smaller than comparable machines, it transforms nearly any mixture into a creamy, frosty dessert in minutes – it’s hard to imagine it staying in stock for long.

I consume enough ice cream each summer to keep a small creamery afloat, yet I’ve never justified buying an ice cream maker. Even an appliance as tempting as the Ninja CREAMi Swirl – which we reviewed and awarded four stars last year – hasn’t convinced me to surrender precious counter space in my small kitchen.

The nutribullet Chill Ice Cream Maker, however, is a different story. It delivers everything my dairy-loving heart could want in a far more compact footprint. Measuring 9.6" L x 5.74" W x 15.08" H, it is by far the smallest appliance I have come across, and comes with two 16-oz pint cups that double as ice cream storage.

It is ideal for small kitchens that cannot usually afford to sacrifice storage space for 'novelty', seasonal appliances.

The nutribullet Chill delivers five preset frozen dessert programmes, including ice cream, sorbet, gelato, smoothie bowl, and frozen yogurt for true versatility. Its powerful motor and 360 DoubleCream™ Blade Technology transform pre-frozen ingredients (after a 24-hour freeze) into a creamy dessert in under five minutes. For summer hosting, it’s an ideal prep-ahead solution.

While compact enough to store away in the off-season, the machine’s five playful colorways make a compelling case for leaving it on display all summer. My personal favorite is Cotton Candy Pink, though Mint Chip Green, Latte Beige, Matte Black, and Matte White each slip effortlessly into almost any kitchen color scheme.

What Else to Shop

Avoiding impractical machines and making smart investments in your appliances is just one of the many summer hosting mistakes to avoid if you want a smoother-running season.

To impress your guests during the warmer months, I’ve curated six iced-treat essentials designed to elevate your hosting game and bring a smile to every guest’s face.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Need some inspiration for your summer ice cream socials? Check out our chef's ice cream recipes we can't get through summer without.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

I’m a city girl. Which means I’ve been living in an apartment for most of my life. And though the size of my kitchen may have changed, from a tiny studio in Hell’s Kitchen to my current three-bedroom Brooklyn abode, my counter space is sadly still limited. Nutribullet has always had folks like me in mind with its savvy, space-saving best blenders, and its newest device claims to adds a new set of tools, extra power and better blade quality – all with a more contemporary interface.

The Nutribullet Ultra Plus combines the company’s signature personal blending with a food processor and spice/coffee grinder, all of which simply fit onto the Ultra Motor Base. And though a combo system isn’t new for the company (we love its Triple Prep System for its full-sized blender, jug blender and food processor bowl), it does shrink all these components to a compact size. Here you’ll get two blending cups, a mini-sized food processor bowl, a grinder cup and four different blades to swap out. All of which do a proper amount of blending and prep work, yet won’t eat up a ton of space.

To see if this convenient, yet pint-sized system contends with the best blender food-processor combos, I spent a week blending, dicing, processing and grinding. Does it live up to the power of larger appliances? Nope. But it does hit a sweet spot for smaller households. And boy, does it do a lot with a little.

Product Specifications

Design & first impressions

For a compact system, the Nutribullet Ultra Plus has a lot of moving parts. In addition to the motor base, I unboxed three different-sized cups, a food processing bowl, and multiple tops and blades. All of which I spread out on my counter to take stock while I read the set-up instructions.

The base is small enough to leave out full-time and light enough to move around, and instead of typical non-slip pads, it comes with small suction cups on its underside to keep it in place during use. After finding a home for the base and plugging it in, I also clocked the two glowing touch controls: one to start a 30-second automated cycle and one to freestyle or use to pulse.

My very next thought was, 'Where am I going to store all this?' You may want to clear out a shelf in your pantry or kitchen cabinets before you make the purchase.

Blending Performance

Our team has already reviewed the original Nutribullet Ultra and awarded it five stars for its powerful blending and ice-crushing performance. I tested the same ingredients in the new Nutribullet Ultra Plus to see if anything had changed.

Test 1: Berry smoothie

My first blending attempt consisted of strawberries, blueberries, some fat free Greek yogurt and about half a cup of water. And now I know why they call it a smoothie. Just one, 30-second, low-volume cycle and I was rewarded with a tasty, creamy shake with an easy-to-drink consistency.

Test 2: Frozen protein shake

Next, I tried a trickier protein and frozen fruit smoothie, with a scoop of protein powder, a banana and a large handful of ice. I used the double-walled blending cup to help control the temperature and hit the solid circle for the preset cycle. The first time I tried this recipe, I learned my lesson about throwing the ice in last. The blade tried its best to cram through with a sonic screech and a smell that reminded me of burnt hair on a curling iron. 30 seconds was not going to do the trick here so I waited about 5 minutes and tried again.

This time it plowed through the semi-crushed ice and went to work nicely on the fruit and powder to push out a well-blended, chilled protein shake. The second time I used this same recipe, I put the ice in first and shook everything up before I blended. This helped a ton, and though I still had to use two cycles, at least it didn’t smell, or sound like someone was throwing rocks at a tin roof. Oh, and those suction cups definitely came in handy here.

Food processing performance

The Nutribullet Ultra Plus goes beyond blending, promising to chop, slice, and even grind coffee beans and spices. I tested every attachment to see how well it delivers.

Test 1: Chopped onions

Anyone who cooks consistently has dealt with the existential chore of chopping onions. So why not get this little gadget to do the dirty work? The 2-cup food processor bowl is the perfect size to chop a full onion and I put it to work with glee.

Once the bowl was locked onto the base, I slid on the chopping blade, threw in my hastily cut up onion, and locked on the lid. I decided to hold the dashed circle to process manually and it took about 55 seconds to get my desired fine chop.

No, you’re not going to get perfectly consistent onions like you do when you chop by hand, but if you’re using them in sauces, soups or stews, this is a fabulous time saver. I kept a tablespoon for the pasta sauce I was working on and put the rest in Tupperware to store in the fridge.

Test 2: Sliced carrots

Next up, slicing carrots. Though I don’t do it nearly as often as my chopped onions, the idea of simply sliced root vegetables was certainly appealing. This function also requires the processor bowl, though instead of the chopping blade, I slid on the well-labeled slice/shred disc with the slice side facing up and twisted on the lid.

I used two different carrots, each sliced in half. The first I put into the feed tube vertically for perfectly round slices and the next I fed in on an angle for longer ovals, using the preset cycle for both. This, I readily admit, was fun. It also provides gorgeously cut slices you’d be proud to toss into a salad or to roast up for the holidays.

Test 3: Grated Parmesan

The temperature in New York is finally dropping, which means I can start whipping up creamy risottos and pots of minestrone soup. And nothing says comfort food like freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

For this, I chopped up a chunk, dropped the pieces into the cup, twisted the lid back on, and locked it onto the base. Again, I used the 30-second control to start, and the noise it made now sounded like boulders being tossed on a tin roof rather than rocks. Boy, this was loud. Unfortunately, one cycle was not nearly enough to grate the hard cheese so I started another one.

Once this was done I peeked inside and was surprised to find my cheese in an odd state. Not only were there still larger pebbles left inside, but it was hot to the touch. Not completely melted but definitely glopped together. I still used it for my risotto, and it did the trick, but it was not the fluffy Parmesan I was expecting.

Test 4: Ground Spices

The next, and final, test was grinding spices. I love making Indian food, but I hate using the pre-made spice mixes you find in supermarkets. I threw equal amounts of coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and cardamom pods with a pinch of salt into the metal container, and pressed go.

One 30-second round was enough to yield a mound of aromatic, beautifully ground spices. I used a few tablespoons to season some chicken breasts, then put the rest in a sealed container for next time.

The grinding function on the Nutribullet Ultra Plus can handle coffee beans, if you're looking for an appliance that can eliminate the need to buy the best coffee grinder.

What is it like to use?

I enjoyed using the Nutribullet Ultra Plus. As a whole, it’s an intuitive, simple-to-use system with a straightforward instruction manual. Everything clicks simply onto the base, and the preset and touch controls are easy to turn on and off.

As mentioned, I especially appreciated those suction cups on its feet because it kept it securely in place when it was churning through the ice and hard cheese. I think this was an especially clever design feature. Like most inexpensive blenders, it needs a little help with drier or thicker loads, and you will have to reposition your contents between blends so all the ingredients reach the blade – but it’s certainly not a deal breaker. Prep was simple enough, though you do have to pre-cut many of your ingredients to fit into the smaller cups and bowls.

My biggest problem was the sheer number of attachments, and that is two-fold. Firstly, finding somewhere to place it all, including extremely sharp pieces like the freestanding chopping blade, was not easy. The entire point is its compact size, yet it has 14 pieces in total. I asked the rep if the company offered any type of storage unit, but she said that at this time, nothing is available. My second issue was figuring out which attachment went with each cup or bowl. At one point, I was sure I had broken it because I could not thread a lid onto the cup for my smoothie. It turned out I was using the grinder blade instead of the rapid extractor blade.

All in all, none of this is a deal breaker. Once you get used to each component and you find a safe area to store it all, it’s a breeze to use. And it gets (most of) your jobs done with ease.

Cleaning & maintenance

Not much to see here when it comes to cleaning. Other than the base, all the attachments are dishwasher safe, and I took advantage of that most of the time. However, you can just as easily run the covers under hot water and add a little dish soap for good riddance. I never had to scrub to knock off food from the blades.

Who would it suit?

The Nutribullet Ultra Plus is perfect for my fellow apartment dwellers or those with smaller kitchens. The base sits nicely on any counter, and it’s light enough to move anywhere you want to do your blending or processing. And because it offers multiple functions, it allows you to combine a handful of appliances into one. For just over $200, I’d say it’s worth it.

With its compact attachments, I’d also suggest this for smaller households of one or two people. My smoothies were perfect for just me, but if I had to make them for my two teen sons, I’d be doing a lot more work. If you’re cooking for a larger family, you may want to go up to a full-sized food processor or blender.

Final verdict: Should you buy the Nutribullet Ultra Plus?

Looking for a way to combine a bunch of appliances into one? The Nutribullet Ultra Plus does the trick. The base is easy to leave on your counter for every day use and swapping out the multiple attachments is simple once you figure out how to wed each component the the correct blade covers. I also appreciated the lids for the blender cups so I can top off my smoothies and bring them with me on the road.

Of course, the irony of buying this for its compact size does come to fruition when you start looking for a place to store it all. So before you make the purchase, I’d suggest going through your kitchen and picking out a secure spot. Once that’s taken care of, this is a quick and painless way to blend, chop, slice and grind with ease.

How we test blender/food processor combos

When evaluating the best blender-food processor combos, we treat each function – blending, processing, and additional attachments – as if they were standalone appliances. That means rigorous, real-world testing to ensure that you’re getting a product that performs exceptionally in both categories.

You can read all the juicy testing details on how we test blenders and how we test food processors, where we break down the criteria and explain more from behind the scenes.

The summer might be at an end, but I love a fresh and wholesome smoothie all year round, and there's only one thing standing between me and my favorite breakfast: a good blender that's convenient enough to pop straight in my bag for the office.

Every home cook knows the importance of investing in the best blender, but my current blender is big and bulky, so just isn't convenient for the morning rush before work. Having to decant messy smoothies into a separate cup and wash up fiddly blender attachments before leaving the house does not make for a stress-free morning, which is why Nutribullet's new Flex Portable Blender caught my eye.

Thanks to a shortage of kitchen storage and a distinct lack of counter space, I usually look out for smaller blenders rather than opting for an all-singing, all-dancing model, so a portable blender feels like a far better choice. Our testers included two Nutribullet models in our guide to the best portable travel blenders, I've been eager to see how this new Nutribullet Flex shapes up.

I've always loved the practicality of Nutribullet blenders, but like me, you might have found yourself wondering which Nutribullet should you buy. While the Nutribullet Pro 900 is really powerful, it isn't actually cordless (the removable cups are though, which is why it made it into our guide), and the Nutribullet Flip has a handy insulated cup, but can't handle tougher jobs like crushing ice.

The Nutribullet Flex promises a pretty seamless experience, however. Just like any reliable travel blender, the Nutribullet Flex is small but mighty. Compact, rechargeable, and powerful enough to crush ice, it seems to check all of my boxes. The battery indicator is also a handy feature (no more nasty surprises if you haven't charged it up for a while).

Both the blade and the 22-ounce cup can detach from the base of the blender, meaning that you can whip up a smoothie and drop it straight in your bag. Plus, the cup features a leakproof flip-top lid and a built-in carry loop, so it really is designed for life on the go – which will undoubtedly make my life easier during those chaotic weekday mornings.

While it's a mission to prep my breakfast and head out for work in record time, there's nothing worse than leaving a pile of dirty dishes (and a messy blender) to deal with when I return home at the end of a busy day at work.

So, the Nutribullet Flex could revolutionize my morning (and after-work routine, too). Crucially, the blade, cup, and lid are all dishwasher-safe – so you can just pop them in when you get home and wake up to a clean blender ready to use the next morning. I don't need much more convincing than that.

Shop more portable blenders

Weighing up a Nutribullet versus a Ninja blender? They're both bestsellers for good reason – but if you're after convenience, the Nutribullet Flex sounds like a good option at a reasonable price point.

I’ll cut straight to the chase: I absolutely loved testing this portable blender. One of my guilty pleasures is stopping by Whole Foods for an eye-wateringly expensive green smoothie. It's always nice to have a boost of fruit, veg, protein, and fiber when you're miles away from your kitchen. But if you have one of the best portable blenders, you can enjoy that same luxury without the weekly overspend.

For cold, fresh smoothies, the Nutribullet Flip is the best portable blender I’ve tried so far. It’s a battery-operated machine with a stainless steel lining that keeps your drinks cool for up to 24 hours – a unique feature in the market. The motor is powerful, the design feels trustworthy, and the lid never leaked during my week of testing. My only disappointment? It can’t handle hot ingredients and it struggles on crushed ice, so soup and frozen margaritas are off the menu.

Specifications

Design

The market for cordless blenders is still small, so the Nutribullet Flip feels like an exciting new contender. In terms of appearance, it's very different from the rest (see the picture above). It has an opaque exterior that's lined with stainless steel to keep your drinks cold for hours. That's wonderfully practical, but it does mean you lose the satisfaction (and control) of watching your ingredients blend.

It's also pretty chunky. I have very small hands, and I found it a bit hard to twist the lid off. That said, the materials feel sturdy and reliable, whereas other portable blenders can feel cheap and plasticky.

I was sent the black colorway to test, and I thought it looked a little like a boring, camping thermos. But as of December 2024, Nutribullet has brought out some fun colorways, like purple, white, and indigo, which feel more personalized.

While the design is utilitarian, it is functionally brilliant. I loved the 'flip-to-blend' feature; it's fun and intuitive. The power button lights up and flashes different colors to tell you the charge status. The liquid measures inside the pitcher are super helpful, as are the included metal straw, straw cleaner, and travel lid.

My main design disappointment is that it's not suited to hot ingredients. I wouldn't have expected that from other portable blenders, but when I saw the word 'insulated' on the packaging, I instantly imagined blending hot soups for a healthy office lunch. Sadly, that's not the case.

Blending performance

Throughout the week, I made seven different smoothies in the Nutribullet Flip. I've never felt healthier! Without boring you with the details of every single blend, here are the results of the top three trickiest blends.

1. Berry breakfast smoothie

This was the first smoothie I made with the Nutribullet Flip. I added a banana, frozen blueberries, a scoop of protein powder, yogurt, and oat milk into the cup – as well as some tough-to-blend oats and chia seeds.

After pressing the power button, the blender sprang to life. It measured a very quiet 73 decibels and ran for 30 seconds before stopping automatically.

Without the ability to see inside the opaque blending cup, I had to trust the process. When I opened the lid, I was pleasantly surprised to find a vibrant, frothy smoothie.

I could see a few flecks of blueberry skins, but on the taste test, the drink was deliciously smooth. The oats added a slight graininess, and I found a banana lump when I drank to the bottom of the cup. This is not quite Vitamix quality, of course, but for a portable blender, this was very good. In hindsight, blending it a second time would likely have eliminated the stray lump.

The smoothie stayed refreshingly cool as I drank it – a testament to the Nutribullet Flip’s thoughtful design. Sometimes when you're testing an appliance you get an instantly good feeling; I was really excited for the week ahead.

2. Iced coffee shake

I decided to test the Nutribullet Flip's claim to keep drinks cold for hours on end. At 6pm on Tuesday night, I blended a frozen banana, oat milk, cacao powder, collagen powder, ice cubes, and a shot of espresso. With the blending lid tightly on, I left it on my kitchen counter overnight.

The next morning at 7am, the shake was still cool. While it wasn’t ice-cold, it hit the perfect temperature for a morning pick-me-up. I took it to work and drank it at 10am – it was lovely.

3. Frozen kale & mango smoothie

I love a green smoothie and this was the ultimate test for the motor. I added a frozen blend of chopped kale, mango, pineapple, avocado, pumpkin seeds – along with a couple of small ice cubes and some coconut water.

This was the first time I saw the yellow flashing light – which concerned me. The instructions manual revealed this could indicate a jammed blade or overheating. I gave the blender a shake and tried again. I assume a lump of ice had lodged itself under the blade, because it was fine after that.

After two rounds of 30 second blending, the results were very smooth, creamy and pretty perfect. There were a few, tiny flecks of kale, but overall, I was impressed that the ice and seeds had disappeared to nothing.

I ended up making this smoothie most days going forward, and the results were consistently good.

4. Crushed ice

I'm not quite sure why you'd want to crush ice on the go, but I tested it anyway. I added six small ice cubes to the cup. This blender lacks a pulse function, so I ran four blending cycles. It got up to 100 decibels, which is as loud as a garbage truck (sorry neighbors). I got the yellow warning sign a couple of times, so I had to shake it to dislodge the ice from the blades.

You can see from the results, it didn't really work. If you want crushed iced on the go, the best you'll get it the Ninja Blast. But really, for frozen margaritas or slushies, you want a wider, stronger countertop model like a Vitamix or Breville Super Q. But if you're adding just a few ice cubes to a liquid blend, the Nutribullet Flip works fine (see the recipes above).

Is it bag-friendly and spill-proof?

I was slightly annoyed that the blender was too chunky for the coffee cup holders on the sides of my rucksack. However, the blender fit easily inside the main body. I carried it around all week, next to my laptop and notebooks. It felt lightweight and the lid stayed very secure. Not a single drop leaked. Even when I packed it into a gym bag for a barre ballet class, it remained spill-proof, despite rolling around quite a bit during transit.

It was too bulky for my handbag, but there is a handle so you can carry it around like a tote – if you so wish. I also tested it out in my car cup holders. It was much too tall for the central cup holder by the gear stick, but it slotted perfectly into the larger cup holder between the seats.

Cleaning, storage & maintenance

Portable blenders can sometimes be tricky to clean, especially if you’ve blended in the morning and left the container in your bag all day, allowing residue to harden.

However, I found the Nutribullet Flip easy to rinse and wipe down. The residue easily lifts away from the stainless steel interior, using a soft sponge and hot soapy water. There was a large space beneath the blades, so I could clean this area thoroughly without cutting my hand. The only part you need to watch out for is the sip hole in the lid, which can be easy to overlook. I found the straw cleaner very helpful for this.

In terms of storage and maintenence, it fits in a cupboard easily and I am thrilled to report I didn't need to charge it all week long. Nutribullet say there are over 14 30-second blending cycles per full charge.

How does it compare?

In many ways, this is the best portable blender I've ever tested. In terms of power, the 11 volts blows the competitors out the water. However, at over 3lbs, it's not as compact, slender or lightweight as other models, like the Ninja Blast (which weighs 1.7lbs). The Ninja Blast also excels on crushing ice, so if you're a slushie or frozen cocktail fan, that could be your winner. The Ninja is also a bit cheaper, but that's reflected in the more plastic materials.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you're looking for refreshing cold smoothies and shakes on the go, you can't go wrong with this. It's super powerful, robust, effective and well-designed. There are some things to bear in mind: it's pretty large, chunky and it can't crush ice into a fine powder. But personally, I don't think those are dealbreakers.

If you're something who travels a lot or works long hours, you'll love the cold-insulation technology and long battery life. All week long, I enjoyed morning and afternoon smoothies that were fresh, full of fiber and packed with healthy fruit – with very little planning or effort. That's a winner for me.

How we test portable blenders

We're proud of how we test blenders. As H&G's kitchen appliances editor, I test blenders in my home kitchen and fit them into my daily routine, so I can see how they function in real life. When it comes to portable blenders, it's all about ease, portability and reliability.

We have a series of standardized tests that we carry out to help us gauge which kind of user each portable blender would suit. We'll keep making these tests harder and harder until the blender can't cope. It's important to know the limits of your model, even if they're extremely high.

Smoothies: We blend a mix of frozen and fresh fruits, leafy greens like spinach or kale, and regular or nut milk. We'd note down how well each ingredient was blended, how quickly it was done, and how loud it was in the process. If the blender has an automatic shutoff we made a note of how many tries it took to get the smoothie to the perfect consistency.

Added extras: We also try blending tough ingredients that add nutritional value to your smoothies, like sunflower seeds, collagen and protein powders. This is a good measure of the blenders vortex system, which should blitz evenly to create a smooth blend.

Crushed ice: Finally, we try crushed ice to see if the blenders can handle a few ice cubes. This is a big challenge for a portable blender since, it's not shaped very well for blending ice cubes. You generally need a lot of space and a wider blending pitcher if you want properly crushed ice but some surprise us with how well they do.

Speed & noise: It's pretty embarrassing to use a loud blender in the office or subway, so we measure the decibels on our performance tests, too. We also measure the speed so you can see how efficient the motor is.

Clean-up: Clean-up is just as important as the blending. If it's tricky and inefficient, we'll be the first to let you know.

Reliability & design: After these tests, we'll group together to think about how the model compares to other similar blenders in the market, and we'll consider who it suits. Here, we'll let you how well-built it is, whether it's well-designed for small bags, car cup holders, whether it leaks and how easy it is to use. We also read up on customer reviews to see how it fares over a long period of time and what unique insights real-life users can bring to our reviews.

Often, we're lucky enough to keep the products ourselves, which means we can continually update our buying guides with comments about longevity, including whether they leaked in our bags!

Our review and testing guidelines provide more insight into our processes, and our testers for this guide are listed below.

Nutribullet has been a household name for its compact and reliable bullet blenders, but how does it measure up when it comes to larger, family-sized models? After all, blending for the whole family requires something a little extra – it needs to be fun, easy, and affordable.

Enter the Nutribullet SmartSense Combo. Following in the footsteps of the Nutribullet Combo (which we also rated a respectable 4/5 stars), this new version brings smarter features and a modern design. In my tests, I found it to be simple, user-friendly, and a blast to use for everyday tasks. That said, it did struggle with tougher recipes like making hummus and peanut butter, and it got pretty noisy at higher speeds.

While the SmartSense Combo didn’t make our list of best blenders, it makes up for its lack of high-end features with its simplicity, speed, and affordability. Here’s what my tests revealed.

Specifications

Who would it suit?

If you want a blender to make simple smoothies, soups, plant milks and more – this is a solid choice. At $149, it’s perfect for families who want some power without the price tag of high-end models. I actually named it one of the best Vitamix alternatives.

The 64-ounce capacity makes it ideal for batch cooking, but frozen cocktail enthusiasts should note that it doesn’t crush ice. Plus, it struggled on hummus. I'll go into more detail in my testing notes further down the page.

What is it like to use?

As soon as I plugged in the blender and twisted the pitcher into place, the panel lit up to greet me 'hello.' I loved this personal, modern touch. There are only three buttons and the manual explains how to use them clearly, while the recipe booklet has tons of inspiration, from chocolate smoothies to mushroom soup.

The motor base was pretty hefty and felt durable; I really liked the suction cup feet, which kept it firmly in place during use. Once you've got your ingredients in the jug, the lid clicks into place satisfyingly, so you don't have to fear spraying your ceilings with green smoothie.

The 'Auto mode' offers hands-free convenience by automatically detecting your ingredients and selecting the optimal speed and blending time. While this feature is fascinating to watch, my tests with smoothies, dips, and soups revealed that it almost always engaged the highest speed setting at some point, which produced considerable noise. If you live in an apartment, have a sleeping baby nearby, or want to avoid disturbing sensitive neighbors, I'd recommend choosing a quiet blender instead.

Personally, I preferred using the manual and pulse settings, as I felt I had more control over my blends and the noise. Plus, they are equally easy to use.

Test 1: Smoothie

The first test we put all of our blenders through is on smoothies. We add oats, frozen bananas, berries, spinach, and almond milk to our drinks to start with. This gives a good test of how well the blender blades can handle frozen textures, seedy berries and tough greens and skins.

On the automatic setting, the smoothie blended in 20 seconds (there's a light up timer to help you keep track), leaving only minimal flecks of blueberry skin and spinach leaves. Impressively, even after adding protein powder and repeating the process, there were no lumps or graininess – a common issue with other blenders, but it seemed like the auto function detected the density and whipped it into shape.

I also made a smoothie bowl with frozen mango, kale, pineapple, banana, cashews and oat milk. This was even better than my first smoothie. The blend sensor created a creamy and cloud-like texture – hands-free.

Test 2: Hummus

Excited by the smoothie results, I moved on to hummus. Combining garbanzo beans, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and a generous splash of aquafaba, I set the blender to Auto Mode. However, the SmartSense struggled. After 25 seconds, the hummus was stuck, and the motor was getting loud.

When I looked inside, my dip was pretty chunky, so I had to scrape down the sides and add more aquafaba. After two interventions, this helped create a vortex and achieve the hummus I was looking for. The takeaway? The SmartSense performs better with a higher liquid ratio.

Test 3: Soup

For the final test, I prepared a green soup with sautéed onions, broccoli, peas, spinach, kale, and basil, blended with chicken stock. The Auto Mode handled the fibrous ingredients effortlessly, producing a smooth, velvety soup in about 30 seconds. Pouring it back into the saucepan was mess-free, thanks to the pitcher’s well-designed spout. On the taste test, it was absolutely delicious –smooth and velvety, without a single chunk left behind.

Cleaning, storage, and maintenance

Cleaning the SmartSense was pretty easy. The dishwasher-safe pitcher simplifies the process, but hand-washing was manageable. A sponge and soapy water cleaned the interior thoroughly, and the blades weren’t overly sharp, reducing the risk of cuts.

However, I found the plastic ridges at the bottom of the pitcher a little tricky to clean after blending thicker mixtures like hummus, since they had trapped bits of garbanzo bean.

The compact design makes storage straightforward, and the lightweight pitcher is easy to handle. That said, the additional accessories, including the cups, tamper, and lids, require more storage space. If you don't want the combo, the SmartSense is available as a standalone piece of kit.

How does it rate online?

This is a very new blender, which only launched in October, so there aren't many reviews. However, the people who have tried it seem happy so far.

The most recent Amazon reviewer says that they love the fun greetings on the illuminated control panel. They agree with me that it's very easy to use and simple to clean, too. They mention the noise on tough ingredients, but they didn't seem put off on it.

How does it compare?

Compared to high-end models like Vitamix A3500, which we rated 5-stars as the best blender on the market, the SmartSense is less versatile. It lacks the robust motors, air-craft grade sharp blades and advanced features (e.g., vortex systems and heat settings) that premium models offer. However, for its price, it delivers solid performance and excels on simple recipes.

If you want to make silky-smooth hummus or crushed ice, I think the Braun TriForce Blender could be a better choice. We found the Braun blender to be super powerful on thick blends, with a spread setting that creates smooth, silky hummus in 45 seconds. The RRP is exactly the same on Amazon, at $149, but you won't get all the accessories included with the Nutribullet (like personal blending cups and lids).

Should you buy it?

If you’re looking for an affordable, family-friendly blender for smoothies and soups, the SmartSense Nutribullet Combo is a fantastic choice. It comes with two personal blending cups and lids, too – so you're really getting value for money. However, if you need a blender for tougher tasks or quieter operation, you may want to invest in a higher-end model.

How we test

We have a meticulous and rigorous process for how we test blenders. This starts with a simple smoothie. We use frozen berries and spinach, in our smoothie mix, because they test how well a blender can power through tough skins and seeds. Once it's done that, we add protein powder to see whether the smoothie goes lumpy.

We also test how well the blender can make hummus. There's a lower liquid content in dips, so blenders often struggle to make a super smooth dip. We make hummus because chickpea skins can be tough to blend really finely.

The last test we put blenders through is on ice. Most blenders struggle to get ice into a misted, fine snow-like texture. If it's suitable for snow cones and iced cocktails, it's a success.

We'll also test any special functions, such as soups and sauces if a blender has them. We make notes on other parts of the process too, including cleaning, unboxing, and maintenance. Our team also compares the blender to all of the others that we've tested, so we can let you know where it sits in the market.

To say Tom Brady's athleticism has been well-documented is an understatement. As the former QB of the New England Patriots, health and fitness is a major part of the NFL player's life, and as such, he occasionally shares his favorite recipes on his Instagram page.

A recent video in particular grabbed our attention. The football player shows us how he makes his signature TB12 smoothie, and while the beverage itself looks delicious, we were naturally interested in his surroundings; in particular, the lack of clutter around his Nutribullet blender.

Naturally, appliances can be bulky – between essential items such as microwaves, toasters, kettles, and the aforementioned blenders, countertop real estate can become a hot commodity, particularly in smaller kitchens. As such, it is crucial to be as economical as possible when selecting which appliances get prime counter space, as experts explain.

'Declutter your kitchen regularly by assessing kitchen items and donating or discarding items that are broken or no longer used,' says Molly Chandler, designer at Willis & Stone. 'It’s also a good idea to anticipate future storage needs by designing flexible solutions that can adapt to changing lifestyles.'

As we can see in the clip, Brady seems to use the Nutribullet daily for his protein smoothie, so it makes sense that it would get a coveted spot on his countertop.

Another aspect of kitchen appliance storage to keep in mind is utilizing cabinets to hide away less frequently used pieces, as well as implementing new storage solutions.

'Think about storage for small appliances, technology integration, and potential changes in the household,' Chandler says. 'Tech-savvy individuals may need storage solutions for kitchen gadgets, charging stations, and the integration of smart appliances.'

Finally, Chandler recommends eliminating any cables or kitchen appliances that are not especially visually pleasing unless they are in use, as they can be eyesores.

'Consider incorporating hidden outlets and dedicated spaces for electronic devices,' Chandler states. 'By carefully considering these aspects during the planning phase, you can create a kitchen that is not only functional and stylish but also provides efficient storage solutions tailored to your lifestyle.'

A bonus of the Nutribullet, in this case, is its sleek and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Slim yet robust, these blenders fit in seamlessly on counters and come in a variety of colorways. Additionally, its glass top complements existing glass details and contrasts wood accents in the kitchen.

Overall, we recommend being strategic with kitchen appliances. Consider how often the appliance will be used, and how often the item will be displayed. Furthermore, have fun with colors and models of items like blenders and kettles – they can be decor in their own right.

If you know your blender brands, it will come as no surprise to you that Nutribullet have launched a single-serve blender. They've been making impressive, sleek bullet blenders for decades. The latest addition to their range - a slim, bottle-shaped portable model - is already garnering an impressive reputation.

To be one of the best personal blenders on the market is quite a demanding task. These models are used by everyone from gym-goers and morning commuters to campers, all of whom have different needs. A good portable blender needs to have a good seal (we don't want any leakage), a powerful motor (for blending your ingredients), and a design that's easy to drink from and even easier to clean. Then there are other factors that play into it, such as battery life, noise levels, and aesthetics. As you can see, it takes a lot to make a good portable option. 

Whilst Nutribullet hasn't done anything innovative or disruptive to their blender, what they have done is combine all the features of the best blenders to make a hybrid model. This is incredible value, it's stylish, and it's easy to use. There's a lot to love. And here are all the details.

Specifications

Unboxing

The packaging around the Nutribullet is very minimal. The slim cardboard box is completely recyclable and then there's a thin plastic sleeve to protect the blender from scratching in transit. 

Nutribullet will also give you a USBC charging cable (but not a plug) and a getting-started guide. I plugged mine in to give it some juice (pardon the pun) before testing, but I've read plenty of reviews where people's blenders arrived with power already.

The bottle itself is Tritan, which feels relatively robust. It's not quite glass, but it has that effect. The design makes it nice to hold. You can loop the lid on your fingers, hold it in the palm of your hand, and it sits nicely in a backpack bottle holder and in a handbag. So far so good.

Who would it suit?

Nutribullet has designed their portable blender to have a broad appeal. The elegant, slim, modern design is easy to imagine in a range of settings: at a picnic, in the gym, in the office, or on the kitchen countertop. Pair the design with the range of colorways (from light blue to navy and magenta) and the Nutribullet will suit almost any home.

Even though it looks (and feels) like a premium portable blender, this is one of the cheapest portable models on the market. I quite like this aspect because it broadens the appeal of the Nutribullet. It's the budget option without feeling like a cheap alternative to the Ninja or BlendJet 2. 

The sleek design and reasonable price tag mean that this has a pretty broad appeal. It also has a battery life that can withstand 15 blends before needing a recharge, which is perfect for campers who might not have access to a plug for a while. 

The people who might want to look elsewhere are those who want capacity. 16 oz isn't huge and there are bigger, more powerful models out there. As a generic investment, this is good.

What is it like to use?

As soon as I unboxed the Nutribullet, I put it on charge. I'd recommend making a habit of keeping this on charge because there's nothing worse than a half-blended smoothie that you can't finish working on because your charger is at home. Nutribullet estimated that a full charge will give you fifteen blends, which is about what I've found. That's better than plenty of models on the market, but I never like to change it running out.

Once I had given this half an hour plugged in, I thought it should have enough to get through our tasks. I took a quick glance at the instructions, which are super simple. All they tell you to do is add your ingredients, secure the lid, and press go, so that's what I did.

Test 1: smoothie and protein shakes

The main reason most people invest in a portable blender is for making smoothies and protein shakes, so we gave this a deep, detailed trial across a range of different recipes.

I started off simple, using soft strawberries, bananas, spinach, almond milk, and oats. The Nutribullet made light work of this recipe, which isn't much of a surprise. The soft strawberries shouldn't be too challenging. Spinach and oats are probably the toughest ingredients to blend and, in this context, they didn't pose any issues.

With that in mind, I tweaked the test a bit. I added frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, bananas, spinach, almond milk, and oats, to see how well the small blades could handle big, frozen chunks of fruit. Surprisingly, this did a pretty good job. I did have to stop and shake the Nutribullet around to get all of the chunks fully blended, but after a few minutes, I had another successfully smooth drink.

In the first round, I just pushed the button and let the blender do its thing. However, when it was struggling with the second task, I made use of the pulse function, which was surprisingly versatile and powerful. If you want to have a little more agency over how thick your smoothie is, this is really helpful.

When I wanted to sip straight from the bottle, the lid hinges back really far. It's a small detail that sounds insignificant, but it makes a big difference to the experience actually drinking from the Nutribullet. I didn't get hit in the face with the lid. It stayed neatly in place. Plus, the weight of the bottle didn't actually make it hard to hold. You might need to support the base a little more, but it wasn't a problem.

The final test for both smoothies was how easily I could turn them into a protein shake. I added a scoop to both mixes and set them running in the Nutribullet. Neither mix went lumpy or bubbly. The powder was incorporated smoothly and effortlessly.

Test 2: dips

We give all our blenders, portable or not, a trial for making dips. We use them to make hummus, salsa, and guacamole so that we can see how it fares with different ingredients.

Both the salsa and the guacamole were perfect. The soft ingredients worked really well on the pulse setting and they were both spreadable and scoop-able within minutes. The hummus, whilst serviceable, took a little more time. 

Normally, I would add a whole can of chickpeas to a blender, but the capacity of the Nutribullet didn't seem particularly well-suited to overfilling, so I tested just half a can. I added in a spoonful of tahini, some cumin, a squeeze of lemon, and a pinch of salt. I could see that the lower moisture content was making it tricky for the Nutribullet to make some good progress, but, with me shaking the Nutribullet and the pulse function running, it gradually worked through the chickpeas, making a smooth paste. There was still some texture to the dip, so it had quite a 'homemade' feel, but it was still good.

Test 3: crushed ice

Crushing ice is a test that we give all of our blenders, but it's rare that portable blenders can actually do it. The small, tubular shape of the Nutribullet just isn't conducive to smashing ice cubes into fragments. 

Nonetheless, I put a few ice cubes into the bottle, added a splash of water, and set it running. I left the ice clattering around the inside of the Nutribullet for two minutes before I concluded that it definitely wouldn't be able to crush the ice. It's an unfair test to put the Nutribullet through, but it's good to know about.

Cleaning, storage, and maintenance

Cordless appliances can be tricky to clean because you can't always put them in the dishwasher. Cleverly, Nutribullet has made all of the detachable parts dishwasher-safe, which is almost the entirety of the blender: the bottle and the lid are detachable, so it's only the base that you can't submerge. This makes life really easy, although I decided to clean it by adding a squeeze of dish soap and some hot water to the blending bottle. I just whizzed this around for a minute and the blender was completely clean.

The other parts of the blender can be wiped down (these don't really get grubby anyway) and then you can leave your blender charging. Anecdotally, the blender can run for about fifteen blends before it needs to be charged (you'll see a red light when it's coming close to running out of battery). I'd recommend making a habit of charging your blender after use. Even though this survived all of our tests with just one quick charge, it can't hurt to keep yours charged up.

As for storing the Nutribullet, you won't have any trouble. Any space that you have in your cupboards for a water bottle can be converted into a spot for storing your blender. It's super simple.

How does it rate online?

Even though it's relatively new to the market, the Nutribullet rates really well. People seemed to enjoy using this for their morning protein shakes more than anything else, because it's quiet (lots of people praised this) and does a good job at making smoothies (lots of people loved this). A number of people were surprised by how efficient, sleek, and powerful this is.

A number of people identified that this isn't quite perfect when it comes to crushing ice. In fact, one of the most common criticisms of the Nutribullet was that it lacks power. The motor is fine for smoothies and dips, especially if you'll only be using soft fruits and vegetables, but it might struggle if you overfill it or if you're using a full-set of frozen ingredients. However, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a personal blender that can do a really good job of crushing ice.

How does it compare?

The best portable blender on the market is the Ninja Blast, which looks almost identical to the Nutribullet. It's around the same price point and a little longer, but aside from that, the two are hard to choose between.

Our expert appliance tester, Alex, has been doing an extended test of the Ninja and he loves it. Almost a year later, the leak-proof feature is still going strong, it makes a good smoothie and protein shake, and it's as powerful as ever. The only feature that Alex feels it needs is the indicator light that the Nutribullet has. Without any warning, the Ninja will suddenly run out of charge and you'll be left with a chunky fruit slush rather than a super silky smoothie. 

Power-wise, the Ninja is better. It's also bigger and slightly more versatile. However, I actually prefer the ergonomics of the Nutribullet. It's nicer to hold, easier to fit in a handbag, and you don't really need the extra power boost unless you often blend large chunks of thick, frozen fruit.

Should you buy it?

If you're in the market for a portable blender that can make protein shakes with a punch and smoothies silkier than anything you'll have ever tried, this is perfect. It's a great inexpensive option that doesn't feel like much of a compromise. However, if you know you'll need more capacity, it's worth checking out our guide to the best portable blenders on the market. There are bigger, more powerful options over there.

How we test

There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes for us to review a blender. Our experts spend their days researching the best portable blenders on the market. As soon as we find a model that we think you'll like, we call it into our test kitchen. Once we have a model in our hands, we make notes on everything from unboxing and first impressions to making smoothies, protein shakes, hummus, salsa, and ice cones. 

After we're satisfied with our tests, we clean the blender up, letting you know how easy it is to get sparkling. Then we make notes on how easy it is to maintain and store, before comparing it to other models on the market.

We come to a conclusion about who it suits and whether you should buy it to help you decide whether you should make the investment. If you want to find out more, you can read our dedicated page for how we test blenders.

Nutribullet has historically dominated the single-serve, bullet blender market, and their latest release, the Nutribullet Ultra is by far the best model in their offering. It's by far the most powerful personal blender on the market, plus it looks beautiful too.

I already own and use a different Nutribullet (the Pro 900) every day. Before the Nutribullet Ultra, I thought my Pro 900 was one of the best blenders on the market. However, after testing more powerful, speedier, touchscreen Ultra, it'll be tough to go back to anything else.

I tested the Ultra on smoothies, dips, and crushed ice, even though bullet blenders have a tricky relationship with ice and tougher ingredients. The Ultra is powerful enough to take on these tasks, but is it enough for it to replace a family-sized pitcher blender?

Specifications

Who would it suit?

As a bullet blender, this is perfect for people who want quick drinks and single servings of smoothies. The nature of the shape of bullet blenders makes them much better at more liquid-based tasks, so if you’re looking for a blender to make ice cones and dips in huge quantities, you might want a more traditional blending jug. Both for blending power and consistency throughout your mix.

With that in mind though, the Nutribullet is by far the most powerful bullet blender that I’ve tested. It actually didn’t really struggle with dips or ice, but I couldn't make huge quantities in it.

Unboxing

The Nutribullet was easy to unbox and get set up. All the packaging was cardboard, which was very easy to flatten and recycle. The Ultra comes with a base, two blending cups, and a lid. This means that you can make bigger quantities and save some for later by just screwing the lid on.

Sat on the countertop, the Nutribullet looks smart. It has a backlit, touchscreen control panel which glows in a very futuristic way as soon as you plug it in. On the countertop, it’s very subtle and smart. I could imagine this blending seamlessly into any modern kitchen and even small kitchens wouldn’t struggle to make space for it.

What is it like to use?

Bullet blenders are intuitive to use. You screw the lid on, lock it into place, and then, rather than twisting it to blend, you use the touchscreen to toggle between 30-second blends and pulsing. Aside from the screen, the Ultra is exactly the same as other Nutribullets, but with extra, enhanced power, This makes it brilliant for blending tougher ingredients.

Test 1: smoothies

The first test that we put every blender through is on smoothies. I used a mix of frozen bananas, blueberries, ice, almond milk, spinach, and oats, because this tests the blades across a range of tricky ingredients. The frozen berries are effectively big ice chunks that also have tough seeds. The oats can be fibrous, as can the spinach leaves, so blending them all into a seamlessly smooth drink is no mean feat.

The Ultra, with its impressive power, made a super smooth drink. It hardly took any time either. I only used the thirty-second run, which was more than enough. I don't know whether I would say that the Ultra was quieter than my 900. It's certainly not the loudest blender I've tested, but it's not notably quieter. My dBA measurer was at around 90 for most of the blending.

I gave this an extra tough test by adding a scoop of protein powder into the mix. Protein powders come with the potential for the smoothie to get a little lumpy and powdery, but this was fine. My powder seamlessly blended into the smoothie.

Test 2: dips

I’ve had trouble with bullet blenders and hummus in the past. They normally need a shake or a scrape in the way of a helping hand, because there’s a very low liquid content, so chickpeas at the top aren’t often well integrated into the mix. The Ultra, however, didn’t break a sweat. It effortlessly whizzed up my chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and cumin into a super smooth dip. Even with a wider, more powerful pitcher blender, I wouldn’t have had the same results.

Test 3: crushed ice

I have never had success making crushed ice in a bullet blender. They’re just not made for snow cones, which is fine, but worth knowing nonetheless. That’s why I was so impressed when I put ice in the Ultra, set it running, and watched my ice cubes mist into fine particles. This was the first and only bullet blender that could actually crush ice. And it didn’t just do that. All the ice particles were powdery, light, and a wonderful texture. It’s faultless.

Cleaning, storage, and maintenance

The Nutribullet cup and blades are dishwasher safe, so once I was finished with testing, both parts went into the dishwasher. Cleaning up doesn’t get any easier. The base is, of course, not dishwasher-friendly, but it doesn’t really get dirty. I’d still recommend giving both the base and the touchscreen controls a wipe down with a microfiber cloth, but it’s not exactly a task that needs elbow grease.

The slim, sleek design of the Ultra makes it easy to keep out on the countertop. It’s subtle and smart, so I think it would be the most convenient solution to tuck this into a corner (if you blend daily). If you’re not a smoothie-every-morning kind of person, you’ll be fine to put this in a cupboard. The base, in spite of its power, isn’t very heavy. Plus, the cups come with sip-top lids, so you can use these for your protein shakes, or for transporting any liquids with you when you're on the go. Talk about accessories that do it all.

How does it rate online?

The Ultra is unanimously recognized as the most powerful, impressive bullet blender on the market. It has been met with a significant amount of praise from both reviewers and customers alike.

People say that this is stylish, the new touchscreen controls always got a special mention. People liked how sensitive the touchscreen is, although I did find a few people who accidentally set theirs running because it's almost too sensitive. However, the blender won't run until your cup is locked into place, so you won't get much mess.

The other upgrades that Nutibullet boasts, power and quietness, are also often mentioned. Everyone says that this is incredibly powerful and that it is much more capable of tackling tough tasks than other blenders. Even though I didn't find that mine was much quieter than other models, plenty of people thought that theirs were on the quiet side for blenders.

Some reviewers said that, whilst the upgrades were nice, they're not essential. Cheaper, simpler Nutribullets can offer similar results for less money. So, if you're holding on to your purse strings, you might not need to invest in Nutribullet's latest and greatest.

How does it compare?

I’ve tested some of the best blenders on the market and this truly is up there with them. I’d like to make two comparisons, one with the Nutribullet 900 (which is probably the other model you’re considering if you’re looking at this) and the Braun TriForce Power Blender.

The Nutribullet Pro 900 is slightly smaller, chunkier, and less modern-looking than the Ultra. This is the one I use almost every day at home and I can make an equally good smoothie or bowl of hummus in mine. However, when it comes to ice, the 900 is no match for the Ultra. The 900 spins the ice around, not misting it at all, whilst the Ultra makes light work of turning cubes into light crystals.

The Ultra's more powerful motor also means that it's much quicker than the 900 across all tasks. Although, with great power comes an immense amount of noise. The Ultra measured up to 90 dBa in my kitchen, which is a full 15 dBa more than the 900. If you want to save money and you don’t need immense amounts of power, the 900 is better, If you want power and speed, the Ultra is a better option.

The Braun TriForce Power Blender is a similar price to the Ultra, which is why I think it warrants comparison. It’s a different style from the Ultra in that the Nutribullet is a bullet blender and the Braun is a pitcher blender. This means that the Braun has a bigger capacity and is even better when it comes to silky-smooth results. The Braun is just as noisy as the Ultra, if not more, but if you need capacity, it’s a better option. However, the larger capacity means that it takes up more space, so a small kitchen or people who only need single servings won’t make use of the capacity.

Should you buy it?

If you want power and convenience, this is a great investment. The Nutribullet isn’t eye-wateringly expensive, but it’s the most expensive option on offer from Nutribullet. Compared to other blenders on the market, it’s a steal. Having used the Ultra, going back to my Pro 900 felt like walking after you've been running: it felt slower and a lot simpler. It still does a good job of the tasks, but if you want the best of the best, you need this.

How did we test the Nutribullet Ultra?

We have three simple tasks that we put our blenders through to test their performance. The first is making smoothies. We use frozen fruits (because these are like seedy ice cubes), oats (for the fiber), spinach (for the tough leaves), almond milk, and a scoop of protein powder (because this can go lumpy). When we set the blender running, we measure the time it takes to make a silky smoothie. We'll also measure the amount of noise that it makes, in decibels, since blenders are notoriously noisy appliances.

Our next test is on dips, normally hummus. There's a much lower liquid content here, so some blenders struggle to get a consistent blend across all the ingredients. We measure, again, the time and amount of noise made, whilst also making notes on the texture of our final hummus.

Our final, standard test, is on ice. These cubes are close to impossible for most bullet blenders to crush (although the Ultra did a stellar job). We'll let you know the results and why a blender has achieved the results it has, because not everyone needs to be able to mist ice daily.

Aside from making notes on performance, we'll also let you know how the blender looks, what it's like to clean, and how it compares to other models on the market. In short, we want you to be able to make a decision on what you want to buy, safe in the knowledge that you've seen all your options.

If you want to find out more, we've got all the details on our dedicated page for how we test blenders.

Whether you're a sucker for a hard-working appliance, looking for versatility and value, or shopping for a kitchen appliance that does it all, I think you'll be pretty pleased with the Nutribullet Triple Prep system. It can handle all your blending and food processing needs like the best blender food processor combos on the market.

Nutribullet is known for making one of the best blenders on the market. The Triple Prep system uses the single-serve cups that make their iconic bullet blender but offers a jug blender for the more robust, ice-crushing tasks. That would be enough to sell me on this blender, but there's more. Nutribullet has thrown in a full-sized food processing bowl that has layered blades to chop up onions, blend nuts, slice veggies, and grate cheese like the best food processors on the market.

So, you can see that on paper, this looks like one serious piece of kit. I took it to our test kitchen to find out whether that translates from the smart credentials onto your kitchen countertop. Here's what I found (spoiler alert: I think you'll like it).

Specifications

Unboxing

The Nutribullet Triple Prep System arrives in a box proportionate to everything inside. What I'm trying to delicately say is that it's a big box. However, you're getting a full-sized bullet blender, jug blender, and food processor, so I wouldn't expect anything less.

The cardboard is packaged and neatly organized, so that unboxing makes it easy to understand which parts go with which appliance. You'll get two blending cups, which turn into portable bottles after use; a food processor bowl with interchangeable slicing and grating blades, a glass blending pitcher, and the sleek power base. It's a lot to store, so make sure that you have the space for this (I'd recommend dedicating a cupboard to the attachments) before you leap into buying one.

Who would it suit?

If you're kitting out a new home or starting afresh with your kitchen, the Nutribullet Triple Prep System is the perfect appliance. The sleek base could easily sit on a modern kitchen countertop, but you'll need to find some space in your cupboards for all the extras, which is why I tend to recommend this for larger homes. 

The single-serve cups are great if you need to blend for one and go, but the 64 oz blending pitcher and 7 cup food processor are what firmly puts this into the 'large homes' category since they're really designed for batch cooking. The sheer versatility of a bullet and jug blender is great if you want to switch up what you're making. The bullets are great for smoothies, but can't crush ice. The blending jug will mist your ice into fine snow in a matter of seconds but is harder to clean if you just want a quick smoothie.

Altogether, this feels like a sleek and smart piece of equipment. Even better, this comes at a relatively low cost. We've found less expensive models, but this is a sweet spot of value and simplicity. You could opt for more sensitive and advanced models (which I'll get into further down), but this is a great starting point.

What is it like to use?

Getting the Nutribullet Triple Prep System set up was easy and stress-free. It comes with instructions, but you won't really need them, since all the appliances click neatly into the base and the functions are all straightforward.

The one-touch operation is a breezy wonder, you can flick between blending, chopping and food processing relatively effortlessly. I made smoothies, crushed ice, shredded veg, dips, and more. By the end of testing, I'd completed a full (if not slightly obscure) dinner party spread without having to break a sweat. Here are some more details.

Test 1: smoothies

Our smoothie tests are simple but tough. We give every blender spinach so that we can test how it handles tough greens. We throw in frozen berries because these can be big and the small seeds are tough to get super smooth. We'll give it some help with banana and almond milk to see how it can handle them. 

I tested making smoothies in both the jug and bullet blender. If you're making a smaller serving and want a portable option, the bullet is brilliant. It works like Nutribullet's best, classic blender, whizzing up everything into a smooth and delicious drink in just 42 seconds. I even added a scoop of my protein powder to see whether the smoothie would go lumpy and this didn't phase the Nutribullet. I had a silky smooth shake in seconds. 

I tried the same quantities in the pitcher, which was good, but I didn't get the same smooth results in the smaller quantity. My smoothie was very drinkable, but I could taste some seeds. However, when I packed the pitcher with more ingredients, aiming to make a four-person pitcher of smoothie, the Nutribullet came into its own, whizzing up a perfect smoothie which I could pour straight from the jug.

Test 2: hummus

After we've made smoothies, we always move onto making a dip, because this has a lower liquid quantity. Blades can struggle to cut chickpea skins into a silky dip. I followed the same process as I did with the smoothies, testing hummus in the bullet blender and then the large pitcher.

I put a can of chickpeas, a squeeze of lemon, teaspoon of cumin, tablespoon of tahini, and drizzle of olive oil into the bullet blender and set it to work. I had to stop the bullet and give it a shake or a scrape a few times before I was satisfied that the blades had worked through all of my ingredients. Overall, this only took a couple of minutes, so I was pleased.

It was much of the same story with hummus in the blending jug as it was with smoothies. The bullet did a better job of small quantities, because the pitcher's blades simply skipped over some of my chickpeas, giving me a very chunky dip. I doubled my quantities and got much better results (and more hummus than I could ever possibly dream of). 

Test 3: ice

Bullet blenders notoriously struggle to even touch ice and this was no exception. I added a little bit of water and some ice cubes to the bullet and they rattled around for a few minutes, doing nothing. The pitcher on the other hand, was another story. I was totally blown away by how quickly this misted my ice cubes into a fine powder, perfect for snow cones and iced cocktails. There were some larger chunks initially, but as I carried on blending, I got some great results.

Test 4: guacamole

Next, I moved on to the food processor. I had enough hummus to feed the whole street, so thought I'd test out a second dip, guacamole. Although avocado is soft and relatively easy to blend, the cilantro is a tough green to cut nicely, the onion is difficult to get into an even size, and the chili is hard to integrate well. 

As you can see, the Nutribullet Triple Prep System aced the guacamole test. The food processor blades did a brilliant job of chopping and combining all of my ingredients throughout the dip even though they're not at different levels. Some chunks splashed up the sides, but I used a spatula to slide them down and into the main dip. 

Test 5: chopped onion

This test takes one step back from the guacamole, stripping out all the ingredients except for the red onion. I only needed to run the Nutribullet Triple Prep System for a few seconds to get the results that you can see in the picture above. The pieces of onion were relatively consistent, although I could spot a visible difference between larger and smaller chunks. 

After taking the picture, I ran the food processor for longer and ended up with some really small chunks and still some bigger ones. This is fine if you just need to quickly chop onions for a sauce, dip, or recipe. However, if you're a perfectionist who likes consistent, hand-chopped onions, you might be better off giving this one a miss.

Test 5: grated carrot and sliced cucumber

I made use of the double-sided disk. One face will slice your cheeses and vegetables, whilst the other will grate them. As you can see, I got a good grate on my carrot and I the cucumber was neatly and finely sliced too. It was really speedy and impressively powerful. This only needed a few minutes to power through my veggies.

My only grievance here is the size of the feeding chute, which was slightly awkwardly shaped. I had to halve and then slightly re-shape my cucumber before I could feed it to the disc. As with the onion, if you're a stickler for perfect shapes and sizes, this might be frustrating. However, if you want the job done and you prioritize speed, this is perfect.

Cleaning, storage, and maintenance

There's very little you need to worry about with cleaning the Nutribullet Triple Prep System. All the parts are dishwasher safe, so you can throw them all in and let your machine do the hard work. I would recommend exercising some caution with the slicing and grating discs. In fact, I actually washed these by hand, because I didn't trust my dishwasher to get into all the cracks and crevices.

The base station's sleek interface ended up showing some greasy and foodie fingerprints, so I gave it a quick wipe before tucking it towards the back of the countertop. If you're likely to use this a lot, I'd recommend storing the base on your countertop, since it's pretty small and simple. You'll just need to create some space in your cupboards for the various, large attachments.

How does it rate online?

The Nutribullet Triple Prep System is an online success. All owners praised the versatility of the machine, saying that it was convenient for busy homes that needed to cook in large quantities. People generally felt that it was impressive across all of the attachments, although the bullet blender got the most shout-outs for its performance. 

Lots of people enjoyed having a good blender-food processor combo. However, plenty issued warnings about storage since the attachments are big. It's worth it if you'll use all three (reviewers agree on this), but if one of the three functions will be redundant, it might be worth considering your options.

How does it compare?

This went straight into our buying guide for the best blender food processor combos, because it boasts incredible value, capacity, and performance. This means that it sits amongst the better-known Ninja Professional Plus system. 

The two appliances offer comparable performance and versatility, with single-serve bullet blenders, a pitcher, and food processor bowl. I think they're both brilliant, but if we are getting picky, the Ninja is more consistent and more powerful. The Ninja's food processor blades sit at different levels, meaning that it achieves more thorough results, even as the bowl fills up. This is where the Nutribullet slipped up. 

Aesthetically, I prefer the Nutribullet Triple Prep System. The digital interface disappears, making this look sleek on the countertop. The Ninja and its boxy design prioritizes functionality which is probably why it's cheaper. If you want to save money and put power first, the Ninja is a good bet. However, if you want the design of the iconic Nutribullet, you won't regret one.

If you like the sound of all things Ninja and Nutribullet, but you need a really compact appliance, I'd recommend looking at the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express. Admittedly, this feels cheaper and is really aimed at single or two-person households, but it does an excellent job of simple tasks. The blades of the food processor sit at different levels and the discs whizzed through all of our tests arguably quicker than the Nutribullet Triple Prep System. However, it is obviously is limited in capacity.

Should you buy it?

The Nutribullet Triple Prep System is one serious sous chef. It'll be a great helping hand in any family kitchen, because it covers silky smoothies, delicious dips, misty ice cones, and it can speedily slice and chop your vegetables. Even though this is more expensive than the Ninja, it's still a steal for what should be the cost of three, separate, market-leading appliances.

How we test

At Homes & Gardens, we understand the importance of finding kitchen appliances that not only meet but exceed expectations. When it comes to testing blender food processor combos, we have a rigorous process so that you know exactly what you're investing in and whether it's the best for your needs. 

We start all our tests with smoothies. This includes testing how well the blender can handle frozen fruits, leafy greens, and other ingredients to create smooth and creamy drinks. 

The next test we put out blenders through is on hummus (we test the food processors on guacamole). When we're blending these, we want to make sure that the blades can create a smooth and consistent texture for all of the ingredients.

The dip quality will also prepare us for how well the food processor attachment will handle vegetables. We assess how well a food processor will chop onions. We look at the uniformity and size of the chopped pieces, as well as the efficiency and ease of the chopping process. When slicing cucumber we can check the feeding chute shape, as well as look at the various thicknesses and clean cuts. Our final test is grating carrots. We want consistent and evenly grated carrot shreds, as well as an efficient and easy grating process.

In addition to testing individual functions, we compare each blender food processor combo to other models on the market. We consider factors such as performance, versatility, durability, and ease of use. We also evaluate the value proposition of each appliance, taking into account its features, quality, and price point. If you're interested in finding out more, you can read all about our process on our page dedicated to how we test appliances.

Nutribullets have been at the heart of my kitchen for a long time. The slick design, speedy blending, and convenient features are displayed no better than on the original, their Series 600 model.

Since the Series 600 is Nutribullet's iconic blender, I was keen to get it tested against the other best blenders on the market. As soon as I could get one, I took it to our test kitchen to put it through our range of tests. I made smoothies using berries and spinach; smooth hummus; and attempted to crush ice.

Over the course of my tests, I was reminded why Nutribullets are so great for some people and not so great for others. There's no denying it, the Series 600 makes a killer smoothie. The dips it makes are great, too. However, if you need to crush ice or use hot ingredients, you need to consider Ninja or Vitamix for better results. 

Specifications

Unboxing

The Nutribullet is easy to unbox and get set up. It comes in essentially two parts: the motor and the 24 oz blending cup. Nutribullet also provides a sealable lid, so if you need to take your smoothie on the go, or save some for later, you can. They also give you a smaller, 18 oz short cup with a handle, and a sheet with some helpful recipes to get you started. Overall, it’s a great way to start. 

Who would it suit?

Nutribullets suit smoothie enthusiasts and dedicated dip makers. They're quick to set up, can blend through frozen fruits, fibrous veg, and skins easily. Plus, they come with a useful lid, so if you're someone who prefers a batch blend, you can save some for later. 

However, if you’ll be using ice in cocktails or for snow cones, you'll need a different blender. Bullet blenders really struggle to crush and shave ice. It’s also no good for making soups, unless you’re happy roasting vegetables to let them cool, to blend them, to then heat them up again. If you put hot food in your Nutribullet you risk a range of hazards and disasters, from nasty explosions to cracked blending cups.

What is it like to use?

I love the simplicity of Nutribullet’s design. It’s a matter of filling the blending cup, screwing the base on — tightly to avoid spills — and then pressing and twisting it into place. Nutribullets have just a single speed, but, if you don’t lock it into place, you can press and depress the bullet to act as a ‘pulse’.

Test 1: smoothie

I put frozen fruit, spinach, and oat milk into the blending cup, locked it down and let the Nutribullet get to work. It was quick and efficient at making a smooth drink. The spinach had been blended into nothing and, although there were a few seeds visible, I couldn’t feel these when I drank them. I got our other expert tester, Emilia, to double check this and she agreed. It was perfect. 

I have one of these at home and, from long-term usage, I’ve noticed that you get a much better blend if you stack your ingredients according to how heavy they are. I always put my leafy greens in last (closest to the blades) and soft fruit, such as banana in first. If you do it the other way around, you’ll see your final drink has a rougher, less thoroughly blended texture.

Test 2: hummus

It’s great if your blender can tackle dips as well as drinks, so I tested the Nutribullet out on hummus. Breaking down chickpeas into a smooth paste can take some skill, so it’s always a good indicator of how thorough a blender is.

I put a can of chickpeas, tablespoon of tahini, squeeze of lemon juice, teaspoon of cumin, and some salt into the blending cup. The nature of the bullet’s shape meant that I had to stop the Nutribullet and shake or mix it a little to make sure every part of the hummus was blended, but, within a couple of minutes, I had some good hummus. It was the smoothest hummus I’ve made with a bullet blender, even though I did have to interfere a little. 

Test 3: crushing ice

I really wanted the Nutribullet to be an excellent ice crusher. It would complete the blender test trifecta perfectly. However, as with most other bullet blenders, the Nutribullet missed the mark. I added some water to help it crush the ice cubes and ended up with a little bit of slush at the bottom, but nothing worth using. The picture above makes it look much more successful than it was. Below the first layer of slush are ice cubes, nothing that you could use for smoothies, for example.

Don’t be put off as this can still blend up frozen fruit, but when it comes to solid ice, you’ll need a different model.

Cleaning, storage, and maintenance

Cleaning the Nutribullet cup is easy. It’s dishwasher safe, so you can throw it in and forget about it. I would recommend taking some time over cleaning the base and rubber seal though, because these are easy places for food and remnants to get trapped. Try not to expose the blending cups to high temperatures too, because they will crack or permanently discolor. I speak from sad experience, although the replacement cups are easily available. 

When you’re finished with the Nutribullet, it’s subtle enough to keep on display. Fully assembled, it’s quite tall, but not so much that it couldn’t sit under wall cabinets. If you choose to keep it in a cupboard, just make sure you don’t misplace the rubber seal.

How does it rate online?

Nutribullet’s reputation is founded on a vast array of excellent reviews. It has 4.7 stars out of over 2,000 reviews on Amazon. I found plenty of people who had used theirs for well over five years, which is an impressive lifespan considering the price of these blenders. 

The main issue people had was that it tires when trying to blend ice (and pomegranate according to one reviewer). I found a few who wanted a bigger capacity, but I would issue a word of warning here: bigger capacity isn’t necessarily a good thing. Bullet blenders struggle to get through lots of ingredients stacked up high, so if you pack a tall blending cup to the top, you’ll get sub-par results. 

How does it compare?

There are two comparisons to make: between the Series 600 and other Nutribullets and between the 600 Series and alternative bullet blenders. 

At home, I have the 900 Series. The biggest difference between Nutribullet’s 600 and 900 Series is power. I often blend ginger, stems, and leafy greens, so my smoothie needs justify a more powerful model. However, if you make mostly fruity smoothies, you won’t need the extra 300 Watts of power. If you're interested, we've covered Nutribullet vs Nutribullet Pro goign into to depth about the differences in performance, including the Series 900’s more diverse range of color options and larger 32 oz capacity.

Ninja and Magic Bullet also make some good bullet blenders. Magic Bullets tend to feel like less premium, less durable versions of Nutribullets. Ninja’s Nutri-Blender Plus is a strong opponent for the Series 600. It makes a good smoothie, has another 100 watts of power, and is better at crushing ice. It also comes with three 20 oz blending jars and two to go lids, so is more versatile. Reviewers say that it doesn’t feel as well-built as the Ninja. That’s reflected in the price; the 600 Series is normally around $70 from Nutribullet.

On a final note with comparisons, if you’ll be blending soups, there are some excellent options on the market. Vitamix are best known for their heating blenders, but if you want to be savvy, here’s some insider advice. I use the Ninja Foodi Heat-iQ. It’s a game-changing blender with sauté, smooth soup, chunky soup, ice cream, jelly, and more functions. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper too.

Should you buy it?

If all you're making is smoothies, this is a brilliant blender. It's elegant and extremely easy to use. It’s definitely better than basic, but not ultra-refined; it can’t blend at different speeds and struggles with thicker mixes and dips. This criticism might put you off, but I test blenders for a living, and I still love my Nutribullet.

How we test

At Homes & Gardens  we like to know everything there is to know about a blender before we recommend it to you. Our team of expert testers took the Nutribullet to our dedicated test kitchen where we put it though our series of standardized tests. We make a smoothie, hummus, and try to crush ice. If there are extra features, we'll test them too. 

Our team make notes on other parts of the blender experience, so you know what it's like to unbox, clean, and store too. We leave nothing unchecked, so you know everything you need to before jumping in to a purchase. If you'd like to know more, you can visit our dedicated page for how we test blenders.

I thought I had a reasonable idea of what the Nutribullet Immersion Blender would be like before I used it. Clichés like 'cheap and cheerful' immediately sprung to mind. For under $40, I didn't expect much.

However, the Nutribullet took my preconceptions and whizzed them up. It's surprisingly well built and powerful, with a considerable range of functions. The tactile dial allows for you to adjust speed, the blending shaft is long enough for deep pots and pans, and the whisk gives it a completely different use. 

If you're shopping on a budget, you're in luck. This is durable, powerful, and well-designed. It's one of the best immersion blenders on the market. It's missing all the bells and whistles of other models, but you'll have to triple your money to match the performance of the Nutribullet.

Specifications

Unboxing

For a $40 appliance, the unboxing process was everything I expected. There was a considerable amount of non-recyclable packaging, which always gets a thumbs-down from me. At least all the parts arrived scratch-free.

The main body feels surprisingly durable. There's a considerable amount of plastic, which, when shiny looks a little cheap. Paired with stainless steel and the rubber grip and it feels like a solid, but not super premium appliance.

Most immersion blenders come with a blending jug. This is useful if you're precious about your pans and want to avoid lots of scratches. The Nutribullet doesn't come with one, instead offering a whisk. 

Although this might be frustrating for some, I actually quite like it. The — normally plastic — jug ends up collecting dust in my cupboards, because I blend straight into the pan or bowl. The Nutribullet has some pan protecting distance between the blades at the end of the shaft in the hopes of stopping scratches from damaging any non-stick.

The whisk attachment feels a little flimsy. I expect it wouldn't rival any handheld whisks, but if you like in a small home and will use it for basic batters, it would do the job well.

Who would it suit?

This is the perfect 'first immersion blender'. It's low-cost with enough versatility to cover a range of kitchen needs. 

The variable speed dial is a feature I've seen lacking from more premium models. It's really useful if you prefer more control over textures of soups, smoothies, and sauces, because you can use lower-power for adding texture as and when you need to.

The whisk attachment is really an added extra. I wouldn't buy this for the whisk, but if this is part of a kitchen starter set, it'll be really useful for making meringue or pancake batters. 

If you consider yourself to be quite a chef, you'll start to see the limitations of the Nutribullet, You'll also quickly get frustrated by the cord. There are plenty of cordless immersion blenders that offer much more versatility and power. They just cost more money.

What is it like to use?

I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the Nutribullet was to handle. It has a comfortable silicone grip, which I was grateful for, since this is heavier than most other models I tested.

Getting started, I didn't have to struggle with any safety switches. It was incredibly straightforward. The only time this blends is when you depress the switch, which is a little frustrating, but a feature of lots of blenders.

My only frustration was with the variable speed settings. You have to pre-set which speed you want to use and then start blending. You could adjust it whilst the Nutribullet is running, but I imagine you'd splatter batter or soup everywhere. 

There's really one test that matters when you're using an immersion blender: how well it makes soups and purées. I boiled some cubes of carrot, sweet potato, and butternut squash. These root vegetables can be tough to purée, but, even on the lowest setting, the Nutribullet made a smooth mix in a matter of seconds. It did make 80 dBA of noise at the same time though. At least you don't need to use it for long.

I added some ginger to the mix and could see a few fibers left over. After blending on the highest setting, the puree was almost back to it's super smooth puree. I could see more texture than I could taste. In my mouth, it felt like the perfect baby food or purée.

Test 2: whisk

I wanted to give the whisk attachment a trial. If it's included, it's important for you to know how good it is. I made pancake batter using the whisk attachment and it's close to faultless. You'll only need to use a low speed, because as it gets more powerful, the whisk makes a mess. 

Using the lowest setting, I used my whisk to give some air to my batter and you can see in my picture that this did an excellent job. It created lots of air and bubbles in my batter and was much quieter than the immersion blender.

Cleaning, storage, and maintenance

No part of the Nutribullet is dishwasher safe. Whilst this isn't ideal, it's also not a big issue. All you have to do is wash the attachment in the sink. It's small, doesn't collect much food inside it, and so, in the grand scheme of kitchen utensils, this isn't a disaster.

Whilst I commented on this as heavy to hold after a long time, it's pretty compact. You won't struggle to store it in a drawer or cupboard. It's perfect for small kitchens.

How does it rate online?

Generally, this reviews really well. On Amazon, it has 4.6 stars out of 1,700 reviews, which speaks for itself. Most people say that it's easy to clean, easy to use, and they say that it's surprisingly high quality. Plenty of people used it to make sauces and baby food, but next to nobody makes use of the whisk. After my tests, I recommend they do.

Where this begins to falter is in big batches. Reviewers generally say it's okay for small batches of fibrous ingredients, but is a little grainy as soon as you move to multiple servings. It's also not made for crushing ice or making nut butters: you'll need a proper blender for that.

How does it compare?

If you double you money, you can buy the KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender. This feels like a more premium product and is a lot nicer to hold. The variable speed is controlled by the button you press: for more power, press harder, for less, loosen your grip. This mechanism makes the KitchenAid much more convenient than the Nutribullet. 

When not in use, I needed to lie the Nutribullet down, but the KitchenAid comes with its own stand and blending jug. When I used them both to blend, the purées were almost identical. The only difference was in the user experience, where the KitchenAid feels more premium. 

However, for the price of the KitchenAid, you could buy two Nutribullets. If you want a blender that will purées without the niceties of the KitchenAid, you'll be grateful you saved the money instead.

Should you buy it?

For a budget immersion blender, you won't get much more for your money. This is powerful, has variable speeds, and is well-built. There are some fiddly features, including having to constantly depress the switch, but, for the price-savvy it's a compromise worth making.

How we test

At Homes & Gardens we like to test every appliance before we recommend it to you. Our expert testers took this immersion blender to our test kitchen where we used it to puree root vegetables and leafy greens. Our experts also made notes on every aspect of the Nutribullet, from unboxing to washing up so that you don't have any surprises waiting for you when this arrives in your home. If you want to find out more, you can visit our page dedicated to how we test blenders.

We test pretty much everything Nutribullet put out. They're a massive brand bringing inexpensive blending to the masses. When you consider that the likes of Vitamix and KitchenAid start their prices at $300, Nutribullets like the new Smart Touch Blender offer a cheap alternative. But can a value appliance like this really tangle with the big brands?

No, but you don't need it to. On test, I found an average but incredibly straightforward blender. If you're like me and you don't want to overthink blending, this is great. It has four settings. You want a smoothie, hit smoothie and you're done. Same with purée and ice. If you want more control over your blend, there are timers and pulse buttons, but not much else. 

After testing this on tricky ingredients like protein powder, frozen berries, ice, and chickpeas, I think this is a new entry into our ranking of the best blenders. There's lots of tiny quibbles; the lid is a little stiff, and the motor body is pretty big to store, but if you want an inexpensive blender that does exactly what it claims, it doesn't get any simpler than this.

Nutribullet Smart Touch Blender review

Product specifications

Unboxing the Nutribullet Smart Touch Blender

Unboxing was my first hint to the simplicity of this blender. It was really easy to unbox. There's no extra parts - you get a motor, a jug with a blade in a lid and a tamp for pushing down ingredients. We're always on the watch for unnecessary plastic, and there was a little here, but because there are so few parts, this isn't particularly worrying. 

Setup is really straightforward. Everything slots together easily - you just stick the jug onto the motor and you're good to go. That said, the lid is a little bit stiff, and here I noticed the sheer size of the jug. 64oz is great for big portions for get togethers - I caught myself planning out a massive pitcher of frozen margaritas in this thing - but with a thick, unwieldy handle, some may fine this blender a little tricky to lift, especially if you have mobility issues. 

When you switch the power on, the interface is bright, simple, and clear, with four dedicated settings for frozen drinks, smoothies, pureés and soups. 

Test 1 - fruit smoothie

First up was a fruit smoothie, with a recipe that lets me assess how it manages multiple textures in one go. I made this with frozen berries, which let me see how it can tackle frozen textures as well as seeds. I used two whole bananas to thicken it out with some mushier textures, as well as some protein powder and creatine to see if this can cope with gritty, powdery textures. Topped off with oat milk, I had a potentially delicious shake but one with lots of potential pitfalls for a blender. 

All I had to do was switch on the smoothie setting and stand back and watch. After some initial struggle, the blender took the upper hand, whirring all of the ingredients into a thick smoothie. 

It delivered a fairly good result on the smoothie setting, but it struggled with the seeds in the berries, which largely survived unscathed. however, the flesh of the berries was otherwise really well mixed with no skins or lumps making it through the blades. The same was true of both bananas, and the protein powder and creatine were both really well incorporated, with no grittiness or lumps.

The downside here is that this was really loud, setting off my fitness watch with a 90dB warning. A bit of noise is to be expected with a blender; more frustrating is that the motor sends air out the back as exhaust, so if you’ve got a recipe book out on the countertop or kids' art on the fridge then you'll need to weigh them down.

Test 2 - Ice

Blending ice is a must for cool summer drinks and pitcher of margaritas. I wasn't about to make a load of these on the job, so this was a straightforward test of crushing ice - about 5 cups worth of ice vs the iced drinks setting. 

Ultimately, this wasn't an entire success. Almost all the ice was misted into a fine white powder that will work really well for slushies and frozen cocktails. However, there were some ice cubes left over at the end that hadn't been touched by the blender. I think it world work well on small quantities of ice, but can't stand up to lots of blending in one go. It's pretty good, but there are other blenders on the market which can effortlessly crush ice.

Test 3 - Puréeing hummus

I then thought I'd test out the purée setting, which should be good for dips, sauces, and baby food. Not having an expert toddler taste-tester on hand, I turned to a quick, trusty hummus to see if this setting could cope. I made it with a whole can of garbanzo beans, a little of the water, a couple cloves of garlic, a tiny bit of oil and lemon juice, and chilli and smoked paprika. 

I thought this setting - only a minute long - was too short for this. It would pulverise softer ingredients like bananas and tomatoes, but it doesn't work for harder ingredients like garbanzo beans. I've got to be honest: I hated the taste of this. I don't think it was well incorporated and too rough. It tasted like it wasn't properly emulsified, somehow, which shouldn't be the case since there was barely any oil involved. It couldn't even be saved with cucumber sticks.

However, eCommerce editor Laura Honey was also in the test kitchen when I gave this a go and she really liked it. The rough consistency worked well and the garlic was right. She thought it was good as a more authentic hummus, but if you're used to store-bought, you might not enjoy it. It's only fair to include both points of view, but I still think the result was too rough.

Cleaning

This is fairly easy to clean. It's dishwasher safe, and washing it by hand took seconds, because all you have to clean is the jug and the lid. Stickier ingredients like the smoothie were slightly stuck down the sides, but it wasn't too trick to remove these. 

The lid is a little fiddly - there's a hinge on the spout that stops liquid escaping as you blend that can be a bit tricky to work into with a brush, but beyond that, it's pretty easy to clean. The only issue is having enough room to put it away afterwards. It's a pretty bulky unit, and you might struggle to find room on a drying rack or in a cupboard. 

How does it rate online?

Most reviewers love this blender. 79% of the Amazon reviews are five stars, with lots of reviewers saying that it stands up to their old Vitamix blenders. Some found it a little fiddly to clean, and others noted as I did that it's pretty tricky to prise the lid off this thing. 

However, I caught a handful of one star reviews that say their blender hasn't held up over a few months and has stopped working. I'll revisit this review in a few months to see if this is the case for us. 

How does it compare?

In the introduction I mentioned Vitamix and KitchenAid, so let's do a little head-to-head. 

The Vitamix A3500 is our reigning champion. Unlike this Nutribullet, it can easily handle seeds, blasting through the seeds in a lemon wedge so thoroughly that you couldn't tell they were in the mix. The Ascent does not only have a soup setting for blending soup, but spins its blades so fast that it can make hot soup right in the pitcher, saving on washing up and cooking on the stove. The Nutribullet simply can't do this. However, the Nutribullet is 5 times cheaper than the Vitamix. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but I'm not sure the Vitamix is worth 6 times more for smoother smoothies and hot soup. 

Perhaps a fairer comparison is KitchenAid's K400. This blender tends to retail at around $300, so it's a slightly fairer comparison. The KitchenAid had a better performance with seeds, easily blending them, and it's easier to clean, as it has a dedicated cleaning setting.

However, I think the display on the Nutribullet is much simpler to use. It's bright and tells you exactly what you're selecting rather than relying on symbols on a dial, which are simple but need a bit of getting used to. 

Should you buy the Nutribullet Smart Touch Blender?

Yes, but it depends what you want. For a basic, inexpensive blender, you can't go wrong. If you want to make the occasional fruit smoothie or milkshake for the family then this will get it done. It will work for frozen cocktails too, as long as you don't overdo it on the ice. It's less good for sauces and dips. 

If you want to take your blending to the next level, this is too simple, and it's worth investing in something else. If you're single or a couple, the 64oz capacity could be overkill.

KitchenAid and NutriBullet are both big names in the world of blenders. Reliable, powerful, and attractive, these appliances are some of the best blenders that you can buy. 

Each brand prioritizes different features, so you’ll want to think carefully about your blending needs when making a purchase. That’s why we entrusted Millie Fender, our appliance expert and Head of Reviews, to put two of the biggest names in blending to the test. She gave the Nutribullet Pro 900 Series Blender and KitchenAid K400 various tasks and found they suit quite different kitchens.

Whether you’re a solo shake maker or trying to efficiently feed a family, we’ve got hands-on experience with these appliances. From soups and smoothies to ice cones and cocktails, we’ve evaluated these blenders to find the right one for you.

KitchenAid vs NutriBullet - Overall

Sturdy and stylish, KitchenAid and NutriBullet seem to have it all: they look the part, work effortlessly, and are straightforward to use. Both companies offer a range of colors, to match any kitchen décor. They’re both easy to use and powerful when it comes to blending and pulsing.

From the get-go, the NutriBullet is a great blender for smoothies. With one, standard, 900-watt power output, kale stems and frozen blueberry skins whizz into a smooth mix. For more varied tasks, the KitchenAid steps into the spotlight. Its 1200 watts of power and five speed settings are betting for blending ice, cauliflower, and vegetables for soup.

It's clear that the NutriBullet suits smaller households; it comes with 18 and 32 ounce cups. The KitchenAid has a much larger 56 ounce capacity pitcher.

KitchenAid vs NutriBullet - which is better at making smoothies?

WINNER: NutriBullet

The ultimate test for any blender is a smoothie. The KitchenAid K400 blender can blend frozen fruit, leafy greens, and oats in under a minute, with only a few of the toughest oats left behind. With a special, timed smoothie setting, it's a hands-off blending experience: just choose the setting and the blender does the rest. If you want a little more control, the variable dial means that you can manually adjust the thickness and texture of your smoothie.

The NutriBullet slots in, pushes down, twists, and blends away. Even with kale stems, this gave a wonderfully smooth result, powering through the tough bits which escaped the KitchenAid. The smaller cup capacity targets single users, who can slot the removable handle around the blender for a grab-and-go container.

For batch smoothies, use the KitchenAid. If you’re making them for yourself, or one other person, you’d be better off using the NutriBullet for an out-of-this world texture.

KitchenAid vs NutriBullet - which is better at making soups?

WINNER: KitchenAid

There’s no battle here. NutriBullet warns against using hot contents inside the blender. The KitchenAid's plastic jug, although a little tough to open, was a success when making soups. Our expert, Millie, gave the KitchenAid fibrous ginger and tough vegetable skins to blend. The result? Enough smooth soup to serve four to six people. Only a few small fibers and skin pieces weren't blended.

If soup is going to be your speciality, it’s worth reading Millie's review of the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender, which is better than either of these for making soup. 

KitchenAid vs NutriBullet - which is better at crushing ice?

 WINNER: KitchenAid

With a special ice-crushing setting, the KitchenAid blended ice into a fine and even texture in under 30 seconds, perfect for snow cones. However, bear in mind that it’s very noisy, though this is to be expected. On the other hand, the NutriBullet can chop through ice, but is less consistent and might need a little shake to redistribute the shards.

KitchenAid vs Nutribullet - which is easiest to clean?

WINNER: KitchenAid

Neither are particularly difficult to clean. Adding warm water and dish soap with a few pulses effortlessly clears the worst of the mess. Both the lid and jug of the KitchenAid can go in the dishwasher too, but the NutriBullet’s blades cannot. If you want the most effortless clean, go for the KitchenAid.

KitchenAid vs NutriBullet - which looks best?

Smart and sleek, both blenders are well-designed for a variety of interior styles. In a wide range of colors, both NutriBullet and KitchenAid can be styled for subtle color synergy or stand-out kitchen statements.  KitchenAid’s range of kitchen appliances offer the opportunity for some kitchen coordination between your blender and mixer. The sheer 12 pound weight of the KitchenAid means that it’s probably best to leave it on the countertop or in lower cabinets. The NutriBullet can be compactly stored, but is equally discrete on a countertop.  

KitchenAid vs Nutribullet - which should I buy?

It depends on your circumstance and lifestyle. For versatility and larger quantities, the KitchenAid K400 is a reliable blender. With five power settings, a large jug, and more power, it’s designed with busy homes in mind. Bear in mind that the nature of a versatile appliance is that you inevitably compromise on specific features: blenders with thinner blades will suit soups and smoothies, but struggle more with crushing ice.

If you're a solo smoothie fanatic, the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series is for you. The finer blend is a real gift for those who appreciate a smooth texture, especially if you want to start making your own non-dairy milks and cold blends. We love the easy-to-use handle which converts your blender into a cup to take with you on the go.

See Millie’s KitchenAid K400 Blender and her NutriBullet Pro 900 Series review for a full evaluation of the blenders. 

Nutribullet are one of the most recognisable blender brands on the market. Many of us will have seen their infomercials, and there's a decent chance there's a Nutribullet sitting on your countertop right now. But while the original model might be a mainstay of the industry, Nutribullet have released several newer versions of the classic blender. 

When most people think Nutribullet, they'll have the original 600 model in mind. However, Nutribullet have released updated models since the original, particularly the Nutribullet 900. This is made more complicated by the fact that the two blenders look almost identical. Aside from the price, it's hard to see why you'd pick one over the other. 

We've figured out the key differences between two of the best blenders around. I'll bring together insights on their specifications with hands-on, in depth reviews from our testing experts to help you decide which Nutribullet blender comes out on top. 

Nutribullet vs Nutribullet Pro — what's the difference?

The original Nutribullet blender is the Nutribullet 600. It's since been updated with a larger, more powerful Pro 900, as well the Pro 1000W and the Pro+ 1200W models. The fairest comparison is between the 600 — the original — and the 900, as the two look nearly identical. 

Our Head of Reviews Millie Fender has tested the Nutribullet Pro 900, and our expert tester Courtney Irwin has a review of the 600 in the works. Even at this early stage of our feedback, the clear winner is the Nutribullet Pro 900. The biggest change between these two models is power. The original Nutribullet runs with 600W, and the Nutribullet Pro 900 has 900W, so it does a more thorough job on tough leaves and stems. The Pro 900 comes in more than ten colors, vs the single black color of the Nutribullet 600, and has a larger 32oz capacity. Despite a more powerful motor, the Pro 900 is two pounds lighter than the original.

(Note from ed: British readers should know that you can't buy the pink model pictured above, as the 900 only comes in a champagne colorway in the UK.)

Which blender is best for smoothies?

WINNER: Nutribullet Pro 900 Series

Expert tester Millie Fender put the Pro 900 against the toughest ingredients to blend - kale, frozen blueberries, and whole strawberries. Kale stems can be unpleasant if they aren't thoroughly blended, blueberry skins are tough when frozen, and whole fruits take a little extra power. She found that the Pro 900 powered through all of them with ease, producing a smooth, nutritious smoothie that went down easy. 

Which blender is best for protein shakes?

Which blender is best for protein shakes?

WINNER: Nutribullet Pro 900 Series

The Nutribullet Pro 900 not only makes better protein shakes, but it also comes with a protein shaker jug attachment. This means you can blend protein shakes directly in your bottle and take them straight to the gym, saving you the hassle of fiddling transferring your shake from a blender jug to a travel cup. It also cuts down on the washing up. It's a great choice for gym users on the go.

Which blender is best for crushing ice?

WINNER: Nutribullet Pro 900 Series

The Pro 900 Series wins for crushing ice - it does a better job than the original Nutribullet 600, because it's more powerful. It crushes ice into a fine slush that works really well for açaí bowls or frozen margaritas. 

Which blender is best for soups?

WINNER: Nutribullet Pro 900 Series

These simple bullet models of Nutribullets aren't designed to blend hot soups. However, that doesn't mean you can't prep soups to be cooked later on, or blend soups once you've cooked your ingredients. Expert tester Millie Fender gave a simple tomato soup a go in the 900 series and loved the results. She found that 'it did a really good job on tomato skins and tough herbs like rosemary'. 

If you want a Nutribullet that can take on hot liquids, our expert reviewer Helen McCue found that the Nutribullet Blender Combo is more than up to the task, making a delicious curried carrot and butternut squash soup. 

There's more detail in Helen's excellent full Nutribullet Blender Combo review. 

Which blender is cheapest?

WINNER: Nutribullet 600

The clear winner here is the original Nutribullet. It's listed on Nutribullet for $79.99 vs $119.99 for the 900 series. However, depending on the time of year, you might find either listed for much if there's a sale. Both products have a one-year warranty. Ultimately, it's up to you whether you think the power and capacity of the Nutribullet 900 is worth an extra $40. If you're blending all the time, I think that will pay for itself. If you only want a smoothie every so often, it might be worth saving a little money. 

Which blender is easier to clean?

TIE

Both blenders have dishwasher-safe cups, which makes cleaning really easy. If you don't have a dishwasher, however, Millie found that the bullet shape of Nutribullets can be a little tricky, as 'the grooves inside the cup can make it easy for residue to get stuck'. She also notes that the lids have to be washed by hand. However, this is just a quick rinse, so it's not much of an issue. 

Which blender should you buy?

Which blender should you buy?

The Nutribullet Pro 900 is our winner. It offers a greater capacity, a better performance, and comes in wider range of colours, suiting many different kitchen aesthetics. That said, it's a little more expensive than the original 600 series, so if money is tight then the original is also a great choice. 

If you're wondering what you can make in Nutribullet, you're not alone. Blenders are becoming ever more popular as people plan healthy smoothies for their New Year's resolutions. Yet while Nutribullet is almost synonymous with blending, it's not always clear why you'd opt for one model over another, or why you'd even need one in the first place. 

Luckily, the testing geniuses here at Homes & Gardens got up close and personal with some of the most popular Nutribullet models on the market. Thanks to first-hand experience, we're best placed to tell you exactly what Nutribullet products can do. 

I've brought together insights from across our testing team – including from Head of Reviews, Millie Fender – to find out whether Nutribullet is up to everything you can throw at them, and if they deserve their place in our rankings of the best blenders. 

Can a Nutribullet blend ice?

Yes, Nutribullet blenders can blend and crush ice. That said, make sure you buy the right model. The Nutribullet GO is a compact, portable model that’s great for taking on the go, but it lacks the strength to crush ice. If you're after a frozen smoothie, our tests found that it's too small to do anything to ice, simply pushing around ice cubes as it blends other ingredients. However, our pick for the most versatile Nutribullet, the Nutribullet Blender Combo, whizzes ice into a fine white powder that’s delicious in smoothies and sorbets. The Nutribullet Pro 900 Series, our pick for the best overall Nutribullet, also does a fantastic job of blending ice.  

You can discover more in our guide to which Nutribullet is best.

Can a Nutribullet blend frozen fruit? 

Nutribullet blenders are fantastic at blending frozen fruit – we're yet to find one that isn't. Our expert testers have tried multiple models on frozen bananas and berries with fantastic results, blending all the ingredients together without lumps. Nutribullet blenders create a delicious, slushy consistency that's great for açaí bowls and other frozen treats.

Add ice cream and milk, and you can also make milkshake in a blender.

Can a Nutribullet blend hot food? 

If you want to blend hot food, the Nutribullet Blender Combo is your best best. Our testing expert Helen McCue made an excellent curried carrot and butternut squash soup, heating the chunky-cut vegetable first before whizzing everything together in the specialized pitcher. Steam vented easily out of the tip of the lid, but the lid itself was sealed tightly and kept all the liquid soup inside. The result was a delicious soup with no lumps. 

There's more detail in Helen's full Nutribullet Blender Combo review. 

Can a Nutribullet make juice?

The classic bullet-shaped Nutribullet blenders can't make juice, as their blades chop everything together like a smoothie. However, Nutribullet also makes juicers, and our Head of Reviews, Millie Fender, loves the Nutribullet Pro Juicer. Though she found it noisy, when it came to the performance she found that 'there's no faulting the quality design of the NutriBullet Juicer Pro'. It made fantastic orange, carrot, and ginger juice, and has a turbo mode for taking on tougher root vegetables like beetroots. 

Can a Nutribullet grind coffee?

Yes, but not as standard. The Nutribullet Milling Blade will finely grind seeds, nuts, and coffee beans. However, this attachment is only suitable for the original Nutribullet 600 Series, and you'll have to pay for it. We haven't yet tested the milling function, but we've tried out plenty of specialized coffee grinders that will probably do a much better job. That said, if you're tight on space and want to blend and grind with the same appliance, it might be a good investment. 

Our guide to the best coffee grinders has more information. 

 Can a Nutribullet be used as a food processor? 

Hypothetically, you could use a Nutribullet blender as a food processor, but why would you bother when Nutribullet has its own food processor? Our reviewer Camryn Rabideau took the Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor to task and found that it made great banana ice cream and energy balls, although pizza dough was unsuccessful. The stand-out feature was a spiralizer, which produced perfect curls of carrots. All the attachments can be stored in the bowl, and the removable parts are all dishwasher-safe, leaving Camryn 'really impressed with the performance of this compact appliance'. 

There's more detail in Camryn's full Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor review.

Nutribullet vs Magic Bullet is an important distinction to make if you're shopping for a blender. They've got similar names and branding, so it can be confusing when you're shopping. When it comes down to Nutribullet vs Magic Bullet, is there really a difference? 

I'll outline exactly what sets the two apart - it's a good lesson in being wary of branding and how products are presented to you. Thanks to expert tests by our Head of Reviews, Millie Fender, I'll cover which Nutribullet products are the best bet for making delicious smoothies and shakes.

We get into even more detail in our minute breakdown of which Nutribullet you should buy, so you can find exactly the right blender to suit your needs. 

Nutribullet vs Magic Bullet - what's the difference?

The short answer is that Magic Bullet is the original blender, replaced by Nutribullet, which then became a brand in its own right.

It gets a little bit confusing, but it's all an exercise in branding. Nutribullet and Magic Bullet are two separate brands owned by a parent company, Homeland Housewares. 

Magic Bullet blenders are the original brand. They launched in 2003 with the original Magic Bullet personal blender, one of the first blenders where you can blend a smoothie straight into the glass. They're still on sale to this day. 

This original Magic Bullet was succeeded by the Magic Bullet Nutribullet in 2012. The two appliances are largely the same, but the new Nutribullet had a larger capacity of 24oz and double the power.

This improvement was followed by the Nutribullet PRO, the Nutribullet RX, and the Veggie Bullet. These all had a 'Magic Bullet' logo - Nutribullet was just a name - but in 2017 Nutribullet became a brand in its own right with the Nutribullet Balance, which dropped the 'Magic Bullet' logo.

From this point on, Homeland Housewares have used 'Nutribullet' for all their blenders except the Magic Bullet Mini in 2020. There's also a Magic Bullet air fryer.

So there you have it: Magic Bullet is the original, Nutribullet usurped it, and then they split into two brands under the same umbrella company. 

Nutribullet vs Magic Bullet - which is better?

Full transparency here: we haven't tested the Magic Bullet. It's a rare gap in our expertise, but in our defense, the original Magic Bullet was released nearly two decades ago. We only focus on the latest and greatest. But while we haven't got hands on with the Magic Bullet, we have thoroughly tested its very latest successor, the Nutribullet Pro 900 series. We can directly compare the specifications of the Nutribullet vs Magic Bullet and get a sense for which is better.

You can see above that this isn't really a fair fight. We're pitching a 20-year old appliance against one that came out a couple of years ago - it's like comparing a flip phone to an smartphone. In almost every metric, the Pro 900 series is better. It has a larger capacity, more power, and comes in more colors. The Magic Bullet is lighter, sure, but there's no huge difference between 4lbs and 9lbs. However you slice it, the Nutribullet is better; it's no surprise our Head of Reviews, Millie Fender, gave it a perfect five star rating. 

That said, the Magic Bullet is much cheaper, so if you're tight on budget it could be a good option. That also means it could make a good choice if you want a blender for a smoothie every now and again but aren't obsessed with chasing the perfect shake. The 900 series might be overkill, where the Magic Bullet would certainly do for a few berry smoothies in summer. 

There's more detail in Millie's full Nutribullet Pro 900 Series review.

However, there is, of course, a huge difference in size and price point for the two. To be as fair as we can, lets bring in the most similar Nutribullet to the original Magic Bullet, the Nutribullet GO:

Once again, in Nutribullet vs Magic Bullet the Nutribullet comes out on top. It has the same capacity, but comes in more colors and is lighter. It has both a more powerful and quieter motor than the Magic Bullet, and it's portable so you can take it on the go. Millie loved this blender when she put it to the test. Most importantly, it's cheaper than the original Magic Bullet, so you get a better performance and price for less. 

Millie hones in to the detail in her full Nutribullet GO review.

Final thoughts: my verdict

So there you have it - Magic Bullet and Nutribullet are different products, but fall under the same parent company. One is much older technology than the other, so while they have similar appearances and set ups, Nutribullet outdoes Magic Bullet on power and capacity. If I'm making that choice, I go with Nutribullet every time. 

There's a reason that centrifugal juicers are the most popular way to squeeze some extra nutrients into your day. They get the job done faster than anything else on the market, offering speed, efficiency, and ease of use, not to mention a lower price point than some other types of juicers.

If we haven't already made it obvious, centrifugal juicers (also known as fast juicers) have a lot going for them, but they're not all made equally. We've tested some of the best juicers out there, namely the Nutribullet Pro, which really can do it all. However, we've also tested cheaper models that leave a lot of pulp, don't extract much juice, and make a lot of noise in the process.

With years of testing experience under our belts, our experts have brought together the only centrifugal juicers worth buying. All of these can extract plenty of nutrients from even the most fibrous ingredients, they're easy to use, thoughtfully designed, and they'll be reliably good. Here's everything you need to know to pick the best one for you.

The Quick List

Best centrifugal juicers 2024

Best centrifugal juicer overall

The NutriBullet Juicer Pro is easily the best centrifugal juicer on the market, able to power through tough produce like carrots and ginger. You can make several servings of juice in this jug, which is double the capacity of the Kuvings EVO820, to drink now or save for later.

This juicer comes with a freezer tray, a froth separator, and a cleaning brush, as well as two grab-and-go bottles and even a recipe book. It's the full package, so it's great for those who are new to juicing. All you need to do to set up your juicer is slot your pulp chamber into the base and press 'go'. It's easy to clean, too, since most of the parts are dishwasher-safe.

The NutriBullet Juicer Pro works best with smaller servings of wetter ingredients, such as berries and citrus fruits. On test, this machine struggled with leafy greens like kale. The NutriBullet Juicer Pro also has a tendency to whir as it works. This shouldn't pose too much of a problem, though, as you'll only be juicing for a few minutes at a time.

For a fast juicer that's budget- and beginner-friendly, you can't go far wrong with the NutriBullet Juicer Pro.

You can find more detail in our NutriBullet Juicer Pro review.

Most versatile centrifugal juicer

The Bluicer is two appliances in one. Both the blending pitcher and the juicing jug are compatible with the Bluicer base, which should save storage space on your counters and in your cabinets.

This machine features five-speed settings and comes with a handy chart to indicate which produce should be juiced at which speed. Mode 1 works best with soft fruits such as citrus, while Mode 5 can power through whole apples. Small and large ingredients alike can slide down the extra-wide feed chute, which cuts down on chopping and peeling time.

Like most centrifugal juicers, the Bluicer produces a fair amount of froth. You might want to strain your juice for smoother sipping. The size of this juicer poses more significant problems. You might struggle to store the Bluicer in shorter cabinets since it's almost 17 inches tall.

The Bluicer can also handle hot ingredients to make soups and sauces: it's a real kitchen workhorse.

You can find more detail in our Breville The 3X Bluicer review.

Best centrifugal juicer for beginners

When we wrote our original buying guide for the best juicers on the market, we couldn't help but notice that there weren't any models that a beginner could buy to tentatively test out whether they would juice. It was either, you pay $400 or you don't get a juicer. Or, at least, that was the case until we found the Magic Bullet.

For just sixty dollars, the Magic Bullet Mini Juicer will meet all your juicing needs. I've recommended it to a ton of people who have never juiced before, and I'm not joking when I tell you that I get almost daily images from them, showing off their latest and greatest juice creations.

To make juice, the process is simple. You chop your fruit into chunks (they can be quite big), push them through the chute with a feeding stick, and then you'll get juice pouring out of one spout and pulp collecting in the waste bin at the back. It's a quick, simple process that I really believe anyone could do, even without the instruction manuals.

The Magic Bullet did really well on all of our tests. We enjoyed our orange juice, green juice, and ginger shots. Plus, all the people I know who use this regularly have continued to report back on the Magic Bullet's daily success. Sure, the juices aren't as crisp or clear as more complex, expensive models, but the flavors are good. If you don't mind a bit of pulp and foam, this'll be a good investment for you.

The neat waste bin at the back makes it easy to clear up once you've juiced. And then, this is a real treat, all the parts are dishwasher safe, which is unusual for a juicer. You can literally load up and enjoy your juice without a sinkful of washing waiting for you.

So, if you don't mind plastic parts and a smaller-than-average capacity, this is a brilliant juicer. It's a great way to work out whether you'll be a committed juicer, or whether you should stick to juice bars.

You can find out more in our full Magic Bullet Mini Juicer review.

Most premium centrifugal juicer

You’ll notice that Breville comes up a few times in this list, and that’s for good reason. It produces fantastic fast juicers at a range of prices, and this one has to be one of the best all-rounders you can buy, balancing features, performance and value for money.

There's a myth that centrifugal juicers spin so fast that they heat up the juice and therefore destroy some of the nutrients. We go into more detail later on, but for now just know this isn't true – they don't produce enough heat to cook juice. However, Breville has introduced its Cold Spin technology here all the same. This keeps the juice away from the base of the juicing chamber, which is where you’ll find the majority of the heat in a centrifugal blender. This results in less than 1.8°F of heat transferred when extracting juice, which should allay any concerns that might remain over heat and juice quality.

The 3.3-inch feeding chute ensures this juicer is a breeze for those with very little time in the morning - there’s little need to pre-chop your ingredients, just throw them in. The powerful 850w motor and two speed options on this juicer will do the rest.

The juice jug is a generous 70 fluid oz too, and with a large external pulp basket, you should be able to make enough juice for all the family in one sitting. Even better, a twist of the lid allows you to extend the fridge life from 24 hours to around 72 hours, by minimizing oxidation.

When you’re done, clean up is easy thanks to most of the removable parts being dishwasher safe. You will need to wash the juice jug, cover and sealing lid by hand, but all the complicated bits can be handled by your dishwasher, leaving you more time to enjoy your juice.

You can find out more in our full review of the Breville Juice Fountain review.

Best budget centrifugal juicer

If you’re looking for a no-frills juicer, the Big Mouth Extractor by Hamilton Beach is all you need. It's the perfect juicer for ease of use and great value for those on a budget.

Its single-speed motor means you can’t adapt its performance to the ingredients you’re juicing but it does a good job with most fruits and vegetables anyway. It produces a lot of juice, and leaves an admirably dry pulp with both hard and soft produce. There’s perhaps a little more froth and pulp in the juice than pricier machines would produce, but nothing a quick strain can’t fix.

There are only five removable parts, which makes it easy to take apart and put back together, and easy to clean too because these parts are dishwasher safe. Most of its components are made of plastic, but they’re sturdy enough. There’s a generous three-year warranty too.

It doesn’t come with any juicing jug, which means you’ll need to add your own, but the spout is a great height for putting a variety of different-sized glasses or containers underneath it. There’s also a very generous pulp container, so you can keep juicing glass after glass without needing to empty it too often.

Most compact centrifugal juicer

As its name would suggest, the Breville Juice Fountain Compact is great if you're a little short on space, as it collects the pulp within the unit itself instead of in an external bin.

This has the added bonus that there's one less part to mess around with during assembly and disassembly. That in turn makes it easy to clean, especially when you consider that all of its parts except the food pusher are suitable for dishwashers. You'll need to scrape out the pulp first, of course, but this is no problem since the unit is quite shallow.

While its 700W motor might look a little underpowered on paper, the titanium cutting disc works hard to produce an impressive juice yield, managing a massive 14,000RPM. In fact, its yield is on par with that of pricier machines, performing well with both hard and soft produce.

The 32 fl oz jug certainly doesn't have the biggest capacity on the market, but that's inevitable with a smaller footprint. Plus, at just under $100, it offers great value for money.

How to choose a centrifugal juicer

Firstly, look for one within your budget and then ensure its dimensions suit your circumstances. If you want to keep it out on the side all the time, you might want to consider a more compact option.

Once those boxes have been ticked, the rest are nice-to-haves. Variable speeds will allow you to adjust the speed for different types of fruit and vegetables to get the most out of them - slower speeds are better for soft fruits like berries and grapes, while you’ll need more power for things like apples and carrots.

A wider feeding chute is helpful when it comes to speeding up the juicing process, so you don’t need to spend time pre-chopping your fruit and veg. If you’re juicing for the family, be sure to look out for larger capacity juicers too, with a jug to hold bigger batches of liquid.

It’s also worth checking if your chosen juicer comes with a foam separator. Centrifugal juicers tend to create more foam in the juicing process than other types, and having something to help remove that will leave your juice much clearer and easier to drink.

You should also consider how the waste pulp is collected. Compact juicers will often collect it in an internal basket, while others will put it in an external container. The latter is better if you’re making large amounts of juice, as you won’t have to empty the pulp bin as regularly.

Finally, if you hate washing up, see if the juicer you’re considering is dishwasher safe. Some can only be washed by hand.

How we test centrifugal juicers

At Homes & Gardens, we have a standardized series of tests that we put all of our juicers through. Our team is always looking for the latest, greatest, and most innovative releases on the market and, as soon as we see one that we think you'll like, we call it in to our test kitchen.

Once we have our hands on the juicer, we start making notes. We'll document what it's like to unbox, how easy it is to set up, whether it feels like a good-quality, well-built model, and what it looks like on the countertop. These are all important deciding factors, because if you don't like the look or set-up of your juicer, you're not very likely to want to pull it out of the cupboard every morning.

When we're happy with our first impressions, our experts will start testing the juicer. We have three recipes that we always test each juicer on: orange and carrot juice, ginger shots, and green juice. These three recipes cover a range of different ingredients, from soft fruits, fibrous ginger, and tough, leafy greens. This means that we've checked how well the juicer can extract juice from a range of different fruits and vegetables.

We'll monitor how much juice is extracted, how dry the pulp is, whether the juice gets foamy, how much pulp it has, how much noise it makes, and how quickly it works.

We'll then run through the cleaning process, what to do with the pulp, and how to store the juicer. When we're finished with the practicalities, we'll start comparing each juicer. We want to know where it sits in the market, what the customer reviews are like, and whether it's good value for money.

At the end of all this, our experts will come to a conclusion about who the juicer suits and whether you should buy it. If you want to find out more, you can read all about our process on our page for how we test juicers.

FAQs

Which is better, centrifugal or masticating?

We've gone deep into the details of the centrifugal vs cold press (or masticating) juicer debate in a separate article, but if you want the short answer, it entirely depends on your priorities. The best centrifugal juicers are fast and cheap. Masticating juicers are slower and more expensive, but their cooler running temperature reportedly helps to retain more nutrients in the juice. That’s why you’ll see a lot of juicing experts recommending this type over centrifugal.

However, there are conflicting reports as to just how much is lost in the juicing process, with some suggesting very little at all. It seems increasingly unlikely that a centrifugal juicer produces enough heat to cook and destroy ingredients, and newer centrifugal models make a point of running cooler than ever. The more likely loss of nutrients is in dietary fiber, which in centrifugal juicers is discarded as pulp. That said, it's inevitable that you'll lose a little fiber in almost any juice because you're literally removing the fibers of the fruit that make it solid.

If you’re just dipping your toe into the juicing world, or are on a tighter budget, there’s no harm in trying a centrifugal juicer to see how you get on with the process first. The best centrifugal juicers definitely come with their benefits over masticating ones too. They’re faster, easier to clean, and simpler to use. They’ll be a little bit more noisy, but considering they take much less time, it’s not too much to put up with.

How much should I spend on a fast centrifugal juicer?

If you’re on a budget, centrifugal juicers are the way to go. That’s because you can spend a lot less on a centrifugal juicer than a masticating one, and still pick up a good performer for under $100. That’s particularly handy if you’re just testing the waters with homemade juice and aren't sure how often you'll make it.

However, if you think juicing might be for you, we’d recommend spending a little bit more to be sure that you’re investing in a good quality, well-made juicer that has been built to last. By spending between $100-200 you’ll find a solid selection of juicers that offer additional features, such as larger feeding chutes and bigger capacities to make your life easier.

Do centrifugal juicers destroy nutrients?

As mentioned above, there has been a long-standing argument that centrifugal juicers destroy nutrients in the juice due to the heat created by their faster running. Some arguments also say that oxidation caused by the faster grinding creates a poorer quality juice.

We know that some nutrients and enzymes do start to break down when exposed to heat or oxygen. However, not only do most remain stable, there is no evidence that the heat from a juicer is so extreme that it can destroy nutrients in the time it takes the ingredients to pass through.

However, some of the argument about oxidation holds up. The faster juicing of a centrifugal blender means some oxidation is inevitable. You’ll notice this in the different color of the juice and how long it stays fresh after it’s been made. However, even though they might look different, there’s no evidence to suggest that a more oxidized juice is any worse nutritionally than a less oxidized one. You just might have to drink it quicker.

While masticating juicers can extract larger amounts of certain nutrients, that’s about the extent of it. Don’t feel scared into parting with more money over the idea that centrifugal juicers are producing poor quality juice, because that simply isn’t proven as true.

Summer is peak blender season. Whether you’re mixing up frozen drinks, prepping post-workout smoothies, or batch-making salsa for backyard cookouts, the best blender makes every recipe go smoothly. If you're looking for the best Nutribullet to power your summer routine, I’ve tested every major model in their lineup – and found the ones truly worth your time (and money).

I recently pitted Ninja against Nutribullet, and the latter stood out to me for its balance of affordability, power and convenience. I tested the latest Nutribullet models in my home kitchen, and compiled insights from our broader testing team, who have reviewed over 40 Nutribullet products to date. After blending everything from hot soups to frozen fruit, I’ve narrowed it down to the top six Nutribullets worth buying right now.

The Quick List

If you haven't got time for all the detail, these are the best Nutribullet blenders on the market. We go into more specifics further down.

Which Nutribullet should you buy?

Look no further, these are the best Nutribullet blenders of the year.

Best overall

Why we like it: The Nutribullet Ultra is by far the most powerful bullet blender we've tested and it really excels on tough recipes. In the kitchen, we blended frozen berry breakfast smoothies and protein shakes, packed with chunky seeds and oats – they were smooth and creamy in 30 seconds. The Nutribullet Ultra even managed to crush ice (although not super finely) and effortlessly whiz up chickpeas into a velvety hummus. We loved the touchscreen and the sleek design, too. Plus, the Nutribullet Ultra cup and blades are dishwasher safe, so clean-up is simple.

What we didn't like: It's noisier and more expensive than the Pro 900, so you need to weigh up whether the enhancements are worth it for you. Having used the Ultra, going back to my old Pro 900 felt like walking after you've been running: it felt slower and a lot simpler. It still does a good job of the tasks, but if you want the best of the best, you need this.

Who would it suit? This is for anyone who loves quick smoothies, protein shakes or crushed ice drinks (think frapuccinos or even frozen margaritas). It might not suit early-morning people or quiet spaces, since it's on the noisier side.

Our full NutriBullet Ultra review has more information.

Best for families

Why we like it: The Nutribullet SmartSense blender is so simple to use. It feels durable, sturdy and modern – I loved the illuminated panel and the automatic 'smart sensor' that detects your ingredient load to deliver perfectly smooth results. At just $119, it’s an affordable option for families that doesn’t skimp on quality.

I've been testing this in my kitchen for a couple of weeks, and I don't want to see it go. Every morning, I've been making a big batch of kale, frozen mango and pineapple smoothie, which was very creamy.

What we didn't like: On the higher settings, it can get very noisy. The hummus I made in this was pretty dry and lumpy – and it was tricky to clean around the plastic ridges at the bottom. The blender is on the larger side, so you'll need some cabinet space, especially with its single-serve cups.

Who would it suit? Anyone who wants to blend big batches of smoothies on a budget. It struggles on dry dips and it can't blend crushed ice, so it's not one for frozen cocktail lovers.

Our full review of the Smart Sense blender has more details.

Best portable blender for cold drinks

What we like: For cold, fresh smoothies, the Nutribullet Flip is the best portable blender in the range. It’s a battery-operated machine with a stainless steel lining that keeps your drinks cool for up to 24 hours – a unique feature in the market. In terms of power, the 11 volts blows the competitors out the water. The design feels trustworthy, and the lid never leaked during my week of testing. I love the fun range of new colors, too.

What we didn't like: Normally, I wouldn't expect a portable blender to make soup – but the insulated design got me excited. It actually can’t handle hot ingredients and it also struggles on crushed ice, so sadly, soup and frozen margaritas are off the menu. It's also quite chunky, so if you have small hands or a small backpack, that's something to consider. The Nutribullet Go is a much lighter option and easier to fit in a handbag. However, in my comparison tests, it was less powerful, and although it is cheaper, that's reflected in the plastic materials.

Who would it suit? If you're someone who travels a lot or works long hours, you'll love the cold-insulation technology and long battery life. I personally carried this around all week long, I enjoyed morning and afternoon smoothies that were fresh, full of fiber and packed with healthy fruit – with very little planning or effort. That makes it a winner for me.

Our Nutribullet Flip review has more details.

Best blender food processor combo

Why it's great: If you live in a large home and you've got a lot to do, the Nutribullet will become your best friend. The design integrates blending and food processing into a smart appliance.

As a blender, this is a seriously good option. I recently tested it on making smoothies, soups, dips, and ice cones. Thanks to the sharp blades and powerful motor, it whizzed up consistently smooth results. I tested both the big, family-sized pitcher and the single-serve bullets. The beauty of having these options is that you can make drinks to take on the go, skipping washing up, but when you need it, you've got a big pitcher with a large capacity. The food processor is similarly impressive. I chopped, shredded, and pureed effortlessly.

What we didn't like: The only place it slightly faltered was on smaller quantities. The food processor is so big that when I added one small onion, it rolled around and didn't get quite so thoroughly chopped. If you're looking for a gadget for small jobs, it might not be the one for you.

Who would it suit? Keen cooks and busy people who want to meal prep, batch cook or load up on healthy soups or smoothies. It is big, so only buy it if you've got the space and the demand for it. But if it sounds like the one for you, you'll be grateful you made the investment.

Read more in our full Nutribullet Triple Prep review

• Back to the top ⤴

Best for fresh juices

Why it’s great: The NutriBullet Juicer Pro is on our list for the best juicer. We rate it's impressive, quick performance at a budget-friendly price. It handles various ingredients – like carrots, ginger, and kale – exceptionally well for a centrifugal juicer, rivaling more expensive models.

Our tester, Millie, says 'The Juicer Pro excelled with softer fruits like berries and citrus, producing smooth, crisp drinks. Tougher veggies like carrots and kale also worked well, though wetter ingredients like spinach perform better in small batches. Expect a bit more foam, but it doesn’t impact taste, and the froth separator helps reduce it. For the price, it's truly amazing.'

What we didn't like: The NutriBullet Juicer Pro also has a tendency to whir as it works. This shouldn't pose too much of a problem, though, as you'll only be juicing for a few minutes at a time. It can be a bit noisy, but it's so quick it shouldn't bother you.

Who would it suit? Perfect for beginners and juice enthusiasts, this juicer is quick, easy to use, and affordable. The included accessories make it a great all-in-one starter kit for those new to juicing. It comes with extras like a freezer tray, froth separator, bottles, and a recipe book – an unusual bonus for this price range.

You can find more details in our NutriBullet Juicer Pro review.

How to choose a blender

The type of blender you buy really depends on how often you want to use it and what you mostly want to use it for. All blenders are capable of making smoothies, particularly blending softer fruits.

Motor: If you want to make frozen fruits or desserts or deal with harder fruits or vegetables, then you may need a Nutribullet with a more powerful motor, so that it can crush ice into fine snow. Blenders which can make a routine morning smoothie will need at least 500-600 watts. If you have 700 watts, you'll be able to chop tougher nuts and seeds. Once you hit numbers, such as 1,200 watts, you'll be able to make almost anything, even ice cones.

Programs: Look out for a Nutribullet that has automatic programs for the kinds of drink or action that you want (like the Nutribullet SmartSense, for example), as this takes the guesswork out of using a blender.

That said, manual controls are important if you want closer control over the results, say blending a soup that still has some chunks in it. The pulse function on bullet blenders like the Nutribullet Ultra and Pro 900 are a great way to get fine control: the blender runs while you hold it down, but stops the second that you release it.

Features: Move up the price scale and you’ll find that you get additional features. Some double up as juicers, food processors, and more. Beyond actual settings, there are quirky features that you'll want to look out for. I've tested a few models that integrate a timer to their interface (like the Smart Sense model above), so you can see how long you've been blending for or how long your pre-set has left. It might sound trivial, but this kind of feature is really helpful once you have one.

Capacity: Look out for the total capacity of the blender. The standard size for a countertop blender is between 20 and 65 oz. If you have a big family and lots of mouths to feed, look for one that can reach up to 80 oz, but bear in mind that this will take up more space on your countertop.

Accessories can also be important, either in the box or as additional extras: self-serve cups let you take a drink on the move, and grinding cups can be a handy way of dealing with herbs and spices in smaller volumes.

If you want something that can blend directly into a pot or pan, one of the best immersion blenders we've reviewed will be more appropriate.

Meet the testing team

FAQS

What is the best NutriBullet model?

On the whole, the best NutriBullet model voted by team H&G is the Nutribullet Ultra. Most people want a blender for making smoothies, and the Ultra has everything you require to make the quickest, creamiest, easiest blends. It is also great for experimenting with icy drinks, like frapuccinos and frozen margaritas in the summer.

Of course, when working out which NutriBullet model is best, it completely depends on what you want out of a blender design. If you have a large family, the SmartSense or Triple Prep options may suit you better.

When is the best time to shop Nutribullet deals?

As a kitchen appliances editor, I know that mid-summer and Black Friday are the best times to score Nutribullet deals. 4th of July sales and Amazon Prime Day (usually mid-July) often bring serious discounts on warm-weather kitchen essentials – including blenders, smoothie bowl makers, and ice-crushing gadgets. It’s a good time to upgrade your setup just when you need it most.

After that, Black Friday (the last weekend of November ) is your next big opportunity for Nutribullet deals. It's a nice chance to score lower prices for gifting season or getting a head start on New Year health goals. Nutribullet prices typically range from $60–$200, but you can expect 20–40% off during these major sale events. Prices often start dropping early, especially the week leading into big sale days, so I’ll keep the top of this page updated with the best deals as they go live.

Is a NutriBullet worth it?

In short, yes, I think NutriBullet blenders are worth the price – even better if you can score one in the sales. With a variety of models tried and tested by our knowledgeable team, all were in agreement that NutriBullet products are powerful and efficient, which make them stand out from the crowd. When testing these blenders, we found cooking and preparing food to be a more slick, creative and enjoyable process. If you want to see how the Nutribullet range stands up to brands like Ninja, you can read my comparison here.

A summary of this article: NutriBullet excels at creating silky-smooth textures and is a top choice for smoothies. Ninja offers more versatility, featuring ‘total crushing’ blades that easily handle ice and frozen fruit. While NutriBullet focuses on compact, simple operation, Ninja provides more power and specialized attachments for varied tasks like food processing. We recommend NutriBullet for smoothies and Ninja for more powerful, versatile blending.

As someone who is always striving for the perfect smoothie, I’ve spent countless mornings testing blenders in the kitchen, trying to figure out which one truly makes the smoothest, creamiest drink. When it comes to Nutribullet vs Ninja, both brands have something to offer, but they shine in different ways depending on what you want from a blender.

If you're wondering how to choose the best blender for you, I've tested models of all shapes, sizes, and prices across both brands. Here’s my advice on choosing between Nutribullet and Ninja blenders, including tips on which might suit your kitchen, budget, and favorite recipes best.

NutriBullet vs Ninja: At a Glance

For ultra-smooth, single-serve smoothies, choose Nutribullet. Having tested NutriBullet vs Ninja blenders head-to-head, Nutribullet comes out on top. The latest model in the lineup, the Nutribullet Ultra, was able to cut through kale stems, tough pineapple core, and frozen chunks of fruit with absolutely no difficulty.

For large portions, soup, and food processing attachments, choose Ninja. Models like the Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ have multiple speed settings and functions, which can handle pretty much any task you throw at it, without breaking the bank.

For a portable and leak-proof blender, choose Ninja. While we appreciate the budget-friendly Nutribullet Go and love the cooling insulation of the Nutribullet Flip, the Ninja Blast models stand out overall – they handle everything from icy smoothies to homemade pesto and hummus with ease.

If you need more guidance and in-depth testing insight, I've rounded up all my advice on how to choose the best blender into one guide. Here, I compare and contrast all the major brands and provide more bespoke buying advice.

What is Nutribullet Best For?

Nutribullet is famous for making compact, bullet-style blenders – perfect for whizzing up a quick, single-serve smoothie. With just a twist, the best Nutribullet will have your morning smoothie ready in seconds. The newest Nutribullet Ultra model packs the best power, so I can throw in fibrous greens and frozen fruit without worrying about chunks.

Nutribullet’s larger systems, like the Nutribullet SmartSense Combo, for example, come with more versatility and greater capacity, but I have to be honest: in practice, they don’t always blend as consistently as the smaller bullet blenders. Neither option is ideal for dips, as Nutribullets require quite a lot of liquid to achieve a smooth consistency.

For me, Nutribullet shines when I want a fuss-free, single-serve smoothie. I’ve also noticed that its models are discounted quite heavily during national sales, which is always a plus in my book.

What is Ninja Best For?

Ninja also has great single-serve options. I’ve spent a lot of time with the Ninja Blast and Blast Max Portable Blender. The latter is my favorite; it is lightweight, stylish, leak-proof, and crushes ice or leafy greens in seconds. If you're looking for the best portable blender, look no further – Ninja tops our guide.

The brand also stands out for colorful, design-forward blenders, like the NinjaBlendBoss – which looks like an upside-down spaceship. We haven't tested this new release yet, but to my professional eye, it seems to prioritize fun over chef-level blending.

Where Ninja really impresses is with its larger kitchen systems. I’ve used the Ninja Foodi Hot & Cold Blender for everything from soups to dips, and it rarely disappoints. It also makes the best blender food-processor combo, as well as all-singing, all-dancing ice cream makers (see: the Ninja Creami), which can also whip up pro-level milkshakes and açai smoothie bowls. The downside is that these systems are pricey, take up counter space, and sometimes feel like overkill if all you want is a morning smoothie.

If you want the best portable blender or a spacious, ultra-versatile kitchen system, Ninja wins.

• Back to the top ⤴

FAQs

Throughout my years of testing and writing about Ninja and Nutribullet, I've had a few common questions roll in from readers. If you have a specific need, budget, or blender recipe in mind, you should find it answered below.

Which Brand is Better Value for Money?

When it comes to comparing NutriBullet vs Ninja for value for money, it really depends on what kind of blender you're after. Nutribullet's portable blenders tend to be slightly cheaper, but its kitchen systems are usually more expensive and not worth the leap, unless they are on sale.

My advice is to wait for Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day, or other seasonal deals, and take a look at our reviews for each model (you can find them all in one place, if you click Nutribullet or Ninja). That way, you can see which blender offers the best performance for your budget, and get some money knocked off.

Which Brand is Easier to Use?

Honestly, both Nutribullet and Ninja blenders are easy to use. If I were forced to choose, I'd say Nutribullet's bullet models are the easiest blenders to use. They require no battery charging or fancy programming – you just need to get them out of the box, twist, and go.

Which Brand do the Professionals Use?

As a trained cook myself, I have to admit I've never seen a Ninja blender in a professional setup. But I have seen chefs using the Nutribullet Pro 900 and the Nutribullet Ultra to whip up small portions of dressing, veloutés, and smooth dips. Of course, for larger trickier tasks, chefs bring in the big guns like Vitamix and Thermomix.

Which Brand is Best for Making Frozen Cocktails?

If you’re making single-serve frozen cocktails, occasionally, a powerful NutriBullet will work (just make sure you add enough liquid).

If you’re making larger batches, like a pitcher for a party, then Ninja is the better choice. Its largest and highest spec models unite ice-crushing strength and capacity.

• Back to the top ⤴

How We Test NutriBullet Vs Ninja Blenders

We've had hands-on testing time with all the NutriBullet vs Ninja blenders. When reviewing, we crushed ice, blended frozen fruit into thick smoothie bowls, and made green smoothies from fibrous kale and spinach.

Cleaning a blender is a very important part of the user process, so we give props to blenders that can be cleaned in a dishwasher. However, some also come with self-cleaning settings that can prevent ingredients from sticking to the blades of the pitcher. We cleaned every blender by hand to see how easy this was, and whether it felt safe.

You can find out how Homes & Gardens tests blenders on our dedicated page. Our review and testing guidelines provide more insight into our process.

Food processors can be a somewhat polarizing small appliance—some people can’t live without one, while others simply don’t understand the appeal. No matter which camp you fall into, though, you have to admit that the Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor is anything but a one-trick pony. This food processor can play a lot of different roles in the kitchen, helping you to chop, shred, and slice ingredients faster than a knife ever could. It also comes with a spiralizer and dough blade for even more versatility. 

This mid-size food processor might not be the largest or most expensive model you can buy, but it certainly stands out thanks to its wide range of attachments (some of which I’d never seen before) and sleek, compact design. It can hold up to seven cups of ingredients at a time, and it offers three different power levels to suit the task at hand, but is it one of the best food processors out there today?

To see how this food processor stacked up against other popular models, I tested it in my kitchen alongside the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor and the Ninja Professional 9-Cup Food Processor. Although it was the smallest appliance in the lineup, the Nutribullet still managed to hold its own against bigger models, and after weeks of testing, I think it’s an ideal everyday food processor for any household. 

Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor: Product specs

• Power: 450W
• Capacity: 7 cups
• Size: 7.4 x 11.5 x 15.75 inches
• Weight: 6 lbs.
• Cord Length: 39.3 inches
• Included: Chopping blade, dough blade, spiralizer disc, reversible thick slice/shred disc, reversible thin slice/shred disc, recipe book

Unboxing

As soon as I picked up the box, I noticed that the Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor is extremely lightweight and manageable at just 6 pounds—it’s a stark difference when compared to the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor, which weighs in at close to 20 pounds. 

Most of the packaging in the box was cardboard, which is easy to recycle, but I was a little disappointed to find that almost every component was wrapped in a thin layer of plastic—not the most eco-friendly option. 

As I unpackaged this food processor, I was taken aback at how many attachments it came with. Food processors I’ve used in the past came with a chopping blade and a shredding/slicing disc, but the Nutribullet comes with two blades—one metal and one plastic—as well as two reversible discs and a strange spiralizing attachment. I’ll admit I was intimidated by the last accessory, as I’d never seen anything like it before and wasn’t sure how, exactly, it would work. However, I was ready and willing to find out, so I jumped into testing.

Making energy bites

I started out with a straightforward food processor recipe: energy bites! We usually keep a container of these tasty bites in our fridge at all times, as they’re ideal for a mid-afternoon snack, and I love that they only take a few minutes to make in a food processor.

After putting the regular chopping blade into the food processor, I combined oats and shredded coconut in its work bowl. I pressed the pulse button on the food processor’s base to chop up the ingredients a little bit, but it didn’t work the way I expected. Most food processors instantly spin their blades when the pulse button is pressed, but the Nutribullet has a slight delay before it jumps into action. I ended up simply turning the processor on low—it has low, medium, and high settings, unlike the Cuisinart Food Processor, which simply has one power level—and letting it run for 20 seconds or so to mix up the oats and coconut.

Next, I added in the other ingredients, which included peanut butter, chia seeds, honey, and chocolate chips. I opted to turn the food processor on medium this time, and I was surprised to find that it shook a little bit as it churned up the ingredients. Thankfully, the base has four suction cups that stick it to the counter, so it didn’t go anywhere. Overall, the machine did a great job creating a uniform mixture, and it was easy to remove the blade so I could scoop out the batter. I was pleased with the appliance’s performance, but this was also one of the easiest tasks I had planned for it. 

Making banana 'nice cream' 

Banana “ice cream” is another recipe that I frequently make in my food processor—if you’re not familiar, it’s essentially just frozen bananas that are processed to resemble soft-serve ice cream. However, it requires a fairly powerful blender or food processor to achieve the right consistency, so I was interested to see how the Nutribullet performed, as it’s only powered by a 450-watt motor. (For comparison, the Cuisinart has a 720-watt motor and the Ninja offers 1,000 watts.)

For best results, you should generally chop up the bananas before freezing them to make it easier for your food processor, but I forgot this step. I managed to break the frozen fruit in half, and I added it to the work bowl along with a splash of milk. After a few pulses, I turned the Nutribullet onto its high setting and let it chop up the banana. I had to add another splash of milk to help it grab the frozen ingredients, but the appliance did a great job creating a smooth, lump-free consistency. I also added a little bit of peanut butter and cocoa powder for flavor, and the “ice cream” made a perfect dessert. 

However, I did notice during this test that the “max liquid” fill line on the work bowl is fairly low. I wanted to see just how much liquid it could hold, so I filled the bowl up with water to the line then transferred it into a measuring cup. It was exactly 2 cups, so you probably won’t be making any soup in this appliance. 

Sliced and spiralized vegetables

I needed to shred some carrots for a recipe one night, so I decided to use the Nutribullet to make quick work of the prep. I tested out both the thin and thick shredding discs—the thicker option is the standard thickness you’d expect from a food processor, while the thin disc delivers really fine shavings.

I absolutely loved that I could simply feed the carrot into the narrow center of the chute, which is the perfect size to keep the vegetable upright. Additionally, the food pusher has little spikes that help to grab the vegetable, keeping it in place as you push it into the blade. For larger ingredients, you can simply take the whole chute out—that’s the beauty of its dual-size design.

The shredding discs worked as expected, so I wasn’t really wowed by them, but the spiralizer attachment really blew me away. I had to consult the manual to ensure I was installing it correctly, as the unique attachment doesn’t spin like the discs or blades. Instead, it stays in place inside the work bowl while the motor turns a small, circular blade inside the attachment. This allows it to quickly create vegetable spirals—it was much faster and easier than any other spiralizer I used. 

The curly strands were perfectly uniform, and the attachment was able to spiralize pratically the entire carrot in one fell swoop, resulting in foot-long carrot curls. Personally, I think it’s a much better way to spiralize vegetables, and I can’t wait to try it on potatoes—the resulting curly fries would be epic.

Pizza dough

The Nutribullet Food Processor comes with a “dough blade,” which looks just like the regular chopping blade except it’s made of plastic. To try it out, I found a recipe for pizza dough that was made in a food processor. It was fairly straightforward—you just added all the ingredients into the bowl and pulse until a sticky ball forms. At least, that’s what was supposed to happen. 

My dough never came together, and instead, I ended up a dry, cumbly mess. I couldn’t even get it to resemble dough after working it with my hands, so I just gave up and went back to my usual pizza dough recipe made in the best stand mixer. I think this failure had more to do with the recipe than the performance of the food processor, though, and the appliance would definitely work well for making pie crust or other crumbly doughs.

Cleaning the Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor

Food processors can get fairly messy when you’re working with ingredients like honey and peanut butter, so I was happy to find that most of the removable pieces, including the blade adaptor, blades, work bowl, lid, and food pusher, are all dishwasher safe. (Top rack only, though!) I was able to simply toss them in the dishwasher, and they were ready to clean the next day. My only suggestion is to take the blade off the blade adapter when you put it in the wash—I didn’t do this the first time, and gunk got trapped between the two pieces.

One of my other favorite aspects of this food processor is how nicely it stores. With many other food processors, including the Ninja Professional 9-Cup Food Processor, attachments have to be stored separately, but the Nutribullet is designed to fit all but one of its attachments right inside the work bowl. There are two ways to stack them, and you’ll be left with just one of the shredder discs or the spiralizer attachment to store separately. (It would be nice if everything fit inside, but there really are a lot of accessories.) Additionally, the power cord wraps up under the bottom of the base for even more compact storage.

Should you buy the Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor?

While there are a few quirks with the Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor—namely its weird pulse button and slight shaking during operation—I was really impressed with the performance of this compact appliance. 

It’s powerful enough to tackle tough ingredients like frozen fruit, and its spiralizer attachment is one of the coolest accessories I’ve seen in a long time! Plus, the mid-price model is thoughtfully designed for compact storage, making it a great option for smaller kitchens. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer who has been testing small kitchen appliances (as well as other home goods) for several years. She’s tested everything from toasters to oil infusion machines, and as an avid baker, she loves trying out any gadgets that promise to make her creations more delicious or easier to bake.

Camryn does her product testing from her small homestead in beautiful Rhode Island. When she’s not tinkering around with the latest home gadgets, she spends her time tending to her animals, working in her garden, or crafting.

NutriBullet is one of the big blending brands that dominates the world of personal cup blenders. But even if you’re a fan of smoothies and protein shakes, those small blenders just don’t cut it when it comes to blending homemade soup, or anything else that you’ve made in a bigger batch, for that matter. This is where the NutriBullet Blender Combo comes in. It’s got all the convenience of a full-size blender with a large 64oz pitcher, but you still get to enjoy creating your post workout shakes in one of the two to-go cups. It’s an affordable 2-in-1 appliance that should cover all your liquidizing needs, but is it one of the best blenders on the market? 

You’ll notice from the power outlet in the images below that I tested it in the UK. It’s exactly the same model as the US version, the only difference is that it’s light gray instead of dark gray and the UK model comes with a third small blending cup.

NutriBullet does sell the full-size blender without the to-go cups, so it’s worth considering that option if smoothies and protein shakes aren’t your thing. However, I enjoyed having the best of both worlds in this blender. I could create large batches of smooth soup as well as enjoy protein smoothies in a handy cup, without having to give up space in my kitchen for two blending appliances.

NutriBullet Blender Combo: First Impressions

• Power: 1200W
• Material: BPA free plastic pitcher
• Capacity: 64 oz pitcher, 32oz and 24 oz personal cups
• Pre-sets: Extract
• Weight: 7 lbs.
• Size: 16.97 x 7.75 x 8.07 inches (h x w x d)
• Included: 32oz and 24 oz personal cups with to-go lids and extractor blade, tamper

The base of the blender is compact, it doesn’t take up much counter space at all, but add in the cups, lids and blade assembly and you’ve got quite a lot to store. Keep in mind though that it’s still less than if you had a full-size blender as well as a separate personal blender.

The motor base is plastic, and it doesn’t have the heavy, sturdy quality that you get from premium blender brands. The suction cup feet mean it should stay in place on the counter though. And with just six clearly labelled buttons, it really couldn’t be simpler to operate. There’s one auto program called Extract, three speed settings and a pulse button as well as an on/off switch.

The pitcher twists into position on the base, with the handle to either the left or the right depending on your preference. I like the big pouring spout and the lid isn’t tough to attach, plus it’s got a big, looped pull-handle that makes it easy to remove. Unfortunately though, there’s no safety feature to stop you switching the blender on without the lid in place.

There’s a vented lid cap which can be removed to use the tamper or to pour in additional ingredients during blending, and it doubles as a small measuring cup. The tamper itself doesn’t feel as strong and sturdy as others I’ve used but it’ll do the job.

The two personal blending cups are slightly different sizes, the smaller one has a handle, and I tested the to-go lids for leaking by holding them upside down and shaking them when full, fortunately not a drop was spilt, and they passed the test. The blade assembly twists easily onto the cups and clicks into position on the base for quick, easy smoothies and shakes.

You get a recipe book in the box, which is also available to download on the website and provides helpful hints and tips as well as a variety of recipes to get started.

Blending smoothies in the NutriBullet Blender Combo

I followed the recipe for the super blue smoothie in the recipe book. But I switched the blueberries and frozen banana for mixed frozen berries to make use of what I already had in the freezer. The other ingredients were spinach, milk, almond butter, cinnamon and protein powder and I added them to the cup in the order listed.

I blended it using the Extract program. On my first attempt, I packed the spinach too tightly into the bottom of the cup and it didn’t drop down towards the blades until late in the cycle, so I repeated the smoothie later in the week and didn’t pack the spinach in quite so firmly. This time, everything blended well and all the ingredients were thoroughly mixed. The finished smoothie did have some visible specks of berry skin and judging by the quantity of berries in there, I could tell that a lot of the seeds had been crushed up, but a few remained, so it had a slightly gritty texture.

For my second smoothie I blended raw shredded carrot and beetroot with ginger, grapes, orange juice, chia seeds, ground linseed and ice. Again, I used the Extract program and the chia seeds were completely pulverized, with no evidence of them in the texture of the drink. The raw carrot and beetroot gave the smoothie a fine pulpy texture, but everything else was fully liquidized and combined into a delicious drink with no lumps at all.

Crushing ice in the NutriBullet Blender Combo

In just seven presses of the pulse button, two handfuls of ice cubes were crushed to a fine snowy ice. I did notice one small chunk that got lodged in the crushed ice and so remained un-crushed but it was an impressive result nevertheless.

Blending soup in the NutriBullet Blender Combo

While the instructions strictly state that you shouldn’t blend hot soup in the personal cups, the pitcher can be used to blend hot liquids. I made a spicy curried carrot and butternut squash soup, leaving the carrot and butternut pieces quite chunky so it would be a good test. I couldn’t find any temperature restrictions in the instruction manual so poured my hot soup into the pitcher without letting it cool. I started the blender on low, then increased to the medium speed after a short time.

In just one minute the chunky vegetables had been fully blended into a smooth thick soup with no lumps or gritty bits. The vented lid cap allowed the steam to vent out of the lid during blending but maintained a tight seal, so no liquid leaked out, and the suction cup feet kept it secured to the kitchen counter. But having said that, it doesn’t feel as sturdy as some of the heavier, more robust blenders I’ve reviewed.

My very yellow carrot soup had curry powder in it and after cleaning the pitcher I noticed a slight yellow staining to the plastic pitcher and also the area around the blades. This didn’t really bother me, but if you like your appliances to stay looking pristine, it might be worth avoiding strongly colored spices like turmeric.

Blending a frozen dessert

I followed the recipe for a simple healthy N’ice cream that’s on the NutriBullet website. It’s just four bananas sliced and frozen, blended with almond milk and some vanilla. 

I blended it on high speed in the main pitcher and I had to continually mix and push the ingredients towards the blade using the tamper. However, at the end I had a deliciously creamy and smooth healthy frozen dessert with a perfect ready-to-eat texture in just one minute. It was very satisfying and the hard frozen banana was no match for the sharp blades of the pitcher.

Cleaning

The pitcher, cups and lids are all dishwasher safe, so cleaning is easy. But frustratingly the base of the pitcher doesn’t have any holes to let water drain away so it fills up during the dishwasher cycle. The extractor blade that’s used with the cups can’t go in the dishwasher, but it just requires a rinse under the faucet to remove most smoothie residues.

Some blenders come with auto clean programs and despite not having this setting, the user guide advises you on how to clean both the pitcher and the cups by filling them with water and dishwashing liquid and blending the residues away.

Should you buy the NutriBullet Blender Combo?

If you’re looking for an affordable blender with a large pitcher that also doubles as a personal blender, you could do worse than the NutriBullet Blender Combo. I was pleased with most of my creations using this blender and I like that it can blend hot liquids too. It’s great to have the option to blend large quantities in the pitcher as well as make my post-workout protein shakes in the cups.

It doesn’t feel or look like a premium blender, and it’s not packed with auto programs or numerous blending speeds, but it does the job, and it’s easy to use. Plus, all the accessories are available to purchase on the NutriBullet website so you can get extra cups or replace worn-out blades as needed.

About the reviewer

Helen McCue is a freelance contributor who trained as a Home Economist. After starting her career in the food industry, she moved into home appliance reviews, utilizing her cooking skills and experience to put all kinds of products to the test, and over the years has reviewed hundreds of home and kitchen appliances for a variety of publications.

Having completely renovated her current house, Helen reviews kitchen appliances from her open plan kitchen at home in a beautiful Berkshire village. When she’s not working, Helen can be found enjoying the local countryside or dreaming about her next house renovation project.

Fresh juice at your local Whole Foods can be expensive, and then there's the issue of plastic packaging to worry about. Not surprisingly, making fresh juice at home is a fraction of the price, and you’re in charge of the ingredients. The Nutribullet Slow Juicer is a perfect option for beginners, which is why I was thrilled to finally test that theory in this NutriBullet Slow Juicer review

After a quick trip to the grocery store and a scroll through Pinterest for inspiration, I couldn’t wait to start using my new NutriBullet Slow Juicer. They say beach bodies are made in the winter, and after drowning in pasta for the last month, my body was begging for something light and bright. This is what the best juicers were designed for, with health-packed fresh juices full of nutrients and all the vitamins your body could need. 

The list of benefits to using a slow juicer is long, notably their ability to retain nutrients and extract more juice from fruits and vegetables. Rather than being shredded with a sharp blade, the best cold press juicers use an auger to more delicately compact foods and draw out all the liquids. 

Wondering if the NutriBullet Slow Juicer stood up to the challenge? Keep reading to find out.

NutriBullet Slow Juicer: specs

• Dimensions: 7” x 6.25” x 17”
• Weight: 11lbs
• Cord length: 39.3”
• Motor: 150W
• Color: Black
• Chute: 3”
• Warranty: 1 year

What's in the box? 

• 24 ounce container to catch juice
• Pulp container
• Motor base
• Grinding assembly
• User manual & recipe guide
• Juice bowl with separate spouts for pulp and juice
• Cleaning brush

With minimal moving parts in comparison to other juicers, the NutriBullet Slow Juicer was much less intimidating to assemble. After washing with hot, soapy water, I dried off all the pieces and put it together in less than 60 seconds. 

A nice touch, don’t pass over the included recipe book. Every single juice I tried was colorful and full of flavor. As an inexperienced juicer, the 'Sunshine Delight' was my first trial. Made with only four ingredients (romaine, spinach, pineapple and orange), it turned out great. This combination was also a hit with my fussy kids, who could live quite happily on chicken nuggets.

Food Prep and Cleanup 

Juicing sounds like a tedious task, but it’s shockingly simple thanks to NutriBullet's smart design. Adding fruit is easy, especially with a chute that can be opened up to 3 inches.  I’d recommend chopping fruit and veggies into smaller chunks, though, to avoid any jams (which I did not experience, by the way)! 

In the chance something does get stuck, this model has a 'Rev' option designed to reverse the rotation and unclog it. 

Reading the instruction manual is a necessity, especially for beginners. It does a fantastic job explaining how to use the NutriBullet Slow Juicer properly, and also includes important tips– such as peeling fruit and deseeding prior to juicing. 

Using the NutriBullet Slow Juicer

• Chute opens to 3”: the chute expands to 3”, allowing extra room for larger pieces of fruits and vegetables.
• Container for pulp: there is a separate container included to catch the pulp. This is ideal for those who save pulp for recipes (hello, carrot cake!), and even infused water.
• Quiet: compared to other juicers, the NutriBullet slow juicer is by far the quietest.
• Modern: the matte black base and juice bowl are trendy and sleek. If you’re a regular juicer, this appliance can live on your countertops without being an eyesore.

With only one speed setting, using the NutriBullet Slow Juicer is fairly straightforward. First, it’s important to make sure all pieces are assembled properly. The juicing bowl fits snugly in the motor base, and the auger sits within the juicing bowl. The auger takes a little practice to snap in, but once that is in place, the juicer can be turned on.

If fruit and veggies are diced, the user can drop them into the feed chute. If pieces are larger, the chute conveniently expands to a full 3 inches. Although fruits like oranges should be peeled, strawberries can be tossed in whole.  

Once all juice is extracted, NutriBullet recommends pouring water into the chute, which helps loosen stuck pulp and clean the machine. I took their advice, which made clean-up extra easy – after disassembling, that is. 

I’m no bodybuilder, but I had a horrible time removing the auger. It was near impossible to remove, and it felt like a workout. Perhaps if you’re a bodybuilder you won’t experience the same struggle, but for everyday folks like me, it was a process. 

Performance

Seasoned juicers know the remaining pulp says a lot about the quality of a juicer. Wet pulp indicates wasted juice, whereas dry pulp means the juicer did its job. Judging by the remaining pulp, the NutriBullet Slow Juicer really showed up. 

There’s no doubt about it, this NutriBullet juicer extracts every bit of juice for vitamin-rich drinks. One orange and half a cup of pineapple yielded an entire cup of juice! 

Tips for using the NutriBullet Slow Juicer

• Peel your fruit
• Remove seeds
• Avoid juicing ultra-fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as bananas
• If juicing a stone fruit, remove the pit
• Cut fruit to size that fits comfortably in chute

Cleaning

Cleaning the NutriBullet Slow Juicer is a breeze. All parts aside from the motor and auger are dishwasher-safe, something those of us who appreciate convenience can rejoice in. Make sure you save the toothbrush-looking tool in the box, because it comes in handy when cleaning the juice bowl! 

One clever feature that deserves mentioning is the no-drip spout. Once the majority of the juice was extracted, there was a small drip, similar to a leaky sink. The spout has a plug that prevents any sticky messes on your counter, making it even easier to clean up! 

Should you buy the NutriBullet Slow Juicer?

If you’re a casual juicer looking for a budget-friendly option, this is it. Noticeably more powerful than alternatives, the Nutribullet Slow Juicer does a fantastic job extracting every last drop of juice. If you can’t stand pulp, though, I’d recommend passing on this model for a centrifugal model. A small amount of pulp slipped through the mesh each time I used the device. While it didn’t bother me, a second strain would have been necessary if I was juicing for my kids.  

With a time-saving 3 inch chute, prep time is barely existent. Whole strawberries and large pineapple spears were no threat to the juicer, and yielded an impressive amount of juice. We live in a society longing for instant gratification, but sometimes slow and steady wins the race.

If this slow juicer isn’t up your alley, the Nutribullet NBJ50200 made our list of the top juicers, and we can confirm it’s just as strong and successful at producing nutrient-filled drinks. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Midwestern freelancer Courtney Irwin is a working mom of three who loves nothing more than convenience and a good deal. Equal parts entrepreneur and family-gal, she believes hard work deserves to be celebrated – oftentimes in the form of a new gadget or sun-filled vacation! 

When she’s not on the hunt for the next big trend, you can catch her in her kitchen, which is her favorite room in the house. Courtney has spent years curating home renovation and beauty content, and is excited to bring real reviews to real readers. All products are tested in Courtney’s home for accurate representation of use. 

The NutriBullet Juicer Pro is one of the most popular juicers on the market. Designed by the kings of the bullet blender, this centrifugal juicer puts user experience front and center. It's easy to set up, and easy to clean, with speeds and fuss-free juicing for all sorts of ingredients.

To put the NutriBullet Juicer Pro to the test, we tried a handful of its custom recipes to see how well it extracts juice from fruits and vegetables. While we did wish it came with a physical recipe book and less plastic packaging, we still think it's one of the best juicers on the market for those who want easy, fresh juice every day.

As the small appliances editor at Homes & Gardens, I've put many juicers to the test. While centrifugal juicers such as the NutriBullet Juicer Pro are widely seen as less healthy than some of the best cold press juicers, they still are perfect for making juice in a hurry and packing some extra nutrients into your diet. Here's how the NutriBullet Juicer Pro held up when I put it to the test.

NutriBullet Juicer Pro: specs

• Type: centrifugal juicer
• Weight: 7.5 pounds
• Material: plastic
• Speeds: three
• Watts: 1000
• Dimensions: 17.4 x 12.83 x 12.13 inches
• Cleaning: sieve, pulp basin, juice pitcher, bottles, and freezer trays can go in the dishwasher

NutriBullet Juicer Pro design

I've tried the regular NutriBullet Juicer, so if you're trying to decide between this and the NutriBullet Juicer Pro, here are the key differences. The regular juicer comes with two speeds, a 1.5 liter pulp container, and an 800 watt motor. The NutriBullet Juicer Pro has three speeds, a 2 liter pulp container, and the motor is 1000 watts.

The NutriBullet Juicer Pro pusher is also upgraded to dualsize, meaning it has two pusher attachments to process a selection of different fruit and vegetables.

Aside from design differences, the NutriBullet Juicer Pro also comes with some extras. It comes with a jug that can be easily fitted to the juice outlet, and has a lid to keep juices covered if you plan on storing them.

Another extra that comes with the NutriBullet Juicer Pro is a glass bottle with a handle lid. It's great for taking your drinks on the go, and I enjoyed the glass design which felt more high quality than a regular bottle.

The NutriBullet Juicer Pro also comes with ice cube trays that are perfect for freezing juices to use in cocktails or smoothies.

Unboxing the NutriBullet Juicer Pro

My first impression of the NutriBullet Juicer Pro was that the packaging was largely plastic and polystyrene, which wasn't a great start. Many of the best blenders and juicers are increasingly packaged in sustainable materials like card that can be recycled, and it would be great to see NutriBullet making this change too.

When I tested the NutriBullet Juicer last year it came with a brilliant recipe book full of juice inspiration and some ideas of what you could do to use up the leftover pulp. It was one of the things I liked most about the juicer, so I was pleased to see that it comes with the NutriBullet Juicer Pro.

I also found plenty of recipes on the NutriBullet site, which allows you to sort by the appliance you're using for inspiration.

To set up the juicer it's just a case of slotting the pulp chamber onto the base and then pushing down the sieve onto the base. You then slot the lid on top and lock it down, which makes the Juicer Pro safe to use and very sturdy. The pusher simply slots into place and you're ready to go.

Making green juice in the NutriBullet Juicer Pro

I followed the Bright Start Juice recipe on the NutriBullet Juicer Pro website to get started. It required a green apple, kale, cucumber, and lemon. The feeding chute on the NutriBullet Juicer Pro is 3-inches wide, which is more than wide enough for most apples.

The recipe still advised that the apples must be halved, and it also advised to peel the lemon. Still, this was minimal prep when compared to many juicers which ask you to peel and core apples and remove the seeds from citrus.

The instruction booklet with the NutriBullet Juicer Pro advises different speeds for different types of fruits and vegetables. It also has a guide at the back which shows the different nutritional content of any fruits and vegetables you could wish to juice.

For this recipe, I switched the NutriBullet Juicer Pro onto High speed and fed in all of the ingredients. I added the advised amount of kale, but barely any liquid came out of the juicer. It seemed like it was more shredded than juiced, which is probably because kale has very little liquid content. It would have made more sense to juice spinach, but when I fed the lemon into the chute it came out dark green, so perhaps it washed some of the juice out of the insert.

This juicer made a lot of noise. This is certainly no slow juicer, it's about the same noise level as a regular NutriBullet blender and very speedy indeed. It got through all of my ingredients in less than one minute, and despite this, there was a minimal level of foam in my pitcher once I was finished.

The recipe gave me one full glass of green juice, with minimal pulp. I used the brush to scoop out the leftover pulp and fibers from the juicer, which was moist but not wet, and rinsed off the component parts to prevent them from sticking to the plastic.

Juicing carrots and oranges 

For the next recipe, I tried NutriBullet's Orange You Glad. It's got carrots, oranges, and while it asked for turmeric root all I had was ginger.

Like with the green juice, I had to peel the oranges before putting them through the juicer. Unless you're using a citrus juicer like the Smeg Citrus Juicer, I'd recommend doing this for all juicers. The skin doesn't taste very nice, and it makes the juicing process smoother.

Because it's very soft, I started by juicing the orange on low. It gave a pulp-free juice and the lower mode had minimal noise levels.

I switched onto the high speed to juice the firmer ingredients: the carrot and ginger. I didn't need to prep the ginger or the carrots whatsoever, and used the smaller pusher to juice them.

The juice was delicious and very vibrant, but it did have more pulp than the green juice. This is likely because carrot is very fibrous, but the drink was delicious.

Juicing root vegetables 

The NutriBullet Juicer Pro has a Turbo mode, which is perfect for very solid ingredients like root vegetables. I made the Root Awakening juice by adding a beet, two carrots, some ginger, and a lemon to the juicer.

I was left with a thick and vibrant juice and the pulp was very dry, which shows that the NutriBullet Juicer Pro had extracted all of the juice from the ingredients I fed into it.

When it comes to juicing beets, it's best to have as little contact as possible. Its juice stains very easily, and I was worried that I'd get it on my shirt or hands. Apart from slicing the vegetable in half, I was able to avoid any major contact with it and had no stains to deal with thanks to the NutriBullet Juicer Pro. The pulp was easy enough to rinse off the inserts, and I just had to scoop it into the bin when I was done. This wasn't the tastiest juice I've ever made, but according to the recipe, it provided lots of vitamin A and C.

Cleaning the NutriBullet Juicer Pro

The NutriBullet Juicer Pro comes with a cleaning brush that's perfect for removing pulp from the strainer. I recommend doing this as soon as you're finished juicing, before any fibers dry onto the metal and become lodged there.

The other end of the cleaning brush can be used to scoop pulp out of the container and into the trash. After this, I also recommend rinsing these parts.

One good thing about the Juicer Pro is that the sieve, pulp basin, juice pitcher, to-go bottles, and freezer trays are all dishwasher-safe. You won't necessarily need to put them through the dishwasher after every use though, but it's good to have the option.

Should you buy the NutriBullet Juicer Pro?

While its packaging could be more sustainable, there's no faulting the quality design of the NutriBullet Juicer Pro. It's designed to be easy to use and even easier to clean, and the recipe book makes it easy to experiment.

As with many centrifugal juicers, the NutriBullet Juicer Pro is pretty noisy. Its three modes make it perfectly suited to even firm ingredients, although you'll struggle to get juice out of leafy greens like kale with any machine. It's a little larger than the regular NutriBullet Juicer, but the Pro does justify the higher price point with its additional accessories.

About this review, and the reviewer

Millie Fender is our Editor for all things small appliances at Future. She spends a lot of time testing everything from toasters to air fryers in her London flat, and recommending the very best ones to readers.

All our reviews are tested from home, and the NutriBullet Juicer Pro review is no exception. Millie put it to the test for a number of days with her partner for a much-needed health kick after testing air fryers and toasters for weeks on end.

NutriBullet makes some of the most well-known blenders on the market, and its bullet blenders started a revolution in smoothie-making in the past decade. That said though, the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender is not the best blender when it comes to large capacity. Unlike a jug blender, this option will only make smoothies for one or two people at a time. 

We put the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender to the test for over a month, making smoothies, soups, and even blitzing cauliflower to make cauliflower rice, to test its versatility and power. While it won't do the job of a family-sized blender, the quality of the blending is faultless. If you want a blender to make perfect smoothies, protein shakes, and refreshing drinks with crushed ice, it's an excellent choice. 

NutriBullet Pro 900 specifications

• Colors: over ten, from black to pink
• Type: bullet blender
• Weight: 9.63 pounds
• Speed settings: one
• Material: plastic pitcher, stainless steel blades
• Dimensions: 12.01 x 7.72 x 15.94 inches
• Motor: 900 watts

NutriBullet Pro 900 design

With 900 watts of power, the NutriBullet Pro 900 is a mighty bullet blender that should be able to power through even the most challenging ingredients. 

It can frequently be found on promotion for well under $100, but it is still one of the more expensive NutriBullet blenders on the market. That is in part because of the range of attachments that come included with the NutriBullet Pro 900. 

In the box there is a powerful NutriBullet base, an 18-ounce cup, a 32-ounce cup, flip-top and resealable lids, and a pro extractor blade. There is also a detachable handle to make it easier to drink your smoothie on the go. 

The base is heavy but not so heavy that it will be difficult to move around the kitchen. It can sit happily on the kitchen counter with great clearance of the undersides of cupboards. 

One thing I really like about the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series is its wide range of color options. I tried it in the silver color, but it comes in pink, champagne, black, berry, and even cobalt. Even the most quirky kitchen color scheme will be able to find a suitable match. 

Using the NutriBullet Pro 900

Setting up the NutriBullet Pro 900 is very easy indeed. As with all NutriBullet blenders it is switched on by pressing the blender down onto its base, with the blade lid screwed into place, and twisting to lock it down.

Once locked down, it will blend continuously until you are happy with the finished drink. You can also unlock the blender lid and give it a good shake to work through more thick smoothies, and smoothie bowls.

The bullet blender is, as the name suggests, a blender with a bullet-shaped blending cup. This shape works best with smaller portions and is excellent at creating a vortex of blending power. Another advantage is that you can often drink directly from the cups. 

When testing the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series I put it through its paces with some very tricky ingredients. This included tough stems of kale, frozen blueberries, and whole strawberries. 

Once the blending lid was screwed tightly into place, it was a case of pressing the cup in the the NutriBullet base and twisting to lock it. I left it to its own devices for exactly one minute, and the result was very smooth with no unpleasant pieces of kale stem or remnants of frozen blueberry skin. 

When my drink was finished I was able to screw on the handle to take it out to drink. This would be especially useful for morning runs to the gym, with protein shakes or healthy drinks. 

The drinking lid clicks very securely into place, so it would be suitable to put in a bag or carry with worrying about spills. 

Is the NutriBullet the top bullet blender?

I also put the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series to the test in a NutriBullet vs Ninja feature to see which bullet blender was best, and the NutriBullet was a clear winner. 

While it lacks bespoke settings and an in-built timer, this was forgivable for the noticeable difference in the quality of the drink. It was a more vibrant green, and far more smooth and enjoyable to drink. 

I've reviewed many of the best portable blenders, and while the NutriBullet Pro 900 is not cordless, it is a great option for portability if you still want a very high-quality result. 

What else can it do? 

While it is excellent at blending drinks, the NutriBullet Pro 900 is not the most versatile. It cannot be used to make hot drinks or soups, so it is better to wait for your soup ingredients to cool before using, and it also lacks a large multi-serve capacity to serve drinks for the whole family. 

I used the NutriBullet Pro 900 to blend florets of cauliflower into fine cauliflower rice to eat with curries. I had to take it out of the base and shake it multiple times to allow all of the pieces to reach the blades, so unlike some blenders such as the KitchenAid K150 blender, it is best left to make smoothies. The best food processor will do the job much better, anyway. 

Should you buy the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender?

The NutriBullet Pro 900 Series blender is one of the best I've tried when it comes to making drinks such as smoothies and shakes. It is very good at chopping through ice and can take on even tough stems and frozen fruits to make smooth and fruity drinks. 

What it is less good at is blending and chopping more solid ingredients, but for a blender capable of this you will have to spend a lot more money. For the price, you will struggle to buy a more powerful and effective blender. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Millie Fender is our Editor for all things small appliances at Homes & Gardens. She spends a lot of time testing everything from toasters to air fryers in her own apartment and recommending the very best ones to readers. 

All our reviews are tested from home, and theNutriBullet Pro 900 review is no exception. Millie put it to the test for a number of days to make morning smoothies and soup for lunch.

The KitchenAid K150 is an affordable blender that offers three presets, as well as a pulse setting. Unlike some blenders that need to be screwed onto the blender base, the KitchenAid K150 slots satisfyingly onto the block-shaped control unit. 

Many of the best blenders increasingly offer a range of attachments and preset modes, and while it is possible to buy more tools for your K150, it's pretty pared back when you buy it up-front. There is one pitcher included, with a 48-oz jug that's easy to clean and can be used to blend soups and hot liquids. We did find that the lid gets a little jammed into place, so pulling it out of the pitcher isn't easy. However, we were really impressed by the value-for-money on offer with this blender. 

KitchenAid K150: specifications

• Colors: black, white, red, silver
• Type: family-sized blender
• Weight: 8 pounds
• Programs: ice crush/pulse
• Speed settings: 3
• Material: plastic pitcher, stainless steel blades
• Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.1 x 14.8 inches
• Motor: 150 watts

KitchenAid K150 design

As the name suggests, the K150 has 150 watts of power. That's pretty low for a blender; comparable to the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express. The KitchenAid K400 blender (which is over twice the price of the KitchenAid K150) is far more powerful, with more modes and a larger jar.

This blender was designed for those who want to invest in a KitchenAid but can't stomach the idea of paying over $200. It's still got three speeds, which is better than some one-speed blenders (such as the NutriBullet range) but doesn't offer as many features as Ninja's AutoIQ presets. 

Looks-wise, it's a winner. It looks just as high-end as the KitchenAid K400, with a range of colours and a sloping glossy base that's easy to clean and lightweight. 

Using the KitchenAid K150

It couldn't be easier. Slot the pitcher onto the base, add your ingredients, push on the lid, and twist the dial. 

The KitchenAid K150 has a slow start. When you twist the dial to start, it glides into power and works through ingredients in a classic vortex shape. 

When you pulse, it's a case of twisting the dial back on itself and holding into place to pulse. The pulse is also designed to work as an ice crush mode. 

Making smoothies in the KitchenAid K150

If you're a smoothie-lover, the KitchenAid K150 is a top pick. It handles soft fruit and veggies well, but I was surprised to find how well it worked through frozen fruits and even frozen pellets of spinach. 

You can twist out the center of the lid to add more milk or juice as you blend, which helped to adjust the consistency of smoothies mid-use. 

As for smoothie bowls, the KitchenAid K150 also impressed me. While it's hard to make smoothie bowls in family-sized blender (I find that it's easier in one of the best portable blenders thanks to the personal-sized cups) I found that the K150 simply needed time to work.

I added frozen strawberries, frozen spinach, ice, frozen blueberries, yoghurt and a slice of lemon to the blender to make my smoothie bowl, and started on the lowest setting. It definitely took some time to work through the frozen ingredients (I found that it was worth switching the blender off and giving the pitcher an occasional shake to make sure the blades were getting through all of my ingredients) but the result was a smooth and tasty bowl.

The consistency was also very impressive, and it was clear to see the way that the blades had pulled ingredients into their flow as they blended. 

Making sauce

I had to search pretty thoroughly to see what the manual says about blending hot ingredients (in the Smeg Blender review I was disappointed to find that it's a no-go), but the KitchenAid K150 can handle hot ingredients. You just need to be careful not to burn yourself or overfill the pitcher. 

I grilled some tomatoes and red peppers before adding them to the blender with cream, garlic, and basic. This blended up very smoothly, in no time whatsoever. 

Because I found that the KitchenAid K150 is very capable of blending soft ingredients, it should have no trouble with soups. One thing I did find is that it doesn't pulverize tough items like kale stems easily. You need to leave it for a few minutes to achieve that smooth consistency. 

Cleaning the KitchenAid K150

You can run a quick and easy cleaning cycle in the KitchenAid K150. It's just a case of adding some dish soap to the blender with warm water, filling it about halfway, and then pulsing to make sure the water reaches all areas of the blender.

I found that after running this cycle the work was nearly complete. It was just a case of rinsing out the blender, and going in with a microfiber cloth to reach those areas of the lid and around it that may have been missed. 

Is the KitchenAid K150 dishwasher safe? The manual says you can place the attachments on the top rack of your dishwasher, but I found that it was a little fiddly to fit the jug into mine. While it is possible to clean the K150 attachments in the dishwasher, I would recommend doing it by hand as it is far easier. 

What else? 

You can pair the KitchenAid K150 with more attachments, available from the KitchenAid site. It is possible to buy the K150 with personal pitchers as well as the large pitcher, but this does cost extra. 

Other optional attachments include the 1-liter Citrus Press, 500ml Personal Jar, and 200ml Small Batch Jar. 

One of the reasons why KitchenAid ranks as the best stand mixer in our guide is because it comes in a stunning range of colors. You can pair the KitchenAid K150 with food processors, immersion blenders, juicers, and other handy KitchenAid appliances. 

Should you buy the KitchenAid K150? 

The KitchenAid K150 is $99.99 in the US, and it's £229 in the UK. Needless to say that's a large price difference, which is because the blender is made in the USA to keep it as affordable and high-quality as possible for American buyers. 

If style is important to you and you work with a lot of soft ingredients and smoothies, I would definitely recommend the KitchenAid K150. While it's very capable of making smoothie bowls and crushing ice, the smaller motor means it takes a little longer, so it may be worth trying out the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender or other more powerful blenders that we've tried hands-on. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Millie Fender is our Editor for all things small appliances at Homes & Gardens She spends a lot of time testing everything from toasters to air fryers in her own apartment, and recommending the very best ones to readers. 

All our reviews are tested from home, and the KitchenAid K150 review is no exception. Millie put it to the test for a number of days to make morning smoothies and soup for lunch, before sending it back to KitchenAid, who kindly lent it to her for the purposes of this review. 

It’s an image that paints itself: you wake up bright and early and get your gym bag ready. You make sure you have everything you need to head straight to the office after your workout. Washbag? Check. Work clothes? Check. Nutribullet GO portable blender? Check. 

None of us have had much use for even the best portable blenders in the past year, but with the return of the morning commute (or vacations, or just leaving the house) comes the need to leave your kitchen, and all of your favorite appliances. That’s where the NutriBullet GO Portable Blender comes in, though. It has a lightweight design that allows you to store everything you need to blend up in a travel cup, and screw it onto a rechargeable base for blending on the go, literally. I put the NutriBullet GO Portable Blender to the test for a week to see how it works and if it can compare to a corded blender. 

My verdict? For the price, it’s one of the best blenders you can buy. 

Specifications: 

• Colors: silver, red, black, white
• Type: portable blender
• Weight: 1.5lb
• Capacity: 13oz
• Speed settings: 1
• Material: plastic
• Dimensions: 7.52 x 7.01 x 4.06 inches
• Motor: 700 watts

NutriBullet GO design

Even the box that the NutriBullet GO comes in is small. It has two main parts: a base, with the button to start the blending process and a screw-on plastic lid that covers the blades, and a travel cup, which has a plastic lid with a carry handle. 

The blender comes with a decent amount of charge, which is a nice touch. I was able to begin blending almost immediately. 

The first impression I had of the NutriBullet GO was that it is very lightweight indeed. At just 1.5 pounds, it really is incredibly portable. I could happily throw it into a rucksack for work without being weighed down. Because it is so compact, I wouldn’t even need a rucksack to carry it. My regular handbag would more than suffice.

The carry cup is not too big. It has a capacity of 13oz, so this truly is a personal blender. I found that filling to the max line created a full cup of smoothie or shake, but not enough to share.

Safety features with the NutriBullet GO

Screwing the cup onto the base of the blender will cause the lights to flash blue. This signifies that the blender is ready to go. If you haven’t screwed on the cup it won’t be possible to turn the blender on, so there is no risk of accidentally shredding the contents of your bag or potentially injuring yourself with an exposed blade. 

The lid to both the carry cup and the blender base can screw on very securely, so I did feel safe taking this on the go.

NutriBullet GO: how does it perform?

The first smoothie I made in the NutriBullet GO had all the classics: milk, blueberries, strawberries, and spinach. I was impressed with how easily the blades sliced through the spinach and strawberries, and I had a smoothie within 30 seconds. 

I also tried this blender with frozen strawberries and raspberries to see how it could handle small amounts of frozen fruits, and while there were a lot of seeds, all of the frozen fruit came out well-blended.

One of the most striking things about this blender is how quiet it is, which is perfect for using in an office or on the go. You won’t wake anyone up with this blender, the noise level is comparable to an electric toothbrush. To turn the blender on you just press the button twice. After a cycle the NutriBullet GO automatically shuts off, but you can also shut it off by pressing the button once mid-cycle.

The smoothie came out well blended, but when pouring out of the blending cup I found that there were a few blueberries that had not been blended. The NutriBullet GO has no trouble blending blueberries, because most of the handful I had added were fully blended, but it must have somehow missed a couple due to the very short cycle.

Can it handle ice? 

There are two main uses for the NutriBullet GO – making morning commutes more straightforward, or taking on trips in RVs or campsites. Neither of these scenarios will enable you to have fresh ice to blend in the NutriBullet GO, but I thought it was only fair to see how it handled ice.

I added two cubes of ice to my morning smoothie to see how the NutriBullet GO Portable Blender would handle it. While the ice cubes didn’t get in the way of the blending, they came out of the blender virtually intact. The rest of the smoothie was very cold and well blended, but no, the NutriBullet GO cannot crush ice.

How to clean the NutriBullet GO Cordless Blender

I found the blades easy to clean after use. Doing this immediately after you use the blender will mean that no residue dries onto the blades, which makes cleaning a very easy process.

The carry cup and the lid cannot go in the dishwasher but I found that adding some water and dish soap to the bottle and shaking it with the lid screwed on was an effective way of cleaning. 

Should you buy the NutriBullet GO?

I have soft spot for this blender, but it's only suitable for a certain customer. If you want a blender for your home and feel like it could be convenient to go cordless, you'll be disappointed in its lack of power. But, if you love a morning smoothie or a post-gym protein shake, it's a really great buy. 

For a start, it's super affordable, so much so that you could justify having it as a blender that you exclusively use when you're on the go or taking a trip, and it's also incredibly lightweight and quiet, meaning that using it on the go really won't be a problem. 

About this review, and our reviewer

Millie Fender is our Editor for all things small appliances at Homes & Gardens. She spends a lot of time testing everything from toasters to air fryers in her London apartment, and recommending the very best ones to readers. 

All our reviews are tested from home, and the Nutribullet GO review is no exception. Millie put it to the test for a number of days to make morning smoothies. She even took it for a walk in her bag to make sure it didn't spill!