Making smoothies at home is an easy and affordable way to get your five-a-day, and could be healthier than buying ready-made versions, which can be high in added sugar.
By adding a smoothie maker to your line-up of kitchen gadgets, you’ll be whipping up nutritious fruit- and veg-packed drinks in a jiffy, with total control over the ingredients you use.
To help kickstart (or continue on) your wellness journey, here’s our pick of the best smoothie makers…
Is a smoothie maker the same as a blender?
The main difference between a smoothie maker and a blender is that smoothie makers – also known as “personal blenders” – are designed to make smaller portions at a time, which can help cut down on food waste.
Their main function is to whizz up smoothies, which you can easily drink on the go thanks to the smoothie maker’s jug transforming into a cup – simply attach the lid and you’re ready to go. Smoothie makers also require less cleaning, take up less space, and tend to be less powerful than blenders, due to their compact size.
Blenders, on the other hand, are larger (coming with a wider base unit and a pouring jug) and can tackle more kitchen tasks, including puréeing vegetables for soups and sauces and crushing ice. They typically come with more power and speed settings, too. Read our blenders guide for specific recommendations.
Smoothie makers: key features
Size
Smoothie makers come in a variety of sizes. Whether you want a speedy smoothie for one or are whizzing up blends for the whole family, our top tried-and-tested models range from a compact 0.47 litres to a more generous 0.93 litres.
Speed
Many smoothie makers come with just one speed setting, which automatically starts when you place the jug on the motor and click it into place. Variations may include manual speed settings for greater control, a pulse setting and vacuum blending technology, which is designed to enhance flavour, retain nutrients and keep contents fresh for longer.
Multiple functions
Some smoothie makers feature a variety of functions, including our highest-scoring model, the Ninja Blender with Auto-iQ BN495UK. These versatile units tend to be more expensive than simpler smoothie makers and will take up more space on your kitchen worktop.
What is vacuum blending?
Some smoothie makers are equipped with vacuum blending technology, which claims to lock in vitamins, preserve nutrients and give your creations an all-round better blend and taste.
You’ll notice your smoothie will look brighter, be lighter in texture and taste better than a regular blend of the same recipe, even several hours later. During testing, we also found the ingredients didn’t separate or form a thick, frothy layer, which regular machines tend to do after a few hours.
Vacuum blending technology, such as the in the Tefal Freshboost Vacuum BL181D65, does come at a higher price, but we think it’s well worth the investment.
How we test
We tested 16 of the best smoothie makers on the market, from leading brands such as NutriBullet and Ninja, and assessed their performance, ease of use, design, instructions and whether they leaked during transportation and blending.
With each machine, we created a variety of smoothies, including ones with mixed fruit and more fibrous leafy greens. We also checked to see how well each one coped with crushing ice, unless the manufacturer advises against it.
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