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A good blender is the perfect addition to any household but is particularly helpful for those who enjoy smoothies or protein shakes. If one often enjoys a protein shake from a smoothie bar after the gym or a quick one at work, then you are likely to be aware that this can take a considerable sum out of your budget.
Today you can find blenders of many varieties and price ranges. The containers now come in plastic, glass, or stainless steel with a base to match your current kitchen décor. Blenders also come with many different options such as speed, a heating function, and other attachments, making them multi-use.
In order to have those many options, many blenders seem to be on the larger side, and “large” won’t work for people on the go or businesses that move around. In this article, we discuss portable blenders that perform as well as larger blenders. We discuss what to look out for, our top pick, and reviews.
Buying Guide For The Best Portable Blenders
Blenders are different, but people sometimes forget that different features make each make and model unique, or even better.
If you plan to make use of the blender frequently, you’d want to keep the blender on top of the counter, so height, size, and appearance will be a consideration in addition to other features:
Drive Socket and Blades:
Look for stainless steel drive sockets, blades, and blade driveshafts because plastic wears out quickly. The drive socket should be easy and inexpensive to replace because it may be stripped down if something blocks the blades from turning. This protects the motor from overworking.
Pulsing Button:
If you plan to make iced drinks, sorbets, or granites, a pulsing button is essential. The ice falls into the blades when paused and is ground up again when the blades begin to spin. Without the pulsing button on your blender, you will have to stop and mix up the ice before starting the motor again.
Variable Speeds:
Being able to start the blender at a slow speed and gradually increase it to high puts less stress on the motor. The ability to reduce from a high speed to a very low speed allows you to add ingredients at the end of blending that you don’t want to be liquidized or puréed into the rest of the mixture.
Motor Size:
As with juicers, the power of the motor is important for blending hard and fibrous vegetables. The average kitchen blender boasts between 300 and 600 watts of power. The high-performance blenders weigh in at an average whopping 1,300 watts.
Opt for the most powerful motor you can afford when choosing a blender. The higher the wattage, the more versatile your machine will be. A lower-wattage machine won’t be able to handle thick, frozen cocktails, sorbets, and granitas.
Container Material and Size:
Containers range in capacity from 8 ounces for the portable or mini blender container to 10 to 64 ounces for the average traditional blender to 80 ounces for a high-performance blender. Only you can determine what size is appropriate for your needs.
5 Best Portable Blenders of 2022: At A Glance
BOTTOMLINE
• Best Overall Portable Blender.
PROS
• Quickly blends.
• Easy to set up and clean.
• Blender cups are durable and large.
CONS
• Very noisy.
BOTTOMLINE
• Most Versatile Portable Blender.
PROS
• Tiny footprint.
• Includes three blender cup sizes.
• Affordable price.
CONS
• Cups are small and narrow.
• Cups lack measurements.
BOTTOMLINE
• Beginner-Friendly Portable Blender.
PROS
• Has two grinding blades.
• Includes several mason jars and lids.
• Easy to use and clean.
CONS
•Not as powerful as some blenders.
BOTTOMLINE
•Best Smoothie-Making Portable Blender.
PROS
• Retro design.
• Easy to use and clean..
• Quiet motor.
CONS
• Doesn’t work with standard mason jars.
BOTTOMLINE
• Best USB-Powered Portable Blender.
PROS
• Fun color choices.
• Powerful motor.
• Increased capacity.
• Measurement markings in blender cup.
CONS
• Doesn’t fit many solid ingredients.
• Short charging cord.
5 Best Portable Blenders of 2022
The Ninja company is known for its innovative appliances and was one of the first to come up with personal-size blenders. Now that the market is crowded, these blenders are still user favorites because they check all the boxes.
This one has 900 watts of blending power that can pulverize fruits and vegetables, turning them into a silky-smooth drink. You are able to make hummus, salsa, pudding, and even chopped vegetables. The blender can even crush ice, so slushie iced tea or lemonade is possible on hot days.
The twist-on spout lids make it easy to take the drink to go. This includes an 18-ounce cup and a 24-ounce cup, each with a lid, and more are available in case everyone in the family needs their own. For easy cleaning, the removable parts are all dishwasher safe, so this is as easy to care for as it is to use.
PROS
- Quickly blends.
- Easy to set up and clean.
- Blender cups are durable and large.
CONS
- Very noisy.
This handy portable blender comes with enough pieces to make it useful for more than just smoothies and a 250-watt motor that’s still very capable. While it might not have the power to rival higher wattage machines, it’s great for more than just smoothies, including grinding nuts, spices, and coffee, making salad dressing, and chopping chunky salsas.
PROS
- Tiny footprint.
- Includes three blender cup sizes.
- Affordable price.
CONS
- Cups are small and narrow.
- Cups lack measurements.
Rating: 44% give it 5/5 stars
Most portable blenders use proprietary cups or jars for blending, and extras can be expensive when you need more jars for the whole family or guests. This blender is designed to work with standard mason jars, so you can blend and drink right out of jars you are already using with the mason jar adapter.
Many reviewers found it very easy to attach their mason jars, although some note that the mason jar adapter can sometimes get stuck to the blade mechanism, which may make it tricky to remove. It also includes its own large and small cups with cup lids, as well as mason jars, mason jar lids, and a commuter lid, so you’ll have plenty of options for blending large or small amounts. Tribest also offers an XL version (19-piece set) if you want even larger cup options.
Two grinding blades are included as well. One has four prongs, and the other has two. The blender has a 200-watt motor, so it’s not as powerful as some, but it’s sufficient for smoothies, shakes, and sauces.
PROS
- Has two grinding blades.
- Includes several mason jars and lids.
- Easy to use and clean.
CONS
- Not as powerful as some blenders.
Rating: 65% give it 5/5 stars
Many portable blenders look utilitarian and ready to hide in the pantry, but this one has an attractive retro look that gives it some personality. So, it will look good living on the counter for daily use. It has a 300-watt motor that operates at two speeds for efficient blending, and the quirky chrome side lever starts and stops the blender.
It includes a large 20.3-ounce plastic drinking jar, a glass mason jar with a handle, and two lids. While this does include a glass mason jar, the threads on the blender are not compatible with standard canning jars, so they can’t be used as replacements.
PROS
- Retro design.
- Quiet motor.
- Easy to use and clean.
CONS
- Doesn’t work with standard mason jars.
Designed with portability in mind, the BlendJet 2 can go anywhere you want. The blender cup and base function as a single unit and can easily be tossed in a gym bag, large purse, or even luggage. It is battery-operated and recharges via a USB-C cable, so it can be charged in the car or plugged into a laptop and used to blend anywhere, no electricity required.
The next-generation model, after the BlendJet 1, the BlendJet 2, offers a larger capacity blending cup (16 ounces), more power, and longer battery life. It comes in a range of fun colors (even more than the original version).
It’s powerful enough to crush entire ice cubes. The only downside is the limited capacity. This is a blender for one, so don’t expect to make super-sized smoothies or pulverize tons of solid ingredients. Still, for making quick protein shakes at the gym or blending up simple smoothies while away from home, we highly recommend this model.
PROS
- Fun color choices.
- Powerful motor.
- Increased capacity.
- Measurement markings in blender cup.
CONS
- Doesn’t fit many solid ingredients.
- Short charging cord.
Final Thoughts
You do not need heavy-duty blenders if you do not carry out very many tedious functions with your blenders. The best choice are small and easy portable blenders.
You now have a guide to help you make your purchase and make the best one for you in the long run.
