6 Best Portable Blenders For Delicious On The Go Smoothies
You can now make a delicious smoothie whenever and wherever you want with one of these top notch portable blenders.
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After recent studies revealed close to two thirds of Australians are overweight or obese and don’t get their five veg and two fruit a day, more and more Aussies are trying to improve their diets and become healthier.
But that’s not always as simple as it sounds. Sure, you can wear a smartwatch to count your steps and bring your lunch from home when you go into the office, but getting a healthy drink comes with a few hurdles, like paying a small fortune for a smoothie at a juice bar and leaving with a faux healthy drink that’s packed with sugar.
That is unless you invest in a portable blender. These little whizzes let you make your favourite healthy smoothie wherever you are, and are often significantly cheaper than buying a full-size blender for your kitchen counter.
Our favourite is the BlendJet 2 with its patented six-point blade system and 1000-watt motor that ensures all ingredients are evenly blended and smooth. You can also try the Ninja Blast Portable Blender to crush ice and make cooler drinks and frappés or the Cuisinart EvolutionX to make big batches when out and about.
Shoppers love how “portable and easy to use” the blenders are, labelling it a “great investment”.
Read on to find the best portable blenders on the market and see which one will best suit your health and lifestyle needs.
OUR TOP PICKS
Best portable blender
BlendJet 2, $50 (down from $79.95) at Myer
What You Need To Know
Designed to whip up a huge selection of smoothies, frappés, protein shakes, baby foods, dips, sauces and dressings, the BlendJet 2 can pretty much do it all.
It uses a patented blending design with its six-point blades offset from the base to create a “tornado” effect. This sends the ingredients towards the blades up to 275 times a second. And at 1000-watts, the motor is massively powerful. For comparison, the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender – Aka one of the top blenders available – has a 1380-watt motor.
This versatile blender can also be used as a mini food processor. When you double press the power button, you will activate the pulsing feature to chop and pulverise ingredients and make dips, salsas and hummus.
It’s super fast charging, providing up to 15 blends with a one hour charge and is self cleaning with just a couple of drops of soap and some water. There’s also a carry strap for easy portability and it comes in great range of bright and bold colours.
This blender was reviewed by taste Test Kitchen expert Michelle Southan, who kept her ingredients cool on her way to work by sitting her BlendJet 2 next to an ice pack.
“I packed it in my work bag next to an ice pack one day when I didn’t have ice. The ingredients stayed cool and the result was a fresh smoothie when I got to work,” says Michelle.
Laura Simpson from taste.com.au also said “this handy little product is a solid performer, making it perfect for gym-goers, beachgoers, and busy parents alike. It’s also become a hit with health-conscious teenagers who love the ability to blend and go on their way to school or when they’re out with friends.”
Best portable blender for fresh smoothies
NutriBullet GO Portable Blender, $59 (down from $79.95) at Amazon Australia
NutriBullet GO Portable Blender
What You Need To Know
NutriBullet is renowned to their high quality blenders of all sizes, and their NutriBullet GO is the ideal portable blender for whipping up a smoothie on the go.
You’ll get 15 blending cycles per charge, and it is fully recharged in an hour and a half. It has a large capacity to fit more of your favourite fruits and veggies inside and a flip top lid to drink your smoothie straight out of your blender. Plus, the cup and lid are top rack dishwasher safe.
“I have this at work and it’s awesome,” raves one Amazon reviewer. “Make[s] the best smoothies for breakfast at work, easy cleanup and easy recharge via usb connection. Also chop fruit for fruit drinks and bring in protein soup shakes for lunch. Proven performer.”
Another shopper at Myer says “It is a very useful product for having a fresh smoothie shake with protein powder after the gym,” while a third added “I use it every morning, pop pieces of orange in, small pieces of ice on top. Perfect!!! Also take it work and make a smoothie for lunch.”
You can choose from a huge selection of colours, as well as the limited edition McLaren range, which is available in grey and papaya for $79 at The Good Guys.
Best portable blender for frozen ingredients
Ninja Blast Portable Blender, $69 (down from $99.99) at Amazon Australia
Ninja Blast Portable Blender
What You Need To Know
Despite the 200-watt motor, the Ninja Blast Portable Blender is a fan-favourite choice for ice blending. This is thanks to its stainless steel BlastBlade assembly. This unique and quality construction creates a vortex towards the blades so in just 30 seconds, your frozen fruit and ice will be crushed into a smooth blend.
When fully charged, you’ll get up to 15 blending cycles. And for complete control of your blender, it has two button operation – one to power on the blender and one to start and stop the blending. It also comes with a BPA-free and dishwasher safe lid and drinking cup, a sip lid with a carry handle, a recipe guide with five recipes to try and a two year warranty.
“I was a bit dubious about how powerful this blender would be but was pleasantly surprised once I used it,” says one Myer customer, who called it “Powerful, easy to clean and so far has made 6 smoothies on a single charge and I imagine will make many more.”
Another called it “a game-changer for busy lifestyles,” saying it “has quickly become one of my favorite [sic] gadgets.”
Best versatile portable blender
NutriBullet Flip Portable Blender, $99 (down from $149.95) at Myer
NutriBullet Flip Portable Blender
What You Need To Know
The worst thing to sip is a lukewarm or room temperature smoothie, and unless you drink it straight away or keep it in the fridge after blending, that’s what you’ll have with an ordinary portable blender.
Instead, the NutriBullet Flip literally flips the script on this. The blender jug is made from insulated stainless steel which keeps your ingredients and drinks cool for up to 24 hours.
Using a “hybrid blade and lid,” you can blend, flip and sip away on your smoothies without disassembly. It is recommended to start the blending cycle and then flip the blender so the ingredients will meet the blades as they spin to minimise any hard or frozen ingredients getting caught or stuck.
The blender is built with an LED light ring around the power button which indicates when it needs another charge. Plus, a metal straw to sip from with a straw cleaner, a flip and sip ‘to-go’ lid and a blade cover is included.
“This blender has quickly become my go-to for quick, creamy protein shakes,” boasts one shopper. “In just a few seconds, it blends everything to a smooth, lump-free consistency – no chunks or grittiness, even with frozen fruit or ice.”
A second raves about their NutriBullet Flip, saying it “makes the post gym morning smoothie routine SO much easier.”
Best large portable blender
Cuisinart EvolutionX Cordless Rechargeable Personal Blender, $90 (down from $159) at Myer
Cuisinart EvolutionX Cordless Rechargeable Personal Blender
What You Need To Know
While the Cuisinart EvolutionX is considered a personal blender, other personal blenders need to connect directly to a power socket. This one operates as both a portable and personal blender with its cordless functionality and rechargeable battery.
Despite being on the heavier side, it is extremely functional with two 475mL tumblers included. This means you can make two different smoothies throughout the day, or you can make one for yourself and another for your partner to share a smoothie together.
It’s also very powerful with its 7.4V motor that can blend almost anything a regular blender can, including dips, salsas, purees, frozen drinks and slushies. Once you’ve finished blending, the LED-indicator light will let you know when it needs a recharge.
Topping it off is its ease of cleaning. All parts of the blender (excluding the motor base) are dishwasher safe, including the blades.
“This is great to use at work or on the go and a single charge lasts many shakes,” raves one customer. “Looking forward to seeing how it makes sauces and dressings when camping!”
Best small portable blender
Kitchen Couture Fusion Portable Blender, $44.95 (down from $59.95) at Myer
Kitchen Couture Fusion Portable Blender
What You Need To Know
Instead of carrying around a large blender to get your smoothie fix, you can use the Kitchen Couture Fusion Portable Blender. Its simple yet aesthetically pleasing design with its bottle cap and silicone handle makes it look more like a stylish drink bottle than a blender. Its small 350mL is also designed to fit into handbags and car cup holders.
While most portable blenders are charged via a USB connection, this one is powered up by waterproof magnetic charging. And you’ll know it gets the job done right with its four stainless steel blades and 12 month warranty.
One five-star review says it “Works wonderfully and looks great!! Simple and sleek design make it look less like an appliance and more like a nice bottle.”
Another called it “Compact, effective and SO easy to clean!
“This is great for work lunches, maintains charge for days at a time, is simple to use and even easier to clean. Love love love it!”
How we choose our products
Our dedicated team spends hours researching the best products to include in our roundups by analysing customer reviews, ratings and articles. When finding the best portable blenders on the market, we considered their power, functionality, size, blender cup capacity, battery life, portability and ease of cleaning.
What to consider before buying a portable blender
Power and performance: Portable blenders with a high wattage will have better blending power and be able to make smoother drinks faster. They’ll also be able to cut through ice with ease and evenly blend more fibrous greens like kale and spinach. You should look for a portable blender at around the 300-watt mark to ensure your drinks are smooth with every blend. If you intend to make drinks just with fruit and without greens or ice, 100 to 300-watts should be sufficient.
Battery life: Most portable blenders are battery powered and need charging after 10 to 15 blends, but always check how many times it can blend before needing a recharge as well as how long it takes to fully charge.
Blades: Portable blenders with four to six blades will cut through your fresh ingredients easier than those with two. You should also check to see if the blades are stainless steel, as they are more durable.
Capacity: Blending cups and jars for a portable blender usually range from around 300mL to 600mL. Smaller cups obviously fit less in, but blend faster and will give you a single serve. Larger blending cups allow you to add more healthy ingredients without squishing them inside, but can take longer to blend and use more battery power. Weigh up how much you intend to drink in a single blend, how many ingredients you want to use and their size.
Portability: A portable blender does what is says on the tin – it’s a cordless blender to make smoothies wherever you are. To make sure it is as functional as possible, check if it comes with a carry handle, if it can fit inside your bag, and if you can convert the blender cup to a travel cup by switching the blade cap with a drinking lid.
Weight: You want to avoid portable blenders that are heavy and big, as this defeats the purpose of being portable and becomes difficult to take them with you. Look for blenders that are lightweight and can fit into your bag or backpack while still having enough capacity to make your smoothie.
Ease of cleaning: Most personal blenders and portable blenders should be cleaned immediately after use, so you’ll need an easy way to get rid of the smoothie residue and any bits left behind. Look for a self-cleaning portable blender that just needs a quick blend with water rather than hand washing. Also see if it is dishwasher safe or has removable blades – these are usually easier to clean than fixed blades in the blender lid.
Price: While typically cheaper than a full-size countertop blender, a portable blender can still be a pricey investment. Those with a larger capacity and higher wattage will normally cost more, however smaller blenders with less powerful motors can sacrifice how well and how much it blends. Weigh up what you intend to blend, how often you’ll likely use it and how much you want to drink before you add it to your cart.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS A PORTABLE BLENDER BETTER THAN A STANDARD BLENDER?
While they do the same job, a portable blender, a personal blender and a regular kitchen counter blender are very different, and it can be difficult to say which one is the better option. Here’s what you need to know about each of the models to help you choose which one you should invest in.
Portable blenders:
A portable blender is designed for blending smoothies when away from your kitchen. These compact blenders are normally lightweight and small, making them a great choice for those going to the gym and wanting a fresh protein shake and people wanting a healthy drink at the workplace without wanting to buy one.
These battery powered blenders will need a charge before using. They’ll usually only have a single power setting which often ranges between 300 and 600-watts, which is enough to cut through fruits, but lower power models can leave behind some chunks when blending hard vegetables, leafy greens or ice. The blending cup can be used as a travel cup and often comes with flip top lids to drink straight out of.
For the most part, they should only be used for smoothies and are not able to blend hot drinks and liquids like soups, or be used for chopping.
Personal blenders:
Considered ‘semi-portable’, a personal blender can make delicious smoothies to take with you, but must be blended before you leave the house and transferred to a travel cup as they need to be plugged into a power outlet and are not cordless.
They are typically larger than a portable blender and smaller than a regular kitchen blender, ranging from 500mL to 700mL and with a capacity to make one or two servings.
Their controls are limited compared to a standard home blender and often have one to two buttons. They are normally more powerful than portable blenders and can easily cut through ice cubes, frozen fruit and other tough ingredients. The blending jars are also often dishwasher safe for quick and easy clean-up.
Kitchen benchtop blender:
A regular home blender is the most powerful blending option, crushing ice and frozen ingredients easily thanks to a powerful motor. Most usually range around the 1500-watt mark. Many also come with a wide variety of settings including different speeds, pulsing, chopping, heating and more.
This high powered blending performance and range of settings allows users to make a range of refreshing beverages and foods, including soups, nut butters, salad dressings, dips and more. They have a significantly larger capacity to make big smoothie batches for more than one person.
These blenders are more durable and are designed to last longer in your kitchen. However, they are significantly more expensive, are bulky and take up a lot of room, and are harder to clean, with multiple parts needing disassembly.
HOW MUCH CAN A PORTABLE BLENDER MAKE?
This will all come down to the blender’s capacity and power. Portable blenders are designed to make a smoothie for one person at a time. They typically range from 300mL to 600mL and have enough power to blend between 10 to 15 drinks before needing a recharge.
CAN PORTABLE BLENDERS BLEND ICE CUBES AND FROZEN FRUIT?
High quality portable blenders will be able to blend ice cubes and frozen fruit. They are usually built with four or more stainless steel blades and have a powerful motor base with over 300-watts of power.
To ensure your morning smoothie is blended to perfection, try using smaller ice cubes rather than full sized cubes, letting frozen ingredients thaw and defrost slightly to make them softer and ensure there is enough liquid inside the blender cup.
Other portable blenders with lower than 150-watts and have less than four blades can jam or stall when trying to cut through hard vegetables and ice and can leave behind some chunks. The battery can also drain faster trying to power through them.
ARE BLENDING CUPS DISHWASHER SAFE?
Most portable blender cups are top rack dishwasher safe, especially if they are made from tritan BPA-free plastic or glass. Cheaper plastic cups may need to be hand washed as they can warp.
It’s important to note that the blender blades and motor base are usually not dishwasher safe. The blades should be hand washed and the motor should not get wet.
Before putting any part of your blender in the dishwasher, always check the manufacturer’s instructions and user manual.
HOW LONG DOES A PORTABLE BLENDER LAST?
The lifespan of your portable or personal blender will vary depending on how often you use it and how well you maintain it. A good quality portable blender will normally see out up to 500 blends before the battery and motor starts to wear out.
If you use it for your smoothies, protein powder shakes and frappés daily, make sure it comes with stainless steel blades, is cleaned regularly, you don’t add too many hard or frozen ingredients and you don’t leave it to overcharge.
WHAT ARE THE BEST BLENDER BRANDS?
There is a huge range of reputable kitchen appliance and blender brands to choose from. NutriBullet and Ninja are a couple of the leading brands, making blenders in different sizes and with many portable, personal and standard blenders to choose from.
If you’re looking for a high quality portable blender, we recommended the BlendJet 2. Magic Bullet is a great brand when you’re on the search for a personal blender and Vitamix, Breville, Smeg and KitchenAid will have you covered for a kitchen counter blender.
More Coverage
More kitchen content:
- Best stick blenders for cooking and smoothies
- The top reviewed juicers in Australia
- Owala FreeSip Water Bottle Review
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