WIRED Tested Dozens of Blenders. These Are Our 8 Favorites (2026)

New York: Blenders are essential kitchen tools for making smoothies, soups, and sauces. To find the best blenders, WIRED tested their ability to blend both hot and cold items. They checked how well each blender made smooth smoothies and even tested making peanut butter without oil.

Testing included blending ice, making soup, and checking sound levels. The decibel levels varied based on what was being blended, but blending ice was always loud. WIRED prefers BPA-free plastic jars over glass ones to avoid shattering.

When deciding if you need a blender or a food processor, remember that blenders are compact and easy to use. They’re great for smoothies but not so good for chopping veggies. If you need to chop or mix dough, a food processor is better.

There are many types of blenders available. A countertop blender offers the most volume and flexibility for pureeing soups. Personal blenders are smaller and perfect for single servings. Immersion blenders are easy to store and useful for blending smaller amounts.

Some blenders even come with smart apps and special features that reduce foam, which can make your smoothies look and taste better. Here are some tips to help you get the most from your blender.

Ben Ebbrell from Sorted Food suggests making soup ahead of time and blending just before serving. Smooth sauces are also great to make in a blender, giving your meals a nicer look and taste. If you enjoy cocktails, you can make large batches quickly with a blender, perfect for sunny days!

To avoid wasting food, freeze fruits that are getting old before blending them with juice or milk. After using your blender, clean it well using warm water and citrus juice to remove strong flavors.

The article highlights the best blenders tested by WIRED. The Vitamix Ascent X2, priced at $550, is noted as the best overall choice with a powerful motor and features for smooth blending. The Breville “Super Q” Blender is recognized for being quieter than most, despite being powerful. The KitchenAid K400 Blender and Nutribullet Pro+ offer stylish and effective options, while the Chefman Obliterator and Ninja Blendboss provide strong performance at lower prices.

There’s a blender to suit everyone’s needs and tastes in this selection of favorites.