The best blenders for every task

The Vitamix Explorian shows up in nearly every "best blenders" list, and it's not hard to see why. With a heavy-duty motor and 10 pre-programmed speeds, it's one of the most powerful, straightforward machines out there. Tough veggies and nuts are no match for this blender — it annihilates them.

While cheaper blenders offer two blending speeds and send you off on your own, the Vitamix Explorian's automated settings (smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts, purées, self-cleaning) help you quickly refine your blending game.

There's no getting away from the price. Yes, it's pretty steep, we know. But you'll soon make your money back in high-quality soup and smoothies.

Not every personal blender is super fancy, nor do they need to be. If you're looking for something simple and inexpensive that gets the job done, the Magic Bullet is a solid choice. It's designed to chop, mix, blend, whip, and grind. This handy little blender can also make omelettes, sauces, and dips.

An 11-piece kit includes three blending cups with travel lids for drinking on-the-go. Also included is a recipe book for guidance on quick, easy mixes.

The Magic Bullet is not as powerful as some of the other personal blenders on the market, but it's also not as expensive. Expect to compromise on some of the more advanced features in exchange for a lower price. The most common complaint is its inability to chop through large ice or frozen fruits. 

We love an appliance that doubles up as something else. Which is why we love the Ninja 3-in-1. It's a really powerful blender — equipped with single and multi-serve jugs — but also works as a food processor, with a separate food bowl for more labour-intensive jobs like mixing cookie and pizza dough. 

There isn't much it can't do. It has five intelligent Auto-iQ settings — blend, max blend, chop, mix, and puree — which have their own unique pulse, pause, blend, and process patterns. That means you can make just about anything, from creamy sips and chunky salsas to soups and smoothies. And there's no problem pulverising ice, frozen fruit, or stubborn veggies.  

This La Reveuse personal blender is built for sporty lifestyles. Rather than having a regular jug, it comes with two sports bottles. Just attach one to the base, blend your ingredients, and pop the travel lid on. That makes it especially good for blending protein shakes and heading straight to the gym.

With a 300-watt motor, it packs decent power for a relatively small and portable machine. But don't expect this little blender to handle the toughest mixing jobs. It's best used for smoothies, shakes, and protein drinks.

The La Reveuse is also super easy to use. Just click on the bottle to start and remove the stop. There's no need to even press an on/off button. Instead, there's a microswitch inside that puts the blender to work automatically.

Fruit smoothies aren't always as healthy as you might think. But the Nutribullet 600 Series is committed to making the healthiest smoothies possible. Powered by a 600 watt motor, it uses cyclonic technology to slice through fruit and veggies in a way that extracts maximum nutrients.

NutriBullets are known for being skinny and easily storable (you know, bullet-shaped), so it won't take up too much space on the countertop. And you get plenty for your money, including the base, blade, 680ml cup, pocket nutritionist, and a Start Guide with recipes.

NutriBullet is the name in health-conscious and convenient blenders for a reason. Just throw in your fruit, hit the blend button, and pop a to-go lid on the cup. You'll soon be on your way with an Instagram-worthy smoothie. 

Nutribullet's personal blenders are great, but there's not always a socket nearby. This mini blender by PopBabies takes portability a step further with handy USB charging. This means all of your camping and road trips can be accompanied by fresh blends — when and wherever you like.

It's good for the office, too. Keep it at your desk and blend yourself a concoction whenever you need a break or a little energy boost.

The PopBabies blender is the most no-frills blender in the list, but that's the beauty of it. Just press the button, give it a shake, and you're out the door in 20 seconds. The 175 watt motor isn't made for intensive recipes, but it handles ice, fruit, and milk. And it has plenty of five-star reviews on Amazon.

Anyone who considers cooking and food prep an art, rather than a chore, will appreciate the craftsmanship of the Vitamix Ascent. Especially if this blender is something you see yourself using every day of the week.

The true beauty of a high-tech blender is how customisable it is. It has self-detect technology, which senses the size of the container you’ve attached and adjusts between three settings: smoothies, hot soup, and frozen desserts.

It also includes a digital timer — giving you walk-away convenience — plus wireless connectivity, which means the Ascent receives all the latest updates.

There are more plus points: It can make hot soup, using blade friction to bring up the temperature, and handles tough nuts and veggies. It also makes dough.

If you want the ability to blend in the palm of your hand, look no further than the Russell Hobbs Desire 3-in-1 Hand Blender. It's a nifty little device that comes with a standard blending leg, a whisk, and vegetable chopper attachments — not to mention two beakers (500ml and 700ml).

It gives you impressive control, with two speeds and a pulse function. That allows you to dictate how much oomph to give your blending — and how chunky you want to make sauces, salsas, and soups.

The 500-watt motor pales in comparison to stand blenders, but you're not buying a blender like this for power — it's about convenience. And it's worth noting that some reviewers have marked it down for being a tad on the flimsy side. But at this price, it really is a blender bargain.