Hi, Could anyone recommend a portable blender to make smoothies please?
Do you mean stick blenders, inidividual (single serve) blenders, easily stored countertop blenders or something else?
The most recent stick blender review is from 2022 (subscriber locked) but does not address making smoothies. Products may not be current.
1 Like
I mean a blender that doesn’t have cords so you charge it with usb and is small enough to be portable.
Thanks for the clarification. They are also commonly referenced as ‘rechargeable blenders’ for searching.
It does not appear Choice has review them to date so I updated your category to Request A Test.
There are web sites that purport to review them but with little objectivity since they are selling them, but there are numerous google and store reviews on specific models that might be helpful.
Homes & Gardens is a US magazine with some credibility over time, although is not a lab type testing organisation.
An aside is they they recognise different products for different uses, eg drinks vs dips, etc. but most of them apparently do smoothies pretty well. There is local availability from some of our majors.
2 Likes
I have a Ninja Blast which I find pretty good.
3 Likes
Choice article about the Ninja blender
And Choice tips on portable blenders:
Personal blenders
Manufacturers have also created a category of dedicated ‘single-serve’ blenders that let you blend ingredients and drink from the same bottle. These are typically inexpensive, increasingly popular, and handy for busy people heading to work in the mornings (some even fit into your car’s drink holder) or teenagers needing an energy boost after school.
The disadvantage of the cheapest standalone personal blenders is that they aren’t as powerful as traditional blenders, and typically operate on a pulse function. You often can’t use one for more than a minute at a time and you need to add liquid to the fruit and vegetables first…
Here are some things to consider if you’re looking to buy a personal blender.
Multiple cups/jugs: Handy if you want to prepare a single-serve smoothie each for a few people.
Cleaning: If the bottle is narrow, you may need to use a bottle brush to thoroughly clean it.
On/off switch: Better than a push-and-twist type, which may put more wear and tear on the blender.
Rubber seal: One that sits on the outside of the blade assembly instead of under the blade will be easier to remove. The rubber seal should also sit firmly within the blade assembly – seals can become loose over time from removing and cause leaks.
Blade assembly: Should have adequate grip – after processing, some become tighter and can be difficult to remove. The threading around the blade assembly and the cup/bottle should be smooth and easy to screw on firmly to prevent leaks.
Exit hole: Helpful inside the shaft area for draining any spills.
3 Likes
Thankyou. Have you used it for fruit and protein smoothies at all? Does it hold charge for very long?
Yes I have used it for both fruit and protein. Mulches soft fruit like strawberrys and blueberrys pretty well as well as frozen fruits. Needs a small amount of liquid. Holds charge for reasonable time, depends on how much and how much effort it needed to use but fast enough to recharge vis USB.
