It’s smoothie season! Here are our 3 favorite blenders
By Aimee Heckel
Summer is smoothie season. Throwing a mountain of fruits and veggies into a blender and pressing “go” is a quick and healthy way to start the day.
In honor of smoothie season, here are our favorite three smoothie blenders.
1. High end: The Vitamix 5200, $449.
Why we love it: Although the Vitamix is pretty pricey, it’s one of the best blenders out there. Plain and simply, it works. In the winter, you can even use it to make soup.
Save money: Look for reconditioned Vitamix machines and check out these Vitamix coupons.
2. Practical: The Ninja, price varies by product
Why we love it: The 900-watt Ninja will quickly pulverize whole produce and ice. Pair your Ninja blender with Nutri Ninja cups, which you can connect directly to your blender to make a single-serve drink. No extra dishes and it’s quick and convenient. The Ninja BL450 NutriNinja Pro Blender is another great option.
Save money: Find the NutriNinja Pro Blender at Target.com for $99. Spend $50 at Target.com and you can get free shipping. Save more money at Target.com with these coupons, plus get 2.5 percent Cash Back and 50 ShopGold Rewards. Read more articles about saving money at Target.com here.
Note: Cheaper blenders will limit what you can blend (fresh produce works better than frozen), how smooth it will turn out and how quickly you can clean it. Some inexpensive blenders are not designed for daily use, so beware of the warranty or upgrade to a heavier-duty blender.
3. Commercial grade: The BlendTec Total Blender, $399.95
Why we love it: If you want professional-grade smoothies (think: juice bars and restaurants) in your own kitchen, the BlendTec will consistently perform. It can handle just about anything and is worth the extra money, because it’ll last much longer than run-of-the-mill blenders.
Save money: Look for BlendTec blenders on eBay to save money. DEI Equipment also sells refurbished BlendTecs for a great price: $175 off the regular price, plus free shipping. Even though they’re refurbished, DEI Equipment’s BlendTecs come with a seven-year warranty on the moving parts, jar assembly and motor base.
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