Photo: Oster
Getting a cheap blender is quite easy, but there is a very high chance that the one you get will crash or fall apart after a very short time. What might be a little difficult is getting a cheap blender that is of high quality and good enough to serve you for a long time.
Even though it is cheap, the blender should at least have some basic features as standard and for this reason, this article looks at 10 of the best cheap blenders that are of high quality, with a view of helping you find the most suitable one for your blending needs.
In this post:
- 10 Best Cheap Blenders – Review
- 1. NutriBullet NBR-1201 – Best Overall Blender under $100
- 2. KitchenAid KSB1570SL – Cheap Blender with a Soft Start
- 3. NutriBullet Pro NB9-1301 – Best NutriBullet Blender
- 4. Oster Pro BLSTMB-CBG-000 – Best Blender & Food Processor under $100
- 5. Hamilton Beach 51102 – Most Affordable Blender
- 6. Aicook NY-8608MA – Most Powerful Blender under $100
- 7. Cuisinart CSB-100W – Best Immersion Blender under $100
- 8. Black & Decker BL1210BG – Best Blender for Smoothies under $100
- 9. SKG SKG1290 – Easy to Clean Blender
- How to Buy the Best Cheap Blender
- How to Maintain the Blender
- Conclusion
10 Best Cheap Blenders – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. NutriBullet NBR-1201 (Best Overall) |
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 | 2. KitchenAid KSB1570SL (With Soft Start) |
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 | 3. NutriBullet Pro NB9-1301 (Best NutriBullet) |
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 | 4. Oster Pro BLSTMB-CBG-000 (Best Blender & Food Processor under $100) |
| |
 | 5. Hamilton Beach 51102 (Most Affordable) |
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 | 6. Aicook NY-8608MA (Most Powerful under $100) |
| |
 | 7. Cuisinart CSB-100W (Best Immersion under $100) |
| |
 | 8. Black & Decker BL1210BG (Best for Smoothies under $100) |
| |
 | 9. SKG SKG1290 (Easy to Clean) |
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PRODUCT |
|---|
1. NutriBullet NBR-1201 (Best Overall)
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2. KitchenAid KSB1570SL (With Soft Start)
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3. NutriBullet Pro NB9-1301 (Best NutriBullet)
|
4. Oster Pro BLSTMB-CBG-000 (Best Blender & Food Processor under $100)
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5. Hamilton Beach 51102 (Most Affordable)
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6. Aicook NY-8608MA (Most Powerful under $100)
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7. Cuisinart CSB-100W (Best Immersion Blender under $100)
|
8. Black & Decker BL1210BG (Best for Smoothies under $100)
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9. SKG SKG1290 (Easy to Clean)
|
1. NutriBullet NBR-1201 – Best Overall Blender under $100
Photo: NutriBullet
- Power: 600 watts
- Speed: 1 speed
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: 18, 24 ounces
With its 12-piece set, NutriBullet’s NBR-1201 stands out as the best overall cheap blender because it is reasonably priced, yet you get a handled cup, 18 and 24-ounce cups, extractor and milling blades and a 600-watt motor base among many others.
That said, the included blades have a patented stainless-steel design that creates a strong cyclonic action in the blending cup, which greatly helps in breaking down tough ingredients.
The extractor blade is a 4-piece set that is meant for use mostly in the large 24-ounce blending cup while the milling blade is a 2-piece set for use in the smaller 16-ounce cup.
Both of these containers are to-go cups and each comes with its own lip ring and resealable lid. This makes it easier to carry your blended smoothie or juice wherever you go.
Other features include a single-speed setting, which might be a little limiting, but this makes it easy to use. All you have to do is to pop the cup into the motor base then let it do the magic. The plastic containers are also dishwasher-safe for hassle-free cleaning.
Pros:
- 12-piece set
- Includes milling and extraction blade sets in the pack
- Easy to use
- Removable dishwasher-safe parts
Cons:
- Single speed setting
2. KitchenAid KSB1570SL – Cheap Blender with a Soft Start
Photo: KitchenAid
- Power: 550 watts
- Speed: 5 speeds
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: 56 ounces
KitchenAid’s KSB is equipped with five-speed settings and regardless of the one you select, a soft start feature ensures the motor begins at a lower speed to pull the food closer to the blades before blasting them at the selected speed.
Additionally, the blender features Intelli-speed motor control, which senses the quantity of the contents in the blending jar, then maintains an optimal speed for the best results. This makes it the top-rated cheap blender in this review because this produces perfectly-blended drinks.
Apart from the 5 speeds, the blender also has an ice pre-set, which, despite having a less powerful 550-watt motor, is optimized to crush ice at precise intervals so that you can make smoothies and other frozen drinks.
Other features include a solid built motor base that is made of die-cast metal, a steel-reinforced coupler that provides direct and efficient power transfer from the motor to the blades and a 56-ounce plastic blending jar that is ideal for a family of 3 – 5 people.
Pros:
- Soft-start feature
- Intelli-speed motor control
- 5-speed settings
- Ice preset
- Relatively large 56-ounce pitcher
Cons:
- Less powerful 550-watt motor
3. NutriBullet Pro NB9-1301 – Best NutriBullet Blender
Photo: NutriBullet
- Power: 900 watts
- Speed: 1 speed
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: 32 ounces
NutriBullet’s Pro is also a personal blender but as compared to the similar sized NBR-1201 above, this one has a more powerful 900-watt motor, which delivers superior pulverizing power.
This model also comes with two 32-ounce cups, which are much bigger than compared to the ones that come with the 1201. However, they are still to go cups and come with lip rings as well as lids for easy carrying after blending.
For the actual crushing, the unit comes with an emulsifying blade set consisting of 4 blades, which combined with the motor’s output, creates a powerful cyclonic action that helps in breaking down tough ingredients such as seeds and whole fruits with ease.
Maintaining this blender is quite easy because all the removable parts can be easily rinsed using soap and water and are also dishwasher-safe on the top rack. Combined, these features make this the best cheap NutriBullet blender.
On the downside, the Pro only features a single speed and lacks no presets.
Pros:
- Powerful 900-watt motor
- Comes with two 32-ounce blending cups
- Creates a powerful cyclonic action from the spinning emulsifying blades for easier blending
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- No presets
- Single speed setting only
4. Oster Pro BLSTMB-CBG-000 – Best Blender & Food Processor under $100
Photo: Oster
- Power: 1200 watts
- Speed: 7 speeds
- Material: Glass
- Capacity: 48 ounces
If you are looking for a cheap blender and a food processor, Oster’s Pro is the best option to consider because it comes with a 48-ounce glass pitcher for blending and a 40-ounce bowl for food processing.
This functionality is further enhanced by the availability of green/frozen smoothie and milkshake presets for automated blending in the large pitcher and a food chop/ salsa preset for automated food processing in the bowl.
Apart from this, the blender features a low, medium and high speed for manual blending, while a pulse function enables you to fully customize the texture of your drink or food by giving you complete manual control over the running of the motor.
Other features include a relatively powerful 1200-watt motor and dual-direction blade technology, which runs the blades in alternating forward and reverse directions. This ensures all the ingredients flow down to the blades for even blending.
Pros:
- Combines the functions of a blender and food processor in 1
- Features 3 presets
- Low, medium and high speed plus a pulse setting
- Powerful 1200-watt motor
- Dual-direction blade technology
Cons:
- Delicate glass pitcher
- No built-in timer
5. Hamilton Beach 51102 – Most Affordable Blender
Photo: Hamilton Beach
- Power: 175 watts
- Speed: 1 speed
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: 14 ounces
Hamilton Beach’s single-serve personal blender is the most affordable product in this review and this is mostly because it has a less powerful 175-watt motor, which limits the unit’s capabilities, especially when dealing with ice and frozen fruits.
However, what the blender lacks in power, makes up for it in efficiency. This motor is very efficient and consumes a very little amount of electricity.
With the small motor, also comes a small blending cup, which has a capacity of only 14 ounces and is portable for traveling purposes. This blender actually comes with 2 of these to-go cups and each has its travel lid that allows you to drink from the jar.
The advantage of this small-sized container is that it fits quite easily in most car cup holders and thus, it is very convenient to use. Also, the compact size of the motor base makes it very easy to use in tight spaces, as well as to store after use.
For controls, a simple one-touch operation makes the blender very easy to use, featuring only a pulse button for pulse speed setting.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Portable blending cups that are convenient to carry
- Compact size for easy fitting in tight spaces
- Simple one-touch operation
Cons:
- Less powerful 175-watt motor
- Features only a single speed setting
6. Aicook NY-8608MA – Most Powerful Blender under $100
Photo: Aicook
- Power: 1450 watts
- Speed: 14 speeds
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: 70 ounces
At first look, you might mistake Aicook’s professional blender to be part of the Vitamix family because it has a similar design. It is also well-equipped in power, featuring a 1450-watt motor. This makes it the most powerful blender in this review, and even more like a Vitamix unit.
For speed, this unit features a variable speed dial, which can be used to select between 14 different speed settings. A pulse toggle gives you more manual control over the blender so as to customize the texture of the blended mix.
If you prefer a more automated approach, this professional blender features 4 presets for making smoothies, juice, jam and grinding coffee and nuts.
All these functions are done in the unit’s 70-ounce blending jar, which is quite large and capable of making servings for a large family of 5 – 8 people.
Other features include a strong titanium-coated stainless-steel 6-blade set and the inclusion of a couple of accessories such as 2 small travel cups and a tamper for pressing down the ingredients. However, you don’t get a built-in timer.
Pros:
- Powerful 1450-watt motor
- 14 variable speed settings plus a pulse function
- 4 pre-programmed settings
- Large 70-ounce blending jar
- Strong titanium-coated stainless-steel 6-blade set
Cons:
- No built-in timer
7. Cuisinart CSB-100W – Best Immersion Blender under $100
Photo: Cuisinart
- Power: 700 watts
- Speed: 2 speeds
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: 16, 32 ounces
If you don’t want to be tied down by a container’s size, then Cuisinart’s smart stick might be your best bet. This is because it is an immersion blender, which means it can be dipped into containers of different sizes, including pans.
Despite this, the unit comes with its own 16-ounce bowl for food processing and a 32-ounce mixing cup as accessories, and this makes it much easier to use if you do not have a container to use.
In terms of power, the smart stick’s motorhead contains a 700-watt motor, which is quite powerful and its output is controlled via 2 settings that include low and high speed, just to give you a few options to work with.
Construction-wise, this unit has a brushed stainless-steel housing, which improves on its durability, while a comfort grip handle makes it easier to hold and operate when running the blender. However, you get no presets.
Pros:
- Can be used in differently-sized containers
- Comes with a 16-ounce food processing bowl and a 32-ounce mixing jar
- Relatively powerful 700-watt motor
- Durable brushed stainless-steel housing
- Comfort grip handle.
Cons:
- No presets
8. Black & Decker BL1210BG – Best Blender for Smoothies under $100
Photo: Black & Decker
- Power: 700 watts
- Speed: 4 speeds
- Material: Glass
- Capacity: 48 ounces
Black & Decker’s countertop blender has 4-speed settings, which include a low, high, low pulse and high pulse.
These double up as presets, with the low being for blending, milkshakes and self-cleaning, high for smoothies, icy drinks and purees, low pulse for crumbs, chopping, and dicing and lastly, high pulse for ice crushing.
This makes it an ideal choice for making smoothies and other similar drinks.
Power is provided by a 700-watt motor, which spins a 4-tip stainless-steel blade. This blade works with the shape of the jar to create a powerful vortex that ensures all the ingredients are circulated and evenly blended.
Other features include a medium-sized 48-ounce glass pitcher with a pour spout on its lid, and the two are dishwasher-safe for easy maintenance.
Pros:
- 4 speeds and presets
- Relatively powerful 700-watt motor
- 4-tip stainless-steel blade
- Dishwasher safe removable parts
Cons:
- Delicate glass pitcher
9. SKG SKG1290 – Easy to Clean Blender
Photo: SKG
- Power: 900 watts
- Speed: 2 speeds
- Material: Glass
- Capacity: 50 ounces
Not only does SKG’s personal blender have dishwasher-safe removable parts, but it also has detachable stainless-steel blades that simplify the cleaning process and to top it all off, an automated cleaning function that cleans the jar for you.
Apart from this cleaning function, which is also the pulse function, the unit has 2-speed settings that are set using the same dial, and these enable you to blend at a low or high speed, depending on the ingredients that you are working with.
Capacity wise, a 50-ounce glass jar is used to do the actual blending, and this is large enough to create a serving for 3 – 5 people.
Other features include non-slip feet for stability, a safety switch that keeps the motor from starting until the lid is secured in place and an included meat mincing cup as an accessory.
Pros:
- Dishwasher-safe parts and an automated cleaning function
- 2-speed settings plus a pulse function
- Relatively large 50-ounce pitcher
- Non-slip feet for stability purposes
- Safety switch.
Cons:
- No presets
- Delicate glass pitcher
How to Buy the Best Cheap Blender
Photo: NutriBullet
1. Immersion or Countertop Blender
Whether you are buying a cheap or an expensive blender, there are two main types to consider. These are:
Immersion blenders
Immersion blenders are lighter, have a compact size and can be used to blend in jars of different sizes because the spinning blades are dipped into the ingredients as opposed to the ingredients being dipped into the bowl containing the blades. They are also easier to clean up.
On the downside, such units may not be as powerful as countertop blenders and therefore, won’t be as effective, especially when dealing with hard ingredients.
Countertop blenders
On the other hand, countertop blenders are usually more powerful and ideal for crushing frozen fruits, ice and other hard ingredients. This is because they can house larger and more powerful motors, and feature larger blades than immersion blenders.
The disadvantage is that this additional power usually comes at a cost, making them very expensive. They are also larger and occupy more countertop space as compared to immersion units.
Buying guide: If you require power to blend through hard ingredients, you better go for a powerful countertop blender such as Aicook’s NY-8608MA.
However, if you prefer the convenience of using any container of your choice and ease of cleaning, your best bet is an immersion blender and the perfect example is Cuisinart’s CSB-100W.
2. Power
Power is measured in watts and the higher the rating, the more powerful the blender. It is important to consider this factor especially if you deal with hard ingredients such as ice and hard frozen fruits.
Although most manufacturers claim that their products can pulverize such hard foods, the ideal rating for a blender that is capable of this task is above 1000 watts.
Therefore, if your primary purpose is to make protein shakes, milkshakes, and other soft foods, power should be of big concern. However, if you blend the hard stuff, get at least a 1000-watt blender such as Oster’s Pro BLSTMB-CBG-000
3. Material
Glass and plastic are the two main materials that are used in the construction of blender containers.
Although glass might be a bit delicate, it does not discolor over time. Such a pitcher retains its clear see-through properties for a long time, but it should not be used by a clumsy person.
On the other hand, plastic may fade, especially when exposed to soups and other hot foods, but it makes the pitcher very affordable and durable enough for the clumsy person to use.
4. Capacity
On capacity, the size of a pitcher ultimately determines the amount of food or the serving that you can make. Large jars (above 70 ounces) are usually best for a large group of people, say 5 – 8 people.
Medium sized pitchers (48 – 70 ounces) are meant for use in small families, usually 3 – 5 people while the small to-go cups (14 – 32 ounces) are meant for personal use.
The idea here is not just to go for the biggest, but instead for the most suitable jar capacity that fits your needs.
How to Maintain the Blender
Photo: Black & Decker
In order to keep your blender working for a long period of time, you have to get three things right. These are assembling, cleaning and using.
1. Assemble it correctly
Before starting the blender, it is important to ensure that all the parts are secured tightly in place. The most common mistake that people make is to loosely secure blades into the pitcher base, leading to leaks.
Not only do such leaks stain the motor base, but they can also damage the motor or the control panel if the juice penetrates inside.
2. Clean it properly
Cleaning a blender is a must after use. However, for good maintenance, it is recommended to clean the blender right after use because the longer you wait, the more the food residue bakes onto the pitcher walls.
For proper cleaning, use the self-cleaning function first while running the blender on soap and water. If it doesn’t have this function, simply use the pulse setting.
This will help loosen up the stuck food fibers after which you can either machine-wash or handwash the removable parts so as to complete the cleanup.
The motor base should also be cleaned every once in a while, but this does not mean dipping it in water. Simply wipe it using a damp towel with some vinegar in it so as to get rid of any stubborn stains.
3. Use it correctly
In terms of use, you should operate the control panel gently. You should also chop up any large pieces of food before blending them and ensure that there is enough liquid inside because this will help reduce strain on the motor and in the process, give it longer service life.
Conclusion
Cheap is not always expensive but you must know the specifics to look for. All-in-all, NutriBullet’s NBR-1201 stands out as the best cheap blender overall, and is highly recommended.