When it comes to whipping up nutrient-dense juices and smoothies, here is why a blender is your best friend
Tess Masters, Author of Blender Girl Smoothies, breaks it down for us[/caption]
The blending revolution has taken the world by storm. For anybody looking to make healthy fast food, a blender is your best friend in the kitchen. Juicing is also extremely popular in the health space, as juices (both pulped and pulp-free) are wonderful nutrient-dense options particularly good for cleansing and for boosting immunity during times of illness as they accommodate gentler digestion, leaving more energy for detoxification and regeneration.
However, high-sugar juices are acidic, can spike blood sugar levels and don’t contain much fiber. Smoothies, on the other hand, offer the full spectrum of nutrients of the whole foods (particularly those contained in skins, piths and even seeds) and retain the fiber, which slows down the assimilation of sugars, assists with bowel regularity and helps eliminate toxins. Blending is also quicker and requires less cleanup!
If you’re deciding on purchasing a blender or a juicer, you’ll get more bang for your buck with a blender. You can juice with it, as well as make smoothies, cocktails, dips, sauces, soups, batters, nut butters, ice cream; and with high-speed machines, knead dough and grind flours.
Here are my top picks this year for blenders in each price category:
PERSONAL SINGLE-SERVE
NutriBullet ($90)
This is a fantastic portable machine. An excellent option for small kitchens, people on budgets, and brilliant for traveling, this compact machine is surprisingly powerful. It’s ideal for making quick smoothies, dips, homemade yogurts and puddings, and for quickly chopping ingredients like onions, carrots and tomatoes. However, the small cup only blends small amounts so you’ll need to blend many recipes in batches. This machine can also overheat when used for prolonged periods. nutribullet.com
BUDGET-FRIENDLY
Oster Heritage Beehive 400 Blender ($70)
This is the best full-sized budget machine on the market. It’s very basic, but a wonderful choice if you’re just using your blender for making cocktails, drinks and smoothies. It’s also good for crushing ice and grinding coffee beans. However, this machine won’t give a silky-smooth consistency with nuts and seeds, and struggles with thick
consistencies like nut butters, raw cake batters, puddings and frozen desserts. You will need to stop the machine constantly to reposition the food in the container and scrape down the sides with a spatula. With these foods, you will get better results with a food processor. oster.com
MID-RANGE
KitchenAid 5-Speed Diamond ($159)
If you’re blending more than smoothies and are looking for a multi-purpose blender that won’t break the bank, this is my top pick! This machine is very quiet, has a fantastic design where the base locks down the container and performs well with drinks, dips, sauces, dressings and puddings. It lacks the power to completely pulverize nuts, dates and other fibrous ingredients (even when soaked) and can struggle with thick consistencies. But, when you stop the machine and reposition the ingredients and keep blending, you will get decent results. This blender also comes in a variety of colors and looks gorgeous on the countertop! kitchenaid.com
HIGH-SPEED
Vitamix 5200 ($450)
Blendtec, Breville and Omega make good high-speed blenders, but the Vitamix machines are still the best high-speed machines on the market. The design of the container, blade construction and tamper all work in synergy to give you ultimate power and control. The tamper, in particular, is the genius of the Vitamix and allows you to guide ingredients through the blades and burst air pockets with thick blends, all while the machine is running, saving you time and effort. With both wet and dry containers (in some models, one container does both), you can make smoothies, frozen desserts, nut butters and hot soups, as well as knead dough and grind flour.
I love the S30, S55, and 750 machines, but my choice is still the basic 5200 model that handles small and large blends equally well and keeps this machine affordable. It doesn’t have pre-programmed settings, but I never use them anyway, and you will have the most control (and power) using the variable speed dial that comes with all models. vitamix.com
Once you decide on the right blender for you, be sure to try these delicious concoctions straight from Tess Masters' book Blender Girl Smoothies
Green Mojito
This is a cold-and-flu buster and potent detoxifier, all in one zesty cocktail! The bromelain in pineapple suppresses coughs and loosens mucus, while mint clears respiratory congestion, soothes sore throats and alleviates nausea. The vitamin C in limes has antibiotic power, anti-inflammatories in kale and pineapple combat arthritis, and ginger boosts immunity, aids digestion and adds a powerful zing.
Serves 2
1 cup coconut water or water
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
3 limes, peeled and quartered
1 cup torn-up curly green kale leaves (1 or 2 large leaves with stalk removed)
½ cup firmly packed mint
2 cups frozen pineapple
5 drops alcohol-free liquid stevia, plus more to taste
Throw all of the ingredients into your blender and blast on high for 30 to 60 seconds, until smooth and creamy.
Boosters
1 teaspoon wheatgrass powder
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 teaspoon coconut oil
Grapefruit-Fennel Fix
A surprisingly stunning combination, grapefruit and fennel are both rich in vitamin C, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and potassium. The blend serves up anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, weight-loss, and detox power that helps boost immunity, scavenge harmful free radicals, cleanse the colon, regulate heart rate and blood pressure, aid digestion, and alleviate stomach ailments.
Serves 2
1/2 cup (120ml) water
1/2 small fennel bulb, cored, trimmed of stalks, and chopped
1 medium red grapefruit, peel and pith removed, seeded, and cut into chunks
1 green apple, skin on, cored and chopped
1/4 medium avocado, pitted and peeled
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
15 drops alcohol-free liquid stevia, plus more to taste
1 1/2 cups (190g) ice cubes
Throw all of the ingredients (except the ice cubes) into your blender and blast on high for 30 to 60 seconds, until smooth and creamy. Add the ice and blast for a few seconds more, until smooth and chilled.
Boosters
1 cup (27g) loosely packed baby spinach
1 teaspoon flaxseed oil
1 teaspoon pomegranate powder
Pomegranate Slam It!
With a complex, mind-blowing flavor that explodes like a firecracker (don’t omit the cayenne), this is a heart-healthy delight. Pomegranate lowers blood pressure, keeps arteries supple, decreases inflammation in blood vessels, and helps manage cholesterol. Its phenolic antioxidants (also in strawberries) combat oxidative stress, making this an anti-aging tonic.
Serves 2
1 1/2 cups (360ml) unsweetened pomegranate juice
1 orange, peeled, seeded, and quartered
1/4 cup (35g) chopped red bell pepper
1/8 cup (3g) loosely packed arugula
1/2 small avocado, pitted and peeled
1 cup (160g) frozen strawberries
1 cup (125g) ice cubes
Throw all of the ingredients into your blender and blast on high for about 1 minute, until smooth and creamy.
Boosters
1 tablespoon pomegranate powder
1/2 cup (15g) loosely packed chard leaves
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Looking for more from Tess Masters? Check out her latest creations here
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