Making delicious protein shakes can be a great way to boost your energy and nutrition intake. It’s also a vital part of health and fitness routines, and the recovery process, providing essential nutrients to help you achieve your overall health goals.
Whether you’re a dedicated athlete looking for a recovery shake after workouts or just looking for a healthy breakfast on the go, a busy professional looking for quick nutrition, or someone diving into a healthier lifestyle, a blender is all that you need in creating smooth and delicious concoctions. To shake up your mornings with protein shakes made with blenders, selecting the right blender can make all the difference.
My team has researched and compiled a list of the best blenders for protein shakes, evaluating their performance, features, and value. From powerful, high-end models to budget-friendly options, we’ll help you find the ideal blender to ensure your protein shakes are smooth, delicious, and perfectly blended every time. Get ready to improve your health and fitness journey.
The Protein Shake Blenders ~ Top Picks
- Best Overall: Vitamix Explorian E310 Blender; the top choice for versatile blending. Perfect for those who want durability and precision, but not for large batches, and comes at a higher cost.
- Best Value: Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System – is great value for families and budget-conscious users. It’s versatile but relatively large and has some plastic parts.
- Best Affordable: Hamilton Beach Personal Blender with Travel Lid – a budget-friendly choice for individuals on the go. Keep in mind it has limited capacity.
- Best Single-Serve: NutriBullet Pro 900 – a powerful and compact option, best for those who prioritize simplicity and smaller batches.
- Quiet Blender: Blendtec Professional 800 Blender – offers peace and performance. Ideal for those seeking a quieter blending experience, despite its premium price and size.
- High-Performance Choice: Vitamix 5200 Classic Blender – stands out for its power and precision. Best suited for users who value durability and control, despite its noise and higher price
The 8 Best Blenders for protein shakes
#1. Vitamix Explorian E310 Blender ~ Best Overall
The Vitamix Explorian E310 Blender is a high-performance appliance that excels at blending protein shakes to perfection. It combines powerful performance, durability, and versatility, making it an exceptional choice for those seeking a top-notch blender for their protein shake needs.
One of the standout features of the Vitamix Explorian E310 is its robust motor, which operates at a powerful 2.0 peak horsepower. This motor ensures that even the toughest ingredients, such as frozen fruits and ice cubes, are effortlessly blended into smooth and creamy shakes. The blender’s variable speed control allows you to achieve the desired consistency, whether you prefer a silky smooth shake or one with a bit of texture.
The E310 blender features aircraft-grade stainless steel blades that are designed to tackle any ingredient with ease. They are sharp, durable, and capable of pulverizing ingredients to create smooth and lump-free protein shakes. The blades are also self-cleaning, requiring only a quick rinse under running water, which adds convenience to your post-blending routine.
With a 48-ounce container capacity, the Explorian E310 is suitable for blending single servings or smaller batches of protein shakes. The container is made from BPA-free Eastman Tritan copolyester, ensuring that your shakes are safe and free from harmful chemicals. It is also accompanied by a sturdy tamper, which allows you to process thick or frozen ingredients without the need to stop and scrape down the sides.
Additionally, the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender boasts a compact and sleek design, making it a great fit for any kitchen countertop. Its straightforward control panel features a pulse function and a dial for variable speed control, allowing you to customize your blending experience. The blender also comes with a 5-year warranty, reflecting its durability and reliability.
#2. Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System ~ Best Value
The Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System is a versatile and powerful blender that offers an array of features, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy making protein shakes. This kitchen system combines a blender, food processor, and personal blender in one convenient package, providing exceptional value for its functionality.
The blender component of the Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System features a robust 1500-watt motor, which effortlessly pulverizes ingredients, including ice, fruits, and vegetables, to create smooth and creamy protein shakes. Its large 72-ounce capacity pitcher allows you to prepare multiple servings at once, making it ideal for individuals or families.
In addition to the blender, this kitchen system includes a food processor bowl with a 64-ounce capacity. The food processor attachment is perfect for chopping vegetables, kneading dough, and blending ingredients for various recipes, making it a versatile tool for your kitchen.
Moreover, the Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System includes two 16-ounce Nutri Ninja cups with to-go lids, allowing you to make individual servings of protein shakes that can be easily taken on the go. This feature is especially convenient for those with a busy lifestyle or for those who prefer portion control.
Note:- Despite these cons, the Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System remains the best value blender for making protein shakes due to its versatility, powerful motor, and inclusion of additional attachments.
#3. NutriBullet Pro 900 Blender ~ Third Runner-up
The NutriBullet Pro 900 is a powerful and durable blender specifically designed for making protein shakes and smoothies. With its robust motor and unique extraction blades, it effortlessly blends ingredients to create smooth and nutrient-rich beverages. The NutriBullet Pro 900 offers a host of features that make it a top choice for individuals looking to incorporate protein shakes into their diet.
One of the outstanding features of the NutriBullet Pro 900 is its powerful 900-watt motor, which allows for efficient blending and pulverization of ingredients. This high-speed motor ensures that even tough ingredients, such as frozen fruits, nuts, and ice, are effortlessly blended to create smooth and consistent shakes. The extractor blades, made from stainless steel, are specially designed to break down seeds, stems, and tough skins, extracting the maximum amount of nutrients from fruits and vegetables.
The NutriBullet Pro 900 blender also comes with two different cup sizes, allowing for versatility in serving portion sizes. The cups are made from durable BPA-free plastic, ensuring they are safe to use and easy to clean. The cups are designed to be used as both blending containers and on-the-go drinking vessels, thanks to the included flip-top lids.
This blender is incredibly easy to use. Simply add the desired ingredients to the cup, twist on the extractor blade, and place it onto the base. The NutriBullet blender Pro 900 operates with a simple one-touch button, making it convenient for quick blending. The compact design of the blender makes it ideal for small kitchens or for those with limited counter space. Below are the key pros and cons of the NutriBullet Pro 900:
Note:- Overall, the NutriBullet Pro 900 is an excellent choice for individuals seeking a durable blender specifically designed for protein shake making. Its powerful motor, efficient extraction blades, and convenient features make it a top contender in its category. However, potential buyers should be aware of its capacity limitations and the need to ensure there is sufficient liquid when blending frozen ingredients.
#4. Hamilton Beach Personal Blender with Travel Lid ~ Best Affordable
The Hamilton Beach Personal Blender with Travel Lid is a compact and convenient blender designed specifically for protein shakes and smoothies. Despite being budget-friendly, it offers several features that make it a reliable choice for those looking for an affordable option to prepare their favorite beverages on the go.
This personal blender comes with a compact design that takes up minimal counter space and is easy to store. Its lightweight construction makes it portable and ideal for travel, allowing you to enjoy your protein shakes wherever you go. The blender is equipped with a durable stainless steel blade that efficiently blends ingredients into a smooth and consistent texture, ensuring you get a well-mixed shake every time.
One of the key features of the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender is the included travel lid. This lid fits securely onto the blending jar, allowing you to blend your protein shake directly in the jar and then take it with you on your commute or to the gym without worrying about spills. The travel lid also doubles as a drinking cup, eliminating the need for additional containers and reducing cleanup time.
The blender operates with a simple one-touch blending function, making it easy to use even for beginners. It has a 14-ounce blending jar capacity, which is sufficient for a single serving of protein shake or smoothie. The jar is made of BPA-free plastic, ensuring the safety of your beverages.
Note:- Overall, the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender with Travel Lid is an excellent option for individuals seeking an affordable and portable blender specifically designed for protein shakes.
#5. Blendtec Professional 800 Blender
The Blendtec Professional 800 kitchen system is a high-performance blender designed to meet the needs of professional chefs and avid home cooks. It combines power, versatility, and advanced technology to deliver exceptional blending results. While excelling in various blending tasks, it particularly stands out as an excellent choice for making protein shakes, offering a quiet operation that doesn’t compromise on performance.
The Blendtec Professional 800 boasts a powerful 3.8 peak horsepower motor, allowing it to effortlessly blend even the toughest ingredients. This motor power translates into quick and efficient blending, ensuring smooth and consistent protein shakes every time. The blender features a unique 6-preprogrammed cycles, including dedicated settings for smoothies and shakes. These presets take the guesswork out of blending and ensure optimal results with a single touch.
One of the exceptional features of the Blendtec Professional 800 is its unparalleled noise reduction technology. It is equipped with a sound enclosure that significantly dampens the blender’s noise output, making it one of the quietest blenders on the market. This is particularly advantageous when making protein shakes in the morning or late at night, as it allows for a peaceful blending experience without disturbing others in the household or nearby.
The blender also boasts a large, sturdy 90-ounce WildSide+ jar, which is made from durable BPA-free Tritan material. The jar’s unique shape and patented fifth side design ensure efficient blending, pulling ingredients towards the blade for consistent results. The jar’s generous capacity allows for blending large batches of protein shakes to serve multiple people or for storing extra servings in the refrigerator.
In terms of user convenience, the Blendtec Professional 800 offers a simple and intuitive touchpad control panel with a backlit display. The touch interface provides easy access to various functions, allowing users to adjust blending speed, pulse, and time duration as needed. The blender also comes with a self-cleaning feature, making the cleanup process quick and hassle-free. The key pros and cons of the Blendtec Professional 800 includes:
Note:- Overall, the Blendtec Professional 800 is a top-notch blender that excels in blending tasks while standing out as the best quiet model for making protein shakes. Its powerful performance, noise reduction technology, and user-friendly features make it an excellent choice for blending enthusiasts seeking professional-grade results in the comfort of their homes.
#6. Vitamix 5200 Classic Blender
The Vitamix 5200 Classic is a renowned high-performance blender that excels in preparing a wide range of culinary creations, including protein shakes. It is widely recognized as one of the best models available on the market for this specific purpose. With its robust motor and versatile functionality, the Vitamix 5200 Classic delivers exceptional blending power and consistently smooth results, making it a go-to choice for fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals.
At the heart of the Vitamix 5200 Classic is its powerful 2-peak horsepower motor. This motor provides ample power to effortlessly pulverize ingredients, ensuring a creamy and well-blended protein shake every time. Whether you’re using frozen fruits, ice, or other dense ingredients, the blender’s motor effortlessly breaks them down, resulting in a smooth and velvety texture.
One of the unique features of the Vitamix 5200 Classic is its variable speed control. The blender offers a range of ten speeds, allowing you to precisely adjust the blending speed to achieve the desired consistency for your protein shake. This level of control is particularly beneficial when working with different types of proteins or when incorporating additional ingredients such as nut butters or seeds.
The blender also features a large, 64-ounce container made from durable, BPA-free Tritan material. The size of the container is ideal for preparing larger batches of protein shakes or accommodating multiple servings. Additionally, the container’s design promotes efficient blending by creating a vortex that pulls ingredients down towards the blades, ensuring consistent blending throughout.
The Vitamix 5200 Classic comes with a tamper tool, which is a handy tool for processing thick mixtures or stubborn ingredients. The tamper allows you to safely push ingredients towards the blades without interrupting the blending process. This ensures that even hard-to-blend ingredients are thoroughly incorporated into the shake, resulting in a smooth and well-mixed final product.
In terms of durability and build quality, the Vitamix 5200 Classic is exceptional. It is constructed using high-quality materials that are built to withstand heavy use and provide long-lasting performance. The blender’s solid construction and robust motor make it capable of handling frequent use and blending tough ingredients, making it a reliable and durable choice.
Note:- Overall, the Vitamix 5200 Classic stands out as an exceptional high-performance blender that excels at preparing protein shakes. With its power, durability, and precise control, it is a reliable choice for anyone seeking a top-notch blending experience.
#7. Ninja Professional Blender (BL610)
The Ninja Professional (BL610) is a high-performance blender that is well-suited for preparing protein shakes effortlessly. With its powerful motor and durable design, it can quickly blend a variety of ingredients to create smooth and creamy shakes with ease.
The Ninja BL610 Professional blender features a 1000-watt motor, which provides ample power to blend ingredients efficiently. Whether you’re working with frozen fruits, ice cubes, or protein powder, this blender can handle it all. The six-blade assembly ensures thorough blending, making sure that there are no lumps or clumps in your protein shake.
One of the standout features of the Ninja Professional BL610 blender is its large 72-ounce blending jar. This generous capacity allows you to prepare multiple servings of protein shakes at once, making it ideal for sharing with family or friends. The jar is made of BPA-free plastic, ensuring it is safe for food contact and easy to clean.
The blender also offers three speeds – low, medium, and high – as well as a pulse function. This versatility allows you to customize the blending process according to your desired consistency. Whether you prefer a smooth and creamy shake or a thicker, more textured drink, the Ninja BL610 gives you the control to achieve the desired result.
Additionally, the blender comes with a sturdy lid that features a pour spout for easy pouring. This eliminates the need to transfer the shake into a separate container, reducing the chances of spills and messes. The lid also has a locking mechanism, ensuring a secure fit during blending.
Note:- Overall, the Ninja Professional (BL610) is a reliable and efficient blender that makes preparing protein shakes effortless. Its powerful motor, large blending jar, and customizable settings allow you to create smooth and delicious shakes to support your protein intake.
#8. Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender
The Blendtec Total Classic Original is a high-performance blender that has gained a reputation as one of the best options for making protein shakes in commercial settings. With its powerful motor and durable construction, this blender offers exceptional blending capabilities and is designed to handle the demands of frequent use.
At the heart of the Total Classic Original blender is its robust 1560-watt motor, which effortlessly pulverizes ingredients into smooth and consistent protein shakes. Whether you’re blending ice, frozen fruits, or protein powders, this blender delivers consistently smooth results without any clumps or lumps. Its four-inch stainless steel blade is specially designed to create a vortex that pulls ingredients towards the blade, ensuring thorough blending.
The Blendtec Total Classic features a generous 75-ounce blending jar made from BPA-free Tritan copolyester. The large capacity of the jar allows you to prepare multiple servings of protein shakes at once, making it ideal for commercial environments where efficiency is key. The jar also comes with a vented Gripper lid that allows you to add ingredients during blending without any spills.
This blender offers a variety of pre-programmed settings, including options for smoothies, milkshakes, and hot soups, which can be easily accessed through its intuitive touchpad interface. Additionally, it features a pulse function that provides bursts of power for precise control over the blending process.
When it comes to cleaning, the Blendtec Total Classic Original is a breeze to maintain. The jar, lid, and blade assembly are all dishwasher-safe, making cleanup quick and convenient.
Note:- Despite these minor drawbacks, the Blendtec Total Classic Original remains an excellent choice for commercial settings where protein shakes are frequently prepared. Its powerful performance, durable construction, and convenient features make it stand out as a top-notch commercial blender.
Buyer’s Guidelines:
- Prioritize Your Needs: Consider your blending habits, whether you need a versatile kitchen companion or a compact on-the-go solution.
- Power Matters: Assess motor power for efficient blending, especially if you love icy shakes.
- Size vs. Space: Choose a blender that fits your kitchen and lifestyle. Smaller sizes for solo sips, larger for gatherings.
- Budget Wisely: Balance quality with affordability, and don’t forget to factor in any additional features.
- Noise Tolerance: If quiet blending matters, opt for models with noise reduction technology.
Conclusion:
Finding the best blender for your protein shakes is simpler than ever. Whether it’s the powerful Vitamix E310 for overall excellence, the budget-friendly Hamilton Beach for cost-conscious consumers, or the quiet Blendtec Professional 800 for peaceful mornings, there’s a blender for every taste and need. So, blend up your way to healthier living – it’s as easy as choosing the right blender!
FAQ’s
Should I blend or shake my protein shake?
It depends on your preference and desired consistency. Blending can create a smoother texture and mix ingredients thoroughly, while shaking is quicker and more convenient on the go.
What is the difference between a blender and a shaker?
A blender is an electric appliance that uses rotating blades to mix and blend ingredients, resulting in a smoother texture. On the other hand, a shaker is a portable container with a tight-fitting lid and a mixing ball or mesh screen to manually mix ingredients when shaken.
Are blenders good for protein shakes?
Yes, blenders are great for protein shakes as they help achieve a creamy and lump-free consistency. If you want to learn more about the benefits of using blenders for protein shakes, check out this article: [Link to article about the benefits of using blenders for protein shakes]
What is the best blender for protein shakes?
There are several excellent blenders on the market. Some popular options for making protein shakes include the Vitamix E310 and Ninja BL770. These blenders are known for their powerful motors and ability to create smooth shakes.
How do you keep a protein shake from foaming in a blender?
To prevent foaming, try adding liquids first, followed by protein powder and other ingredients. Avoid overfilling the blender, and use a pulsing motion instead of continuous blending. Also, adding ice last can help reduce foaming.
Do you put protein powder or milk in the blender first?
It’s generally recommended to add liquids like milk or water first, followed by protein powder and other ingredients. This order helps prevent protein powder from sticking to the bottom of the blender.
How long should you blend a protein shake?
Blend the protein shake for about 30-60 seconds or until you achieve the desired consistency. Over-blending may lead to a frothy texture, so it’s best to stop once all the ingredients are well mixed.
Is the BlendJet 2 good for protein shakes?
Yes, the BlendJet 2 is a portable blender designed for on-the-go use and can be used for protein shakes. Its compact size and rechargeable battery make it convenient for blending your shakes wherever you are.
Is Magic Bullet good for protein shakes?
Yes, the Magic Bullet is a popular personal blender that works well for making protein shakes. Its compact design and powerful blending capabilities make it a convenient choice for blending protein shakes.