Like many of the blenders on this list, this one has two modes: blend and pulse. We used the blend mode for both the smoothie and pesto test, and achieved relatively smooth mixtures in just one 30-second blend cycle both times (though each needed a couple of extra seconds of blending to reach an optimal consistency). This makes sense given the Thyme & Table’s powerful 900-watt motor (the same wattage as our previous budget pick, the Zwilling Enfinigy, which costs $40 more).
We also appreciated that the included blending cup is wide enough that you can fit your hand and sponge inside it, which makes for easier hand washing—though the cup (and other accessories) is also dishwasher safe.
What we’d leave: Our main gripe with the Thyme & Table is that it only includes one blending cup—and from the looks of it, the brand does not currently sell additional cups or lids sans blender.
How we tested personal blenders
To test personal blenders, we first put them to work making green smoothies full of fibrous kale (with the stems), frozen blueberries, frozen mango, and a splash of almond milk. Then we made batches of classic pesto to see how well each blender handled a mix of leafy basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and cheese.
We evaluated the blenders based on the following criteria:
Creamy smoothies and smooth pesto
We looked for personal blenders that could work through tough leafy greens and hard frozen fruit and nuts to produce smooth, chunk and grit-free smoothies and pesto in a reasonable amount of time/blend cycles.
Is the control panel intuitive? Are any special features helpful, or unnecessary?
Does the blender come with any useful accessories? We’re talking extra cups, to-go lids, or any other handy extras that make it more versatile.
Personal blenders should be compact enough to sit permanently on your counter without hogging space, but also lightweight enough that you could easily stash them away. After all, there’s a reason you’re opting for one of these and not a full-sized model.
We favored models with dishwasher-safe components, because no one wants to hand wash a blender cup when they’re running out the door after downing their morning smoothie.
Other personal blenders we liked
Zwilling Enfinigy Personal Blender
Zwilling Enfinigy Personal Blender
Pros
- Powerful
- Good looking
- Dedicated smoothie setting
Cons
- Blending jar could be bigger
This model from Zwilling earned the top spot in the personal blender category for years and rings in at just two thirds the price of the Nutribullet Ultra. It’s one of the most stylish personal blenders we’ve come across, with a sleek, well-constructed base, intuitive knob-controlled interface, and chic fluted blending cup. It has two modes: Turn the control knob to the right to activate the automatic smoothie setting, or hold it down to the left to run the manual blend/pulse mode.
While not quite as effective as the Ultra, the Zwilling did a great job at both of our tests. It broke down tough kale stems and left no garlic chunks or stray basil leaves in the pesto. Performance-wise, it was on par with the Thyme & Table model in our most recent round of testing, so it ultimately lost the top spot solely due to its higher price tag. That said, this is an excellent blender that would serve you well.
This model from Beast is certainly a looker, with its pretty ribbed cups and range of color options. I also appreciated that it came with three different sized cups and a range of useful lids (including one with a straw), and that it has a comparably compact base. Which is why I was sorely disappointed when I had to run the thing ten times to get my smoothie to blend properly—so many times, in fact, that steam (!) came out when I finally went to open the lid. Given its 850-watt motor I was honestly surprised. It fared slightly better in the pesto test, but still took a couple cycles to fully blend.
Despite its poor performance in our official testing, I ended up taking this model home and have found that it’s been perfectly effective for blending my own morning smoothies, which consist of frozen fruit, almond milk, protein powder—and importantly, no fibrous kale stems. And I do really love the straw lid, which enables me to take my smoothie on the go or easily carry it around the house while I go about my morning. If you don’t intend to be as hard on your blender as we are in our test kitchen, you may actually love this model—but, especially given the relatively hefty price tag, we can’t recommend it as an all-arounder.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Personal Blender
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Personal Blender
The appliances in Drew Barrymore’s Beautiful line have claimed the top budget pick spot in some of our other product tests (see stand mixers and toasters), so we were eager to try out the brand’s personal blender. It’s very cheap (just $35 at the time of writing), and the build quality feels as such. The plastic base and cups don’t feel the most sturdy or durable. We also disliked that the largest blending cup has only a 16-ounce capacity. However, this blender performed decently for something of its price. While it took a little longer to achieve a smooth texture, it was able to get there in about 90 seconds in both of our tests. We also appreciated that it comes with a range of attachments, including (but not limited to) three blending cups, two blades (one for grinding and one for blending), and a straw lid. If you’re looking for the cheapest option that can get the job done, this model is worth considering.
Personal blenders we don’t recommend
The Nutribullet Pro is essentially two steps down from the Nutribullet Ultra. It has a powerful 1000-watt motor, comes with two blender cups and lids, and has those same grippy suction cups to keep it secured to the counter. We didn’t love the twist-to-blend functionality, ultimately preferring the touchscreen controls of the Ultra. And while the Pro did well in the pesto test, the smoothie it made was quite chunky.
This Ninja blender comes with two cups for smoothies and sauces, plus a “nutri-bowl.” The bowl comes with a “power paddle” meant to be turned by hand while the machine is running to create better textured smoothie and acai bowls, but we didn’t find it very effective. While this model made a great smoothie, we found it difficult to gauge how long to blend our pesto, and docked points for its very loud motor.
While Magic Bullet blenders are made by Nutribullet, we found that this one’s performance paled in comparison to the Nutribullet models we tried. At only 250 watts, its motor just wasn’t powerful enough to achieve the creamy, chunk–free smoothies we were after.
This blender from Ninja performed okay in our testing. With a 1,100-peak-watt motor, it’s quite powerful, and was able to blend a smooth green smoothie in one 50-second cycle. However, it struggled in the pesto test: No matter how many times we ran the blend cycle, the machine could not seem to get rid of some noticeable bits of garlic. After three tries, we gave up—and by then, the pesto was verging on warm due to the heat generated by the motor.
We also tried the Black+Decker FusionBlade, which has since been discontinued.
What about rechargeable portable blenders?
We’ve tested a number of these cordless blenders that proliferate in many people’s social media feeds (you can check them out in action here) and the truth is, they just aren’t powerful enough to succeed in any of our blender tests. They’re…fine if all you’re making are protein shakes. But we advise against them in general.
What to make in a personal blender
Smoothies are the obvious answer here, but that’s not all you can make in a personal blender. Put yours to work whizzing up punchy salsa verde, lump-free crepe batter, salad dressings, hummus, small batches of summer gazpacho, or even homemade baby food.
