Soups, smoothies, milkshakes, protein shakes... the reasons for keeping a blender in your kitchen are many, but just as not everybody needs to make nine portions at once, many people don't want a huge blender that fills up lots of space and takes an age to clean.
That's where small blenders come in.
Having a blender you can easily put in a cupboard, or even leave out on the counter can be a freeing experience if you're used to the attachment-heavy, weighty devices that need to be taken apart and lugged it into storage after you're finished using it. Being smaller, they're also easier to clean, with suitable parts fitting more easily into a dishwasher. They can use less electricity too.
Here are some of the best small blenders available.
Best for: Style on the go
This is one of the latest additions to the Smeg range and it takes the idea of a mini blender and runs with it. The pint-sized kitchen gadget would almost be a blink-and-you'll-miss-it-device if it wasn't for the signature aesthetically-appealing 50s design that will fit seamlessly among the brand's other toasters, kettles and the likes. It comes in seven colourways that include pastel pinks and blues as well as the classic red and black.
The Italian appliance label has produced one of the most miniscule blenders on the market that is ideal for smaller kitchens, but it doesn't end there. Alongside the compact 33.5cm x 14.2cm base is not one but two ready-to-go 600ml containers, the same that are set inside the base. This means all it takes is switching out the blending attachment for the lid to take your milkshake on the move. Twist this lid and you have an easily sippable smoothie. It has 300W power and minimal buttons, just push down for the mixing magic. What's more, the blender has been made from 50 per cent certified recycled content.
Buy now £169.00, Amazon
Best for: iced smoothies
This popular 600W blender sits at the top of our list for its smoothie capabilities, as well as being both compact and powerful. It's not Nutribullet's smallest machine - that would be the Magic Bullet - but with a modest increase in size comes a useful extra capability: the Nutribullet 600 can crush small amounts of ice as well as seeds, nuts, fruit and veg.
The benefit of the Nutribullet series is the way the blades spin at high speed, munching through even fibrous veg and producing a smoothie for one in less than a minute. It can also be used for blending sauces and, because it breaks down seeds, skins and other nutrition-packed parts of the plant, they're good for you too.
Buy now £70.00, Argos
Best for: low-cost blending
At just £25, this 350W blender is great for smoothies, juices and shakes. It may have a little more plastic in its construction than more expensive models, but this just means it's available in a range of colours.
It doesn't have a wealth of extra features, but it's got it where it counts. Slot the parts together and it can blend frozen berries, ice, juice and other fruits at the touch of its single button. It comes apart for cleaning just as easily, and the blades and bottle are dishwasher-safe.
Buy now £25.00, Amazon
Best for: chopping like a ninja
This is Ninja's entry-level blender, but it doesn't let that stop it. The 700W motor is perfectly capable of turning whole fruits, ice, juice, veg and seeds into a drinkable smoothie.
It works in a similar way to a Nutribullet, in that you fill the cup with ingredients, fit on the blade assembly, then turn it upside down on the base. When it's finished, you turn it over again, remove the blades, and your drink is in the cup, ready to go.
The Ninja comes with two cups, which are dishwasher safe, and is also available in a Pro version that has three speed settings - the basic model has only one.
Buy now £59.00, Amazon
Best for: versatility
Philips' 3-in-1 machine comes with a smoothie maker (that doubles as a bottle for you to carry your drink off in), a nut and bean grinder and a small blending jug. It features a 350W motor, and its black and chrome finish means it'll look good if you leave it on display.
Having multiple blending jugs means there can be more to wash up at the end of a cooking session, but all the attachments are dishwasher safe and the machine comes apart easily for cleaning.
Buy now £74.00, Robert Dyas
Best for: leaving where you can see it
Smeg products always look good, and the retro styling of the Smeg BLF01RDUK is no exception. It's a blender you'll want to leave where people can see it, sneaking it into the background of video calls and positioning it so it can be seen through the doorway.
It's available in a variety of colours, with a wonderful bubblegum pink and glossy bright red on the list, and comes with eight speed settings, a 1.5L jug, and an 800W motor. It's one of the largest blenders on this list, but irresistible.
Buy now £179.00, Amazon
Best for: taking with you
Lightweight, compact, easy to clean... and rechargeable. The Blendjet 2 doesn't plug into the mains directly, but contains a battery and charges over USB-C like a phone that's not made by Apple.
This has its advantages, meaning you can take it with you if you're going on a trip or feel you might need an emergency smoothie later. The blender comes in a mind-boggling array of colours and patterns, including lavender, plain black or leopard print, and packs a 1000-watt motor that can make short work of fruits and veg.
Buy now £49.99, Currys
Best for: big jobs
A larger, more expensive blender, but still compact enough to pack away nicely when you're finished. There are multiple colour options for the outside, but on the inside the 1200W motor is perfectly happy to blend nuts, ice, ginger or any tough veg into a smoothie.
One of the benefits of a slightly larger model like this is that it has more than one setting, and the K400 includes presets for crushing ice, pulsing, and even a self-clean function. You get a single jug with the basic model, but accessories such as a citrus press, personal jar blender, and small batch jars are available separately.
Buy now £299.00, Currys
Best for: protein shakes and more
A personal, rechargeable blender aimed at athletes who want to whip up a shake without leaving the gym. It's simple to use and looks a bit like a rocket, so there's a lot to like about this compact gadget.
Inside, there's a blade that spins at 315 rotations a second to chop and mix your ingredients, and the company claims its battery has enough juice to blend 14 times from a full charge. Once it's finished, all you have to do is remove the motor section and clip on the lid, and your smoothie or shake is good to go.
Buy now £75.00, ShakeSphere
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