The Best Blender For Smoothies With Glass Jar 2020 

Drinking smoothies is a great way to load up fruits and vegetables into your diet, and making it your own is the most economical option to get your daily smoothies in. However, to find the best blender that is up for the task can be stressful and overwhelming. With aisles of different types, materials, and sizes of blenders, varieties of blender makers, and all their fancy pre-programmed settings, it can be hard to know which blender is right for you. The best blenders for smoothies should be able to crush ice cubes, pulverize frozen fruit, and shred through those mean greens, and be able to get that fine texture you love.

Blenders today can be super versatile tools in the kitchen. From making puree to making roasted vegetable soup, it can do more than just making a smoothie. However, most people use their blender for one job only: making smoothies. If you fall into this category, you don't necessarily need a fancy and most powerful blender. And if you are a health-conscious individual, you may want to opt-in for a glass jar. Regardless of what you are looking for, here are some helpful tips to consider before making a purchase:

What To Consider When Shopping For A Smoothie Blender

Watt Motor

Many blenders will list two wattages. The higher number is called the "peak" blending wattage. It occurs when initially turned on and when the blade meets a tough chunk of food or ice cubes. However, it only lasts for a couple of seconds, so the more sustained blending power will be the lower wattage listed. A blender used mostly for fruits and ice creams will not need a watt motor as powerful as milling seeds and grinding nut butters!

Capacity

Most blender jars range in capacity from 5 cups to 7 cups. The jar's size doesn't affect the blender's performance, so this decision comes down to intended usage. If you are regularly breaking down vegetables into a creamy soup for a family of four, you will want a higher capacity jar than the person making a smoothie or two in the mornings. However, a larger jar capacity equates to a larger blender, so if you want the blender to sit on your countertop, measure the space first!

Removable Blade

Removable blades are both easier and safer to clean. They are also cheaper to replace than an entire jar or blender. Blades made with stainless steel and sharpened to a point will be able to handle any blending job you throw at it and consistently give you perfect puree texture. 

Quietness

While this may not be a consideration for some, if you intend on whipping up your smoothie before the children are up, don't neglect to find out how loud your blender will be!

Dishwasher Safe

The majority of blender jars are dishwasher safe, particularly if they are glass or stainless steel. You may want to consider hand washing regardless. If you plan on using the dishwasher, double-check that your blender jar is dishwasher safe.

Warranty

All kitchen appliances, particularly ones that have a watt motor and moving parts, have the potential of breaking down or glitching out. Depends on the type of blender you are getting, you may want to protect yourself from those situations. Especially if you are planning on investing in a blender like Vitamix, which comes with a pricy price tag, you will want a warranty for it.

Speed Features

Typically fancier blenders come with multiple speed options. With multiple speed options, you can make extra smooth drinks with higher settings. If you buy a smoothie maker or a simple blender, it may only have one speed.

Jar Material

While this may not be a consideration for many, it is an essential factor that you should take into consideration. Most blenders come with a standard plastic jar; however, more and more glass and stainless steel blender jar options are becoming available. While plastic tends to be light in weight and durable, it can stain easily and absorb the smell of what you are blending. Not to mention, plastic can leach toxic particles into your food during blending.

Budget

When shopping for a blender, you will notice a blender could cost anything from $50-$500. The range is enormous. Before looking for a blender, ask yourself how much you are willing to spend. Would you willing to invest in a quality blender?

Why You Should Get A Blender With Glass Jar

Plus, glass jars just look better! Plastic jars will get scratched, particularly if you plan to use them to chop ice. They also get discolored easily if vibrant, high-staining foods such as berries, turmeric, or beet are used. If you leave your blender on the counter, a plastic jar will show all it's wear in months, whereas a glass jar will look as clear, smooth, and shiny as the day you pulled it out of the box.

Not only does plastic absorb colors, but it also absorbs odors. Even the best dishwasher can't quite get the smells out. For a blender used mostly for smoothies, this may not be an issue. However, if you will sometimes be whipping up salsas or blending down soups, keep in mind that those odors and flavors may linger when you go to make your smoothie the next morning.

Glass Vs. Plastic Vs. Stainless Steel

Plastic blending jars are the industry standard, admittedly. Not only are they cheaper to make, but the motor power on blenders keeps increasing, and not many glass jars can handle those blade speeds without cracking. This means most glass blenders will have a lower horsepower than plastic blenders simply because they are not as shatter-resistant. 

Stainless steel blending jars are seen more in commercial blenders, but more home countertop blender makers are starting to offer stainless steel jars as an additional option. They are more durable than both plastic and glass, but they are also more costly. Another drawback is that you cannot see inside the jar while you are blending. 

What Is The Difference Between A Smoothie Maker And A Blender?

If you are using your blender specifically for smoothies or protein shakes and nothing else, you may want to consider a dedicated "smoothie maker" rather than the typical blender.

A smoothie maker will allow you to blend your smoothie directly in the cup you'll be drinking out of, making it easy to load up your jar, blend it, twist a rim on it, and head out the door. In the blending process, you can also add some protein powders and make them into protein shakes. The jars have a much smaller capacity and are intended to make single servings. Their motors can handle chopping up ice but are typically too small to handle anything more substantial.

They are essentially small, efficient, and easy to use blenders that have what is needed to crank out smoothies but no other bells and whistles. 

5 Best Blenders For Smoothies With Glass Jars

It doesn't matter if you are on a health kick or just looking to replace your old blender, there are many blender options available on the market that will meet your needs. With a blender that is not up to the task, you might be left with a chunky smoothie. And if you are using a plastic blending jar, you may be at health risks. No thanks.

If you are a health-conscious individual like myself who loves making smoothies to start the day, you will want to opt-in for that glass or stainless steel jar. It is good for you and good for the environment.

Below are five smoothie blender with glass jars that are worthy of your consideration!

Vitamix 5200 Professional

best overall

Vitamix is one of the most popular smoothie blenders on the market that is worth the splurge. This blender can break down whole fruits and vegetables in seconds and heat soups through friction. It is more than just a smoothie blender.

The Vitamix blender series, due to their high-speed capacities, are not sold with glass blender jars. They do, however, sell a stainless steel blender jar separately.

Americana EPB399M by Elite Maxi-Matic

Best Personal Smoothie Blender

For a personal smoothie blender that can easily be squeezed into any budget, the Americana Personal Drink Mixer by Elite Maxi-Matic is perfect.

Two blending jars are included - a plastic jar with a screw-on travel lid and a glass mason jar with a handle. With one-touch operation and dishwasher safe jars, this little machine is perfect for those daily smoothies as you head out the door. 

And not to mention how cute the retro look of this blender are? This model comes in two different colors. 

Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender

The Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot blender has the most powerful motor on this list for having a glass blending jar. Nothing is off-limits for this impressive motor, from fruits to nuts and grains. It also includes an 800-watt heating mechanism for warming up soups and drinks, and a 6 cup glass jar that can handle the thermal shock. For buyers looking to avoid all plastic contact with food, note that this blender does have plastic details inside the jar.

Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender

Best Value

The Hamilton Beach Power Elite blender is as basic as they come, and it is a glass jar blender that is super affordable. It sports 12 blending functions and a patented Wave Action technology to pull your ingredients down towards the blades. If you intend to use your blender primarily for liquids or soft ingredients and need an affordable glass jar option, this blender is the best value. 

Oster Pro 1200 Blender

If all components that come in contact with food should be non-plastic, including the mounting mechanism for the blades, then the Oster Pro 1200 glass jar blender fits your need. It has an impressive motor for a glass jar blender and can even grind nuts into nut butter.

It features a reversing blade action and extra-wide 6-point blades, which automatically turn and shift the ingredients. This blender comes with smart settings technology and 7 speeds, and 3 pre-programmed settings for the most common blender creations.

Summary

As more and more health-conscious individuals seek and are transitioning over to the glass and stainless steel jar options, more blender options will become available. While glass and stainless steel options can be pricy, they are better alternatives for your health and the environment.

The blenders mentioned above are the best blenders with glass jars in terms of performance and price.

Vitamix is my top pick for overall performance. While the Vitamix series are pricier than other blender brands, they are a great kitchen tool that can also act as a food processor and even a cooking pot. The manufactures standard for a Vitamix is a plastic container that doesn't contain BPA, but it is totally worth upgrading it with the stainless steel option. 

With a Vitamix, you can make many recipes. Anything from making hot soup in about 6 minutes to chunky salsa to creamy nut butters, the possibilities are endless with Vitamix blender. When it comes to making smoothies, Vitamix offers the ultimate creamy texture, almost like juice. Because of its high watt motor, it can breakdown all the fruits and vegetables to the finest.