UPVOTED SMOOTHIE MAKERS

It's important to take the roughage with the smooth, so Chris Rowlands fires up the best blenders for blitzing your fruit fix

- Chris Rowlands

The healthy heavyweight

KitchenAid Blender K400

Blenders are noisy enough without rattling across the kitchen counter trying to escape from your kumquats. Available in a range of colours, this sturdy stirrer stands firm on a diecast base. It also has the chopping chops to match its full-metal foundation: five speeds and three presets let you master the mix, while the 1200W Intelli-Speed motor adapts to match your ingredients. It comes with a 1.4L glass jar, and its self-cleaning cycle takes the hard work out of washing up.

£329/kitchenaid.co.uk

HOW TO DECIDE

1 Sup up

Most home smoothie makers have containers that double as takeaway cups, with capacities of around 600ml – enough for a single serving. Bigger blenders use mixing jugs.

2 Watts up

With great power comes great chomp ability: a 350W motor is fine for shredding soft fruits, but the toughest source materials require more grunt. Some machines have 1000W or more.

3 Speed up

A single speed will simplify your mixing routine, while multiple settings give you full control over texture. Several makers also have preset pulse patterns to suit smoothies, ice and nuts.

4 Wash up

Most smoothie makers use parts that are safe to stick in the dishwasher, saving you from sponge duty. Some also have self-cleaning modes: just add water and a dash of detergent.

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