I have come to realize that one of the most challenging things for the regular man wanting to buy a blender is choosing which best suits their needs. After all, there are so many to choose from! It can be quite confusing — I should now!
I have been in that very situation, going to Walmart and spending over an hour reading all the labels on blenders in the store and still couldn’t decide on one suitable for making acai bowl.
In fact, I came out more confused than when I went in. Then returning home only to check on Amazon reading review after review as I started my search again. No fun!
A number of persons on the go usually want a good blender for their acai bowl. I have come to realize that the acai bowl is fast becoming one of the most popular meal solutions in North America, despite being around in brazil since the ’70s. It is regarded as a complete meal in a blender with the ‘superfruit’ as its main ingredient.
Make no mistake, an acai bowl is one of the healthiest meals that can be prepared from a blender and has become a big thing for the last few years. This really thick blend that you can eat with a spoon after adding your favorite toppings, is quite a nutritious, yet delicious choice for families.
It is ideal for those wanting extra energy, athletes, and gym fanatics. A number of persons like to top off their acai bowl with oatmeal/granola, fruits, or even some nuts. The crave is in the fact that the acai berry is loaded with antioxidants and is believed to improve cholesterol levels.
It was even discovered that it has an anti-cancer effect while boosting your brain functions. It is also believed to boost energy and is quite common for persons after a workout regime.
Of course, what you put in your acai bowl will determine what you get out of it. After having an acai bowl you will find yourself going for hours and still feeling full. So not only is it nutritious but it is satisfying.
It is no wonder then that so many persons are trying to find the best blenders to whip up the acai bowls that will give them the best texture and blend to satisfy their taste. And for those who have not yet tasted the wonderful experience of acai, they too are in search of that perfect smoothie. Thus, they too seek the right blender for their needs.
Difference Between Acai Bowls And Smoothie
Despite the growing popularity of the acai bowl, I find that a lot of persons are asking the questions? What is an acai bowl? What is the difference between an acai bowl and a smoothie? Both valid questions based on where you live.
In Brazil for example everyone knows what the acai bowl is since it originated there. But in places like North America and the Caribean, while it is fast becoming popular, not everyone has had one and so there is still confusion as to the difference between the two.
Smoothies are more liquid in consistency and can be enjoyed from a cup or a bottle. You can put just about anything in your smoothie that you like — from fruits and vegetables to yogurt and ice cream. It’s whatever you are in the mood for.
Açaí bowls, however, are technically the opposite. It is very thick in texture and is eaten with a spoon. With this, the ingredients are technically standard everywhere, with the only difference being the toppings added at the end. The acai bowl is generally made with acai berries, frozen bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and pineapples. It is then topped with granola or oatmeal and whatever fruit you may choose.
Top Blenders For Your Acai Bowls
Since the acai bowls sound so yummy, healthy and something you really should try, here are some of the top blenders for your perfect acai bowl. After all, you will need to turn those nutritious acai berries and frozen fruits into a smooth blend that will go just right with your granola and sliced fruit toppings!
For this, you will need the best blender with a large capacity and a powerful blade that will do the right amount of chopping, crushing, pureeing, and mixing.
We have found you the perfect list of blenders that you cannot go wrong with:
1. Vitamix 5200 – Editor’s Choice
2. Vitamix 310 Explorian Blender – High-Quality
Like the 5,200, this blender also comes with 10 speeds which allows you to refine every texture to your liking and with precision, from the smoothest purées to the heartiest soups as it also allows you to blend chunky salsas and thick vegetable soups. It has a 48-ounce container which allows for medium batches.
It gives you a very consistent blend every go based on its aircrafted grade stainless steel blades. This also cleans itself in 30 to 60 seconds by adding a drop of dish soap and warm water. This is also on the expensive side but will last for years. It also comes with a 5-year warranty so it is well worth the spend.
3. Hamilton Beach 54220 Blender
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender is one of the best value for your money. As its names suggest, it crushes ice with absolutely no effort! It’s patented ice sabre blades combined with a powerful 700-watt peak power motor crushes contents quickly for smooth, icy drinks.
It comes equipped with 14 Functions and a 40 oz Glass Jar for Shakes and Smoothies. Like wow! Definitely a family size blender! And while ordinary blenders spin contents around, the Hamilton Beach patented wave action system is designed to continually force the mixture down into the blades for consistently smooth results without stirring.
Another amazing feature is that the glass jar is thermal shock tested to withstand extreme temperature changes. In other words, it is heat resistant! It boasts a 14 blending function enabling it to handle a variety of blending needs and a no-mess serving with its easy-pour spout designed to eliminate drips.
4. Blendtec Total
Blendtec Classic 575 Kitchen Blender has a blending capacity of either 90 oz or 36 oz. It has 1-touch buttons, 4 pre-programmed cycle pulse, and 5-speed manual control that has the ability to achieve a variety of textures. This allows you to have complete control if you wish to adjust your blending at any time.
It is equipped with a blending LCD display that will show you the blending cycle and the remaining time. Unlike conventional blenders, there is no need to chop, dice, or slice your fruits and vegetables before putting them in your blender.
Its blades allow for soft blends due to its 80 percent thicker than normal stainless steel blades. These blades are rated 10x stronger than the blades found in other blenders. However, the blades are designed with dull edges so no chance of you getting cut by them. And to top it off it is self-cleaning. So with just a drop of soap and water, it is cleaned in less than a minute.
5. Ninja BL610 Professional Blender
Ninja Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender with 1000-Watt Base and Total Crushing Technology for Smoothies, Ice and Frozen Fruit is among the top pics for users. This professional blender 1000 features a sleek design and outstanding performance with 1000 watts of professional power and a 64-ounce maximum liquid capacity.
This blender will give you ice crushing to perfection, turning cubes to snow form in quick seconds. The jar capacity of 72 ounces is ideal for large batches of your favorite acai bowl, smoothies, and ice drinks.
If you plan on entertaining, then it is ideal for margaritas and daiquiris. If you plan to do your own business selling acai bowls it works just as well! This may not be self-cleaning but it is worth every penny!
6. Nutri Ninja BL642 Auto IQ
This Nutri Ninja Personal and Countertop Blender is powered with 1200-Watt Auto-iQ Base, it has a 72-Ounce Pitcher, that comes with 18, 24, and 32-Ounce Cups with sip and seal lids for acai and juice on the go.
This feature is one of the main attractions for buyers. The auto IQ allows for timed blending so you do not need to guess when the blending is done. This blender also turns ice into snow within seconds.
7. Oster Blender Pro
The Oster Blender Pro 1200 is equipped with a Glass Jar and a 24-Ounce Smoothie Cup. It has smart settings technology and 7 speeds including three pre-programmed settings for commonly used functions.
Its dual-direction blade gives extra blending power to chop and grind with precision. While its 3.5” blade system allows ingredients to flow down into the blade easier resulting in a smoother effect.
8. NutriBullet Rx N17-1001 Blender
This hands-free smart nutribullet has a short cup size of 30 ounces and the pitcher is 1 liter so you can do both single and family-size servings. It also has a heating cycle for soups and your sauces and is equipped with auto start/stop functionality.
9. NutriBullet NBR-1201
The NutriBullet NBR-1201 is a 12-Piece high-speed Blender/mixer System great for all your blends including your acai bowls as it is the fastest, easiest solution for making nutrient-packed smoothies. throw in your favorite whole foods like nuts, berries, and vegetables, then just by pushing a button and twisting you will be blending your way to that healthy lifestyle you are after.
Its powerful 600-watt capability and extraction blades allow you to have whole foods turned into smooth liquid in a matter of seconds!
10. Oster 6812-001 Core 16-Speed Blender
The Oster 6812-001 Core 16-Speed Blender with Glass Jar has a crush pro stainless steel 4 blades and a 4 point design is made to chop and pulverize with precision.
It comes with 16 speeds and will do just about anything you want from your blend. the jar will give you up to five cups of your juice and while it does not self-clean it is dishwasher safe to prevent all the hassle of cleaning after use.
Choosing The Right Blender For Your Acai Bowl
So how do you go about choosing that right blender for your acai bowl? Below are some features that you should take into consideration before you make your selection. And of course, choosing a blender for your acai bowl does not mean you will not want to use it to blend smoothies, soups, etc. But once you have one that is perfect for your acai bowl, the rest is basically covered.
Maximum Performance
A powerful blender is one with a high-watt power and strong blades that will be able to chop through ice and frozen fruits without much effort. This will not only help to give you the perfect blend for your acai bowl but for other dishes that may involve harder foods. So if you are investing in a blender it is best to have one that will take care of both soft and hard foods. One with a high watt power.
Size Of Your Family
One of the main things to take into consideration when choosing a blender is who will the blender serve — is it just for your use as you may be living alone or the family? Or maybe there is already one in the house but you cannot seem to get the use of it as much as you would like since someone else seems to always want it just when you do. If it is for your family, then you would need to take the size of your family into consideration. A family of four upwards would need a bigger capacity blender. While if you want one just or you then you can look at the smaller capacity blenders.
Blenders have different capacities from as small as 18 oz to as large as 75 oz. If you are one of those who must have your acai bowl before leaving home, or after your daily workout then a smaller blender is perfect for you. If you are thinking of making your bowl and storing some for later then you should think about a medium size bender.
Smooth Blending Results
For your acai bowl, you will need a smooth blending result. For this reason, you need to choose a blender with a Tamper. A tamper helps push ingredients down toward the blades rather than rotating all over the container while you blend.
Some blenders are designed specifically for this purpose so that thick ingredients are quickly and easily processed. This will eliminate you constantly pausing to scrape away stuck-on particles on the side of the blender — yes, this can be quite annoying and time-consuming. The tamper will also help to thicken your acai blend to the right texture.
Warranty Coverage
You do not want to spend your money on a blender that either only covers certain aspects of the product but not others. Therefore, check not only the length of the warranty on the blender but also what that warranty covers. It is electrical and so anything can happen during the time you own the product that has nothing to do with regular wear and tear. As a result, it is good to check what is covered, what is not and if the product or parts will be replaced should something go wrong. If you are buying an expensive blender then you want to keep it for a long time, so check the warranty.
The longer the warranty the better. Warranties can run from 1 year to 10 years depending on the power, make, and brand of the product. Be sure to check this out while choosing your bender.
Easy to Clean
Cleaning the blender is a big thing for me… can I tell you… I have had blender blades sliced my finger while cleaning before — yikes! So while many blenders are safe for the dishwasher, you still have to pull some apart. Thus the chance of the blades coming into contact with your hand is great.
If you are like me then you may want to go for one with a self-cleaning, easy to clean feature. Some blenders you can wash but particles are stuck behind blades and other places which are definitely not cool the next time you decide to blend. You may find your acai bowl or smoothie having a different taste than you expect it to.
This could be that particles from your last blend were hidden in your bender and have come to join your fresh mix. Not cool! You may even find yourself running to the loo without knowing why! To make it simple, ensure you choose a blender that is very easy to clean.
Nice And Quiet Does It
While you cannot get away from your blender making noise while you prepare your acai bowl, too much noise can be avoided and some blenders tend to be noisier than others. Some are just downright annoying… when you are done blending you are so upset with the blender that you cannot enjoy your meal! Grrrr!
Unfortunately, as I have come to learn, the more powerful a blender is the more noise it tends to make. You may not be able to get away from this if you are looking for a good powerful blender that gets the job done right. Guess we can’t have it both ways huh?!
Timing is Everything
Choosing a blender with a timer that tells you how much time you have left is awesome! You do not have to over blend nor under blend. The blender will do it all for you, and your acai bowl will be done just right — how cool is that?
While not all blenders come with a timer, if you are one of those people who is not sure just when your acai bowl is done just right, investing in a blender with a timer is ideal. However, these tend to be higher in price as they are of higher quality and more powerful. But, in the end, it is quite worth the investment as your blend will be just right each time.
Steady Base
If you have a powerful blender, you need to have one with a firm base. Otherwise, the blender will keep moving around on the counter while you blend or you will go back to the old days and hold the blender down with your hands to prevent it from moving around or even falling to the ground.
Some blenders are made with suctions at the base that will keep them locked onto the surface. You should check the base before you purchase. The higher-end blenders usually come with a firm base that keeps it steady while it works.
Secure lid
I remember the days when you had to hold the lid of the blender down to prevent it from popping off and spouting its content onto the roof and all over the room.
Some blenders still tend to have lids that are not quite as secure and so you have to keep your eyes and your hands glued to it. Therefore, when choosing a blender for your acai bowl, chose one with a tight jar lid that will not cause any accidents in your kitchen.
Thermal Protection
Some blenders are built with a thermal protection system. This means that one or more heat-sensing elements are built into the motor or motor-compressor, and may even have an external control device. The thermal protection is present to turn the motor off when excessive heat is generated within the motor circuitry. This is a safety feature that stops the blender motor from overheating resulting in a fire.
During blending a lot of heat is generated, so if there is no thermal protection, the motor can get too hot resulting in the blender breaking down sooner than later. Thus it is highly recommended that you choose a blender with thermal protection.
Pre-Set System
While this may not be a priority when buying a blender it is good to have a blender with pre-set programs for automated blending when it comes to specific blender creations. Again, while it is not a priority it makes blending easier as it does all the thinking for you.
Affordability
While you search for the best blender for your acai bowl, check out the suggestions above while keeping your budget in mind. Yes, the more durable and powerful blenders are priced higher and with a longer warranty, but at the end of the day, take your budget into consideration when choosing your blender.
On the other hand, it is more economical to buy something lasting, though it may be priced a bit higher, rather than buy cheap only to have it break down in a short time forcing you to have to spend more money on another, defeating the purpose of buying cheap. I hope you are clearer on the recommended brands above
Happy shopping!
Related Guide: