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Whether it’s a yummy breakfast or a refreshing snack after work, acai bowls are great for anyone trying to get a nutritious meal or snack in. Packed with vitamins and nutrients, acai bowls are a thick blend of fruits (like a smoothie) that can come with various toppings like other fruits, nuts, and honey. You can buy them at smoothie shops, but they certainly aren’t cheap. Generally they range between $8-10 but I’ve even seen places charge closer to $20 for an acai bowl.
That got me thinking – is it possible to use a blender for acai bowls or smoothie bowls? I figured it would be easy enough to assemble the toppings based on my favorite acai bowl and knew the best blenders on the market can definitely make that acai puree that I love so much. If you can relate and are looking for a blender for acai bowls to add to your collection of kitchen appliances, look no further. With the list of the best blenders here, you can impress your friends and make acai bowls the next time you entertain guests, or just get creative in the kitchen for yourself.
Best Blenders for Acai Bowls
Ninja SS201 Foodi – Best Overall
NutriBullet NBR – 0601 – Easiest to Use
Vitamix E320 – Pro’s Pick
NutriBullet Blender Combo – Most Versatile Pick
Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender – Budget Pick
Ninja Professional Plus Blender – Best Overall Runner Up
Best Blenders for Acai Bowls – Our Reviews
Ninja SS201 Foodi – Best Overall
First up we have the Ninja SS201 Foodi, a versatile, and high quality blender meant to last long and deliver results. Though it can be pretty noisy, there aren’t any other complaints. It is definitely a contender for the best blender for acai bowls, making it our best overall pick. This blender comes with variable speeds and several different modes for clipping, chopping, and crushing your foods. Not only can it easily handle an acai bowl, but you can use it for other delicious recipes. For those weekends when you have guests over, you can crush ice for some mix drinks, or mix dough to make some yummy late night sweets. I love it for my morning acai bowl because the high speed is able to get thin or hard fruits down to a smooth consistency. It was able to even cut down the thinner greens like kale and spinach, something that many blenders struggle with. You no longer have to worry about that piece of spinach on your front tooth when you head out of the house! Overall, it’s a wonderful product for your daily smoothie or acai bowl use and you surely won’t be disappointed.
What We Liked:
- Great for large batches or for large family meals
- Versatile pre programmed speed settings
- Quality construction makes it long lasting
- Comes with different blade types and a cleaning brush
What We Didn’t Like:
- Noisy!
NutriBullet NBR – 0601 – Easiest to Use
If you are completely new on this journey and want to test out the waters, the NutriBullet NBR-0601 would be a great choice. It’s compact, easy to use, and can easily be stored in your kitchen. The smaller size makes it more ideal for an individual person rather than for a household, so just keep that in mind. The 24 oz pitcher/cup is great for travel, so as soon as you finish making a smoothie, you can take it to go. I like it for a quick, single serving acai bowl. Simply put your mix in and push down on the pitcher to activate the blades. It is a little different from other blenders and might not be intuitive at first in how to use it because you don’t have to push any buttons. There are no pre programmed settings nor variable speed control. You simply just push down the top of the cup and the strong blades do the rest. I used one throughout college and it lasted me for several years, but it can work for any household. It’s strong, but I recommend letting your frozen fruit defrost for a couple of minutes or you might not get a super smooth consistency. I highly recommend for beginners who are looking for something easy to use.
What We Liked:
- Easy to use
- Quick results
- Affordable
- Strong for its small size
What We Didn’t Like:
- Immediate clean up is best
- May have to let frozen fruit defrost
Vitamix E320 – Pro’s Pick
If you are looking for the top of the line blender that will last you for years, the Vitamix E320 is the blender you are looking for. The quality, features, and 7 year warranty definitely makes it quite the investment. It’s great for serving large quantities with its 64 oz pitcher, and has blades of steel that can cut through almost anything. This blender also contains lots of power and a tough motor, perfect for getting through any frozen fruit. I love it for making an acai bowl, but why stop there? You can spice up your kitchen with it’s pulse feature, great for making sauces and chili. It truly gives it that chunky feel. Also wonderful for: making soups, dips, frozen treats, grinding nuts, and more. If you are proactive in the kitchen or a foodie who isn’t afraid to try new recipes, the versatility of this blender will allow you to tackle many recipes. Though this is a list for acai bowls, I recommend this for someone who is looking for something more. If acai bowls are your main concern, I would not buy this as it is on the pricier side. But, if you are feeling adventurous, this blender is definitely the way to go.
What We Liked:
- Versatile
- Sturdy, built to last
- 7 year warranty
What We Didn’t Like:
- On the pricier side
NutriBullet Blender Combo – Most Versatile Pick
You saw a NutriBullet earlier in the list, but I can’t stop there without talking about the Nutribullet Blender Combo. If the portability and ease of use caught your interest, then you are sure to love not only those pros, but the overall versatility. You get: 3 pitcher sizes to choose from, 2 different on the go lids with 1 vented lid cap for the largest size pitcher, a tamper, and even a recipe book. It’s great for at home acai bowls or on the go smoothies. I think it packs more of a punch in power as it can even make nut butters, soups, and salsas. This blender comes with 3 speeds and a pulse function to get different textures in your foods. From smooth to chunky, you can make just about anything in that recipe book. It’s great for a home that has changing needs. Maybe you want to make a quick smoothie before the gym, or maybe you are preparing salsa with chips for the whole family that weekend. You will certainly be prepared for any scenario whether you need a quick acai bowl, or want to make something for the whole family, it gets the job done fast.
What We Liked:
- Adjustable in terms of serving size
- On the go cups and lids
- Tamper to make other recipes
- 1 year warranty
What We Didn’t Like:
- Difficult to chop certain foods
- Noisy
Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender – Budget Pick
Maybe you just want to try out a new recipe and don’t plan to drink a daily smoothie or prep for a daily acai bowl. If you are looking for something affordable, the Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender is a great choice. It contains all the essential functions needed for a blender and provides smooth results for your acai bowl. Though not as versatile as other blenders, it works great for frozen drinks like smoothies, juices, and milkshakes. It still offers a dozen blending options with only 5 buttons, so you can be sure to find that perfect setting for your acai bowl. It definitely feels quite sturdy and the pitcher itself is heavy. You will want to let your fruits defrost for a couple of minutes because though sturdy, the blades won’t efficiently grind pure frozen fruits. It’s a great buy for someone who wants to try something new without breaking the bank. Overall, this is a really efficient and high quality blender that can help you make acai bowls at home for a great price.
What We Liked:
- Affordable
- Nice pitcher size for a family
- Sturdy
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not versatile
- Heavy pitcher
- Frozen fruits need to defrost
Ninja Professional Plus Blender – Best Overall Runner Up
Last, but certainly not least, we have the Ninja Professional Plus Blender. Coming in with a 72 oz pitcher, it’s large enough to provide several acai bowls for your friends and family. It’s strong, efficient, and a great bang for your buck. You will love the design as it has a more modern feel, which matches most kitchens. Besides the look, you have to appreciate the power. I don’t typically like crushing ice in blenders and am more cautious with frozen fruits, but this handles them just fine. For the price, it offers power of a professional blender. With that said, I think this blender is a bit limited in terms of versatility. That said, it’s great for frozen drinks, smoothies, and of course acai bowls. Pouring out your blended food is mess free and this is one of the easier blenders to clean. Sometimes during those busy mornings, you can just let it soak in water and come back home after work to an easy clean. I think it’s an overall great product for anyone looking at make acai bowls at home.
What We Liked:
- Nice sleek design for any kitchen
- 3 different pre-settings
- Pours without a mess
- Easy to clean
What We Didn’t Like:
- Lid is hard to pull off after being secured in
- Not as versatile
How to Pick the Best Blender for Acai Bowls for You
So these products may seem great and all, but which is the best blender for acai bowl for you? Now that you have the list of best blenders for acai bowls, we should talk about your individual needs and find which is best suited for your home. The best blender for acai bowls should be one that fits your lifestyle and your specific needs. Here are some factors to think about when purchasing blenders for acai bowls.
Size
I wanted to start with the most visible part of any blender, the size. I listed some blenders that are best for individual use, larger pitchers for friends and family, and even an awesome blender that offered both. That is one half of the equation and the other is your kitchen space. Do you live in your own home, or are you sharing a space with others in an apartment? For me, back in college when I had other apartment mates that I lived with, I used the small Nutribullet NBR-0601. During that time, I knew that the blender was for my own personal use and kept in mind the limited storage space. So depending on your situation, whether it’s an apartment, or a large home, you should take into account who you are blending for, and how much space you have in your kitchen.
Since moving around a few times after I learned that size really is important, especially if you have small kitchen counters or limited storage space. Some blenders are easier to store than others, and some are meant to be left on the counter because storing is too much of a pain. Now that you assessed your living situation, let’s move on to the next topic.
Versatility
What will you be using this blender for? We are looking at acai bowls first and foremost, but maybe you are also looking for a great overall blender that can make many things. If you are just looking to make a daily smoothie or bowl, then chances are you won’t care for the fancy features that some blenders come with. That is great if you are just looking for a short term solution or something more affordable. In this case, a smaller and less versatile blender is best for you. The benefit to this is that you won’t need to spend a lot of money and these blenders are easier to use. The downside is that these blenders won’t help you out much if you want to make more complex recipes.
If your heart is set on getting a quality blender that not only is tough enough for frozen fruits, but offers more in the kitchen, you are probably going to look for a more versatile blender. Personally, I’m at that stage where I am looking for something more in terms of what a blender can offer. The obvious pro to this is that you can use them to make other recipes, they typically are built to last longer, and come with more accessories for efficiency. The downside is that they are pricier. Though it can be more expensive, versatile blenders typically pay for themselves in the long run.
Best Blender Materials
Now people may have mixed reviews over this. Is a glass pitcher or a plastic pitcher better? I have no absolute preference since I have experience with both and am familiar with the pros and cons for each. Let’s talk about glass first.
Glass
Glass pitchers are heavy. I don’t think I’m weak by any means, but when you start filling up that pitcher, it gets hard to move it around in the kitchen. The other thing is that it can break. Now that is kind of scary. Though it has never happened to me before, it is a concern that needs to be addressed. Great caution is advised when using these pitchers. If you have weak joints or arthritis, I would be cautious. I always use two hands to be safe. The absolute biggest pro is durability. They do not break easily and the heftiness is just proof of their quality. Hopefully I didn’t scare you off with the realities of a glass pitcher. They are great and my current blender has a glass pitcher.
Plastic
Plastic pitchers are great for those who don’t want to deal with a glass pitcher. They are light, mobile, and an accidental drop will not leave you with shattered glass everywhere. The downside is that they can feel cheaper and can crack, though higher quality plastic won’t cause you many problems. Some are not meant to last that long, but are easy to replace. Oftentimes, companies sell the plastic pitcher separately, but the cost of replacement can add up. For some plastic pitchers, be prepared to see scratches and buy replacements every so often. For brands that focus on longevity, you won’t have to worry about replacing the plastic pitcher, but that quality may cost a bit more.
Stainless Steel Blades
Acai bowls are start off as frozen fruit, which means that you want a high speed blender with stainless steel blades to cut through all the frozen fruits and veggies that you want to incorporate into the puree mix. Stainless steel blades will be more durable and also withstand multiple washes in the dishwasher. They are also easy to clean by hand. Overall, they will make sure that your puree isn’t uneven and give you a more consistent eating experience.
Our Acai Bowl Blender Picks
Now that we went over some factors that you may want to consider when purchasing a blender, let’s go over our picks based on your individual needs.
Easiest to Use
If you are a newbie to the blender world and don’t want to complicate things with fancy buttons and features, the NutriBullet NBR-0601 is our “easiest to use” pick. There is literally no button. You just place your ingredients in the pitcher, lock it place to the base of the blender, and push down. It’s small and best for individual use, it is not very versatile and has a plastic pitcher. If you are looking for something straightforward to make a quick acai bowl, this is a good pick.
Made for Kitchen Pros
For our “pro’s pick”, we chose the Vitamix E320 blender. It’s a pretty popular brand that I see most people coming back after they tried it once. What’s not to love? It is reliable, versatile, and comes with a 7 year warranty. This baby can last you a decade. I love it for acai bowls, especially because it cuts the frozen fruit easily. No defrosting needed. Besides acai bowls, there are so many other opportunities to create new desserts and dinner recipes. I think this makes a wonderful choice for someone who enjoys cooking and doesn’t want to be hindered by limited blender functions.
Most Versatile
We never know what life is going to throw at us, so for those who need to be adaptable, the NutriBullet Blender Combo is our “most versatile” pick. It offers 3 different size pitchers, and multiple functions. Perfect for creating a single acai bowl, or morning smoothies for the family. No matter how big or small the company, you are sure to find the right size and setting for your recipes.
Best Value
Next is our “budget” pick. The Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender is affordable and strong. It’s great if you just plan to make the occasional acai bowl or other frozen desserts. It’s surprisingly large enough to make drinks for friends and family and feels quite sturdy. The pitcher is on the heavier side, but that just means you can bet on it lasting.
Overall Best Blender for Acai Bowls
Before we get to our “best overall” pick, let’s talk about our close second. The Ninja Professional Plus Blender is our “best overall runner up” for its quality, strength, and size. It is efficient as it cuts through your frozen fruits easily and will deliver some yummy results. You will also love the design and it has one of my favorite looks. Besides this, it’s reliable enough to use on a daily basis and serve its purpose for acai bowls. It only fell short to our next blender because of the issue with versatility. With that said, let’s get into our last blender.
Our pick for the best blender for acai bowls overall is the Ninja SS201 Foodi. It offers everything the Ninja Professional Plus Blender can, and more versatility. If you are looking to make a longer term investment at a reasonable price, this blender is quite promising. It comes with more features, different blade types to not just chop down your frozen goods, but to penetrate a great selection of foods. I love my acai bowls, but I also love my soups, desserts, and mixed drinks. If you are like me and want a high quality blender that will allow you to experiment in the kitchen, the Ninja SS201 Foodi is the blender you are looking for.
How to Make an Acai Bowl
Once you’ve selected an acai bowl blender from the list of best blenders for acai bowls, it’s time to think about what ingredients you need to make acai bowls. Rather than following a strict recipe every time, I split my acai bowl making process into three main buckets: frozen ingredients, fresh ingredients, and crunchy ingredients.
Frozen ingredients will form the base of your acai bowl. You will need to make sure you have plenty of frozen acai puree, since that’s the main focus point of your acai bowl. Then, I like to add different variants of frozen fruit in to mix up the flavor a bit every time. You can see this is why it’s important for your blender to have stainless blades, since it will constantly be cutting through really hard items.
Next, you can slice fresh fruits onto the puree. I like to go with what’s seasonal but a good combo that I always go back to are bananas, strawberries, and blueberries.
Finally, I like adding a bit of granola and some other healthy superfoods like flax and sunflower seeds on top, along with some dried goji berries and toasted coconut flakes. This will really give your acai bowl some extra pizzazz.
Wrapping Up
Overall, all of the blenders listed here are all great contenders for the best blender for acai bowls that you can add to your kitchen. Making acai bowls for yourself will add a little variety to your morning or snack routine, and will also come in handy when you need to make things like salsa or dips. Hopefully this buying guide helps narrow down the list of best blenders for acai bowls on the market right now. In no time, your days will be filled with nutritional snacks and acai goodness.
