There have been so many times I’ve found myself gritting my teeth because I can’t comfortably make a cup of smoothie out of my big, unwieldy blender.
As a fellow smoothie lover, maybe you’ve felt the same way because most blenders in the market aren’t designed to be portable.
I’ve heard the Magic Bullet line of products is suitable for this kind of problem. For your convenience, I’ve listed each product’s strengths. Here’s what I’ve found out.
Table of Contents
Original Magic Bullet Blender: Best Standalone Blender
Magic Bullet Personal Blender, 3-Piece Set, Black
Features
- Dishwasher safe components
- Microwave safe cups
- Easy to use, easy to clean
- Compact and easy to store
- Perfect for smoothies, sauces, cocktails and more!
The Original Magic Bullet Blender is the leader in single-serving kitchen appliances. Unlike other blenders you might have come across, Magic Bullet Blender is relatively easier to use: simply put the ingredients to the cup, attach the blade, press it into the base, and now it’s done.
I’ve heard Magic Bullet Blender comes with a book of recipes that you can make in 10 seconds. It also comes with three different cups (20oz, 18oz, and 12oz), two lids, and lip rings for the smaller cup and the party mug. The parts contain no BPA, and you can put them in the dishwasher.
This device has lots of other benefits that make it a useful tool for all kinds of situations. For instance, it has two compatible blades: the cross blade and the flat blade.
The former blade is designed for standard ingredient preparation. We’re talking about dicing, pulverizing, and so on. It’s also useful for making drinks, like smoothies and dips, like guacamole. The latter is made for “whipping and grinding”. For instance, if you want to grind nutmeg with your Magic Bullet, you’ll want to reach for this blade.
The cross blade comes together with the Magic Bullet set; however, you can get the flat blade separately.
The Original Magic Bullet Blender is ideal for people with limited space and travelers, as it is small and easy to store. It is less suited for people looking to do intensive food processing.
Pros:
- Can be used immediately
- Easy to clean
- Varying cup sizes
Cons:
- No lip ring for the largest cup
- Not suited to crushing ice
Magic Bullet Mini: Most Affordable
Magic Bullet Blender, Small, Silver, 11 Piece Set
$39.88 in stock
14 used from $32.99
Features
- Included: (1) 250W motor base, (1) cross-blade, (1) tall cup, (1) short cup, (1) party mug, (2) lip rings, (2) Stay-Fresh resealable lids, (1) to-go lid and 10-second recipe guide.
- The magic bullet chops, mixes, blends, whips, grinds and more. Cups are made out of high-impact plastic.
- Effortlessly create your favorite meals and snacks like smoothies, omelets, sauces and dips. 250 watts high-torque power base.
- Included recipe book gets you started making quick, easy, and delicious dishes from appetizers to desserts. Add 1/2 cup water for smooth blend for vegetables.
Do you like the sound of the Original Magic Bullet but aren’t sure you can’t afford the price point? Try the Magic Bullet Mini. You use it the same way you’d use the Original Magic Bullet: fill, attach, and press the cup.
What makes the Magic Bullet Mini different from the Original Magic Bullet is its size. The base is smaller, as are the included cups (a 10oz dome and a 16oz party mug). It’s also lighter: 1.7 lbs compared to the Original Magic Bullet’s 2.6 lbs.
The Magic Bullet Mini doesn’t have the range of included accessories the Original Magic Bullet has. For instance, there’s no taller standard cup, no flip lid, and no lip ring for the 10oz standard cup. Additionally, it’s less powerful than the Original Magic Bullet: 200W versus 250W.
All of that said, though, the Magic Bullet Mini has its perks. If you work at a small, work-from-home station (like I do), then you could easily keep this blender at your desk. It also comes with a lid, so you can keep your food creations fresh for days in the fridge—while taking up less space than a standard-sized Magic Bullet cup.
Overall, if you’re looking for a quality blender at a reasonable price, consider the Magic Bullet Mini. It doesn’t have everything its bigger counterpart has, but it does its job well.
Pros:
- Can be used immediately
- Easy to clean
- Can be stored easily
- Cheapest product of the lot
Cons:
- No lip ring for the smaller cup
- Less powerful
Magic Bullet Kitchen Express: Best Overall
Magic Bullet MB50200 Kitchen Express, Silver, 3.5 cup
$57.82 in stock
Features
- The Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is the all-in-one device designed to save you time in the kitchen - chop, mix, slice, shred, blend and more
- High-torque 250-Watt motor base with compatible work bowl and cup attachments allows you to switch from mini food processor to personal blender in seconds.
- With our included recipe guide, you can get started making quick, easy, and delicious dishes - from appetizers to dessert.
- Designed for everyday use, this system is compact and countertop friendly - plus all components are top rack dishwasher safe, keeping cleanup to a minimum.
- Includes: (1) 250W Motor Base, (1) Work Bowl with Feed Chute (1) Food Pusher, (1) Stacked Chopping Blade, (1) Reversible Slice/Shred Disc, (1) Cross Blade, (2) Tall Cups, (1) To-Go Lid, (1) Recipe Guide
Are you looking for something a little more heavy-duty for your kitchen? You might find the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is a good investment.
What makes it so great? It has components of a Magic Bullet Blender and a food processor. In other words, if you want to shred a head of lettuce and then make salsa, this is the appliance for you.
With 3.5 cups’ worth of space in the processor piece, you can slice a lot in one go. You can cut things two ways, too: with the stacked blade and the shredding and slicing disc. There are even a feeding chute and a pushing tube, so you can add ingredients as you go.
This set doesn’t come with a party mug, but it does come with a flip lid for the two 16oz dome cups. Like the Original Magic Bullet Blender, the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express has an included cross blade. It has all of the functionalities of the original model—and many more.
Pros
- Standard food processing capabilities
- Two regular blender cups and a food processing cup
- Two blades and one slicing and shredding disc per set
- Same abilities as the Original Magic Bullet and the Magic Bullet Mini
Cons
- Takes more space than the other two models
- More expensive
Things to Consider Before Buying
Before you go off to buy a Magic Bullet Blender, there are some things to keep in mind. For instance, this product is excellent for people looking to make cold drinks, mix up dips, and prepare a week’s worth of omelet fixings. However, it’s not worth it for someone who only wants to make smoothies—or who’s on a strict budget.
You might be asking yourself questions to figure out which, if any, of these products are right for you. Here are some FAQs we’ve answered to take the guess work out of picking the best Magic Blender (and using it).
How Do You Clean a Magic Bullet Blender?
Good question! As I said above, the Original Magic Bullet Blender’s parts are safe for dishwashers. This extends to the other Magic Bullet appliances, too.
Here’s something to note about both blades: it’s a little unclear as to whether they can be put in the dishwasher or not. It’s a good idea, then, to err on the side of caution and wash them by hand. If that’s not ideal for you, you might want to consider a different product line altogether.
Aren’t These ‘As-Seen-On-TV’ Products?
I’ll be honest with you: my first introduction to Magic Bullet products was through their notorious infomercials from the ‘00s. I’m willing to bet many people have experienced the same thing.
When a product gets its start as an “As-Seen-On-TV” item, it’s easy to see it as cheap and gimmicky. After all, people don’t tend to associate quality with early-morning paid programming.
That said, the Magic Bullet line of products is quality. The fact that they’re still popular items all these years later should be a testament to how effective they are in the kitchen (and wherever else people use them). The Magic Bullet brand is no mere gimmick: it’s a high-caliber line of appliances.
(Of course, all of what I just said assumes you don’t like the possible kitsch factor. For some people, that’s a very appealing trait!)
What Should My Deciding Factor Be Before Buying?
There’s a lot that a person should account for before buying anything. Ultimately, the determining factor behind a purchase is going to vary from person to person. That said, here are a few of the things to keep in mind before shelling out any money.
Price
Does the price suit your pocketbook? With the economy as it is right now, not everybody will be able to afford the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express. Then again, if you’ve been saving up for a food processor, you might as well buy the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express. Otherwise, consider the Magic Bullet Mini or the Original Magic Bullet to save a bit of green while getting your greens in.
Size
How much room do you have for storage? If you haven’t got a lot, a product like Magic Bullet Blender or the Magic Bullet Mini will probably be the best match for your needs. If you’ve got a bit more room, though, you might want to consider a more sizeable product—like Magic Bullet Kitchen Express.
Need
What do you need from the products? Do you need a full food processor, or are you okay with a blender alone? If all you need is a blender, then there’s no point in buying anything more than the Original Magic Bullet Blender (and, maybe, some of its add-ons). There’s no point in spending more money and using more space than you need to if you can avoid it.
The Winner
Overall, the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express is superb for anyone looking not only to satisfy those smoothie cravings but to tear apart a cabbage as well. Not only is it reasonably compact for a food processor, but it can also do the same things as the other two Magic Bullets and more. While it might not be for everybody (as I mentioned, it’s a bit costly), the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express can do a lot in the kitchen.
