Why your friend won’t shut up about the NutriBullet

While the Vitamix used to reign supreme as queen of the smoothie-blenders, in the past few years, lots of buzz has also emerged around a smaller and cheaper pulverizing machine—the NutriBullet.

Health bloggers are writing about it, nutritionists are singing its praises, and when we asked our social media followers to weigh in, it resulted in an outpouring of devotion. (“LOVE it,” “Love IT!” and “LOVE IT,” were the most popular comments.)

“It’s high-quality and very durable and easy to use,” says nutritionist and Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp founder Ariane Hundt, who designed an entire cleanse program for clients around it. “It enables me to boost my nutrition in a matter of seconds.”

It doesn’t hurt that the NutriBullet company hired the prophet of raw foods, David “Avocado” Wolfe, to explain its superior nutrient-releasing abilities infomercial-style to an perfectly diverse audience of wide-eyed head-nodders and note-takers.

Originally posted July 11, 2013, updated March 24, 2016.

Thinking of joining the NutriBullet revolution? Here’s what you need to know before buying into the gadget’s greatness.

Blending power

Unlike its sister product, the Magic Bullet (the device behind my daily floating-kale-chunk smoothies), the NutriBullet can seriously pulverize vegetables. “I’ve killed five blenders in my lifetime because they couldn’t keep up with what I wanted to blend,” says Hundt. “Most conventional blenders are not strong enough to handle vegetables.”

NutriBullet’s 600-watt motor is small change compared to the Vitamix 5200’s, which packs 1380, but combined with the specially designed blades and “cyclonic action,” it’s enough to turn hearty vegetables (and ice) into smooth, sippable juice.

Nutrition-boosting potential

Despite what the NutriBullet infomercial suggests (they’re rampant), you won’t immediately transform into a superhero the first time you make a NutriBlast (their word for a smoothie). But many nutritionists, like Hundt, recommend blending over juicing because you retain the fiber from the plants, which is essential for healthy digestion. And since the NutriBullet is powerful enough to break down plants and seeds, it can promise pretty fast absorption of their nutrients. A performance factor that’s even more impressive because of its demure size.

Single-serving size

It takes up very little space in your cabinet or on the counter, a serious concern for most New Yorkers. Of course, the small size is also a downside when it comes to making soups or dishes for a dinner party. On the other hand, “the portion control is built in,” says renowned nutritionist Ashley Koff, RD, founder of Ashley Koff Approved, since it comes with cups that you can blend in and drink from directly.

Convenience

The ease-of-use and convenience of the NutriBullet was the reason Well+Good readers cited most for their “LOVE” of the device. “You make your blast in the bullet cup, then drink from it. You can put a lid on it and store in the fridge for some for later, then clean it. Super simple,” says Koff.

Price

Another huge pro: This blender is seriously cheap. It’s sold for $99 through the distributor, and gets you two cups, or you can get one for $80 on Amazon.

The takeaway?

While it’s not a Vitamix replacement, the NutriBullet seems to live up to the hype (cheesy infomercial aside) about its smoothie-blending prowess.

For more information, visit www.nutribullet.com

Inspired to up your smoothie game? Here are 5 tips for the making a perfect smoothie, every single time and our readers’ all-time favorite smoothie add-ins.