There are a few things that delicious dishes from Indian culture have in common. Many of them are bursting with spices, require a fair amount of preparation, and rely on grinding, chopping, and dicing. To do this, you need the absolute best blender for Indian cooking.
Masalas, dosa batters, chutneys, and all kinds of sauces can be made with a blender. If you are embracing your heritage, or simply wanting to honor and enjoy Indian culture through cooking, our top blender guide has all you need to know!
Top Blenders for Indian Cooking
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Editor's Choice as the Best Blender for Indian Cooking
When it's time to make Indian inspired dinner, the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender is our blender of choice. Due to the wide range of textures in Indian cooking, you will need a blender that can achieve everything from coarse textures to fine purees. This blender fits the bill with its ten variable speeds, controlled by a center dial.
For power, the Explorian boasts about 1380 watts of motor power. With power like that, you can rough dice for chutneys or pulverize ingredients for spices. It is even powerful enough to cook hot soup in less than ten minutes. A pulse button gives you further control if you need a few more blade rotations to achieve the consistency you are looking for.
The 48 ounce container is perfectly sized for hefty batches big enough to feed your entire family. After all, Indian dishes are often meant to be enjoyed with friends and loved ones. Even better, it comes with a tamper so that you don't have to stop mid blend and scrape the sides of the jar.
To sum it up, this blender can whip up hearty chutneys, smooth sauces, and even rich batters and doughs. It is straightforward to use and easy to clean, no matter what your recipe entails!
What We Like:
- Durable
- Powerful motor
- Variable speed dial
- Pulse button
- Stainless steel blades
What We Don't Like:
- Less affordable
- Heavy at 11.5 pounds
Best Runner Up Blender for Indian Cooking
If you have many tasks vying for your attention in the kitchen, then the Blendtec Classic 575 Kitchen Blender is for you! Boasting 1560 watts of power, this blender leaves no ingredient unblended. Better yet, the large capacity blending container can handle meal prep in a flash suitable for four to six people.
Perhaps its best feature, is the timed cycle option. Here's how it works. First, select from one of five speeds or from one of the four pre-programmed settings. Second, you can then choose a 60 second or 90 second blend cycle. Third, the time is displayed on the LCD timer effectively freeing you to complete other things while the blender does the work. Finally, you can adjust your blend at any point during the cycle, putting you in complete control of the texture.
Notably, and unique to Blendtec, is the dull blade assembly. The blades, while extremely durable, are dull so as not to destroy your utensils or your fingers. You can easily scrape ingredients down the sides with the included spatula without fear of ripping into the rubber.
However, don't the dullness of the blades fool you. This specially designed wing shaped blade is forged from stainless steel which Blendtec claims to be up to ten times stronger than other blender blades. In short, you can grind spices, jaggery, or nuts with these powerful yet safe blades.
To sum it up, the Blendtec is a great size for preparing dips, sauces, and chutneys. Its moderate price point also makes it a very attractive purchase if you are looking for a professional blender.
What We Like:
- LCD timer
- Sleek design
- Unique dull blades
- Spatula included
- Powerful 1560 watt motor
What We Don't Like:
- Loud
- All plastic parts
Best Ninja Blender for Indian Cooking
The Ninja Professional Countertop Blender is a large capacity blender that is ideal for vindaloo, dals, and curries. It can pulverize lentils, blitz spices, and crush vegetables. At 1100 watts, its motor provides you with plenty of power for breaking down even the most stubborn blends.
The uncomplicated, yet stylish base includes three speeds, a pulse button, and a single-serve setting. The blending container can hold up to 72 ounces of ingredients and fits effortlessly onto the blending base for easy operation. When you are finished blending, a large handle helps steady the pitcher for easy pouring.
Should you want a breakfast smoothie or lassi instead of a butter chicken sauce, you can easily whip up a single serving using one of the two 16 ounce cups. Furthermore, the cups are designed to work seamlessly with the base so you that you can blend right in the cup! From here, just snap on the lid and head out the door.
From smoothies to flavorful spices, the six-blade assembly quickly and efficiently achieves the perfect blend. Bottom line, the Ninja does not disappoint.
What We Like:
- Affordable
- Compact base
- Powerful 1100 watt motor
- Six blade assembly
- To go cups includes
- Extra large capacity pitcher
What We Don't Like:
- All plastic parts
- Lacking pre-programmed features
Best Blender with Accessories for Indian Cooking
The Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System is an awesome all-in-one appliance. If you can’t get as fine a grind on your spices, or as smooth a dough as you were hoping with just a blender, then this system may be a great option for you. Plus, it comes with everything but the kitchen sink! Let's discuss.
First, the blending base is the main hub which houses the powerful 1400 watt motor. The base also features three speeds and five pre-set Auto-iQ programs. The programs include smoothie, ice crush, extract, dough, and chop. Just select one of the programs and let the blender do the rest.
Second, a multitude of containers allow you to choose the size you need to get the job done. Choose from a 72 ounce pitcher, a 64 ounce precision processor bowl, or two 24 ounce to go cups. All containers are dishwasher safe and come with respective lids.
Third, each container is equipped with a unique and specific set of blades to help get the job done. Ninja specializes in total crushing technology and these blades are definitely up for the task! The total blender package even comes with a dough blade fitted properly for the precision processor bowl.
Finally, dishwasher compatibility for all of the components make this the ultimate kitchen system for Indian cooking.
What We Like:
- Affordable
- Dishwasher safe
- Total kitchen system
- Variable speeds
- Five Auto-iQ programs
What We Don't Like:
- All plastic parts
Best Multi Purpose Blender for Indian Cooking
This double duty blender is the Instant Ace Nova Cooking Blender. It can make cold Kulfi popsicles, rich nut butters, and even hot Mulligawtawny soup, all with minimal pots and pans. Moreover, the 56-ounce glass pitcher is equipped with crushing blades that can blast through ice, frozen fruits, nuts, vegetables, and spices.
Unlike other blenders, it doesn’t use blade friction heating but an actual heating element to bring your mixture to piping hot temperatures. This blender can also keep your ingredients warm for up to two hours. This feature is ideal when meal times need to be flexible.
Ten speeds, multiple programs, a timer, and temperature controls make for a completely customizable experience. You can make nut milks, doughs, soups, cocktails and so much more with one compact blending system.
When it's time to clean up, the Instant Ace can clean itself by using some soap and hot water. Alternatively, it also comes with a cleaning brush for those times when a deeper clean is necessary.
What We Like:
- Glass pitcher
- Ideal for nut milks
- Food warmer
- Can heat ingredients without pureeing
What We Don't Like:
- Blades are not removable
- Pitcher cannot be submerged in water for cleaning
Best Budget Blender for Indian Cooking
The Magic Bullet Blender is an efficient and powerful yet smaller sized model. But don't let this mighty mini machine fool you. It packs a punch and comes equipped with 11 blend enabling pieces: a handful of cups ranging in size from about 8 to 16 ounces, various lids, and the blender base.
To use, just place your ingredients inside the blending cup, twist on the blades, then flip inside the 250 watt blending base. From here, use your muscle power to press down on top of the blending cup and pulse your way to perfection. With this type of operation, you are in full control of the texture of your blend.
While it may not have a huge capacity, the included variety of cups mean that you can prepare multiple batches or different components to your recipe without having to use lots of dishes. Additionally, working with multiple cups allows you to be mindful of any special allergies or dietary needs as you can easily reserve part of your meal in a single cup.
For clean up, just toss everything but the blender base and blades on the top rack of the dishwasher. Afterwards, it stores easily on the counter without taking up much space; which is great considering you may find yourself using it quite often!
What We Like:
- Sleek design
- Compact
- Affordable
- Variety of cup sizes
- Top rack dishwasher safe
What We Don't Like:
- Small capacity
- Not suitable for large pieces of ice
Best All Around Blender for Indian Cooking
Finally, the Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher rounds out our list with its awesome all around features. This machine can chop, blend, food process, and mix dough all in the same container with no shaking, stalling, or stirring. We love to see it!
The Ninja Foodi is a delightfully versatile blender. It can assist you in making a plethora of Indian cuisine including infused cold drinks, dosas, curry paste, and even creamy chutney. The pitcher is large enough to hold 64 ounces of whatever ingredients you choose.
When it comes to mixing, the Ninja Foodi is equipped with a total crushing blade assembly that can easily be switched out to the dough attachment if needed. Powered by a 1400 watt motor, and smartTORQUE technology, your ingredients don't stand a chance against this machine. The Foodi also features six Auto-iQ pre-set programs for those times when you just want to press a button and walk away.
Best of all, when meal time is over, all parts are dishwasher safe. It even comes with a cleaning brush if you happen to live in a place without a dishwasher.
What We Like:
- Versatile
- Affordable
- Powerful 1400 watt motor
- Six Auto-iQ pre-sets
- Cleaning brush included
What We Don't Like:
- Heavy at 11.38 pounds
- Not suitable for hot liquids
Buying the Best Blender for Indian Cooking
Indian dishes are quite diverse. There are countless textures, flavors, and temperatures. To tackle a range of dishes your blender will need to be versatile in its functions. Some of the best blenders for Indian cooking can chop, dice, puree, and even heat.
Finding and choosing a blender that suits your needs can be an overwhelming challenge. However, we've laid out a few key criteria to keep in mind when it comes time to make your purchase. As long as you keep these things in mind, you will be well on your way to dishing out some incredible recipes using your new blender.
Blender Versatility
Buying a blender can be a big investment, especially if you are working with a budget or limited funds. Therefore, it helps to be able to use your blender to make many different recipes. Before buying, take some time to think through all of the recipes that you may be making. From here, you will have a much better list of shopping criteria.
For example, if you plan on only making smoothies or fruit drinks then you may be able to get away with a simple, personal blender. Blenders like these are generally more compact, lower powered, and friendly on the budget.
However, when it comes to Indian cooking, a multifunctional blender like the Instant Ace Nova Cooking Blender may be best. A machine that can cook hot soups while also having the ability to make nut milks and sauces is a plus.
Ease of Cleaning
When blender shopping, it's important to note the cleaning requirements of the blender that you are considering. Keeping your blender clean and tidy helps prolong the life of your machine.
In regards to Indian cooking, glass pitchers usually reign supreme. They are easy to clean and don’t retain flavors or odors which is important when using potent spices. Many blenders on this list have a self-cleaning function which can be a big help.
However, if you want to deep clean your blender (which we recommend) be sure to review the specifications. Blenders with heating elements often cannot be submerged, which can be tricky. Also, blenders with unremovable blades may also be difficult to clean thoroughly.
Nevertheless, if you choose to go with a plastic pitcher model and need a little cleaning boost, we highly recommend keeping some vinegar on hand. It helps naturally cut through stains and odors. Even better, it's non toxic and easy to use.
Blender Blade Design
For Indian cooking, well-built and durable blades are a must. They need to be able to crush ice, blitz nuts, and pulverize spices. A great blade design and quality material blades will result in the best consistency for your blends. Look for a blender that features the most durable blades that you can find according to your unique needs.
For example, dull blades like the ones found in the Blendtec Classic 575 Kitchen Blender are safer and can typically break down larger foods and frozen items, but they may not be the best for spices or nuts.
Alternatively, total crushing blades like those found on the Ninja Professional Countertop Blender work best for turning ice into snow as generally pureeing your ingredients to a fine consistency.
If you need something in between, then we suggest going for a blender that features powerful blades along with a variable speed dial. A great example of this would be the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender since you can control the blade speed manually in order to prevent things from getting out of control.
Blender Pitcher Capacity
Generally, Indian dishes are made in large batches. However, sauces, dips, and curries may be prepared in smaller amounts. If you plan on heavily relying on your blender for all aspects of Indian cooking, you will likely want one with a larger pitcher size. However, single-serving sizes are easy to store and manage and can be great for prepping dips and sauces.
If you are unsure what type of blending capacity you may need, then going with a model with accessories may be a great option. A system like the Ninja Professional Countertop Blender is a great option because it comes with both a large blending pitcher and single serve cups. It's the best of both worlds!
Some blenders even make additional cups available for purchase. Adding a few of these to your kitchen inventory can help expand the functionality of your blender, especially when it comes to meal prepping.
Blender Power
Blender power may be one the most overlooked, yet important aspects when it comes to choosing your new blender. For preparing Indian cuisine, you need a machine with some muscle. After all, no one wants to stand around in the kitchen waiting on a weak blender to get the job done.
Blenders are rated in wattage when it comes to measuring power. For crushing through things like ice, frozen fruit, nuts, and seeds, look for a machine with at least 1000 watts of power. Alternatively, if you plan on only using your blender for the occasional fruit drink or nut topping, then a lower powered model will be more than enough.
Conclusion
Which blender is the very best for preparing Indian cuisine? Our top pick is the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender. You can effortlessly prepare a wide variety of Indian dishes thanks to its power, durability, and variable speed dial. Since the choice of speed is in your hands, the outcome is perfect every time.
If the Vitamix doesn't suit you, we also love the Blendtec Classic 575 Kitchen Blender for the handy built-in timer feature and large capacity jar. The impressive motor power doesn't hurt either.
Drop us a comment to let us know your favorite Indian dish. Have a favorite blender that isn't on our list? We'd love to hear about it too! Until next time, happy blending!