If you’re thinking about buying a blender and you’re considering the Magic Bullet or NutriBullet, read on. This Nutribullet vs Magic Bullet guide will help you understand both blenders, so you can decide which is the better blender for you.
Let me start by saying I think both are good blenders. They’ve both been available for several years and both cost considerably less than some of their competitors (which can run upwards of several hundred dollars).
I think the decision about which one to buy really depends on two things:
- how you intend to use the blender, and
- your budget. I talk more about that below.
In doing this research I found there are 21 patents related to these products.The various patents-going back as far as 2004-cover several pieces of the system, including the base, containers, and mugs.
Nutribullet and Magic Bullet are Blenders Not Juicers
Both the Magic Bullet and NutriBullet are classified as blenders, not juicers. Blenders chop, grind, mix, and puree food, ultimately changing the texture of the food. Juicers separate liquid from pulp.
As an example, if you juice pineapple, the result is a glass of pineapple juice – the pulp ends up in a separate container. If you put pineapple in a blender, the mixture will have a smoothie (or milkshake) consistency because the juice is not separated from the pulp.
If you want to make smoothies (and other blended foods), buy a blender. If you want fresh juice without the pulp, buy a juicer. (Or, if you’re like me, buy both.) The choice really comes down to personal preference.
Magic Bullet VS The NutriBullet
- Meet the Magic Bullet
- The Magic Bullet is a small, compact, countertop blender. If you’ve got a tight space and you don’t want a bulky blender taking up a lot of room on your countertop, this is a great choice. In addition to its small size, I also like that this blender is easy to use.
- The number one concern of most people buying a blender is how well it will work on different types of foods. Whether you’re chopping soft foods, such as ice cream and soft cheeses-or harder foods such as onions and coffee beans-you want a product that can handle those foods.
- The cross blade on the Magic Bullet works well on a variety of different foods. Here are some examples of how you might use the blade:
- Purée foods for soups and dips.
- Chop vegetables, meats, and nuts.
- Shred bread into bread crumbs.
- Grind your own coffee beans.
- Blend fruit and vegetables for smoothies.
- Mill grains to a flour-like consistency.
- Mix small quantities of batter for pancakes or muffins.
- What You Get
- The Magic Bullet is available in different configurations, which include base pieces and additional items:
- Power base – The base is 250 watts.
- Cups for mixing – The basic set includes one large (18 oz.) and one small mixing cup.
- Cross blade – This stainless steel blade performs cutting, chopping, and blending.
- Cup lids – Reusable lids fit both the cop and mug, you can refrigerate leftovers.
- The 11-piece set on Amazon includes the power base,
- cross blade,
- one tall cup,
- one short cup,
- one mug,
- one flip top lid,
- two solid lids,
- two mug rings, and
- a recipe book.
- The 17-piece set on Amazon includes the power base,
- a cross blade,
- a flat blade,
- one tall cup,
- one short cup,
- 4 mugs,
- 4 mug rings,
- two resealable lids,
- 2 steamer/shaker tops,
- and a recipe book. (The flat blade is useful for grinding nuts and seeds.)
- The advantages of the 17-piece set are that you get an additional blade (the flat blade)and additional mugs, rings, and lids.
- The blender has a 1-year limited warranty.
- Meet the NutriBullet
- The company describes the NutriBullet as a “nutrient extractor.” With an emphasis on nutritional benefits, this product will likely appeal to the buyer who is looking for more advanced blending capability.
- As I understand it, the difference between the Magic Bullet and the NutriBullet is that the NutriBullet has a specially designed blade that extends the unit’s blending capability.
- The special blade breaks food into a more easily digestible form, making it easier to absorb the nutrients in the food.
- While I’m not sure about all the technical details of nutrient extraction, I like the idea of using a sort of ‘super blender’ that helps break down food so your body can absorb those nutrients with less digestive work.
- The Extractor and Milling Blades
- The extractor and milling blades are responsible for NutriBullet’s high tech cutting, grinding, and emulsifying. These super blades make it possible to blend the skins, seeds, and pulp of fruits and vegetables into a smooth liquid.
- The milling blade pulverizes nuts and seeds, making them easier to digest.
- What You Get
- Like the Magic Bullet, the NutriBullet is also available in different configurations, which include base pieces and additional items:
- Powerbase –The base is 600 watts.
- Cups –The set includes one large (24 oz.) and two small cups.
- Extractor blade – This stainless steel blade shreds foods into tiny pieces.
- Milling blade – This stainless steel blade is designed to grind seeds, grains, and nuts.
- Cup lids –Reusable lids for the mixing cups.
- User Manual, Cookbook, and Pocket Nutritionist – Take a quick read of the user manual to get the best performance out of your blender and check out the cookbook for recipes.
- The 8-piece set on Amazon includes the power base,
- extractor blade,
- one tall cup,
- one short cup,
- one handled lip ring,
- one regular lip ring,
- a recipe book and user manual,
- and a pocket nutritionist.
- The 12-piece set on Amazon includes the power base,
- the extractor blade,
- the milling blade,
- one tall cup,
- two short cups,
- one handled lip ring,
- one regular lip ring,
- two resealable lids,
- a recipe book and user manual,
- and a pocket nutritionist.
- The blender has a 1-year limited warranty.
A Wide Selection of Replacement Parts Are Available
One of the things I like about both of these produces is easy access to accessories and replacement parts. You can buy replacement blades, gaskets, cups, mugs, and lids on Amazon. You can even buy a 24 oz. pitcher for the Magic Bullet, which is nice because the large mixing cup is just 18 oz.
What’s the Difference Between the Magic Bullet and the NutriBullet?
As I mentioned earlier both products are blenders, so they perform the same function. Much of the difference between them has to do with the power base and configuration of the two systems.
If you plan to chop, puree, or grind harder foods, such as carrots, seeds, or nuts, then the NutriBullet might be the better choice because it has a higher watt motor (600 watts vs 250 watts for the Magic Bullet). The NutriBullet also has the extractor blade, which is designed to emulsify foods.
If you want to chop, blend, or puree softer goods, such as pineapples, apples, and cheeses, the Magic Bullet, with its lower cost, might be all you need.
The other difference that was important to me is capacity. The NutriBullet offers a larger capacity. The large cup holds 24 oz. compared to 18 oz. for the Magic Bullet.
If you usually make larger serving sizes, the NutriBullet keeps you from doing the job twice. (If you want to make even larger quantities, the NutriBullet Pro has a 32 oz. capacity.) If the larger capacity isn’t an important feature, the Magic Bullet may be the way to go.
Price is a consideration too. The Magic Bullet costs less than the NutriBullet. Although the Magic Bullet works well, you do give up some performance to get the lower price.
Again, consider your needs. Think about how you’ll use the product now and whether your needs might change in the future and buy accordingly.
How Do You Decide Which is Best for You?
For me, the decision comes down to performance and price. If you can spare the extra money, the NutriBullet offers higher performance at a price that’s modestly more expensive than the Magic Bullet.
On the other hand, if you know that you’ll use your blender almost exclusively for fruit-based smoothies or if you’re just now experimenting with making your own fruit smoothies or other blended recipes, you might want to stick with the Magic Bullet. You can always upgrade to the more expensive NutriBullet later on.
If performance is more important than price, another option is the NutriBullet Pro mentioned earlier. It’s a little more expensive, but it has a more powerful motor and a larger capacity. There’s also the NutriBullet Rx which has a 1700-watt motor and a heating setting so you can make sauces and soups right on the blender.
BONUS INFORMATION!!!
- Techniques to Get the Most from Your Magic Bullet and NutriBullet
- The key to using these blenders effectively is technique. Because foods vary in texture and density, blending correctly helps you get the results you want. Probably two of the most common mistakes are over blending and failing to shake the blender.
- If you over blend, you won’t be happy with the texture, so it makes sense to prevent this problem before it happens. To avoid over blending, pulse (press and release) instead of locking the machine in the on mode. Because pulsing engages the blade in short bursts, you’re less likely to over blend.
- If you find that some of your ingredients didn’t blend, you may have overfilled the cup or used too little liquid. The solution is to lift the cup and blade from the base and shake, which moves the ingredients around in the cup.
- Then go back to pulsing. If you still have unblended ingredients, try tapping the cup and base on the counter (go easy), then return to the base for another round of pulsing.
- If the goal is to puree or completely blend the ingredients – for example when you’re making a smoothie – you can lock the blender into the on mode. A tip: If you’re making a smoothie or other super-blended recipe, you may need to take the cup and blade off the base, then shake to mix the ingredients.
- For the best results, take a few minutes to read the instruction manual. Don’t forget to check out the recipes. (The homemade granola and citrus dressing looked yummy good.)
- Cleaning the Magic Bullet and NutriBullet
- With any blender, clean-up is often a messy job. Since the Magic Bullet and NutriBullet cups and lids can go in the dishwasher (place them on the top rack!), you’ll save some time cleaning up. To avoid possible damage, like warped cups, don’t use the sanitation cycle.
- Don’t put the blades in the dishwasher. Plan to hand wash the blades in wash warm, soapy water. If you wash the blades shortly after using the blender, you’ll find that clean-up is faster and easier than coming back later to scrub foods that are dried on.
- Never, ever, ever put the base in the dishwasher or submerge it in water. A quick wipe with a damp cloth is all you need to keep the base clean.
- Storing Food in the Mixing Cups
- If you’re like me, sometimes you make too much and wonder what to do with the leftovers. The cups come with lids, which you can use to cover the leftovers and stick in the fridge for later. I like this convenience because I don’t have to hunt down a storage container and matching lid; plus, it’s one less container and lid I have to wash later.
- In a pinch, you can use the cups and lids as storage containers for other leftovers.
- Microwaving in the Mixing Cups
- The cups are microwave safe, so you can blend, then place the cup in the microwave. Blend, heat, and serve. I like that this saves prep and cleaning time.
- The blender to microwave option works well with salsa and soup recipes.
Magic Bullet VS The NutriBullet- The Summary
- Time to Buy?
- I hope you have found the Magic Bullet vs Nutribullet writing helpful. I also encourage you to take a look at the reviews for each product on Amazon. I think you’ll find those comments helpful as you make your final decision. Happy shopping – and blending!
Our Recommendation
| Blender | Brand | Style | Price | Reviews | Rating | Shop Now |
 |
Magic Bullet | Counter Top | Low | 1,039+ | 4.1+ | Amazon.com |
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NutriBullet (Red) Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer | Counter Top | Low | 25+ | 4.2+ | Amazon.com |
