Which kitchen appliance is commonly used for making smoothies?

The blender is the kitchen appliance most commonly associated with making smoothies due to its design and functionality. Blenders are specifically designed to combine and puree ingredients, making them ideal for mixing fruits, vegetables, yogurt, and liquids into a smooth, homogeneous texture. The blades of a blender are typically powerful enough to crush ice and blend tough ingredients, which is crucial for achieving the desired consistency in smoothies.

While food processors can also blend ingredients, they are primarily designed for chopping, slicing, and shredding, which may not achieve the smooth texture needed for a smoothie. Juicers, on the other hand, extract juice from fruits and vegetables, discarding pulp and fiber, which is not suitable for smoothie preparation. Mixers focus on blending dough and batter rather than pureeing ingredients into liquid form. Therefore, the blender is the most effective tool for smoothie-making tasks, making it the correct choice.