OT: Best Blender

[rugbysecondrow]

Looking for a new blender after our Kitchen Aid bit the dust and I am in the market for a new blender. Smoothies, mixed drinks like margaritas are what we primarily use it for, any suggestions?

[firerescuefin]

Interested in this as well (at multiple price points)...weighing the options......as I melted a part of mine in the dishwasher 3 weeks ago.

Paul, stop worrying about blenders and pay some attention to your fantasy squad bro. Like a margarita in a blender it's spiralling downward. :rolleyes:

[Idris Icabod]

I think we have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-SPB-600-SmartPower-Deluxe-Blender/dp/B003P5XBGM/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1309988033&sr=8-16

I'm not going to stick my neck out on this and say it is the best but it is ppretty good. Actually our old blender had plastic cogs and they started chipping plastic, this one has metal cogs. I haven't used it to blend any dead bodies yet as I still use the old fashioned method of feeding them to my pigs but I reckon with time I could do it.

Hope this helps.

[Don49]

Oster Professional Series:

http://www.amazon.com/Oster-BPCT02-BA0-000-2-Speed-Beehive-Stainless/dp/B003ZDNIJY/ref=dp_ob_title_kitchen

Mine looks like this one on eBay. Powerful and high quality.

http://cgi.ebay.com/oster-blender-professional-series-600w-/150626680446?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item23120cbe7e#ht_500wt_1413

[Ken Robb]

On questions like this I try to see what Consumer Reports has to say because they often find the quality and performance of items is NOT price dependent and there may be a big difference in convenience of use and/or cleaning that would not be obvious in the store.

[EDS]

Breville. You probably don't need a Vitamix.

[Ozz]

We went thru 2 or 3 KitchenAid blenders and recently decided to give up on them. The blade/motor interface is just a bad design....as stated previously, the plastic cogs just keep chipping away....

We recently picked up the Cuisanart Blender that Costco carried....the price was right (about $150+/-) and it had a dishwasher safe glass carafe. I will give it a B- for performance....it feels cheaply made, the lid is difficult to fit on the carafe and the blade/motor connection looks just as dicey as the KitchenAid. However, it does seem to blend drinks and make smoothies. I suspect we will replace it in a couple years....

I believe the best blenders are the Vita-Mix brand. The blade/motor connection (which seems to be the weakest link for cheap blenders) looks very solid...much like the Hirth Joint in the Campy BB spindle :) ! The $500 price tag is tough to swallow, as is the fact the carafe is plastic and not dishwasher safe.

However, a friend of mine has one and swears by it....I better start saving now.

[rice rocket]

I haven't been able to find any "good" blenders at what I believe to be a "reasonable" price point (I spent one whole summer trying). They're all poorly thought out and burn out eventually.

Either a) buy an inexpensive one from Costco and take advantage of their unlimited return policy, or b) pony up $200+ for a good professional grade one.

[malcolm]

we have a blend tec, that is bomb proof and cheaper than vita mix

[retrofit]

After my wife burned out three Kitchen Aides (top of the line, 5 speed) over the past 3.5 - 4 years , we've decided to go with the VitaMix (http://www.vitamix.com/index.asp).

Its pricey -- about they cost of those 3 Kitchen Aides -- but we need something heavy duty as she makes a batch of fruit/protein smoothies for our son every two weeks. Fortunately, we have a connection @ Williams-Sonoma that will help ease to hit to the wallet. Hopefully, it will be the last blender we will have to buy for a while.

[retrofit]

we have a blend tec, that is bomb proof and cheaper than vita mix

Hmmm, I'll have to check out the blend tec....

[dnades]

Breville. We cook a ton and the blender is the tops in our book. Very well made and super smooth. I'd buy it again in an instant.

[crownjewelwl]

they sell refurbs on the site. same warranty and much cheaper. theyre boxed up as new.

[SEABREEZE]

Every day >>> a Osterizer with glass top Economical

Now if you want the mac daddy of blenders, what All Clad pots and pans is to cooking the Vita Mix is to blending.. Expensive

We have both in our kitchen.



http://www.vitamix.com/index.asp (http://)


My kids all received a Vita Mix for Christmas, and they use it every day !!!


Happy Mixing !!!

[chuckroast]

When I first saw this, I read the title as "Best Bender".

My obvious answer was going to be, I don't remember.

[ericspin]

I recently purchased a blender called the NINJA. Thought it might be a wannabe. So far it's the real deal. I make smoothies for breakfast every day and have found that I can make up to three days worth of smoothies at once. I use fairly heavy stuff. Avocados, frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries, almond butter, protein powder, spinach (most regular blenders don't like spinach) and on and on. It powers through three servings of this like nothing. Got it at Bed Bath & Beyond for $100.

[sbparker31]

Without a doubt, get a Vitamix 5200. By far the best piece of equipment you can purchase (besides a Serotta). Pricey like a Serotta. It will last forever. My Vitamix is more powerful than my lawnmower. Once I was making a smoothie, and used a wooden spoon to push down the fruit, and the blade chopped an inch off the end of the spoon. I just proceeded to blend up the drink. The wooden bits were pulverized along with everything else. I just figured that was my fiber for the day.

[Ken Robb]

Timing is perfect: my Consumers Report came today w/blender test.
VitaMix is best but Ninja is a close second and they reported buying theirs from an infomercial for $60!

[eddief]

Looking for a new blender after our Kitchen Aid bit the dust and I am in the market for a new blender. Smoothies, mixed drinks like margaritas are what we primarily use it for, any suggestions?

i was blown away by the precision and the results.

http://www.storz-bickel.com/volcano-vaporizer/

oh, it just looks like a blender :).

[rdparadise]

Paul:

I've had a Vita-Mixer 5200 for about the past 2 years. Super heavy duty, unbelievable suction downward causing everything in it's way to be chewed up and smoothed out in no time. Can be used to make soups in 5-6 minutes, veggie smoothies (think carrots, beets, celery, broccoli, etc.) and of course fantastic fruit smoothies.

Oh, and it can make an ice cream like shake/smoothy for your little rugrats too!

I bought the refurbished model, which was basically new, having been used at a trade show for demo's or similar. These aren't rebuilt models, but, moreso, lightly used models.

They have a dry container for grinding wheat, rice, soy, etc. for use in baking and other cooking needs.

Refurbished you can get them for around $379 with full 2 year warranty and some nice inclusions as well. Yeah, they are down right expensive, however, I don't believe you'll need another one the rest of your life.

One last note, no dishwasher use as that is strongly NOT recommended by the Mfg.

Another avenue for these is eBay, however, they aren't discounted much showing that even a 1-2 year old one garner's almost 100% of the original value.

Good luck buddy!

Bob

[rugbysecondrow]

Thanks Bob et al,

I think the Vitamix is the right way to go. The refurbished have a 7 year warranty, same as the brand new, and they have the color I want. In addition I found some online promo codes which will bring the price down enough to make shipping free.

I called and spoke with their customer service and I think that sold it for me, a real person!

Can this be cross referenced with the thread about "Craft"? ;)

Thanks!

Paul:

I've had a Vita-Mixer 5200 for about the past 2 years. Super heavy duty, unbelievable suction downward causing everything in it's way to be chewed up and smoothed out in no time. Can be used to make soups in 5-6 minutes, veggie smoothies (think carrots, beets, celery, broccoli, etc.) and of course fantastic fruit smoothies.

Oh, and it can make an ice cream like shake/smoothy for your little rugrats too!

I bought the refurbished model, which was basically new, having been used at a trade show for demo's or similar. These aren't rebuilt models, but, moreso, lightly used models.

They have a dry container for grinding wheat, rice, soy, etc. for use in baking and other cooking needs.

Refurbished you can get them for around $379 with full 2 year warranty and some nice inclusions as well. Yeah, they are down right expensive, however, I don't believe you'll need another one the rest of your life.

One last note, no dishwasher use as that is strongly NOT recommended by the Mfg.

Another avenue for these is eBay, however, they aren't discounted much showing that even a 1-2 year old one garner's almost 100% of the original value.

Good luck buddy!

Bob

[troymac]

Another for vita mix I've had mine for more than a year now they are simply awesome.

[oldguy00]

Another vote for the Vita Mix.
No joke, I've had mine since around 1999, bought it at a home show in Toronto. I've used it plenty over the past 12 years with no problems at all, never needed any repair or replacement part.
I make fresh/frozen fruit smoothies all the time, my 4 year old son loves them. You can also add spinach leaves to fruit smoothies and not even really know they are in there, good way to get some green stuff into the kids.. :)

[zap]

Another vote for VitaMix. Ours is at least 12 years old.

Did someone mention Consumer Reports :no:

[johnnymossville]

http://www.blendtec.com


Serious stuff.

[rugbysecondrow]

Here are links to two pages that had discount codes for the Vitamix.

http://gotgreensrevolution.com/Vitamix-versus-blendtec-review.html

http://www.thebestblender.com/vitamix-reviews/

[crownjewelwl]

Here are links to two pages that had discount codes for the Vitamix.

http://gotgreensrevolution.com/Vitamix-versus-blendtec-review.html

http://www.thebestblender.com/vitamix-reviews/

you'll never look at kale the same way again...

[rockdude]

http://www.blendtec.com


Serious stuff.

Blentec is the mother of all blenders. Their top of the line is over $1500.... I got a new referb on ebay cheap and it kicks vitamix's butt.....

[SpeedyChix]

Blentec is the mother of all blenders. Their top of the line is over $1500.... I got a new referb on ebay cheap and it kicks vitamix's but.....

Blentec (also called K-Tec) is THE unit for smoothies, etc. Lot of coin @ $400-500 but likely the last blender you'll ever buy. The thing rocks.
http://www.blendtec.com/
For some humor and product proof
http://www.willitblend.com/

Used a Blentec here (but it's much better in the kitchen): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccMwRrlQepw

[Ken Robb]

This is all nonsense. The ONLY blender to consider is the Bass-O-Matic. :banana:

[jvp]

I like my stick blender for some soups, salsa, etc. Just stick it in, pulse a few times, done. No need to transfer contents back and forth.

[Ken Robb]

I like my stick blender for some soups, salsa, etc. Just stick it in, pulse a few times, done. No need to transfer contents back and forth.

I have a Braun stick blender that I use to froth milk for my wife's latte as well as quickly chopping/dicing veggies, mushrooms, etc. for soup when I don't want to dirty the Bass-O-Matic.

[Skrawny]

Thomas Keller, one of the best chefs in the US said if he was trapped on a desert island, the two kitchen appliances he would want with him are a stand mixer and his Vita-Mix blender. Hands down the best, you just have to decide if you want to pay that much for it.

-s

[killacks]

Vita-Mix! We have one on a long-term borrow-to-own plan from my gf's parents after searching for a decent blender.

We tried a couple of models (can't remember the brand) from Costco, first the inexpensive one, then the expensive one. They both sucked equally.

The Vita-Mix could probably even blend those lesser products into delicious smoothies or salsas :D

[jhat]

Another vote for the VitaMix. Simply great, unfortunately I lost it in my divorce.

[dogdriver]

No one mentioned Waring. Bomber construction, mixes perfect smoothies, pulverizes frozen fruit, looks kind of '50's-retro-cool in the corner when you're not using it, doesn't cost more than an Enve fork. I asked a buddy who's a working chef the same question, expected to spend $500, and here's what he told me:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=waring+blender&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=9364021648712359519&sa=X&ei=PuoaTvudBpLGsAOk4czUDQ&ved=0CJEBEPICMAM

FWIW, Chris

[Marcy]

I've had my old metal Vitamix since the early 90s -- it is like one of those old tractors that don't ever die, it just keeps blending.
And it's made in the USA (at least the old ones were -- are the new models still made here?)

[Ozz]

...
And it's made in the USA (at least the old ones were -- are the new models still made here?)
Yes: Made in USA (http://www.vitamix.com/household/infocenter/american_made.asp)

Although ,they do say the the motor is "Swedish made" in the product specs

[Dekonick]

We have a blendtech that my parents gave us for christmas a few years back. It can boil water... I put it on par with a vitamix - given a choice between the two I would be hard pressed to pick. I would go with the one with the best price.

Indestructible blender...

[rugbysecondrow]

Vitamix on order...

I looked at both the Blendtec and the Vitamix, and the Vitamix was the choice. I liked the reviews and the props it got, but I also dislike the control panel of the Blendtec and the warrenty of the Vita. Probably no wrong answer.

I ordered the reconditioned model, same warrenty, and used the free shipping coupon. Still expensive, but a good decision I think.

Thanks for the advice.

[johnnymossville]

Vitamix on order...

I looked at both the Blendtec and the Vitamix, and the Vitamix was the choice. I liked the reviews and the props it got, but I also dislike the control panel of the Blendtec and the warrenty of the Vita. Probably no wrong answer.

I ordered the reconditioned model, same warrenty, and used the free shipping coupon. Still expensive, but a good decision I think.

Thanks for the advice.

You chose well. Couldn't make a bad choice between those two though. Both Fine Machines.

[Dlevy05]

I know you've already got a blender on order, but I felt I had to chime in.

I have an Osterizer beehive, and love it. I bought it specifically because it has a 1/2 horsepower motor, and TWO settings: On and Pulse. No need for all the crap in between. It's reliable and in the event something goes wrong, everything is easily rebuildable, or replaced. There's also a lot more metal, and a lot less plastic than most blenders as well... It's worth a look.