Pages

Monday, May 30, 2011

Oster 6684 12-Speed Blender

Oster 6684 12-Speed Blender, Black
Price: $38.70
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by Beach Camera

19 new or used available from $26.99
Average customer review:
(84 customer reviews)

Product Description

Oster Blender, 12 Speed

Product Details

  • Sales Rank: #7099 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Oster
  • Model: 6684
  • Released on: 2004-10-19
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 7.20" h x 10.10" w x 13.00" l, 7.10 pounds

Features

  • 450-watt countertop blender mixes smoothies, frozen drinks, soups, and more
  • Easy toggle speed control provides continuous, smooth blending for 12 speeds
  • Exclusive All-Metal Drive system; stainless-steel ice-crushing blade; pulse option
  • Dishwasher-safe 5-cup glass jar with generous handle; lid with measuring cap
  • Measures approximately 7 by 11 by 15 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
81 of 83 people found the following review helpful.
5Look no further. This blender is AWESOME!
By J. Hupman
First, let me respond to a few poor reviews that made me a little concerned about purchasing this blender. One reviewer said "The little plastic "plug" in the lid fell through into the blender as I was using it". He may have gotten a defective one, but the one that I got would have no realistic way for the plastic "plug" to fall through the hole in the lid. It is very well made and would have to be forced VERY HARD for it to even have a chance of making it through - regardless of the angle at which you put the plug. Another reviewer said "the one I received had a jar that did not sit comfortably on base." Again, if that happened I hate it for that guy. The jar I got sat on the base quite well. Another reviewer said, "You CANNOT get your goods back out of this thing without making a mess." The blender I got is very easy to pour from.
Now let me tell you how awesome this thing is. I had a Hamilton Beach blender for a few years that did okay. It would make smoothies and shakes, but would take quite a while and would ALWAYS leave chunks of ice that did not get blended. Even if I left it on for a full minute it would not get the job done. When I used this new Oster 6684 for the first time I made a shake the way that I normally do with some fruit, milk, and ice. After about 10 seconds I could not find a single chuck of ice in the entire shake. In two years with my old blender there were always chunks of ice - always. I could not be any happier with the Oster. Hope this is helpful.
95 of 106 people found the following review helpful.
4works well, but manfacturer makes it difficult to fix simple problem yourself
By Music Fan Jeff
I actually own the Oster 6646 but am writing the review here because the 6646 appears to be no longer caried by Amazon and the 6684 is simply the black version of the 6646.

First, the good: This blender does a very good job of blending ingredients, including frozen ones, into drinks of consistent texture. No lumpy pieces of fruit or bits of ice hiding in the drink. It also does a good job of pulling the ingredients down the side of the jar and around the blades so that everything gets blended properly.

Now, the bad: Shortly after my 1-year warranty expired, I turned on my blender one day and it abruptly turned off after about one second. I actually think this was my fault as I didn't have the jar seated quite right and I had some ice cubes at the bottom of the jar right by the blades. At any rate, to make a long story short I was left with the option to either (a) pay to get the blender repaired, which would have cost over half what one costs new; (b) throw the blender away; or (c) try to fix the thing myself. I had a hunch that perhaps I could find a fuse inside that had blown, so I attempted to take apart the blender. I tried A LOT of different screwdrivers, both at home and at work, and I could not get any of them to grip the screws properly to remove them. I took the blender to my local hardware store and, after a lot of patience, was finally able to remove the screws. While I readily found a fuse, the hardware store said they didn't have a matching replacement fuse. A little frustrated but still determined, I went to yet another hardware store; a seemingly knowledgeable clerk there told me that I would probably have a hard time finding the proper fuse because of the filament design, even though the fuse is labeled as a 5 amp 125 volt fuse. Still determined, I went to Radio Shack. Though they did not have a fuse that looked the same in terms of filament, the guy there assured me that a slow blowing 5 amp 250 volt fuse should work just fine. And guess what -- he was right. So now I have an additional three back up fuses in case it blows again, for a total out of pocket cost of less than 10% what a new blender would cost. Now my search is on for replacement screws so I can attach the bottom of the unit to the base again.

I guess I can't totally fault Oster for not making a consumer level repair more easy. I think this is true across the board for consumer electronics today. Still, I hate to think of all of the perfectly good machines out there that get tossed in the garbage and end up in a landfill (even though there are toxic components inside) that just maybe would be put back into service by the people who owned them if the manufacturer gave simple instructions for something as simple as replacing a fuse and didn't assemble the device so as to discourage people from trying to take it apart.
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful.
5Really good blender!
By Stargazer
This is my first blender, and I'm sure there are many other good blenders out there. However I would love to explain why I chose this particulare one and why I love it so much.

It's simple to use, easy to take apart for cleaning, although the base is plastic it is very strong and the gear for the blade in the base is metal unlike the higher end more expensive models which use a plastic or nylon gear. And still, the base is not flimsy and something that can easily break. It really is designed very well with a nice weight to stay put on your counter when blending. It won't be tipping over.

Actually, I would prefer the base made how Oster did this with the plastic/nylon instead of metal, keeping the cost way down instead of $90 to $100 just to have an all metal base.

When I got my Oster 12-speed Blender, trying it out I really liked seeing how powerful the motor is. Actually alot more powerful then I expected for what I paid for it.

Also I really love the fact that the jar itself is actual glass and not some plastic. With a nice heavy weight to it.

I can really see this blender lasting a very long time. Excellent design and construction. Powerful motor. Easy cleaning. Big enough to get the job done but not to big to take up alot of counter space. Metal gear to last a long time. Actual thick glass jar. And priced unbelievably low.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Waring Pro WPB80BC Professional Bar Blender

Waring Pro WPB80BC Professional Bar Blender with 48-Ounce Jar, Brushed Chrome
List Price: $100.00
Price: $59.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by

3 new or used available from $59.99
Average customer review:
(24 customer reviews)

Product Description

This is one patriotic blender! Made right here in the U.S. of A., this Professional Bar Blender is always the life of the party. Mix up red, white and blue strawberry smoothies, pina coladas, and blueberry power shakes. The heavy-duty 48 ounce polycarbonate carafe is shaped to optimize blending, transforming ingredients into super delicious drinks, soups, dips and more. The commercially rated, heavy-duty motor just won’t slow down. It purees soup in seconds, cuts through veggies to do a salsa, and can turn ice cubes into slush for frozen tropical drinks before you can grab the glasses. Waring has been making products for commercial kitchens for over 60 years. Today, Waring Pro products bring that expertise right into your kitchen with premium, commercial quality products for home use. Designed for dependability and performance, Waring Pro blenders save you time and let you exercise a new level of creativity in blending all of you favorite professional bar drinks. Convenient, easy to operate and easy to clean, Waring Pro products make a family meals and entertaining simple and delicious.

Product Details

  • Sales Rank: #7585 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Color: Brushed Chrome
  • Brand: Waring
  • Model: WPB80BC
  • Released on: 2008-04-20
  • Dimensions: 13.70" h x 8.50" w x 10.00" l,

Features

  • 500-watt professional-quality bar blender with a heavy-duty metal base
  • 2 speeds; simple toggle switch; removable stainless-steel blade assembly
  • 48-ounce polycarbonate container includes English and metric graduations
  • Secure-fitting lid with 2-ounce measuring cap for adding ingredients while blending
  • Measures 10 by 8-1/2 by 13-2/3 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
4Great Basic Function Blender, Especially for Ice Drinks
By Peter Ly
To be clear, I bought this blender from Target, which had the glass container version. As of this review, there isn't an equivalent item on Amazon, so I am putting my review here. The biggest performance concern is typically the motor, blades, and assembly, so I hope others don't mind this review.

After three months of use, it's still great. I mainly make green tea smoothies using matcha, soy milk, and many half oval-shaped ice. Each piece of ice is about 2 inches long. This blender works great for that purpose. In the beginning, I had the safety (clutch?) mechanism kick in and disconnect the motor from the blade fairly often. This wasn't inconvenient, though, since it let me know when to shake the contents to get more of the ice to sink to the bottom. After about 2 months of use (i.e., after wearing in the motor), the safety mechanism stopped kicking in as early, but I still stop the machine to shake the contents to ensure the ice chunks get blended. I don't know how it is with other blenders or drinks, but when I have this fairly packed with ice, I don't always get the whirlpool effect, so I shake the contents (with the unit off) to avoid any surprises. This whole process takes me less than 30 seconds and I mainly use the low setting.

Since I bought the glass version, cleaning the container is easy. As another reviewer said, taking apart the assembly is recommended (I think this is true of all blenders). The collar at the bottom of the carafe twists off and out comes the blades that are still attached to its pedestal (the manual calls it a seal) and the gasket (i.e., rubber ring) that goes between the container and blade pedestal (which is a high quality plastic). Cleaning the blade and pedestal is a little difficult since they don't come apart. You have hold the blades still either from the blade end or from the bottom so it won't spin while wiping. Another way to clean the system is to blend water and soap, then rinse the parts afterward. For anyone that cares, the bottom part of the blade assembly is metal. I find this important because it's the part that makes contact with the hard rubber rotor of the base unit. The lid feels like a good hard rubber material. It has the plastic cap in the center that can come off and allow for you to drop in more ingredients w/o taking off the entire lid.

My main concern about this item is the rubber gasket. It will very likely fail (i.e., dry out and crack) before the other parts do. It's a cheap component and will probably last for at least a year, so the biggest concern will just be about finding the right replacement. Overall, I am happy with this blender. Some that want more blending speeds and options may find this item limited. Those that care mostly about blending ice would probably be happy with this.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful.
5Heavy Duty Quality-Waring Pro Blender WPB80BC
By R. Edwards
This blender is really amazing. I had to get a new blender recently since my other blender wasn't quite keeping up with the things I needed to blend. Thankfully I got this sweet piece of assembled machinery. This thing can definitely handle heavy-duty blending needs while never jamming or over-heating. Trust me, I've already blended at least 50 different concoctions in this bad boy and it has yet to pause for a breather. I recommend this blender with it's 10 out of 10 quality and it's always there for you reliability.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
4i liked it!
By smokengirlie
This is a great smoothie blender. it does a great job on the ice and makes a really smooth product. It is really loud but it definitely gets the job done. I would recommend taking it apart completely before cleaning because crud likes to get stuck under the blade.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Tribest Personal Blender - PB-100 Blending Package

Tribest Personal Blender - PB-100 Blending Package (with new S-Blade Assembly)
List Price: $69.99
Price: $51.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
http://www.amazon.com/Tribest-Personal-Blender-Blending-Assembly/dp/B0000ZP3LQ?tag=blenderforsale-20

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Duddy's Electronics

9 new or used available from $49.99
Average customer review:
(53 customer reviews)

Product Description

With its Blend-N-Serve cups, the Tribest Personal Blender is the portable ice-crushing, smoothie making, coffee grinding powerhouse for people on the go! The Personal Blender allows you to blend multiple recipes without having to stop and clean a bulky blending jar every time you switch recipes. Just add your ingredients in one of its single-serving cups, blend, and serve. You drink right out of the Blend-N-Serve cup, so there's no extra mess to clean up, and no cumbersome jar to wash. The Tribest Personal Blender PB-100 is a compact blender set, with a base unit, a screw-on blending blade, two large 16 oz. Blend-N-Serve cups with 1 commuter lid and 1 regular lid. The Blend-N-Serve cups and the detachable blending blade assembly are all easy to clean. The Tribest Personal Blender features a powerful 200-watt motor that crushes ice, blends frozen fruits, and grinds coffee in a snap. It is perfect for home or for the office. The PB-100 comes with the new S-Blending Blade Assembly already installed, so upgrading the Personal Blender for use with glass mason jars with the new mason jar attachment is quick and easy.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #3828 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Brand: Tribest
  • Model: PB 100
  • Dimensions: 6.50" h x 3.50" w x 4.75" l,

Features

  • America's First Single-Serving Blender
  • The single-serving cups and the detachable blending blade assembly are easy to clean
  • Powerful 200-watt motor crushes ice, blends frozen fruit, and grinds coffee in a snap
  • Advanced safety features prevent operation when the blades are not completely enclosed
  • Includes 2 16oz. cups w/ 1 commuter lid and 1 regular lid, detachable S-Blending Blade Assembly, and 200-watt motor base

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
95 of 96 people found the following review helpful.
4Don't ignore the fine print
By Mark Taylor
This blender looks pretty nice, it is small, and it requires less cleaning than traditional blenders. It is also higher quality than other one cup blenders. That aside... the instructions say that you cannot put the cups into the dishwasher so you must wash by hand. The cups also have measurement marks on the side, but they are very hard to read. One cup was washed by mistake and the plastic became fuzzy.

The blender will chop full sized iced cubes, but not well, it leaves big chunks. If you crush the ice first with your fridge dispenser or with another machine, then this blender does a much better job. Tribest does sell an ice crusher attachment but not with the package I bought.

With thicker shakes content can get stuck up at the bottom of the cup. Do not shake the blender to move the stuck content down towards the blades while the machine is running, this will make the motor smell like burning rubber. Take the cup off, shake it, then put it back on the motor. Also place ice, hard stuff toward the top, close to the blades, and protein powder right at the top, the first thing to touch the blades. These tidbits are not in the instructions but are necessary to avoid excessive shaking and scraping protein powder off the side of the cup later.

The instructions also say not to run the unit for more than 60 seconds at a time with 45 seconds in between. This is probably because there is only a 200 watt motor in the thing. The problem is that 60 seconds is not enough time to blend most smoothies that have ice.

Don't get me wrong, I have used this blender everyday for ten weeks and it is still much better than a larger blender, easier to clean, less noisy, and smaller.

Oh, and the biggest benefit. Since the container is small, 16 oz there is not a lot of air that gets incorporated into the drink. In a normal sized blender the contents expand when making one drink and all that air can make you feel bloated. With this blender there is less air that can be whipped up into your single serving smoothie.
59 of 60 people found the following review helpful.
5Don't believe anything bad about this product!
By J.K.
This is the best, most beloved item in my kitchen!!!

I only wish I had bought the grinder and all the different cups (which I am going to now add on).

I read some of the other reviews---and at first I was also disappointed with this blender. Now that I have learned how to use it, I LOVE IT!!!

DO NOT put Protein powder into it first, it will get stuck in the bottom of the cup which you invert onto the blades (When you invert it, the bottom becomes the top). If you put liquid in first and then the powder there's no problem. You have to learn how to use it. You will want to put the frozen fruit in last if you are making something really thick.

I read the reviews here before I bought mine and a woman said hers was junk but I went ahead and read the rest of the reviews and decided to buy it. If mine breaks in a year, it will have been well worth the price. I use it every day and sometimes three times a day. On a hot day when I want something slushy and cold, I'll put in orange juice with some strawberries and ice---in a flash you have a refreshing drink. It's fabulous.

I could use my Cuisinart, but this blender is so easy and quiet by comparison. There are no buttons to push, you just fill the cup with your juice (I often add protein powder) and something frozen (Ice or frozen fruit) and screw on the lid (which have blades in it) and put it on the blending base and twist. You can either twist and pusle it, or twist and leave it to blend on its own. Then you take the lid off, rinse, and that's it.

I love hummus and I will never make it in the blender because you have to dig it out and most of it gets left behind. With this gadget, you fill the cup, blend it, then screw off the blade lid, screw on the refrigerator lid, and that's it. Nothing to scrape, just put it in the refrigerator. (Oh yes, you do have to rinse off the blade lid, that's the whole clean-up).

If you like frozen drinks or sauces you blend, this is a great gadget!!! I live in two places and I am getting another one for the other place, but I'm buying the complete set this time.
66 of 71 people found the following review helpful.
5This is a great blender!
By B. Choi
I like drinking a smoothie during lunch at the office, but don't want to cart around a icebox full of ingredients, or a giant blender... The Tribest Personal Blender is perfect because I could leave the motor base at work, and can bring the perfect amount of ingredients for my own smoothie in the cup! All I have to do, is put it on the base and let it blend! I get fresh smoothies every day at work! And I don't have to worry about making a mess, having too many or too little ingredients, or lugging around a bulky blender!

Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend 4500 Countertop Blender with 2+ HP Motor

Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend 4500 Countertop Blender with 2+ HP Motor
List Price: $499.00
Price: $378.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
http://www.amazon.com/Vitamix-1700-Turbo-Countertop-Blender/dp/B0018QOG6O?tag=blenderforsale-20

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Witbecks

20 new or used available from $369.95
Average customer review:
(51 customer reviews)

Product Description

It's not a blender - it's a Vitamix. The Vitamix TurboBlend 4500 is designed to render the full bioavailability of whole foods such as apples, strawberries, greens and more. This includes the leaves, peel, stem - where you find all the valuable fiber. The TurboBlend 4500 breaks down whole foods, releasing phytonutrients that help build the immune system, fight disease and improve overall health. The super-efficient 2-peak horsepower motor runs substantially cooler when mixing thicker ingredients like nut butters and frozen treats. It also processes fresh, whole foods in seconds to deliver superior taste and texture. The container is oversized, 64-ounce capacity made from Eastman Triton copolyester material that is virtually unbreakable, more chemical resistant and contains no BPA. Unit features a locking lid design for easy removal. A Healthy Lifestyle recipe book containing over 150 step-by-step recipes in full color in included. Vitamix 4500 is covered by a full 5-year warranty from the most trusted brand in high performance blending equipment.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #1417 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Vitamix
  • Model: 1700
  • Dimensions: 20.00" h x 8.75" w x 7.25" l, 14.00 pounds

Features

  • 2-speed blender with thermally protected 2+ peak horsepower motor
  • Stainless-steel enclosed blade assembly with sealed ball bearings
  • Clear 64-ounce non-toxic polycarbonate container; locking lid and plunger
  • Easy-to-clean front panel; full-color recipe book included
  • Measures 7-1/4 by 8-3/4 by 20 inches; 5-year limited warranty

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
No need to worry about the sound of a strained, unhappy motor with this powerful machine--even when mixing up nut butters or icy concoctions. The versatile countertop appliance features a 2-plus peak horsepower motor, which runs substantially cooler and efficiently generates blade speeds of over 200 MPH for blending, pureeing, chopping, juicing, grinding, and more. The unit's stainless-steel enclosed blade assembly, with sealed ball bearings, can process fresh, whole foods--including the leaves, peel, and stem--in seconds for superior taste and a smooth texture without any stringy bits or unblended chunks. In addition, the unit's easy-to-clean front panel provides moisture-shielded switches, two speed options, and an on/off switch. The heavy-duty, commercial-quality blender also comes equipped with a large, clear, 64-ounce container made from Eastman Tritan copolyester material, which makes it BPA-free, virtually unbreakable, and more chemical resistant. The container offers convenient measuring marks, a plunger, and a spill-proof locking lid that removes easily. Blend a large batch of soup for the whole family or as little as 4 ounces at a time. Make delicious beverages, soups, homemade dips and sauces, salsas, dressings, desserts, baby foods, purees, and smoothies--the options are endless. A Healthy Lifestyle recipe book containing over 150 step-by-step recipes in full color comes included. The 1380-watt two-speed blender measures 7-1/4 by 8-3/4 by 20 inches and carries a five-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
140 of 141 people found the following review helpful.
5Comparison with Blendtec
By kalyson
Vitamix makes excellent products. I have owned this one for about 7 or 8 years and just purchased a Blendtec a few months ago, as well.

Both are great blenders. Comparison of differences:

1) Motor - Blendtec has a more powerful motor. Noticeably more powerful - 3 HP vs 2 HP.

2) Construction - Blendtec is not as substantial in construction. Vitamix feels more heavy-duty, and is heavier. Vitamix will not rock and shake as much. Both are made in the USA with BPA-free containers.

3) Noise level - I don't notice that much difference. Maybe Blendtec is a bit louder, but it doesn't bother me.

4) Controls - There are more controls on the Blendtec - slower/faster, pulse, and preprogrammed selections. For example: Smoothies is one of the preprogrammed selections. So this means the Blendtec will alter its speed on its own in order to make sure items get blended that might otherwise stay bouncing around on top. It is optimized for each setting. You can do the same thing manually with the Vitamix with the spin dial that controls speed. Physically the Vitamix manually spin dial is easier to use. The Blendtec has a digital counter to tell you how many times you have used it.

5) Warranty - the Vitamix warranty is longer - 7 years on ALL parts that can be extended to 10 for an extra cost. Blendtec is normally only 3, not including the containers. This can be extended to 7 at no extra cost if purchased at Costco. The Vitamix had to have its motor replaced once. They were happy to do it and paid for shipping BOTH ways. Customer service was excellent. I can't evaluate this yet for the Blendtec since I haven't had it long enough, but the warranty does not cover shipping both ways.

6) Height - the Blendtec is shorter and fits easily under the cabinets in the kitchen. The Vitamix, at 20.5 inches, does not.

7) Containers - Both are BPA-free. The design of the Blendtec containers, while less substantial, is better. Wider instead of taller, they are easier to clean and easier to get food out of. Plus, this design lends itself to better performance.

8) Performance - the Blendtec will spin and pulverize thicker food even when the Vitamix will sit there and spin with nothing moving on top. The Vitamix requires a bit more work in those cases. If the liquid is thinner, the Vitamix does not do this and spins fine. The Blendtec 4 qt 4 inch blade container is better in this regard even than the 3 qt 3 inch blade container. I don't have to push the food down much at all with the Blendtec. However, with the bit of extra effort, the Vitamix will end up blending just as well as the Blendtec.

9) Splashing - the Blendtec definitely splashes food more in the container than the Vitamix. Be sure to keep that lid on the Blendtec.

10) Guarantee - The Vitamix accepts a return within 30 days and pay for your shipping back:

Vitamix says:

"You get FREE return shipping as part of the Vitamix 30-day NO-RISK trial. Call Vitamix at 1-800-848-2649 for a pre-paid return shipping label. Contact Customer Service at 1-800-848-2649 option #2 to receive a Return Authorization Number."

Blendtec says this about their return policy:

"Any item purchased on [...] that is returned within 30 days of purchase is subject to inspection prior to a refund or credit being given. Shipping fees are non-refundable and in some cases a usage or restocking fee may apply. If a return is near the end of the 30-day satisfaction guarantee period, we ask that you please call a customer service representative so we can document what product is being returned. No refunds will be given after 30 days."



I have enjoyed them both. Both are great products. I like the Blendtec a little better in terms of performance, but the Vitacost did a good job, too. Vitacost customer service was really excellent.




144 of 151 people found the following review helpful.
3Great company, but spring for the 5200
By K. Fredrick
I ordered this product and was anxiously counting down the days until I received it in the mail. It was processed and shipped quickly, as always. I love Amazon! I did, however, return this. I discovered, after this shipped, that it is an older model no longer sold by Vita-Mix. I went on the Vita-Mix website to check things out. For just $40 more, I got the new fangled (refurbished) version with the variable speed (LOVE IT!!!) and the new lid design (heard that the old lids are hard to get off) PLUS a 7-year warranty and free shipping. The 4600 sold through Amazon only has a 5 year warranty and it's the older design. Why not pay an extra $40 and get the awesome higher powered 5200? I'm so happy I did. I'm sure I would have liked the 4600, but I would have kicked myself for taking the older model I think. LOVE the 5200. I use it every day, usually more than once. It is worth every penny. Buy one now and get healthy!!!
133 of 142 people found the following review helpful.
5Vitamix 5000
By Santrelle
I have had my Vitamix 5000 for 5 and 1/2 years and could not be happier with it. Not only does it blend full frozen bananas (see other review), the powerful motor can do a lot more.

We use our Vitamix primarily for smoothies and milkshakes, and have learned that as long as there is some liquid in the container with the ice cubes and frozen bananas it will blend all into a smooth drink with ease.

The machine is loud for sure, not something you can hold conversation over, but we've noted that it blends so quickly, that the moments it takes to liquify are over before we've forgotten what we would have said anyway.

Clean up is also amazing with the Vitamix. As the Vitamix reps demonstrate, all we've done to clean it up after is wipe down any smoothie residue on the outside of the spout, fill container 1/3-ish of the way up with warm/hot water and a drip of soap, then blend on high for 30-ish seconds. Every month or so I DO wash a bit more thouroughly with maybe a drip of bleach and a scrub brush. One thing to consider though, is the longer you leave your container dirty the harder it will be to clean after. If you just rinse right away, you're golden.

I cannot rave more highly about this machine. I'm sure that the multiple hundred dollar price tag is a turn off to most if not all, but consider the time saved as well as more options for healthy beverage alternatives! We've loved our Vitamix and you will too!

VitaMix Vita-Prep 1003 Work Top Blender with 48 Oz Carafe

VitaMix Vita-Prep 1003 Work Top Blender with 48 Oz Carafe (Vita-Mix, VitaPrep)
List Price: $719.00
Price: $619.95
http://www.amazon.com/VitaMix-Vita-Prep-Blender-Vita-Mix-VitaPrep/dp/B000CQT8C8?tag=blenderforsale-20

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by RawReform

3 new or used available from $615.00
Average customer review:
(2 customer reviews)

Product Description

VitaPrep Model 1003 blender with 48 oz. polycarbonate container from VitaMix Features SpecificationsVitaPrep Model 1003 blender with 48 oz. polycarbonate container from VitaMix The VitaMix Vita-Prep with variable speeds is an incredibly powerful unit. The VitaPrep will puree just about anything you put through it including Asparagus. Asparagus is generally a pretty tough vegetable to puree because of the 'strings'. The Vita-Prep handles it perfectly and gives you a smooth, silky and lump-free puree every time.This unit is great for the commercial kitchen it is quick, efficient and will last forever. Vita-Mix has an incredible name and reputation which precedes them. 877MyJuicer rarely sees any VitaMix product need service, however if a problem should ever arise within the 3 year warranty, VitaMix is always right on top of it!Functions:Make countless amounts of beverages! Make an amazing array of soups that actually steam! Make sauces and dips/sauces!Make baby foods/purees! Make dressings! Make desserts!Make juices!Make nut butters! Grind seeds, nuts and more all at different textures with the variable speedsGrindingGrinds fresh flour from whole grains, rice, beans and pasta. Grinds whole spices, mustard seeds and dried citrus rinds into an intensely flavorful recipe ingredients.Grinds nuts into nut butters.ChoppingChop small quantities of ingredients - anything from hard cheeses to soft mushrooms or tomatoes.Quickly chop ingredients such as cabbage for slaw or vegetables for soup. Lower speeds produce a coarse texture. Higher speeds produce smaller particles. Chop 6 cups (1.5L) of ice cubes in just 2-3 seconds.Features:Heavy duty 2+ Peak Horse Power, 1380 Watt motorPatented bladesClear non-toxic polycarbonate containerThermally protected motorComes with lid and plungerComes with a breathtaking recipe bookPatented Accelerator Tool allows you to push thick ingredients down around the blade while the unit is running as well as keeps circulation of ingredients

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #188382 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Brand: Vitamix
  • Dimensions: .0 pounds

Features

  • Package: EA

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
5Five-Star Pummeler
By John M. Davis
This superior blender (which I prefer to regard as a "pummeler" as almost nothing would withstand its deconstruction-efforts) is manufactured in Cleveland from whence only a limited number of superior products originate (Cleveland Clinic being in the same league.) If you're looking for an industrial strength product, practically impossible to intimidate or overload, this would be it. I've had one for over ten years, now; so infatuated with it that I've given them as gifts to friends and lovers on over half-a-dozen occasions. They aren't cheap, certainly, but are worth every penny!
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
5One tool to do it all!
By Gina Glenn
The Vita-Mix blenders are known to be rugged and long lasting. Why own and throw away 10 blenders when you can have one long-lasting blender from Vita-mix.
This blender does it all--crushes ice, blends smoothies flawlessly, grinds coffee, cooks delicious soups, can even grind your grains! Keep in on the kitchen counter and you'll use it with nearly every meal.

No chunky ice, no blend & reblend. Amazing speed and motor.

Cuisinart CBT-700 Die-Cast 700-Watt Blender

Cuisinart CBT-700 Die-Cast 700-Watt Blender
List Price: $270.00
Price: $118.95
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CBT-700-Die-Cast-700-Watt-Blender/dp/B001RNNRE0?tag=blenderforsale-20

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by VCT ELECTRONICS

8 new or used available from $118.94
Average customer review:
(29 customer reviews)

Product Description

With the CuisinartPowerEdge700-Blender, you can make tasty smoothies and great drinks or create gourmet soups and sauces. This blender is the ideal combination of power and performance with our new Power6 Turbo-Edge blade designed to crush ice, puree and mix with maximum efficiency. The timing will always be perfect with a built-in Count-UpTimer, and a great smoothie is just 30-second away with the pre-programmed Smoothie function. The 56-ounce. blender jar and lid are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #26034 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Color: Metallic
  • Brand: Cuisinart
  • Model: CBT-700
  • Dimensions: 8.37" h x 14.62" w x 10.37" l, 11.30 pounds

Features

  • 700-Watt of blending power
  • Die-cast metal housing with backlit functions
  • Dishwasher safe 56-ounce; glass easy-pour blender jar
  • Pre-programmed smoothie and ice crush functions
  • Backlit count-up timer with beep after 3-minute of blending time

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
176 of 180 people found the following review helpful.
4SO far so good!
By G. Harkness
Before I write my review I wanted to add that this is literally the FIFTH blender we have tried in the last 45 days in our search for something decent.

To date we have throughly tested the following and found them all lacking in one way or another:

Oster 4093 Classic Beehive Blender, Chrome

Waring PBB25 Professional Bar Blender, Black and Stainless Steel

Vita-Mix 1700 Turbo Blend 4500 Countertop Blender with 2+ HP Motor

Oster BPST02-B Professional Series Blender, Black

Now our CBT-700 REVIEW:

The Cuisinart CBT-700 is the latest blender model to be released by the company. It combines the wide glass jar design of earlier models with a new SMART electronics system that provides preprogrammed functions for common uses such as making smoothies and crushing ice.

So far our results have been good, but we have noticed that the jar design does not funnel ingredients down into the blades as well as the Oster Beehive blender we tried. However, since as many other reviewers have mentioned on those product pages, Oster blenders suffer from a serious design flaw in which the drive system snaps in half, it really can't be compared to something that will actually last more than a few weeks. The fact that Oster claims in their product ads that they use an ALL METAL DRIVE, yet the main component of the drive is RUBBER left us feeling deceived. Especially when the machines we tried repeatedly broke down within weeks of receiving them. STAY AWAY FROM OSTER!

Back to the CBT-700...

If the blades used on the CBT-700 were larger and filled more of the jar area, I have no doubt that nothing would work better, but since that is not the case, you may have situations where an air pocket prevents thick contents from reaching the blades. I am still wondering why this design uses such a wide jar, yet incorporates a blade system that is the same size or smaller than many models with narrow jars. ??

The Smoothie feature seems to work relatively well, and we are still trying to determine the optimum mix of ingredients in order to get a smoothie that blends well, yet also ends up with the consistency we want. You may want to use a lower spped after the smoothie cycle is done to get the thickness to what you like.

In that regard, this unit's drive system uses the time tested clutch design common on many other blender brands. The gear material appears to be a synthetic rubber, which we are hoping will result in a long life and no broken or stripped teeth over time. It has a bit more "give" than the hard plastic found in most blenders with this type of clutch drive, and should be immune from the degradation that rubber clutches fall victim to over time.

Based on the unit's overall performance, design and appearance, I am able to recommend this highly blender as a good choice in this price range. Although we preferred the results we saw with the Oster Beehive better than anything else we have tried, the fact that the CBT-700 has already surpassed the number of smoothies made before the Oster broke, means that we have to go with something that will also last us more than a couple of months. On that note, this model comes with a 3 year warranty which is better than anything in this price range!

So... At present time we are planning to keep this one, which is saying something based on how many other brands we were forced to return!

I am giving this product a 4 star rating because I feel that no product is perfect, thus I see no value in rating anything with a PERFECT SCORE. Too bad I am in the minority around here, since it seems most people on this site give everything they like a 5 star rating. Throwing out perfect scores like confetti is hardly helpful for other potential buyers.

If anything changes in terms of reliability issues, I will update this review accordingly.

I hope that you found my comments helpful in your decision making process. :o)
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
5Does the job better than anything else we tried.
By The Resident Gourmet
We tried several other blender brands and models before settling on the CBT-700. Previous purchases were wrought with poor performance, cheap materials, or flat out failure of vital components.

The Cuisinart CBT-700 is the latest blender model to be released from the company, having first hit the market in March of 2009. The blender features the wide glass jar of the CBT-500 with a newly designed 6 bladed blade design. The new blade is supposed to be better at creating the vortex action needed to pull the food into the blades for proper blending. It also features a new SMART electronics system that provides preprogrammed cycles for Smoothies and Ice Crushing.

After having been disappointed with the blending action the Waring Classic, we were very pleased with the results we are getting from the CBT-700. I have found that although the Smoothie function works very well, I still feel the need to use the PUREE speed for a few more seconds afterwards to get the smoothie to the consistency I like. Running the smoothie cycle twice would be too much, and this one short extra step is no problem for me.

The blender is relatively quiet considering the 700 watt motor. It is easily the quietest blender we have tried so far and I have no issues with the motor noise. I think those who have complained about this model's motor noise have NO IDEA how much louder competing blenders can be! ;o)

After suffering through the early failure of the Oster Beehive Classic due to a sheared off rubber drive coupler, I was pleased to see that the CBT-700 uses the traditional star shaped "clutch" design used on many other brands. In this case, the clutch is made out of a vinyl plastic that has some give to it similar to rubber clutches, yet immune from the degradation rubber clutches fall victim to after a year or two. Contrary to some of the other reviews, the clutch of the CBT-700 is NOT plastic in the true sense of the word. Plastic is less forgiving and can easily break under stress. Because of this difference, I am optimistic that this clutch material will hold up.

While we are very pleased with the performance of this blender, it does not create a vortex as well as the Oster Beehive Classic model we tried, but since that blender had a serious problem with their rubber drive coupling shearing off easily, we feel that the Cuisinart is the best performer of anything in this price range that WORKS! On that note, the CBT-700 also features a 3 year warranty, which is the best warranty of anything in this price range. The blender is easy to clean and the blade and jar are easy to take apart for cleaning. The lid is also very well designed and we have had no issues with leaking.

Estetically, the CBT-700 is hands down the best looking blender we have tried.

Taking all things into consideration I feel that the CBT-700 deserves a 5 star rating. We have owned this blender for 4 months.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
5This blender doing fine after four weeks of daily use
By Anne Bingham
Thank you, reviewers, especially G. Harkness, who I followed all over the web while researching this! The Puree and Smoothie features on this blender are very useful, and not as noisy as using it at High. I have small hands so sometimes it's hard unscrewing the bottom, but I've learned first to tug on the side of the base, and if that doesn't work (perhaps because the frozen fruit in the smoothie has caused the plastic to contract), I let the jar sit for a minute or two and then put it back on the base to give me extra leverage for untwisting.

So far I've use this blender for smoothies, soups (several kinds), pesto (which is much easier to make than in a narrower blender because there's more room to push down the basil leaves), and mixing oj from concentrate.

Magic Bullet 25 piece Deluxe Set - New Bullet Extras

Magic Bullet 25 piece Deluxe Set - New Bullet Extras
List Price: $99.99
Price: $49.50
http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Bullet-piece-Deluxe-Set/dp/B002RTTX0A?tag=blenderforsale-20

Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days
Ships from and sold by Connect Buy

34 new or used available from $38.99
Average customer review:
(41 customer reviews)

Product Description

Introducing the 25-piece Magic Bullet® Deluxe set-the personal, versatile countertop magician that works like magic. With the Magic Bullet you can chop, mix, blend, whip, grind and more--all in 10 seconds or less-for the fastest, tastiest meals ever! Everything from chopped onions and grated cheese to pasta sauces and snacks. 25-piece Includes: 1 Tall cup 1 Short cup 3-pc Small Pitcher/Blender 1 High-torque power base 2 Stainless steel flat blades (Cross Blade & Flat Blade) 2 Stay fresh re-sealable lids 2 Shaker/steamer tops 2 Bullet-On-The-GoTM 22 oz Mugs 2 Flip Top Lids 3 Party mugs 5 colored lip rings Recipe book

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #42 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Brand: Magic Bullet
  • Model: 32ekp00442
  • Dimensions: 11.00" h x 10.00" w x 13.00" l, 3.00 pounds

Features

  • Includes: 2 Blades, 4 Lids, Small Pitcher/Blender, 3 Party Mugs, 2 Bullet-On-The-GoTM Mugs and More!

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful.
5Not Magic, but still Cool - Super Easy to Clean!
By Gothic Lollipop
Of course it doesn't work exactly like the informercial. It can't really defy the laws of physics (or cooking), but it's great at what it does do (chop and blend small amounts of things), and it's super easy to clean (my favorite part, a blender that isn't a huge hassle clean!). I also like that it isn't at all bulky like a full size blender. I can just leave the base out on the counter, and all the parts and accessories fit into one drawer. I've had mine for only a few days and I've been using it several times a day already for smoothies, coffee drinks and egg dishes.

A couple of warnings, though...

To get the most out of this product you need to read the manual (seriously, I don't normally read the manuals for products I buy, but this one is extremely useful). A lot of the concerns that I've seen in the reviews I've read are adressed there, and there's lots of tips about little things you can do to get the bullet to work better (which blade to use for different foods, how to get the big chunks of things that resist blending to blend, how to clean and care for the bullet so that it's a lot less likely to break, etc.).

However, a few of the recipes in the manual just don't work. So if something sounds like it wouldn't work, it won't. You can't make nacho cheese sauce out of cheddar cheese and jalepenos with no liquid. That just makes a big clump of cheese. The only thing I can think of is that they meant Velveta (and I think that must be what they were using on the infomercial). Omlets that have everything blended into the eggs are also not a good idea...they just don't cook properly (however, the same recipe makes a good breakfast scramble). So yeah, you've got to use some common sense when you try out some of the recipes that come with this thing, because obviously whoever wrote these recipes either didn't know what they were doing or left some stuff out...

But all in all, I love this thing, and I think I'll be using it a lot.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful.
5Great Product, use it all the time
By Maria Viterbo
I've seen this product on TV. The infomercial deal was not for me (price and quantity) so I searched the internet. This Magic Bullet set included everything that I needed at a reasonable price.

I was very excited to try it out when it first came in the mail. It works great. The only problem I'd mention is that it doesn't really work super on cheddar cheese (and I'm guessing other foods with the same consistency). You either have to keep pulsing more than with other foods (meaning do it separately) OR you can just melt it a little in the microwave for 10 seconds first.

I really use this every day. I love snack foods, especially when friends are over, so I use the Magic Bullet to make all sorts of wonderful dips out of whatever food I have in the fridge! Pretty awesome.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
5Love this bullet
By Carol D. Pippin
If you want a great machine to blend, smooth, etc. then this is for you. It does everything and works perfectly. I would recommend to anyone.

Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender, Chopper and Ice Crusher

Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender, Chopper and Ice Crusher: More Power & 2 Times Faster & Recipe Book Included
List Price: $99.99
Price: $66.10
http://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Professional-Blender-Chopper-Crusher/dp/B003O47MKA?tag=blenderforsale-20

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by Cheapees

12 new or used available from $50.00
Average customer review:
(50 customer reviews)

Product Description

Ninja the ultimate food & drink maker new and improved design with Recipe book incuded

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #3497 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Brand: Ninja Blender
  • Model: QB1005

Features

  • Ninja Blender with interchangeable master pod Crush ice in seconds
  • 1 16 oz master prep bowl, 1 master prep pitcher 40 ozs, 1 Master prep pitcher 48 ozs, 3 Custom storage lids
  • Blend frozen fruits into creamy smoothies
  • Chop fresh ingredients evenly - no more mush
  • More power and 2x faster - professional blade system

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
204 of 227 people found the following review helpful.
1Beware of the hype on this product. Infomercial hype.
By george spelvin
There are two serious issues with this item which minimizes it's value.

First, the power is only 450 watts, which is about the same as the normal household blender. The people who have been writing these positive reviews - reviews upon which I relied when I bought this thing - seem like they have never heard of a blender or food processor. The bottom line with regards to power is indisputable - this is the same wattage as a weak blender. Regardless of what people are saying, bear this in mind - no more power than a blender. That's the biggest problem.

Second, the position of the blades relative to the size of the containers does not crush ice into snow as stated (unless you are willing to continually remove the motor and lid, and reposition the ice and/or the contents) and does not chop veggies or anything else evenly.

I tried to crush ice into snow. After repositioning the contents 4 times, I still had chunks of ice (the ice I started with was already crushed ice from our freezer dispenser). So yes, you'll get some snow. But you'll also get so many chunks of ice that it makes this thing useless relative to a blender. When I chopped veggies, the size difference was annoying. Any attempt to more finely chop the larger pieces liquified the smaller pieces.

Here's the thing. If you want to truly crush ice into snow, you need a professional blender (as you see in coffee shops or smoothie outlets). Amazon carries them, they operate on 1000 watts, and cost $200. The base motor (with blade) has to be wider than traditional blenders and the container wider throughout. The idea of 2 or 3 tiers of blades does not help in this regard.

If you want to chop veggies, you need a good food processor where the blades are proportionate to the container. These blades are far too spread apart to chop evenly.

One more thing. This product comes with 3 separate containers for different purposes. You'll need 2-3x the storage space of an ordinary blender.

The Amazon ad says that this lists for $69.95 (as of today). I paid $59.95 at Kohls and had a 30% off coupon. I also had $10 of Kohls cash that I used. That means my cost was about $32 before tax.

And I'm still taking it back.

Beware of some of these reviews. I mean, I have yet to read reviews that were so hyped up. I have to wonder about the origin. Just use common sense and if you still wat to try it, make sure you save the box and receipt.

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful.
5A great Blender, but wait, there's more!
By P. Lymburner
I've had this little gem only a few days, but have already put it through a few paces. I bought the "professional" model for the extra power (50 watts doesn't seem like much, until you try to crush ice). The unit is easy to set up, store, and clean. I like the fact that the power unit is very small yet powerful. The power "pod" moves from one container to the other without the necessity of cleaning blades if several different items are being chopped or blended. My first smoothie came out without any lumps of either ice or frozen fruit, something that was impossible in my more expensive Krups machine. I've made salsa in the smaller bowl, then blended icy Margaritas in the pitcher in the next moment without having to clean the blades or bowls (each bowl/pitcher comes with a specific blade set just for that container). I find it practical, simple, and sturdy. Great value for the money, because you are getting a blender with 2 sizes of pitchers (40 and 48 oz), plus a food processer with a 16oz bowl. Each comes with a separate lid in case you wish to store in the same bowl...although I don't think this is something I will do. I must still remind myself to PULSE the machine as there are no controls like on a traditional blender or food processor, but I've retired my Krups and the Oster in favor of this model. The parts are dishwasher safe, but very easy to hand wash, also. So far, I love it!
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful.
3Good, but with reservations
By M. MCWILLIAMS
The NINJA is a good product, but not great. As most products marketed by "As Seen On TV" ad campaigns are usually schlock, it's a step up but there are some caveats that a buyer should consider before purchasing one of these units.

My impressions: The motor, unfortunately, only has one speed and seems slow. I expected the choppers to exhibit more speed. However, the unit contains either four or six blades equally spaced on a shaft (depending upon the container size). They are sharp, so beware. It may be that I got an older model, but I thought the Professional model had the upgraded motor unit and was 2x faster. Cleaning is no more difficult that a regular blender, but maybe efficient since the prep bowls can only be opened on one end.

For food, it's actually better at chopping rather than for puree use. It makes delicious guacamole. Useful "snow" is transformed from ice for drinks, but it tends to collect on the sides in which you have to remove the blades and stir, and then probe through the mixture to reinsert the blade shaft onto a post - a big nuisance. However, once it is removed, it allows for complete access to your food. The real advantage to the NINJA design is the interchangeability of prep bowls and blades with the head and that the containers can be used as storage of prepared product. A high speed blender may be just as useful though, especially if you're going to use it primarily for drinks. For what you will pay for the Pro unit (roughly $80+ with shipping), I would compare the two carefully.
Waring PBB25 Professional Bar Blender, Black and Stainless Steel
List Price: $200.00
Price: $129.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KSB580NK-Metallic-5-Speed-Blender/dp/B000CSNVEM?tag=blenderforsale-20

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

8 new or used available from $126.49
Average customer review:
(109 customer reviews)

Product Description

This is the blender the professionals use%2C with its gleaming 32 oz%2E stainless steel carafe and heavy duty commercial grade motor%2E This Professional Bar Blender can crush ice fast%2C at both high and low speeds%2E Great for blending frozen fruits%2C slushes%2C drinks and a lot more%2E The top%2Dquality stainless steel blades cut swiftly through solids and liquids and will whip%2C mix%2C chop%2C pur%E9e or liquefy in seconds%2E The self%2Dcleaning blade assembly is just one more reason this premium blender is the professional%27s choice%2C and one more reason to blend with a Waring%21

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #4694 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Color: Black/Stainless
  • Brand: Waring
  • Model: PBB25
  • Dimensions: 8.00" h x 9.75" w x 13.75" l,

Features

  • 32-ounce stainless-steel container--perfect for 2 tall blender drinks
  • Powerful 390-watt motor crushes ice fast
  • High and low speeds cover mixing, chopping, and pureeing
  • Heavy-duty, black, baked-enamel base with chrome accents
  • Measures 14 by 8 by 7 inches; 1-year warranty, 5-year motor warranty

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Bandleader and inventor Fred Waring introduced the first blender in 1936; more than 60 years later the Waring blender remains the standard for the field. With this stainless-steel, black bar blender, the company has captured perfectly the sleek, modern look of its first models. The perfect cocktail party appliance, it doesn't just look good but has a strong, efficient (though slightly noisy) motor that zips through ice and frozen strawberries. The metal keeps drinks cold longer, too. The blade is nondetachable, so you never need to worry about the seal deteriorating. The stainless-steel container is also perfect for a classic diner-style milkshake. --Maria Dolan
Editor's Choice:Waring's professional bar blender only has two speeds, high and low, and it doesn't need any more, which is why it's our choice for best blender over $100. This 350-watt blender is really for professional bartenders, but it's also a dream for the home user that plans on blending often, or on blending a lot of ice or frozen drinks. The blades are stainless steel, as is the 32-ounce jug.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
164 of 167 people found the following review helpful.
5The best Christmas present I've gotten in years
By R. A. Ward
I've long been interested in having a really great blender. Something that will crush ice, puree soup, make smoothies for breakfast or snacks and of course blend up a nice margarita. :)
I looked at dozens of blenders, and finally chose the Waring bar model in stainless based on design, other reviews and power. The metal jar was also very important. I have always been afraid of breaking the glass on other blenders I have owned, and in fact have broken one.
This blender is just lovely. It is loud, but because it is so powerful and simply *works*, you don't have to run it very long anyway. There are no plastic buttons to get sticky and goopy. One *metal* switch and two settings are plenty.
Rather than the "turn to lock the jar in" method that most blenders use, this one drops in. You can't do it "wrong" -- it just won't go in if you have the canister turned the wrong way. The jar, which does need to be held steady with one hand, never kicks or bucks when crushing ice. You never feel like the machine is going to burn up or fly off the counter. And when you're done, you just grab the handle and lift it off, without fighting the locking mechanism -- because it doesn't have one.
The simplicity of design and use is a very big part of why I love this blender, but the fact that it's metal is a huge plus. It keeps the drinks cold, it washes out *very* easily, even when doing hot stuff that would instantly stick to the glass jars of most blenders.
My blender has never failed, never struggled, never even broken a sweat while performing any task I ask it to. It looks good, cleans easily and is easy to use. What more does anyone need in a blender? I can't think of a thing.
77 of 78 people found the following review helpful.
5blender of the year
By Rob Roy
A name you can trust and have trusted for years. This blender does it all. weather you need 1 drink or 10 drinks. Problems crushing ice with your old blender? Not this one. I go through pounds upon pounds of ice a night and this blender doesn't even slow up.
85 of 88 people found the following review helpful.
5Waring Blender
By Shawntell R. Stewart
This blender has been completely satisfying. It crushes ice consistantly and thoroughly. My smoothies alwalys come out like silk. I use the blender several times a day, and the motor hasn't burned out. The steel adds a unique touch while leaving me fearless of broken glass. And, the warrenty that comes with it is a comfort in the event I have problems with the unit. I highly recommend this product for it's quality, distinctiveness, and dependability.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Hamilton Beach 50242N WaveMaker 10-Speed Blender

Hamilton Beach 50242N WaveMaker 10-Speed Blender, Black
List Price: $39.99
Price: $37.71 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-50242N-WaveMaker-10-Speed/dp/B0017XGE7M?tag=blenderforsale-20

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

18 new or used available from $27.67
Average customer review:
(33 customer reviews)

Product Description

Quality and style combined into one essential kitchen appliance. Hamilton Beach blenders are built to last and backed up with a 3-year limited warranty. The patent-pending Wave~Action System ensures smooth drinks every time, and each blender is designed with convenience and easy cleanup in mind. Highlights: Wave-Action system continuously forces mixture down into the blades for smooth results. 450 Watts peak power. Large 40 -Ounce jar. Stainless steel Ice Sabre blades. No ice chunks - this is the result of the new wave action system that blends everything in the jar and not just the lower portion of the jar contents.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #2713 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Size: Medium
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Hamilton Beach
  • Model: 50242N
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 13.50" h x 8.30" w x 11.30" l, 6.00 pounds

Features

  • Revolutionary Wave-Action system pulls mixture down into the blades for smooth results
  • 40-Ounce dishwasher safe glass jar
  • 450 Watt peak-power motor
  • Patented stainless steel Ice Sabre blades
  • Counter-stable jar base

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful.
5Great Blender!
By J. Freeman
This blender does an awesome job of handling frozen strawberries for smoothies. It's also fun to watch the wave action. Easy to use, easy to clean.
37 of 40 people found the following review helpful.
5Glass makes the difference
By E. Refermat
The glass container really sets this blender apart. It doesn't stain, it's easier to clean then plastic and just plain looks classier. Also, I've always had trouble with frozen drink mixes (the bottom blends, but the top part never moves down to the bottom). I always thought I didn't do it right. I never have that problem with this blender -- cheers to a well blended margarita!
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful.
5Just What I Needed
By Jack M. Walter
I'm glad I decided on this blender. A bit expensive, I think, but you definitely get your money's worth. It blends smoothly and efficiently, and I love that the container is solid glass rather than plastic. I recommend this very highly.

Blendtec TB-621-20 1,560-Watt Total Blender, Black From Blendtec

Blendtec TB-621-20  1,560-Watt Total Blender, Black
List Price: $599.00
Price: $399.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
http://www.amazon.com/Blendtec-TB-621-20-560-Watt-Total-Blender/dp/B000GIGZXM?tag=blenderforsale-20

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

6 new or used available from $325.00
Average customer review:
(153 customer reviews)

Product Description

When the blending button is pushed on the Smart-Touch technology digital touchpad, a preprogrammed cycle automatically speeds up and slows down to draw ingredients into the 29,000 rpm blade and thoroughly blend all the ingredients. It shuts off when the cycle is complete, so recipes will turn out perfect every time. The blending jar is our famous patented square jar design, just like our professional models used in U.S. coffee, juice, and restaurant chains, with a 64-ounce capacity and a one-year warranty. The patented two-prong stainless-steel blade carries a lifetime warranty. The blender has a powerful commercial-quality, 1,560 watt 3 HP direct-drive motor (model number E3) and comes with an ice-crushing guarantee and a three-year warranty on the motor and base. The Total Blender replaces these other kitchen appliances: Grain mill, juicer, bread machine, ice-cream maker, smoothie maker, blender, milkshake maker, coffee grinder, ice crusher. And it does the job better than the individual products, for a fraction of the cost. Material used : BPA free Copolyester.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #738 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Blendtec
  • Model: TB-621-20
  • Dimensions: 15.50" h x 8.00" w x 7.00" l, 11.00 pounds

Features

  • Commercial-quality 1,560-watt countertop blender with 3 HP direct-drive motor
  • Preprogrammed blending cycles; digital touchpad controls; auto shutoff
  • 2-prong stainless-steel blade spins at up to 29,000 rpm; ice-crushing guarantee
  • 2-quart square blending jar; secure-fitting lid; user guide and recipes included
  • Measures 7 by 8 by 15.5 inches; 3-year motor-base warranty; 1-year jar warranty; lifetime coupling-and-blade warranty

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Replace up to nine other kitchen appliances with this easy-to-use countertop blender--no need for a separate grain mill, juicer, bread machine, ice-cream maker, smoothie maker, blender, milkshake maker, coffee grinder, or ice crusher. With its powerful commercial-quality, 1,500-watt 3-horsepower direct-drive motor, the blender can handle almost any kitchen task. The all-in-one appliance makes smoothies, fresh juice, ice cream, milkshakes, cappuccinos, margaritas, soups, sauces, breads, dressings, salsas, and more. It can even turn ice to snow and comes with an ice-crushing guarantee.
In addition, the countertop blender’s exclusive trademarked Smart-Touch tec-nology takes the guesswork out of blending and food processing. Simply press a button from the digital touchpad and the unit's preprogrammed cycle automatically speeds up and slows down to draw ingredients into the two-prong stainless-steel blade, which spins at up to 29,000 rpm, thoroughly blending ingredients so recipes turn out perfect every time. The appliance shuts itself off automatically once the cycle has completed. Another highlight includes the unit's square, polycarbonate blending jar, which holds a generous 64 ounces and features a large handle, measurement markings, and a secure-fitting lid. A user guide and recipe book with more than 100 recipes comes included. The blender measures 12 by 10 by 20 inches and carries a three-year warranty on the motor base, a one-year warranty on the jar, and a lifetime warranty on the coupling and blade.

From the Manufacturer

Blendtec’s Total Blender isn’t just a blender. It’s an all-in-one appliance that makes smoothies, fresh juice, ice cream, milkshakes, cappuccinos, margaritas, soups, sauces, breads, dressings, salsas, and more. With the Total Blender, you can blend, chop, grind, freeze, cook, hash, crush, mince, dice, mill, purée, and more, replacing up to nine other appliances with one fast, easy-to-use machine at a fraction of the cost. You can really bring the professional experience home, starting with the patented two-prong stainless-steel blade with lifetime warranty and the unique 64-ounce-capacity square jar, which you’ve probably seen before. For years, blending professionals have used Blendtec machines in the best coffee shops, juice bars, gyms, and restaurants around the world. The reason for this popularity is simple: Blendtec machines are known for producing the best, most consistent results in taste and texture. With the Total Blender, you'll enjoy the same great results in your home.
Exclusive Smart-Touch Tec-nology Raises the Blending Bar

The Total Blender’s precision and power comes from its exclusive Smart-Touch Tec-nology, which means when a cycle button is pushed, the Total Blender automatically speeds up and slows down, then shuts off when the cycle is complete, so recipes turn out perfect every time. Since it uses one-touch electronics, there are no old-fashioned knobs, dials, or switches to clean up. There are six different preprogrammed cycles: ice cream/frozen yogurt, ice crush/milkshake, soups/syrups, sauces/dips/dressings/batters, whole/juice, and smoothie. There are also speed-up and speed-down buttons for altering power, as well as a pulse button. The Total Blender has so much power that it turns ice to snow and actually comes with an ice-crushing guarantee. Its 1,500 watt, 3-horsepower direct-drive motor \ that spins the blade at 29,000 rpm makes it the most powerful home blender on\ the market. From the home gourmet chef to the everyday smoothie fan, from hot soups to cold ice creams, from whole fruit juices to savory sauces, the Total Blender fits all lifestyles.
Features and Specifications

  • Patented 2-prong stainless-steel blade
  • 64-ounce jar with measurement markings and a secure-fitting lid
  • Six blending presets, plus speed up and speed down and pulse
  • 1,500 watt, 3 HP direct-drive motor spins blade at 29,000 rpm
  • Includes recipe book with more than 100 recipes to get you started
  • Dimensions: 12 by 10 by 20 inches
  • Comes in black or white
  • 3-year warranty on motor base
  • 1-year warranty on jar
  • Lifetime warranty on coupling and blade

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
270 of 273 people found the following review helpful.
5Great blender, but buy hearing protection to go with it!
By Shopperholic
This is an awesome blender. It blends stuff like you've never seen before and I am really pleased with it. But holy cow is it LOUD!! The cat hates me. I got a pair of earmuffs from the shooting supply place to wear while using it. Maybe overkill, but I think that using it twice a day without them would result in hearing damage eventually. I wish they sold an enclosure for this one like they do for the commercial ones....I'd definitely buy one.

I bought this because I had a juicer and liked it. But I felt that tossing all that pulp and fiber had to be making me miss out on a lot of health benefits. And just trying to spoon some of it back into the juice doesn't work, it's gross. This blender blends whole fruits and vegetables wonderfully, I can still get the fiber and in a drinkable form.
After I bought this, I read a webpage where they talked about blending an avocado WITH the pit, and I tried it. It works, I ended up with an amazingly smooth mousse-like creamy pudding. Not something I'd do every day, but it was very interesting. I have been making kale banana blueberry smoothies for breakfast and it blends everything into one homogenous shake. No bits of leaves, chunks of stuff, etc. I'm enjoying it. I just wish it wasn't so loud.
215 of 217 people found the following review helpful.
4An excellent blender with many purposes
By P. Estrada
I have owned this blender for about a month. So far it has worked great. It is a great tool to have if you expect to blend stuff on a daily basis. The larger blades and powerful motor makes my Oyster beehive blender feel like a toy. It will blend things that conventional blenders would not even begin to blend. Baby food can be puree very well. Much better than with the food processor. This machine can basically replace a food processor, a juicer, and a grinder.


Things I like:
1. It blends just about anything do to the large blades and powerful 1500 watt motor. And it does it much faster than a conventional blender.
2. It's built in the USA and the parts seem to be good quality.
3. One push button operation allows you to blend w/o having to time it or supervise it.
4. lifetime warranty on coupling and blade.
5. It fits under standard counters.

Things I do not like:
1. The base has a cheap feel to it because of the plastic. For the price, I think it should have been metal.
2. Has lesser warranty than its competitor (Vita-Mix).
3. I expect an expensive tool like this to have better dampening to absorb noise and vibration.
4. The plastic container (polycarbonate) scratches easily when mixing grains, seeds, etc.

385 of 396 people found the following review helpful.
5Vegetarian's Best Friend
By Eco Mama's Guide To Living Green
I purchased this blender after reading THE CHINA STUDY, EAT TO LIVE, and GREEN FOR LIFE (all Highly recommended and if you are buying this blender you'd be missing out if you didn't read these books, particularly GREEN FOR LIFE).

All three books really drive home the importance of eating Greens (Swiss Chard, Kale, etc.)on a daily basis. For me, this was a challenge. The only way I could tolerate kale was to slather it with olive oil or butter and salt and cook it, thereby destroying most of the benefits. Even then I ate it dutifully and without pleasure. Then I read GREEN FOR LIFE and got the idea to blend up raw greens with bananas and other fruit into nutrient dense green smoothies.

You need the high power blender for this sort of thing, other blenders can't handle it. Thank goodness the Blendtec was mentioned in reviews for GFL, or I would have never even known about it. I ordered it with fingers crossed. It was a lot of money to plunk down for a blender and I was a little scared I wouldn't be able to drink the green stuff.

Not only did the blender perform like a dream, it makes a killer green smoothie--no taste of kale! The cost of the blender is worth it for this reason alone. Now I can get my daily intake of greens without having to endure it. It's actually delicious and gives you a buzz of energy way better than coffee.

I'm telling you all this because I think that Blendtec has missed a major market demographic. The recipie book that comes with the blender can be discarded for this demographic. A lot of people need these blenders for a vegan or raw food and greens lifestyle and I think most of them end up with a Vita-mix because of the way they are marketed.

I have had a Vita Mix and can tell you this is Way better. One thing not mentioned in the specs is that the blendtec is only about 15 inches tall (unlike the Vitamix which is 20). That means it fits on your counter under your cabinets--very important for an appliance you might be using every day. Mine now occupies the space where the coffee pot used to be and I use it at least twice a day.

You can make nut butters, various flours, breads, soup....etc. It's so powerful I think the motor could fly a small plane.

You can walk away from this blender and it knows when to shut itself off, it is not as loud as the Vitamix even though it is more powerful, and the clean-up is a cinch. This is the single best appliance I've ever purchased. The only thing I wish it had is a retractable cord and better customer service.