5 comments about Cuisinart SPB-7PK SmartPower 40-Ounce 7-Speed Electronic Blender, Pink.

1. I have had this blender for close to a decade. My old one just died on me, so I bought a new cuisine art blender, the SPB-10Ch. It sucks. The shakes I make come out icy and the spout it worthless on it. I have to turn it on the side just for the shake to pour out properly. I like this one so much better. It lasts long the shakes come out as smooth as ice cream and it is pink!



2. I love it also because it works great and I do love the pink and it is part of the Breast Cancer Awareness fund so Cuisinart donates a portion of the proceeds to the fund, so it is double good! The blender works great, did a fantastic job on my pina coladas, chopping the ice, etc.



3. i really was scared to order this online but i'm so glad i did not only did i save $50 but I was surprised when it came in brand new in it's own packaging. it looks and works great! i love it!



4. This is a great blender. I had a Cuisinart Duet before - which still works but it's not nearly as pretty as this pink one. It's reasonably quiet and does the job. Cuisinart machines are generally a good investment. I'll have to use it more to see if it's really a great product.



5. Bought this blender after the last one died. I didn't realize how wimpy the old one was until I got this one. My smoothies are no longer lumpy! Plastic lid, glass pitcher,plastic bottom ring. The only thing I'm not thrilled with is the the plastic fitting at the bottom. It's a large piece of rigid plastic that I'm afraid will crack or discolor. And, since the color is 1/2 the reason I chose this one, I would hate to see the pink fade.

5 comments about KitchenAid? 5-Speed Custom Metallic Blender.

1. This blender replaces a 20 year old Hamilton Beach that finally gave up the ghost (after being abused by my lovely spouse one too many times ;-) ).
   
   I actually purchased the refurbished one direct from KitchenAid for $100.
   
   Out of the box, the pitcher had a small leak, so a thin line of blended goodness and maybe a touch of oil were getting slung around the inside of the base of the pitcher (where the pitcher fits over the base). SOLUTION: Call KitchenAid Customer Service and voila, they are shipping me a new one (they said keep the old, leaky one--I may try to fix it). Now THAT is what I call great customer service.
   
   There is some confusion as to the Watts (power) that this thing has:
   
   120V x 6A = 720 Watts (the base simply says 120V, 6A motor)
   but
   0.9hp * 746W/hp = 671 Watts (the advertised spec on the KitchenAid site has 0.9hp)
   or
   650 Watts (according to JC Penny)
   
   Let's call it 700 Watts and move on....
   
   Regardless, this blender has plenty of power to crush ice (made smoothies for the kids) and make chocolate malts/shakes.
   
   PROS:
   1. The pitcher/base interface between the motor and the pitcher itself is intelligently designed (spouse proof?)--no more rubber gears that get ground down to tiny nubs.
   2. The pitcher/base interface mechanically makes it essentially tip-proof--it's not coming off the base unless you lift it all the way off).
   3. The pitcher is one piece, large (56 oz is nice), and shatter proof (I think glass is a bad idea--think breaking it in the sink while cleaning as it slips out of your hand)
   4. The button interface is smooth--no cleaning between mechanical buttons
   5. It looks good
   6. KitchenAid has top-notch customer service (we own a stand mixer and a refrigerator as well of the same brand)
   7. At $100 for refurb (or $129 at JC Penny new), the price
   8. A built in cord storage on the bottom
   9. 5 year warranty=new), 6 month warranty=refurbished
   
   CONS:
   (None that I can think of)
   
   Great machine for home use.



2. This blender has lived up to it's reputation. I thought that I should go ahead and invest in a Vitamix, but at twice the price I just couldn't afford it. I have not regretted my decision.



3. I received this as a Christmas gift in 2007. So I have had it for four full months and I have not had a single complaint. I read all the reviews about the sound of the motor but decided it was the best for the price anyway. I'm glad the reviews didn't deter me; I expected it to sound like a jet engine from all the reviews, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out it sounds like, you guessed it, a blender! The "Liquify" mode is the only one that is really loud, but you only need run it for a few seconds and Voila!
   
   I love the "Crush Ice" mode. It's perfect for margaritas and smoothies with lots of frozen fruit. I use this blender just about everyday. No leaks, no motor problems. That's right...it's a Kitchen-Aid!
   
   I hand-wash mine after every use. It's never seen the inside of the dishwasher. I'd be interested in hearing from someone who is brave enough. I don't want to ruin a good thing!
   
   Buy this blender! You won't regret it! It's the same price just about everywhere, so no need to comparison shop.



4. I have only used this a couple of times but it is awesome. I wanted a blender which would crush ice in drinks and this does an excellent job. So far it is the best blender yet.



5. This is an excellent, high-quality blender. We replaced an inexpensive Oster with it and like this KitchenAid much, much more. Things I really like:
   
   1) Power - this blender whips through hard-frozen fruit like nothing is there for wonderful smoothies.
   2) Smooth, one piece control panel - makes for super-easy clean-up as there are no cracks or crevices to trap spills. Yet, the buttons behind the panel still have a nice tactile click response so you know you pressed one.
   3) Brushed nickel finish - very attractive on your counter.
   4) Polycarbonate jar - this worried me when considering this purchase as our old blender had a nice, thick glass jar. But, after using this blender for 3 months, I like this jar better. It is thick, yet lightweight, and hasn't scratched (although I only use rubber or silicone spatulas inside any way).
   5) One piece blades & jar - our old blender had a screw-off base, resulting in 4 parts for clean-up - the base, the blade assembly, the jar itself & a rubber gasket. This blender's blades are permanently mounted in the bottom of the jar making for easy clean-up. I either just put it in the dishwasher on the bottom shelf, or I rinse it out, fill it up halfway with warm water & a small squirt of dishwasher detergent and run it on medium for 10 seconds or so.
   
   Unlike another reviewer, I have experienced no leaks. There is a hex hut on the bottom of the jar that holds in the blade assembly & I am sure there is a rubber gasket underneath the nut. If I ever do get a leak, I plan trying to slightly tighten this nut with an adjustable wrench - I imagine it could possibly loosen over time due to vibration.
   
   The bottom line is that while there are certainly many less expensive blenders on the market, this is an extremely powerful, well-built & attractive option. I think it is worth the price (I had a $20 rebate to lessen the sting), but others may not depending on their budget.
   
   UPDATE after a summer of making daiquiris & margaritas - This blender makes FANTASTIC frozen drinks. It really pulverizes the ice & frozen fruit to make a killer frozen cocktail!

5 comments about Vita-Mix 1363 CIA Professional Countertop Blender with 2+ HP Motor, Platinum.

1. I have no complaints whatsoever.
   The product is just beautiful. I'm enjoying it and to be honest with you, i was pleasantly surprised.
   The power of this vita mix blender is just amazing. I bought a juicer from a company after i bought the Vita-mix, and it died the same day. I had to send it back and get a refund. The vita mix is still going strong.
   
   Jan



2. Why, you say, should I spend this insane amount of money for a blender? My answer: Because it's worth it. There is simply no comparison to other blenders. The Vitamix is the best. It really does crush ice effectively, make ice cream in seconds from frozen fruit and cream, and produces drinks and sauces that are utterly smooth, plus soups to die for. I make my own hummus and used it for baby food regularly, guests love it for silky frozen drinks, and it lasts--with zero problems. It's a quality device. Advertising is geared to health food because you can make drinks or soups from fresh produce and take advantage of the natural fiber that juicers take out, and they're right, but that's not why I bought it. I bought it because I hate the odd chunky bits of fruit in my smoothies, I hate taking blenders apart for cleaning and I wanted something I could depend on to do what I wanted each and every time. I've not been disappointed.



3. This Vita-Mix blender is amazing. Well made, extremely versatile and quite large... this machine means business. The included dvd and recipe book are top notch and include many recipes to showcase the machines abilities. Beware, this machine is very powerful... start on low and then "rev" it up to high speed as the instructions indicate. I've created Jamba Juice quality smoothies and Sbucks quality frappuccino's for houseguests and they are always impressed. Worth every penny.



4. The Vita-Mix is by far the best blender I have ever used. It does great purées, soups and smoothies. Very well made, easy to use and easy to clean, it may be a little expensive but it is well worth it. Very happy with this blender



5. This is the Mack Truck of countertop kitchen appliances. Ideal for making blended ice drinks, smoothies and vegetable purees for soup. We first noticed this mighty machine being used in a major coffee chain, then in fast food places, and finally at most restaurant bars. We were delighted to learn that the very same commercial kitchen equipment is now available for home kitchen use.
   It comes with an astounding amount of great recipes in a cookbook as heavy as the machine itself. Surprised to learn that it is possible to make soup in this machine without cooking. Just the intense friction caused by fast-moving blades chopping and grinding vegetable ingredients heats soup to serving temperature as fast as heating in a microwave.
   The Vita-Mix is more than a blender, it is a professional kitchen food prep machine that is endorsed by chef instructors at the Culinary Institute of America.
   We have also used this amazing American-made machine to puree our own baby food, because we trust locally grown produce more than what comes pre-processed in grocery store jars of baby food.
   This is a lifetime investment in great equipment.

5 comments about Hamilton Beach 52283WV 12-Speed Wave-Action Blender, Red.

1. One of my criteria in my blender search was that it had to be red. When I found this one and read the (mostly) good reviews I decided to take the plunge and buy it.
   
   It's a very pretty blender and the container is glass, which I really like. It's sturdy and well-made.
   
   Unlike some of the reviews, however, I am unable to get ALL the ice to totally crush, no matter what setting I use. It's not enough to make the beverages undrinkable, but that's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
   
   It's definitely a good value for the money!



2. Had this blender for about six months and used it four or five times, nothing heavy duty, just purée veggies. Few nights ago while using it to purée cups of cooked chickpeas, some smoke came out of the motor base then it just die. What a piece of junk!



3. I was hoping, based on others' reviews, to receive a better-than-average blender. This is not. Smoothies/slushies get ice chucks. The blender does not really lend itself to these type of drinks. Popping the top to use a spatula to assist is just like any other blender. I really hoped for more/better.



4. I was finally able to kill this blender after using it every single morning to make a smoothie drink made up of frozen fruit,it took me over 5 years. I'm glad to see they are still making this model. Love the glass pitcher which has a very wide base when it is removed from the blender itself. This keeps you from knocking it over when it is full of blended food. Best small appliance money I have every spent.



5. This little guy powers through just about everything you throw at it. It crushed ice and made margaritas like that was its job. The "Wave-Action" design actually does help mix things around inside the blender. The only con is that it is pretty noisy, especially when doing ice or icy drinks, but that's a loud process regardless of what blender you use.

5 comments about Vita-Mix 1300 TurboBlend 4500.

1. OK, so I know you're thinking "do I really need to spend $350+ on a blender?" Well if it was just an ordinary blender, I'd agree. But, this is no ordinary blender. This is a blender/food processor/spice chopper/ice chopper/smoothy maker etc.. all in one. It grinds seeds and grains into flour, literally in seconds. I buy whole wheat berries and throw them into the' Turboblend' for a few seconds until it turns into a flour then add a little olive oil and water and make delicious flat breads on the stove.(bread that is actually good for you!) When you blend raisins or apples or anything for that matter, it blends to such a smooth consistency that there are no chunks or pieces left. Of course if you want it left chunky just blend it for less time. Anyway, this is a great machine and by the way, clean up is a breeze. Stop thinking about it and just buy it!



2. Can't say enough good things about my Vita Mix other than I use it every day since I started to make better and healthier choices for me and my family.
   It's a must for smoothies and protein shakes not to mention home made salad dressings, soups, etc, etc. You will never regret the purchase and find tons of uses for it - I know I do.



3. Good blender that was worth the price. It was delivered on a timely basis and we didn't have any problems.



4. This blender simply doesn't live up to the hype. I purchased one after agonizing over the decision between the vitamix or the blendtec for nearly a year. I decided to go with the vitamix, largely because of their reputation as being "good enough" and having an outstanding warranty. Well, in retrospect, I wish I had gone with the blendtec. On the plus side, the vitamix isn't very loud - it's about as obnoxious as a vacuum cleaner, but it's not ear-damaging-horrible. On the minus side, it simply doesn't work as well as people make out. You still have strawberry seeds in smoothies, you still have issues with cavitation, you still have to cut apples into small chunks or they get stuck to the blade and don't blend, etc. The container is well made and sturdy, but is a pain to clean, and as many have noted, doesn't fit under the cabinet. Yes, yes, I thought this was a stupid complaint before I bought the thing too, but believe me, it does make a difference, even in a large kitchen. Simply put, other than having a plunger (which is messy to use, in case anyone cares) and a larger container, this performs on just about the same level as my old osterizer (ok, the osterizer left many more things to be desired, but was an eighth the price of the vitamix). Simply put, at this point, even though the blendtec is ear-splitting, and the container sucks, and their warranty isn't anywhere near as good as the vitamix one, I wish I had gone with it instead. FWIW, I have no affiliation with or interest in either company, and I'm not a fanboy of the blendtec videos (though my 5y/o loves them :)) - this is as unbiased a review as you're likely to find.



5. Over powered for smoothies??? NO! What do you think Jamba Juice uses? I worked for a grocery store for 6 years and we used the Vitamix in the coffee area, Let Me Tell You...the machine was used ALL day EVERY day and only had to be serviced ONCE in the six years I was there. It ground ice all day and the drinks were extremely consistant. Customer Service is AWESOME! We beat those things up. The plastic never became cloudy or discolored. They are very easy to clean especially if you fill them with hot water when you're done. If there is goo on them that is hard to get off, put hot water and a little dish soap in the blender and turn it on. NO PROBLEM! LOVE it and can't praise it enough. I'm looking for one of my own right now!

5 comments about Braun MR430HC Multiquick Deluxe Hand Blender & Chopper.

1. I love this, I don't use it often, but when I have a reason to it is great. I mix cakes, shakes, beat potatoes, sauces, it's endless.It's even submersable.



2. Our current Braun stick blender is about 6 years old. After constant daily use making smoothies (with ice), guacamole, blending hot sauces, smoothing out the lumps in gravies (even immersing it in the hot cooking pot), pureeing veggies, and then tossing the bottom blending section in the dishwasher for cleaning, it was starting to make a funny noise now and then.(after 6 years of use and abuse I can forgive it, cause it has been so dependable and excellent on every thing I used it for)
   
   Several weeks ago when we decided to replace it - before it quit and we couldn't make our morning smoothies - my husband decided on a big, brawny, heavy duty stainless steel hand blender because he thought the extra power would blend his smoothie even better. Well, we received our Stainless Steel Big Guy replacement 2 days ago, and it is GOING BACK TODAY! It didn't blend his smoothie half as well as our old Braun. It was also heavy, bulky, hard to handle and take apart.
   
   Thank goodness we found another Braun,(MR430HC) and this one has the whisk and chopper with it which my old one didn't have. I am happy!



3. I mostly use it as an immersion blender & a small food processor--instead of bringing out the whole big thing just to chop up carrots for a salad--it's perfect.



4. I have not tried all of the attachments, but the ones I have worked very well. Couldn't really understand some of the criticisms I read in some reviews. I am quite satisfied with this product.



5. I have had a Braun hand blender for years, and love it. This was purchased as a gift for our daughter who has a very small kitchen. She used mine and thought it would be helpful to have one, to puree her vegetarian soups and chop nuts and herbs. I was pleased that this one has a wire whip, something my older model does not have. She will be able to use this item for years and years, and its versatility will be valuable. It is a wonderful product.

5 comments about Breville BBL550XL Ikon 610-Watt Stainless-Steel Blender.

1. This was a gift for my girlfriend and she absolutely loves it. Not only is it well designed but the manufacturing of the product is great (does not feel or look cheap). She's been using it for about a month now with no regrets.



2. This blender is very powerful and resonably quiet. I have been using it everyday, sometimes twice a day, for about 2 months and have no complaints..it blends ice like a dream!



3. This blender truly blends smoothies without hesitation. It's domed bottom minimizes the need to stir the contents intermittently when blending. We've gone through a few lesser blenders, and so far LOVE this one!



4. My beloved Kitchenaid blender finally dies and I do not like the design of the new ones so I thought hard about the replacement and settled on the Breville. As soon as I used it I realized I had a blender that far exceeded my expectations and experience. The smoothie function alone far exceeds anything I could have imagined. It blends and pulses in a way that properly blends everything and also does not leave gunk up the side of the jug as other blenders do. The design is also beautiful so form and function are perfect.
   
   I did have a slight problem when I put in some hard frozen fruit and the rubber mount on the blade assembly shredded slightly. Even though it was a once only problem and I did not have the problem again Breville replaced the assembly free of charge and because they did not have the 550 assembly they sent me the 600 blades and jug as an upgrade.
   
   I could not be happier.



5. I am a smoothie person who drinks at least one smoothie a day. I got tired of spending ten minutes a day making smoothie with one of the cheap blenders, so I decided to buy a more high powered blender.
   
   The Breville was my first choice for its reasonable price/power and it's great looks. Unfortunately, my first smoothie was a disaster. I filled the smoothie 2/3 with fruits and ice, and I stood there pushing the smoothie button three consecutive times to no avail. Then I smelled something burning and I figured it was the motor. After spending 10 minutes getting the thing to make smoothie, the result was no better than my old cheap cusinart blender. Apparently, 610 watts is just not enough if you want to make thick, smooth smoothie.
   
   I promptly returned it.

2 comments about Oster 4919 Glass Replacement Jar.

1. Works great. I was glad I didn't have to buy a whole new blender just because I broke the jar.



2. I bought this jar when we broke our original jar and were surprised to see the jar as good as our old one.The jar delivery was spot on and nobody can find out if it was bought seperately.I am very satisfied with the product and recommend others for it incase they have mishandled their original purchase.

5 comments about Proctor Silex 57171 7-Speed Blender.

1. This is the first new blender I've purchased in a few years so it took me a while to decide which one to purchase. The Proctor Silex was a good choice; I am very happy with this blender. It works great and gives me consistent results every time. I like the different settings available, although I'm not a gourmet cook by any means and probably won't use half of them! My only complaint is that it is a little noisier than I thought it should be, but overall I'm very happy with this product and would recommend it to anyone looking for a reasonably priced blender.



2. I bought this blender about one year ago - and it's been great! It does feel flimsy and cheap, but I'd gone through 2 other (much sturdier feeling and more expensive) blenders in a short period of time. I am very happy with it!



3. Though I have no complaints with the blender overall, I feel that the blender is very flimsy and will break any moment.
   
   For example, the blender cup does not fit snugly into the rotating bottom and the blender has some trouble crushing ice cubes (start to smell burning plastic).
   
   Still, it's a decent blender given the price.



4. My blender had given out. I wanted something inexpensive until I decided on the blender I really wanted. This one is very light-weight and needs to held down when operating or the jar will bounce off. It is also very noisy. It does however blend, liquefies, and chops well. Makes good smoothies & Frozen drinks. *** 5/17/08 I am adding an update to my review- I've had this a few months & the buttons are cracking and breaking off from the vibrations of the blender. Not very good for long term use.



5. This is the worst blender I have ever used. It completely died after just a few uses, and I was only making ordinary smoothies. Since I used it so infrequently, it's been more than 6 months and the warranty is expired.

5 comments about Oster 4902-003 Replacement Blender Jar Base.

1. This is a simple purchase, but it's nice to be able to find it at a reputable supplier. Fits and works perfectly. (I gather some generic replacements are not as good.)



2. I feel silly reviewing this but decided that I need to spill a few characters out in name of common sense. This replacement jar base fits the Oster blender in my kitchen just peachy. I like this: a product that does exactly as it says.
   
   The best part: not having to buy a whole new blender, which was my other option. Think of the $$$$ saved.



3. Amazon's service and affordability is what made this small purchase (a replacement jar base for my son's Oster blender) worth writing about. While staying at his apartment when he was recovering from knee surgery I discovered his blender jar base had cracked. I really had no idea where I'd find the replacement, but when I googled it, Amazon came up with the best price. It arrived within days and I concluded Amazon isn't just about books (which is all I've ever used them for!)



4. Not much to say about this replacement base. It fits and it works fine, as it should if you've shopped carefully. But it's way overpriced for what it is. I waited until I had $25 in Amazon purchases so I wouldn't have to pay S&H.



5. I wasn't sure if it would fit my "beehive" blend jar, but it did with no problems and is much better quality than the original plastic one.