Kitchen Blenders
We work on our laptops all day every day, which is a lot of repetitive motion. Now, for you youngsters that are working on the computer, texting, playing on your game consoles, 20 hours each day, it hasn’t hit you yet – but at some stage it will. Once you hit thirty, things start happening…
We like to have smoothies each day, so how best to do that?
We have a lot of kitchen appliances for all sorts of applications; however, when it comes to making drinks, we have several machines that sort of get the job done…
Currently we use a boat motor, i.e. a hand mixer immersion type. It is slow as you have to add each ingredient, mix, then add something else, then mix, and so forth. For a simple drink consisting of water, protein powder, and a little ice cream, it takes about 10 minutes or more with a lot of elbow grease to boot. Times 2 and clean-up takes this to 30 minutes or more.
If we want a more robust drink with fruit or veggies, then this method just won’t cut it.
We have a Back-To-Basics Dual Smoothie Maker and this is good for lite-duty drinks only (i.e. liquids and powder, no whole foods), plus this takes a good while to clean, so we have yet to finish making 2 drinks with clean-up in under 45 minutes. That’s too much and so it has become another dust-collector.
We have a commercial Hamilton Beach Milkshake Maker (3-drink station) and while it is very good for this type of drink, you are limited to milkshakes or whatever you can fit in the 28 oz metal cups that came with it. We have not tried to put in any bulky items (like whole fruit) as you really need some additional hands to achieve that. The clean-up is moderate as we have the unit near the sink so we use the power sprayer to hose it down and wipe/buff it off immediately in order to keep the stainless steel looking good.
Then when we are flat out of time, we will resort to Carnation Instant Breakfast and use the Blender Bottle where we manually shake the drink mix for 5 minutes or more (remove the lid, spoon remaining unmixed powder back into the bottle) at least twice to make sure all of the powder is mixed. Now, this won’t make a brownie
but it will keep the hunger at bay until you can make a sandwich or a salad or something a bit more substantial later on.
This is relatively fast in terms of clean-up, the capacity of the cup is only 28 oz and it takes a lot of your own personal power to adequately mix all of the powder up. And there is no way you can add whole fresh fruit to a manual shaker and expect it to blend.
So here we are looking, for an appliance that does not require 98% manual labor, a 30-minute disassemble-reassemble-cleaning job, the use of multiple machines to complete the mission, and one that will not stop working after a couple of uses (no abuse, normal use).
We looked into several types of appliances and the cheapies had tons of problems from design flaws, parts falling off, over-heating at the drop of a hat, and extra built-in obsolescence, i.e. the thing quit working with moderate use in under a year (in some cases a few weeks after purchase).
Sadly, when it comes to small appliances, you can expect to routinely spend some egregious amount of time researching to find products that work and won’t blow up just after the warranty period. Today it is all about getting products on shelves as fast as possible with little or no product testing.
We have become the product testers – wow, what a way to save money on quality control – just have the consumers buy and try then deal with issues as they arise. Clearly this is not what I signed up for. But it seems that what it boils down to: buyer beware and plan on spending a lot time in research mode.
So, is there a machine that will happily do everything you ask of it, without breaking within the first week of use?
The good news is, yes, there is, so check out our Blendtec blender review for information about one of the best-performing blenders there is, including our own personal experience with this monster blender.
Blendtec Blender Review
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Two or three years ago we heard of Blendtec, but we thought it was really expensive so we did not get one. Well, indeed they are still expensive but the point is they work – and work extremely well.
They’re heavy duty with a strong motor, they have decent capacity, they’re versatile, i.e. you may be able to use this single device in place of many others, and clean-up is fast.
So, instead of breaking your back using multiple machines and spending half your time cleaning them, why not take a look at the Blendtec WildSide HP3A 3QT Total Blender with 4″ Blade?
Here’s what the manufacturer has to say:
New! Total Blender® with precision tuned 4″ blade, large jar
Total Blender® is the all-in-one appliance that makes smoothies, fresh juice, ice cream, milkshakes, cappuccinos, margaritas, soups, sauces, bread dough, dressings, salsas, and more! It replaces up to 9 other appliances with one fast easy-to-use machine, at a fraction of the cost. This package includes the new precision tuned 4″ blade in the large nearly 3-quart total capacity BPA-free jar. The new large blade / large jar combination powers through tougher blending tasks and larger recipes with ease, and in less time.
Commercial Quality
You have seen the unique square jar before. For years blending professionals have used Blendtec machines with the 4″ blade in the best coffee shops, juice bars, gyms, and restaurants around the world. Blendtec machines are known for producing the best, most consistent results in taste and texture. With the Total Blender, you will enjoy the same great results in your home!
Blend Cycles
Total Blender® comes with our 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.
Plenty of Power
Tired of your blender not being able to crush ice? The Total Blender® has so much power (1560 Watts) it turns ice to snow and actually comes with an Ice-Crushing Guarantee. And now with the new precision tuned 4″ blade, you can make larger servings and blend whole foods with the added power of the larger blade.
Multi-Tasking
From the home gourmet chef to the everyday smoothie fan, the Total Blender® fits your lifestyle. Order now to begin enjoying the benefits of the Total Blender and the new precision tuned large jar!
Features
| Power: |
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| Control: |
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| Vortex: |
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Specifications
| Colour: | Black (red, white, and coffee) |
| Weight: | 12.00 lbs |
| Width: | 7.50 Inches |
| Height: | 15.50 Inches |
| Depth: | 8.00 Inches |
Here’s what ordinary folks are saying about the Black Blendtec:
| 5.0 out of 5 stars SO IN LOVE, November 4, 2010 By cooper&delaney’smom Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Blendtec WildSide HP3A Total Blender – 3 Qt (96 oz) Container & 4″ Blade – BLACK I am so in love with this blender. Our family started drinking green smoothies a few months ago and with our basic blender and they were pretty good. Once I knew this was going to be a habit I purchased the Blend Tec and the smoothies are 100x better. I use the blender every day; sometimes twice. I have used it in baking (mixing ingredients) and love the cook book… This is a must buy! |
| 5.0 out of 5 stars Love this blender, November 1, 2010 By Susan B. (Bridgewater, NJ) Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Blendtec WildSide HP3A Total Blender – 3 Qt (96 oz) Container & 4″ Blade – BLACK I wanted a heavy-duty blender to make vegetable and fruit juices, and this baby fit the bill. Yes, it is terribly loud, I turn it on and go into another room so I don’t have to hear the blender doing it’s thing. But it really works, it liquifies everything that’s in the container (as long as you have some liquid to get it started), and it’s super easy to clean. I’ve been using it daily and feeling good about the impact it’s having on my health. |
| 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Product, October 29, 2010 By Mainer Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Blendtec WildSide HP3A Total Blender – 3 Qt (96 oz) Container & 4″ Blade – BLACK Really works great. Its everything its cracked up to be. Powerful enough to do the job and then some. |
| 5.0 out of 5 stars I’m impressed!, September 23, 2010 By RMG (N. Miami Beach, FL United States) Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Blendtec WildSide HP3A Total Blender – 3 Qt (96 oz) Container & 4″ Blade – BLACK I’ve repeatedly tried to dramatically increase my consumption of raw fruits and greens with little success. It is extremely difficult to chew large quantities of produce. Blended food is the answer. I have prepared all manner of concoctions using the Blentec WildSide blender which are delicious and nutritious. The Blendtec works as advertised. It is loud, but tolerably so. My drinks, smoothies and sauces are blended to smooth perfection in a remarkably short period of time. I definitely recommend getting the 96 oz container. I prepare food for one, or sometimes two, and find this larger size to be perfect. The container is also very easy to clean. I debated whether to buy the Blendtec or the Vitamix; after researching, I decided on the Blentec and am very pleased with my decision. The product is expensive, but it works very, very well. I use it several times a day. Think of it this way: instead of cooking your food on a stove or in an oven, you are processing the food in a blender. You are essentially cooking without heat. |
| 5.0 out of 5 stars Got it fast, November 7, 2010 By Jen Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Blendtec WildSide HP3A Total Blender – 3 Qt (96 oz) Container & 4″ Blade – RED The blender is just what I expected (fabulous) and I got it within a few days. Thanks. |
| 5.0 out of 5 stars worth the price, October 24, 2010 By George Lu (Charlotte, NC) Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Blendtec WildSide HP3A Total Blender – 3 Qt (96 oz) Container & 4″ Blade – RED I’ve seen the “will it blend” videos over the years and enjoyed for the entertainment. After I saw the $400 price sticker, I bought a $150 blender from Target. My aunt is a health nut and after she told me how great this thing is, I figured I will spend the money to try it out. It is like a wood chipper, it will blend EVERYTHING!!! If you are a health nut you should get one; if you want to make the best smoothies you should get one; if you want to have the best mix drinks you should get one. |
Oh BTW, these were the only testimonials we could find on Amazon as of the writing of this article on 2010-11-09.
We’ve concluded that this is a heavy duty machine that has some real ump to it; you will be able to make a large variety of foods and drinks in just a few moments, with quick clean-up. This is not just the best blender for smoothies,or the best blender for crushing ice, but the best blender period.
This is the kind of machine that you need to replace several others. If you’re in the market for a new or replacement blender, then we think the Blendtec WildSide Total Blender HP3A 3QT Large Jar-4″ Blade, will help you make healthy drinks and meals for you and your entire family as well as keeping your thirsty party guests satisfied.
Now, even though this commercial-quality blender is pricey, you may find it out of stock, so we’ve included another trusted source so you won’t have to spend yet even more time trying to find it:
- Blendtec WildSide Total Blender HP3A 3QT Large Jar-4″ Blade – Black
- Blendtec WildSide Total Blender HP3A 3QT Large Jar-4″ Blade – Red
- Blendtec WildSide Total Blender HP3A 3QT Large Jar-4″ Blade – White
- Blendtec WildSide Total Blender HP3A 3QT Large Jar-4″ Blade – Coffee
UPDATE
After all of the problems we faced with trying a variety of cheaper and unreliable kitchen blenders, we decided to try the Blendtec WildSide Total Blender HP3A ourselves!
(BTW, the other appliance, to the left of the blender, is another of our favourite kitchen gadgets – the Zojirushi CD-WBC40 Micom 4-Liter Electric Water Boiler and Warmer.)
So, far (i.e. as at 29 January 2011), we’ve used it to make around 130 drinks, and it’s holding up very well indeed.
We mainly make a sort of ice cream smoothie/milk shake with it, so it has to deal with both frozen and fresh fruit (e.g. strawberries, pineapples, peaches and apples), as well as ice cream and liquids, but it’s also happily shattered ice cubes into smithereens too.
What we like about this machine is:
- the metal construction – the blade and the drive wheel underneath the blender jug are both made of solid-looking metal, so they’re not going to break, unlike some other blenders we’ve tried
- the programmed blending cycles, although to be fair, we’ve only used the milk shake cycle so far, as well as the manual pulse action
- clean-up is relatively easy and fast
- the recipe book that comes with this machine is not only comprehensive, but it’s a really high-quality book as well, with beautiful colour photos on good, glossy paper
- the jug is BPA-free, which means it won’t be leaching any nasty toxic chemicals into your drinks
- the fact that it is used commercially (e.g. in Starbucks), which means it should be robust, and which gave us the confidence to try it out.
What we don’t like about this machine is – nothing. We really can’t find any faults with it at all!
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So, do yourself and your wallet a favour and try the Blendtec WildSide Total Blender HP3A for yourself – it will work out to be much less expensive in the long run, as you won’t be wasting money on cheaper models that just won’t last, and you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re using one of the very best blenders on the market.
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