Blenders?

KYHeirloomer · #1 10-10-2007, 08:37 PM

Well, the old Osterizer is about to give up the ghost. So it looks like I'm in the market for a new blender.

Been so long, though, that I haven't a clue what's available in terms of makes & models; features, power, pricetags, etc.

So, in a word: Help!!!

Any suggestions, recommendations, references, etc. cheerfully accepted.

Thanks.

shel · #2 10-10-2007, 08:43 PM

Years ago I bought a commercial waring blernder at a professional kitchen ware store. The thing is built like a Mack truck and could probably make short work of a typical SUV. No frills, nothing fancy - just power, durability, and a cavernous, stainless steel bowl thing.

I've also heard of, and have seen in operation, something called a Belville blender. That's something I'd look at were I to be considering a new, fancy-frilly blender.

Shel

even stephen · #3 10-11-2007, 08:44 AM

vita mix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! black model with variable speed control dial.
Has an automatic shut off switch to prevent burning out motor.

odi3 · #4 10-11-2007, 09:22 PM

Vitamix is a good blender, although there is better. its called K-Tec!

I bought one 1 year ago and its a 3HP monster!

heres a demo!

Will It Blend? | Presented By Blendtec

phatch · #5 10-11-2007, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odi3

Vitamix is a good blender, although there is better. its called K-Tec!

I bought one 1 year ago and its a 3HP monster!

heres a demo!

Will It Blend? | Presented By Blendtec

Another fine UTAH company.

Harpua · #6 10-11-2007, 10:04 PM

Vitamix is great, but I have a Waring pro. It's nice. Vitamix is better.

KYHeirloomer · #7 10-12-2007, 06:52 AM

I'd love a Vitamix. But I don't use a blender near enough to justify the $400 pricetag.

After listening to advice, researching the internet, etc. I went shopping. Narrowed it down to two: What is now called the Oster Kitchen Center---which has no resemblence to the original of that name, and the Krupps 7200.

Decided that the Oster, even though is was a little less pricey, came with too many bells & whistles that would just be something else to store away. So went with the Krupps.

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions.

smalltruck · #8 10-12-2007, 07:40 PM

I had a K-TEC, the ex left home with it. On the other hand it would shred just about anything you could think of putting in it. Nice but spendy.
George

shel · #9 10-13-2007, 09:16 AM

[quote=KYHeirloomer;192201]After listening to advice, researching the internet, etc. I went shopping. [...] So went with the Krupps 7200.
[quote]

Great! Glad you found one that suits your needs and pocketbook.

Shel

foodnfoto · #10 10-13-2007, 06:29 PM

I used to have a Vita-Mix back in the '70s. That thing was a truck! and would blend anything. However, the lights would all dim a little when we used it.

Does anyone know of a good quality stick blender that doesn't weigh 5 pounds?
I've always wondered why emmersion blender haven't gotten more market penetration. I love to use them, but the brauns, krups and cuisinarts seem to wear out really fast.

shel · #11 10-13-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foodnfoto

Does anyone know of a good quality stick blender that doesn't weigh 5 pounds?
I've always wondered why emmersion blender haven't gotten more market penetration. I love to use them, but the brauns, krups and cuisinarts seem to wear out really fast.

Hand (Immersion) Blenders—Updated-Equipment Ratings-Cook's Illustrated*3/2006

Frankly, it looks like CI was testing some low to mid-range consumer blenders, but this may be a start.

I have heard from some cooks and at least one well-known chef that Waring makes some heavy duty blenders of this type. They are spendy and somewhat heavy, but you might want to check 'em out if for no other reason than having a point of reference.

Shel

MikeLM · #12 10-14-2007, 10:25 AM

A few years ago my wife developed something close to an addiction to Starbucks' Frappuchinos, and I was headed to the poorhouse. I decided to make them at home to save money, and headed to a restaurant supply house for a capable blender. I was directed to a display of the Margarita Master. I was assured that a row of eight of them graced the backbar of every Hooters in the land.

I walked over and was kind of stunned at the $250 price tag. I settled for a Waring model in the $100 range, and we've made out pretty well with that ever since. According to the UL label, the MM had a motor more powerful than my Delta table saw.

Mike

stir it up · #13 10-17-2007, 11:07 AM

Consumer Reports recently tested blenders. Vita-Mix came out #1. The only thing they knocked it for was price, and its noise was in the "fair" category. It beat the K-Tec (also now called BlendTec. The K-tec might boast higher HP (peak HP is always a little bit BS by the way)

For a cheap blender the Best Buy was a Braun PowerMax MX2050, but IMO anyone with a job should get a Vita-Mix and not screw around with these wimply little domestic blenders that will burn out or break or provide lesser blending. A Vitamix is in a whole other league from a standard home blender. VitaMix has great customer service and warranty too, K-Tec has issues with the blender separating at the base, and they took that out of the warranty so they don't cover it. K-tec is noisier, and has these computer programs to run it (more things to potentially go wrong, and not my cup of tea), where the VitaMix is simple, a switch and a manual speed control knob.

If you're getting a home Vitamix, make sure you get the model with the variable speed control.

Costco gets Vitamix occasionally on a "roadshow" for a week at a time at a good price. (about $350).

Vitamix has a seven year full warranty. Made in USA!

KYHeirloomer · #14 10-17-2007, 02:18 PM

>but IMO anyone with a job should get a Vita-Mix and not screw around <

By that sort of reasoning, anyone with a kitchen should have a fully dressed Montegue.

Alright. Everybody! Stand up if you have anything made by Montegue in your home kitchen. Hmmmmph. Everybody stayed seated. Go figure.

In the real world, price and suitability for the purpose determine value. And for most people, even those who use their blenders far more than I do, a Vita-Mix is not fair value, because it's far more blender than they need.

My Oster, which I just replaced, cost me something like 29 bucks when I bought it more than 20 years ago. Nothing wimpy about that. The Krupps I bought, which more than meets my needs, cost only about one quarter of the Vita-Mix. If it turns out I have to replace it every 2-3 years (which I don't expect to happen), I'm still ahead of the game, moneywise.

shakeandbake · #15 10-17-2007, 05:31 PM

After suffering through cheap(er) blenders over the years, I finally broke down and purchased a VitaMix at CostCo earlier this year. Money well spent if you ask me, and you're friends will love you for it at your next margarita party!