Blender ?

[BeefJerky]

I am looking for a high quality blender to make smoothies. Currently spending 300 - 400 a month at this Tropical Smoothie place by my house. Needless to say, it would be nice to be able to make my own at home. They have blenders that work really well. The person working there doesn't know who makes them and the manager can't sell me one. Anyone here have recommendations for a professional grade blender or know what model this franchised place uses ?

Thanks for any help.

[lhslancers]

First pop on Google. I deal with a few fitness outfits I'll ask next week Beef.


http://www.blenders.net/catalog/index.html

[Goldhedge]

You need to find the Blendtec they had on Letterman. Dave poses the question to the audience member "Will this blender eat this shovel handle or not?"

Participant says "No!"

The owner of the company proceeds to put this 6 foot hickory handle down the hole in the cover and it chews that handle to bits in mere seconds.

In fact, I think I posted about it here once about a year ago. Here it is

YouTube - Will It Blend? - Diamonds...as far as you know

you can order it here http://www.willitblend.com/

[BeefJerky]

Thanks. Blendtec stuff looks great. I am going with that. :applause_:applause_:applause_

[johnlvs2run]

One of the funniest things I've seen was Dan Akroyd's fish-o-matic commercial on Saturday Night Live.

I've had an Osterizer blender for at least 40 years and think I got it from my parents, so maybe it's been around 10 years more than that. I use it every morning and it still works great, though I've been looking around and am planning to get a newer one soon.

Costco has a nice Oster blender for $60 and the same one is $64 at Walmart.

It's round, wide at the top and slanted down to the bottom. I'm ready to get it the next time I go there. :wink:

[bl96S5eu]

If you want something small you might want to consider the Magic Bullet (http://www.buythebullet.com/). We've used it for smoothies as well as shakes made with our homemade ice cream once a week. Got it last year for a Christmas present so I can't say how long it will hold up but for now it seems to be fine.

[Atahualpa]

One if the funniest things I've seen was Dan Akroyd's fish-o-matic commercial on Saturday Night Live.

I've had an Osterizer blender for at least 40 years and think I got it from my parents, so maybe it's been around 10 years more than that. I use it every morning and it still works great, though I've been looking around and am planning to get a newer one soon.

Costco has a nice Oster blender for $60 and the same one is $64 at Walmart.

It's round, wide at the top and slanted down to the bottom. I'm ready to get it the next time I go there. :wink:

I've got an Oster from Costco and it does fine for the most part, I did have a little problem with it making some Hummus, I cooked up the chickpeas and dump them into the blender with some liquid...it couldn't get the job done, I had to take a bunch of it out and feed it in slowly because the motor just couldn't handle the load.

[johnlvs2run]

I've got an Oster from Costco and it does fine for the most part, I did have a little problem with it making some Hummus, I cooked up the chickpeas and dump them into the blender with some liquid...it couldn't get the job done, I had to take a bunch of it out and feed it in slowly because the motor just couldn't handle the load.

Which one did you get?

My current one holds 5 cups but starts to bog down with 4 unless there's plenty of water. To get around this, I pulse it a few times while tipping the blender side to side. That's one of the reasons I'm getting a new one.

[BeefJerky]

The problem with cheap blenders is you can tell ice was used. With professional blenders you can't.

[Atahualpa]

Which one did you get?

My current one holds 5 cups but starts to bog down with 4 unless there's plenty of water. To get around this, I pulse it a few times while tipping the blender side to side. That's one of the reasons I'm getting a new one.

It's standard size and says '16 speed all metal drive'. I think it was $60 bucks. If I were buying again, I would get something with a more powerful motor.

[johnlvs2run]

It's standard size and says '16 speed all metal drive'. I think it was $60 bucks. If I were buying again, I would get something with a more powerful motor.

I think that's the one, and the motor is 450 watts. :bear_w00t:

They have one for $30 but it doesn't look as substantial.

Is there anything else comparable, or better, in this price range?

[momopanda]

BeefJerky - one word, BlendTec! No if, ands, or buts.
I posted about it last year (below link). Am emotionally attached to the damn thing. Would rather give up my car.

http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?p=505443&highlight=blendtec#post505443

PS- I have since started throwing all kinds of stuff in too - whole apples. Yes whole , entire apples , core , skin, seeds etc. I've even done a whole peach into a smoothy , pit and all. Don't do it that often , cause I'm not sure how many peach pits you're supposed to ingest in your life , but they probably have some nutritional value I bet. You'd never know they were in there when finished - completely pulverized and mixed in. You name it ,I've probably stuck it in there, at least as far as food goes.

Oh and one last benefit is the ----->http://www.mrmargaritaslmix.com/Margarita%20glass%20photo%20small.jpg
Makes 'em as good as I've ever had!

[BeefJerky]

Momo,
What model do you have?

I have decided that Blendtec is what I am going to get?

I am now just debating between the Spacesaver $525 or spending the extra $325 and getting the Smoother for $850.

[momopanda]

Looking on the bottom now. Says "Model ES3 Total Blender (White)".
This (http://www.blendtec.com/productDetails.aspx?id=27) is it I believe.
I haven't gone to their site in a long time I see the prices have gone up (what else is new?). And they have more models now too.
My gym has the Smoother model I think, from the looks of it, and I honestly don't see any difference between what they make there and what I make myself. Didn't really compare the specs.

If space is an issue , they used to have a kit available to mount the motor part of the unit and cord etc underneath the counter and have it kinda like a built-in , at least as far as I recall .

They were real nice when I called them and told them what I wanted/needed. Give 'em a call.
I like having the warranty etc, and wanted to deal directly with the company , but if you're looking for a deal you may be able to get something off eBay, and I recall that the older models were sold under the name K-Tec , I think , instead of Blendtec , but check on that though. Not sure if they were exactly the same ina ll specs and stuff either.

[johnlvs2run]

It's standard size and says '16 speed all metal drive'. I think it was $60 bucks. If I were buying again, I would get something with a more powerful motor.

The 16 speed is $30 now.

I got the Oster Fusion for $59 at Costco today, which is a combined food processor and a blender.

http://www.osterfusion.com/images/how_it_works/GFK_oster_fusion_hero.jpg
It has a 600 watt motor. :shocked_ma:
I gave it a test full of water and it took off like an airplane. I'll see how it is with the veggies. You should be able to mix up just about anything with this one. :wink:

Update: The Oster Fusion blender is great for my purposes. I fill it almost to the brim with thick veggies (6 cups), water and some dates, click the preprogrammed setting and everything is mixed up automatically. The blade changes direction a few times then takes off at high speed, mixes for a minute and then stops. The only thing I don't like is the pouring spout which is quite small on the wide brim, so it doesn't pour as well as the old one which was better in this regard, being square. You'd think in 50 years they would have figured out how to make a spout right so it pours. However, the blending function on the new one is much better. It's a good blender for the price.

[SilverSatan]

I have a Vita-mix. and so do 80% of bars.
buy one at costco when the guy is there selling them and take it back when it breaks 10 years from now. it was about $380. you can even grind grain into flour with it

[GoldenPoet]

I have a Vita-Mix too. Unbelievable. I recommend it 100%.
Makes ice cream and soup.

[goldbug]

I like the Waring Professional grade, 3+ HP model. If you shop online, you can find them for around 350.00 delivered. Also are higher in price, if you want fancy electronics.

I like it as it came, although you can use Vitamix pitchers . . . they fit.

Strong like bull.

:bull-buddy-icon:

[SilverSatan]

i think the vita mix comes with like a 8 or 10 year warranty. although i got mine at costco so i can return it there for cash instead of getting it fixed