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Hamilton Beach 51101 Single-Serve Blender

I have owned a Hamilton Beach Snigle-Serve Blender for three years, and it’s still going strong even though I use it once or twice a day. Small powerhouse!

Let’s face it, most of us just want one beverage at a time. I have a regular blender that can prep half a gallon or more — That’s fine, but I don’t usually need that many servings, even though I have a large family. And if you’re blending smaller amounts, the larger blenders don’t work very well.

So there you have it: A small, inexensive powerhouse that really goes the distance.

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Hamilton Beach 51101B Single-Serve Blender with Travel Lid, Black

I bought this to make smoothies with, but the first time I used it with yogurt, soymilk, and frozen fruit, I had to stop every now and then and scrape down the sides. I had to defrost the berries before I made another one. The lid NEVER fit onto the cup properly; I wound up using aluminum foil over the top when I was blending something. You can’t take the blade portion off of the cup to clean it which is extremely inconvenient; not to mention, who wants to carry around a “cup” with blending blades in the bottom. Finally, I just gave up and decided to buy something better. Save your money and buy a real blender!

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Hamilton Beach 54615 Wavestation Express Dispensing Blender with 48-Ounce Jar, Black

Look no further for the best blender you can get for frozen drinks. It’s very easy to clean and lightweight. After each use be sure to also clean the spout or it will collect lots of left behind fruit puree which can become molded inside the spout. This would make a great house warming gift. This blender is overall the only blender that I’ve bought that mixes my smoothies the way they need to come out right. The ice crushes completely and my smoothies, icies, and whatever else I use it for comes out perfect.

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Tribest Personal Blender – PB-100 Blending Package (with new S-Blade Assembly)

I started out with a $20 smoothie maker from GNC that worked reasonably well (it always left one ice cube uncrushed for some reason) until the motor burned out 2 months after I got it. So I ordered the Tribest which had awesome reviews. The problem is, mine just don’t want to blend. I put in frozen strawberries & bananas with yogurt and I’d say this only blends about half of the ingredients, even when I stop it and stir up the ingredients myself. If I try adding ice to the equation…forget it. The ice just bangs around ineffectually. The blend seems to have good speed though so I’m really not sure what the problem is. Everyone else seems quite happy with it.

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Back to Basics SM700 Signature II Smoothie Maker, Black

Purchased this unit after having a Back to Basics Smoothie Plus 600 for a couple years. That unit starting leaking, so husband wanted new one for our Anniversary. Received the Back to Basics SM700 Signature II Smoothie Maker and gave to husband. He used and thought it was ‘fine’. After several uses, the “light” indicating unit was ready would not come on & unit would not run. Exchanged unit through Amazon.com. Received replacement unit. Husband used TWICE, and it also burned out! Just completely dead. He unplugged after using & cleaning both units, so was not a surge (plugged into surge protector, also). Once… OK, can happen to any product. TWICE … No thanks. Will try another item. Why it needs an indicator light and has to be unplugged each time should have told me they had issues. Just don’t want anyone else wasting all their time & energy on this item. If it happens AFTER your return period with Amazon.com (easiest returns possible), then you’ll have to deal with Company and will be worse. Find another product, like I’m going to! ]]> http://www.smoothieblenderworld.com/top-5-smoothie-blenders/feed/ 2 http://www.smoothieblenderworld.com/best-smoothie-blenders/ http://www.smoothieblenderworld.com/best-smoothie-blenders/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:41:10 +0000 Pat Brown http://www.smoothieblenderworld.com/?p=9 So you’ve decided that you want to buy a smoothie blender. How fun! But how do you decide what blender is best for you? There are dozens and dozens of different blenders out there. They come in all different sizes, prices, and even power levels. So what smoothie blender is right for you? Well, that all depends on what you’re looking for. Here are three of the most popular smoothie blenders on the market, including how much they cost and what they’re good at doing:

• Black & Decker Crush Master- This is one of the best smoothie makers for truly crushing ice. This is ideal for any sort of adult drink (or kid friendly drink, depending on your audience) that requires a good crush on the ice. It sells for around $40 and comes in a few different variations, so you can choose which model (size and speed, and even color, can vary) is right for you.
• Osterizer: The classic blender that so many of us grew up with, Osterizer’s beehive style stand mixer has proven its mettle as a smoothie blender. It comes in a few color variations, as well (the chrome finish is particular sharp looking), and works very well for non-smoothie purposes as well. This smoothie blender can also chop vegetables or whir up bread crumbs in a jiffy. What’s more, the carafe is glass and of higher quality than many of its competitors. It usually sells for around $50-$60.
• The Magic Bullet: You may have seen this on TV and laughed at the commercials, but don’t laugh at the smoothie blender itself. This is a powerful little machine that does a lot of good work, especially given its size. The individually sized Magic Bullet set comes with several different containers that you can blend in (4 of which are actually mugs that can be drunk from as soon as you’re done blending!), as well as storage lids and two different blade styles. The Magic Bullet doesn’t do quite as well with ice, but is great for single serve fruit smoothies and milkshakes. The Original Magic Bullet smoother blender set sells for around $50-$55.

The Magic Bullet is, of course, not your only choice. You may also be considering any number of other smoothie blenders, from the Braun PowerMax Jug to the Cuisinart Smart Power Blender, to even the Oster Classic Stand Blender or the Black and Decker Crush Master.

These are all good blenders, but let’s focus on the Magic Bullet Smoothie Blender in particular.

Pros:

The Magic Bullet is, in many ways, as magic as its creators profess on their somewhat silly commercials. This small blender packs a lot of punch. It has a very powerful motor that spins very very quickly and pulverizes ingredients with ease.

One of the best aspects of the Magic Bullet is that this smoothie blender makes individual-sized portions. You simply attach blades to one of the provided cups or mugs, turn it onto the base, and blend. Your can drink the smoothie from the very cup it was blended in (or pour it into something more attractive and not made of plastic, if you want).

The Magic Bullet smoothie blender comes with two different blade bases (one flat, one angled) and instructions for what is best blended by each blade type. One of its other main advantages is the fact that it is so small. The base itself is not much bigger than any other cup in your cupboard, so it’s very easy to store and doesn’t take up much space.

Cons:

While most people are very pleased with their Magic Bullet smoothie blender, some do report that this blender is not as effective at blending ice as its commercials imply. Some owners report disappointing blended ice drinks that have large chips of ice. But on the whole, it is a very reliable smoothie blender, especially for shakes and fruit smoothies.

Here is a checklist of things to consider when picking out a smoothie blender.

• How many smoothies do you want to make? One of the biggest differences is whether you choose a smoothie blender that makes one or two smoothies at a time, or whether you choose one that makes a whole big batch at once, which is then divided into many individual portions.
• How much space do you have? Along with the aspect above, how much space you have will determine whether a party-size or self-serve-size is the better smoothie blender choice for you.
• How much money do you want to spend? Budget can be an issue, especially since smoothie blenders, while very fun, are not often at the top of your “essential items” list. Maybe you are very serious about your smoothies and have the extra cash to spend on a deluxe smoothie machine. Or maybe it’s something you’ve thought was fun, but you’re on a budget and may need to go more economical. Smoothie blenders cost anywhere from $30-40 for a basic at-home blender to $800-1,000 for a high grade commercial style blender.
• What kind of smoothies do you plan to make? Not all blenders are created equal, with some much more capable to grind and crush ice to a very smooth consistency, and some better suited to softer type smoothies. If you plan to use your smoothie blender primarily for margaritas and other blended frozen drinks, you’ll want to make sure you choose a model that is designed to really get that ice chopped finely. If you’re more of a health-smoothie type person, and you’ll use mostly frozen fruit and yogurt, then you can go with tamer smoothie blenders that are less intense.

Here’s a breakdown of the different aspects of smoothie blenders, to help you figure out a focus for what you’re looking for before you head out to make your purchase.

• Size. Decide how much counter top (or cabinet) space you can devote to your smoothie blender. Also think about whether you plan to make large batches (like for a party) or small batches (for yourself or one other person), then buy your smoothie blender accordingly.
• Purpose. Do you want a blender just for smoothies, or would you like it to blend other things as well? Smoothie-specific blenders and general blenders are both available.
• Ice? If you want to blend ice so it’s as smooth as when you buy a margarita at a restaurant, make sure you get a smoothie blender that has the motor power and blade strength to do so, and to do so well. Many claim to, but don’t stack up, so look around and ask your friends if you’re really interested in blending ice.
• Other blade use. Some smaller blenders come with different blade attachments so you can do other things, such as grind coffee beans or spices. Read up on blade styles so you can choose a smoothie blender that does more than just smoothies, if that’s what you’re looking for.
• Smoothie-specific features. A recent development is smoothie blenders is the addition of an easy-serve spout. Rather than remove the pitcher and lid and try to pour into a small glass, you simply flick the tap on the side and use gravity to serve directly into a cup. This is especially good for parties and other times when you want to serve many people from the same smoothie blender.
• Price. Not all smoothie blenders are created equal, nor are they priced that way. For the casual smoothie drinker, the $30-$40 price range is usually sufficient. If you’re looking for something a little nicer, go $50-$100. If you want something more expensive, then you probably already know what you’re looking for and know what you’re willing to spend.

Buying a good quality smoothie blender is a great way to ensure good drinks that taste just like your favorite restaurant, but let you relax and enjoy good drinks in good company in the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re considering buying a smoothie blender so you can have the best backyard barbeques on the block all summer long. Or if you have a specific occasion, say a notable birthday, that calls for true celebration. Either way, a smoothie blender is a great way to celebrate and ensure everyone has a good time.

Smoothie blenders for party drinks come in a few different sizes. Some are smaller, making individual sized portions, which can be nice if you want to relax after work with your own drink. But if you want a smoothie blender that’s fit for a party, you probably should get a larger one, that makes whole batches and saves you from blending over and over again all night.

If party drinks are your goal, make sure you get a smoothie blender that’s specifically designed for that purpose. Some blenders don’t handle ice so well, and may leave big chips in your drinks instead of blending to that smooth, icy texture you’re used to when you go out.

But if party drinks aren’t your only goal, it’s good to get a blender that can do other things, too. For example, you may be in need of a nice, healthy fruit smoothie some morning, in which case a smoothie blender is a great way to throw together some fruit and juice for a refreshing way to start the day.

Of course, fruit smoothies can also be the good basis of a party drink on their own. Whether for fun, or for health, or for both depending on the occasion, just choose your favorite ingredients and blend creatively to enjoy the many different possibilities of a good smoothie blender.