The Cuisinart CSB-77 Smart Stick Hand Blender is a decent hand blender that works as far as it should as one. The whisk and chopper attachments are just that – attachments.

Cuisinart CSB-77 Smart Stick Hand Blender with Whisk and Chopper Attachments

This is a good product to buy if you’re mainly using the blender, and you can use it for conveniently blending soups in the pot, or making a smoothie with frozen fruits and yogurt. You can also use it to froth milk for your morning coffee, if you like that.

However the Cuisinart CSB-77 Smart Stick Hand Blender is not dishwasher safe so you’ll have to wash by hand. The good thing is, it is not difficult to wash so this shouldn’t be a big problem.

The whisk attachment is kinda flimsy but a reviewer suggested using the blender to whip an egg for omelet instead of using the whisk.

The chopper is decent for small jobs like chopping up an onion or mincing parsley, though of course, you’ll have to cut the food into smaller pieces before you can put them into the chopper. To get evenly chopped pieces, you can’t fill the chopper to the top either.

In fact, if you’re buying this, it’d be better if you’re just expecting use out of the blender. Many users have complained that using the chopper or grating cheese will strip the teeth of the Smart Stick that connects to different attachments.

As far as I can tell, the Cuisinart CSB-77 Smart Stick Hand Blender works for hand blending jobs, but is definitely not as powerful as a stand blender, nor can it be substituted for a mixer or food processor.

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Blendtec WildSide HP3A

by mandy on April 15, 2011

Another product from Blendtec, this Blendtec WildSide HP3A is a much bigger blender (3-quart) compared to its sister the TB621. If your family is looking forward to a raw diet or increased consumption of vegetables and fruits, this blender is a good option to consider.

Blendtec WildSide HP3A

Blendtec WildSide HP3A

Known for its smoothie-making function, the Blendtec Wildside is often placed side by side with the Vitamix 5200. The Wildside is liked for its lower height, especially by those who have little space under the cabinets.

It also has preprogrammed options instead of controls and switches on the Vitamix, but this will depend on personal preference on automation or full control. Granted, automation meant less versatility because you might not find a perfect program that fits your favorite style of blending for certain foods, if you have one. But for most people, user-friendliness with home appliances meant hit-and-run.

The Blendtec WildSide HP3A is pretty powerful. It can crush frozen fruits and create a smooth, yummy smoothie but make sure you put in the correct ratio of frozen stuff and water and close the lid tightly. This heavy duty blender can handle several blends a day, every day if you like it, so you can have fresh and healthy green smoothies every time!

A few users mentioned that this blender is ‘terribly loud’, ‘tolerably loud’, or ‘has a noticeable sound’, but all of them are happy with the blending and did not mind the noise. I have yet to find a really silent blender, really.

Cleaning up this blender is a very easy, no-hassle job for anyone. The purchase includes a handy recipe book for more blending ideas, and a limited 3-year warranty. The warranty on Vitamix 5200 is 7 years, but then it costs twice as much.

So to buy or not to buy? I’d say, smoothie fans out there, unless you have some hard cash to splurge on a Vitamix, get this Blendtec WildSide HP3A blender. Chances are that you’ll be happy with it.

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Want to have a mini bar to attract your friends? Fancy having a cold, icy fruit smoothie after a hot and sweaty day at work? Waring Pro Professional Bar Blender is the answer. Coined as a “guy blender,” this machine gets the job done pretty well and will, trust me, attract attention.

Waring Pro Professional Bar Blender

Waring Pro Professional Bar Blender

Lightweight and Fits Any Kitchen

Comes in four colors of chrome, brushed chrome, ebony and chilli red, this blender is a perfect match to any kitchen backdrop, be it modern or traditional. It doesn’t take much space with its 10 × 8.5 × 13.7 inches dimension and it’s easily carried around as it weighs merely 8 pounds. This lightweight condition is vital as it may be necessary to shake the blender to thrust solid ingredients like ice cubes down towards the blade.

The jug doesn’t have the more common round design. Instead, it resembles a cloverleaf shape which has been Waring’s primary look since 1936. Besides maintaining its design culture, cloverleaf is advantageous as it assists the ingredients to spiral up and down for a more thorough blending result. At the side of this jug are graduations of both English and metric; though, honestly, they’re rarely used as you’ll be keen to gulp that refreshing drink regardless of its amount.

Closing the jug is a removable lid which has been incorporated with a 2-ounce measuring cup. This makes it convenient for you to insert extra ingredients during blending. At the other end is a sturdy metal base that’s strong enough to handle tough blending. This waterfall base is also Waring’s integral design, and it’s made better with a toggle switch to on or off the blender and to adjust the speed from low or high.

Something About the Blade

Then comes the blade – heart of this blender. Powered by 500 watts motor, the blade assembly is removable and forged from stainless steel. However, a protective clutch attached on the blade was reviewed to be oversensitive as it stopped the blade from rotating when the ingredients were heavy. Besides, it growls loudly when it blends, so the name “guy blender.” Now, if you’re a woman, that reasonable noise could wake your husband. But if you’re a guy, attracting the girl next door couldn’t have been easier.

Conclusion

With a 5-year limited warranty on its motor (1 year for appliance), it does say a lot about Waring’s confidence in this bar blender’s durability. Users are mostly satisfied and many are enjoying the smoothie, salsa and margarita the Waring Pro Professional Bar Blender is able to produce. Go get it, and get some attention.

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Finding for an immersion blender that purees and whips your favorite cream and sauce into a thick, fulfilling texture? Look no more with Waring Pro SB10 Professional Immersion Blender. Within seconds (yes, seconds), this device can even blend and mix your fruity ingredients into refreshing smoothies.

Waring Pro SB10

Waring Pro SB10

Inexpensive and Simple

Weighing 3 pounds and housed in a lightweight, metallic casing, this machine is an ideal hand-held blender. Though it’s heavier than a few models, this weight is attributed to its metallic finish rather than plastic components, something which I’m sure you would prefer if you’re a responsible, environment-cautious user. Its shape is also of perfect dimension, measuring at 4.5 x 4.5 x 16.1 inches.

Enabling a balanced, firm and solid grasp of the immersion blender is a thoughtfully designed contoured grip. And what you’re holding is built with simplicity in mind, resembled not only by its classy, stick-like look but also by what’s provided when you buy this blender: Nothing else. Yes, not even varying speeds (only 2) or a plastic bowl which are present in blenders of higher price range. Speaking of price, it’s inexpensive. In fact, it’s considered cheap by satisfied users.

Sharp Blades Need Extra Care

As for the removable, stainless steel blade, it’s sharp and easy to clean. But putting sharp and cleaning in the same line means you have to be extra careful. You do not want, obviously, for the blade to horrifyingly puree your fingers! One highlight relating the blade is that it’s attached to a shaft which in turn is linked directly to a 100 watts motor. This ensures that the energy generated by the motor is transferred wholly to the shaft and blade, without much power lost, to whip strongly and quickly.

Similar to most immersion blenders, or any blender for that matter, it’s advisable to not on the motor for a long period – 50 seconds as stated in a provided manual of SB10. Pressing the button longer than that exposes the blender to overheating; the motor to frying; your hands to burning; your kitchen to fire and your…well that’s too far. Bear in mind to have periodic pauses – 20 or 30 seconds – to maintain the blender’s durability.

Cheap Buy But Efficient

Priced at around $20 at Amazon recently, Waring Pro SB10 Professional Immersion Blender is indeed a cheap buy with efficient results. Be confident with its pedigree as Waring Pro gives 5-year limited warranty for the motor, a sign of its own prowess. Get yourself one and whip all the way!

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Braun MX 2050 – Best Budget Blender

by mandy on January 23, 2011

A good many blender reviews rate Braun MX 2050 as the best budget blender. Having a price range between US $45 and $60, this might appeal to those on a tight budget. However, before deciding to purchase this blender, you might want to know how well this blender works. So, a quick glance at these mini points might help you in making a decision.

Best Blender - Braun MX2050

Best Blender - Braun MX2050

The Good
1) Versatility
- With 5 different speeds, you can basically blend anything and in any texture of your preference too!
- Try chunky salsa, smooth smoothies, favorite protein shakes and your kid’s milkshakes. Name it, blend it 
- Don’t forget to use the pulse mode too. It’s pretty effective when you make a last minute decision to improvise or to give it a final touch.

2) Quieter compared to other blenders
- For those who have noise phobia, this feature is very appealing especially if you are one who craves for late night smoothies or early morning shakes. However, do bear in mind that there are some reviews that disagree with this.
- It is good to know that it works just as good as other blenders which are more expensive than this since this blender also has 500 watts of power and strong blades.

3) Simple and Fast
- Being on the go, this blender suits our needs. With stainless steel blades, sturdy glass jug and its powerful motor, the mixture is thoroughly and quickly blended.

4) Easy Clean-up
- Although it may be in white, Braun MX 2050 is easy to clean. Many parts can go in the dishwasher (for example blades, jug, and lid) while all you need is to wipe the base by hand with a damp towel.
- The good thing about this blender is that the parts are easily removed for cleaning. So, by removing the bottom, you can have easy access to the glass jar. Alternatively, put some water and detergent in the jar and use the pulse settings.
- Worn out for the day? Just fill the jar with water until it reaches the 4th cup mark. Next, dash in some dishwashing liquid and click the ‘Pulse/Clean’. It self-cleans!

5) Strong and Firm
- One of the main praises about this blender is its comforting handle. Fits like a glove with a comforting strong assurance.
- Its design makes it easy to use too. The control’s large knob enables one to grasp it easily to turn it.

6) A looker
- It’s not just its color. Notice the rounded triangular shape too. This design is convenient too! You can pour from any position and pour in liquid through the drip holes while blending to save time and hassle.
- The triangular-shaped, snug-fitting lid has rubber inserts at the corners. Looks cute? It does more than that. It makes your job easier since you don’t need to sweat and puff while trying to remove it.

7) Safe
- Even though this is a budget blender, it does not regard your safety too. With its safety interlock system, rest at ease since blending can only be done when it is in its locked position. No freaky cases of self-blending!

The Bad

1) Long Term Durability Problems
- The main problem lies with the faulty design. The bottom of the blade assembly is very thinly spoked and if used very frequently, this blender can last you approximately one to two years at the most. The construction of the drive mechanism isn’t as solid compared to other blenders of a higher price.
- Made of plastic, the teeth on the underside of the blade assembly are fragile and brittle. Even though you can get replacement easily, replacing them over and over again might end up in a bigger overall spending budget.
- Definitely a no-no for heavy duty ice crushing.

2) Clear Cap at the Top does not Seal Well
- If you are blending at a high speed, be ready for liquid to either leak out or splash at the top when you first blend something.
- While the removable centre part may be good for adding items while blending, there are openings at the edges even when fully closed. However, if you use ‘pulse/clean’ during clean-up, there is a possibility of having a soapy water bath in your kitchen!
- A solution would be to put a kitchen towel over the lid while it is washing but you would have to wash the towel yourself. So, it will not be much of a time saver.

3) White Plastic Piece at the base Melts
- One user who blended baby food (grains and dried legumes) at a high speed for up to 2 minutes noticed that the plastic piece at the bottom of the pitcher melted. Normally, blenders are designed to withstand high speed blending.
- At speed 5, some other users have commented that they notice a burning smell coming from the motor which might explain the melted plastic piece.
- Even the base assembly cannot be screwed on too tightly.

4) Loses Power in the Middle of a Blend
- Sometimes, the blender is not powerful enough to continue blending at that same level or same speed in the middle of a blend. As a result, there is a lack of consistency since it bogs down towards the end of the blend.

5) Leaks Frequently
- It leaks frequently from the base assembly. Our guess is that this is due to the gasket being made from plastic rather than rubber.
- Take extra care when you are screwing the base on to ensure that it is neither too tightly nor too loosely screwed on. It might get cross-threaded.
- One user found a solution to this. When you first receive the blender, take the jug apart and then put it back together more tightly to avoid it from leaking.

6) Awkward Placement of Handle
- Some blender reviews have said that users do not like the handle being at the back and the controls at the front because it is awkward even though it is this strategic placing that makes the blender works well.
- I would say this is a matter of preference and getting used to. It is just a minor setback.

All in all, if you are desperate for a blender, you might want to consider Braun MX 2050. However, the main point in buying a blender is to blend things. If you love blending frozen stuff, this blender might not be the one for you since it cannot withstand blending frozen things for a long time.

Additionally, buying replacements repeatedly when it continues to break may be a very costly blender if all the costs are taken into consideration. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a short term blender, can stand the hassle of defrosting your items before blending and are willing to blend at a lower speed, then this should be your pick. The cheapest that I could find was at www.amazon.com at a price of $ 44.99.

Further information:

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Oster 4119-022 2-Speed 500-Watt Beehive Blender has a classic beehive shape base with a very stable rubber base to equal the powerful motor. With this blender, you can chop, grind, grate and crush anything that you like. With the option to choose between two speeds and a low-speed pulse function, you can dictate the amount of control you would prefer over your blending.

Oster 4119-022 2-Speed 500-Watt Beehive Blender

Compared to other more expensive models, the retro beehive look might catch the eye of some users at first sight. However, this Oster blender is certainly more than just a pretty equipment.

Do not underestimate the blender’s power for it is known to crush ice pretty well and playing its part to make excellent smoothies and fruit juices. You can have your refreshing drinks prepared in no time as this blender works very efficiently and evenly.

Some Complaints
However, a number of users noted the excessive noise that this blender makes. There is one method of dampening the sound; that is by putting something between the bottom of the blender and the countertop. Moreover, some users complained about the durability, especially the rubber part which holds the drive shaft.

Whatever Oster 4119-022 2-Speed 500-Watt Beehive Blender promises, it delivers professionally and looks fabulous – all at an affordable price! Click here to see this at Amazon.

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Tribest Single Serving Blender

by mandy on December 30, 2010

Tribest Single Serving Blender

Tribest Single Serving Blender

Tribest Single Serving Blender

Just like the Tribest Personal Blender, Tribest Single Serving Blender is also a 200-watt motor blending with the ability to blend frozen fruits or even grind coffee beans. Instead of using one big chunky blender, the Tribest single serving blender is compact and light weight that could be your traveling partner as well.

Unlike the conventional blender, this blender is so versatile and easy to use. All you need to do is to place the ingredients into the polycarbonate cup that is given, screwed on the blending lid, then place the cup upside down, and blend, blend, blend! It is that easy and simple and, in fact, it also could be used as a coffee grinder or to make baby food!

It is great for portion control and the ingredients blended could be drink straight out of the polycarbonate cup. This means that there is no need to transfer the ingredients into another cup or mug. This is perfect for people who are always only making juice for one. You’ll just have to clean that one cup.

This blender also comes with two 16 oz. containers, two 8 oz. containers, container lids, a blending blade, and a grinding blade. If you happened to be late for work and still need that protein shake, just blend and put on the lid to bring the cup with you. Now you can drink it while you commute!

Blending have never been so fun and easy in the past. The Tribest Single Serving Blender can make anyone look forward to blending nutritious juice in the morning for a healthy start of the day. It will change your lifestyle to be more nourishing and fulfilling!

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Breville BBL600XL Ikon 750-Watt 51-Ounce Blender

by mandy on December 29, 2010

With the simple, thoughtful design that is brilliant from inside out, the Breville BBL600XL is the number one choice for consumers in the market for an efficient and even blending. This model is an innovated version of the BBL550XL model.

Breville BBL600XL Ikon 750-Watt 51-Ounce Blender

Breville BBL600XL Ikon 750-Watt 51-Ounce Blender

With the patented Breville Hemisphere bowl and the surgical stainless steel blades system, this blender is the most versatile and efficient blending system in the market. Built to last, this 750-watt blender is engineered to eliminate friction on the drive, plus it helps to extend life of the motor. Unlike conventional blender, this is something to boast about! All these contribute to a more consistent and even blending.

The Breville BBL600XL is also designed to perform! With 5 speed cycles and a program for smoothies and crushing ices, a smoother and even blend is formed. The blue backlight digital display feature, on the other hand, provides a very modern and futuristic look which is sure to capture the heart of many users! My daughter is definitely the first person who falls in love head on after seeing how the blender works.

The best feature of all is the smart clip that can adjust the speed of the motor to adapt to the texture and grain of the ingredients. It is like an automatic sensor sort of thing that will work by its own.

The 54 ounce jar which is made out of borosilicate provides optimal clarity and at the same time, it resists scratching, fogging and also chipping. Besides that, the jar’s measurement is in metric and empirical volume. This makes measurement a whole lot easier for people like me – who is always lazy to check on the converter scales. As for the clean-up, it is made easy with the fact that both the blades and the jar are dishwasher safe. To clean the jar, all you need to do is to twist the blade and remove it.

Overall, I would say that the Breville BBL600XL is definitely something out of ordinary and although the price of it is a little higher than those store bought blenders, you would surely not regret on this very amazing blender.

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Breville 800BLXL 2-Speed Blender is something so special, people from all over the world would fancy this blender to bits. What makes this blender so unique? Well, aside from the Hemisphere system, this very blender comes with two extra large blades and four serrated blades in the middle. This is to ensure a smoother and more even blending at all times! The patented bowl and blade system allows ingredients to be blended in a way where the food will always go up the side of the jar and fall back into the center area in a circular motion.

Breville 800BLXL Die-Cast Hemisphere 2-Speed Blender

Breville 800BLXL Die-Cast Hemisphere 2-Speed Blender

The 1000-watt blender offers push button controls with two speed setting feature and a pulsation mode. All these simple manoeuvrings allow even for the beginner cooks to be able to take full control over the blending process. The stainless steel blades and polymer motor, on the other hand, ensures a whisper quiet blending and at the same time helps eliminate friction. This blender also doubles as an amazing food processor! Meats or any sort of raw materials can be processed into smaller chunks in seconds!

Another great thing about the Breville 800BLXL 2-Speed Blender is the fact that the 67 ounce polycarbonate jar is so large, it allows me to make a big volume of fruit juice at one time. You no longer need to repeat the whole cycle of blending fruit or making smoothies especially during big party events.

My 8-year old son, who really loves drinking the Oreo milkshake that I make, always invites his classmates over to our house to enjoy it together. With the amazingly huge jar, everything is made easy. I am really delighted that I bought this blender. Meanwhile the polycarbonate material of the jar is resistant to scratching, fogging and also chipping, hence a higher durability.

Overall, I really love this Breville 800BLXL and would highly recommend it to all my friends and family. With the dishwasher safe function, clean-ups are really simple and trouble-free. You can wash it using warm water and a mild detergent; or if you are lazy, just toss all the parts and accessories into the dishwasher and let the dishwasher do its magic. However do remember never to immerse the motor into water; simple stroke of cloth over it will revert it back to its sparkling and shiny state!

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Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend 4500 Countertop Blender

by mandy on December 26, 2010

With a $400 price tag you will probably ask yourself who in their right mind would wish to buy this monster of a blender. Well those who have experienced the strength of this blender first hand (no I don’t mean by putting their hands in it) will testify that the price tag is not that heavy considering its usability.

Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend

Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend

The Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend is a large blender by standards, with a large 64 ounce jar and standing at a staggering 20-inch it easily midgets other countertops even before you flip the switch.

The insane 1.85 (roughly rounded up to 2) horsepower motor is a monster in the kitchen, at 1380 watts of raw power this will turn the hardest of food stuff into puree in well under 30 seconds, this strength is very crucial in the mixing and blending of large amounts of Ice cubes, hard vegetables like carrots and peanuts to be made into peanut butter.

Even with all the hype the Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend only features 2 switches? You may wonder why a prestigious and expensive blender does not have all the bells and whistles of the other blenders. Well Vitamix clearly knows that the main purpose of a blender is to blend and not to look fancy. The two switches are on/off and high/low, everything is kept simple and solely for its original purpose; to disintegrate and pulverize. But if you wish to set the Turbo Blend to varying speeds you can do this manually with the spin dial.

The removable Poly-carbonate jar is light and easy to handle and it does not sacrifice durability at all, and the best part is you do not have to clean the blender by hand, just pour in 5 cups of water or enough to reach the stains and some cleaning fluid and turn it on; voila you have a mini washing machine that washes itself, all you have to do after that is rinse it and be on your way.

The blender when purchased comes with a plunger for pushing down the persistent floaters that float at the top to avoid being blended, a little shake and push of the plunger will settle this immediately.

Summarizing everything written above I would say that the Vitamix 1700 Turbo Blend is a best buy for those who require a professional grade blender that has massive power for their kitchen, especially for restaurants and juice bars.

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