What is the best blender? Any thoughts on this? I need a new one.

if you got some spare change($400 worth) then its vita-mix, for the $100-150 range viking makes good ones, and for normal prices osterizer(sp?)

We plunked down $80 for a Cuisinart blender/food processor combo from Costco a couple months ago to replace my faithful Osterizer blender that served us faithfully for a good 4 years.

We've never been happier with the Cuisinart one - and I put frozen strawberries right out of the freezer in there and it hacks them up no sweat. I have yet to smell that glorious "motor burining up" smell that I do so frequently as hard as I am on blenders. I'm not much on thawing anything out......

It has a seperate food processor top you can use with the base - but we've yet to use that part yet. :lol:

I use a hand held blender to make my shakes. Only cost me $10 and it takes like 5 seconds to clean. Easiest thing to use, ever.

http://products.consumerguide.com/reviews/product.epub?productId=22286

Here's a thread (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=19854&highlight=blend) where we talked about blenders.

-R

I have a kitchenaid that I love - wish I could afford a vitamix, but I'm so hard on blenders that I can't justify throwing away that kinda cash. :P

2 words... Magic Bullet :tucool:

Here's a thread (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=19854&highlight=blend) where we talked about blenders.

-R

Thanks R. I did the search and somehow missed that one...

Thanks everyone for the input so far. :tu:

For all purpose kitchen use I'd say the classic Oster is a good buy. Ours is coming up on 12 years use.

For optimal margarita mixing...I chose......I mean...For that rich and flavorful...buttery smooth whey shake...I use...

Black & Decker (http://www.blackanddeckerappliances.com/product-13.html)

But it does make damn good margaritas...and it's only $50...and very well made...feels like a tank...

This is by far the best birthday present that I have very graciously accepted...it is very dear to me...

2 words... Magic Bullet :tucool:
I'll second this vote. Maybe not the BEST, but certainly the smallest and most convenient little blender on the market :tu: :tu:

My magic bullet blender is good for stuff like pancake batter but it would completely choke on the shakes I make. :P :P (It refuses to even blend cottage cheese). Still, it's good for lighter stuff and is very convenient.

Right now I'm leaning toward the Cuisinart for 80 bucks that vatechguy recommended. It sounds pretty tough, and I like the food processer opton. I really want the Vitamix but can't swing the dough. I can't do the magic bullet because I need an all around machine for the kitchen- especially my famous pina coladas and banana daquiris- this is the Bahamas after all!

"To find out, we ran the Magic Bullet through a dozen tests, from grinding coffee to blending a microwaved Alfredo sauce. It performed well when grinding dry items, such as spices, coffee, and Parmesan cheese, but most every other test proved problematic. Attempts to chop onions yielded a flood of juice. Cream whipped so quickly that stopping anytime before stiff peaks was nearly impossible. That Alfredo sauce? The Magic bullet managed it, but a whisk could have done the same.

In the end, this $99 “countertop magician” is not able to deliver on its laundry list of promises. In addition, storing the unit’s 23 pieces is a nightmare, and the motor emits an eardrum-bursting noise that makes a regular blender seem downright quiet. We’ll take our favorite blender--at half the price—any day. We’ll just stick with a whisk, knife, or coffee grinder when the need arises." - excerpt from Cooks Illustrated

some on the vita-mix:
"With the Vita-Mix, we were able to blend 1 pound of whole frozen strawberries along with 2 cups ice, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 cup half-and-half into soft-serve ice cream"

"...but only the 249-mile-per-hour blade tips of the Vita-Mix could produce hot fondue from cold ingredients in a mere four minutes"

supposedly it can also bring water to a boil...crazy thing, i want one :D

"To find out, we ran the Magic Bullet through a dozen tests, from grinding coffee to blending a microwaved Alfredo sauce. It performed well when grinding dry items, such as spices, coffee, and Parmesan cheese, but most every other test proved problematic. Attempts to chop onions yielded a flood of juice. Cream whipped so quickly that stopping anytime before stiff peaks was nearly impossible. That Alfredo sauce? The Magic bullet managed it, but a whisk could have done the same.

In the end, this $99 “countertop magician” is not able to deliver on its laundry list of promises. In addition, storing the unit’s 23 pieces is a nightmare, and the motor emits an eardrum-bursting noise that makes a regular blender seem downright quiet. We’ll take our favorite blender--at half the price—any day. We’ll just stick with a whisk, knife, or coffee grinder when the need arises." - excerpt from Cooks Illustrated

some on the vita-mix:
"With the Vita-Mix, we were able to blend 1 pound of whole frozen strawberries along with 2 cups ice, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 cup half-and-half into soft-serve ice cream"

"...but only the 249-mile-per-hour blade tips of the Vita-Mix could produce hot fondue from cold ingredients in a mere four minutes"

supposedly it can also bring water to a boil...crazy thing, i want one :D

I LOVE my Vita-Mix... it's awesome and can mix just about ANYTHING... and if you want tough... it doesn't get tougher than the Vita-Mix... one of my Aunt's gave it to us as a wedding present, and I can honestly say that out of all of the gifts we recieved for our wedding we use this one the most.. just about every day.