196246 Thu Aug 01 14:34:47 -0700 2002 11 18 Manhattan 0 1047607 Hi, I've been looking into buying a new blender. I have some credit at Williams-Sonoma, so I was considering a Kitchen Aid 5 Speed or Waring Pro. I have read reviews of both of these machines, some say the Kitchen Aid breaks, some say the Waring can't crush ice. I'm basically looking to use it for smoothies, so I will need to crush ice. Ease of cleanup is also important to me. I'm not married to either of these brands, I'm just looking for something good. I'm willing to spend up to $200 as long as it is a good blender. Thanks, Dave Thu Aug 01 14:34:47 -0700 2002 0 dave c 1 1047612 I make smoothies almost everyday and I use a very inexpensive Hamilton Beach (7 speed) that I paid about $25 for a few years ago. However, I use small ice cubes which are about 1/3 the size of regular ice cubes. When I make the smoothies I use CHOP for about 30 seconds and then BLEND for another 15 seconds. Smoothies come out great and cost a fraction of what they costs in stores. Don't believe a $200 machine would make a better smoothie. Thu Aug 01 15:00:50 -0700 2002 1047607 0 JH11372@aol.com 2 1047617 As discussed in the Cooks article, the flow pattern of the bowl makes all the difference in how well these blenders work; the squat kitchenaid just didnt cut the mustard. I wouldnt get the very cheapest models, especially those with plastic bowls; I burned a cheapo hamilton beach out pureeing pumpkin soup a couple of thanksgivings ago. It had replaced a traditional sears model with a glass bowl that had lasted 20 yrs. We now have a krups (I think $50-60) that works just fine, including with ice. Thu Aug 01 16:13:37 -0700 2002 1047612 0 jen kalb 1 1047616 Cook's Illustrated rated a number of blenders a while ago. They tested them for ability to make smoothies, frozen drinks, soup puree, crushed ice, pesto, and berry puree. Their top 3 picks were the Oster Designer 12-speed ($39.99), the Hamilton Beach BlendMaster 14 speed ($39.99), and Farberware Millenium 14 Speed ($79.99) - all scored well for everything except crushed ice. The Waring came out in the middle (but they praised its 6-foot long cord - the longest in the bunch), and the Kitchen Aid 5 speed scored lowest on all counts. Thu Aug 01 15:41:07 -0700 2002 1047607 0 Kimbow 1 1047621 When referring to ability to crush ice, the inference is to crush the ice without addition of liquid. For smoothies, twould make no difference. And I have a KitchenAid that works perfectly now that I've been conditioned NOT to rotate the carafe when removing (conditioning from use of processor)from its base and dumping the entire contents out the bottom THREE TIMES.....Enjoy. Thu Aug 01 16:28:21 -0700 2002 1047607 0 SBCochran 1 1047628 I make blender drinks and smoothies in addition to pureeing gravies, etc. I have an inexpensive Osterizer that is just great and have been using it for almost 15 years...it was the very first blender I bought when I moved out into my own place and is still going strong. I suggest only glass carafe blenders, the plastic stuff is garbage and you can't see through the chrome ones (though they look cool!). Also, putting the glass carafe in the dishwasher is great (take the gasket out of the base and wash any plastic tops by hand). On my Oster, the top separates so you can add stuff without taking the whole top off (and also so you can clean it well) - I would not get a blender without this feature. I recommend using a heavy pulse setting on ice cubes to break them down a bit before going to a continuous "ice crush" setting for drinks, always works best that way. I would not get a blender without those pulse settings, much better mechanically, I believe, than turning an on/off switch to one setting then the other. Honestly, I would try an inexpensive brand like the Oster or the Hamilton Beach...then, if after a while, you find that you don't like it and want another blender, you are only about $30-40 down, instead of closer to $100. I think you will be satisfied with the Oster or Ham. Beach, myself, I don't think that the more expensive blenders are worth it. Thu Aug 01 17:04:11 -0700 2002 1047607 0 Jill-O 1 1047629 This is a perfect topic for the Not About Food board, linked below... Let's stick to Manhattan chow chat here... Thanks. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/boards/notfood/notfood.html Thu Aug 01 17:06:42 -0700 2002 1047607 0 shortstop 1 1047646 I have an old Cuisinart Vari-Speed blender (model CB-4) that I'm pretty happy with. I wouldn't say it's the best, lacking comparison, but it has a really nice feature I haven't seen on any other model. The threads on the blender jar are exactly the same as those of standard mason jars, intentionally, so you can blend stuff (sauces, dressings, salsa, whatever) directly in a mason jar, then pop it in the fridge. Saves a lot of time on cleanup, and they seem to have dropped it from the current models. Thu Aug 01 21:58:53 -0700 2002 1047607 0 Caviar 1 1047659 I've been using a waring that I bought at a garage sale about 12 years ago. It is probably about 40 or so years old and working like a charm. I replaced the glass carafe at one point. The motor has remained strong all these years. I often make smoothie type drinks as well as frozen cocktails and it always does a perfect job. I have no actual experience of the KitchenAid. Fri Aug 02 08:51:09 -0700 2002 1047607 0 Charles 1 1047768 Hamilton Beach and Waring both make excellent commerical grade blenders. The problem? They'll cost you. If its that important for you to have the best, go to any restaurant supply house, perhaps in the Bowery, and get the type used in your local bar. Much stronger motors, blades, etc. Perhaps you might want to visit Waring's and Hamilton Beach's websites "commercial equipment" and get the model numbers before you shop in The Bowery - careful there!!! Sat Aug 03 15:05:23 -0700 2002 1047607 0 Chuck 1 1047793 I live on smoothies during the summer and love my Kitchenaid. It has no problem crushing ice. Also very easy to clean. I had an Oster a while ago which was useless for ice and had to get rid of it. Sun Aug 04 15:46:18 -0700 2002 1047607 0 debbie 1 1047918 Buy the Braun. It's only about $60 and it crates this vortex that sucks everything in and blends it really well. I do not own one, but I used to have one at my last job. The thing is truly amazing. Tue Aug 06 13:09:39 -0700 2002 1047607 0 Shannon