Blender (for smoothies and the like)

So a bit of a gear question.

I'm looking for a blender, mostly for smoothies and the like, and as much as I'd love to spend $300-$400, I'd rather keep it affordable.

Consumer Reports seems to really like the Ninja Prep Pro (450 watts) over other single serve juicers like the Magic bullet and its ilk, and they are on sale usually for $40 so very affordable.

Ninja Prep Pro (450 watts)

Biggest complaint seems to be motor burnout, as these are pulse blenders and not meant to run for more than short bursts of time.

Or should I just bite the bullet and by a real blender?

Consumer Reports likes the Ninja and KitchenAid 5 speed (in the affordable $ category), and both rate high generally online, and are easy to find on sale.

• KitchenAid 5 speed ($120) - 670 watts
• Ninja Pulse Blender ($50) - 650 watts
• Ninja Professional Blender ($100) - 1100 watts (comes with 2x 16oz "glasses")

Space is a bit of a concern, hence my thoughts about the smaller unit

Your thoughts?

I've had a VitaMix for seven or eight years and it's still like new. Built like a fucking tank and will probably last until I die.

My buddy has been through three cheap ones in half the time I've had mine.

Another vote for the vitamix.

$599 for a VitiMix i would hope i lasts a life time LOL

Ninja doesn't blend. It chops. Quite fine but still not blended. So puree is not an option. Sometimes you still need to chew your smoothies:nerd:

We have a kitchenaid and have made smoothies with it daily for years. No problems at all. Easy to clean as well.

Buy the Vitamix….buy once not twice.

i have a ninja from cdn tire - http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ninja-professional-blender-0432189p.html

i use it for fruit smoothies which is typically a banana and various frozen berries. i went with the ninja because the blade system is far better for belnding frozen berries than a standard blender. i found with a standard belnder i had to add a lot of water in order for the berries to blend. with the ninja i only have to add 1-2 cups of fluid to get a smoothie that's like a thick shake and not watery. i've had it for a couple of years and no issues.

i got mine on sale for $65 - 35% off the reg price.

or get a blendtec….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC8Zvl-8ziA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH1yh_w5XO4

review on blenders…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZArusuuQrc

besides the vitamix, the other recommended blender, the breville hemisphere is on sale at the bay for $200

http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay/home/Blenders/hemisphere-control-blender-0128-brebbl605xl--24

Spend the money on a vitamix. Yes it costs 5x as much as other blenders, but it's that much better.

Costco has them on sale from time to time

If money is an issue, I've been running a Oster behive. 2 speeds, no fluff, blends great.

5 years of pretty heavy use, still runs great.

The cheap blenders will not pulverize seeds (raspberry, strawberry) when making smoothies. Otherwise they do a fine job as long as you work with their limitations-needing enough liquid.

I have a Hamilton Beach Wave blender and it works fine for our uses (fruit smoothies and soups), but we did have to return the first one due to one of the buttons not working.

For single serve, Bamix immersion blender might be an option.