Need some blender recommendations.

[laconic1]

I'm in need of a new blender. I bought a GE blender from wally world last January and well, it is a steaming pile of poo. The shaft the blades attach to is loose and leaks and the blender is unbelievably loud. Painfully loud, this coming from a guy that isn't bothered by unmuffled race car engines. I'm pretty sure GE's aircraft engines are quieter than their blenders.

I don't use my blender for very heavy duty uses, occasionally I might need to run some ice cubes or frozen fruit through it, but typically I just use it to blend protein shake powder and milk. I realize blenders by nature are not the quietest appliances ever created, but something that doesn't wake the neighbors would be nice. What features should I look for in a blender? Any of you guys have a good blender you would recommend?

 

[Hutch1]

You can keep buying a new blender every couple of years, or you can buy a Waring Pro. http://www.waringproducts.com/ret/catalog/product.php?item_id=5&cat_id=1

 

[WhosYerBob]

A quiet blender? You got me there.

If you want one that's bulletproof, get a Vita-Mix (http://www.vita-mix.com/). My in-laws have had one since the 1970's and I've had a used one from eBay for 5 years. Not pretty, but they'll produce the smoothest frappes I've ever had from a blender. The low speed are fairly quiet, but the high speeds are ferocious.

 

[Abdiel]

with most any kitchen appliance it's hard to go with anything that has Kitchen Aid stuck to the side.

 

[kwk285]

My wife and I have been using a Vitamix for many years. It is expensive. I think we paid $400 5 years ago.

 

[Miles]

I've had a Waring blender for many years running. Only 2 speeds, but that sucker really cranks. Powers through protein shakes and margaritas with ease. Mine's a kitchen classics series, mint green and heavy glass carafe.

Good luck!

 

[mmack66]

Blendtec, just in case you also need to blend up golf balls and rocks and the like.

http://www.willitblend.com/

 

[airplanedoc]

Waring pro, had it 8 years. I have a party every summer, and have no idea how much ice that thing has turned into margaritas/daquiri's, or hurricanes. Works like a champ.

 

[the beav]

If you'd like a vintage blender, try an Oster Beehive. You can buy replacement O-rings online and spare parts on ebay if needed. A new O-ring is recommended, but you probably won't need anything else to get it up and running.

I just checked and apparently there's a lot of remakes available. I don't know how good they are. What I'm talking about is something like this in either white or chrome plate:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-61-Oste...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0da35d5e

 

[john parker]

Cook's Illustrated recently (March 2009) tested blenders. Their recommendation for most highly recommended was Kitchen Aid 5-Speed at about $150; and Kalorik Bl Blender as best buy at $50. You might check those two out.

 

[lamina]

Definitive answer!? KitchenAid, of course.

 

[laconic1]

Thanks for the replies everybody. The Vita-mix is way out of my unemployed butts price range, but the Waring and KitchenAid blenders are within reach. That Kalorik blender might be worth a look too.

 

[Bertilak]

You can keep buying a new blender every couple of years, or you can buy a Waring Pro. http://www.waringproducts.com/ret/catalog/product.php?item_id=5&cat_id=1

We have a Waring Pro Bar Blender that is 25+ years old. Its two speeds are "on" and "off". No need for all those different speeds. Just flick the switch on/off a few times until things are blended just right.

From your link, I see that its institutional-looking greenish-gray color isn't available any more.

We replaced the glass Carafe with a stainless steel version long ago. The glass got broken somehow. (My guess is it was dropped on a tile floor. I think I even remember when this happened. I am picturing a carafe full of some orange colored liquid.) The part was available in a restaurant supply store.

 

[danek]

+7ish on the Waring Pro. Had mine for years. I like it's no-nonsense style and simple use. Why on earth would you need settings for chop, crunch, munch, mix, rend, blend, smooth, frappe, mince...? Mine has off, low, high.

 

[Bertilak]

Mine has off, low, high.

Too complicated!

 

[Dink]

Waring, my Dad still uses the one he and my Mom received as a wedding present in...1954.

Cheers,
David

 

[Spacegeezer]

I inherited a Vita Mix. Bloody wonderful. Have a Blend-Tec calender up in the house this year (received at a food expo). I love my Kitchenaid mixer, but I think (as a blender enthusiast) I have to recommend the Waring in your price range. It looks like a blender that could whip up some serious daiquiris.

 

[_JP_]

I've always been happy with my old Oster. It's the style that has the square shaped top.

 

[Wann]

I've just bought a slightly used Waring Pro. It's not too noisy and it can blend ice with ease.

And it looks good on the kitchen table too.

 

[withoutink]

Another happy waring user here. Though I have been eyeing a blendtec for awhile.