Cheeeeeep kitchen appliances

[Shivananda]

As some of you are already aware, I know more about kitchen appliances than any human should. And because of that a number of people have asked fairly similar questions that go something like: "I'm a college student with no money, so while I want a Vitamix really bad I just can't do that right now, so could you recommend a good blender I could get for under $50?"

So I thought take a look at the offering available in a couple of national stores that are accessible to lots of people and see what they have available right now that I would actually buy myself, knowing all I do about this stuff, if I was on a restricted budget.

Today's store was Target.

Blender... after a quick look around the choice was obvious and clear... a Black & Decker 550 watt blender with a stainless steerl base, and big polycarbonate jar, on sale today for $34.95. As I said in another thread a 500-600 watt blender is the minimum power rating I would want to have today (Waring Classic bar blenders are 300 watt, KitchenAid 5 speed is 450 watt, Vitamix is 900 watt, K-Tec is 1500 watt. ) and this fills the bill for making smoothies and other blended drinks. Should be able to do green smoothies but I have not tried it.

Food processor... all they had out looked acceptable, but my first choice also quickly stood out... a Black & Decker 500 watt, 10 cup capacity, with a matte black base, displayed on an endcap (meaning that everywhere in Target stores today they have this item on display at the end of the regular shelves in Housewares.) for $49.95

Juicer... only one model on display, a Jack LaLanne centrifugal juicer for $99.95. NO SALE. This recent knockoff of the Breville Juice Fountain is woefully underpowered at 250 watts (the $150 Breville is 800 watts). And it is made by Salton, which manufactures a dozen diiferent familiar brands like George Foreman and Russell Hobbs and JuiceMan, but whose products lean very much to cheap and cheesy construction, easily broken, like this juicer. If this were $39.99 it might be worth it.

[misslinda]

Ah did you have to use the word "cheap" in that title :eek: :D

r u a used car salemen? ;)


anyway, i have the black and decker 4500 that was jsut replced by the newer model and got it for 19.99 at target. i have not had problems----i thought i did but it was b/c i did not know how to use the cup lock grip thingy majig.

Shiva da da, can I ask what all kitchen appliances you use?


:)

[juliebove]

Does anyone have the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth food processor? I believe it is a 14 cup. I got it because I'd read good reviews about it and because it claimed you didn't have to cut the food to size to put it in. I decided I need some sort of food processor after trying to make sprouted chickpea hummus with my immersion blender and finding that it just didn't have the power to do it. And since I eat a ton of salads and cut up raw veggies, it seemed like this would be the best choice for me. Alas, when it arrived (amazon.com) the very top piece was totally crushed. It is designed so that you can't use it unless all the parts are put on correctly. And since I didn't have this part, I couldn't use it. They also couldn't send me just this part. I had to ship it back and must now wait until they get it and then ship me another. I am worried though that it might not be very durable if the piece broke that easily. The piece wasn't just cracked. It was found as powdered plastic, little chunks and shards. It was so broken I couldn't even tell what it was. I had to try to assemble it to figure out what part it was.

My only other experience with a food processor was bad. I bought a small (but not mini) one and it never worked right. There was a flaw in the design and it allowed a minute piece of food to be thrown up into this spring mechanism. The thing would stop and wouldn't start up again until I got out the tools, took it all apart and cleaned out the little speck of food. After doing this three times, I finally took it back to the store.

[tvillemom]

Juliebove, I think I found your same processor at Walmart.....I was seriously looking at laying it away because everytime I use my processor, it leaks out of the top (where the base and the lid connect). Mine is a very old 7-cup Hamilton Beach processor. It works great(except for the leak), and has so far withstood making really thick stuff like Alissa's fudge balls. I hope your new one works just as well...I'll be waiting to hear if it's worth the purchase ;) .
Wendi

[Shivananda]

After my successful foray to Target, I thought Bed Bath and Beyond might be another productive place to shop for cheeeeeep appliances, but no. Although I found many great non-electrical items for a raw kitchen (including Snapware containers for bulk food storage in my new pantry) I found little to attract me if I was looking for a cheeeeeep food processor, etc., even if I had one of BB&B's ubiquitous coupons to use.

The least expensive full size food processor they had was the 7 cup Cuisinart Pro Classic at $99.99, the last of the square based units based on the original French design by Robot Coupe. As I posted earlier, I can buy two 10 cup Black & Deckers for that price at Target, and the B&D's will probably last longer and work better.

Blenders? The KA Ultra Power at 500 watts, and 40 oz jar for $99.99 is underpowered and small by raw kitchen standards, but the Cuisinart CBT-500 at 600 watts, and 50 oz jar is better, also $99.99. But the prize for cheeeeeeep goes to... the Hamilton Beach Wave Action for only $19.99.

It's 400/500 watt, a huge 56 oz jar, and although probably not good for any dry grinding, because the 500 watt "peak power" should only be used in short bursts, it actually did a pretty good job of turning some frozen fruit, ice, and a banana into a smoothie. My only caveat would be to NOT use a hard frozen banana or big chunk of fruit, but allow it to thaw slightly first.

My point being, if you only had $20 to spend right now, it's way better for making blened beverages and sauces than nothing.

The Jack LaLanne/Breville comparison I've already mentioned before... Jack LaLanne is shoddy junk, a 250 watt ripoff of the Breville design for $100, whereas the Brevile is 850 watt, well made and only $150. It's worth waiting for. (And Alissa sells it in her store).

Later I'll post my real life test of the 3 seed (coffee) grinders I found there, after I've ventured out to the flower show to smell the posies. :)

[RowanC]

You can find everything you need at a yard sale.

Blenders for $5
Cuisinarts for $10

Last year I bought a 5 tray Excaliber for $10 and a 9 tray for $30.
I resold them and made a little cash.

Why make more trash for the landfill when there are perfectly good appliances out there for very little money?

I bought a new blender this year for my Christmas present.
I should have saved my money.
My old $5 green one from the 60's made a better smoothie than this new "powerful" Kitchenaid piece of junk!

Other good places to look are

www.craigslist.com
and
www.freecycle.com

[Shivananda]

I just noticed this special online... the LeQuip RPM 900 for $130 (w/free shipping) at discountjuicers.com It has a 900 watt motor (50-75% more power than typical kitchen blenders) and is variable speed from 500 rpm (for stirring) up to 20,000 rpm, which is more than twice as fast as regular blenders go. That's what you need for finely blended green juices, etc. And it has a big 7 cup jar, with a "tamper stick" like the VitaMix for poking frozen fruits when making smoothies. And it has a 6 year warranty. Locally they sell for $190, so that's a nice cost savings. And it's very close to duplicating VitaMix specs, but at 1/3 the price. Yes, the VitaMix is a great machine if you can afford it, but if you just don't have that kind of money right now, this would probably be a good intermediate step.

Disclaimer: I have not actually used this particular machine in Shivananda's Test Kitchen (STK) , but it seems well built, and both LeQuip and discountjuicers have been reliable in my previous experiences with them.

[Shivananda]

You can find everything you need at a yard sale. Blenders for $5 Cuisinarts for $10 True, and while supporting your overall sentiment for recycling, a blender and a food processor (Cuisinart is a brand name) are two appliances I'd be reluctant to bring into my kitchen from a yard sale.

Why? Because they are two of the hardest kitchen appliances to get totally clean, especially the parts that touch the food. The only one worse is a juicer.

Maybe you don't care about accidentally ingesting toxic substances from machines that have been who-knows-where, but I do. :D

[stRAWberry fields forever]

I am relatively uneducated in the area of kitchen appliances...if one were to purchase a powerful blender such as the LeQuip RPM 900 or a vitamix, is a food processor needed?

[RowanC]

Mine all come perfectly apart and are easy to clean.

I must just be lucky! whheeeeeeeee! :D

[rawfigure]

Well this is off the Cheeeeeppp subject but I found a Omega 8005 on sale on the internet for 212.00 free shipping, got it used it today for first time. Nice recommendation !!

[Shivananda]

I am relatively uneducated in the area of kitchen appliances...if one were to purchase a powerful blender such as the LeQuip RPM 900 or a vitamix, is a food processor needed?Hi, there is some overlap, so you can start with the one you think have the most need of and add the other later.

Food processors are primarily designed to chop food, although they can also slice and shred. Making a finely textured pate out of soaked sunflower seeds in a food processor is very quick, a matter of a mere minute or so, as is shredding a pound of carrots for carrot cake or veggie burgers. The long curved blades are often serrated slightle, so the chopping action can be pretty intense. Chunked carrots can be chopped into carrot meal in no time.

Blenders are primarily designed to blend liquids, and can also chop solids suspended in liquids (such as chopping up frozen fruit and ice for a smoothie), or can chop small quantities of food, like a cup of salsa or maybe flax seeds. In a blender unless you add liquid the contents will often not circulate very well. And the blades are tiny compared to a food processor, so a sunny pate would not work very well.

So if you are primarily interested in making drinks, and sauces, the blender is what you want. And if you want green smoothies tou want probably 600 watts or more power.

But if you are most interested in finely chopping vegetables, or slicing and shredding, plus making smooth sauces without totally homogonizing them, the food processor is probably the first thing for you to getto get. It's just not so good at blending liquids. 450 watts or more power is good for a food processor, although the approx 700 watts of my 11 cup KitchenAid is akin to a V8 engine in a normal size car... makes it go way fast without any strain or fuss.

With my own very personal approach to preparing food I find the food processor more essential, so much so that I have two of them in my kitchen. And now that I'm all raw, I use fine chopping instead of cooking to make tough foods more eatable. The blenders I have (I have 2 ) are not really used all that much anymore ( I used them more when I was using dairy and soy)except for salad dressings and occasional smoothies, and the blender "ice cream" I mentioned earlier. And of course, for killer margaritas when company comes. That's why I sometimes need two. :) :) :)

[Shivananda]

Mine all come perfectly apart and are easy to clean. Yeah, well maybe. But I bet I could come over to your place with a microscope and a black light and disabuse you of that notion pretty quickly.

The weak point of all rotary blade food prep appliances is the point where the power shaft passes through the container and attaches to the blade. That seal, and the underside of the non removable blades in many blenders tend to accumulate crud and bacteria. Blenders with removable jar bottoms are bestter in this regard, because you can at least get in there and scrub with a toothbrush, but the sealed in blades of the VitaMix and Waring Classic are essentially impossible to clean to top sanitary standards, OK, so throw them in the dishwasher you say! Yeah, and that works fairly well for a while, primarily because of the high temperature and alkaline environment, but it also tends to dry out the bearings and seals quickly, causing the jar to get noisy and leaky and eventually fail.

So, not knowing WHAT my neighbor might have been mixing up in that blender he's getting rid of cheeeep (Somehow the old SNL "Bassamatic " commercials come to mind), :eek: I'd rather start off fresh, thanks.

[RowanC]

You are really thorough!

I guess I'm just an old country girl who isn't too paranoid about a lttle bit of dirt.

I figure if I wash it in good hot soapy water, it's as clean or cleaner as the stuff that comes from the factory. I mean, honestly, who knows whose nose was being picked while they were making the parts? You could pretty technical here.

And, with my MCS, things that have already outgassed for a year or two are better for my health. I'm more concerned about that than I am a little spaghetti sauce stuck in the motor.

Anyway ::shrug:: to each his/her own.

I prefer to do the earth less harm by reusing and recycling as often as I can and not buying into the consumerism that is rampaging. I also prefer not to make more trash for the landfills by constantly buying new new new stuff. Especially when I logically cannot SEE $100 worth of materials in a few pieces of plastic, metal, and glass.

It's obscene, really, in my opinion. Almost as obscene as those big ole 3 story 4,000-square-foot 2-person 5-car-garage houses they're tearing down the forest to build "for the view!" which they cut down to build the danged obnoxious house!
Beats me... just doesn't feel right.

Soooo.. we'll have to agree to disagree here.

You buy new...
I'll buy yours when you get a new one...
and we'll both be happy! :D :D :p

[Shivananda]

You buy new...I'll buy yours when you get a new one...
and we'll both be happy! :D :D :p It's a deal. I sell them on eBay, though, so don't be surprised by a little competition. Highest bidder wins.

[stRAWberry fields forever]

Hmm...so I assume that the beets in the live salads I eat at restaurants are made into those shredded, thin, stringy pieces by way of the food processor? From your comments Shivananda, I'm thinking it's a food processor that is good for such a job, or for making a raw tabouleh type dish? And for pate dishes, but not for nut butters, because you cannot create that creamy of a consistency with a food processor? Does this mean you must rely on a homogenizing juicer or a very powerful blender to create nut butters? Man, to me it all seems so complicated with all the "species" of juicers (masticating, centrifugal...), the competing brands of blenders, the varied wattages of food processors...dehydrators?! APPLIANCE OVERLOAD.


[Don't worry...I understand that owning all or any of these items is not absolutely necessary to being a successful raw foodist].

[stRAWberry fields forever]

Hmm...so I assume that the beets in the live salads I eat at restaurants are made into those shredded, thin, stringy pieces by way of the food processor? From your comments Shivananda, I'm thinking it's a food processor that is good for such a job, or for making a raw tabouleh type dish? And also for pate dishes, (but not for nut butters, because you cannot create THAT creamy of a consistency with a food processor?) Does this mean you must rely on a homogenizing juicer or a very powerful blender to create nut butters? Man, to me it all seems so complicated with all the "species" of juicers (masticating, centrifugal...), the competing brands of blenders, the varied wattages of food processors...dehydrators?! APPLIANCE OVERLOAD.


[Don't worry...I understand that owning all or any of these items is not absolutely necessary to being a successful raw foodist].

[rawpriestess]

I believe you get what you pay for.

I LOVE buying new appliances because I want all the frills and gizmos and the instruction manual and the spatulas and the extra thingy-ma-jiggy and the box. I want that perfect box.

And WHY might you ask?

Well, I grew up very poor, and my mom had an old blender until the day she died, it was very very old. it semi-worked, but I never knew what a new appliance was until I received one as a wedding present.

All of our things were hand-me-downs from my grandparents.

So, although I recylce everything I use and buy.

I always buy new and the best.

Now also, let me say that sometimes the best is NOT the most expensive, but this is rare in my opinion.

I usually ask many people who use the product, then I make up my own mind before I actually buy it, then I take it home and use it, then I decide If I want to keep it or not.

I went through 6 food processors before I finally decided on my 11 cup Cuisinart, which in my opinion is the best one under $400. If I wanted to pay $400 I would have purchased a Robot Coupe, which I might still in the long run. But I've only seen one in use, in a massively busy Health food store.

I've learned over the years that there is a reason things cost alot of money, because they have a great warranty, wonderful customer service, and a great buy back program, but that is just me, and I'm totally cool to agree to disagree.

[prana]

RowanC~

Thanks so much for encouraging used items. Our poor earth is so strained in what is given over to us humans for our own consumption (definition- to destroy). Here we have the least stressful diet (pure raw fruits/veggies) and we complicate things by throwing in all of these "needed" items; not that I don't use these items from time to time. My VitaMix is used, most dishes in the kitchen have been passed down by family, 98% of my clothing is used (except underwear and shoes), mostly used books, and nearly all our furniture is used. Thanks again RowanC, there aren't many out there like you!


Freecycle.com all the way baby!!!

[Shivananda]

I went through 6 food processors before I finally decided on my 11 cup Cuisinart, which in my opinion is the best one under $400. If I wanted to pay $400 I would have purchased a Robot Coupe, which I might still in the long run. But I've only seen one in use, in a massively busy Health food store. If you are happy with your Cuisinart, that's great, I wouldn't want to take that away from you. And I have friends who have them and like theirs too. But I'll you why, on the basis of my experience with selling hundreds of them, I have for years mostly recommended people buy KitchenAid food processors instead. Sometimes they listen... :)

First, a little bit of history... Robot Coupe is the French company that made the first food processors to be widely sold and used, first to professional chefs, then to gourmet cooks, and finally to the general public. Cuisinart (pronounced "cuisine art" at first, not "coozy nart" or "kweezin art" like it most often is today) is a American company which was formed to market food processors made by Robot Coupe to the American public. And they were successful at it, successful enough that they firmly established their name in the American public mind and started marketing other kitchen appliances and pots and pans and even tableware under the well known principal of brand name extension. "If their food processor is good," the buyers' logic goes, "then I'll bet I'll like their coffee maker." And they were successful at that marketing effort too, so their view broadened and thinned out and they lost some focus and their original commitment to quality began to droop.

Then, at some point, after changes in management and philosophy, in a drive for higher profit margins, they dropped their contracts with Robot Coupe and started having their food processors made for them much more cheaply in China. So their profits initially rose, but their quality and their quality control dropped substantially. And various changes they made in the design were quite artless and clumsy, and started causing problems for the users. Safety features they added to reduce product liability issues caused jamming. Gears stripped, motors burned out. Failure rates rose, and return rates soared. And stayed high, because now the company had financial issues. So to boost profits they redesigned their machines to manufacture them cheaper, and the cycle deepened. But the initial momentum built by their early successes carried the day. People bought them anyway, even when they were pure crap.

In the middle of all that along came KitchenAid, an American manufacturing company in St. Joseph, Michigan, which built their reputation for "bullet proof" quality on powerful, well made American planetary gear stand mixers which were scaled down versions of the big Hobart mixers used in bakeries and restaurants and institutional kitchens. Their return rate, as compared to Cuisinart, has always been low, and they have a "no hassle" home replacement warranty on major items that made the few problems which did come up far less troublesome to their customers. Anyway, KitchenAid went to Robot Coupe (now released from their Cuisinart ties) and contracted to have them make an improved food processor to KA's high standards, with blades by Sabattier, the famous French cutlery company. Which is why, when I turn over my KA machine it says "Made in France," while yours, unless it has a square base and you've had it for many, many years, will say on the bottom "Made in China." And that's also why I can do things with my KA more easily than my best cooking friend can do with her Cuisinart. The parts fit together better, and the blades are sharper, and the design is superior and it all just works better. And the KA's quality and design were so demonstrably better than Cuisinart's that year after year the KA consistently topped the Consumer's Union tests, and others, for best machine in its class.

But despite all that the Cuisinart continues to outsell the KA by a wide margin because the American public buys more on the basis of recognizable brand names and perceived price/value and aggressive sales promotions than on actual knowledge. So the KA, while clearly of superior quality, was often seen as "more than I need," even when the prices were similar. And so the New Jersey marketing company with the French sounding name claimed ownership of the large middle chunk of the market, while the smaller top tier was claimed by KA, and the bottom tier of much cheaper machines falls to Black & Decker, Hamilton Beach, Braun, Krups and others to fight over. And to be complete, there is also an elitist level too, belonging to such ultra high end machines as Bosch and yes, Robot Coupe, but grouped together they comprise less than a percent or two of the overall business in this country

Interesting sidebar... a few years ago... 5 or 6?... Black & Decker entered a joint venture deal with another company called KitchenTools to manufacture and sell a high concept, high end line of food processors, stand mixers, and other small kitchen appliances with innovative features to compete with KitchenAid. The critics raved about them, and they won many design awards for their esthetics and improved functionality, but the public stayed away from them in droves, so the company folded very quickly. It was a classic marketing failure. The B&D brand name was apparently so synonymous in the public's mind with good quality but moderate prices that people just couldn't make the mental leap to a high end machine with a high end price from B&D. Like Chevrolet bringing out a super luxury car, who would want it? But I own one of their KitchenTools 9 cup food processors, which I bought very cheap as a closeout at Bloomingdales as my second machine and I completely love it. It totally rocks, and I wish everything else in my kitchen was as well designed. It even has a finger hole in the blade shaft to help pull it out with. A brilliant touch!

The moral of my story is that the best quality kitchen appliances are often not the best known or the best selling or the one sales people will recommend to you. So you have to do your homework, look at everything and try everything you can, and not just buy what is easiest for the salesman to sell to you... which is usually the brand with the biggest advertising budget, or what the store is most stocked up on.

Sadly the pressures on the market place created by that particular dynamic influence everything, and KA has now built their own manufacturing plants in China to try and keep their prices competitive. So while the mixers are still made in St. Joe, and the blenders are still made near Cincinatti, now they're assembled with some Chinese components in them. And their newest 12 cup food processors are... sigh... made in China, and sell for $270 or less (I've seen them for $160 on the internet, a smokin' price). But even with the changes KA's commitment to quality remains very high, and they are still demonstrably higher quality than anything Coozy nart makes.

Anyway, that's my opinion. I have them so you don't have to. :)

[Goddess_girl]

target manual juicer 2.99

[Shivananda]

Continuing my penetrating investigative series on affordable small kitchen appliance for WSTK, I found the following rotary blade coffee grinders, which many of us use to grind small amounts of herbs and spices and seeds, like flax or sesame:

At Bed Bath & Beyond -

150 watt Braun with round cup, and cord wrap around base. The original and "old reliable" for many of us serious food artists. $18

200 watt Krups with oval cup (easier to pour from), same capacity as the Braun but half the size, yet more powerful $20

175 watt Cuisinart with 1/3 larger removable cup (much easier to pour from and to clean), massive size, cord storage in base. $30

At WalMart -

110 watt Black & Decker, like Braun but underpowered, $14

130 watt Mr. Coffee, oval, too gimmicky to work well for long, $20

*****

All other things being equal, more power is better with small appliances. So I selected the top 2, the Cuisinart and the Krups (and I already own and am familiar with the Braun. )

In my first test I filled the Krups most of the way with flax seed, about 12 Tablespoons, and put the identical amount in the Cuisinart, then ran each for 30 seconds. At the end the seed in the Krups was completely pulverized into fine powder, while that in the Cuisinart was perhaps only 1/2 done. It took another 30 seconds to achieve the same fineness as the Krups.

Second test, I put 2 tablespoons of sesame seed in each machine and ran for 30 seconds. Again, the Krups had turned the seed into very fine meal, wheras the Cuisinart did not achieve that consistency even after a minute and a half, by which time it started getting hot. It may be fine with coffee beans I think the fact that the blade is much higher off the bottom of the cup and noticeably less sharp than the Krups makes it less efficient with seeds.

So, even though I loved the IDEA of the removable cup and larger capacity of the Cuisinart, the compact Krups was clearly the superior machine. And at $20 that makes it the STK best buy of the whole lot.

Remember, we buy them and take them back so you don't have to. :)

*****
Footnote: All the above manufacturers say these machines are not made for grinding nuts and seeds, and that such use can damage their COFFEE grinders so don't bother talking to them or complaining about it.

[RowanC]

RowanC~

Our poor earth is so strained in what is given over to us humans for our own consumption (definition- to destroy). Here we have the least stressful diet (pure raw fruits/veggies) and we complicate things by throwing in all of these "needed" items;
Freecycle.com all the way baby!!!

Thanks for the support, Prana!

I sadly agree about the earth. We are straining her resources in the name of vanity. All you really need for this diet is a cool place to store vegetables and fruits. Usually, after a while, people get weary of all the "uncooking" anyway, and end up eating whole fruits and veggies. Even Alissa admits that is the way she eats now.

To spend 400 dollars on a vitamix is just craziness to me when that is more than the entire yearly wage for many humans. I used my grandmother's vitamix when I was visiting her and frankly, couldn't tell much difference in the finished product. I also used a vitamix at work daily making shakes for the cancer patients... no different than my blender. And the blender is a sore spot for me, because as I've said, my old green one did a better job. I learned a good lesson when I bought the new Kitchenaid.

I agree that sometimes you get what you pay for and sometimes it's ok to spend more for quality. But not always. You can eat this diet perfectly well without all the bells and whistles.

I have a handcranked food processor that I paid $29 for that makes awesome salsa and I can make a lot of the recipes with it just as well as the Cuisinart and sometimes I use it just because it's quicker and easier to clean up.

Nut milk is easy with a blender or food processor and a strainer.

Smoothies are easy with a cheap blender - you don't need anything with millions of amps... just a blender works fine. It doesn't take a lot of power to blend a banana and some greens.

You can dehydrate food in an inexpensive dehydrator. I will admit here that if you are going to spend money, this is where it should go. You will save energy and time with an Excaliber. But if you don't have the money, you can just as easily use your oven or buy a hanging dryer from Lehman's that will work just fine.

For me, the bottom line is the crazy consumerism that engulfs our country. We are fat, lazy, and spoiled as a society. Americans on welfare are rich compared to many in 3d world countries. You just can't do this forever. At some point, someone has to pay the piper.

We have been led to believe that we cannot survive without all of the luxuries we have... luxuries like heat, electricity, automobiles, televisions, VCRs, computers, flowing water, flushing toilets. When in fact, we work long hours, ignoring our families and relationships, to pay for those "time saving" addictions.

All you NEED is a place out of the elements to sleep, some raw food, clean water, and adequate clothing. Everything else is a WANT.

I just have to wonder what the heck all these people do if the power goes out for more than a few hours. It CAN happen.. remember Katrina? Will life stop because all your pretty machines won't run anymore?

And do any of you think about what type of pollution all of those plastics you buy break down to as they sit in the landfills? Do you think the good fairy just waves her wand and makes it disappear? Have you had your water tested lately? It's full of stuff that poisons us... we, of all the animals in the world, are the only ones who soil their own beds.

Ok.. I gotta get off this soapbox, but this is a sore subject for me. I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I moved here 20 years ago to escape the consumerism mindset of California. Now, the consumers have followed me here and they're ruining this place too with their bulldozers and chainsaws and monstrosity houses that look like hotels. They're tearing down the trees and poisoning the animals whose homes they've ruined because they fear them. Last year I found 3 dead raccoons up on the main road, poisoned. This was soon after a group of new houses had been built in their territory and I'm pretty sure of what happened to the little bandits. I miss seeing their cute antics and it's hard not to be angry.

Now instead of the little masked faces, I see big ugly windowed walls staring down from what used to be a forested hill.

It makes me want to pray for a mudslide.
But I don't.
I bless them and hope they'll wake up from the nightmare they're creating before it's too late.
If not, the earth will give a big ole shake and all the humans will disappear. And then she'll regrow.. replenish.. and start again.
That gives me a bit of hope.

[Shivananda]

Wearing a suitable disguise, your brave reporter from Shivananda's Test Kitchen found the following choices at WalMart yesterday. (As before, the game is to find cheeeeep appliances that I would actually be willing to buy if I needed them myself and had very little money to spend.)

Black & Decker 450 watt 8 cup food processor, at $30 the best buy by far. (Note, the GE 450 watt was $50 and the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth 450 watt was twice the price at $60)

Hamilton Beach Health Smart 350 watt centrifigul juicer, a best buy at $30
(Note, this is actually a better made and more powerful juicer than the $100 Jack LaLanne you see everywhere)

Juiceman Jr, 410 watts, a close second at $55 Not a bad beginning juicer, all in all, or also for occasional use, like at a vacation cabin (I take one traveling sometimes, because if it gets broken no big loss). I've given many of these as gifts, and still have 4 in storage that I'll probably sell on eBay some day.

Blenders? No real good choice. I thought the Hamilton Beach 8 spd 600 watt wave station was going to be a contender at $32.50, but on close inspection it turned out to really be a 400 watt machine with a "peak power" booster that sorta kinda gives you the effect of 600 watts, but only for about 10 seconds at a time. It's an increasingly common fiction they are all beginning to use... quoting a higher power rating on the package than the product really carries. I'd rather get the $20 one from Target, and know it can't do what a reall 600 watt blender can do.

[Sillybloss]

There are kitchen appliances on sale at 2 life Health Products thru today (3/20) I got an Omega 8005 for $213 w/ no shipping charge or taxes :cool: They are on the internet, I think the site is 2lifehealthproducts.com. Hopefully this message doesn't get moved to Classified, like my last one. I'm not selling the juicer, just wanted you all to know about the low prices on this retailer thru today.

[maraw]

Wearing a suitable disguise, your brave reporter from Shivananda's Test Kitchen found the following choices at WalMart yesterday. (As before, the game is to find cheeeeep appliances that I would actually be willing to buy if I needed them myself and had very little money to spend.)

I have a mental picture of this...and it makes me smile. :p

How very generous of you to go to so much trouble on behalf of those wishing to be raw with the convenience of helpful kitchen appliances. I think it is commendable that which you have undertaken. In the event no one has said it yet, "Thanks Shivananda!"

[Shivananda]

I have a mental picture of this...and it makes me smile. :p Good. Very glad to hear it. That makes all the effort it took me to find an XXL polyester leisure suit at the Salvation Army store to wear to WalMart worthwhile. Always remember that humor is a powerful detox agent!


In the event no one has said it yet, "Thanks Shivananda!" You are very welcome. It's fun for me to do, and I'm happy to share what I know.

[JinxieKat]

Black & Decker 450 watt 8 cup food processor, at $30 the best buy by far. (Note, the GE 450 watt was $50 and the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth 450 watt was twice the price at $60)



I wouldn't recomend the Black & Decker food processor for any heavy use. It worked fine when I used it for the ocassional cole slaw, but for what I use it for now, no way! The center piece that has the blades attached to it is cracking badly. I've only been using it for raw food prep for 2 months and it is about a year old total. I just got my new Kitchen Aide in the mail today, I cannot wait to try it out!

Jinx

[Shivananda]

The center piece that has the blades attached to it is cracking badly. I've only been using it for raw food prep for 2 months and it is about a year old total. Yes, the KA is superior (and what I personally use), but at about 8X the price it had better be! Remember, the premise of this particular thread is cheeeeeep appliances that can help get you through until you can buy better ones.

But let's take a look at your specific complaint... is that piece cracking because of overuse or have you been cooking it frequently in the dishwasher? I recommend top shelf, air dry only for food processor parts, especially blades. And most of the time (all the time right now, since my current place has no dishwasher) I wash them by hand with a big soapy brush anyway.

But in any case, my second point is, call Black & Decker and complain. Ask them to send you a replacement. It couldn't hurt, and if they do it then you'll have a good machine to give someone else, or to keep for an extra. Sometimes that can be very handy.

[JinxieKat]

Just pure old overuse I would imagine. I don't have a dishwasher, I cannot stand to give up any of my storage space for one! :p

That is a good idea about contacting Black and Decker, I just wanted to warn folks that if you are doing heavy stuff it may not last. It does fine for veggies, but once I started making pate's and cookie dough's that is when I had issues. It is a shame cause it is a nice machine, particularly for the money, otherwise.

Jinx

[Sillybloss]

Shivananda, you are tireless! (And a good humor, too!)

[Shivananda]

I think this is an outstanding offer... a manual whatgeass juicer for $37 that really works. Can be used for other leafy greens as well, like dandelion and kale, and you'll get your exercise cranking it. :)

I've dealt with Pam Free at GrowWheatgrass.com several times over the years and find she consistently has the best info and the best stuff and also has total integrity, so if she recommends it, that's way good enough for me.

http://www.growwheatgrass.com/juicer.htm

[Nini]

Hey Shiv-
I have that Healthy Juicer to juice my wheatgrass. It is very frustrating to use. It is the reason I want to make great quantities and freeze it.
Impossible to clean. I don't even take it apart anymore. I rinse it and store it in my frig. instead.
And yes, read the bold red print. If you don't have a place to clamp it down, the suction will not hold and your juice will go flying all over the kitchen......

[RawYogini]

Shiva,
what is your recommendation for a good quality juicer to be used about 5xs per week? I'm looking at the L'Equip and Breville. Hopefully one that's not too loud either.
thanks!

[Shivananda]

And yes, read the bold red print. If you don't have a place to clamp it down, the suction will not hold and your juice will go flying all over the kitchen...... Yes, Pam goes a step further and says don't buy it unless you have a place to clamp it down. It's just that there really isn't much choice if you have a super low budget, so I thought it worthwhile to add to the list.

And I also do the fridge trick with my Omega, especially during the summer when it gets warmer so I'm not cleaning it 6 times a day. I just wrap it in a produce bag and toss in the fridge until I need it next.

But what makes you say yours is hard to clean? Can't get it apart easily, or can't get the nooks and crannies clean, what? If you tell me, I might be able to make a suggestion.

[RawYogini]

Hi Shiva,
Well I just read your recommendation for the Breville on another post. I really wanted something to juice greens faster than my Omega 8002, but it sounds like centrifugal is not good for greens. I guess I'll stick with my Omega.

Thanks for all your research and info! :)

[Shivananda]

Hi Shiva,
Well I just read your recommendation for the Breville on another post. I really wanted something to juice greens faster than my Omega 8002, but it sounds like centrifugal is not good for greens. I guess I'll stick with my Omega.Infortunately speed and greens juicing don't go together. It is the sloooowwwwww speed squeeeeeeeeze that extracts the nutrients without overheating the juice. And wheatgrass is very tough, so doing it well is not easy. The $600 machines used in juice bars are even slower than the 8002 you already have.

Funny thing is, this is actually FASSSSSTT compared to the way Koreans used to do it... which is why they became the leaders in this auger style juicing technology. The traditional Korean style of juicing herbs and plants and pine needles and other things for health purposes was to pound them into a pulp in a big mortar and pestle, then put the pulp into a hemp bag and squuuuuuuueeezzzzzzze with a long pole and a tournaquet to get a tiny amount of juice.

When I read about doing it that way I just want to go take a nap. :)

[Nini]

But what makes you say yours is hard to clean? Can't get it apart easily, or can't get the nooks and crannies clean, what? If you tell me, I might be able to make a suggestion.

Yes, I can't get it apart. My husband said I could throw it against the wall, but I don't dig the green and white tie-dye look. They include this plastic wrench to help unscrew it, but even my buff hubby was breaking a sweat!

[Shivananda]

OK, well a couple of things come to mind...

First, and no insult intended... are you sure you are turning it the right way? Stranger things have happened.

Second, if you are turning the right way, soak the whole drum assembly in very hot water for a while and try again. Sticky juices could have soaked into the cracks and dried, gluing everything together.

Third, if you manage to get it apart just once, put a little olive oil or coconut oil on the mating parts to help lubricate them from sticking again.

Fourth, if all else fails, call the company you got it from and say it is all stuck together and is no good and you want a replacement.

[pdx kris]

Shivananda,

I just love your posts. I'm really glad you're a part of this board.

Kris

[onesmartcookie]

Shiv--
Am wondering your advice on an inexpensive dehydrator? Of course the 9 tray excalibur is on the wishlist, along with the vitamix, but I haven't yet started to reap the benefits of my undergraduate college education so am having a hard time reconciling these purchases, esp. being a newbie at raw. Is it worth it to just get a $30-$50 dehydrator to experiment with? Will I not be able to do anything goopy like crackers, fruit leathers, etc. because they don't come with teflex sheets? Can I use parchment or something else as a base?
I saw that wal-mart has a couple on their website, the Ron Popeil and something else...
Let me know what you think.
Much appreciated =)

[rawpriestess]

Even thought I'm not Shivananda, I do have some suggestions.

the inexpensive dehydrators work okay, you can use parchment or plane old saran wrap instead of teflex if you need to.

as far as the juicers, Victoria Boutenko came up with this, and I think it is brilliant.

for people who want green juices,

she puts all of her greens in the Vita Mix, (or blender) with a half a lemon including the peel, and then adds some water, then she turns it on, lets it get all blended, then squeezes through a nutmilk bag, this way you get the juice, but the lemon with peel cuts the bitterness, and it is more palitable, you can also add apple, etc, if you like.

This may be how she decided to start her green smoothies, by just NOT straining it.

Anyway, it is another way to get in the green juices if you wish.

good luck

[onesmartcookie]

rawpriestess--thanks so much for that reply. Boutenko's "Green For Life" is in the mail to me as I write--I truly believe that dark greens are some of the BEST sources of ultimate raw nutrition for our bodies. I love this idea of straining through a nut milk bag for green juice too, and adding the lemon. I'm totally giving this a try tomorrow as I have fresh collards and organic lemons in my fridge =)

[JinxieKat]

Yes you can make the goopy stuff with the cheep dehydrators. I got the Necco Gardenmaster and it came with mesh sheets. I've been able to make flax crackers, banana bread, onion bread and other stuff on it. The hard stuff is anything that has any height to it as your limited that way. I have figured out a way around that, but I haven't tried it yet to say if it will work. But if your feeling adventurous you could cut out the inner part of the tray and just leave the inner ring and outer ring to add some height to one layer. Depends on if you really want to make that type of stuff. I haven't bothered yet and I'm quite content.

Hope that helps!

Jinx

[Nini]

First, and no insult intended... are you sure you are turning it the right way? Stranger things have happened.

Second, if you are turning the right way, soak the whole drum assembly in very hot water for a while and try again. Sticky juices could have soaked into the cracks and dried, gluing everything together.

Third, if you manage to get it apart just once, put a little olive oil or coconut oil on the mating parts to help lubricate them from sticking again.

Fourth, if all else fails, call the company you got it from and say it is all stuck together and is no good and you want a replacement.

I am. :(

I did. :(

I couldn't. :(

I will. :)

[michigan roman]

i just reread this old thread and was reminded of how smart and what a character shivananda is and thought it might be a fun read for some
so i bumped it up .

[misslinda]

* chuckling *

I've wondered how that "character" has been doing since he disappeared.


I sure did appreciate his insightful knowledge in appliances :p some helpful info here.

Hope all is well for the old guy ;)

[michigan roman]

i was hopin youd see this ML .

it was like the cutest moment
in rft history (other than when
kellibelli posted her cat avatar
then her daughter posted her
kitten avatar , that was cute )
when , because shiv was so
wise and helpful ide imagine ,
you nick named him shiva dada .
as in baby talk for dad , i was chuckling
all night over that occurence .

hey you know i think you could
start a raw revolution on earth
if ya get a few more people dancing
in your disco ! nice job ! :)

ps - " sharon colorado was kungfu typing " -
" with recipe pics as fast as lightning " !

as composer of the above new disco hit
i demand royalty payments ! :D

[misslinda]

hee hee, I was nick naming after a DJ here in WA.

one thing for sure, for someone who wasn't raw very long, he sure developed culinary skills quickly <<geesh>>

Royalties for your hit disco song? So you prob do own a white polyester suit eh? OMG MR, you can be the producer of RAW records inc. $$$$$$$ :D

[michigan roman]

ok i accept the title ! :cool:

my first band is gonna be
" the fantastic 4 "

featuring the foursome of =

raw truth for her nutritional knowledge

misslinda for her medicinal knowledge

revvell for her all around wisdom

sharoncolorado for her recipe powers

oh yes this is gonna be bigger than
the beattles ! :D

[michigan roman]

ya just got your first groupie

as path 301 just ordered the first

F4 tee shirt . :D


your warm up band is gonna

be brittney " asparagus " spears . ;)

[misslinda]

ya just got your first groupie

as path 301 just ordered the first

F4 tee shirt . :D


your warm up band is gonna

be brittney " asparagus " spears . ;)


LOL!!! Bigger than the Beatles....you know that they always sang out of tune ---right????????? :D :p How 'bout the female version of "The Monkeys" I kinda dig their outfits more! ;)

[michigan roman]

ya your on target with monkeys

being that there herbivores

and all .

we'll have to give path a refund

on his F4 shirt ;) , just

hopefully he didnt get the F4

tatoo yet :D

[misslinda]

ya your on target with monkeys

being that there herbivores

and all .

we'll have to give path a refund

on his F4 shirt ;) , just

hopefully he didnt get the F4

tatoo yet :D


ah ahahhaha, knowing Path, he would of also signed up for the fan club :D

[tvillemom]

This thread was soo funny! Anybody here from Shiv. lately??? I was thinking about him the other week. I just hate it when people "disappear". It's not like we can just call him on the phone to check on him, can we???
Wendi

[luckitri]

Yes Shiv left the forum before I found it but from reading old threads I wish he were still here. There was a post from management asking us not to contact people who have left and just wait until they come back. But this is one person I would like to meet.

[tvillemom]

OH yeah, luckitri...I forgot we were asked not to call people. :( I wouldn't want to pressure him, just check on him and make sure he's ok. I have no idea about his family, etc. Anyway, thanks for reminding me! Hope he visits soon...maybe after the holidays he'll pop in!
Wendi