I have to buy a new blender...SOON!!

[tvillemom]

My blender broke this weekend.
I DO NOT have the $$$ to buy a vitamix or such. I might spend around $100, but more than likely around $50 or so. Which store brand seems to do the best job at really puree-ing foods, and getting them creamy? I'm thinking about an Osterizer (I know I didn't spell that right) or a KitchenAid...even though I don't know how much a KitchenAid costs....but I figure around $100....Osterizer was around $60 at Walmart.
Or should I just stick to the cheaper brands like Hamilton Beach, Sunbeam, etc.???
Thanks...I know I'll get good advice here!!

Wendi

[JennaBoBenna]

I've had my $20 Hamilton Beach for almost 2 years and it's excellent! It even blends cashews up nice and creamy :)

[halikatak]

If you buy from Bed Bath and Beyond...

Bed Bath and Beyond has those 20% off coupons. They also accept Linens n Things coupons too.

If you want one - email me and I'll snail mail you one.

I have too many! :D


I use a Cuisinart hand-me-down from my Mom. The base is super old, but the glass/blade are new and it works good for me!

[Yana]

I have an osterizer ( you spelled it right :)) with a mini processor attachment. We have had it for years, it works great! That's they only processor i use, and if i don't use my magic bullet for a smoothie i use the blender(if i'm making a large batch). It's quite powerful!

[maui_butterfly]

i just got a vitamix a few weeks ago (thanks mom!) and replaced my $30 oster, and the oster could and did do most everything the vitamix does, it just took a longer/required more stirring. but green smoothies, nut pates, everything else.

i had total vitamix envy before i got a vitamix, and now that i have one i realize that i had it pretty good before. like i said, i got the vm as a gift and i am super greatful, but if i would have paid for the thing myself, i would be feeling dumb right now. because i am eating and drinking almost the exact same way now as i was before i got the new blender. it didn't revolutionize my life.

the ONLY thing i've found so far that the vitamix can do that the oster could not is really thick sorbets from frozen fruits.

[diali36]

After a lot or reserch I decided on getting a Braum Powermax from Wal mart for $44 online. They ship free to the store you want them to and you can go pick it up, save shipping cost. This blender was rated best in its class by Consumer Digest. I haven't gotten mine yet but will let everyone know how it works when I do. CD says it will even make hot soups like a Vita Mix. I'm getting it for GS.

[Yana]

out of curiosity i went to walmart.com, i found an oster with a 600 watt motor for $ 66 and change, i'll get the link.....

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5902604

[RawHeaven]

i just got a vitamix a few weeks ago (thanks mom!) and replaced my $30 oster, and the oster could and did do most everything the vitamix does, it just took a longer/required more stirring. but green smoothies, nut pates, everything else.

i had total vitamix envy before i got a vitamix, and now that i have one i realize that i had it pretty good before. like i said, i got the vm as a gift and i am super greatful, but if i would have paid for the thing myself, i would be feeling dumb right now. because i am eating and drinking almost the exact same way now as i was before i got the new blender. it didn't revolutionize my life.

the ONLY thing i've found so far that the vitamix can do that the oster could not is really thick sorbets from frozen fruits.

Really? I've been enamored with the vitamix and felt the same way you did. I've been saving up for one which I planned to buy in Dec. I will probably just use it for smoothies and making nut pates. I've heard so many great things about this blender and I'm focusing on overall quality and longevity.

Thanks maui_butterfly for your thoughts. Does anyone else have any suggestions based on your experience with blenders? Is the vitamix worth it?

I ask 'cause I could really stretch my $$$ further if it doesn't make any difference and get my 9 tray excalibur dehydrator earlier! Woo-hoo.

[tvillemom]

I did the same thing, YANA!!!:D

Wendi

[sfdreams]

I don't have a Vitamix, yet, either. I own a 20+ year old Oster that is working just fine right now. My mom had an Oster, too. The one I have has a heavy glass container. If you can find it, I think the glass containers work better than the cheaper plastic. JMHO!:)

[spiralgirl]

After a lot or reserch I decided on getting a Braum Powermax from Wal mart for $44 online. They ship free to the store you want them to and you can go pick it up, save shipping cost. This blender was rated best in its class by Consumer Digest. I haven't gotten mine yet but will let everyone know how it works when I do. CD says it will even make hot soups like a Vita Mix. I'm getting it for GS.

diali36,

I went to our local store to get a blender after I bought a Hamilton Beach Wave Action Plus 12 Speed only to find out it leaked when I put water in it. So I was returning it for an exchange and the guy there was so helpful telling me all about what blenders to buy and what was the best. I told him I eat raw food and would use it everyday. Anyway his top picks were the Cuisinart Premium Blender - CBT-500C that was $109.00 which is 600 watts (side note did you know that Waring was owned by Cuisenart) or the Braun Powermax at 525 watts for only $65.00 on sale. I'm in Canada.

Now I was a little overwhelmed because then he started showing me juicers as I said I like my shake really smooth. Plus before that my sister and I had been to a kitchen store and the lady there had told us so much about different mandolins and spiralizer's so we were overwhelmed and wanted to think about it.

Anywho those were the top blender picks.

[Radiantly Raw]

The great thing about Oster is that the bottom of the blender (the part that engages to make it spin) and the part that will spin it are metal. I looked at others & stuck with my old Osterizer because of this. My mom's gone through several that had plastic parts in those crucial areas. The metal makes a big difference! I still plan on getting a VitaMix soon, but I wouldn't buy any other less expensive type blender if it had plastic.

[tvillemom]

Wondering, why the Braun beat out the Osterizer??? I HAD an Oster, that's what broke. I thought I had a CHEAP model, but when I went back to look at my base, it was an Oster.:o I think I might buy another one, my biggest concern was that it was hard to get the food to turn when I'm making something thick.

Oh well.....I'll do some checking before I buy. I would like to look at them before I buy!

Wendi

[tvillemom]

I just read some reviews by actual customers. If I buy the "beehive" Oster, it is 500 watts, as opposed to the 525 of the Braun, and one of the customers was wondering about the "plastic parts" of the Braun....I'll probably opt for the metal of the Oster...????? Even thought there is a slight wattage difference. My old Oster was only 400 watts....

Wendi

[spiralgirl]

I just read some reviews by actual customers. If I buy the "beehive" Oster, it is 500 watts, as opposed to the 525 of the Braun, and one of the customers was wondering about the "plastic parts" of the Braun....I'll probably opt for the metal of the Oster...????? Even thought there is a slight wattage difference. My old Oster was only 400 watts....

Wendi

tvillemom,

That is my problem as I have an GE 450 Watt blender that works but just doesn't make things as smooth as I want them to be and the Braun is 525 which is only 75 watts more than what I have. Ideally I want something that is 600-700 watts so I could go the Cuisenart route which is 600 watts or the Hamilton Beach Wave Action Plus Route but was told that the rating of 700 watts isn't accurate as it starts that way then goes down to about 400 watts which is misleading to the customer.

Yesterday I saw a Krupps blender that was $200 that was 1000 watts at a high end kitchen store but don't know much about that brand and don't want to spend that much.

[solongng00dnite]

So I have an ancient osterizer blender (like the one attached) in none other than OLIVE GREEN haha WHAT WERE MY PARENTS THINKING hahaha

I was set on getting a vitamix because this blender just wasnt doing what I wanted it to. Then I made a GS from a book and added more water to it that I originally was and this old blender works FANTASTIC.

Ive come to the conclusion it is all about the amount of liquid you have in there really. So in my opinion scope out the thrift stores or check ebay for an older (very cheap) osterizer because old things were just made to last.

[Radiantly Raw]

So I have an ancient osterizer blender (like the one attached) in none other than OLIVE GREEN haha WHAT WERE MY PARENTS THINKING hahaha

I was set on getting a vitamix because this blender just wasnt doing what I wanted it to. Then I made a GS from a book and added more water to it that I originally was and this old blender works FANTASTIC.

Ive come to the conclusion it is all about the amount of liquid you have in there really. So in my opinion scope out the thrift stores or check ebay for an older (very cheap) osterizer because old things were just made to last.

Good point! I love getting old appliances. They really were made so different. My Oster is only 12 years old and it's still made better than most of today's!! I would love to have some true vintage kitchen appliances. My husband pointed out last night that Oster takes the high road in using metal parts because we, as consumers, are not replacing them as often (spending more money) than the ones made with plastic.

[baltochef]

[QUOTE=solongng00dnite;355732]So I have an ancient osterizer blender (like the one attached) in none other than OLIVE GREEN haha WHAT WERE MY PARENTS THINKING ??

Olive Green!! Burnt Orange!! Lemon Yellow!! & Bronze!!..

THE colors of the late 60's & early 70's..

You couldn't escape those colors back then..

Like Tribbles, they were everywhere & seemed to multiply exponentially!!..

Bruce

P.S.

I still use my 35 yr. old Oster Osterizer for certain tasks..

Some foods just slide out of the glass carafe easier then they would out of the plastic carafe of my Vita-Prep 3..

Like Radiantly Raw says, with the proper amount of liquid the older Osterizers will compete head to head with the more powerful blenders..

You just can't put foods into the carafe willy nilly without regard for the liqiud content of the recipe, turn on the blender, & expect the motor to be able to overcome the dead weight inertia of a full carafe..

If that is how you are going to treat the blender, then a Vita-Mix, Blend Tec, Or Waring is a must!!..

If you exercise caution & act reasonably, the older machines will do a FINE job..

[tvillemom]

I bought an Oster Fusion.....so far I love, love, love it!!! It will grind food, puree it, etc. all at pretty much the same time! I can't wait to try the pumpkin pie now, I think I can actully get the ingredients nice and smooth.

For anyone interested, my Oster was $66 at Walmart, 600 watts, and has all the metal parts and glass carafe that I wanted!!:D

Wendi