Good blender

[Sara81]

I made msyelf a green smoothie today ( banana - peach- spinach) and it tasted great but it was slightly chunky. I have a betty crocker blender and no matter how long i blend the smoothie for, it does not come out smooth.

Can anyone recommend a good blender (other than the vita-mix which is beyond what i can afford)? I'm talking about something below 100$.

Thanks!

[WinterSun]

I'm wondering the same thing Sara, my first smoothie last night was chunky too.

[Rawkinlocs]

How many settings does your blender have? Are you using the highest possible setting?

I have a cheap-o blender too, but it seems to do pretty good. But I think I've read on here that some own an Oster and that those are pretty good for under $100.

[jaurequi]

My sister has one of these BRAUN (http://www.theessentials.com/jump.jsp?itemID=110&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1,3,117,211,212&iProductID=110) blenders at 525 watts. It's pretty impressive.
I canNOT, though, testify as to whether it is better than your current blender for masticating greens.

How many watts is your blender?

[Shona]

I think I've read on here that some own an Oster and that those are pretty good for under $100.

I bought an Oster not too long ago. I've noticed that every time I make a smoothie using frozen fruit I can smell the motor. This makes me think maybe it's not going to last very long.

I wish I'd bought the Black & Decker I was looking at instead.

Shona :)

[Secret Heart]

I too have an Oster and also smell the motor when I blend things...it hasn't blown up so far so I'll keep using it..I usually I have to stir the smoothie once or twice to get it equally blended.

I bet Cuisinart makes good blenders. I love my food processor by them...they're top notch.

Personally, I like the smoothie a little chunky:>

[Sara81]

My blender has low/high settings and chop,blend, liquify, etc... I put it on the highest setting but still it came out rather chunky. I have no clue how many watts it has because it's my grandmother's blender actually.

Thank you for all your suggestions!!! Well, i don't think i want an Oster with the burning motor but i might look at the brauns.

[joy]

I have a Hamilton Beach blender that was purchased at Wal Mart (forgive me; I was a starving college student...) for around $20. I'm unsure of the model, but it has two speeds, a metal base, and a glass jar. It gets smoothies very smooth, even when I add tough greens like kale, or things with skins like grapes.

It has lasted over 5 years, with no problems except the loss of 2 blender jars, which I easily reordered. (They're quite strong, I'm just very clumsy ;))

[WinterSun]

I just got a Kitchen Aid last night!! It was 100$ and says it's "THE most powerful motor" can't wait to try it tonight. My old one was a Merksohn (never heard of it huh?) I got it from Fingerhut (are they still around?) about 9 yrs ago, still works but not very powerful, I'll save it for my son for when he gets a place of his own. Starting day #3 of 100% raw! :)

[Helen Of Tennessee]

I have a Oster. I like it because the jar is glass (I don't like plastic). So far it's handled my frozen fruits with no problems. I've only used greens once and it blended up just fine. I'm making a green smoothie today - banana & parsley. I'll see how that comes out. My blender isn't sounding to healthy right now, plus brownish water comes out at the bottom. My DH says it's the motor, so I know I'll be replacing mine sometime soon. I'll probably replace it again with a Oster, or maybe a Black & Decker.

I have a Cuisinart Food Processor and have had nothing but problems with mine. I guess like any product you'll find a lemon or two out of a whole batch of products. Well I have the lemon. I bought one for $100 and a piece broke the first night. I ran it right back to the store and got another one for $150.00. I have replaced 2 parts on it already ($60) and 2 parts on it are in pieces right now but holds together enough that I can still make it run by pushing down on the top and holding it down.

I'm hoping one day to get a Vitamix. I'm going back to work, part-time in Sept. and full time in January. Maybe this winter I'll get my Vitamix.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Punky]

I have had my KitchenAid blender for over 5-6 years and it does great
with frozen smoothies (and margarita's years ago :p before I turned to
smoothies and health).
My smoothies come out very smooth and uniform and I do not
smell the motor thing at all. I do have to take a spoon or spatula a few
times to help it turn over occassionally and add enough liquid for it to do it too.
I had an Oster before this and like the KitchenAid better, although the Oster
is a good blender and my mom had hers for over 20 years...she finally replaced it, but only because it looked dated..that green color that was so popular
in the 70's..it still worked fine...but she didn't use it alot for smoothies and frozne things either. The KitchenAid is about $100...they go on sale often at department stores too. I have the KitchenAid food processor too,
and am very happy with it too for what it's worth...
.......saving up for that Vita-mix.......getting close.....been wanting one for years...

HTH

[WinterSun]

:) My new blender works alot better than the old one!!! My smoothie turned out great, it was the right consistency.

Helen- How did your parsley banana smoothie work? My first one with parsley didn't work but maybe with my new blender....