High speed blender question ... can't afford those high-speed blenders at this time.

[Diana Cda]

Last March for my 50th birthday, I got Abeba's downloadable PDFs for both crackers and other treats. I was very disappointed, however, in the fact that I recognized that most of the recipes really required a super high-speed blender in order to get the results she gets (I watched various online videos, as well, and know that ordinary blenders don't do anywhere near as well).

Does anyone know of a good blender that will do a great job but without the bucks? I called my health food store and the Blendteks they sell sell between $475 and over $500 depending on the size, etc. Wow, it'd take me months to get that kind of money together <g>. But I've tried making some of the recipes and my Magic Bullet just doesn't do the job.

Any recommendations??

Thanks! :)

[MysticTree]

lots of people use a regular blender because it's all they have. Just use a regular blender and you'll be fine.

[blissrunner]

An inexpensive food processor might work for many of those recipes too.

[Shine]

I have an old Black n Decker with a glass carafe I found at a garage sale. It's worked well for years. Sure sometimes I get a chunk of something but it's what I have right now so it's my friend. Someday I'll get a vitamix......but my B&D hasn't let me down yet! NOTE - I use the ice crush setting for harder things......

[namllets]

I think Montel Williams sells a high speed blender for much cheaper than the normal cost. I saw it on a late night infomercial. You could look into that. Personally, I would save and save and buy a vitamix or blendtec. Even if it takes 6 months to buy, it's SOOOO worth it. Imho. :)

[Diana Cda]

I think Montel Williams sells a high speed blender for much cheaper than the normal cost. I saw it on a late night infomercial. You could look into that. Personally, I would save and save and buy a vitamix or blendtec. Even if it takes 6 months to buy, it's SOOOO worth it. Imho. :)I have had various machines in the past and currently have a Magic Bullet an ordinary food processor and a Ninja master food prep set. But the crackers just don't come out smooth enough. Abeba's kracker recipes call for things like carrots. Despite chopping up small, the small bits spoil the effect. Even small lumps ruin them and none of the machines I have make things smooth enough. Even grating with my GreenPower doesn't leave off the bits.

I'd like to make Abeba's krackers (as she calls her chips) soon and, yes, I've decided to buy one of the high-speed blenders eventually but with what is going on in the economy and having had to take a 37% pay cut 2 years ago (and still there) so now that though working in federal government in same high-stress, high-powered admin positions, am still earning only a few cents more than minimum wage, so the high speed blender will likely take me more than 6 mos. to save up for. Was hoping someone knew of something that might do a better job than what I have now.

The informercial source sounds like it might have promise but with shipping and handling, those things can get expensive. But I will check it out.

The krackers would be an easy way to have cheap fast food at hand at all times <sigh>.

Well, will keep looking.

Thanks!! :)

[laughalways]

Have you checked Craigslist or places like Goodwill to see if you can find one second hand?

[MysticTree]

Also, though tedious, you can rub the mixture through a sieve and then blend the lumps again. Blending in small batches is also helpful.

[Diana Cda]

Also, though tedious, you can rub the mixture through a sieve and then blend the lumps again. Blending in small batches is also helpful.<sigh> Wonder if I'll have to go that route. Trouble is that there is already so much work to do in this lifestyle. It's a little frustrating sometimes <g>. I know myself, too. Give things any extra tedious steps and I won't do it after a period of time (my tolerance levels are getting worse and worse as I get older, not better <lol>).

I'm again looking at more reviewing websites and it seems that the Omega blender is recommended if looking for a lower-priced model that still has some power. I'm hoping that these chips (Abeba's krackers) will make life easier for me; I never tired of chips so making a wide variety of flavours should help make life easier re the raw food lifestyle. Imagine all the wonderful dips I can make at the same time; easy meals and easy to carry around!

I am going to have to cash in an RRSP which is roughly Cdn$500 or a bit less after penalties, etc. If I can get a high speed blender and still have enough left over to re-stock my raw food pantry to keep my going till I get my first pay cheque in a couple of weeks (I'm starting a new contract this Monday after 2-months job hunting), that would be grand. I'll take another trip to the stores today to look again at the blenders on offer. Hope there's something available like the Omega that will do the job for now.

And with my first pay cheque, I'm going to start saving up for on one of the Vitamix turbo blends. Thank goodness for the reviewing websites (i.e, http://www.discountjuicers.com/blendercompare.html), despite liking the look/feel of the Blendtec more, the pros and cons seem to point to Vitamix being overall better when considering tamper, replacing blades vs. Blendtec needing whole jar replaced (despite parity in pricing, like idea better for environment to only have to replace blades _not_ entire jug), etc., etc.

Thanks!

[Diana Cda]

Have you checked Craigslist or places like Goodwill to see if you can find one second hand?Yes, absolutely. Unfortunately, only new ones have been listed which talked about shipping and everything. If I had to buy new, would rather go to a store to buy without all the risk, hassle and waiting, wouldn't you? <g> And with new you get warranties and some peace of mind. Unless a perfectly good and in working-order unit were available at a very decent price, second-hand has always seemed to me to be fraught with high risk.

Will see how my luck is today at the stores.

Thanks and cheers. :)

[laughalways]

I'm again looking at more reviewing websites and it seems that the Omega blender is recommended if looking for a lower-priced model that still has some power. I'm hoping that these chips (Abeba's krackers) will make life easier for me; I never tired of chips so making a wide variety of flavours should help make life easier re the raw food lifestyle. Imagine all the wonderful dips I can make at the same time; easy meals and easy to carry around!

I don't use a blender as much so I purchased this one. I did a lot of research for the best for the price.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=18101858

Just curious...who is Abeba?

[MysticTree]

Wonder if I'll have to go that route. Trouble is that there is already so much work to do in this lifestyle. It's a little frustrating sometimes . I know myself, too. Thanks! There isn't really so much unless you are comparing high gourmet raw against buying a box from the supermarket and putting it in the microwave. If you compare gourmet raw with regular, traditional food prep then it takes less time. I can make my evening meal in less than 10 minutes because I tend to eat simple raw. Juicing or making a smoothie is 10 mins at most including the washing up. It might take a bit longer when I juice at home because, having no electricity, I have to do it all manually. I try to turn the tedious into a meditative process, then it is beneficial.

[Diana Cda]

Well, sometimes unlikely miracles happen. And this miracle came by an accident, a high-priced one in terms of dollars, but solidly priced in terms of lifestyle.

I have to relate the story because it's so amazing ... last Saturday, I was desperate to finally buy a Vitamix as anyone reading the above can probably tell <g>. But there wasn't any money, not even for regular stuff let alone for something like this.

Well, I cashed in an RRSP but I got someone who was new in the RRSP dept of my bank. In the end, before finishing, I thanked him and said I'd call back another time. Nothing was to have been done.

I also did not refresh my screen of my bank page so had same bank page open for the next operator.

I called back and got another operator but she had a very heavy Asian accent. That's important ... . Ultimately, my goal was to cash in the RRSP that would cost me the least in penalties. She advised me I had $_80.00 in the RRSP DISA (I had $280.00 in there), that would come with no penalties. I was aware of that but told her to not touch that amount and to go ahead and cash a certificate. This time I authorized the transaction and did refresh the screen by logging out then back in only to see over a thousand dollars in the DISA! The other fellow cashed an RRSP _without_ my authorization and the new balance the 2nd operator saw that I didn't also happened to have $80 in the tens amount, but must have been a few hundreds above the 280 but I took it to be 280 due to her strong accent <lol>. So I ended up with 2 cashed RRSPs in the end!

Well, when I saw that I had enough for my Vitamix and for groceries and putting the money back wouldn't give me back the lost interest and I might not have been able to get back the penalties I had to pay, I took it as a sign from above.

I hot-footed it over to Bed, Bath and Beyond ... and here's the 3rd hand of destiny. I had a 20% off coupon, like I get in my inbox a couple times a year which I never use, and so I bought it saving about $125 off the Vitamix's regular price!!!!! :dance:

Can anyone believe how amazing that is?! 3 unlikely chain of errors led to my getting it after all!

I got the Vitamix home and tried it right away and I confirmed what I'd known all along, no we don't really _need_ a Vitamix for the raw food lifestyle but it sure makes everything better and easier!

Since my issue is digestion, I much prefer the texture and flavour of finely ground things over chunks. Ever since I can remember, given a choice over smooth and chunky and I'd _always_ go for smooth - orange juice with no pulp, smooth peanut butter and smooth dips over chunky kinds because I've come to know over the decades, they cause the least discomfort and taste better!

The lentil hummus I converted from the Hippocrates' chick pea one that I've eaten nearly every day for 2½ years is an example. The Ninja makes fast work of it but it still comes out chunky while the Magic Bullet grinds down some of it very finely but always leaves great big chunks unless you make it runny enough with extra liquid but which alters the flavour. But it's that tamper, too, and the power in the Vitamix that do the trick!

So thanks for everyone's help but the Universe stepped in here with this one and I got my Vitamix (yeay!) even though I'm out over $1,000 of RRSP (before penalties/taxes/fees, etc.).

And it _is_ worth it. And Abeba's krazy krackers made it an easy thing to have justified. Now I truly will be able to always have food easily on hand as it will be easy to make trays of chips each weekend to get me through the week!

Cheers.

[Aleesha Sattva]

gotta love the Universe! congrats

[walletless]

Anyone here tried the Omni Blender (3blenders.com)? Some online reviews make it sound like it is as good as Vitamix, but just takes few more seconds to get things done.. It is significantly more affordable than Vitamix, and I am seriously considering purchasing one if it is this good..

[DebB]

For what it's worth - just tossing this in... Costco now carries a VitaMix in stock (before it was only available at road shows) for $375. That's cheaper than you can buy it directly from VitaMix.

[DeniseJones]

It's also worth noting that VitaMix sells some reconditioned units below retail price. Check out this link (https://secure.vitamix.com/Reconditioned-Blender-64-Ounce-5yr.aspx?COUPON=07-0063&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=vitamix+coupon&utm_campaign=Brand+Misc+-+Discount+:+E) if interested.

[Tinkybelll]

I just bought the ninja mega blender today-it's 2HP which is great! It's really awesome. Target has it for $200.