Just threw out a Ninja (?) - snagged on clearance about three years ago. It was doing fine and then the plastic carafe cracked. Probably could’ve bought a new carafe but hubby never did like it. It was the kind with the big ol’ motor part that you fit into the top.
Anyway, I went to Wirecutter. And boy howdy, have they gotten high-end. Their “budget” pick was, like, $250. The top pick - Vitamix - was $600+ … I’m not paying more for a blender than I did for our dishwasher.
So, budget is under $100. I am fine with having to replace it every 3 years, I guess. It’d still be over 18 years before I hit the cost of a Vitamix. And by then I presume we’ll all have robots doing all this anyway.
Glass jar would be best; hubby does like to blend warm stuff for cooking. Oster? Anything else likely to last a little while?
Y’all have different definition for budget than I do. I don’t mind spending money on a kitchen appliance where warranted. But a blender (and a toaster to reference another of today’s threads) is not among them.
I think I spent $19 on a new Oster with glass jar when I graduated college. It gets a lot of use and has lasted well beyond 3 years.
I bought this Nutribullet in late 2021 from Kohl’s - it was on sale for $60 plus I had Kohl’s cash and percent promo so paid about $39. I haven’t used it much but it works well. We had a very old Hamilton Beach that was considerably smaller.
Been there, done that! I second the Oster. We have the Oster classic. Bought it 10 years ago for $49. Still going strong. I liked it because of the Glass Jar and the metal to metal connection from the spindle to the blade system. Some things should not be plastic.
Do you have an immersion blender? I like that a lot more than our traditional blender and they tend to be cheaper than the high end blenders. I replaced a 5 year old one a couple months ago with a Braun less than 100 dollars, has great reviews and have been super happy with it.
H has made protein shakes (with ice being crushed) at least twice a day every day for the nearly 30 years. I can’t stand to even be in the room with a running blender. But…
We were gifted a Waring Pro as a wedding gift. I think it cost $100 back then, but it lasted over 20 years. He bought something cheap that was super loud and awful. He got an Oster classic not long after. It seems to be holding up well. It’s probably 5-7 years old.
These days, I’d only go with a Vitamix; they are well worth the extra $. I’ve had mine, a larger, more epensive model, for years. They even replaced the jug and lid free of charge, when after several years of use, I accidentally cracked the jug.
Are you making giant portions? If not, consider a single serving one. This little rechargeable thingy blew my socks off! Shake it while it blends for best results.
Love our Vitamix but hate how noisy it is. H tends to cram too much into his smoothies and burned out several cheaper blenders. I bought it when Costco was having a deal. It’s been running strong for years now.
Thanks, I’ve actually been looking at ebay, because, as in most things, they don’t make them like they used to. (Our fridge is from 1999 and also won’t die, and is huge compared with the new ones with claimed bigger cubic footage but all these bells and whistles that take away actual usable space inside).
Short of that, I think a new, cheap Oster will do for now.
Another vote for the basic Osterizer. My mom gave me an avocado green one in the early 1970s, and it has held up. The glass carafe is one positive, as well as the ability to buy new blades and gaskets when the old ones become sub par. But sometimes ingredients in a thick mix get stuck, and need to be shoved down with a spatula or chopstick. Never a spoon!
However, the every 5 year gifts from my employer made me curious one year and I chose a Breville, which cost a lot more than $100. The base doesn’t come off, and the plastic is looking dingy over the 10 years I’ve been using it. But for crushing ice, making smoothies, making pesto each fall, it is a better machine as it keeps the ingredients mixing. It is a pain to clean however, as the base doesn’t come off, and I use it less routinely than my old Osterizer due to the difficulty of cleaning it thoroughly.
The Costco BlendJet is plastic and likely not good for hot things.
I have an immersion blender that’s great for hot things. I bought it from on coupon from Costco around the holidays and it was about $50 or less. It has lots of attachments and a canvas bag to hold everything
We do have an immersion blender. I’ve never used it (I am most definitely not the cook in the family - I once failed at boiling water).
Can I use it for making smoothies? Just no ice, right?
