After spending 200$ for a supposedly premium Philips blender which broke in less than one year after having been sent to assistance, having parts replaced and broken again, been repaired by me and after I spent thousands of swear and curses, I am really this ’ ’ close to smashing it with an hammer and crucifying it to scare the other Philips products away from my kitchen.
Since those were 200$ wasted, and my parents and grandparents kitchen stuff worked sometimes for 30 years before breaking, where can I get my grandparents gear? Should I just resort to smashing vegetables and fruits by hand with stones?
I used to buy about 800 pounds of salvage electronics a week which I would then resell. I’ve seen and evaluated many brands of used older electronics.
For a blender, I’d recommend a Vita-Mix (5200 / 5500), then KitchenAid. Third tier would include Breville or Ninja.
We use a Vitamix 5500 here. A few benefits of the simple design are that the lid has no moving pieces or hinges or locking mechanisms… It’s just a flexible rubber dome that doesn’t crack if you drop it. The blender jug has the blender blade and a very large sealed bearing. You can swap the entire item out as a future service. The motor bases are extremely high quality. I can’t recall seeing any that were ever broken. They seem to rely on solid state electronics and big mechanical switches nstead of fancy displays and microcontrollers and LEDs – most common points of failure on the competitor’s products.
The biggest issue with most blenders is that they are overcomplicated. For example, a ninja blender has detection switches to ensure that the jug is correctly locked to the base and the lid is locked to the jug. If a tab or pin breaks it disables the blender. They could have just designed the shape so that you can’t have the jug halfway installed instead of adding electronics that fail when they get wet or damaged… Bad design choices.
My only warning for Vitamix is to avoid the white color motor base. That color will take on UV damage and turn obviously yellow over the years.
I would not hesitate to buy a well used working Vitamix in the used market. I have seen many units from the mid 1990s and up that run like new.
I will add to this. If you are intending on blending ice, make sure the blender has a steel clutch, if it has a rubber or plastic one it will be worn down quickly.
But yes I work in hospitality supplies and Vitamix goes the long distance.
Dude, you are exactly the hero this sub needs
Just to add in, vitamix themselves sell refurbished units with a warranty.
I bought a Blendtec about ten years ago and it has been amazing. Never once has it even needed maintenance, let alone broken.
Don’t breathe this!
Seriously some of the best marketing. I know almost jack shit about blenders, but as soon as I saw this post, I immediately thought of Blendtec. Why?
Because I watched the owner demonstrate many times that his blender could turn things like smartphones, other blenders, and even an entire fucking rake into powder. If I’m shopping for a blender, I think I’ll go with the one good enough to literally blend other blenders.
But he used a new blender every time.
Once you render a blender into powder, you have to start with a new one next time because of the laws of physics and entropy.
(Just kidding.)
Does It Blend?
A normal blender probably couldn’t blend it, but another Blendtec might be able to.
Maybe check thrift stores for ancient but functional blenders?
I have found two vintage Oster blenders at yard sales, each for under $10. They are from the 50s and 60s and are solid heavy metal things with glass pitchers. I needed to buy new seals for them and on one I had to replace the little star bolt that the pitcher locks into to turn the blades. Either of them will completely liquify things that my modern cheapo Hamilton Beach would meekly chew at. If you can find one online (ebay maybe) or better yet in person (thrift stores, yard sales), I can definitely attest they are built different.
Edited to add: a search on US ebay for “vintage 60s Oster beehive blender” turned up some results that look like mine between $40-50 plus shipping. It’s an excellent machine.
Would you mind sending me a link example so I can see wht it looks like? I think there might be new models which look like the older ones, which I do not want.
Ah you’re right, it seems there’s modern copycats. Try searching for an “Imperial Ten” Oster model 642. That’s the other one I have, and it’s an 860 watt blender, solid metal with a glass pitcher and weighs like 8lbs. It’s probably not on par with the performance of a Vitamix, but it’s also not $400+. For my uses though it has never disappointed, I usually use it for grinding frozen chunks of fruit or berries to make ice cream.
It’s worth nothing that “Philip’s” is just a name that is owned by a holding company now that buys cheap products and slaps the name on them.
Today the only real classic Philips products are for healthcare. No electronics or home appliances.
Our household currently has 6 blenders, two Oster, a Breville, a Ninja and two Vitamix blenders. Hands down the Vitamix 5200 has been a keeper and gets used daily. The Vitamix e310 also does a great job for the price.
One thing to keep in mind is getting a blender well suited to whatever task you do the most. It mostly makes a difference in the style of blade and shape of the jar. Some brands will sell multiple styles that interface with one base, which might be the best way to go if you have the space for it.
The reason it’s important is that blending a paste like peanut butter or mole is going to put a completely different demand on the system than turning tomato soup smooth, which is different that crushing ice. Some designs also work really well for large quantities, but not as well for smaller quantities.
I have an old Oster that kinda sucks, so I keep using it, and it will keep using it until it no longer works, and I can’t fix it. If I were to buy one, it would be a vitamix 5200.
Personally, I dont like ninja (or the other half of their business, shark) cause their whole business is making knockoffs, which makes me suspect of their quality. Their blenders seem to often have the giant stack of blades, which is good for shredding up a smoothie, but it’s not well suited to some other tasks.
Personally, I like SeriousEats for reviews and comparisons of kitchen implements.
I’ve had a ninja express chop ($30) food processor for over 10 years to make smoothies with frozen fruit. Still works like a charm. I love the wide opening and cleanability vs most blenders I’ve tried. It might be too small for a family.
Cult Fav did a great head-to-head of a bunch of blenders. They weren’t specifically looking at durability but it comes up when they cause a couple blenders to overheat or start smoking.
I’d look at whatever brand commercial kitchens use.
