Thursday, December 23, 2010

If You are In The Market For A Blender Then You Definitely Need To Check Out What Blendtec Has To Offer

Blenders are extremely popular all over the world. It is very common for people to use one in their home for everyday use or when entertaining company. There are a lot of blenders out there and Blendtec is one of the best you'll find.  You should definitely check it out.  You'll find that you can use your Blendtec for many different tasks. The Blendtec easily handles all blending, liquifying, pureeing, and chopping tasks. It's great for anything from soups and sauces to drinks and smoothies.

Blendtec has different models available including the Blendtec Mix n Blend, the Blendtec Total Blender, and the Blendtec Connoisseur. The Total Blender comes with a variety of jar packages and types of kits. You never know when you might need different size jars, so it's always good to have extra ones.

You've probably seen the Will It Blend videos on YouTube. They have videos in two groups, the try it at home group and the don't try it at home group. Some of the things in the Do Not Try At Home group that have been blended include an iPhone, lighter, camcorder, CD's, transformers, and small football helmuts.

With all of the crazy things they have blended in these videos, you can be sure that the Blendtec can easily handle any edible ingredients you want to throw at it. Some of the more common blending tasks include smoothies, pureeing soup, mixing icy drinks, making ice cream, or mixing batter. Your Blendtec has more than enough power and speed to easily take care of these tasks.

With such a powerful machine it's always good to keep in mind several safety tips. Always remember to securely place the lid on the unit prior to starting the motor. If you find that some of the ingredients are not getting blended and the machine is having a hard time at a lower speed, just add some liquid. Do not remove the jar from the base until the motor is off and blade stops spinning. You can chill the blender container jar in the freezer before you use it to make the ingredients even colder.

You'd really be hardpressed to find a better blender on the market than the Blendtec. It can replace many different kitchen tools and works so well. Keep in mind some basic safety and tips to make the experience both a good and safe one.

To read more about the Blendtec blender check out GoBlendIt.com.  There is a top five list of the best blenders and in-depth blender reviews of many makes and models.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

These Fruit Smoothie Recipes Are Delicious!

You can freeze all sorts of delicious fruits from the tropics. If you are pressed for time and need a tasty meal quickly, fruit smoothie recipes serve the purpose well. You'll need a powerful kitchen blender to blend up this recipe. Of course you'll need a tall chilled glass and a spoon to help get the smoothie out. There are a lot of really delicious flavors that you can add to the ingredients to make your fruit smoothie taste so very good.

Kiwi Strawberry Smoothie

A great fruit to start with is red frozen strawberries. It's a piece of cake to buy frozen strawberries at the store. You can also look at throwing in green frozen kiwis. These varieties can be procured at a grocery store as well. You can check the label on the packages you buy to see the high level of nutrients in these fruits.

For the kiwi/strawberry smoothie insert one cup of crushed ice into a blender. Measure out a cup of frozen strawberry, and take the frozen kiwi slices, measuring one cup there as well, and place them in the blender. To add additional flavor, place a tablespoon of honey and one of lime juice into the mix. These ingredients help to enhance the flavor of the kiwi. Blend all of the ingredients until everything is fully crushed.  This usually takes only a few seconds. An additional option would be to add a teaspoon of a fifteen percent volume alcoholic beverage. Blend in the adult beverage if you chose to add one.

Next you'll want to slice up a lemon and add one sliver to your glass. Pour out your smoothie into two cups with the lemon slice on the side. Two people will be able to enjoy this smoothie.

A Mango Papaya Fruit Smoothie

Yellow frozen mangos also make a great item for a fruit smoothie recipe. You can buy mangos easily at the grocery store. Frozen papaya are generally orange in color and go very well with mango as a smoothie ingredient. Almost all grocery stores will carry this ingredient as well. The nutrition facts will show the value of these products in their frozen form.

Start by adding one cup of crushed ice into the blender. The next ingredient in the blender should be one cup of frozen papaya, and one cup of frozen mango. Next, I'd recommend adding a tablespoon of lime juice and a table spoon of sugar. A sweeter taste will bring out the papaya flavor Turn your blender on to a high speed until all ingredients are blended to your liking. An additional option would be to add a teaspoon of a fifteen percent volume alcoholic beverage. Make sure you blend the alcohol in also.

Get a slice of a pineapple, create a small slot with a sharp knife, slip it on and secure it on the glass. You can then pour your fresh smoothie into two glasses. You'll get two portions out of this smoothie recipe.

You can use these recipes as a base to be creative and make your own delicious concoctions.  Just follow the format we have listed here.

To read some more fruit smoothie recipes just log on to GoBlendIt.com.  You'll also find detailed blender reviews of the best blender models, so that you can mix your smoothies up great.

Blendtec Is An Awesome Blender - Find Out Why

The parent company of Blendtec, K-Tec Incorporated, was started by Tom Dickenson in 1975.  Tom's first product was a home use miller for grinding wheat.  This nifty device combined a milling chamber and a motor from a vacuum cleaner.  Although the market was limited, Blendtec was successful enough with its wheat miller to move into other household appliances. 

Blendtec first started making blenders for the commercial market.  These were used in bars, smoothie shops and restaurants. Blendtec was truly innovative in the commercial market, adding many unique features to their blenders.  Some even had motors built into the countertop at bars. 

After hitting several home runs with commercial blenders, Blendtec decided to start manufacturing home blenders.  They called this line of products "Blendtec Fine Living."  These home blenders are just as strong and well-made as their commercial blenders.  As a result, these blenders are extremely popular.  The following is a quick overview of what they have to offer.

The Total Blender by Blendtec

You may have seen the YouTube videos about this blender.  The company President blends all kinds of crazy things in the blender to show its sturdiness and power.  You'll see him blending golf balls and iPhones.  They all get turned to dust too.  With such power, you don't have to worry about ice chunks in your smoothie.

The Total Blender has 1,560 watts of engine power.  With the touch of a button you can access up to six programmable settings.  Blendtec's unique Smart Touch technology is also added in.  With this tech, the speed and power of the engine adjusts according to the ingredients being blended.  It will cut off when complete.  You also get a choice of two or three quart containers.  The Blendtec Total Blender also comes with a fantastic 3 year warranty.

Blendtec Connoisseur

This blender is very top notch and high quality.  The Connoisseur is set up to be built into the top of your kitchen counter.  This blender is great for kitchen renovations or for use in custom built homes.  It has an elegant look.  The stainless steel modern platform is also a nice addition.  The Connoisseur comes with a table top base that can be moved.  The engine also comes in at three horsepower or 1,560 watts.  Add in the three year warranty and this one's a keeper.

The Mix n' Blend Machine

This blender mixer combination is a very popular machine coming out of Blendtec.  It has bread kneading button and a super strong 1,000 watt motor to blend and mix.  This cool feature works just like a bread maker.  The machine comes with 8 different programmable options on the blender and 5 different ones on the mixing side.  This can really save you a lot of time.  You also get a four quart mixing bowl and a 64 ounce blender jar with the Mix n' Blend.

Overall Blendtec offers fantastic quality blenders.  Even though they cost about $400, you can't go wrong with a Blendtec.  You pay for quality.  The Blendtec is an investment.  It will blend almost anything you can throw at it and it should last you for years.

You can find out more detailed information on the Blendtec blender at GoBlendIt.com.  You can also read detailed and well researched blender reviews of dozens of different blenders.

You Can Fix Your Kitchen Blender Yourself - Here's How

Even the best blenders will eventually start to decline with age.  If you like your daily smoothie and use your blender each day, then this is really true.  At the first sign of a problem, today, our society is quick to just throw a product away.  Most of the time, taking a small kitchen appliance to get repaired is not worth it.  There are several easy fixes you can do yourself first though before sending that blender to its grave.  It's definitely worth it to try some of these easy repairs to see if you can get your blender going again.

Leaky Containers

A leaking blender is very common as blenders age and are used frequently.  Even the best blenders as discussed in blender reviews will have problems at some point.  You'll find the cause in the rubber gasket that is located within the blender blade assembly housing area.  Over time the rubber gasket starts to wear down.  If your blender leaking comes from the glass jar and not the bottom, then there is likely a crack in the jar and you’ll have to replace it.  It's most likely the gasket though if there's bottom leaking.  To check, simply unscrew the blade assembly from the container and remove the rubber gasket.  Then simply look for tears and damage.  You can replace this easily for just a few dollars.  You can find it online or at most home discount or appliance stores.

Faulty Blades

The blades is another area where you'll see problems start to pop up.  In this situation the blades turn too slowly but the engine runs.  The cause of this happening is usually something blocking the blade assembly.  You’ll need to take the assembly apart and clean everything thoroughly with a scrub brush.  Probably food and debris have been building up and causing the blades to slow down.  Some of this gunk has built up over time, so you may have to soak the parts in soap or detergent for a few hours.  Be sure to check your owner’s manual to make sure that this is OK to do for your particular blender brand.  Adding some white grease to the bottom of the blade assembly can also help.  Just be sure to keep it away from areas where food will be.  If none of this works, then you'll need to by a whole new assembly, which can be purchased online or at a retail outlet.

Stuck Buttons

The buttons and the control panel is another common area where problems will crop up.  Typically the buttons will not go down all the way.  The common cause of this is food build up that will jam up the buttons.  Even the most thoroughly cleaned blenders will have some food accumulation over time.  You can take off the control panel sticker and clean behind this area.  Using an old toothbrush will help you get down deep into hard to clean areas.  Unscrewing the bottom part of the blender will give you additional access to the buttons for a more thorough cleasing.  Before doing this, check with your owner's manual.  Often all your blender needs is a good cleaning to get the buttons working again.

Most of your simple blender problems can be solved by following this advice.  Many times repairing your blender yourself can be much less expensive than going out and buying a whole new blender.   By repairing your blender and not just throwing it away you are also helping to save the environment.

If you can't repair your kitchen blender, then you'll need to pick up a new one and read some kitchen blender reviews at GoBlendIt.com.  They have a great collection of the best blenders you can find.  You’ll also find some really good free healthy smoothie recipes on the site.

Here Are 3 Things You Need To Concentrate On With Kitchen Blenders

You'll find as many as 17-20 different kitchen blender features as you read through all of the information and reviews.  Sorting through this information you'll find different types of jar materials and capacities, a wide variety of engine speeds, different motor powers, dishwasher safe and non-dishwasher safe blenders, multiple colors, and different length warranties.  Blenders also come in different sizes and weights, and have various types of displays, control panels, and nifty attachments.  So with all of the information out there in blender reviews, which 3 features should you really focus on to make sure you get the best kitchen blender for your home.

Motor Power

The degree of motor power is extremely important.  Watts or horsepower is the type of measurement used for blender power.  At the low end of the power scale you'll find small personal blenders coming in at 250 watts, whereas larger blenders pump out 2,237 watts or 3 horsepower.  Powerful engines can generate more force to the blades which makes cutting and blending easier and faster, especially for tough ingredients.  The Blendtec Total blender is one of the most powerful on the market, and you'll find crazy videos on YouTube showing guys blending iPhones and golf balls.  At 2 horsepower, with stainless steel blades, it can blend almost anything to dust.

While you may not need to blend your iPad, having enough power to take care of those big chunks of ice is essential.  You want your smoothie to be smooth after all.  Powerful blenders cost more than less powerful models, but they are well worth it considering you'll be saving time and it will be much easier to blend drinks to smooth perfection.

Number of Speeds on the Blender

The speed of the blender refers to how fast the cutting blades spin.  You can find one speed blenders up to blenders that feature 14 speeds.  Blenders with one and two speeds make operation a snap and will typically be very durable because the design is basic.  Many owners enjoy how simple to operate these blenders are and how they probably wouldn't use more than a couple of speeds anyway.

If you like having many different selections and plan on blending a range of ingredients, then you should look at a multiple speed blenders.  You should enjoy the control you have over the speed, starting slow and moving faster as needed.  If you're making chunky salsa you don't want that blended to the same consistency as your smoothie.  You get a ton more control with a multi-speed blender and these are among the best blenders on the market.

Jar Capacity and Material

Glass, polycarbonate, and plastic are the 3 material types that blender jugs are made from.  You'll find pros and cons with each.  Glass blender jars are very sturdy, strong, and can withstand a variety of temperatures, and are dishwasher safe.  Bu they are heavy to lift and will bust if dropped. 

Plastic blender jars are lightweight, and won't bust if dropped.  As a result, you'll find a lot of these in restaurants, smoothie stores and other commercial locations.  Many plastic jars are not safe to put in the dishwasher and may even crack if you put boiling soup in there due to the extreme temperatures.

The best features of both glass and plastic containers can be found with polycarbonate jugs.  These are dishwasher safe, can handle a wide range of temperatures, and won't break.  They are also easy to move around and are very light.  However, polycarbonate jars are the most expensive of all the types.  If they'll fit in your budget though, they are the best choice.

You will certainly get the best home blender if you review these 3 critical blender components and read some kitchen blender reviews at GoBlendIt.com.

Read A Few Blender Reviews Before You Go Out And Buy That New Blender

Reading blender reviews is the best way to help you decide which blender is best for your home, based on the needs of your kitchen.  One of the most important things that you need to decide before buying your kitchen blender is what type of blender you are going to need.  When you're out looking for a blender keep in mind that everyone has their own unique style when they cook and you should try to match your blender to your style.  The basic types of blenders covered in blender reviews include hand or immersion blenders, personal blenders, and countertop or jug blenders.

Hand blenders are fantastic tools because you can move them around your kitchen very easily.  They are long and fit easily into the palm of your hand.  Most come with a nice ergonomic grip for easy handling.  You can stick them down into deep pots where you’re boiling soup or other dishes.  Hand blenders can also be used to blend a variety of ingredients in pans and cups.  Most come with an assortment of attachments like whisks and food choppers.  There are cordless models as well, and many hand blenders can be mounted on the wall for easy storage.  Immersion blenders are great for soups and whipping cream.  If you move around your kitchen a lot and have a lot things going on there, then these blenders will be a real asset for you.

Slightly smaller than your standard jug blender, personal blenders are made to dish out just one serving each time you blend.  When you buy one of these, you usually get different size cups that will hook onto the blades.  The whole thing then attaches to the engine base.  You can then blend your ingredients by pressing down or twisting the cup.  After your done blending, simply take the cup off and drink up right there or take it with you to work or the gym.  A popular example of a personal blender is the Magic Bullet Blender.  If you’re always on the go and don’t want to have to deal with cleaning up a large blender, then personal blenders are a great choice for you.

Countertop kitchen blenders are very common and you’ll find one in almost every home.  These blenders have two major parts, a base which contains the engine, and a glass or plastic jug where the ingredients go.  These machines can be very powerful, up to 2 horsepower, and are designed to blend most any ingredient.  You will find these types of blenders in all sizes, colors, and shapes.  There are also a wide variety of control panels and speed settings.  Countertop blenders are great for blending tough ingredients like chunky ice and peanut butter and are perfect for large families and parties.

Finding the best blender for your lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard if you decide which type of blender will work best for you.  You can then start to look at specific brands and models in kitchen blender reviews and pick the top rated blender that fits into your budget.

Happy hunting and best of luck!

If you'd like to learn more about the best blenders out there, make sure to check out the blender reviews at GoBlendIt.com.  There is also a collection of tasty smoothie recipes.

Check Out Our List of The Best Kitchen Blenders

How do you decide on the best kitchen blender with so many brands and manufacturers in the market?  On GoBlendIt.com you can find a list of the top 5 blenders on the market.  We've researched hundreds of makes and models to give you the best.  You can find all of the major features that are essential for a great blender.  This includes having good engine power.  450 watts minimum is what we like to see.  The blender should also have a large, durable, high capacity container jar preferably made out of a composite material like polycarbonate.  Some of the best blenders also have several engine speeds.  Long term, high quality warranties are also recommended for the best blenders.

After researching each of these major criteria, as well as a dozen or so other important features, we found these brands to be amongst the best.

The Vitamix 5200 and 4500 Models

Both the Vitamix 4500 and 5200 are top of the line blenders.  Both of these models can blend even the toughest of ingredients with engines in the 2 horsepower (1,380 watts) range. 

The blender containers are constructed of a durable, non toxic material known as clear polycarbonate.  The jar capacity is 64 ounces which is very large and able to accommodate a wide variety of ingredients.  You'll be surprised how easy to use these blenders are.  The switch on the front has just two speeds.  You also get a stellar five year warranty from Vitamix.  We highly recommend the Vitamix.

Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender

This fantastic personal blender or single serving blender is a great buy for under $20.  Personal blenders are outstanding.  You get several cups with your purchase that you drink out of and use for blending.  These blenders are a snap to work.  You just add your ingredients to the cup, screw on the top, which houses the blade assembly and then hook everything onto the engine base.  You then just blend away. 

After its done blending, just take the cup with you and drink up your delicious smoothie.  You even have tops for the cup so your drink won't spill.  You get a nice 175 watt motor that will blend most ingredients easily.  Also the power cord can be stored under the base of the unit.

The Immersion Blender from KitchenAid

If you spend any time at all in your kitchen, then you are going to need the KitchenAid hand blender.  You can stick immersion blenders into deep pots to blend soups and other boiling dishes.  They are also called hand blenders.  Just like a special wand, these blenders fit ergonomically into your hand and you can use them all over your kitchen. 

You'll find the KitchenAid hand blender for about $80, which is very economical for this high-quality blender.  It has 9 different speed options you can access from the wand.  You won't have trouble holding this blender either as it weighs only 5 pounds.  You can also accomplish a variety of different tasks with this blender as it comes with some really nice food processor attachments.

Each of these blender brands would make a great addition to your kitchen.  You can't beat top quality for a fair price.

To learn more and see the complete list of the best blenders on the market, go to GoBlendIt.com.  To make sure you make the best decision on your kitchen blender we have collected in-depth blender reviews of all major brands.  We want you to get a blender that you and your family will be happy with, that will last you for many years.