Smoothie Makers and Food Blenders – What Are the Differences?

By Andrew Emerson

At first glance, there may not seem to be much difference between a smoothie maker and a normal food blender. There are however several subtle differences which make a smoothie maker a better option for those who regularly make smoothies.

Power

A smoothie maker usually offers much more power than a conventional food blender. This is especially important when you think about the fact that so many smoothies contain bananas, which are actually quite hard, and can be tough for low-power blenders to cope with.

The extra power behind the blades in a smoothie maker means that your smoothies will actually come out as a smooth liquid rather than a semi-solid mush.

The Smoothie Spout

Another obvious feature, which makes the smoothie maker different to a traditional blender, is that it has a spout below the jug, which the smoothie flows out from.

Although this may not seem like a feature that is worth paying extra for, it is great if you are making smoothies from ingredients where you do not want the solid parts to go into the glass. The spout can be used to fill your glass as the fruit is still being blended, which means that you can stop after the initial juicy parts of the fruit have been squeezed out.

This compares to a conventional food mixer, where you have to drink whatever is in the jug at the end.

Stir Stick

Another additional feature on a smoothie maker that can be exceedingly useful is the “stir stick”, a long spoon-like device that goes down into the jug and can be used to stir the ingredients around without needing to open the lid and use a spoon.

Measurements

Even though more blenders today seem to have measurements on the side of the jug, not all do. Smoothie makers will generally have a reference on the side of the jug in several different units so that users can easily measure how much of the various ingredients they are putting into the mix.

These features mean that a smoothie maker is much better designed for the task in hand over a conventional food blender, and is definitely a much better choice for those who will regularly use their machine for this purpose.

UK author who is meeting a need for website reviews of the best kitchen and cooking equipment by publishing several sites including Smoothie Makers and Waffle Makers

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Top Rated Mini Blenders

By Ann Cohen

Mini Blenders are versatile in many ways. Whether you are making a single serve smoothie for yourself or a small serving of salsa for your party, a mini blender is a welcome addition to any kitchen. Mini blenders are milkshake makers, smoothie makers and personal blenders or even a mini hand blender! You can use a mini blender to chop, mix, whip or blend. Using a smaller blender eliminates the excess waste you would use for a larger blender.

Mini blenders perform just as well as their larger cousins but for those of us who need to make smaller portions they are the perfect size for our needs and take up much less space in our kitchens and are an attractive addition to your counter tops.

These smaller blenders makes it easier for you to make a single healthy drink right in the drinking cup saving you time and clean up. Many also come with travel cups and are portable.

When purchasing a mini blender there are some important characteristics to look for. Not only should the mini blender be the style that is attractive to you, it should have enough power to do the job you need it for. Many have the same amount of power as the larger blenders even though they are smaller. Especially if you are making smoothies since ice is a difficult ingredient to crush.

The base of the blender should be stable and slip resistant. This will prevent the blender from slipping and spilling or toppling over when you are blending at a high speed. This will prevent you from having to hold the blender while it is on, which can be awkward at best. These smaller blenders are also designed to clean easily which is a big plus.

Safety features are also very important. Make sure that the blades lock in place during blending or are covered to avoid injury. Many blenders will not work unless the blades are locked in place.

There are also many accessories that you can purchase, such as additional cups and blades, travel cups and larger size mixing cups to accommodate those larger recipes.

Ann Cohen is a mom, wife, friend and caterer who loves babies, “green”, decorating and holiday’s. And now an empty nester, who still cooks great meals for just the two of them. Get some great tips and tricks on cooking for one, two or a few at Best Mini Appliances to get reviews and ratings from you the consumer. Also feel free to browse her selection of how to’s.

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Best Kitchen Aid Blenders

By Tom Tessin

When you’re in  the market to purchase a new blender, you may be looking to purchase a name brand such as Kitchen Aid. If you’re thinking about purchasing a Kitchen Aid product, I wanted to highlight a few that you may be interested in, since there are so many on the market.

You’re going to find that they all range in price, size, as well as what they have to offer. I’ve found that the more that you pay, the more that you’re going to get in terms of blending.

The KSB560OB: This 5 speed blender is one of the highest rated blenders on the market. You can choose from many colors, that come in the stainless steel form. It’s dishwasher safe and holds up to 56 ounces. This blender is around the $80 price range.

The KSB850NK: This one is a little higher in price, but you’re going to get what you pay for. Holds up to 56 ounces, it’s made with a stainless steel design that’s patented. It also holds a die-cast metal polycarbonate base.

KHB300 Hand Blender: If you’re looking for a blender that isn’t your typical kind, you may want to look into a hand blender. What you’re going to find out is that something like this is fairly easy to use. Comes with an accessory bag, as well as a wire whisk and nut chopper attachment, making it great for just about anything. This will run you about $90+.

These are the top three that I would consider, when you’re looking to purchase any Kitchen Aid blender product. When you conduct your search online, you will find that there are a lot that you can choose from. Do your homework and choose wisely!

My top list of kitchen aid blenders continues. See another of my top 6 that I recommend!

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Using Your Blender To Make Smoothies That Slim Your Figure

Smoothies can be whipped up and a slim figure maintained just by using your blender. There are many books on the market that will have smoothie recipes for any blender and calories are kept to a minimum just by substituting high calorie food for lower varieties.

There are many recipes that are divided into low calorie or mega low calorie. Some even go as low as 160 calories. Many recipes are tasty and when those hot summer days are wearing you down, a delightful smoothie is just the trick needed to reenergize yourself.

Great smoothie ideas for a blender provide recipes that are healthy as well as low calorie so that a slim figure can be maintained or attained. Ingredients are easy to find and if they are not, than you can use your own creativity to substitute and blend a smoothie unlike any other tasted. After all, you want to do something good for yourself. Why not for the rest of your family?

Nutrition is the main goal for many individuals and if good nutrition can be found in a smoothie glass which also tastes delicious, than what are you waiting for. There are smoothie ideas for your blender which compliments your daily meal plan. Unfortunately many are high calorie, especially those made with dairy products. Substituting fruit juice, fresh fruit, tofu and fat free yogurt compliments recipes like…

• Cherry Potter
• A Beautiful Rind
• Thin City
• Hawaiian De-Lite
• What A Waist

These meals on the go are the perfect choice for individuals who are cutting calories and refuse to sacrifice taste. Great smoothie ideas for the blender can be found on the internet, at your local library and by word of mouth. Your family will appreciate your efforts and those dreaded bathroom scales won’t groan under the weight.

How Wolfgang Puck’s Immersion Blender Makes Things Easy!

The Wolfgang Puck WPIB0010 Variable Speed Immersion Blender has various attachments for making food preparation easy. It chops, mixes and whips; the ergonomic handle provides a comfortable grip. There is a blade guard, which reduces messy splashing and an extra long shaft. Controls are at your fingertip and there is a turbo button which delivers added power.

Wolfgang Puck Immersion Blender

The Wolfgang Puck’s immersion blender comes with a five cup chopping bowl and a whisk made from stainless steel. This blender is used to mix, chop, blend, whip, grind, puree and mince and is great for protein shakes, pancake or crepe batters, baby foods, chopped vegetables and more.

The extra long shaft made from stainless steel reaches into deep pots. The chopper is attached to the motored handle and is used for chopping onions, green peppers as well as mincing herbs. There is a stainless steel whisk for fluffing egg whites and even whipping cream to finish off the look of that special dessert.

There is a variable speed setting which adjusts to what is being made in the Wolfgang Puck’s immersion blender and a turbo increasing power when needed. Add to this unit is an optional wall mount, a mixing beaker and numerous recipes. A one year limited warranty guarantees an easy fix should anything go wrong.

With the Wolfgang Pucks immersion blender, changing attachments is easy and takes seconds with minimum force. The blender is easy to clean and takes a few seconds to rinse for the next use.

The Wolfgang Puck’s immersion blender has the following pros which makes it a worthwhile purchase.

• Stronger motor power than most hand blenders.
• The copper attachment is designed very well and attaching it makes it easy to handle appliance.
• The stain less steel whisk has a reduction gearing in it to slow down rotation. Real whipping cream tastes so much better.

Even Cooks Need to Cool Off: The Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker

Even the most avid cook needs to cool off and would do well to purchase The Margaritaville DMO500 Bahamas 36-Ounce Frozen Concoction Maker, especially during those hot summer months. Why not bring the islands to your home when unable to do on the next flight or because your passport has been outdated for years. Margaritas can be prepared to the delight of your guests with minimum effort. Especially if your counter space is limited, will this all purpose appliance create the one in a life time margarita.

• Fill the reservoir with ice
• Pour your favorite ingredients into a jar
• At the touch of a button, turn on the Margaritaville frozen concoction maker to make pitcher perfect frozen margaritas in one easy step

Whipping it up! To create a customized frozen concoction, you need to shave only and blend only to the desired consistency. If more frozen margarita is desired, than add more shaved ice or blend a bit longer. The container holds enough ice to make one full pitcher in one automatic cycle. Melted ice accumulates in another reservoir so that the drinks are not watered down.

What’s included? The Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker comes in a tropical color with a nautical design and chrome accents. You can wash the blending jar and components in a dishwasher; the rest of the unit wipes clean in very little time. Accessories coming with this maker include a shot glass, a start guide, a great frozen drink recipe pamphlet and an instruction manual.

About shaving ice Some individuals have had trouble with shaving ice using large ice cubes. If that is the case than using smaller cubes should solve the problem. Dual motors shave the ice and blend the beverages in the ice reservoir. If drinks are to be customized, than the Margaritaville frozen concoction maker can be fine tuned for that perfect guest.

 

Small, But Effective: The Sleek and Discreet Cuisinart CSB-76 Immersion Hand Blender

The Cuisinart CSB is a slim immersion hand blender providing smooth blending. It has a protective guard; spills are preventable. There are push button controls and the design is lightweight so that one hand can be used to create a scrumptious recipe. The Cuisinart is dishwasher safe. It has a stainless shaft which blends the liquid. There is a two cup plastic beaker. A warranty is included for three years.

Cuisinart Immersion Hand Blender

With the slim immersion hand blender, you can puree soup, mix batters, beverages and even more delightful meals. Its blade provides smooth motion. It has an ergonomic handle and the long shape of the Cuisinart reaches into pots and pitchers for further blending. There is no need to add extra dishes when the original cooking dish will do just fine.

There are some viewpoints that give the small Cuisinart reviews that are less than optimum.

• The plastic cup may warp in the dishwasher
• If, for any reason, the blender becomes defective within the three year warranty, it will cost you money to ship it for repair and additional money sent with this repair shipment to have it returned to you.

If your family consists of a baby, than the immersion hand blender is great making baby food rather than using a large food processor. One to three cups of baby food can be prepared a head of time for storage until your baby’s next meal. Pancake and crepe batter also mix uniformly.

Nothing tastes better than an ice cold smoothie on a hot summer’s night. You can mix/match any fruit to create your own special taste that is bound to please your guests’ palate. This slim immersion hand blender’s stainless steel blending shaft and beaker immerses in water and dish detergent for quick clean up, either by hand or in a dishwasher.

Review of the Bosch MSM6A60UC Mixxo Cordless Handheld Blender and Chopper

The Bosch MSM6A60UC Mixxo cordless handheld blender and chopper is an immersion blender and operates on a rechargeable lithium ion battery; there is a LED charge level indicator and a charging station is included with a one year limited warranty.

Bosch hand blender

This cordless blender and chopper allows for more flexibility in the kitchen and works great for blending batters, making milkshakes and much more. The container can be used to store the ingredients until needed. A need to chop various food items can be done by detaching the stainless steel blender foot and attach the chopper. Very thick ingredients may not work as well and should be prepared with a stronger food mixer.

There is sufficient power that is needed for mixing and blending. Ice can also be crushed for that delicious smoothie or milkshake. Constant power is delivered for up to 20 minutes because of the Lithium ion batteries and the power seems unaffected when left plugged in after a full charge.

The soft touch handle is ergonomically built and there is a two button safety switch which provides added security against unwanted injuries.

The Bosch cordless blender and chopper requires holding down two buttons before starting and then releasing one which is an added safety feature. The food processor has suction cups which keeps it in place on the kitchen countertop. The hand piece hooks are on the tope of the processor and when turned on, is very quiet. Conversation is not interrupted by the noise unlike some handheld blenders. Clean up is easy with the Bosch cordless blender and chopper since all but the hand piece can go into the dishwasher.

If you are in need of wedding gift ideas or a housewarming gift, than seriously think of purchasing a Bosch cordless blender and chopper. The new bride or the new family in the neighborhood will thank you for your smart purchase because Bosch does deliver what it promises.

One of the Bestselling Small Blenders: Hamilton Beach 51101 Single-Serve Blender

Blenders are used for different purposes and one of the bestselling small blenders is the Hamilton Beach 51101 single serve blender. There is no wasted food using this blender and the single serving portion controls how much you will consume. Especially is this great news when dieting.

Small blender reviews

• This bestselling small blender is a great replacement for those larger blenders and is easy to use, easy to clean with dish detergent and water.
• Makes just enough of what you need for a single serving
• Highly recommended for smoothies or for shakes
• Purees fruit
• Single cup power works great

The Hamilton Beach single serve blender is one of the bestselling small blenders for anyone who has to eat on the go or simply wants a refreshing smoothing during those hot summer months.

Some individuals have noted that the smell of smoke can be detected when attempting to grind large ice cubes. And there is the noted larger mouth cup that comes with this blender. But if those are the only less than ideal perks, than this small blender will meet your every day needs, even when you are on the go.

This bestselling small blender is very practical, easy to clean and always serves the correct amount of liquid. There is no need to provide an extra measuring cup to assure food measurements are correct. Especially is this convenient when a dieting plan is part of your daily routine.

Whether you are the traveling business person, or the stay-at-home mom with children under foot, this bestselling small blender will provide healthy one-cup serving of fruit smoothies or a blended protein shake. Eating healthy is the latest craze and this blender will go a long way in making sure you meet your health goals as well as the health goals of your family.

Craving Icecream? 5 Reasons to Get the Oster 6627 100-Watt Milkshake Drink Mixer in Chrome

If you are in the market for a milk shake blender than you cannot go wrong when purchasing the Oster 6627 100-Watt Milkshake Drink Mixer. It has a two speed switch control for making smoothies as well as shakes. Its heavy duty motor and commercial design combines the ingredients for a thick drink and does so rapidly.

Oster 6627 100-Watt Milkshake Drink Mixer, Chrome

The milk shake blender has a 28-ounce stainless steel cup which will keep your drink very cold. Stability is maintained due to the die cast chrome construction. A safety feature is if the stainless cup is not in place, than the milk shake blender will not start, thus alleviating safety concerns for parents with small children.

The Oster also comes with aeration discs which provide thick frothy drinks. Five reasons which make this drink mixer worth purchasing include…

• You can whip up super thick shakes
• Smooth shakes are made within a matter of minutes
• The milk shake blender does not clog up when making thick shakes
• Its safety feature of not starting when the cup is not in place prevents major accidents
• A lot of ice cream is turned into a smooth, frothy drink

The Oster makes a great gift idea to carry through year after year. Grandchildren will enjoy thick shakes after dinner. The price is reasonable and milkshakes are created the old fashioned way.

If kitchen space is at its premium, the milk shake blender will not take too much room. It can be stored in a corner, tucked in and ready for the next family get together.

For super thick shakes whipped in a matter of minutes with a lot of ice cream, than the Oster milk shake blender is just the ticket for those individuals who need a reason to indulge without having to count those calories.

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