Am I just expecting too much from a blender?

[Anonymous]

Oster all the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just use a regular blender and, like you,measure the liquid first whenever I make a smoothie. Then I go with the softest, most easily blended fruit...usually mangoes or bananas, blend, then the harder frozen fruits (bit by bit...not all at once), blend, and then add ice cubes if needed. You shouldn't have a problem with this method.

I too would love a Vitamix, but I just can't justify the expense...and the space it will take up! Do it this way, though and you should be good to go!

Thanks, I'll try doing it more piecemeal like that. My daughter will love that -- pushing the blender buttons is one of her favorite activities.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you do a search of the archives, you will find that I posted almost the exact same question about a year ago. My one additional requirement was that the cannister part had to be glass, not plastic. Nearly everyone responded with Vitamix, same as with your posting. I almost bought it, but right before I did, someone posted the top three rated blenders. Vitamix at $500 was #1, and Oster at less than half that price was a very close #2. I decided there was little to lose with trying the Oster, so I bought one at BB&B, with the 20% coupon, and I swear I did not pay more than $30. Well it makes a smoothie like there is no tomorrow. Absolutely pulverizes ice, creams the frozen berries, you name it. It's amazing. I literally could wax poetic if I had an ounce of poetry in me, that is how much I love it. We use it daily in our household and have never been disappointed.

Now, subtlety is not its strong suit, and so it's a substitute for a food processor the way some blenders are. But if a totally smooth smoothie is what you're looking for, you can't go wrong with the Oster blender.

[Anonymous]

21:12 here, and of course I meant to write that the Oster is a "fraction" of the price of the Vitamix, not less than half its price (it's MUCH less than half the price). Sorry for any confusion!

[Anonymous]

PP, please tell us the Oster model that you have! We've burned out 2 $100+ KitchenAid mixers making fruit smoothies. I've been tempted to buy the Vitamix but besides its enormous size, it's so loud it actually hurts my ears. Have you tried the Oster for shaved ice or something similar to make snow cones?

[Anonymous]

Just get the vitamix. It will be cheaper in the long run compared to buying 2-3 cheaper ones. The whole set with the stuff for dry stuff is near $500

[Anonymous]

We have an oyster and it does the job well. No need for a vitamix unless you have excess money you need to get rid of.

[Anonymous]

Vitamix is too big to store, too ugly to keep out and too loud for me. Amazon sells nearly 10 Oster blenders -- is there one in particular that works well for crushing ice?

[Anonymous]

for me, it's always been the ice cubes that don't blend down. if you froze all the fruit, wouldn't it be easier to have a smooth smoothie without needing ice?

[Anonymous]

So timely. I just fried my not-very-old kitchenaid last week trying to make a smoothie for my under-the-weather husband.

Will look at Osters on amazon. I'd also appreciate a specific model recommendation.