One of my main financial policies is: “Make sure it is worth the money.”
I don’t care if we are talking about a one dollar ice cream cone or a half-a-million dollar house. The question is: “Is it worth it?”
My first subject is my Blendtec blender. This little piece of kitchen equipment set me back around $450 (tax included) AND I bought it new – not used! (It is currently on sale for $399 through Amazon.) Note, if you have a Vitamix or Magic Bullet, we want to hear from your blender experience in the comments!
I thought about buying this blender for a long time. I wasn’t sure if I would really use it. But I am here to tell you that YES! It is worth it.
I use my blender almost every day. Because the blender actually has a digital counter built into the base unit, I know that I have used this blender over 650 times. (That is about 630 more times than I used my food processor which is so big and bulky that I keep it on the bottom shelf of my pantry and should just give it away, but I can’t because I spent so much money for it. But, that is a topic for another article.)
So, right now, I stand at about 69 cents per use. That is pretty high per use, but I have a 10 year warranty on this blender. If I continue to use it the same amount, I will use it 3,250 times and the cost per use will be around 14 cents. This is still more expensive, then say, the per use price of a spoon, but I’d hate to try and make a smoothie with a spoon.
Here are my top ten reasons for loving my Blendtec blender:
- My number one reason for loving this blender is because since I bought it, my husband makes himself a superfood smoothie several times a week. It would be worth it just to get him to do that.
- I no longer use canned cream of mushroom soup in my recipes because I found out how simple it was to just make my own in my blender. I love this because I am now in control of the ingredients – no preservatives and flavor enhancers.
- I use my Blendtec blender to turn my veggie scraps into a compost soup that I can put directly on my plants or into the composter. This drastically cuts down the decomposition time. And means less garbage to take out!
- It only takes a minute to clean the blender – warm water and a spritz of dish soup. Turn on the blender for a couple of second. Rinse. Dry. Simple.
- The Blendtec is shorter than some other blenders. It fits right under my cabinets. Therefore, I regain some valuable counter space when not in use.
- You can make ice cream in the Blendec. Yep! I’ve made it.
- I love to make homemade apple sauce (or use other fruits). I just cut up the fruit. Simmer it on the stove with a bit of water until it is soft. Then I blend it. Sometimes I add a bit of cinnamon. Yummy!
- I don’t have babies anymore, but if I did, this is how I would be making nutritious homemade baby food for my young ones.
- Every time I go to one of those expensive organic restaurants, I always get the soup. Then I realized it is just a veggie soup thrown into a Blentec. Now I can make my own expensive soup, but for a much cheaper price tag. (Note: I like to serve it in my best china bowls.)
- My mother’s secret to getting us kids to eat veggies? She blended them into almost everything she made. You can blend veggies into a smoothie that can then be added to hamburgers, tomato sauces, even brownies! There are lots of ways you can hide veggies in your kid’s food.
Now, you may be saying… hey, why not just use a regular blender?
They are way cheaper than a Blendtec. Well, I tried that and I kept just burning through the motors. The cheap blenders are fine for whipping up eggs, but they can’t handle chopping up ice or turning raw celery hearts into celery soup.
So, I love my Blendtec. Do you have a Blendtec? What is your No. 1 reason to love your Blendtec?
Annie says:
I love my Blendtec! I researched reviews for a long time trying to decide between it & the Vitamix & they were pretty similar, but I went with the Blendtec. It was a big (gulp) purchase for my frugal self, but so worth it! It can be used for so much more than just yummy smoothies. Heck, I can grind wheat into flour to make homemade bread & knead it in my blender! I’m a total fan.
Bev says:
I, too love my Blendtec. I use it every day (658) and it has been the best item in my kitchen! It fits perfectly in my cabinent. I have a friend who uses her Vitamix and is pleased with it. So ~ I would say we all win when we have such wonderful products to help cut down our time in the kitchen!
This post contains affiliate links.≈
Bargain Babe says
@Bobbi I love that your Blendtec blender has a counter so you can see how many times you’ve used it. That is pure genius!
What’s your ice cream recipe in the blender? I make ice cream with my Kitchen Aid, and it always turns out great (though that has more to do with the ingredients and recipes I use from Ben & Jerry’s.)
Bobbi Burger Brunoehler says
@BargainBabe – Yes. I love that the Blendtec has a counter. In truth, the number on my counter is twice as much as I mentioned in the article, but I halved the number because I know that it also counts when I use the blender to clean it. I really like seeing the number get higher and I higher. It makes me feel that, indeed, the Blendtec was worth it.
Bargain Babe says
@Bobbi So how does the counter work, exactly? Does it count every time you power it on?
Bobbi Burger Brunoehler says
@BargainBabe – The basic vanilla ice cream recipe is 2/3 cup milk, 2/3 cup nonfat dry powdered milk, 1/4 cup sugar & 2 1/2 cups ice cubes. There is a specially programed button for making ice cream. It changes speeds to turn the above ingredients into ice cream.
Bargain Babe says
@Bobbi So that’s it? Or do you have to freeze the ice cream before it’s done?
Bobbi Burger Brunoehler says
@BargainBabe – the ice cream is ready to eat. It IS a bit soft, so if you want it firmer, I guess you can put it in the freezer. I don’t know because my family never let’s me do that. They eat it immediately.
Rachelle says
How does this compare to a Vitamix blender? I have wanted one of those for years, but they are also quite pricey.
Bobbi Burger Brunoehler says
@Rachelle – Well, that is the big blender debate – Vitamix versus Blendtec. I watched demonstrations of both. They are both great.
Bargain Babe says
@Bobbi and @Rachelle Yes! I know a lot of folks compare blenders: Blendtec v Vitamix v Magic Bullet. We need reviews of all three! I wonder if any readers would be interested in sharing their love for the Vitamix and Magic Bullet so we can get a feel for how they compare.
Evie K. says
@Bobbi, any chance you can post the recipe you have for cream of mushroom soup that you use?
Bobbi Burger Brunoehler says
@Evie K – the cream of mushroom soup recipe is really a hack from the recipe that my college roomie, Jeanne, sent to me. I just saute (in oil or butter) sliced mushrooms, garlic and onion with salt and pepper. I put it in the blendtec with some broth (whatever I have – bone, veggie, chicken, beef broth). Then I put a tablespoon of flour into a quarter cup of liquid (water, broth, milk) until mixed. Then put that liquid into the blender as well. Now put the whole thing back into a pot with a cup (or two) of milk or cream (depends on how many calories you want). Let it come to an almost boil and then simmer. Now put in some more sliced mushrooms. You can make the whole thing thicker with more flour. You can make any “cream of” soup using this but just substitute broccoli or cauliflower or whatever veggie you want. Enjoy!
Bargain Babe says
@Bobbi and @Evie K Sounds like a great recipe. Have you tried making a huge batch and freezing it? I image it would freeze well.
Bobbi Burger Brunoehler says
@BargainBabe – I haven’t made a big batch to free. That’s a good idea. I’ll have to try it. Mostly I make it when I am making green bean casserole.
Evie K. says
@Bobbi Thanks! I appreciate the recipe. Will have to see if it will work with either almond flour or coconut flour since I am now wheat free.
Annie says
I love my Blendtec! I researched reviews for a long time trying to decide between it & the Vitamix & they were pretty similar, but I went with the Blendtec. It was a big (gulp) purchase for my frugal self, but so worth it! It can be used for so much more than just yummy smoothies. Heck, I can grind wheat into flour to make homemade bread & knead it in my blender! I’m a total fan.
Bobbi Burger Brunoehler says
@Annie – I know! It was a really hard decision for me to make, but I decided on the Blendtec because it would fit under my cabinets. I’m glad I made that choice. I also love that I can grind my own grains.
Bargain Babe says
@Annie Great to hear your feedback! I’m going to add this to the post. What else do you make in your Blendtec?
EllieD says
Hi, Bobbi ~ I don’t have a Blendtec, but I do have a fabulous Osterizer that was a bridal shower gift 50 years ago, and it’s still going strong… despite having been knocked off the counter a couple of time, and putting a crack in the outer base. It does all the heavy “lifting” (crushing ice, etc.), so even though I’ve been tempted to replace it, I always come back to the question: would a new one be any better? I usually answer that with: probably not. However, I totally agree with your list of reasons, as well as cooking prep tips. I’d like to have your recipe/process for the cream of mushroom. Ellie
Bargain Babe says
@Ellie 50 YEARS AGO!!!! That is insane. Whoever gave you that blender really spent their money wisely. I’ve never had a blender that could crush ice. I’m lucky if my blender can make a smoothie!
Bobbi Burger Brunoehler says
@BargainBabe – How do you make a smoothie if you don’t have a blender that crushes ice? I thought a smoothie had to have crushed ice?
Bev says
I, too love my Blendtec. I use it every day (658) and it has been the best item in my kitchen! It fits perfectly in my cabinent. I have a friend who uses her Vitamix and is pleased with it. So ~ I would say we all win when we have such wonderful products to help cut down our time in the kitchen!
Bargain Babe says
@Bev Good to know! I’ll add your comment to the post. Have you and your friend compared notes on blenders – Blendtec v. Vitaxmix? What has she said about her Vitamix?
EllieD says
@BB ~ It was a gift from a close family friend who co-owned a health food store with her hubby in Santa Barbara. They later opened a second store in Ventura. Unfortunately, the two of them are no longer alive, and the stores were sold long ago. Still, I have my reminder of both!!!
Wendy says
I have the Vitamix and totally love it. It’s similar to the Blendtec. There are some great comparison videos on youtube.com that I watched that really helped me choose the Vitamix. I especially like it for green smoothies and raw soups.
Bobbi Burger Brunoehler says
@Wendy – What kind of raw soups do you make?
Wendy says
Here’s the basic recipe:
1 carrot
1 stalk celery
1 slice of onion (1/4 inch thick)
14-oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
1 frozen square of chopped garlic from Trader Joe’s
1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon paste
1 teaspoon spice mixture with salt – like Lawry’s seasoned salt or Spike
1 cup hot water
The Vitamix has a soup pre-set function. After it finishes blending, I add a small tomato, a few raw spinach leaves, and a handful of tortilla chips. Pulse on variable speed 2 a few times to chop everything and voilá.
Bargain Babe says
@Wendy Smart of you to use Youtube videos as a review of a product! I never thought of that. Do you remember which ones you watched?
Wendy says
I like the demo videos with Tommy Nicholas, like this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDd3lyMYSQg
My favorite comparison video was this one with Henry PJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5gB6ySM_00
I love this guy. He is just a regular home cook, not a professional chef. His videos are very informative and he has a wonderfully energetic voice. He only shows his hands on camera.
I have the new Vitamix professional series 750 like Henry has in his video. The jar has been redesigned to fit under kitchen cabinets and the motor is quieter than the previous model.
janet says
I have had a Vitamix for 10 yr. Bought it used and have been so impressed. The motor burned out and I was told by customer service,the model was 30 yrs old! Not quite 50 but pretty good. I was able to purchase a new one and am so happy. I grind meat,flour and process veggie scraps too.
I’m sure all the high end models are worth the initial price. Happy blending!
Bargain Babe says
@Janet Thanks for the recommendation!
Kitchen Blenders Guide says
Thanks for the recommendation!