Loud motor, leaky valve, oversized base. Stick with a regular blender!
Written: Dec 20 '03
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: It blends.
Cons: Loud motor, leaky valve, bulky appearance, hard to clean.
The Bottom Line: The Smoothie Elite will never replace a "true" blender in my kitchen. It's just a prop at my bar now.
|
|
|
| robbiehaf's Full Review: Back to Basics Smoothie Elite |
I received a Smoothie Elite as a Christmas gift and was mildly appreciative of the gesture, but needed a blender, so I didn't return it. After using it once, I figured out it would never replace a true blender in my kitchen. Now it's just a prop at my bar.
The 500-watt pulse-power motor with 3 speeds (on, mix, and smooth) is loud - almost whiney - more so than other blenders. What does "mix" and "smooth" mean anyway?! Give me high and low and we're talking.
56 ounce / 7 cup capacity is quite sufficient.
Unique stir stick breaks up air pockets, increases mixing efficiency. But this thing is a nuisance - just gets in the way. I usually just keep the alternate removable lid center on it.
The dispenser valve serves smoothies without a mess, but keeps on serving when you don't want it to. From day 1 the valve dripped onto the counter after using it once. It's difficult to clean, as well. You have to disassemble the entire valve - a 15-minute ordeal.
The base is oversized and bulky.
The owner's manual suggests not using a dishwasher to clean. Great...so much for convenience!
One last comment: Have you seen the prices of the mix packets?! What a joke! Here's my favorite recipe to use in this (or any other, better blender). From Robbie's Recipes http://recipes.robbiehaf.com
Strawberry Smoothie
Serves : 2
1 cup water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4 cups ice
4 lg. strawberries - frozen OR fresh
1/2 cup half and half
1 lemon - juice of
1/4 cup Hershey's® strawberry syrup
-Dissolve the sugar in the water.
-Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
robbiehaf
|
|
Member: Robbie Rice
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 7 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.