Pros: Very powerful, can easily convert ice into snow. Easy to clean base.
Cons: No control over power, needs a low speed blend setting. Pitcher is hard to clean.
The Bottom Line: They are attractive, but the lack of a low speed setting and a pitcher that is plastic and hard to clean reduces its utility. Great for smoothies.
mrgeorgef's Full Review: Breville 800BLXL 2-Speed Blender
I purchased 2 from a deal of the day type seller for $125 each. They are attractive, but the lack of a low speed setting and a pitcher that is plastic and hard to clean reduces its utility. The unique blade design does seem to improve blending.
The blender has 2 speeds Blend and Pulse/Ice Crush. The Smoothie setting alternates between Blend and Pulse. I filled it to the max line with hot split peas soup. Hit the blend button while holding down the lid and it still sprayed hot split pea soup in all directions. Yes, I should have done it in 2 batches, or started off in Pulse mode until the split peas were liquefied. The problem could have been avoided if there was a low speed setting, as there are on many blenders.
It works well making smoothies as it is very good at crushing ice. It would be nice if they included a specially designed plunger, like Vita Mix, that would allow you to force food onto the blades, but has a sheild that blocks it from actually reaching the blades.
The stainless steel base is easy to clean.
The pitcher has a gap between the upper and lower parts that can only be cleaned by disassembling the pitcher. The pitcher is made of plastic, not glass. It is not a standard pitcher, so if Breville discontinues it, you will not be able to replace it. The pitcher requires a special tool to disassemble it, although if you lost it you probably could make due with normal pliers. The gasket has ridges, which means that if you reassemble the blender before it dries you will get mold growing on the gasket.
I was able to grind cashews into cashew paste/butter. Like most blenders forcing stuff off the sides into the blades is necessary, a plunger like vita-mix had would have made the process quicker.
The Ice-Auto Pulse setting of the blender if very good at chipping potatoes.
Recipe for fried potatoes and onions:Place one or two potatoes and one or two onions in the blender. Cover and set to pulse. When the blades are freely spinning, the potatoes and onions have been chipped. In a skillet heat oil to a high temperature. Dump the chipped potato and onion mixture in and fry. At this point you can keep mixing it and get something like home fries. You can let the bottom brown, slide onto a plate, brown the other side and serve as a pancake. Add an egg or two for an omelet. Feel free to add spices like paprika, or none at all.
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