RE: [CH] information request

Jeff Thompson (jeffthompson@mac.com)
Thu, 26 Sep 2002 14:09:45 -0700 (PDT) 

I think the brand you’re referring to might be Vita-Mix. The commercial versions only have three speeds, off, on and high. If you’ve ever had a Smoothie at the mall, odds are it was prepared in the commercial version of a Vita-Mix. The home versions include a speed dial, to allow finer speed adjustments (and still has the "high-speed" switch as well). When a vita-mix overheats (I’ve only done it once) it simply shuts down until it cools off enough to be used again. I don’t think they offer the stainless steel containers anymore though. The polycarb containers are REALLY tough, don't stain and the lid locks in place.

I’ve had one for years and have never had any problems. I’ve known people that have had the same Vita-Mix for decades. They aren’t cheap, but they work like a champ. I use it for salsa, chili powder, soups (yes, you CAN cook in it) and I make fruit/bar drinks in it too. You could puree a cat in one and drink it though a straw... ok I’ve never done it, but I bet you could. It's 11.5 amp, 1,200 watt, 37,000 rpm, 240mph BEAST!! :^)

They’ve got a web site where you can get all the details. http://www.vitamix.com. If I recall correctly, they have a lifetime warrantee, or at least a darn long one, meaning it will be the last blender you ever buy. If the price scares you off, think of this way, you can buy one blender for the price of the next four you’d have to buy when they wear out.



On Thursday, Sep 26, 2002, at 02:50PM, T. Matthew Evans <matt.evans@ce.gatech.edu> wrote:

>Frank --
>
>I will reply to the list as I would like to hear what others have to say.
>
>My advice would be to find a restaurant supply store (Sysco has nice ones)
>and buy a bar blender with a clamping lid and gasket mechanism.  The entire
>setup is stainless steel, allowing you to pour boiling liquids in right from
>the stove.  Also, the motor is stronger and the blades are sharper -- you
>don't have to worry about burning this sucker up.  Now, you won't get many
>features (most models have only three speeds -- off, liquefy, and
>obliterate) and the price will be relatively steep (say, $200 or so) but
>this will be the last blender you ever buy.  Also, with the clamp-on gasket
>lid, you can grind chiles to your heart's content.
>
>Matt
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>T. Matthew Evans
>Geosystems Group
>School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
>Georgia Institute of Technology
>Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0355
>URL:  www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte964w
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-chile-heads@globalgarden.com
>[mailto:owner-chile-heads@globalgarden.com]On Behalf Of Frank J. Hashek
>Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2002 2:43 PM
>To: chile-heads@globalgarden.com
>Subject: [CH] information request
>
>
>Please give me advice on my pending new blender purchase.  Yes, it is on
>topic, as my primary blender usage is for salsa and margaritas, both
>essential in the rite of worship of El Grande.
>
>My primary criteria are:
>	1) performance, both power and proper movement of that being blended so it
>gets processed completely
>	2) durability, my Oster is presenting ever stronger and more frequent odor
>of electric overheat, smells like capsaicin extract tastes {:-(
>	3) price, I will pay more for something that meets the above criteria, but
>not solely for a brand name
>
>Feel free to e-mail me privately if you want to avoid list clutter, probably
>few people care that I am purchasing a blender.
>
>See some of you at Open Fields
>
>Blue skies,
>Frank
>
>
>
>
>