Cuisinart CBT-500FP SmartPower Premier Duet Blender and Food Processor, Stainless Steel

I returned this blender twice!

First, the metal bands that secure the plastic handles to the glass pitcher catch the liquid when it is poured so gunk gets stuck between the band and the glass and stays there growing bacteria "forever"-it is NOT possible to clean this at all. No health inspector would allow this in a restaurant (by the way, I'm not a health freak-we don't even wipe the stove top monthly)! I thought it was a unique fault and I returned it only to find it still happens on the new one. Major design flaw.

Second, the blade is in a plastic housing and this cracked twice on us. My husband ONLY makes smoothies in this blender, not with ice but with mostly thawed frozen fruit, and he makes them very thin. We can't figure out what makes it break! Because this broke and we didn't know it, the blade didn't spin freely and the spinning device below it broke off as well.

Cuisenart is wonderful with customer service. The first time this...Read more

The dual functions of the CBT-500FP make it very versatile and can replace two kitchen appliances with one, also saving counter-space. I say "can" because it's only useful if you need to process or blend small amounts of food. This is a great product for the single person or two to three people at most. If you're cooking for a larger family, this isn't the blender\processor for you. The brushed steel and glass are very stylish and fit well in most decors. Easy cleanup, and works as described.

I got this as a present, so I'm not complaining but it's not a perfect machine for my needs. If you don't care about the negatives listed below, then it's probably a good machine for you. If you do care, then avoid.

+ I like the high/low/crush speed buttons. The multitude that others have is just silly. The one speed that some have is just not enough.
+ The blender is great. It works, it's big enough and doesn't leak.
+ It takes less space, being two-in-one.

- The two in one does mean that at all times there is a load of bits and pieces in the cupboard for the other function. I think I'd prefer having two devices assembled at all times. But then I cook most days - wifey can't cook.
- The food processor is two small for my modest needs. It's way to small for dough making and is generally to small for slicing vegetables for a family of 4.
- It has only a slicing/grating disc and cutting blade.
- The double base/gear thing makes it...Read more