KitchenAid KSB5CR 5-Speed Blender, Black/Chrome

This blender sets itself apart from other blenders in a couple of important ways. Its glass is shorter and wider than other blenders, and this in combination with the shape of the blades makes it very difficult for stuff to hand about and not get blended. Also, it is a powerhouse. It has a fat motor and just will not let you down. But, and this is possibly my favorite, the cord wraps up neatly in the base for clutter free storage.

After owning a @$#%@#$%!@#$!$#** blender made by Oster this is a great relief.

The wide and short container is the way to go (and it does hold a lot). The shape helps things mix much better than the tall skinny design of other blenders. Of course the fact that it has an industrial strength motor helps. In any case it mixes ice or anything else just fine without bogging down.

The built in cord storage is a nice bonus. As is the way the container just sets down on the base with no twisting or effort. The container takes apart easily for cleaning. The base also is easy to wipe clean. The buttons on the base are actually good for what they say they are, and are clearly labeled. Very smooth operation, not a lot of vibration. Still sounds like a blender, but on the quieter side of blender volumes.

In all ways this blender will save you from blender frustration. You will quickly forget about how wonderful it is because it simply does what...Read more

This blender is frustrating. It offers good points, but in the end, the flaws outweigh the benefits. First the good:

The heavy glass base is stable and easy to clean. The powerful motor hacks through most foods with ease. When the blender is started, the motor begins at a low speed for a second or two before turning on fully.

The problems I found led me to toss the blender. If you plan on making blended soups, beware of the explosive force with which this beast turns on. Without a heavy hand on the lid, both the lid and your soup will hit the ceiling. Moderately thick, viscous liquids (a lemon cream was the latest such one I experienced) tend to get caught in the scalloped swoops in the jar. This leads to only the center portion of the liquid being actively blended, while the outer edges stagnate and remain clumpy. Deft work with a spatula is required to coax everything into the blending area.

The above problems were annoying, caused occasional...Read more