31 out of 31 people found this review helpful.
Smoothies are the best with this!
Date of Review: Dec 19, 2007
The Bottom Line: Great smoothie maker to buy if you are looking to make some yummy drinks! Anybody could use this one!
Smoothies
I am a HUGE fan of smoothies. They are one of my favorite tasty treats in the world. I fondly remember when my husband took me on a cruise for our honeymoon 3.5 years ago and all the wonderful smoothies you can get on a cruise ship... But, it was also really great coming home from the trip and opening our wedding presents and finding this wonderful gift. Smoothies all the time?!? I was in heaven.
Smoothie Machine Parts
The smoothie maker has only 5 parts to the machine. There is a motor base, a valve (for pouring it out afterwards), a mixing container (7 cup max. capacity), lid (for the container), and a stir stick. There are four control buttons (off, mix, smooth, and pulse). The mix button is meant for the first 30 seconds of mixing as well as pouring. The smooth button is for high speed mixing for the final stages before pouring. The pulse button is meant to run at a high speed for short periods of time.
Directions
I love how the instruction book is clear and gives directions on how to use this smoothie maker. You first add liquids up to the serves 4 or serves 2 mark on the mixing container. The book gives you suggestions such as fruit, milk, fruit juice, herbal supplements, or yogurt. Then you add ice or frozen ingredients until it reaches the level on the mixing container. Then you put the top on and press the mix button first, then the smooth button for a tasty treat.
It can be served with a cup under the valve. Or you can take the mixing container off and pour it into a glass.
Our experience
My husband and I enjoy our occasional smoothies. I do admit that I haven't used this smoothie maker as much as I would have liked to this point. Either I don't have enough ingredients to make it work... or now since having a little one it is hard to use the machine without him getting upset.
A negative about this machine is that it is extremely LOUD! My 18 month old son cries extensively anytime it has been turned on in whatever mode. (He also cries when we vacuum too.) So, it is hard to want to use this when I know it upsets him so much.
About the machine itself though, it works great and the smoothies taste great! The recipes in the recipe book are great too and I rotate looking at those and another recipe book that is entirely smoothies. The greatest thing about this machine is that you really don't need exact recipes because of the liquid and frozen lines on the container. If you have juices/milk/yogurt and then combine with ice, ice cream, sherbert, etc... The sky can be the limit. You can explore to your heart's (or stomach's) content. I have made some interestingly great concoctions and couldn't tell you the recipe because I just poured in and looked at the lines on the container.
The serving size is not for more than four so if you have more people to serve you will have to put in more ingredients and run it again. I have only ever used it for my husband and I so we usually make enough for four people and drink it all ourselves!
The cleaning of the machine is difficult though. The stick and lid are easy. But, the base of the mixing container and the valve you have to totally take apart to clean which is extremely difficult. I usually have to have my husband help me because the pieces fit together so tight.
All in all
This is a great smoothie machine and is worth the money if you can find it on the market! Highly recommended.
For more information
www.backtobasicsproducts.com
