The new KitchenAid 5-speed blender is easy to use and easy to clean up, making it a favorite of our reviewer.
by Amanda Bryant, Viewpoints Home Products Expert
Now that it’s summer, I’m starting to use my blender more often. Milkshakes and smoothies (which aren’t that appealing during a cold Chicago winter) are suddenly a big hit around my house. For years, I’ve been using an Oster 12-speed push-button blender. I find is that I often have to shake the jar during even the highest blending speed to get the contents to mix together better so the blender can do its job. I find this especially true with thick milkshakes and blended beverages with ice. Isn’t that ridiculous?
Over the last week, I’ve had the opportunity to use the KitchenAid 5-Speed Diamond Blender KSB1575 ($149.99). When it arrived, I have to admit that I was not looking forward to unpacking it. Inside this big box, I envisioned all sorts of parts wrapped in cellophane and tape just waiting to be snapped together. I was extremely pleasantly surprised when I opened the box and found the blender securely encased between two easily removable cardboard holders on the top and bottom of the blender. Aside from washing the lid and jar in warm, soapy water, this blender was ready to go straight out of the box. Yay!
Test 1: Milkshakes
I first tested the blender on a hot afternoon and made milkshakes for the kids. The ice cream that I used was hard as a rock. I added some milk and a teaspoon of vanilla extract, turned on the blender and pressed liquify. Immediately, the blender started to churn the hard ice cream and within 60 seconds, everything was blended together into a perfectly thick and delicious milkshake.
I was pleasantly surprised by how relatively quiet the blender was and how it remained stationary on the counter while it worked hard to liquify hard ice cream. I’m also used to a blender that’s blown a lid a time or two, so I naturally kept my hand on the lid when I started the blender. However, I quickly realized that the seal is so strong and secure, there is no need to “babysit” the jar.
The KitchenAid 5-Speed blender created a frozen fruit smoothie with no problem.
Test 2: Smoothies
My second test was a smoothie. I used a bag of frozen fruit, ice, yogurt and juice just to see whether this blender could handle breaking down such a large amount of frozen items. I was impressed! I used the ice crush function and then the liquify button to produce a jar full of wonderfully blended fruit smoothie.
Verdict: Easy to use and clean
Here’s what I’ve noticed about the jar – while it’s not glass (it’s plastic), for a brief moment I was fooled. The jar is sturdy and substantial, so I have no concerns about it cracking in the near future. Additionally, clean up was a cinch.
My Oster blender rarely gets used because clean up is such a drag. The whole base of the jar needs to be disassembled and washed and air dried before it can be put back together. Not the Kitchen Aid. This blender is engineered such that there are no pieces to take apart. I also love the touch pad controls. Moving away from a push button control pad was the best idea. There is absolutely no way any food or liquid can seep into a crack on this blender—there are no cracks. If you spill, all you need to do is wipe down the base with a damp sponge.
I like this blender a lot. I have never been disappointed with a KitchenAid product and this blender is definitely user friendly, quiet, efficient and sturdy. A+, KitchenAid!
Editor’s note: Viewpoints received a sample from KitchenAid for the purposes of this review.
Amanda Bryant is a design professional with an interest and expertise in products for the home and office. She is founder and principal of HangItUp Chicago , a fine art rental business partnering exclusively with Chicago-area companies.
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