Back to Basics SALPHA500 Smoothie Signature Smoothie Maker
by Back to Basics
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List Price: Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Back to Basics SALPHA500 Smoothie Signature Smoothie Maker
Customer Review: great smoothie maker
Summary: 5 Stars
I make smoothies almost every night and have gone through two smoothie makers so far. This one has held up very well.Customer Review: Basically a great smoothie maker!
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this product around a month ago, and we've made smoothies nearly every morning since! It is excellent. It is a heavy, sturdy product and is MUCH larger than it appears in the photo. I was very surprised when I removed it from the package. At capacity, there is more than enough smoothie for four people!
It easily handles fresh fruit and ice, and creates a nice consistency provided you have the right amount of ice. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because is struggles to blend large frozen chunks of fruit. Probably any blender would. But don't expect to be able to drop a large chunk of frozen bananas, strawberries, and peaches (or something else) in there and have immediate success. It takes some work with the stir stick.
As far as cleanup goes, I've only been washing it out with hot water immediately after use, which works well. Here's a hint: Don't forget to close the tap after washing. If you leave it open, whatever liquid you pour in the next time will come right out all over your counter! It's happened to me twice, but I think I've learned my lesson, finally.
Customer Review: Durable, Versatile, Smoothie maker.
Summary: 4 Stars
Got this as a gift, May of 2006 and unfortunately am searching for another smoothie maker. Not because of a defective item, but the glass container broke, as a result of falling over in the sink. I primarily used the blender for protein shakes and margaritas. The stir stick aids in ensuring everything is blended and the spout is conveinent for pouring directly into a glass while the contents remain mixed. It is easy to use, easy to disassemble, clean, and reassemble. It also comes with a smoothie recipe book and instructions. The only negative thing I could say is that after about a year or so, the bottom of the blender would leak small amounts of liquid into the base that houses the motor. This never affected the motor, just gave me one more thing to clean. I guess the crank that is connected to the blades just got worn? Either way, I would recommend this product and have bought this for two friends as gifts.Customer Review: Good Smoothie-Maker
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this smoothie-maker after my last Back to Basics smoothie-maker literally went up in smoke. Smoothies are a staple in my diet, an easy way to indulge my sweet tooth without piling on calories. Most of my smoothies are made from skim milk or low-fat yogurt, plus either frozen fruit (strawberries, peaches) or hot chocolate powder and lots of crushed ice. I make a smoothie at least 3-4 times a week during warm weather.
This smoothie maker works well. I do not use the dispensing spout -- they seem to end up leaking at some point, so I remove the spout and use the supplied screw-on cover. I like that this model has a glass container and that it has a handle.
I've concluded after reading many reviews on different smoothie makers that they just may not last an extended time. Constantly blending ice must be hard on an appliance Hopefully, I'll be wrong and will have this one for years.
Customer Review: Wish it didn't leak but best I've found
Summary: 4 Stars
My first version of this product, from Sam's Club, lasted a few years and then it gave up the ghost. The original model is no longer produced and so this was the closest thing. It took a replacement to the one I first got from Amazon which was defective. The replacement works pretty well - I love the stir stick and the dispenser that allows me to fill a "bullet" style container by hanging over the edge of the counter. No other smoothie maker I've seen has this feature! Also, the consistency I get is unrivaled - it gets it nice and thick with plenty of ice.
My main complaint is that even immediately after assembling it post-dishwasher and hand washing (for the delicate parts which are not dishwasher safe), it still leaks something awful. I have to put in the ingredients over the sink every time I use it.
Overall, though, best of all the options, and believe me I've tried quite a few.