KitchenAid Artisan KSB52BAC Blender Cream

I own a Kitchenaid mixer, food processor & blender. Based on my excellent experience with the mixer I expected the blender to work to the same high standard, but alas no. The blades do not have sharp edges and I find, no matter how long you process soup, there always seem to be some lumps left, which you only discover as you pour the contents out, the contents having appeared completely smooth through the quality glass jug. As a Home Economist I am used to appraising equipment, and while this product is well made & looks good I am not sure it is fit for the purpose - making smooth puree.

It does crush ice and whip up batter well, but beware making mayonnaise. When you remove the the central lid from the main lid to drip in the oil, so much egg and oil spatter out that not only the machine and your arm but the surrounding kitchen require a complete scrub down on completion. A good design feature is that when you switch on, the motor starts slowly for a few seconds before engaging at full speed, this means the contents don't hit the lid with a great whoosh of impact. However, blending hot soup does seem to create a lid lift off effect as steam is whirred up. Let the soup cool prior to blending, only half fill the jug and always, as with all blenders, cover the lid with a cloth before turning on.

Other reviewers mention leakage from the jug, this only happens if the jug is not taken apart from the base each time after use, and it, and the rubber gasket are not properly cleaned, then ensure you screw firmly back in place engaging the thread correctly. This is not an arduous task, but one which is necessary with all blenders for health and hygiene - food clinging in nooks and crannies will grow microbes.

If you really want a blender that is the business, and manage not to faint at the price, buy a Total Nutrition Centre by the Vita-mix corporation (from America but available in the UK now). This gadget has a 2 horse power motor and can reduce a whole orange, skin and all, to juice in the blink of an eye. I guess this blender has dimmed my view of all others on the market.

Had I bought my Kitcheniad blender, and not been given it at a greatly reduced price because of my job, I would be very cross to have spent the money only to find it did not work as I expected. Do not however, let this bad review of the blender put you off the mixer, it is the best in its class. When I have had my Kitchenaid food processor for a reasonable length of time I will report on it, it is too new at the moment and people always write glowing reports about new items, better to wait and really see how they perform over time first.

Does it blend, well yes of course.
We have had this blender for about a year now, and it was working fine, til we put some mince in it...
You see the problem, or intended design flaw with this product is the plastic teeth on the coupler (connects jug to base (motor)). They are designed to shear off when there's too much strain to stop it damaging the motor.
But what this means is you are left with a useless product and a sinking feeling of disappointment.
I was not impressed.
However, all KitchenAid blenders have an automatic 3 year warranty on them. I bought mine through amazon so all I did was contact KitchenAid with my amazon receipt and they sent me out a new coupler n spanner to fit it free of charge. Okay so it took a few emails but they were really good about it and it came very quickly. So don't be put off by comments about the teeth shearing cos you can have it fixed free of charge safe in the knowledge that the blender isn't damaged.
Looks-wise it's very pretty, if a bit heavy.
Personally I would have been quite happy without it, and I'm not sure it's worth the money; but being forced into buying it as a present all I can say is it works, it's pretty and relatively durable, and when it can't cope you can get it fixed for free.

This US-made blender looks great, if you like '50s retro. It feels immensely solid. Its heavy metal blades will whizz up ice for cocktails, or pulverize ice-cream for milk-shakes. The jug pours well. We also use ours also for breadcrumbs (good), soups (fine) and all kinds of creamy fruity puddings (excellent). After two years, it's still going strong, although the glass of the jug has begun to mark. All in all, a well designed, effective kitchen blender.

Downside. Not cheap. Some of the parts are hard to clean.