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    February 22, 2014
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    May 23, 2016
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nickcal's Reviews
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Prepare delicious recipes with this Blendtec Designer 650s Blender. The Blendtec Designer Series uses all the power and performance that made Blendtec the choice of blending professionals, and combined it with a modern design with functionality taking Blendtec to a new level in performance blending. The Blendtec Designer Series is the all-in-one appliance that replaces many standard kitchen appliances with one fast easy-to-use machine. It will make smoothies, fresh whole juice, ice cream, margaritas, soups, sauces, bread dough, dressings, salsas, flours and more! Blending professionals have relied on Blendtec machines in the best coffee shops, juice bars, gyms, and restaurants around the world for producing the best, most consistent results in taste and texture. You can now enjoy the same results in your home.
 
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5 out of 5
5
High-class from a professional-grade blender
on December 1, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
For quite some time, I’ve enjoyed the “Will it blend?” Videos on YouTube. These videos feature Blendtec blenders and the founder of the company proving they can destroy just about anything because of how powerful they are. About a week ago, I finally got my chance to try out one of these wonderful machines.
The Blendtec 650s from the Designer series product line arrived in a branded product box. I was surprised to find that the blender only comes packaged with the motor base, jar, lid, and instruction manuals. I thought it would have more accessories than that. Even though it was properly padded with styrofoam, be sure to handle the box with care as it is quite a heavy kitchen utility device.
Setting it up is very easy. You simply plug in the motor base to power and set the jar with the lid on top of it. Then, you blend. I was surprised to find that there was no locking mechanism on this model. When I set the jar on the base, it just sits there unassisted. I did hold it in place while it blended, but found it odd that there was no lock for it.
The lid has a small opening in the center of it for adding ingredients while blending. Many blenders have this feature, but I was surprised to find that this one is vented. It does have a cover that snaps into place, but there are small slots along the sides that allow airflow into the jar. I didn’t have any issues with the jar contents being flung around while blending.
Even though the founder of Blendtec likes to push his machines to their limits, I decided to take a much more conservative approach to my testing process. I made a simple ice cream-based smoothie with fruit instead of trying to blend an Apple product. Using the measurement marks along the side of the jar, I added 4 ounces of milk, three scoops of vanilla ice cream (maybe about a cup and a half), 4 strawberries, and a whole banana. As far as prep goes, I did pull the stems from the strawberries and cut them into chunks. I realized after I had cut them up that it wasn’t really necessary given the power of the Blendtec. After adding the milk, ice cream, ice, and strawberries, I broke the banana in half, after peeling it of course, and dropped it into the jar.
The Blendtec has a very simple display with icons to show you what you are blending. Each one of these buttons is associated with a set of time and speed that is already programmed into the blender. You can still operate it manually, but Blendtec makes blending very simple with these pre-programmed button options. Once I set the jar on the motor base, I selected the option for Smoothie and hit start. It immediately started blending and I noticed that because the Blendtec is so powerful, that the jar did start moving around on the base a bit. So, I put my hand on the top to steady it. The ingredients were blended for 60 seconds and then I poured it into glasses. The fruit was completely mixed into the ice cream mixture and only the flavors were added.
I am very impressed by the Blendtec blender. Not too long before it entered our household, I was able to test out a Ninja blender as well. The biggest difference in the two machines is that the Blendtec relies heavily on its power to mix the ingredients because its blade is not sharpened. The Ninja, on the other hand, does have a very sharp blade. Both powerhouse blenders have a place - for me, I choose the Blendtec.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Re-create the movie theater experience with this BenQ projector. It provides 2200 lumens to deliver a 15,000:1 contrast ratio even in bright rooms, and it produces 1920 x 1080 HD resolution to capture every detail of a scene. This BenQ projector has dual HDMI ports, so you can connect HD devices.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Provides superior quality and convenient use
on November 27, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
Technology company BenQ is well-known for their high-quality monitors and they have recently risen to popularity among gamers and technology-enthusiasts. I had the opportunity to test a 27-inch QHD monitor out from BenQ earlier this year and it didn’t disappoint. When I came across this projector from BenQ, I decided to give it a try.
This model of projector is an upgrade for the most popular BenQ projector — the HT1070. This newer model has a contrast ratio of 15,000:1 and a resolution of 1080p. There are three picture modes — sports, movies, and normal TV. Now, I didn’t have previous experience with the older model, but from what I’ve seen, BenQ didn’t waste time with a successful formula and they just made minor improvements. It’s designed to be consumer-grade and is more budget-friendly than other high-quality projectors (retailing for $649).
BenQ provides software with the project on disc and it’s also available to download from their website. It’s for Windows machines only, but Mac users need not despair. The unit is essentially plug-n-play. You can connect to it as you would any output monitor and use your computer normally.
The BenQ 1070A ships with a standard power cable, a VGA cable, remote control (with batteries), and a quick start guide. It’s very lightweight (just under 6 pounds) and it’s very easy to get started with. When I took it out of the box, I got it set up in our home office because we have our walls painted white. Unfortunately, we did have some furniture in the way when I tested this device out, but the quality of the picture on the wall was not affected. When I first started it up, the lens was a bit out of alignment, but a quick dial on the focus knob straightened that out.
To connect my 2016 MacBook Pro, which only has USB-C ports, I utilized a Multi-port hub and then connected an HDMI cable to both the projector and the hub. The projector has an automatic detection feature and it sensed my computer’s information through the HDMI port and fed it to the projection on the wall.
I watched a couple of YouTube videos and some video clips from Finding Dory on Netflix to test out the quality of the projection. I was shocked at how good the stream was. It was honestly better than our TV looks sometimes. I was able to read text that was projected on the wall and the colors from Finding Dory were as vibrant as they should be.
I did not attempt to set up audio through the projector and instead opted to play audio using my computer’s speakers. Once I decide on a more permanent installation of the projector, I will likely run some audio cables to a set of speakers.
Overall, this is an awesome projector. I’ve used quite a few styles of projector in the past few years and I’ve found that this one from BenQ is way beyond any others I’ve used. The only feature I wish it has was a wireless connection. I also found that at least one word was misspelled in the user interface. When you turn off the projector, a dialog box pops up and states “turnning off - please wait”. This issue could easily be dealt with through a firmware update of the device.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Clean every corner of your home with this Hoover Fusion Pet cordless vacuum. The One Pwr lithium battery delivers fade-free power for larger jobs, and fast charging speeds eliminate wait times between cleaning sessions. This Hoover Fusion Pet cordless vacuum includes several attachments for cleaning upholstery, crevices and other hard-to-reach areas.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A powerful vacuum in a tiny package
on November 10, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
When I got my first apartment, I had a large vacuum. It was powerful and it worked really well for a number of years. When it finally gave out, I was surprised to find that vacuums were taking a new design trend and becoming smaller and smaller. Fortunately, even though vacuums have gotten smaller, they have retained their power and still do an amazing job cleaning. The Hoover Fusion Pet Cordless vacuum is no exception.
This vacuum offers cordless versatility. I absolutely LOVE cordless vacuums because I hate the hassle that comes along with having to move around a cord and plugging it in room-to-room as I go. So, having a battery-operated unit is ideal for me. I’ve tried out a couple different cordless vacuums and while they pickup dirt and dust on non-carpeted floors, they just lack the power needed to really clean a carpet. This Hoover unit does not. It’s specifically designed to work on multiple surfaces and does an amazing job on carpets. When I tested it out, I vacuumed our home office, which has thick carpet in it. The vacuum performed beautifully and picked up everything in its path.
I actually showed this to my grandmother and she was super impressed by it. She said, “Oh, Wow!” When I vacuumed a section of the floor for her. She said, “Wow, that does just as good of a job as the big ones do!” And she’s right. I don’t have any method to test whether or not the amount of dirt and debris left on the carpet is the same as the larger vacuums, but the Fusion seems to do a pretty good job of cleaning.
The only complaint I have of this is vacuum is that it has a lot of little parts to it. I do wish that somehow these little parts — attachments and such — could be contained better. There is nothing worse than having a box of parts laying around. The vacuum does come with a wall mount so that you can secure it to a wall. This is kind of a nice touch. All in all, the Hoover Fusion Pet Cordless vacuum is a winner in my book. It does the job of bigger vacuums but takes up a fraction of the space.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Completely customize your Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat to match your lifestyle and decor. The ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat lets you choose the temperature, schedule, display color and the devices you use to control it all.
 
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5 out of 5
5
An easy to install smart device
on November 9, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
Several years ago, I lived in a one bedroom apartment. While there wasn’t a lot of square footage, there was more than one room to heat/cool and sometimes my bills would be astronomical. I ended up eventually getting a programmable thermostat that would start and stop according to my present schedule. This really helped my utility bills because I wasn’t heating/cooling the apartment when no one was there. Now that I have an entire house, I want something that is a little more substantial as far as thermostats go. I still want something that can be programmed, but I want it to work with my home automation, too. I’ve tried a few that are on the market (ecobee, nest) but for quite some time, I’ve wanted to see what Honeywell’s WiFi Thermostat could do for me.
Honeywell’s WiFi Smart Color Thermostat features voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It will work with Smart Things and IFTTT. It is not compatible with Apple HomeKit but can be controlled through the Honeywell app, which is compatible with iOS.
Honeywell brags that this unit has a ‘simple set-up’. While this is true if you have a newer thermostat, some people with older units may have issues. This device requires a ‘C’ wire as its power source. It does come with the ‘C’ wire accessory, but if you don’t already have it, this could provide some hassle. Installing the thermostat is fairly simple. You remove the old thermostat and label the wires. Once they are labeled you mount the wall plate for the Honeywell unit. Hardware is provided for drywall and plaster walls. When the wall plate is secured, you then connect the wires. The terminal releases are a little tough to press, but they make connecting the wires so much easier than wrapping them around screws. Once the wires are secured and connected, you will then snap the thermostat into the wall plate.
The thermostat will go through a set-up process and once it asks you to join a WiFi network, you enter your network name and password. At this point, you will need to register the thermostat in order to get remote access. After all of these initial steps are completed, you can then finish the set-up on the mobile app.
I really like how simple the set-up process was. I had a smooth installation and I really enjoy using the Honeywell thermostat. It’s been pretty responsive and even though there is a slight delay between when I enter a command on the app and when the unit acts, it’s not enough to really bother me. I really like how readable the screen is especially compared to some other digital thermostats. The Honeywell seems to do a decent job of learning my routine and I’ve not had any major issues with it. I do wish it was HomeKit compatible but will settle for it working with Alexa.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy up to 14 hours of battery life with this Sony portable speaker. Its multiple LED lights create a festive atmosphere, and the EXTRA BASS feature offers deep, resounding lows for best enjoyment of your favorite songs. This Sony portable speaker streams digital media through a compatible device thanks to its Bluetooth capability.
 
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4 out of 5
4
A very capable, lightweight speaker
on October 30, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
A couple of times a year, we have a family get together at our house. These gatherings usually involve several people and we spread out around the house. When we do, it makes it harder for people to enjoy music that we have streaming from our house Bluetooth speaker. We have several smaller speakers that work great for smaller areas, but we really wanted a larger speaker to keep more people happy, more of the time. The High Power Home Audio System with BLUETOOTH by Sony ended up being the perfect answer.
The speaker sits about two and half feet tall and provide easy options for connectivity. Sony’s speaker can be connected to through Bluetooth or even NFC (if your phone is compatible). It arrives in a Sony branded box and doesn’t require any assembly. You simply life the speaker out of its box and packaging and plug it in. One of the really cool features of this speaker is that it can be 100% wireless. The speaker has an internal battery that provides up to 14 hours of run time. Out of the box, it did have a charge to it so I was able to turn it on and immediately start listening to music through the powerful speaker.
In addition to wireless connections, the High Power Home Audio System also supports analog audio through RCA. There is one USB port available and a microphone input. Even though I didn’t attempt to use this as a PA system, I could see that being a wise use of the speaker since it does project sound well and it’s very lightweight.
The big claim to fame for this speaker is the fact that it can be chained together with other High Power Audio System speakers. I only had a single unit so I wasn’t able to test this out, but knowing that for $500 I could have a decent pair of paired speakers — especially for our home gatherings - is really a strong benefit to me.
I really love the sound this speaker produced. It was a clear and the bass boost really does a nice job of amplifying the depth of the sound. My fiancé said that some of the highs were a little muddy, but it wasn’t enough to regard this speaker as a ‘bad’ audio system. The lighting effect is a neat addition, but it’s not the reason I would recommend the speaker. It’s sort of the icing on the cake though.
I did attempt to use the High Power Home Audio System as a speaker phone, but that wasn’t very successful. The speaker doesn’t have a built-in microphone so the person I was calling was getting my voice through the microphone on my phone and even though I could hear them just fine through the speaker, they had difficulty hearing me.
All in all, this is a really nice option for a ‘party’ speaker. I also would recommend it as an inexpensive field monitor or portable option for DJ’s to use for events.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
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Pair your morning jog with these Jaybird RUN wireless earbuds, and enjoy your music each step of the way. Bluetooth compatibility with multiple devices lets you share your playlist without the tangle of wires. These Jaybird RUN wireless earbuds are sweatproof and dirtproof to handle the worst of your workout.
 
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4 out of 5
4
A solid, quality set of headphones
on October 27, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
I’ve had a real love-hate relationship with earbuds for many years now. They never seem to fit my ears right and even when they do, I don’t feel like I get the same sound experience that I do with a set of on-ear or over-the-ear headphones. Sound always seems to be hollow and without any bass boost. When wireless earbuds started coming to market, I sadly found something I disliked more than standard earbuds. Not only did they not fit or produce a solid sound, they also didn’t connect properly. One earbud would drop out sometimes and they just weren’t consistent. The Run true wireless sport headphones from Jaybird are a different breed all on their own.
UNBOXING
The headphones arrive in a well-designed kit. The box has Jaybird branding on it and a decent description of the product. Right away, you know that there is a mobile app experience designed for the headphones from the presence of the App Store and Google Play Store logos. In the box you will find several sets of ear gels and ear wings for earbud fit adjustments, a charging case for the headphones, a charging cable and case, a storage pouch, and the earbuds themselves.
Setting up the headphones isn’t difficult. When you turn them on for the first time, they are automatically put into pairing mode. I paired them to my iPhone and they appeared in my Bluetooth menu automatically. The instruction booklet suggests that you try out all the ear gels and wings until you find the best fit for your size ears. I was fortunate because the stock gels and wings that came pre-installed on the earbuds provided a solid fit for me.
USER EXPERIENCE
The mobile app for the Run headphones provides some basic information about the headphones and gives users the ability to use preset sound profiles to get a richer sound. You can design your own sound profiles if you want and save them for future use. I rather like this customized sound option. There are some mobile apps that only allow you to listen to predesignated music options to get the added features, but no matter what you are using with the Jaybirds Runs, you can utilize the sound profiles on top of that.
For the first time in a long time, I found a set of sport earbuds that are wireless that actually provide a good fit for my ears. I don’t feel like they are going to fall out of my ears and because they are solid in my ears, I get a better sound. One issue I’ve had in the past with earbuds that are a ‘tight’ fit is that they become uncomfortable. The Run headphones have remained comfortable and I’ve used them for a couple of hours at a time.
The only aspect of these headphones I don’t like is the control system. You can, of course, use your mobile phone to control the volume and playback of music, but the in-line controls really come in handy in most cases. The Run headphones have buttons built into both earpieces. They are a hefty click-style button that requires you to press quite hard in order to engage the control. I found this nearly impossible when I had the earbuds in my ears. I had to take the earbuds out in order to click the button.
Listening to music was a very nice experience and I can’t say that much for earbuds. I could hear everything in great detail and thought that the sound quality was superb. I had a little issue with watching streaming videos, but I think that had more to do with the Internet connection than the earbuds themselves.
Even though I’m not typically an earbud user, I really appreciate the Jaybird Run headphones because they give you freedom when being active where a lot of headphones do not.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
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With a Serial ATA interface, this WD Blue WD10EZEXSP internal hard drive easily connects to your PC or Mac. The 1TB capacity offers ample space to house important files, such as pictures, videos and music.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Perfect for a quick NAS fix
on October 20, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
Verified Purchase:Yes
In my ideal world, I would walk into the store and pick up a 4TB WD RED hard drive for my Drobo. This is not ideal and I had a bad drive so placing an order online wasn't going to happen. I needed a drive and I needed it fast. The 1TB WD was the best drive Best Buy had in store so I went for it. I'm happy that my Drobo excepted the drive and it's been working flawlessly for a few weeks now. I'm happy with the speed I've been getting from my Drobo using these drives. I really don't have anything bad to say other than I wish I would have had the opportunity to pick up a bigger drive the same day.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
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Make the most of your morning routine with this Philips Norelco wet/dry shaver. Providing a powerful shave in the shower or out, this electric shaver delivers a full hour's shaving on one 60-minute charge. The MultiPrecision Blade system on this Philips Norelco wet/dry shaver cuts long and short hairs with fewer passes.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A NICE SHAVER FOR TRAVELING
on October 20, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
For many years, I’ve struggled with finding the ideal portable electric shaver for my needs. I typically have to shave at least once a day (if not more) and having something available at a moment’s notice is key for me. The Philips Norelco 5550 series shaver is a really nice option for someone like me.
The 5550 can be used as a wet or dry shaver. I prefer to use something when shaving so that my skin doesn’t get irritated, but I’ve used it dry, too and found that it’s pretty gentle. The shaver is packaged with a precision trimmer for sideburns and mustaches. I’ve seen it referred to as a ‘beard’ trimmer, but I don’t think it would work very well with super thick hair. The teeth just aren’t long enough.
The shaver has a very efficient battery. It’s rechargeable, which I love, and comes with a charging cable (but no stand. That can be ordered separately). For an hour’s worth of charging, you will have about an hour’s worth of shaving with the 5550 shaver. If you are in a hurry, you can let the shaver charge for about 5 minutes and will likely get through a single shave.
The 5550 also ships with a cover for the shaver head, but no carrying pouch. I would personally love to see this shaver come with a hard shell case for traveling, but I’d be happy with a soft sided case rather than have nothing to store it in. One of the reasons I like to have a case is so that I can keep all the accessories for a shaver in one place.
Like I said above, I tried this shaver out in both wet and dry circumstances. I was very happy with both results. I felt as though the shaver did a good job trimmer. I really like to use it in between grooming with a standard bladed razor. I found that the shaver was easy to clean and store and it travels well.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
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Save precious kitchen prep time with this Philips Viva multi-chopper. Its two functions provide coarse and fine chopping, and its automatic speed selection adjusts its performance to the type of ingredient. This 500W Philips Viva multi-chopper lets you achieve chef-quality results for coarsely chopped ingredients thanks to its ChopDrop technology.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A great time-saver for the kitchen
on October 18, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
My grandmother likes to cook. She watches afternoon cooking shows and then tries to replicate what those celebrity chefs have made. It brings her enjoyment and that makes me smile. That being said, she doesn’t grip kitchen tools as well as she used to and so she tries to avoid some recipes that require fine chopping of ingredients. This Multichopper from Philips seemed like a great gift for her. The Multichopper is provides perfectly diced onions (and other vegetables) in mere seconds. A job that once took my grandmother 30 minutes or more to intricately chop up vegetables can now only take a fraction of the time.
The device arrived in a nicely branded package from Philips. It was well padded inside it the box and the chopper came in just a couple of main pieces. I really like simple assembly options for equipment like this so I was pleased that there weren’t a lot of smaller parts.
The chopper comes with two different blade options — the ChopDrop blade and the regular chopper blade. Both blades fit into the motor unit loosely. I thought they might snap into place, but they don’t. They simply rest there. I was actually quite impressed with how well all the pieces fit together.
Either of the blades rest on a post that is located in the chopper bowl. The big difference between the two is that one is designed to chop inside the MultiChopper basket and the other is designed to chop outside the basket. In fact, when you use the regular chopping blade, you can’t even use the basket. The instruction manual states that the MultiChopper is intended to chop onions, garlic, cheese, raw and cooked vegetables, cooked eggs and fruits. The regular chopper is intended for use with nuts, raw meat, onions, hard cheese, boiled eggs, garlic, herbs, and dry bread. It’s a bit more of an all around blade. The device comes with a recipe book, which is a great help getting started.
Because the MultiChopper comes apart so easily, it’s pretty easy to clean. The only part you really have to be cautious about is the blades because when you are cleaning them, they are 100% exposed and you could easily cut yourself because they are so sharp.
When it came time to testing out the MultiChopper, I brought my grandma into the kitchen so she could see it work. We chopped up mini sweet peppers - one red and one orange - first using the MultiChopper blade and basket. I cut the tops off of the peppers and scooped out the seeds. Then I dropped each pepper into the basket whole. Once the motor was situated on the bowl and I pressed down, the peppers were chopped up within seconds. Next, we chopped up a quarter of a green pepper with the regular chopping blade. Again, the pepper was diced within just a few seconds and some of her meal prep was done within seconds.
The peppers we chopped up were a very fine dice. While this will work for most of our uses, I do wish there was a setting for size of cut so that you could end up with larger chunks if you want them. The Philips MultiChopper is a fabulous addition to our kitchen. It will save time and frustration so that we enjoy our meals more.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make smoothies, sauces or purees with this 1500W Ninja blender. It has 10 preset programs to ensure ingredients are properly blended, and 10 manual mode speeds give you complete control when blending tough ingredients. This Ninja blender holds up to 72 ounces.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A truly remarkable kitchen appliance
on October 17, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
When I was growing up, my parents always tried to make me the perfect milkshake at home. Unfortunately, it always turned out thicker or thinner than the ‘store bought’ shakes. Even though mom and dad made the shakes with ‘real’ ice cream and milk and didn’t serve me processed milkshake mix, I still had it in my head that the shakes from McDonald’s or Arby’s were better. Now that I’m an adult, I’ve still tried to discover the perfect ‘at home’ milkshake. And, what I’ve been realizing over the years is that it’s not necessarily the ingredients that make the shake — it’s the blender. The Ninja Chef high-speed blender is the the answer and the perfect addition to my kitchen.
The Ninja Chef blender is part of the SharkNinja family of products. When I got the blender, I didn’t realize that it was a sister product to my Shark Ion Flex cleaning machine, which I love. Even though I had heard great things about the Ninja brand, knowing that I already had experience with the product family instilled even more confidence in me that the blender would not only work well, but that it would also last for a very long time.
Set up of the blender is easy. It comes in separate, but already assembled parts. When you open the box, you will find the pitcher, pitcher lid with lid cap, tamper and the base. The Ninja Chef comes packaged with a recipe guide, full instruction manual, and a quick assembly card.. Even though the quick assembly card shows you everything you need to know to get started, it’s still suggested that you read the full manual before getting started. The Ninja Chef has a ‘cleaning’ mode as one of its settings. I think this is brilliant because it gives you a good option to clean the blades without cutting yourself. It is suggested that you clean all the parts in warm, soapy water before your first use. All the attachments are dishwasher safe and you can clean the base with a clean, damp cloth.
Assembly is easy. You place the pitcher on the base and lock it in place. Then you add your ingredients into the pitcher. If you have a lot or need to add them gradually, you can remove the lid cap from the lid and lock it into place when you are ready. Once your culinary creation is ready and all your blender parts are locked into place, you can select one of the Auto-IQ programs. This is probably my favorite part of the Ninja Chef. You can always run the Ninja manually, but it has a ‘brain’ telling it the optimal timing for the most-used recipes. For example, the Smoothie setting runs for 50 seconds. It started out with several bursts of power and then runs continuously for a few seconds before finishing with another pulse.
The first thing I made with the Ninja Blender was a protein milkshake. I added 8 ounces of milk (measured using the marks on the side of the pitcher), 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder, two scoops of ice cream, and about a cup of ice chips. Then, I set the blender to the Smoothie program. I was able to clean up the ingredients in the time that the blender was running and I didn’t have to worry about it spilling or making a mess of the kitchen because all the parts were locked. The smoothie shake turned out perfectly. With the help of the Ninja Chef, the long-lost homemade milkshake suddenly became attainable.
Even though I’ve primarily used a blender for smoothies and other drinks, the Ninja Chef opens up a world of possibilities because I can make things like dips and even cake mixes in this blender. I love the power of the Ninja Chef and can’t wait to see what I can make next.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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