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It looks like Cooks Illustrated's review was for the Vitamix 5200. I guess that's the 500 series one Target advertises. Something seems fishy about Target's offerings though--that 200 series has what looks like a super small cup, like it could barely make a milkshake. I'd be a little leary that they aren't some one-off model Vitamix is building down to a lower price point. If I were going to drop coin on a Vitamix I would do it at Costco so it could be returned with no questions and to get a few more accessories: http://www.costco.com/.product.1160...geHorizontalTop|CategoryTopProducts
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Apr 23, 2014 18:10
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I'm almost certain Costco has $370 Vitamixes too, no?
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Apr 23, 2014 18:25
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Steve Yun posted:I'm almost certain Costco has $370 Vitamixes too, no? Yeah pretty much always 379.
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Apr 23, 2014 18:30
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I know people have posted a few times, but I would definitely get a refurbished Vitamix. I got mine for $280 about 1.5 years ago from some Woot deal, but I think you can get them fairly regularly in the low 300s. If you don't want to spend that much, I would highly recommend the Ninja NJ600. Easily the best non-Vitamix blender I've ever used and, with the 20% BB&B coupon, only $80. My wife made breakfast smoothies every day for 2 years before this thing got shelved for the Vitamix. Never needing to stir/etc... to clear air bubbles (because of the 3 blade system) is fantastic.
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Apr 23, 2014 18:37
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I have a $150 Ninja blender from target and it makes incredible smoothies. I would only get a Vitamix if I were a giant smoothie gooball, but for $150 I'm really happy.
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Apr 23, 2014 19:06
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FishBulb posted:Yeah pretty much always 379. When they have them. The ones here have Blendtecs year-round, and the Vitamixes only show up every couple of months or so on a special event.
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Apr 23, 2014 19:10
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Flash Gordon Ramsay posted:Ok well tell me which Vitamix I should get then. I noticed Target is selling them now, do any of these fit the bill? My ex had one with the variable speed control which is really nice. Too much speed makes a big air bubble and nothing mixes.
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Apr 23, 2014 19:21
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Reconditioned straight from Vitamix for $330. Still comes with a 5-year warranty. I know some people are apprehensive about buying refurbished stuff, but do it whenever I can. I've bought everything from blenders to laptops and pretty much everything I've gotten has been in perfect/like-new condition. I'm sure this blender will be basically new as it is coming straight from the manufacturer.
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Apr 23, 2014 19:57
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Gyshall posted:I have a $150 Ninja blender from target and it makes incredible smoothies. I would only get a Vitamix if I were a giant smoothie gooball, but for $150 I'm really happy. We have one of those and it definitely does really well if you're doing ice/frozen things. I'm satisfied. Most of the time I'm making a smoothie I'm not throwing anything frozen into it other than maybe some frozen berries, so I just use our magic bullet-type blender and make myself a single serving.
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Apr 23, 2014 20:21
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Mr Executive posted:Reconditioned straight from Vitamix for $330. Still comes with a 5-year warranty. I know some people are apprehensive about buying refurbished stuff, but do it whenever I can. I've bought everything from blenders to laptops and pretty much everything I've gotten has been in perfect/like-new condition. I'm sure this blender will be basically new as it is coming straight from the manufacturer. Refurb/Reconditioned is often a great deal, mostly because most companies tend to do more thorough tests on refurb units than "off the line" units.
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Apr 23, 2014 20:43
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Ok, ordered the Costco bundle. Thanks for the help guys.
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Apr 24, 2014 00:12
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dino. posted:If you don't need the stainless steel for the induction cooktop, the aluminium is fine: This came in the mail this week and so far it rules. Besides the handle getting too hot to touch without a towel, I'd recommend this nonstick to pretty much anyone. Thanks dino!
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Apr 25, 2014 21:15
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Ended up getting the costco foodsaver, I've been able to use it blacked out so the potential problems feeding isn't an issue  I now am looking to pick up a wok and I'm stuck between a Le Creuset with the lid or a maybe a lodge wok. Not sure how the abilities to use acids without fear will outweigh potentially burning off the enamel and being unable to use metal utensils. Or is there a better option 3? /e- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AQSWMU/?tag=serieats-20 was the recommended from serious eats. Submarine Sandpaper fucked around with this message at 16:24 on Apr 28, 2014 |
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Apr 28, 2014 16:13
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Mr. Wookums posted:/e- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AQSWMU/?tag=serieats-20 was the recommended from serious eats. That's a perfectly fine wok. I have it and so does my mom.
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Apr 28, 2014 17:32
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I used a mandolin for the first time last night to slice up some potatoes quickly. Even using the drat annoying guard I still found a way to nic my thumb. 
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Apr 28, 2014 18:24
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Doh004 posted:I used a mandolin for the first time last night to slice up some potatoes quickly. Even using the drat annoying guard I still found a way to nic my thumb. that's our Doh004
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Apr 28, 2014 18:29
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Mr. Wookums posted:Ended up getting the costco foodsaver, I've been able to use it blacked out so the potential problems feeding isn't an issue What kind of burners are you cooking on? If they're standard western gas burners you'll probably want a flat bottomed carbon steel wok. If you get a round bottomed wok you'll need to get some kind of wok ring to hold it up. If you're on electric burners you absolutely have to use a flat bottom and you may want to go cast iron just so your heat won't die down so dramatically every time you put something in. The quick responsiveness won't be there with cast iron but you can learn to adjust to it. Or get an outdoor propane burner so you can stir-fry like a boss.
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Apr 28, 2014 18:35
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Thoht posted:What kind of burners are you cooking on? If they're standard western gas burners you'll probably want a flat bottomed carbon steel wok. If you get a round bottomed wok you'll need to get some kind of wok ring to hold it up. If you're on electric burners you absolutely have to use a flat bottom and you may want to go cast iron just so your heat won't die down so dramatically every time you put something in. The quick responsiveness won't be there with cast iron but you can learn to adjust to it. Or get an outdoor propane burner so you can stir-fry like a boss.
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Apr 28, 2014 18:40
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Doh004 posted:I used a mandolin for the first time last night to slice up some potatoes quickly. Even using the drat annoying guard I still found a way to nic my thumb. No Wave fucked around with this message at 20:48 on Apr 28, 2014 |
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Apr 28, 2014 20:46
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Doh004 posted:I used a mandolin for the first time last night to slice up some potatoes quickly. Even using the drat annoying guard I still found a way to nic my thumb. KEVLAR. GLOVES. Or these Or in your case I recommend going full chain mail.
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Apr 28, 2014 21:32
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I have never used a guard, and have never cut myself on the mandoline. Keep it sharp and pay attention and you'll be fine.
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Apr 28, 2014 22:22
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That's dangerously bad advice.
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Apr 28, 2014 22:53
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Back to oven-chat, I used to have one with a small griddle in place of a middle burner. It was amazing for browning buns, making a quick grilled cheese, reheating pizza, and a ton of other stuff. I wouldn't use to to make like a ton of tortillas or whatever but for cooking for two I used it all the time.
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Apr 28, 2014 23:03
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I was playing it safe too, but the drat potato got stuck somehow. Those gloves are pretty sweet though. w/e, it made a good potatoes au gratin.
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Apr 28, 2014 23:04
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In case anyone was wondering, the Ninja brand blenders will not tolerate palm sugar chunks 
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Apr 28, 2014 23:14
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Vitamix arrived today. Gonna make all the smoothies.
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Apr 29, 2014 00:24
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Doh004 posted:I was playing it safe too, but the drat potato got stuck somehow. Those gloves are pretty sweet though. w/e, it made a good potatoes au gratin. the potato only gets stuck if you're scared of using a mandoline. it's like tossing food in a wok/saute pan. be confident, be decisive, work with strong motions, and it will turn out perfectly. hesitate even a second, and there's poo poo all over the floor and you've lopped your dumb thumbflap off. also use a teatowel to grip your food. it's cheap no nonsense insurance if you're really not comfortable just paying attention. whoever said its gws canon to recommend using the food guard, it's not. don't even joke about that. you're part of the problem.
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Apr 29, 2014 06:02
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mindphlux posted:the potato only gets stuck if you're scared of using a mandoline. it's like tossing food in a wok/saute pan. be confident, be decisive, work with strong motions, and it will turn out perfectly. hesitate even a second, and there's poo poo all over the floor and you've lopped your dumb thumbflap off.
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Apr 29, 2014 13:10
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What kind of mandolin are you talking about? With a Bron or a Shun, the guard works well.
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Apr 29, 2014 13:45
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Not sure of the brand, it was some plastic-y one my roomate got for christmas. I should buy a legit one but it'd just be another thing that'd take up space in my tiny NYC apartment.mindphlux posted:the potato only gets stuck if you're scared of using a mandoline. it's like tossing food in a wok/saute pan. be confident, be decisive, work with strong motions, and it will turn out perfectly. hesitate even a second, and there's poo poo all over the floor and you've lopped your dumb thumbflap off. Towel is a good idea, I will do it next time!
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Apr 29, 2014 15:35
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Quoting this from the general questions thread in hopes of getting an answer over here:Nicol Bolas posted:So I'm looking for a new . . . . whirling blade apparatus? Anyone got some advice?
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Apr 30, 2014 03:02
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I don't think you'll be very happy doing coffee or spices in a normal food processor (like a 7+ cup Cuisinart or Kitchen Aid). The blades are good at chopping, but not to the fine level that you want for coffee or spices. You'll also have a heck of a time getting the smell of coffee out of the bowl. Better to just buy a small dedicated spice mill: http://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-F20342-Electric-Grinder-Stainless/dp/B00004SPEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398825676&sr=8-1&keywords=spice+mill and a separate grinder for coffee. For bigger stuff like chopping a lot of vegetables, making pesto, etc. a food processor is great. You can't go wrong with a big Cuisinart or Kitchen Aid IMHO. A bullet or ninja is probably fine if you don't want to drop a ton of money though.
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Apr 30, 2014 03:42
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Nicol Bolas posted:Quoting this from the general questions thread in hopes of getting an answer over here: for what its worth, I have two black and decker $5 coffee grinders, one for coffee, one for spices - a $20 narita miniprep 1.5 cup processor I use multiple times a week for nuts/pesto/garlic/marinades/etc, an immersion blender, a normal blender (vitamix), and a larger normal food processor. I break the food processor out only maybe once every 3 months though, and almost always for turning shrimp or pork or something into paste/dice. I could live with out it - everything else I use far more frequently. that said, I chop all my vegetables by hand. if you actually do that by machine frequently, I guess a food processor might be worthwhile.
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Apr 30, 2014 04:30
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I honestly do most of my spices with a mortar and pestle. I'm rarely grinding more than the half cup it holds at a time, and it's fast and incredibly easy to clean. You can control the level of grind a lot more easily too. For a lot of time with peppercorns I just smash them a little with the pestle and they're good to go.
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Apr 30, 2014 08:04
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Tiny Brontosaurus posted:I honestly do most of my spices with a mortar and pestle. I'm rarely grinding more than the half cup it holds at a time, and it's fast and incredibly easy to clean. You can control the level of grind a lot more easily too. For a lot of time with peppercorns I just smash them a little with the pestle and they're good to go. its doable - and I do too when it's just like one thing, but really, you can get coffee grinders for $5. I can barely even find a decent cooling rack for that. and a spice grinder will take care of tougher things to grind, like cloves, cinnamon, anise, fenugreek, idk, everything really
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Apr 30, 2014 08:31
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Nicol Bolas posted:Quoting this from the general questions thread in hopes of getting an answer over here: Tomatoes -> sauce = blender Grinding spices = Krups spice grinder Coffee = Burr grinder (Bodum) Pesto/hummus = Food processor (or very strong blender) I'd try to figure out what's actually most important to you right now and take care of that.
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Apr 30, 2014 13:49
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Okay, so I'll probably grab a coffee grinder for now and save up a bit for a halfway decent of a food processor at some point, when I hopefully have more cash and more kitchen space. (Also, I'm not a total idiot, I use my immersion blender for anything halfway liquidy--I just tried my food processor once because the immersion blender blade was in the dishwasher and was shocked by how poorly it did.) Any reason not to just go with the cheapest model over here, or is there a going specific brand / model recommendation for a coffee / spice grinder?
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Apr 30, 2014 14:57
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Nicol Bolas posted:Okay, so I'll probably grab a coffee grinder for now and save up a bit for a halfway decent of a food processor at some point, when I hopefully have more cash and more kitchen space. (Also, I'm not a total idiot, I use my immersion blender for anything halfway liquidy--I just tried my food processor once because the immersion blender blade was in the dishwasher and was shocked by how poorly it did.) I have the Krups spice grinder and I like it (as do many other people). Haven't used any others so I can't say if you're getting more for your $9 extra. No Wave fucked around with this message at 16:27 on Apr 30, 2014 |
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Apr 30, 2014 16:22
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Nicol Bolas posted:Okay, so I'll probably grab a coffee grinder for now and save up a bit for a halfway decent of a food processor at some point, when I hopefully have more cash and more kitchen space. (Also, I'm not a total idiot, I use my immersion blender for anything halfway liquidy--I just tried my food processor once because the immersion blender blade was in the dishwasher and was shocked by how poorly it did.) get the cheapest loving thing imaginable. it's a coffee/spice grinder.
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Apr 30, 2014 16:47
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Don't get a lovely coffee grinder if you're going to be drinking coffee. It's easily one of the first upgrades you should make to better tasting coffee. If you're just going to use it to grind spices, that's fine.
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Apr 30, 2014 17:30
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