# starting smoothies, need a blender or what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-smoothies-need-a-blender-or-what/667080 "2013-08-24T19:56:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-smoothies-need-a-blender-or-what/667080/1 "2013-08-24T19:56:06Z")
I did read a few threads here about juicing, smoothie recipes, and magic bullet “not the sex toy” - I plan to start drinking smoothies as a way to get in more vegetables. I love fruit and I tried a co-workers smoothie that was really dark green and full of healthy vegetables but it tastes like blueberry and banana. what equipment should I buy, a blender? and what kind? I want something more sturdy/bigger/more flexible than a bullet but not as pricey as a Vitamix\* and noise is not a problem. not sure exactly what-all I will want to use it for but assume carrots, at least, or other tough veggies. is a food processor more like for chopping needs? thanks, smooches! 😛 \*unless it’s really the best option, in case I will start looking for one on ebay and CL and so on… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-smoothies-need-a-blender-or-what/667080/2 "2013-08-24T20:08:35Z")
A plain ol’ blender should be plenty. There are lots of pricey smoothie machines out there with all sorts of spouts and stirrers and other bells and whistles attached. Ignore them. All you need is a powerful motor driving some blades. Have at it. ---
**Author:** ![LouLou7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LouLou7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouLou7)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-smoothies-need-a-blender-or-what/667080/3 "2013-08-24T20:37:13Z")
Start with a regular blender and see if you actually use it and like smoothies. Once you’re in the habit of drinking them, you’ll burn out the motor on your blender, and then you’ll know it’s time to upgrade to something better. Ideally, you will buy the upgraded blender about a week before the motor goes out on your current blender, but you may not know exactly when that will be. Usually blenders just die a quick death when you least expect them to. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-smoothies-need-a-blender-or-what/667080/4 "2013-08-24T21:47:13Z")
OK - according to their website the Mart of Wal has one for $17. cheap crap for now, then when I actually turn into a “foodie”\* I go for the expensive one. \*or Chef or whatever eating all those vegetables turns me into 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-smoothies-need-a-blender-or-what/667080/5 "2013-08-24T22:45:35Z")
I don’t think your $17 blender will be able to handle raw carrots. You’d probably need something in the $50+ range unless you’re only going to use softer fruits and vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-smoothies-need-a-blender-or-what/667080/6 "2013-08-24T22:49:06Z")
I have an old Oster blender that’s lasted me for 20 years, but it doesn’t do magic. If you’re putting in hard things like carrots, I would first chop them up, at least, in little pieces, put them in first with liquid, whizz and stir and whizz, and then add other things. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-smoothies-need-a-blender-or-what/667080/7 "2013-08-25T00:28:29Z")
OK, I went with a $30 one and will go easy with carrots. as long as it does spinach leaves I’m good, carrots will be optional. thanks, all! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-smoothies-need-a-blender-or-what/667080/8 "2013-08-25T02:20:18Z")
I do mostly fruit - nanners, strawberries, some blues, blacks, or rasps, and maybe pineapple - and some yogurt is my standard. Started tossing in some spinach to get more greens. Can’t even taste it - and I toss in a BUNCH! I cook up most of my veggies in a stew-type concoction and eat over pasta.