Customer Reviews

Back to Basics SALPHA500 Smoothie Signature Smoothie Maker

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

My boyfriend and I are smoothie fanatics, and I often make giant smoothies for both of us, so I needed a blender powerful enough to take care of lots of frozen fruit at once. Man, does this thing do the trick! The pitcher is really wide, so ingredients at the top are more easily sucked down to the blades, and it almost never develops that annoying air pocket that prevents anything from happening at the bottom. My old blender would do that so often, it would take me forever just to make a smoothie for myself, and no way could it handle two at the same time. This one has a stir stick to keep things going, and since it's exactly the right length, I don't have to worry about it hitting the blades while the blender's on - when I have to use it at all. I can fill the pitcher literally to the brim and it has no trouble mixing really thick smoothies (frozen mangoes, strawberries, pineapple, melon, bananas, etc.) really well. I thought the pour spout would be a hassle, but it's very sturdy, never leaks and keeps things really clean - plus, you can take it off and replace it with a cap (included) if you want. The base is featureless except for the dial on the side, so it's super easy to clean too - when I have to, which is almost never. I just can't say enough about this blender. It's awesome!

We have had our SALPHA500 for a little over a week. I have made at least 2 blenders full of smoothies using juice, frozen fruits and ice each day. Sometimes 3 blenders full.

*EASY TO CLEAN
*EASY TO DISASSEMBLE WHEN NEEDED
*HEAVY & WIDE GLASS JAR
*WIDE JAR FUNNELS THE THICK STUFF EASILY TO THE BLADES
*AN EASY LIFT OUT REMOVES JAR UNIT FROM BASE
*STIR STICK ASSURES COMPLETE BLEND AND TOTAL DISPENSING
*PLENTY OF POWER TO BREAK THE HARDEST OF FROZEN INGREDIENTS
*"O"-RING SEALS
*DISPENSING VALVE CAN EASILY BE DISASSEMBLED AND CLEANED
*PERFECT CONSISTENCY (WITH ABOVE INGREDIENTS) IN 1 MINUTE

If you are anything other than 100% satisfied with this product, then you got a lemon and should return it.

I don't know how long it will last, but I will update this review after an appropriate time.

Don

LOVE this smoothie maker...I've owned it about two weeks, and use it almost daily. It works wonderfully. It is easy to clean. I like the fact that the container is glass. It crushes ice with no problem (I sometimes use 8 ice cubes, along with chopped frozen bananas in one recipe) It handles that with no problem. You will find yourself getting very creative with recipes and wanting to try all sorts of smoothies when you get this. Just remember that the spout needs to be closed when you start putting the ingredients in (learned this one the hard way..:) It even comes with a support to set your glass on while you fill it from the spout. I don't usually use the stir stick attachment. You have the option of using the regular lid. It even comes with a cap so you can remove the spout and use it as a blender only. As with any smoothie maker, that last little bit in the bottom has to be poured out, but that's with any of them. I haven't had one problem with this one. Amazon shipped it promptly and I set it up and started using it right away. I've discovered that making fruit smoothies not only has curbed my sugar/chocolate cravings, but I now know what ingredients are in what I'm drinking. I add vanilla protein powder to my morning smoothie, making a full pitcher, pour up the rest of the pitcher in smaller Rubbermaid cup size containers, and freeze for healthy snacks. You can even make treats for the kids this way. Couldn't be happier with it.

We wore out a basic Back to Basics smoothie maker after two years of making smoothies once or twice a week. We were happy to find another Back to Basics at a reasonable price and higher power and larger container. This one is easier to clean with the parts coming apart better. We are very happy with our purchase.

we have had 5 different smoothie makers by BACK TO BASICS, and within 2 months of only using them on an average of 2 x a week, they either, crack at the blade, or base. yesterday I bought this one and it laste 30 seconds and quit! We are not hard on our appliances at all! This was a JOKE, and to top it off, there is NO replacement parts for any of them. If it has any defect, it is trashed. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

I really enjoy using the SALPHA500 Smoothie maker...but I find it a little more difficult to clean than I would prefer. On the other hand, it does a marvelous job of blending, ice and all, for some fabulous smoothies. I did take off the tap and put the seal on. I use it as I would a blender, pouring from the lip, but it far exceeds an ordinary blender in power and its ability to pulverize just about anything edible into tasty, drinkable smoothies

Blender did what it was supposed to do, that is, blend fruit into shakes, for about 6 months of use. I was happy.

Blender comes with 2 caps for the base - a small screw on tap and a spout. The spout is difficult to clean and adds little benefit so I used the screw on cap. After about 6 months the cap cracked from normal wear and tear and smoothie maker began leak into the base and on the counter top. I reverted to using the spout cap and this cracked after 3--that's right 3--uses. I resorted back to using the small cap wrapped in a towel for about 2 months. Then yesterday during blending the base started to smoke as the bottom part of the blade ground into the smoothie base it is attached to. Plastic splintered everywhere and now I have no smoothie.

If a good blender for you is 6 months worth of use, buy this blender. Otherwise I suggest reading reviews of this blender and other blenders from this manufacturer - you will see a common theme. I wish I had...

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.

I really liked the way the smoothie maker performed, it was awesome at crushing ice! However, like several other people, the spout cracked after 3 months. I ordered a new part, but the new spout broke during the first use. I am now looking for a new brand.

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.