Do I NEED a Bamix?

[sheetz]

I've never been a big fan of kitchen gadgets, but I've recently enjoyed using my cheapo immersion blender, mainly for smoothies. The problem is that I like to use frozen berries in my smoothies, which unfortunately killed my cheapo blender in under a month. So right now I'm looking for a new one and from what I've read it sounds like the Bamix is the best, but it's also by far the most expensive. Do I really need to go for something like that or will a less expensive brand/model suffice? I don't really make blended soups, sauces, or anything else like that, so I'm primarily getting it for the smoothies. Although if I did buy the Bamix deluxe model I could possibly use the small grinder attachment.

Recomnendations appreciated.

Edited August 19, 2006 by sheetz (log)

[mrsadm]

I own a cheapie immersion blender, a Bamix, and a cheapie blender. But of course I also love kitchen gadgets.

The Bamix is much more powerful than the cheap immersion blender, but it is over $100. The blender I have was very inexpensive and has a powerful motor, enough to crush ice cubes. You might be happier with that for smoothies. I'll check the brand and post back here later today.

[johnsmith45678]

Yeah, I use a blender for smoothies (don't even have an immersion blender) -- it can handle ice cubes, frozen fruit, ...

[beccaboo]

When we broke our Waring's blades making smoothies I looked into it and found out that frozen fruit is very hard on blender blades--far worse than ice--and ended up getting a Vita-Mix. It was really expensive--I think it was on sale for $250--but worth it. We call it our 'hippie blender' because it's so nice for things like tofu-making and grinding grains as well as smoothies and things.

I have a Bamix that I got at a junk store to replace a Cuisinart immersion blender that died, and, while it seems a lot more powerful than its predecessor, I don't think it's the best tool for smoothie-making.

[deltadoc]

I have a Bamix commercial wand blender, and it is fabulous. Makes the best mayonaise I've ever been able to make! For my marinara sauces (20 qts at a time) I use it to smooth out the texture, and it works outstandingly well!

Also own an ancient 1964 vintage Vita-Mix. Stainless steel container with a spigot. Been using it for almost 42 years to grind grain to make whole wheat bread, use it to crush ice cubes and make ice cream which I can serve right out of the spigot valve. Everything unscrews so you can clean it. I sent it in once back to the manufacturer for refurbishment sometime around the 1980's and they fixed it up like new, for $0. New gaskets, everything. Met the owner once at boutique show in Manhattan's Columbus Circle back in around 1981. Nice people.

Best two kitchen gadgets I own, in addition to my Kitchen Aid Commercial mixer with the meat grinder attachment. Grinds all types of meat, so I make my own hamburger and Italian sausage.

I'd go with the Bamix for your purpose. You'll find you'll use it for a lot more things than you thought once you see how it well it works. Cleans fast too!

doc

[johnsmith45678]

I looked into it and found out that frozen fruit is very hard on blender blades--far worse than ice

Further info?

[beccaboo]

I looked into it and found out that frozen fruit is very hard on blender blades--far worse than ice

Further info?

←

I can't find it now, but three years ago when I was deciding if we should fix the Waring yet again or get a Vita-Mix I read that in a few places. I think one of the troubles is that the frozen fruit can get stuck under a blade, causing it to bend. One time our blades broke, and another time it just got bent in a way that made the blender unusable.

[mrsadm]

I own a cheapie immersion blender, a Bamix, and a cheapie blender.  But of course I also love kitchen gadgets.

The Bamix is much more powerful than the cheap immersion blender, but it is over $100.  The blender I have was very inexpensive and has a powerful motor, enough to crush ice cubes.  You might be happier with that for smoothies.  I'll check the brand and post back here later today.

←

It's an Oster 10-speed with ice crushing feature. Have to admit I have not tried frozen fruit in it.

[Hawthorne]

I've never been a big fan of kitchen gadgets, but I've recently enjoyed using my cheapo immersion blender, mainly for smoothies. The problem is that I like to use frozen berries in my smoothies, which unfortunately killed my cheapo blender in under a month. So right now I'm looking for a new one and from what I've read it sounds like the Bamix is the best, but it's also by far the most expensive. Do I really need to go for something like that or will a less expensive brand/model suffice? I don't really make blended soups, sauces, or anything else like that, so I'm primarily getting it for the smoothies. Although if I did buy the Bamix deluxe model I could possibly use the small grinder attachment.

Recomnendations appreciated.

←

I resisted a stick mixer for a long time, but I've used my Bamix a lot, and if it weren't for the frozen fruit, I'd recommend it without reservation. I don't do frozen fruit smoothies, so can't speak to that issue.

But .. it mixes peanut butter right in the jar. It makes great mayo practically instantly, right in the jar. It chops onions, garlic, celery beautifully in the little processor bowl. It's fame is whipped cream from non-fat milk, though I never use non-fat anything, so haven't tested that capability. I can't remember everything I've used it for, it's really very useful.

Easy to clean, and I don't regret the price.

[fifi]

Oh dear . . . I do love my Bamix. I am not an unbiased contributor.

The story goes that my cheap **s blender gave up when I was into making chile sauce for some enchiladas. The new Kitchen Aid food processor did fine but I decided that it was time to loosen the purse strings and get a Bamix instead of a blender. I have never been happier with such a decision. My son, when he moved out, (finally) took the cheapo stick blender with him since he used it for his disgusting protein shakes. Now I have this new toy. I love it. I use it instead of a Kitchen Aid mixer, that is hiding somewhere in the rented storage locker, to cream butter and sugar for cookies. I use it for soups. I whip cream. I love the darn thing.

One failing . . . After a flurry of pickling jalepenos with carrots and cauliflower, I roasted the left over veggies with the intention of making a roasted vegetable soup. It was lovely, flavor-wise. But it did look like barf. I thought of taking a picture of it for the regrettable topic but didn't. Anyway, that is the only time it failed me. Maybe if I had kept at it, the soup would have been a smooth elixir. I dunno.

Anyway, I love my Bamix. Get one.

[the_nomad]

Just wondering if any of you guys use Bamix wand mixers? We picked one up for the Blenders test episode of Kamikaze Cookery (warning - crap blenders and some truly spectacular splashing featured, plus quite a lot of swearing...) and ended up recommending it pretty much unreservedly. Best foam-making hand blender I've ever seen.

But in my experience very few things do exactly what they claim. It's really impressive so far, but are there any gotchas with the Bamix experience? Also - anything you'd recommend instead?

[Kerry Beal]

I do love a Bamix. It can mix stuff that other hand mixers just can't handle.

Only objection I have is that they don't come apart. I've picked up a heavy duty Braun for my ganache mixing, only because I can take the motor part off, then carry the container and the business end of the mixer over to the sink for cleaning. I have to stick closer to the sink with my Bamix.

I have a couple of them though, one at home, one on the boat and I pick up any I see at thrift stores and find new homes for them.

One of the nicest features is the size of the business end, you can put it in a mason jar and make your mayo or salad dressing right in the jar. Can't do that with my Braun cause the end's just too big.

[mtigges]

are there any gotchas with the Bamix experience?

←

The only problem I've had with mine is that the attachment with the tines has loosened to the point where it falls off quite easily. I have to be careful when pureeing or I will have to fish it out.

But o/w if you try to pry it from my fingers before I'm dead I'll beat you with it. And since it is so sturdy and well constructed it will hurt you and not the bamix

[Marlene]

If I can find it Kerry, you can have mine.

I rarely use an immersion blender, but I switched to a Kitchen Aid for those few tasks that I do use it for. I think it's me though and I've just never figured out how to use one properly.

[CaliPoutine]

I saw one at a yard sale for 2.00. The original receipt and paperwork were still in the package. The person paid 169.00 for it. I should have bought it!!

I saw a similar(used) one on ebay that went for 75.00.

[cmling]

A professional cook who is a good acquaintance of mine told me Bamix is the Rolls-Royce (well, this term no longer means what it used to, but you get my drift) of similar products.

[Richard Kilgore]

Bamix for me! But be sure to check out the specs - there are several different models - to make sujre it will serve your needs.

[the_nomad]

Interesting - thanks, everyone.

It appears I've accidentally happened upon the Blender Of The Gods...

(For reference - we've got the 160 Watt Wand mixer.)

[Lindacakes]

I researched the crap out of stick blenders before buying a Bamix for my partner last year. She opened it up, thought it was one of those, you-bought-this-for-me-so-you-could-have-it things and didn't think much of it, I don't think.

Except that now, you'd have to pry it out of her cold dead hands. Gets used daily for smoothies and at least weekly for soups and sauces. The blender went out the window. Works like a charm, is built to last forever, looks fabulous, and is easy, easy, easy to clean.

What more could you want?

The top end model comes with a little gizmo that chops. Chops herbs, chops onions, chops nuts. Chop chop chop. And then holds the little Bamix disk thingys.

Lovely machine. Genius invented it.

[budrichard]

Anyone know where the Bamix 350 can be purchased in the USA? Thanks for any replies.-Dick

[Scout_21]

I finally got a response from Bamix. Basically they said there is not market for the Gastro 350 in the US right now. They might reconsider in a year or two though...

[nickrey]

The only problem I've had with mine is that the attachment with the tines has loosened to the point where it falls off quite easily.  I have to be careful when pureeing or I will have to fish it out.

←

Just saw this. If you look at the attachment there are two grooves cut into it. What has happened is that they have loosened through being put on and off. You can squeeze it gently with pliers so that it will grip well again.

Once my Bamix wouldn't turn any more. I contacted the distributor and they said it was a simple matter of screwing off the bottom round attachment and putting some oil in. It worked like a charm. These are really an industrial strength type item.

[mtigges]

The only problem I've had with mine is that the attachment with the tines has loosened to the point where it falls off quite easily.  I have to be careful when pureeing or I will have to fish it out.

←

Just saw this. If you look at the attachment there are two grooves cut into it. What has happened is that they have loosened through being put on and off. You can squeeze it gently with pliers so that it will grip well again.

←

That seems like a very reasonable thing to try. I'm embarrassed I haven't thought of it myself.

I have the one with the chopping attachment mentioned above. It's a miniature food processor and is outstanding for smaller jobs. I use to puree parsnips, or mix emulsions for marinating ... all kinds of stuff that a regular food processor is too big to bother with.

I bought my from a travelling salesman at our yearly exhibition believe it or not. First time I've ever purchased anything from a carnival hawker. Sometimes there's good stuff there. Vita-mix normally has a booth. So, maybe try a local fair or something in the summer to see if someone bought a truckload to sell at fairs and exhibitions.

[scubadoo97]

Any Bamix Gastro 200 users out there? I am in need of replacing my Bamix copy, The Thunder Stick, which has actually worked very well for near 8+ years. I want the real thing and have found one place selling the Gastro model for $179 in the US. The mono which was around $99 a few years ago has crept up to $129. The Gastro is 2 inches longer and a little more powerful. Just wanted to know if there were any downsides to the Gastro model. I read for some online review that the head was bigger and it was a problem blending in some containers. Questions to Bamix-USA have gone unanswered.

[Scout_21]

I have a gastro 200 and love it. I've never really had a problem using it in containers...the head fits perfectly in a POM tea glass jar. I think Bamix USA is defunct and I had to ask bamix (http://www.bamix.com/en/). I wanted to get one of the new 350s but they are not considering bringing it to the US at this time.