3. Emson Magic Bullet Express: Pros, Cons, Verdict

Pros:

This unit pretty much does what it says. There’s no “magic” except for a well-designed blending unit that is easy to wash and maintain and limits the possibility of coming in contact with the moving blade, which makes it a perfect kitchen tool for beginner cooks and older children. Many of the recipes call for the cups to be microwaved before blending and the cups worked surprisingly well at evenly heating the ingredients without becoming too hot to handle afterwards. All components were sturdy and delivered on their promise to withstand the cooking/heating/washing process. Extra gaskets were provided in the case of regular wear and tear. The Magic Bullet Express comes standard with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Cons:

The unit works as well as could be expected for a counter-top blender, with some minor deviations from the expectations one has after watching the commercials. First, it was not uncommon for the recipes to require a bit more than the “10 seconds” of blending promised in the ads. But since the instructions explicitly advise that the Magic Bullet motor not be engaged for more than 10 seconds at a time, this became problematic. Crushing ice or frozen fruit, for example, almost always required a few rounds of blending before a smooth consistency could be reached (and even then, a few stray chunks refused to succumb.) The “tapping method,” which is a fancy term for slamming the blending cup gently against a countertop to get the ingredients to come down into the mixing blade’s reachable space, was frequently needed to get a good blend and this seemed to inhibit the “10 second” process. 

We also found the recipes to be a bit sub-par for a kitchen tool. Several of them were as simple as adding water to ingredients to create a slush. The fruit sorbet, for example, was simply mixing frozen fruit in a few tablespoons of water. Iced coffee was a similar process.

Other recipes were a bit odd-tasting–the ingredients in Turbo Tomato Soup were nothing more than a fresh tomato, a garlic clove, one half of a cup of chicken stock, and one third of a cup of cream. In theory, it could have made a tasty treat if left to simmer on a stove top. But since everything in the recipe book calls for microwaving, we were instructed to steam the first three ingredients in a microwave oven to soften the tomato. This left us with a nice-looking, but otherwise bland rendition of a fancier and slow-cooked homemade tomato soup.

The Verdict:

Sold at a much lower price point and with an emphasis on quick clean up, the Magic Bullet would be a great buy for anyone looking to simplify a home-cooking routine. The Magic Bullet offers a no-hassle blending alternative to clunky, difficult-to-clean, and oversized mixers and blenders. The accessories added value to an otherwise simple unit that could have easily been sold in stores for under $30. 

What’s most disappointing about this unit is, ironically, its emphasis on speed. Users are instructed to take as many kitchen shortcuts as possible, with a frequent consequence of compromised food flavor. If taken at face value, the Magic Bullet will help cooks with their most tedious food preparation duties: chopping, dicing, blending, and whipping, with less mess than traditional methods. However, it should not be confused with real “magic” in the kitchen. This can only come from higher quality recipes and a little patience. As is, it could be very disappointing for someone looking for the answer to all the time-sucking kitchen woes. It’s just a mixer… the Magic in one, two, three (as promised in the commercial) really comes from the cook doing the blending.