When I think of KitchenAid, I automatically associate the brand with some of the best stand mixers. In fact, I own one of KitchenAid’s Artisan stand mixers, which is how I know they‘ve earned their reputation — and the price tag that comes with it.
So, when I got the chance to test KitchenAid’s Pure Power Blender, I was a bit shocked by the price. It was much closer to what I expected from a budget appliance. At just $119 at Walmart, it’s far cheaper than the Vitamix Ascent X2 — the best blender in our buying guide, which retails for $499 at Amazon — but it still packs a punch.
KitchenAid Pure Power Blend: First impressions
The blender certainly looks like a premium appliance, with the kind of retro-styling which we’ve come to expect from the brand — although it’s slightly more subtle than the retro look of the KitchenAid K400, which is $299 at Amazon.
It’s also a large appliance. While I didn’t think much of it at first, my family's first reaction was about its size. It doesn’t take up much space on a countertop, it's size is more related to it's height — which I put down to the generous 68 oz pitcher capacity, which is 12 oz more than the KitchenAid K400.
In addition to that extra capacity, it also features a heat release vent — something that the K400 doesn’t offer. This lets you blend hot food without the pitcher steaming up or giving you a full steam facial when you remove the lid.
Thanks to the large capacity, it perfect for blending soup, and the heat-release section on the lid means you can add it straight from the stove into the pitcher — no need to wait for the hot liquid to cool down. With soup season in full swing at my house, this can only be good news. (Just so you know, carrot and sweet potatoes are my favorite combo.)
However, its size could be its downfall, depending on what you are using it for. If you mostly make single-serving smoothies or small batches of hummus, you probably don’t need something this big.
What I liked
There’s a lot I like about the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender. Did I mentioned the price? I also appreciated the dedicated Smoothie, Ice Crush and Clean setting.
If you’ve used blenders before, you know that the clean up is not always easy. So being able to add a small amount of dish soap and water to the pitcher and pressing the 'Clean' preset makes life that little bit easier — and it’s also fun to watch.
Of course, you don’t need to stick to the presets, as they don’t give you enough options for every type of blend. You can go manual and select the Pulse function or choose between 10 levels of precision with the control knob — with fine-tuned settings in between. I like that you can switch between to two, and the extra flexibility this gives.
One thing I didn’t like
I’m not someone who spends hours reading an instruction manual before using a new appliance, but I was disappointed with the lack of guidance included with this blender. I get that using a blender isn’t rocket-science, but since it comes with additional presets, I wanted to make sure I was using it correctly.
Although an owner’s manual is included, it doesn’t contain any detailed usage instructions, so I had to search for the product guide online.
So far, that’s my only real gripe. And I don't consider it to be a deal breaker.
I’ll continue to test the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender and will report back shortly with my full review. But for now, I can already see the potential in this powerful blender — especially as it's pitched at such an attractive price.
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