KitchenAid KSB580NK - BlendersHQ

KitchenAid KSB580NK Review

Review Overview

Features

Quality

Performance

Value

Rating

 4.25/5

 5/5

 4.25/5

 5/5

5.0

 5/5

Overall Score

Review Overview	Rating
Features	★★★★★
Quality	★★★★★
Performance	★★★★★
Value	★★★★★

5.0

 5/5

Overall Score

Summary

Why do I care what my blender looks like?

If you’re one of those who are out looking for function over form, the whole idea that I think that the two metallic finish options that are available is a plus might be unsettling to say the least. Even if you were to discount the whole idea that a blender must look good, it is imperative that it still fit in with the existing look of your kitchen among other kitchen appliances. Achieving a uniform look for one’s kitchen is a difficult task but if you do pull it off you can make your kitchen look a lot more well designed than it already is. That is the reason that I believe most of Jane’s friends think that we had an interior designer do up our kitchen.

The great thing about metallic finishes are that they go well with whatever color your interiors are. Got orange or pink walls? It’ll work for you. Got beige ones? The KSB580NK’s chrome finish is going to look great there as well. This blender is at home in the modern kitchen as well as one that’s been more classically designed.

So what else do I need to look for when buying a 5 speed blender?

The next few paragraphs will rate and measure the KitchenAid KSB580NK on all of these parameters and more but if you are looking for a quick review, then I’ll try and be succinct when I tell you that this is the blender that every other blender out there is going to be measured against – it really is that good.

How much power does this one pack?

The KitchenAid 5-Speed Custom Metallic Blender KSB580NK is powered by a .9 horse power motor which is about 672 watts – powerful enough for anything you throw at it. What most people looking to buy speed blenders fail to realize is that the bigger the motor the more heat and noise the unit will produce unless you’re are willing to spend $1000+ on a noise and heat insulated blender. Why would you think the power of a horse isn’t enough to blend some fruit and ice together?

We’ve owned blenders with 2 hp motors and while Jane seems to be quite fond of them, I prefer something a bit more subtle. I’ve also found that the extra heat they generate to be detrimental to my smoothie’s health! Most of the times while I am trying to blend the strawberries in my smoothie, I tend to let the blender go on longer for most since I like to get the seeds of the berries broken in as well. Whenever I’ve used a blender with a large motor, I’ve ended up with strawberry sludge rather than a strawberry smoothie from all the ice melting. This blender on the other hand has enough power to plough through frozen fruit and even meat without breaking a sweat! An intelligent feature that is unique to this blender is the soft start feature which starts the blender at a lower speed which allows the spin to pull more food into the blade no matter what speed you start it at. This makes for very quick and efficient blending.

What is the jar (blender pitcher) like?

Other than the power, it is the jar that is the most important component of a blender. The KitchenAid KSB580NK features a marvel of a jar which can hold up to 56 ounces of ice, fruit, milk, alcohol and triple sec – though you wouldn’t want to put it all in at the same time. The 56 oz jar is made out of polycarbonate plastic composites which makes it shatter resistant and the large capacity let you cook more than most. Another great thing about having a large jar is that if you fill it up only up to two-thirds the capacity you can get a lot of air into your smoothie which will add a lot of ‘fluff’ to your smoothie which only makes it tastier. Glass pitchers are on their way out and this is the blender that is going to be credited with their exist a year down the line. No more breaking the jar if you drop it while cleaning ti in the sink.

The jar is both heat resistant and dishwasher safe though we recommend that you wash it by hand – it is kinder to the jar and with the contours on this one it is extremely easy to clean. Another great feature about this blender–jar combo is that they way they are designed to lock in together, it is impossible to tip the jar over. You have to lift the whole unit off to get it to do that.

But does the KSB580NK’s blade match up?

KitchenAid KSB580NK one piece blenderOh boy, does it! the patented stainless steel one piece blade which saves you from having to clean separate parts namely the base, the blade assembly, the jar and any gaskets that might have been in there. With blades that are mounted to the bottom permanently you can wash the blender jar and be done with the task of cleaning your blender. You can either stack it up in the dishwasher’s bottom shelf or just fill the blender up to a third with hot water, add a couple of drops of detergent and give it a couple of spins.

The blade however is not the only thing responsible for the blending awesomeness that this blender boasts of. The Intelligent Speed Controls adjust the power that is sent to the blade to compensate for thicker mixtures automatically. Quite a neat feature wouldn’t you say?

How does the Solid Die-Cast Metal and Heavy Duty Polycarbonate Base help?

The way the base has been designed makes it impossible for you to tip the blender over whatever the speed you’re operating it at. The base also has power cord storage built right into it which makes it easy to store the blender. It is these little things and attention to detail that has made this blender the king of the blending world.

What about the pulse mode?

Sure this KitchenAid 5 speed blender has a pulse mode. In fact if you like ice blended drinks of any kind then you’ll absolutely love the ‘Automatic Crush Ice’ button. It can pulverize ice cubes into a smooth slush like state in a few seconds and if it is given a couple more it will pulse on and off automatically at higher speeds which helps smooth out the ice and adds a lot of air volume to the concoction. The 5 speeds that are offered, couple with the pulse feature and the automatic ice blending make all kinds of behind the bar sorcery a breeze. Oh! did I mention that the pulse mode can be used on any speed unlike on some other blenders which can only pulse at lower speeds.

The clean touch panel is a marvel…

KSB580NK clean touch panelThe clean touch panel on the KitchenAid blender KSB5 series is easy to wipe clean owing to its one piece construction. Not only does it wipe clean easy, there are no cracks or crevices to trap spills. KitchenAid is one of the few companies that can put ease of use and function together in a single package and this control panel is testimony to that as the buttons still retain tactile feedback (the click you feel and hear) when you press a button.

Warranties much?

The blender comes with a standard one year hassle free replacement warranty though if you buy it from Amazon you could extend it to 3 years if you pay $19.99 more and to 2 years if you pay an extra $12.99. These additional warranties cover both parts and labor and I always recommend you get one of these when you purchase any item over a $100.

What did we not like about this 5 speed blender?

The same beef I have with every powerful blender out there. It is kind of loud. While this particular blender wasn’t as loud as the old BlednTec we had or the Hamilton Beach that Jane has, know that you won’t be able to hear anyone whisper around you. However, since you only need to to turn the blender up to full for a couple of seconds to blend anything it wasn’t such a big deal.

What do other customers say?

I did some extensive research on this blender before I bought it and pretty much anyone who bought it couldn’t be happier with their purchase. One customer did have a problem with the jar leaking but it was easily fixed by tightening the hex nut that holds the blade and the rubber gasket together with the blender’s bottom. Click here to read more customer reviews.

How much should you expect to pay?

The KitchenAid KSB580NK 5-Speed Custom Metallic Blender usually retails for about $179.99 but you can buy it at steeply discounted priced on Amazon. At the time of this writing the blender is available at a 24% discount for $136. Click here to check for the latest discounted KitchenAid KSB580NK price though I wouldn’t pay more than $150.