The best way to get your five a day (Kenwood New York Smoothie Maker)

Member Name: rxbeef

Product:	Kenwood New York Smoothie Maker
Date:	13/01/09 (89 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: makes great smoothies everytime

Disadvantages: it's very loud

The adverts for this smoothie maker just made me want one more and more every time I saw them. The cute dancing fruit across the screen made smoothies seem like a really fun and exciting thing to make, and so off I went to House of Fraser about three years ago to get my new gadget.

The smoothie maker itself was a bit larger than I had expected and can fit well over a litre of contents in the jug. There are markings on the side of the jug to show you how much of which ingredients to put in, which is helpful if you aren't familiar with smoothies. The maker comes with an ideas booklet also just to inspire you!

The base of the smoothie maker is quite hefty although it is very sturdy and contains a very strong motor. It is very loud when making smoothies and especially blending ice, but for the results you get it is probably worth it. There are several functions, such as a pulsing blending action which is like short sharp bursts, or a simple maintained blend. The booklet explains how to use these and it is simple to get the hang of.

The tap on the jug is probably my favourite feature because it makes getting your fresh smoothie the easiest thing in the world. It does drip for a little while after you've used it, but if you leave your glass under the tap for a few seconds after you've finished, it won't leak. There is also a curved gap to fit your glass in, between the base.

The lid for the smoothie maker slides in very well and doesn't make you worry that it will come flying off mid blitz. There is an additional stirring stick that you can use to prod your smoothie a bit if it needs a helping hand.

Cleaning the product is simple as you can place the lid and jug into the dishwasher. I woudl also advise flushing some water through the tap as it can get very dirty otherwise. Cleaning the base is easy enough with a damp cloth.

This smoothie maker looks really good and should suit most kitchen styles. It's also a really good way of getting your five a day! You'll soon be hooked on smoothies!

Summary: An excellent value for money smoothie maker