Blendtec Total Blender Review (2023) 1560-Watt Classic Wildside Blender

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Blendtec Total Blender, black
Blendtec Total Blender, black

The Blendtec Total Blender is an affordable choice for a heavy-duty product. In fact, it’s the second most popular and second-cheapest in the brand’s catalog.

If you’re just starting out, you’ll be surprised at how many possibilities this can open up for you.

You can try numerous recipes, particularly the ones in which cheap blenders struggle to make.

Let’s kick off by checking out its good and bad attributes:

PROS

  • One of Blendtec’s cheapest choices
  • This is an updated version of the total blender
  • Classic small design to match and fit your countertop
  • Pulverize anything or even heat soup with its powerful motor
  • 10 variable speeds
  • 6 programmed settings
  • 90-ounce jar
  • Exceptional container design
  • LCD timer display
  • Self-cleaning and dishwasher safe
  • BPA-free
  • 8-year warranty

CONS

  • Only 2 buttons for adjusting speed; you won’t know if you’re at #5 or #10
  • Louder than newer models (probably the loudest)
  • The jar is highly durable but not ideal for thick blends
  • Outdated design

Blendtec Total Classic Wildside Features

What can you make with Blendtec Total Blender?

This Blendtec is a “total blender” that can crush entire ice cubes in seconds. I suppose it lives up to its name. 

Here’s the deal:

With its insanely strong motor and blunt blades, it can blend just about anything. Plus, it’s safe, and it will last you longer compared to sharp blades.

Of course, crushing ice is just one thing out of various recipes it can create. The six examples are its presets: crushed ice, smoothie, hot soup, ice cream, whole juice, and batters.

Fortunately, it’s not limited to the presets. You can also use those programmed cycles for other recipes or perhaps customize the speed based on your own recipe.

Here’s a list to help expand your creativity:


a glass of green smoothie
Smoothies
crushed ice
Crushed Ice
hot soup
Hot Soup
nut butter
*Nut Butter
baby food
Baby Food
salsa sauce
Sauces & Dips
salad dressing
Salad Dressing
almond milk
Nut Milk
flour
*Flour
dough
Dough
frozen dessert
*Frozen Desserts
Smoothie bowls
*Smoothie Bowls
Strawberry Cocktail
Cocktail
coffee grounds
*Cofee Grounds

*This will work best with the Twister Jar.

Even though the Blendtec model ES3 can do a lot, it still has its shortcomings. For instance, when blending thick ingredients, you need to help your blender. You may have to mix or scrape it in between blends.

It’s only a simple quirk, but others may find it frustrating. If this bothers you, you can also get the Blendtec twister jar or get a Vitamix blender instead. Vitamix blenders come with a tamper, and it’s not as tricky as Blendtec.

Side note:

A high-power blender comes with a disadvantage. The Total Blender Classic is probably one of the loudest in the market. There’s a lot of reviews on how noisy it is.

To give you a concrete perspective, the sound it produces is equal to that of a subway or a construction site.

If you think that’s going to be an issue, you might want to get a quieter Blendtec model like the Professional 800. Or perhaps you might want to check the Vitamix Ascent Series.

Is Blendtec Total easy to use?

Blendtec Total Blender Controls

Easy to use? Well, between easy, easier, and easiest, it’s the first one.

Starting with the negatives:

With a plus and minus button for speed, it’ll be hard to know what RPM you are on. If you have your own recipe, it’ll be a major buzzkill.

But, let’s settle with the fact that Blendtec Total Blender has a maximum of 10 speeds with pulse control. It’s quite the standard in the market.

To tell you the truth, having a dial is so much better than the plus and minus button that this blender has.

You also have limited controls since you can’t freely control how long the blends should be. For instance, hot soups may take longer than 90 seconds. If that’s the case, you either have to re-run the cycle since there’s no “add time” selection.

Luckily, it isn’t all that bad. 

I did say that some recipes may take longer, but these presets are actually made based on the majority of recipes. Blendtec did this for you to blend with ease. Just press a button and let the machine do its thing.

The LCD timer built in the base is also helpful. When you’re preparing other stuff, you can take advantage of the timer. Not just that, since it stops when the timer hits zero, you can focus on other things—no need to worry about over blending.

Even though it’s an old-school physical button, it still has its advantages. For example, it’s easy to wipe off since there are no tiny cracks for food debris. You also won’t have the problem of accidentally tapping other buttons.

By the way, the jar has a self-cleaning function. Simply add warm water and dish soap, then run it for a few seconds. It’s also dishwasher safe if you don’t feel like doing that.

See it in action

Here’s a product demo of Michele:

The Blendtec Total Blender is an affordable choice amongst high-powered blenders. It has a whopping 1560-watt motor which can easily crush ice in less than 30 seconds. Better yet, it comes with 6 automatic settings that make the blending job effortless.

Blendtec Total Blender Jars

Expand your blender’s full potential with any of these containers.

All of these jars are dishwasher safe and BPA-free, by the way.

Wildside+ Jar (Included)

Blendtec Wildside+ Jar, model no. 40-630-50

Model # 40-630-50

Get at Amazon →

Luckily, nowadays, most Blendtec machines come with the Wildside plus jar. It’s an excellent choice for a big crowd or large servings. The extra side (+) will make your blend go faster and have a better texture.

Wildside Flow Jar

Blendtec Wildside Flow Jar, model no. 40-630-51

Model # 40-630-51

Get at Amazon →

This is the latest innovation of Blendtec: Wildside flow jar. It has the fifth side (+) and an additional two interior ridges. These seams further obstruct the blending pattern so that your blends can finish faster and result in a more delicious punch.

Blendtec GO

Blendtec Go, model no. 40-610-50

Model # 40-610-50

Get at Amazon →

There is only one factor to consider if you ACTUALLY need this. Do you like smoothies? If your answer is yes, then you should totally get this. It’s a travel cup for you to bring and a jar for your blender. You can directly blend with your cup. In other words, more minor cleanup!

Twister Jar

Blendtec Twister Jar, model no. 40-620-54

Model # 40-620-54

Get at Amazon →

Let me ask you: Do you process many dry goods (such as grains) or thick blends (nut butter, frozen desserts, etc.)? If that’s the case, the twister jar may just be your new kitchen buddy. As the name suggests, it has a twister lid that will scrape the ingredients from the side WHILE blending.

Fourside Jar

Fourside Jar, model no. 40-609-50

Model # 40-609-50

Get at Amazon →

This is the classic jar of Blendtec. Surprisingly they didn’t write it off yet. Blendtec claims that having four sides work better than round containers.

Mini Wildside Jar

Mini Wildside Jar, model no. 40-642-50

Model # 40-642-50

Get at Amazon →

If you’re going to make many small volume recipes such as sauces, marinades you should get this. It’s more practical, and it’s a lot easier to clean than a more prominent jar.

*Product Images Courtesy of Blendtec

Technical Specifications

TypeCountertop Blender
Brand/SeriesBlendtec Classic Series
Model #TB-621-25
Price$$$
Ratings4.1 out of 5
Motor3.0 HP
Speed10-speed
Wattage1560 Watts
BladeCold-forged, hardened steel
Container capacity90 oz (2.6 L) container
sold separately:
32 oz (946 mL) jar
24 oz (709 mL) cup
16 oz (473 mL) twister jar
Dishwasher safeYes
BPA FreeYes
ColorsBlack
Red White
Dimensions 8 x 7 x 15 inches
ApplicationHome & Personal Use
Warranty8 Years
Related Products Blendtec Pro 800, Vitamix Commercial Blender, Waring Blender, Blendtec Commercial Blender, Ninja Mega Kitchen System, Blendtec Classic 575
This table shows the technical specifications of Blendtec Classic Series Blender TB-621-25.

Is Blendtec Total Blender worth it?

The Blendtec Total Classic Blender is an exceptional choice if you’re just beginning in the high-performance blender race. It’s not the best, but it “totally” does the job well.

However, if you can spend a bit more, I’d recommend Vitamix E310 over this. It’s almost the same price, but it can do the job 10x better. Most importantly, you have more control.

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