Hamilton Beach: Wave Action Technology Has Made a Believer Out of Me

Blenders are one of the essential appliances for every kitchen and in my household, the blender gets a workout at least once every week. I have been on an appliance rampage for the past six months or so, gradually replacing all of my old, outdated, unstylish kitchen appliances with sharp, new appliances that have all the latest bells and whistles. I replaced my old Sears Kenmore blender with something much nicer in appearance and better in overall quality. My choice was the Hamilton Beach Ensemble Model 54245 14 Speed Blender with Wave Action, a powerful device for mixing foods together.

Facts About This Blender:

This Hamilton Beach Blender features a black colored base that is wider on the bottom than toward the top, for added stability. The base itself measures about 6.5 inches in width and length (roughly square in shape). With the glass jar sitting on top of the base, the total height reaches about 14.5 inches.

This blender has a large jar that holds a total of six cups (48 oz.). The jar is constructed from glass and is clear and see- through with several measurement increments marked on the side. At the bottom of the jar is the blade attachment. This stainless steel blade has four prongs: Two that extend straight out, parallel to the countertop and two that are bent upward at a ninety degree angle to the countertop. The blades section can be removed for cleaning by twisting the jar nut, which is attached to the blades. The jar lid includes a plastic filler cap that can be removed and used for measuring.

A total of fourteen speeds are available on this blender. On the low setting, the speeds include Quick Clean, stir, aerate, puree, crumb, chop, and mix. On the high setting, the same buttons convert to grate, beat, grind, milkshake, smoothie, and icy drink. There is also a setting called “Ice Breaker”, which is intended to crush ice by transforming it into tiny bits.

This blender is capable of generating up to 700 watts of power. It comes with a three year warranty against defects and the unit (jar, base, lid, and jar nut) weighs a total of nine pounds.

Product Information:

More information on this and other Hamilton Beach blenders can be found by visiting the web site, hamiltonbeach.com. If customer service is needed, a call can be placed to 877-474-1122. Replacement parts can also be ordered through the web site.

Final Thoughts:

Hamilton Beach Model 54245 Wave Action 14- Speed Blender is quickly becoming one of my favorite new appliances. Like I stated above, I have been slowly replacing all of the appliances in my household, eliminating devices that are worn- out, outdated, or both. This blender replaces my obsolete Sears Kenmore Blender that was originally purchased in 1997. My old blender was still functional, but its blending ability was never very good and I wanted something more stylish and higher quality. I selected this Hamilton Beach model and I have been satisfied ever since.

Several factors contribute to my positive feelings about this blender. First among them is the size. When I went blender hunting on the internet, I insisted on finding a blender with a larger jar. My old blender held only 36 oz. and I discovered through experience that this size is much too small. I wanted something larger and this blender, with its 48 oz. glass jar, was exactly the size I was looking for. I also wanted more power and that is exactly what I got: A blender with 700 watts of force at its peak.

Next, I really like the stylish appearance of this blender. All of my new kitchen appliances are black in color and this appliance is no exception (it is also offered in white, for those who prefer it). Not only does the color make it look slick and attractive, it is also more slender in shape than the blenders of old. The base does spread out a little at the bottom but the overall shape tends toward the vertical, making it easier to fit into a small countertop space and also easier on the eyes.

Now for the most important factor: The blending ability. One of the reasons I selected this Hamilton beach model was because of its patented “Wave Action” technology. For those who are unfamiliar with this, it is a system that helps to blend drinks and other foods more thoroughly and efficiently via the design of the blades. Most blenders contain four blades that are more or less parallel to the countertop. But with Hamilton Beach Wave Action, two of the four blades are bent upward. This design helps to push ice and liquids down toward the blades for better blending.

I was skeptical about the claims made by Hamilton Beach at first but one use made an instant believer out of me. I started by mixing up a pina colada- a drink that requires liquids and ice. One of the keys to making the perfect pina colada is to get the ice crushed into very small bits and most blenders fail at this task. But not Hamilton Beach 54245 Wave Action Blender. It blended the liquid and crushed the ice down to tiny particles in a matter of seconds. There was no need to stir the mixture by hand and try again, like I used to do with my old blender. The drink was completely mixed, smooth, and delicious. I could not detect even a single piece of ice that was too large. Every last bit of ice was crushed to perfection!

One thing to keep in mind with this Hamilton Beach Blender is that the parts are not all dishwasher safe. The manufacturer recommends washing the glass jar in the dishwasher only on the top rack. The jar nut/blade should never be placed in a dishwasher. It should only be washed by hand using hot, soapy water. It is recommended, in fact, to wash the jar by hand also if you can. Doing so will extend the life of the jar and keep the unit running in tip top shape.

Overall, I am very happy with my Hamilton Beach Ensemble Model 54245 Wave Action Blender and I have no regrets about spending the $45 dollars to obtain it. It not only looks good, it performs its main task with ease and perfection. Drinks come out silky smooth in a matter of seconds thanks to the Wave Action technology, making this Hamilton Beach Blender an appliance that I will continue to use and enjoy for a good long time.